Siemens Symphony: cooling-water filters clogging
What happened
Filters in the magnet cooling-water circuit kept loading up with deposits; the case describes a preventive flush of the whole loop to keep them clean.
What was checked
- Flush the circuit with tap water — reported in the case: about 150 litres.
- Circulate a citric-acid solution (about 300 g reported) for roughly a day.
- Rinse with tap water until it runs clear — about 600 litres in this case.
- Finish with a fill of distilled water plus an intermediate flush, then check the filters.
Cause
Deposits and dirt from the fill water gradually accumulate in the cooling loop and foul the filters; in this case, preventive flushing was what kept the circuit clean, not filter changes alone.
What was done
Reported as solved with a full preventive flush of the loop: tap-water flush, day-long citric-acid circulation, rinse to clear water, final fill with distilled water. In this case the engineers reported the filters stayed clean for about five years afterwards. Warning from the discussion: before cleaning the filters at the ACS, switch the chiller off first, otherwise the cabinet can be flooded.
Safety
Stop the chiller and pumps and relieve the circuit pressure before opening any filter housing — the loop is under pressure, and a filter pulled under flow can spray water toward live electrical cabinets.
Lesson: Cooling loops need scheduled preventive flushing, not just filter changes once they clog.
Covered in the course: MRI Service — Level 2: Fault-Finding →
Written from an anonymised case shared by service engineers. It is not a manufacturer instruction and grants no authorisation. Independent note; names are trademarks of their owners.