Sierra Chemicals

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Biodegradable Cleaning Solutions

Biodegradable
Fin Fan
Cleaning

Keep your air-cooled heat exchangers running at peak efficiency — without shutdowns, surface damage, or environmental risk.

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Green Seal Certified
Green Seal™ Certified
GS-37 Standard — Industrial & Institutional Cleaning Products
10–30%
Heat transfer loss from fouled fins
$500K+
Replacement cost for plugged exchanger
7 Months
Lead time for replacement parts
12 Hrs
Sierra's typical clean & return time
Fin Fan Cleaning
Why It Matters

Fouled Fins Cost More Than You Think

Air-cooled fin fans are critical to compression and processing at midstream facilities. When fins foul with hydrocarbons, dust, and scale, heat transfer efficiency drops — and your compressors run hotter, harder, and closer to failure.

The result is unplanned downtime, throughput loss, and expensive equipment replacement. Sierra's E-6 foam cleaning process restores your fins safely and quickly — without surface damage or environmental risk.

10–30%
Typical heat transfer loss from fouled fins
$500K+
Replacement cost for a plugged exchanger
7 Months
Lead time for replacement parts
12 Hours
Sierra's typical clean & return-to-service
Our Proven Process

Our 4-Step Cleaning Process

Sierra's cleaning process is designed to maximize effectiveness while protecting fin integrity and meeting site safety requirements.

1
Pre-Cleaning Prep
Fans shut down, locked out, and dry debris cleared from fin bundles so foam penetrates deeper and cleans more effectively.
2
Foam Application
E-6 applied as low-pressure foam, penetrating between fins to reach trapped hydrocarbons and scale at every layer.
3
Dwell & Lift
Surfactant breaks the bond between organics and fin surfaces — no aggressive pressure that could damage fin material.
4
Rinse & Restore
Low-pressure rinse removes loosened fouling completely — fins undamaged and ready to return to service immediately.
Our Chemistry

Our E-6 Surfactant — Green Seal™ Certified

Green Seal Certified
Green Seal™ GS-37 Certified
Industrial & Institutional Cleaning Products — Third-Party Verified

E-6 has exceptional surfactant properties that lower surface tension between solids, semi-solids, and liquids. Applied as a foam, it achieves an alkaline pH of 8–9 to lift organics trapped between fins — then the after-rinse dilution brings it back to near neutral.

Non-flammable and non-combustible at any concentration. Safe for most metal and nonmetal surfaces with no discoloration or reactivity.

pH Range
Alkaline pH 8–9 during application, returns to near-neutral after rinse — safe for drainage.
Non-Flammable
Non-flammable and non-combustible at any concentration — critical for active gas processing environments.
Surface Safe
Safe for most metal and nonmetal surfaces — no discoloration, no reactivity, no fin damage.
Low Pressure Application
Applied as foam at low pressure — penetrates between tightly packed fins without bending or damaging fin material.
Green Seal™ GS-37 Certified
Third-party certified under the most rigorous industrial cleaning product standard in North America.
Rapidly Biodegradable
Breaks down quickly in the environment — does not persist in soil or water after the job is complete.
Third-Party Verified

Green Seal™ Certified — GS-37

Green Seal is one of the most rigorous third-party environmental certifications in North America. To earn GS-37, E-6 had to pass strict criteria across four areas.

Green Seal Certified
Green Seal™ GS-37
Industrial & Institutional Cleaning Products — Third-Party Verified
Meets Standards
ANSI ISO 14020 ISO 14024 GENICES

Green Seal evaluation procedures meet international standards for environmental labels. E-6's GS-37 certification is not self-declared — it requires independent laboratory testing and ongoing re-evaluation.

🌿
Rapidly Biodegradable
E-6 breaks down quickly in the environment — it does not persist in soil or water after a job is complete.
🚫
No Toxic Ingredients
Free of chemicals on restricted substance lists — no carcinogens, mutagens, or aquatic toxins.
🐟
Aquatic Safe
Formulated to meet acute aquatic toxicity limits — important when rinse water contacts soil or drainage.
✅
Third-Party Verified
Certification requires independent laboratory testing and ongoing re-evaluation — not self-declared.
Safety & Credentials

Designed for Midstream Environments

E-6 and Sierra Chemicals meet the safety and compliance requirements of the most demanding midstream operators in North America.

Non-Flammable at Any Concentration
Will not create a flammable atmosphere — critical in active gas processing environments where ignition risk must be eliminated at all times.
No Hot Work Permits Required
Reduces job complexity and site risk significantly — no additional permit coordination needed, streamlining your maintenance planning.
ISNetworld, PEC Premier & Avetta Approved
Sierra is pre-qualified across major contractor management platforms used by midstream operators — minimizing your procurement complexity.
Industries Served

Proven at Midstream Facilities Across the U.S.

Sierra Chemicals has performed fin fan cleaning at hundreds of sites for operators across the midstream and upstream sectors.

  • Compression stations
  • Gas processing plants
  • Fractionators
  • NGL pipelines
  • Amine units and heat exchangers
  • Plate & frame exchangers
  • Mol sieve units
Operators We've Served
Fin Fan Cleaning Operations
"

"Sierra Chemicals was our first call when we needed help with a plate and fin exchanger that was plugged up. Our exchanger was completely clogged with a mixture of mol sieve dust and heavy hydrocarbons. For us to replace this exchanger, it would involve waiting for 7 months just for the parts to be manufactured at a cost of $500,000, plus an estimated loss of revenue of over $4 million with the plant shutdown it would entail. Sierra had the system cleaned & flushed with methanol and turned back over to us in just 12 hours. Thanks to Sierra's chemical cleaning, we were able to extend the lifespan of the exchanger and avoid a costly unplanned shutdown."

Senior Engineer, Major Midstream Facility — Williston, ND
Get Started

Ready to Recover Your Heat Transfer Efficiency?

Our team will assess your site, identify fouling issues, and recommend a cleaning plan. Contact us to schedule a free site evaluation or speak directly with a fin fan specialist.

Schedule a Free Evaluation Request a Quote
Contact Sierra Chemicals
  • Schedule a free site evaluation
  • Request a quote for your specific equipment
  • Talk directly to a fin fan specialist
info@sierrachemicals.com
(970) 764-4114
sierrachemicals.com

Hear From A Customer