In a perfect world, your heat transfer system would never require cleaning. But if the need arises, it’s helpful to know what your options are. The right choice will depend largely on how severely fouled your system has become.
Clean while running production
Downtime is always costly, and if your system isn’t excessively fouled, there are cleaners that allow you to clean without shutting down. DuraClean can be used as on-the-fly preventative maintenance, working at temperatures up to 550°F. It can even stay in the system for an entire oil cycle if necessary.
The process is straightforward: drain your current fluid, fill with DuraClean, and continue running production for a typical oil cycle. For heavily fouled systems, however, use with caution. Loosened deposits could cause blockages or interrupt production in systems with smaller orifices and lines. Variants include a food-grade option (DuraClean FG) and U-Clean, designed specifically for PAG (polyalkylene glycol) fluids such as Duratherm G and UCON 500.
Another option is DuraClean LSC, an additive-style cleaner intended for large systems where filling the entire loop with cleaner would be too costly. It’s added directly to existing fluids at up to 10% concentration. Cleaning occurs gradually over 3–4 weeks, but the cleaner can remain in the system indefinitely, allowing production to continue uninterrupted.
What if things are really bad?
For systems that are heavily fouled or need rapid cleaning, DuraClean Ultra is the solution. It’s a fast, aggressive cleaner, though production must be stopped during its use. The process usually takes only a few hours: drain all thermal fluid, refill with DuraClean Ultra, and circulate for 4–6 hours (longer if possible). Once complete, drain thoroughly—or flush if necessary—before refilling with fresh fluid.
But how did this happen in the first place?
The need for system cleaning is usually a symptom of underlying issues. Common causes include running fluid past its service life, operating an expansion tank at excessive temperatures, allowing air into the system, or experiencing a sudden stop in flow due to a power outage or emergency shutdown. By understanding the factors that cause fluid degradation, you can extend fluid life and reduce the need for cleaning.
This overview should help you better understand your cleaning options. If you need guidance selecting the right cleaner for your application, we’re here to help.
Learning Center
Procédures et intervalles d'échantillonnage recommandés par Duratherm
Les fluides Duratherm sont conçus pour avoir une longue durée ... Read more
Quelle est la différence entre un nettoyant de chasse d'eau et un nettoyant de système ?
On nous demande souvent un liquide de rinçage alors qu'il ... Read more
System Flushes vs. Cleaners: What You Need to Know
People often ask for a flushing fluid when what’s really ... Read more
Sealing the Deal: Preventing System Leaks
Invested in a high-quality fluid? Prevent costly leaks by understanding
Choosing the Right System Cleaner
Although the goal is to avoid ever needing to clean
Sludge Series Part II: Preventing Build-Up Before It Starts
Sludge clogs systems and raises costs. In Part 2, we
