The Process Of Cleaning Heat Exchanger Tubes

Cleaning heat exchanger tubes are quite a challenging job. The strenuous job demands expertise and labor to accomplish the task of cleaning with perfection. However, you also need the right cleaning heat exchanger equipment to perfect the cleaning process.

The task is difficult in the sense that, cleaning air to water heat exchanger requires several cumbersome tasks, such as getting inside the tube and then cleaning the interior with the proper cleaning equipments. The assortment of equipments includes abrasive balls, brushes, hose, chemicals and scrapers, which can be both metal and plastic.

Cleaning Heat exchanger tubes – The tubes are of different sizes and metal

The heat exchanger to be used depend upon the type of the vessel, whether large or small and the shape of the tubing. Hence, the pipe used in the heat exchanger will vary in size accordingly. There are certain tubes, which are very small (almost less than an inch) and there are tubes, which can be very large in size, more than 800 feet in length.

Apart from the sizes of the tubes, it also includes the type of metals that is to be used in coating the tube. Hence, prior to cleaning the heat exchanger tubes, it is important to consider the size and the type of metal that is used in making the tube.

Traditional Vs New Method of Cleaning Heat Exchanger Tubes

The traditional method of cleaning heat exchanger tubes has many drawbacks. The hydroblasting procedures used in the traditional system failed to clean up the pipes properly. Since, water gushed in one direction therefore streaking on the other side was very common. On the other hand, when water was blasted through the tube, the contaminants, like chloride, salt were embedded in to the side walls and this caused frequent befouling.

Whereas the new method uses a rotating cleaning device, which creates more pressure, As a result, the debris accumulated at the side of the walls get washed away. The thorough cleaning of the inner walls of the pipes, enable in recoating and the wall is good enough as new when finished. In addition, the new method avoids using any hazardous chemicals, which can wear the inner walls.

Most important of all, remember that inspection is important after the cleaning process is completed. This will ensure that cleaning heat exchanger tubes has accomplished the essential goal.