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.

An apparatus for sensing an obstruction within a tube being cleaned and repetitively advancing and retracting a flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance within the tube is disclosed. The apparatus monitors drive roller/belt position and actual hose position, compares the belt (expected travel) to hose position (travel) and generates a position difference, or mismatch. If the mismatch is above a predetermined level, the drive motor direction is reversed for a predetermined time interval, and forward operation restored after the predetermined time interval; and the sequence of repeating the reversing and restoring operations is continued until the position difference or mismatch no longer exceeds the predetermined difference threshold.

An apparatus for sensing an obstruction within a tube being cleaned and repetitively advancing and retracting a flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance within the tube is disclosed. The apparatus monitors drive roller/belt position and actual hose position, compares the belt (expected travel) to hose position (travel) and generates a position difference, or mismatch. If the mismatch is above a predetermined level, the drive motor direction is reversed for a predetermined time interval, and forward operation restored after the predetermined time interval; and the sequence of repeating the reversing and restoring operations is continued until the position difference or mismatch no longer exceeds the predetermined difference threshold.

An apparatus for sensing an obstruction within a tube being cleaned and repetitively advancing and retracting a flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance within the tube is disclosed. The apparatus monitors drive roller/belt position and actual hose position, compares the belt (expected travel) to hose position (travel) and generates a position difference, or mismatch. If the mismatch is above a predetermined level, the drive motor direction is reversed for a predetermined time interval, and forward operation restored after the predetermined time interval; and the sequence of repeating the reversing and restoring operations is continued until the position difference or mismatch no longer exceeds the predetermined difference threshold.

An apparatus for sensing an obstruction within a tube being cleaned and repetitively advancing and retracting a flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance within the tube is disclosed. The apparatus monitors drive roller/belt position and actual hose position, compares the belt (expected travel) to hose position (travel) and generates a position difference, or mismatch. If the mismatch is above a predetermined level, the drive motor direction is reversed for a predetermined time interval, and forward operation restored after the predetermined time interval; and the sequence of repeating the reversing and restoring operations is continued until the position difference or mismatch no longer exceeds the predetermined difference threshold.

An apparatus for removing condensate from a steam line during a cold startup is provided, including a steam line with a first horizontal section, a vertical section, and a second horizontal section, the first horizontal section, the vertical section including a first centerline, the second horizontal section including, a first elbow, and a second elbow, the first elbow fluidically connected to the first horizontal section and the vertical section, and including an interior surface, the second elbow fluidically connected to the vertical section and the second horizontal section, a permanent flange on an exterior surface of the second elbow, penetrating the exterior surface, and aligned with the first centerline, and a dip tube, and a temporary flange configured to mate with the permanent flange, wherein a distil end of the dip tube is inserted into the permanent flange and positioned parallel to the first centerline.

An apparatus for removing condensate from a steam line during a cold startup is provided, including a steam line with a first horizontal section, a vertical section, and a second horizontal section, the first horizontal section, the vertical section including a first centerline, the second horizontal section including, a first elbow, and a second elbow, the first elbow fluidically connected to the first horizontal section and the vertical section, and including an interior surface, the second elbow fluidically connected to the vertical section and the second horizontal section, a permanent flange on an exterior surface of the second elbow, penetrating the exterior surface, and aligned with the first centerline, and a dip tube, and a temporary flange configured to mate with the permanent flange, wherein a distil end of the dip tube is inserted into the permanent flange and positioned parallel to the first centerline.

A cleaning apparatus includes a cable with spacers along the length of the cable for insertion into a tube with bends. Each of the spacers have a sphere-like body and have a diameter that is approximately the same as an inner diameter of the tube. Each neighboring pair of spacers are spaced apart from each other at approximately the same distance as the inner diameter of the tube. The cleaning apparatus is suited for passing through tubing within cracking furnaces and heat exchangers, which typically have many U-bends.

A cleaning apparatus includes a cable with spacers along the length of the cable for insertion into a tube with bends. Each of the spacers have a sphere-like body and have a diameter that is approximately the same as an inner diameter of the tube. Each neighboring pair of spacers are spaced apart from each other at approximately the same distance as the inner diameter of the tube. The cleaning apparatus is suited for passing through tubing within cracking furnaces and heat exchangers, which typically have many U-bends.

The present application provides a heat exchange assembly for exchanging heat between a coolant and a gaseous medium. The heat exchange assembly may include an outer jacket, a number of gas tubes positioned within the outer jacket, and a self-cleaning system positioned about the gas tubes. The self-cleaning system may include a number of chains extending through the gas tubes.