A system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances includes a frame removably fastened parallel a tube sheet of a heat exchanger. The apparatus includes a smart lance tractor drive for advancing and retracting one or more lance hoses through one or more lance guide tubes into tubes penetrating through the heat exchanger tube sheet, a controller, one or more AC induction sensors on the tubes operable to sense holes in the tube sheet, and a tumble box connected to the controller operable to generate electrical power to the AC induction sensor from an air pressure source, supply electrical power to the controller and distribute pneumatic power to pneumatic motors for positioning the tractor drive on the positioner frame. The tractor drive includes sensors for detection of mismatch between expected and actual lance positions and automated drive reversal operation to remove blockages within tubes being cleaned.

A system and method for cleaning of heat exchanger tubes including an assembly, an indexer, and a communication device provided with specialized software and programming. The indexer includes orthogonally arranged first and second arms. A trolley and sensors are provided on the indexer arms. One or more lances are provided on the trolley to deliver water jets into the openings. Sensors measure displacement as the trolley is moved relative to the heat exchanger's face plate. An operator controls the system from a distance away using the communication device. During setup, the pattern of the face plate is learned and mapped utilizing information from the sensors as one of the inputs. This information is utilized to help navigate the face plate during a subsequent cleaning operation. A kit for retrofitting existing X-Y indexers is also disclosed.

A frame apparatus for holding a flexible lance positioning drive device adjacent to and spaced from a heat exchanger tube sheet includes an upper guide rail carrying a movable carriage supporting a drive positioner rail having a drive support carriage and an air motor drive assembly fastened to each of the carriages, each air motor drive assembly comprising an air motor having a shaft driving a spur gear through a worm gear reducer, wherein the spur gear is carried within a spur gear housing fastened to the worm gear reducer, and the air motor assembly is fastened to the carriage via the spur gear housing. The spur gear housing is selectively rotatable on the carriage between a locked position with the spur gear engaging the rail to which the carriage is mounted and an unlocked position with the spur gear disengaged with the rail to which the carriage is mounted.

Heat exchangers may have a body including a plurality of heat transfer pathways, and a flushing manifold integrally formed with the body of the heat exchanger. The flushing manifold may include a plurality of nozzles oriented so as to spray a flushing fluid onto one or more of the plurality of heat transfer pathways. Methods of flushing particulates from a heat exchanger include supplying a flushing fluid through a flushing manifold integrally formed with a body of a heat exchanger, and spraying the flushing fluid into one or more heat transfer pathways using one or more nozzles in fluid communication with the flushing manifold.

A method for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting commercial and residential HVAC system includes applying low pressure cleaning foam to heat-exchange coils of the HVAC system, the cleaning foam including one or more agents that break down organic and/or inorganic fouling dirt or debris, the foam removing and carrying away dirt or debris from the coils. Moving air, such as from the air handler of the HVAC system, pushes or draws the cleaning foam from the first side of the coils toward a second side, the cleaning foam and removed dirt or debris exiting the second side of the coils. The moving air and cleaning foam move co-currently in the same direction through spaces in the coils.

Systems and methods may utilize a two-axis stand configured with a locator moveable along two orthogonally oriented axes. The locator may scan a tube opening. A controller may position the locator and the two-axis stand to a) scan across a plurality of tube openings, b) locate the plurality of tube openings based on the scan, and c) activate a cleaning tool to clean tube interiors associated with respective tube openings. Control may be automated and/or based on user interaction with a user interface.

A method for cleaning the interior of a pipe using a cleaning device which has a tube. The tube is set into an axial movement along a main axis H within the pipe, and the insertion depth E of the tube into the pipe is detected. It is determined whether the tube has reached an end position, and the axial movement is terminated when the tube reaches the end position.

A system and method for cleaning of heat exchanger tubes including an assembly, an indexer, and a communication device provided with specialized software and programming. The indexer includes orthogonally arranged first and second arms. A trolley and sensors are provided on the indexer arms. One or more lances are provided on the trolley to deliver water jets into the openings. Sensors measure displacement as the trolley is moved relative to the heat exchanger's face plate. An operator controls the system from a distance away using the communication device. During setup, the pattern of the face plate is learned and mapped utilizing information from the sensors as one of the inputs. This information is utilized to help navigate the face plate during a subsequent cleaning operation. A kit for retrofitting existing X-Y indexers is also disclosed.

A method for cleaning the interior of pipes using a cleaning device and a cleaning device. The cleaning device has a tube and an advancing unit for moving the tube along a main axis (H) of the advancing unit. The advancing unit has a drive which is frictionally connected to the tube and by which the tube is moved in an axial direction along the main axis (H). The advancing unit is set into a rotational movement about the main axis (H) during the axial movement of the tube, and the drive transmits the rotational movement to the tube.

A heat exchanger cleaning device is provided. The cleaning device includes a drive motor configured to rotate a gearbox, a slip clutch and a support beam about a first axis. The support beam carries a thread rod, a second motor, and one or more carriage assemblies. The carriage assemblies move linearly as the second motor rotates the threaded rod. The carriage assemblies include a support tube for receiving an ultra-high pressure tube therethrough. The carriage assemblies adjust relative to the heat exchanger such that the UHP tube may be inserted through the support tube into a hole of the heat exchanger. Therein the UHP tube may be advanced to clean sediment from the heat exchanger tube.