The invention provides a method of cooling a flowing fluid in a hydrocarbon flow system using a heat exchange cooler apparatus having at least one cooler conduit; and a sensor system. The method comprises flowing the fluid through the cooler conduit from a cooler inlet to a cooler outlet to cool the fluid and operating a cleaning system to deliver energy (e.g. heat) to the cooler conduit to cause solid materials deposited on the interior of the cooler to be released into the flowing fluid. A cooler sensor data set obtained from the sensor system is compared with a reference data set to verify the performance of the cleaning system.

Removing stimulus responsive polymers (SRPs) includes exposure to high energy metastable species, generated in a noble gas plasma, at an elevated temperature. The metastable species have sufficient energies and lifetimes to scission bonds on the polymer or other residues. At temperatures greater than the ceiling temperature of the SRP, there is a strong thermodynamic driving force to revert to volatile monomers once bond scissioning has occurred. The metastable species are not chemically reactive and do not appreciably affect the underlying surface. The high energy metastable species are effective at removing residues that remain after exposure to other stimuli such as heat.

A method provides for selecting a scale-dissolving agent suitable for components of the scale. The method for selecting the scale-dissolving agent includes a step of determining coordinates of specific physical properties of scale to be removed based on Hansen solubility parameter and a step of selecting the dissolving agent based on the distance between the coordinates of specific physical properties of scale to be removed and the coordinates of specific physical properties of the dissolving agent. Also provided is a method for removing scale using it.

A process for removing a material that is adhered to an underlying surface includes using a laser beam to heat the material to reduce the strength of adhesion between the material and the underlying surface. A stream of gas is directed at the heated material to displace the heated material from the underlying surface.

Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects on a rotor, the plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects via the rotor. The method can further include applying energy to the plurality of additively manufactured objects to cure a portion of each additively manufactured object while the plurality of additively manufactured objects are on the rotor.

A system for treating stains on a surface includes a portable, unattended heating device having a housing, a heating plate, and a controller operably coupled with the heating plate, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the heating plate. The system can further include a stain treatment pad wetted with a liquid treating chemistry, and the portable, unattended heating device is adapted to rest on and heat the stain treatment pad to treat a stain, including releasing, transferring and removing the stain from the surface to be cleaned.

An apparatus and method for removing support material from a part formed by three-dimensional (3D) printing. The support removal machine contains a tank for submersion of a 3D printed part into a liquid mass. The liquid mass circulates in the tank in a controlled manner such that submerged parts remain centrally suspended in the tank, regardless of the material, density and geometry comprising the part. The part circulates and rotates in conjunction with the rotational flow of the liquid mass for uniform exposure to means of support removal. During rotation, the part may be subjected to multiple means of agitation that include heat, chemical and ultrasonic, in order to optimize energy use and maximize efficiency of the removal of support material.

Optical fiber coating stripping through relayed thermal radiation is disclosed. A heat source is provided that is configured to emit thermal radiation when activated. A relay system is provided that is configured to receive the emitted thermal radiation from the heat source and relay the emitted thermal radiation to a heating region. For example, the relay system may be configured to relay (i.e., re-direct) the thermal radiation to a concentrated heating region. The heat source and relay system are configured such that thermal radiation relayed by the relay system causes the temperature in the heating region to reach or exceed a vaporization or thermal decomposition temperature of a coating(s) of an optical fiber to be stripped. When an optical fiber is disposed in the heating region, and the heat source is activated, a coating(s) of the optical fiber decomposes thus stripping the coating(s) from the optical fiber.

Provided is a method for treating a substrate which removes particle within a concave portion on a substrate having a thin film on which a pattern having the concave portion on its upper surface is formed. The substrate treating method according the present invention comprises a penetration step for penetrating a treatment liquid containing supercritical organic chemical solution into the concave portion; and a heating step for heating the substrate after the penetration step.

A method for removing fouling from a pipeline includes determining the location of fouling in the pipeline. Once determined, the method further includes installing a hot tap in the pipeline. A flex conduit is inserted into the pipeline through the hot tap and a treatment fluid is flowed into the pipeline through the conduit. The treatment fluid is used to remove the fouling from the pipeline. Once the fouling is sufficiently removed, the flexible conduit is removed from the pipeline.