Process for the cleaning of heat exchangers for exhaust gases from engines

Claim 1

In a process comprising cooling the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine of a stationary installation by use of a heat exchanger having conudit walls, wherein said exhaust gases are passed in direct contact with a first surface of each said wall and a heat transfer medium is circulated past the opposite second surface of each said wall in direct contact therewith, thereby transferrring heat from said exhaust gases through said walls to said heat transfer medium, the improvement comprising removing from said first surfaces of said conduit walls sediment and condensate deposited thereon from said exhaust gases, said removing comprising: interrupting said circulation of said heat transfer medium in direct contact with said second surfaces of said conduit walls, such that said transfer of heat from said exhaust gases to said heat transfer medium is interrupted; and thereby transferring said heat from said exhaust gases to said conduit walls and thus heating said conduit walls to a temperature sufficient to burn said sediment and condensate from said first surfaces;