Patent ID: 6929015

Claim:
A process for the at least partial elimination of carbon deposits in a heat exchanger between two fluids including at least one hydrocarbon fluid, this exchanger operating with a maximum service temperature below about 540° C., in a system for the implementation of a chemical treatment or fractionation process, in which: the exchanger is purged by an inert gas to substantially eliminate the hydrocarbons, a pre-heating of the exchanger is carried out, then it is subjected to an oxidation treatment of at least part of the carbon deposits, comprising at least one controlled-oxidation stage at a temperature between about 400 and about 500° C. for a period of at least 4 hours, by means of an oxidizing fluid comprising on a molar basis, a major quantity of an inert gas comprising nitrogen, or steam or mixtures thereof, and a minor quantity of oxygen, under conditions such that the temperatures of the fluids feeding or leaving the heat exchanger remain below about 520° C. throughout the oxidation treatment, and in that the hot approach of the exchanger remains below about 120° C. throughout the oxidation treatment.