On-site services

Pre-commissioning cleaning

Cleaning prior to commissioning

A newly built metal process installation, piping system, tank or power plant undergoes various processes, such as rolling, welding, grinding, etc. before it is ready for commissioning (pre-commissioning).

Through these operations, the (metal) surface is contaminated with all kinds of undesirable matter, including grease / oil, welding skin, blasting grit and the like. In addition, these operations affect the temporary protective layer of the steel, causing (fly) rust. To obtain a clean, passive steel surface, chemical technical cleaning is often carried out prior to the commissioning of systems / installations, pre-commissioning cleaning. This prevents the medium that is to be stored or transported in the system from becoming contaminated.

Determining the correct cleaning method

There are various methods for removing the aforementioned contamination. You can read more about these later on.
A project inventory is required to determine the correct cleaning method. During this step the cleaning method is determined on the basis of:

  • Contamination present in the system;
  • Complexity of the system;
  • The material or materials the system consists of;
  • The desired cleaning result by the customer or manufacturer of the system.

The correct assessment for choosing a cleaning method and then its professional implementation, requires expertise. This is where the distinctive character of Vecom lies.

Pre-commissioning, the different methods

The most common cleaning methods for pre-commissioning are:

  1. Cleaning based on hydrochloric acid
    Suitable for: carbon steel, copper
    Removes: iron oxides (rust), welding skin, mill scale and annealing skin
  2. Cleaning based on hydrofluoric acid
    Suitable for: carbon steel, stainless steel, alloys with chromium or P91/92
    Removes: iron oxides (rust), welding skin, mill scale, annealing skin & silicate compounds
  3. Cleaning based on citric acid
    Suitable for: carbon steel, stainless steel, alloys with chromium or P91/92
    Removes: iron oxides (rust), at high temperatures or after adding of additional chemistry, also suitable for removing mill scale and annealing skin
  4. Cleaning based on EDTA/Demclean 94
    Suitable for: carbon steel, stainless steel, alloys with chromium or P91/92
    Removes: iron oxide (rust) and very light grease / atmospheric contamination
  5. Cleaning based on VPX One Step®
    Suitable for: carbon steel, stainless steel, alloys with chromium or P91/92
    Removes: iron oxide (rust)
On-site services

Post-commissioning cleaning

Increase the efficiency of existing systems through chemical technical cleaning.

Read more →

Boiler cleaning

At power plants, the purity of the steam quality is essential. If the steam contains impurities, these can deposit on the turbine blades.

Read more →

Pickling and passivation of stainless steel systems and installations

Stainless steel systems and installations are cleaned before commissioning and in many cases periodically, to remove process contamination.

Read more →

Cleaning of urea strippers

The consequence of the typical deposition in a urea stipper is a reduced heat transfer, making the production process less efficient.

Read more →

De-rouging

The cleaning of stainless steel in the pharmaceutical industry is very important because hygiene is a very high priority here.

Read more →

Pipe pigging

Efficient internal cleaning of transport pipes while the piping system remains operational. More than 90% chemical waste reduction.

Read more →

Specialized chemical technical cleaning for the maritime industry

The cleaner and more reliable the systems of your ship, the more time you have for your core business.

Read more →

Contact us

For more information or questions, contact one of our specialists.