An online cleaning system for tube and shell heat exchangers is presented. The system includes a positioner, a plunger, an umbilical cleaner, and a motor. The cleaning system cleans the tubes while the heat exchanger remains in operation. The cleaning system locates and isolates a single tube via rotating and translating mechanical actions and inserts the umbilical cleaner into the tube, which may clean the tube via rotational movement or via sonication. The cleaning system may further clean the outer surface of the tubes of the heat exchanger.

An online cleaning system for tube and shell heat exchangers is presented. The system includes a positioner, a plunger, an umbilical cleaner, and a motor. The cleaning system cleans the tubes while the heat exchanger remains in operation. The cleaning system locates and isolates a single tube via rotating and translating mechanical actions and inserts the umbilical cleaner into the tube, which may clean the tube via rotational movement or via sonication. The cleaning system may further clean the outer surface of the tubes of the heat exchanger.

An online cleaning system for tube and shell heat exchangers is presented. The system includes a positioner, a plunger, an umbilical cleaner, and a motor. The cleaning system cleans the tubes while the heat exchanger remains in operation. The cleaning system locates and isolates a single tube via rotating and translating mechanical actions and inserts the umbilical cleaner into the tube, which may clean the tube via rotational movement or via sonication. The cleaning system may further clean the outer surface of the tubes of the heat exchanger.

An online cleaning system for tube and shell heat exchangers is presented. The system includes a positioner, a plunger, an umbilical cleaner, and a motor. The cleaning system cleans the tubes while the heat exchanger remains in operation. The cleaning system locates and isolates a single tube via rotating and translating mechanical actions and inserts the umbilical cleaner into the tube, which may clean the tube via rotational movement or via sonication. The cleaning system may further clean the outer surface of the tubes of the heat exchanger.

An online cleaning system for tube and shell heat exchangers is presented. The system includes a positioner, a plunger, an umbilical cleaner, and a motor. The cleaning system cleans the tubes while the heat exchanger remains in operation. The cleaning system locates and isolates a single tube via rotating and translating mechanical actions and inserts the umbilical cleaner into the tube, which may clean the tube via rotational movement or via sonication. The cleaning system may further clean the outer surface of the tubes of the heat exchanger.

A heat exchanger for separating a vapor component from a carrier gas is disclosed. The carrier gas is cooled in an outer chamber, causing a vapor component of the carrier gas to desublimate or condense onto an outer surface of an inner chamber, forming a solid product. A coolant is passed through the inner chamber to cool the carrier gas of the outer chamber. A means for causing the inner chamber to flex is provided, causing the solid product to fall from the outer surface of the inner chamber for collection. In this manner, the vapor component is separated from the carrier gas.

A boiler system includes a boiler having at least one heat exchanger having a surface on which a deposit may form. The boiler system further includes at least one retractable sootblower having a lance tube for carrying a high pressure fluid into the boiler. The lance tube is configured such that the high pressure fluid impacts the heat exchanger surface to effect a vibration thereof. The boiler system also includes at least one vibration measuring device coupled to the boiler system. The vibration measuring device is configured to measure the vibration of the heat exchanger surface, and the measured vibration indicates presence or absence of the deposit on the heat exchanger surface. The vibration measuring device may optionally detect a vibration caused by the release of the deposit from the surface of the heat exchanger or the impact of the released deposit with a surface in the boiler system.

A boiler system includes a boiler having at least one heat exchanger having a surface on which a deposit may form. The boiler system further includes at least one retractable sootblower having a lance tube for carrying a high pressure fluid into the boiler. The lance tube is configured such that the high pressure fluid impacts the heat exchanger surface to effect a vibration thereof. The boiler system also includes at least one vibration measuring device coupled to the boiler system. The vibration measuring device is configured to measure the vibration of the heat exchanger surface, and the measured vibration indicates presence or absence of the deposit on the heat exchanger surface. The vibration measuring device may optionally detect a vibration caused by the release of the deposit from the surface of the heat exchanger or the impact of the released deposit with a surface in the boiler system.

A method for removing a surface foulant is disclosed. An operating heat exchanger is provided. A carrier liquid that contains potential fouling agents is provided to the heat exchanger. The potential fouling agents foul at least a portion of the heat exchanger. The exchanger is operated such that the carrier liquid is at a vapor pressure equal to the operating pressure. Cavitation inducing devices are provided to the exchanger. A condition indicating fouling is detected. The cavitation inducing devices are operated on a portion of the exchanger to cause a localized pressure change, vaporizing a portion of the carrier liquid and forming a transient bubble or bubbles which collapse by cavitation, producing a localized shockwave, a re-entrant microjet, and extreme transient pressures and temperatures. These steps are repeated as necessary to remove the surface foulant. In this manner, the surface foulant is removed from the operating heat exchanger.

A method for removing a surface foulant is disclosed. An operating heat exchanger is provided. A carrier liquid that contains potential fouling agents is provided to the heat exchanger. The potential fouling agents foul at least a portion of the heat exchanger. The exchanger is operated such that the carrier liquid is at a vapor pressure equal to the operating pressure. Cavitation inducing devices are provided to the exchanger. A condition indicating fouling is detected. The cavitation inducing devices are operated on a portion of the exchanger to cause a localized pressure change, vaporizing a portion of the carrier liquid and forming a transient bubble or bubbles which collapse by cavitation, producing a localized shockwave, a re-entrant microjet, and extreme transient pressures and temperatures. These steps are repeated as necessary to remove the surface foulant. In this manner, the surface foulant is removed from the operating heat exchanger.