What is descaling ??
Ans. Descaling is a process that removes scale , a buildup of minerals like calcium & magnesium from the surface. It can be used on a variety of surfaces , including metals , plastics & glasses & for a range of applications , from a coffee machines to large water treatment facilities.
In HVAC industries , This is a separate huge topic & mandatory process to conduct before starting an AHU / FCU units or a chiller plants.
Why descaling is necessary ??
Ans. Every commercial OR industrial property works on mainly chilled water system, that is Chiller plants & cooling process carried out here by circulating chilled water between chiller plant to the required Indoor units. The carrier medium of chilled water are mainly made up of mild steel or copper pipes.
Entire HVAC system parts from chiller components to chilled water piping to indoor units are made in metals & due continues flow of water, Elements present in the flowing water like , calcium , magnesium , carbon etc effects the inner surface layers of the HVAC parts & it gets deteriorating along with the time.
Also, Flowing water is coming directly from the government , it does not contains purities , sometimes it contains heavy chemical elements that can be harmful for HVAC system.
Also , Sometimes due to continuous flow of water in the entire system it carries some slurries , oil , grease & other impurities that after a period get stuck in the HVAC system’ pipelines and makes an unhealthy chemical layers that causes our HVAC system deterioration by corrosion building , chocking pipelines issue & also reduces the cooling effectiveness of an entire HVAC system.
So , To prevent all these kinds of issue in HVAC system , Industry engineers introduced an effective way of cleaning , flushing , descaling of an entire HVAC system by using different types of chemicals.
Types of descaling ??
Ans. There are mainly 07 types of descaling process, All are mentioned below :
1.ROUTINE DESCALING : This is the simple & easy process or cleaning an entire HVAC system including all piping’s & other components by using high flow of fresh water. As this is a part of general routine cleaning , we stated this named as “Routine Cleaning”
In HVAC industry , we makes a schedule for general cleaning of the system may it can be conducted in 03 or 04 times yearly.
Where after in the period of each three or four months , we clean the entire HVAC system’s pipes & tubes by flowing high fresh water pressure inside. The purpose of doing this is to just remove slurries , oil or grease heavily presented particles which can be easily removed by fresh water only.
2.CHEMICAL DESCALING : This process involves using acids like hydrochloric or sulfuric acid to remove scale from inside of HVAC system’s metals. After descaling , The metal parts are coated with some additional effective chemical layers to prevent rusting.
Where we use different types of certified chemicals to carried out these processes. Chemical descaling also can be described in many ways, Some of these process that is necessary to conduct are as follows :
1.Deep cleaning : Circulating high pressure fresh water in the entire HVAC system.
2.Passive cleaning : Circulating high pressure water with specific chemicals who has high PH level properties. To conduct passivation dose for coating effective layers of chemicals in the entire HVAC system.
3.Anti-rust cleaning : Circulating high pressure water with specific chemicals who has low PH level properties. To remove rusting particles present in the system & to apply anti rust coating layer in an entire HVAC system to prevent corrosive effect & damages of metal components.
4.Bio decomposition cleaning : Here , we use high pressure water flow with chemicals who has a anti bacterial properties. This is final process we conduct after the completion of Descaling all steps. Bio decomposition cleaning is mandatory step to follow in our HVAC industry.
The purpose of doing this cleaning is to protect human being by killing bacterial effect & maintain a healthy water flow in the system. Bio decomposition process works as anti bacterial component & kills all harmful bacteria present in the HVAC system who can cause minor OR Sevier medical health conditions of human being at work place.
MECHANICAL DESCALING : This involves physical method of removing scale from metals that react with chemicals. These process can be conducted by using wire brushes , wool pads , abrasive blasting OR waterjet sprays etc. Mechanical descaling is considered more environmental & cost friendly than chemical cleanings but it works in some places only & mechanical cleaning has lower effective rates compared to chemical cleaning.
Where we use different ways for mechanical cleaning & some of these are as follows :
Mainly we have an effective ways of cleaning here , waterjet cleaning only. As we know the effective cleaning can be done by
using fresh water only. We uses high pressure of fresh water by using jet pumps & this process is carrier out. This is also effective way of cleaning but it can be considered for the surface which is physically visible & accessible easy by human being. Like cleaning of HVAC system Condenser coils / evaporators / visible heat exchangers OR any component which is visible by human eye & accessible easily.
But , As we described Mechanical cleaning process has lower effective rates compared to Chemical cleaning , hence , we suggest our clients for chemical cleaning where may the client pay high initial cost of conducting chemical process but the result & performance they get are extremely satisfying . We suggest our clients if they want to make HVAC system durable for long term they must go for chemical cleaning processes.
3.AQUEOUS ALKALINE CLEANING : This process comes under the chemical cleaning category , where process of cleaning involves using alkaline solutions like sodium , hydroxide , sodium phosphate , sodium mate silicates OR sodium carbonate to remove oxide scales from the metal surfaces.
How does the process carried out & what are the mandatory steps to follow , we already described in chemical cleaning section.
4.ACID CLEANING ( PICKLING ) : This process comes under the chemical cleaning category , where process of cleaning involves using an acid solution to remove oxide scale deposits from metal surfaces. This method is also used to neutralised any remaining alkalis from the previous cleaning process.
How does the process carried out & what are the mandatory steps to follow , we already described in chemical cleaning section.
HVAC industry applications where descaling process is mandatory :
1.For all kinds Heat exchangers like. Shell & tube , collate , fins types condenser & evaporators etc.
2.Split , cassette , ducted FCU / AHU / TFA / PSU / PAU units etc.
3.All kinds DX OR CHW SERIES Chiller plants related to HVAC industries.
4.All kinds of MS , SS , Copper piping & accessories related to HVAC industries.
5.All kinds of Pumps , motors & assemblies related to HVAC industries.
6.All kinds of Carbon & customised air filters related to HVAC industries.
