Rodding out the heat exchanger (Table 8.1.2 - NFPA 25)

[ContractorDave]

I Googled it and I asked our rep at the company who does many of our start-ups and commissioning of diesel fire pumps but I haven't come out much more the wiser. Looking at most heat exchangers, this doesn't seem very intuitive.

Can anyone share their experiences on this?

 

[skdesigner]

I believe this requires you to remove the tube bundle from the heat exchanger and brush the tubes out with a cleaning rod.

I asked one of fire pump pros here, and got a blank stare in return. I'm going to hazard a guess and say this probably doesn't happen on many 25 inspections.

If you come up with a definite answer, please share.

 

[ContractorDave]

This from another fire pump rep:

I cannot find anything in any of the engine manufacturers IO&M regarding this statement.
However from all of my time selling shell and tube heat exchangers I have heard the term from some of the “Oldtimers”.
The term simply means to rod or brush the interior of the tubes to remove scale from them to keep the capacity as close
to design as possible. I have never even seen a heat exchanger on an engine foul bad enough to warrant cleaning after
several years of use.



Regards
D

A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be
Thomas Paine

http://www.ykfireprevention.ca