Tower Fouling and Chemical Cleaning

Overview

Fouling inside distillation columns, absorbers, strippers and heat exchangers gradually reduces capacity, separation efficiency and energy performance in refineries, gas plants and petrochemical units. Deposits of coke, polymers, salts, corrosion products, scale and asphaltenes can plug trays and packing, increase pressure drop and cause flooding, off-specification products and unplanned shutdowns. Chemical cleaning offers an effective way to remove these deposits, often faster than manual methods and sometimes online. However, it must be carefully planned to protect equipment, people and the environment.

This course provides a practical understanding of fouling mechanisms in towers and associated equipment and the planning and execution of chemical cleaning. Participants learn the main types of fouling, how to identify them from operating data and inspections, and how to prevent or reduce them through operating practices and chemical treatment. The course covers cleaning chemistries such as solvents, acids, alkalis, chelants and oxidisers, online and offline cleaning methods, compatibility with materials, and the design of cleaning procedures. It also explains safety and waste management, gas freeing and decontamination before turnarounds, verification of cleaning results and refinery case studies.

Objectives

• Explain the main fouling mechanisms in towers and associated equipment
• Identify fouling from operating data, pressure drop and inspection findings
• Reduce fouling through operating practices and chemical treatment programmes
• Select cleaning chemicals based on deposit type and materials of construction
• Plan online and offline chemical cleaning procedures safely and effectively
• Manage decontamination, gas freeing and waste from cleaning operations
• Verify cleaning results and learn from cleaning campaigns

Who should attend

Training methodology

The course combines explanation of fouling chemistry and cleaning technology with analysis of real operating data, inspection photographs and cleaning procedures. Participants diagnose fouling from pressure drop trends, temperature profiles and gamma scans, identify deposit types from laboratory analyses and photographs, and select suitable cleaning chemicals. They prepare a chemical cleaning plan for a fouled column, including isolation, circulation, monitoring and waste handling. Case studies of successful cleaning campaigns and incidents during cleaning are analysed in groups. Each day ends with a short quiz.

Programme outline

Dates and fees

Certificate

Frequently asked questions