process plant maintenance

Early signs of heat exchanger fouling shown through rising utility use and control valve drift

PPI March 26, 2026 0

Early Signs of Fouling Operators Ignore – The Warnings That Appear Long Before Performance Collapses

Fouling almost never announces itself clearly. By the time a heat exchanger is officially labeled “fouled,” the plant has usually been compensating for it quietly for weeks or even months.…

Cleaning Frequency vs Availability Trade-off – Why Cleaning Too Often Can Hurt a Plant as Much as Cleaning Too Late

When fouling becomes visible, the instinctive response is simple: Clean the exchanger. Cleaning restores performance, reduces energy consumption, and relieves operational stress. But cleaning also requires: This creates a fundamental…