Cleaning large heat-exchangers

• Posted on 17 November 2020
• By David Bokov
• Posted in BFP, Hydrostatic Kinetic Tube Cleaning, Tube Cleaning
• 0

In this blog we will tell you more about our kinetic-hydrostatic BFP system. Which is mainly used for cleaning and maintaining large heat-exchangers and condensers. Particularly found a lot in the power plant sector. Read all the benefits of this system here.

Cleaning large heat exchangers & condensers

When we are talking about large systems, we usually mean systems which have more than 500 or 1000 tubes. Or in other words; where our mechanical tube cleaning systems would take too much time to complete the cleaning. As we all know, downtime of the system is crucial and needs to be decreased as much as possible. This is where our Kinetic-Hydrostatic BFP system comes into play.

By shooting through specialized projectiles, deposits inside the tube are rapidly removed and flushed out as well. These projectiles could be of all sorts of materials, depending on the deposits that need to be removed and the tube material. See below a short video of the BFP system:

Kinetic Hydrostatic Cleaning

The BFP system used 130 liters of water per minute, but in reality is it much less. Because you are only shooting the projectile for a brief period of time (2-3 seconds). The water is used both as a propulsion method, but also for flushing the tubes after removing the deposit. Making sure that the tube is spotless after the projectile has been shot through.

Furthermore, only 28 BAR of pressure is applied, which is very little compared to other methods in the market (i.e. High Pressure). Low pressure cleaning is not only much more safe for the operator(s), but also for the tube inner side as well. As low pressure will not damage the tubes during cleaning. Sometimes high pressure can be so powerful that carbon inside the tubes can be removed, leading to leakages and even worse; a decreased heat transfer.

During the cleaning process, you check if tubes are open or not before loading in a projectile. Might it get stuck for any reason whatsoever, the system will automatically blow back, so no pressure can be built up inside the tube.

Advantages of low pressure projectile cleaning

Kinetic Hydrostatic cleaning can be used for many appliances. Most of the times the system is used for removing softer deposits, like: algae, sand, mud, shells etc. This is particularly found at power plants. But the systems can also be used in the petrochemical industry, where heavier deposits are found, like limescale. Other (major) advantages can be found below:

Speed. Time savings in projectile cleaning is enormous. You can shoot tubes of various lengths within seconds. With 2 persons you can clean about 1000 tubes per hour under the right conditions. That's faster than any method available currently.

Cost reduction. Projectiles are relatively inexpensive and can be reused, so the cost per cleaning is much less than, for example, with high pressure. In addition, only one extra gun or system is needed to shoot through the projectiles. These are also for rent.

Safety. Projectiles are shot at low pressure. This is not only safer for the operators, but also for the system itself. tubes are not exposed to high pressures internally, such as high pressure cleaning of +500 bar or more.

Water consumption. Projectiles shoot through the tubes within seconds. So there is almost no water used to clean a tube. Maybe a few liters per tube.

Projectiles

Goodway Benelux offers several types of projectiles. All of them are different from the other, not only in the material that is used, but also in lifetime, cleaning properties and usability. For instance, cheaper and softer projectiles, such as tube scrubbers, can be used to remove soft deposits like mud. Because this cleaning is easier to do, lighter projectiles can be used. This also saves costs, due to the relatively inexpensive costs of the re-usable projectiles. Below a brief summary can be found:

Tube Scrubbers These are the simplest scrubbers, made of durable polyethylene. They can be used for any tube, including titanium. Tube Scrubbers can be shot through with both the QS-300 and BFP pump. These scrubbers serve as cleaning projectiles for soft deposits such as; Algae, Mud, Sand and more.
On average, they can be reused 3 times.

Coil Brushes These are advanced projectiles with a harder nylon outside, again they can be used for any tube. These projectiles are custom made for the tube inner diameter. Contamination that can be removed: Soft to medium-hard contaminants such as shells, pox and more.
They can be reused 3-5 times on average.

Carbon Steel Super Scrubbers These are Goodway's most advanced and strongest scrubbers. SSM's are custome made to match the tube inner diameter. This could be a slight undersize, 1 on 1 or even an oversize. It all depends on what the customer wants to achieve. These projectiles are made out of strengthened carbon steel material, which allows these scrapers to remove the hardest types of deposits, such as: Limescale. 

They can be reused between 5-10 times.

Expert Advice

If you require additional information or would like to buy/rent this system, please contact our customer service. There, our kinetic-hydrostatic experts will further advice you on the steps to take.