A device and system are disclosed to clean the interior of tubes in air-cooled heat exchangers. The device is attached at each end of a tube by electromagnetism; either directly to a ferromagnetic tube header, or to a ferromagnetic plate secured to a non-ferromagnetic plug-type header or to a plate-type header of any metal. High pressure air with entrained dry finely-divided abrasive is conducted through a nozzle supported by the device. At the other end of the tube, another device supports a nozzle that captures the air, spent abrasive, and removed material. Spent abrasive and removed material are separated by filtration from the air before the air is exhausted to the environment. Tubes are cleaned to a bright metal condition, suitable for inspection or application of a corrosion-resistant coating, or to a lesser level of cleanliness appropriate for return to service.

A device and system are disclosed to clean the interior of tubes in air-cooled heat exchangers. The device is attached at each end of a tube by electromagnetism; either directly to a ferromagnetic tube header, or to a ferromagnetic plate secured to a non-ferromagnetic plug-type header or to a plate-type header of any metal. High pressure air with entrained dry finely-divided abrasive is conducted through a nozzle supported by the device. At the other end of the tube, another device supports a nozzle that captures the air, spent abrasive, and removed material. Spent abrasive and removed material are separated by filtration from the air before the air is exhausted to the environment. Tubes are cleaned to a bright metal condition, suitable for inspection or application of a corrosion-resistant coating, or to a lesser level of cleanliness appropriate for return to service.

Belt-fed tube cleaning systems and methods may include a tube cleaning projectile belt loaded into a pneumatic firing apparatus employing a cam-activated indexing element and projectile belt separation objects that permit or cause removal of individual tube cleaning projectiles from the tube cleaning projectile belt for semi-automatic tube cleaning operation thereof.

Belt-fed tube cleaning systems and methods may include a tube cleaning projectile belt loaded into a pneumatic firing apparatus employing a cam-activated indexing element and projectile belt separation objects that permit or cause removal of individual tube cleaning projectiles from the tube cleaning projectile belt for semi-automatic tube cleaning operation thereof.

Cleanout systems are disclosed. An example environmental control system includes an exhaust plenum to exhaust cooling fluid from a heat exchanger outlet of a heat exchanger, and a cleanout system coupled to the exhaust plenum adjacent the heat exchanger outlet. The cleanout system includes a cleanout passageway to fluidly couple a cleanout inlet accessible from an outer surface of the exhaust plenum and a cleanout outlet in fluid communication with the heat exchanger outlet. The cleanout system is to enable removal of particulate from the heat exchanger without disassembling the heat exchanger from the exhaust plenum or an air intake.

A header delivery system and method for performing a pigging operation on a process tube connected to a header pipe. The header delivery system is insertable in the header pipe and has a launcher pipe for launching an inspection or cleaning tool to the process tube. A tube coupler for coupling to the process tube and a bumper are connected to the launcher pipe. A jack apparatus is configured to position the tube coupler and the bumper. A wedge assembly is connected to the launcher pipe and has a first actuating wedge and a first extension wedge. A first linear actuator is connected to the first actuating wedge and is configured to move the first extension wedge and the tube coupler mount apart from one another to position the tube coupler and the bumper from a retracted position to an extended position.

A method for cleaning a coke deposit from an internal surface of a process equipment, comprising removing at least a portion of the coke deposit from the internal surface using a flexible pig comprising a plurality of bristles, without damaging a metal protective layer of the internal surface of the process equipment. A flexible pig for cleaning a coke deposit from an internal surface of a process equipment without damaging a metal protective layer of the internal surface, comprising a flexible body formed of a polymeric material, and a plurality of bristles partially encapsulated by the polymeric material of the flexible body.

A method for cleaning a coke deposit from an internal surface of a process equipment, comprising removing at least a portion of the coke deposit from the internal surface using a flexible pig comprising a plurality of bristles, without damaging a metal protective layer of the internal surface of the process equipment. A flexible pig for cleaning a coke deposit from an internal surface of a process equipment without damaging a metal protective layer of the internal surface, comprising a flexible body formed of a polymeric material, and a plurality of bristles partially encapsulated by the polymeric material of the flexible body.

An apparatus for the maintenance and operation of an air-cooled heat exchanger (ACHE) includes a plurality of spray tubes provided with spaced-apart nozzles permanently positioned between the finned heat exchange tubes and longitudinally aligned within the region of the finned-tube pitch. The apparatus is operable in several modes, including cleaning where the flow of air is stopped and temperature-controlled pressurized water with an optional cleaning agent is discharged from the nozzles to dislodge dirt and debris from the finned surfaces while simultaneously cooling the hot process liquid. When extremes of ambient air temperatures preclude the forced air fans from achieving the target temperature range of the process liquid passing through the ACHE, refrigerated pressurized cooled water and compressed air in the form of a mist is discharged from the nozzles, or alternatively, pressurized heated air is discharged from the nozzles.

An apparatus for the maintenance and operation of an air-cooled heat exchanger (ACHE) includes a plurality of spray tubes provided with spaced-apart nozzles permanently positioned between the finned heat exchange tubes and longitudinally aligned within the region of the finned-tube pitch. The apparatus is operable in several modes, including cleaning where the flow of air is stopped and temperature-controlled pressurized water with an optional cleaning agent is discharged from the nozzles to dislodge dirt and debris from the finned surfaces while simultaneously cooling the hot process liquid. When extremes of ambient air temperatures preclude the forced air fans from achieving the target temperature range of the process liquid passing through the ACHE, refrigerated pressurized cooled water and compressed air in the form of a mist is discharged from the nozzles, or alternatively, pressurized heated air is discharged from the nozzles.