A system for cleaning heat exchange tubes includes one or more cleaning robots that are assembled with the tubes. Each cleaning robot includes a housing having an opening extending therethrough for receiving one of the heat exchange tubes, a scraper blade extending into the opening of the housing, the scraper blade having an inner scraping edge that opposes the outer surface of one of the tubes, a wheel coupled with the housing for rolling over the outer surface of the tube, and a motor for driving rotation of the wheel to move the cleaning robot over the outer surface of the tube. The system includes a system controller with one or more microprocessors and one or more software programs for monitoring and controlling operation of the cleaning robots.

A device for driving a flexible lance for cleaning a heat exchanger duct or the like, includes a frame in which a driving mechanism is arranged for moving this flexible lance in a driving direction in the direction of an outlet opening. The driving mechanism is provided with a clamp member which can be clamped on the flexible lance and which is movable in the frame towards and away from this outlet opening. The clamp member is mounted on an endless drive element. The active part of the endless drive runs parallel to the driving direction. The drive mechanism further comprises at least one non-driven counter roller arranged opposite said clamp member. The lance is clamped between the clamp member and the counter roller.

A method and apparatus for manipulating a tool within the secondary side of a steam generator having a tube sheet with a tube bundle having a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending from the tube sheet in rows with an annulus extending around the heat exchange tubes on a periphery of the tube bundle, between the tubes and a wrapper which surrounds the tube bundle. A robot is introduced into the annulus and extends a probe with a tool across selected lanes between the rows of tubes. A method and apparatus is also disclosed for cleaning sludge from the top of a tube sheet that includes introducing a moveable suction apparatus having attached vacuum inlets into either the no tube lane or the circumferential annulus and sludge vacuuming the top of the tube sheet.

A method and apparatus for manipulating a tool within the secondary side of a steam generator having a tube sheet with a tube bundle having a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending from the tube sheet in rows with an annulus extending around the heat exchange tubes on a periphery of the tube bundle, between the tubes and a wrapper which surrounds the tube bundle. A robot is introduced into the annulus and extends a probe with a tool across selected lanes between the rows of tubes. A method and apparatus is also disclosed for cleaning sludge from the top of a tube sheet that includes introducing a moveable suction apparatus having attached vacuum inlets into either the no tube lane or the circumferential annulus and sludge vacuuming the top of the tube sheet.

An automated or manual laser ablation system and method of use to enable safe, non-user-contact, rapid, and remote cleaning of industrial tubular equipment, e.g. heat-exchangers and reactors. The laser ablation system comprises: a fiber optic cable (12) with a laser probe output end (20), connected to an optics unit (5 or 6) enclosed within a laser probe housing (14). The optics unit comprises: a double convex and/or one or two plano-convex lens; and an Axicon prism, mirror cone, and/or galvo-scanning mirror to emit a rotating or a fixed circular beam. The laser beam cleans a plurality of reactor tubes' internal wall to cause the evaporation of deposit buildups and rust. The laser ablation system further comprises: an air vacuum system (30) positioned to cool the ablation system while removing the debris to a vacuum generator (35); and/or a push motor (60) that pushes and pulls the system through the tubes.

A cleaning installation of a heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger linked upstream to an intake duct for a fluid and downstream to an outlet duct for the fluid. A system is provided for recovering cleaning bodies from the outlet duct after cleaning of the exchanger by the bodies and for reinjecting bodies into the intake duct. The system includes a member capable of being displaced between a first position in which the system is configured to recover and contain cleaning bodies in the mobile member, and a second position in which the system is configured to take fluid from the intake duct and reinject, into this duct, via the mobile member and under the action of the fluid taken, cleaning bodies contained in the member.

A cleaning installation of a heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger linked upstream to an intake duct for a fluid and downstream to an outlet duct for the fluid. A system is provided for recovering cleaning bodies from the outlet duct after cleaning of the exchanger by the bodies and for reinjecting bodies into the intake duct. The system includes a member capable of being displaced between a first position in which the system is configured to recover and contain cleaning bodies in the mobile member, and a second position in which the system is configured to take fluid from the intake duct and reinject, into this duct, via the mobile member and under the action of the fluid taken, cleaning bodies contained in the member.

A conduit cleaning device is provided and includes a center structure having a center structure wall, a center structure top and a center structure bottom, wherein the center structure wall and center structure top define a center structure cavity and a center structure opening communicated with the center structure cavity. Additionally, a plurality of outer structures is provided, wherein the plurality of outer structures are associated with the center structure wall to extend out of and away from an outer surface of the center structure wall, wherein the plurality of outer structures are disposed in an inclined fashion between the center structure bottom and the center structure top and arranged along the outer surface of the center structure wall to form a helical pattern.

A conduit cleaning device is provided and includes a center structure having a center structure wall, a center structure top and a center structure bottom, wherein the center structure wall and center structure top define a center structure cavity and a center structure opening communicated with the center structure cavity. Additionally, a plurality of outer structures is provided, wherein the plurality of outer structures are associated with the center structure wall to extend out of and away from an outer surface of the center structure wall, wherein the plurality of outer structures are disposed in an inclined fashion between the center structure bottom and the center structure top and arranged along the outer surface of the center structure wall to form a helical pattern.

A device for driving a flexible lance for cleaning a heat exchanger duct or the like, includes a frame in which a driving mechanism is arranged for moving this flexible lance in a driving direction in the direction of an outlet opening. The driving mechanism is provided with a clamp member which can be clamped on the flexible lance and which is movable in the frame towards and away from this outlet opening. The clamp member is mounted on an endless drive element. The active part of the endless drive runs parallel to the driving direction. The drive mechanism further comprises at least one non-driven counter roller arranged opposite said clamp member. The lance is clamped between the clamp member and the counter roller.