The present invention comprises a method and system for the in-situ cleaning of a heat exchanger tube bundle of carbonaceous deposits. Using the method and system, an organic solvent is brought into fluid communication with one or more heat exchanger tube bundles in a closed system. The closed system is formed at the site of operation of the heat exchanger tube bundles and without having to remove the heat exchanger tube bundles from their shells or other associated equipment. Once the closed system is formed, the organic solvent is brought to a temperature at which it is effective to remove carbonaceous deposits from the heat exchanger tube bundle and flowed through the equipment associated with the heat exchanger tube bundles so as to contact the heat exchanger tube bundles and remove carbonaceous deposits that have formed therein. In some embodiments, the spent organic solvent may be recovered, such as through the removal of suspended hydrocarbons, and reused in the method and system for cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles.

The present invention comprises a method and system for the in-situ cleaning of a heat exchanger tube bundle of carbonaceous deposits. Using the method and system, an organic solvent is brought into fluid communication with one or more heat exchanger tube bundles in a closed system. The closed system is formed at the site of operation of the heat exchanger tube bundles and without having to remove the heat exchanger tube bundles from their shells or other associated equipment. Once the closed system is formed, the organic solvent is brought to a temperature at which it is effective to remove carbonaceous deposits from the heat exchanger tube bundle and flowed through the equipment associated with the heat exchanger tube bundles so as to contact the heat exchanger tube bundles and remove carbonaceous deposits that have formed therein. In some embodiments, the spent organic solvent may be recovered, such as through the removal of suspended hydrocarbons, and reused in the method and system for cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles.

An apparatus for positioning a flexible lance drive device in registry with an opening into a heat exchanger tube sheet includes a flat plate bracket adapted to be bolted parallel to a flange of the heat exchanger. The bracket carries a stub tube fastened to and extending normal to the flat bracket. A rotary drive is removably fastened to the stub tube and has a rotary disc rotatable in a plane parallel to the tube sheet. A slotted box rail has a proximal end clamped to the rotary disc and a linear drive assembly is removably fastened to the slotted box rail. A guide tube collet block assembly clamped to the linear drive assembly removably supports a flexible lance drive and guide tube to guide a flexible lance between the lance drive and a selected one of a plurality of tubes penetrating through the heat exchanger tube sheet.

An apparatus for positioning a flexible lance drive device in registry with an opening into a heat exchanger tube sheet includes a flat plate bracket adapted to be bolted parallel to a flange of the heat exchanger. The bracket carries a stub tube fastened to and extending normal to the flat bracket. A rotary drive is removably fastened to the stub tube and has a rotary disc rotatable in a plane parallel to the tube sheet. A slotted box rail has a proximal end clamped to the rotary disc and a linear drive assembly is removably fastened to the slotted box rail. A guide tube collet block assembly clamped to the linear drive assembly removably supports a flexible lance drive and guide tube to guide a flexible lance between the lance drive and a selected one of a plurality of tubes penetrating through the heat exchanger tube sheet.

A process of using a chemical gel cleaning formulation to clean a cooling tower fill, comprising the steps of applying a pre-rinse fluid to the fill; applying the chemical gel cleaning formulation to the fill, wherein the chemical gel cleaning formulation includes glycerin, at least one polysaccharide, at least one corrosion inhibitor, at least one surfactant, and at least one acid; applying a descaling fluid to the fill; applying a neutralizer solution to the fill to neutralize the pH of residual fluid on the fill surface; and rinsing the fill with a rinsing fluid to remove residual chemical gel cleaning formulation and descaling fluid, residual neutralizer solution, and dissolved deposits from the fill.

A process of using a chemical gel cleaning formulation to clean a cooling tower fill, comprising the steps of applying a pre-rinse fluid to the fill; applying the chemical gel cleaning formulation to the fill, wherein the chemical gel cleaning formulation includes glycerin, at least one polysaccharide, at least one corrosion inhibitor, at least one surfactant, and at least one acid; applying a descaling fluid to the fill; applying a neutralizer solution to the fill to neutralize the pH of residual fluid on the fill surface; and rinsing the fill with a rinsing fluid to remove residual chemical gel cleaning formulation and descaling fluid, residual neutralizer solution, and dissolved deposits from the fill.

A device for changing a flow direction through a heat exchanger, comprising a valve housing and a rotatable valve member arranged inside the valve housing. The valve housing comprises first and second ends and a centre axis (B) extending between them. The device comprises a first port, a second port, a third port and a fourth port. The first end is provided with the first port and the second end is provided with the third and fourth ports, wherein the valve member is rotatable between a first position and a second position and, in the first position, defines a conduit between the first port and the third port and, in the second position, defines a conduit between the first port and the fourth port. The valve member is rotatable around an axis of rotation offset from the centre axis (B) and extending through the centre of the first, and the first port is angularly displaced 90° around the centre axis (B) in relation to the third and fourth ports.

A device for changing a flow direction through a heat exchanger, comprising a valve housing and a rotatable valve member arranged inside the valve housing. The valve housing comprises first and second ends and a centre axis (B) extending between them. The device comprises a first port, a second port, a third port and a fourth port. The first end is provided with the first port and the second end is provided with the third and fourth ports, wherein the valve member is rotatable between a first position and a second position and, in the first position, defines a conduit between the first port and the third port and, in the second position, defines a conduit between the first port and the fourth port. The valve member is rotatable around an axis of rotation offset from the centre axis (B) and extending through the centre of the first, and the first port is angularly displaced 90° around the centre axis (B) in relation to the third and fourth ports.

A fluid flow-path device facilitates a maintenance operation to remove a foreign substance adhered to a member, to prevent passage of the foreign material. The fluid flow-path device has a distribution header including a partition member and a header body in a flow-path formation body. The partition member partitions a distribution space of the distribution header into an upstream-side space that communicates with a supply opening in the header body, and a downstream-side space that communicates with a plurality of flow paths in the flow-path formation body. The partition member includes a region that prevents a foreign substance in a fluid from flowing from the upstream-side space to the downstream-side space, while allowing the fluid to flow. The header body has an opening that allows a washing fluid to flow into the downstream-side space, and an opening that allows the washing fluid to be discharged from the upstream-side space.

A fluid flow-path device facilitates a maintenance operation to remove a foreign substance adhered to a member, to prevent passage of the foreign material. The fluid flow-path device has a distribution header including a partition member and a header body in a flow-path formation body. The partition member partitions a distribution space of the distribution header into an upstream-side space that communicates with a supply opening in the header body, and a downstream-side space that communicates with a plurality of flow paths in the flow-path formation body. The partition member includes a region that prevents a foreign substance in a fluid from flowing from the upstream-side space to the downstream-side space, while allowing the fluid to flow. The header body has an opening that allows a washing fluid to flow into the downstream-side space, and an opening that allows the washing fluid to be discharged from the upstream-side space.