Technical FAQ
What is Ultrasonic Clean-In-Place (CIP)?
USP cleans heat exchangers continuously and during operation using ultrasound. High frequency, low displacement vibrations prevent mineral scale and fouling build-up from settling, which improves heat transfer efficiency and significantly lowers operational-energy costs.
About USP & Ultrasonic CIP
Implementation of USP
USP Specifications
About USP & Ultrasonic Clean-In-Place (CIP)
In which industries can USP be applied?
USP Technology is currently in service for producers in oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, automotive, and power plant applications. Don’t see your industry listed?
What fouling substances does USP work on?
USP effectively mitigates both organic and inorganic fouling. USP has been demonstrated in heat exchangers with soft/gel fouling and also in applications where hard, brittle mineral scale precipitates and forms on the heat transfer surface. USP cleans both the shell-side and tube-side of heat exchangers.
Is the ultrasound from USP safe for my equipment?
There are no records of damage from our customers who have been using the USP. The mechanical energy generated from USP, as determined from in-field analysis, has revealed that the vibrations are less than 5 microns in size. That is far less than the vibrations already present in your operation.
Is my heat exchanger a candidate for Ultrasonic Clean-In-Place?
Our engineering team reviews each candidate individually to determine if they are a candidate for USP. Find out if your process is a candidate.
Implementation of USP
Who is currently using USP Technology?
Some of our customers include Dow Chemical, Shell, PPT, GS Caltex, S-Oil, Thaioil, and ExxonMobil. Many are also repeat customers.
What is the procedure for installing USP?
USP is installed during your scheduled T/A or cleaning outage. The ultrasonic transducers are welded to the heat exchanger and generators are mounted nearby, connected by cabling. After the system is in place, our engineers calibrate and commission the Clean-In-Place system on-site.
How much will USP cost?
Cost is dependent to how many sets of the USP system each exchanger needs for proper fouling mitigation. Our heat exchanger candidate form allows us to determine this and provide you a project estimate.
What are the maintenance requirements?
Operating the USP system is as simple as leaving it ON. Due to electronic components of USP operating continuously, we highly recommend specific parts change-out within the CPU of the generator every 2 years and transducer components to be replaced every 4 years.
USP Specifications
How much power does USP consume per day?
USP works on a very low draw of power and actual electrical energy consumed is between 100 and 250watts, per transducer. For power connection, we require either: 220, 230 or 240Vac
What certifications does USP have?
All USP equipment is certified for the country of use. UL, CE and ATEX certification are standard.
What are the limitations of USP Technology?
USP can operate under a maximum temperature of 385 degrees Celsius. Aluminum metallurgy and plate and frame exchangers which have gasketed plates are not candidates. Each heat exchanger is reviewed by our engineering team.
Is your process a candidate for Ultrasonic Clean-In-Place Technology?
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