Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a tube bundle may utilize a cleaning methodology for using a multi-modal approach. A positioner may feed a lance into a tube in the tube bundle that is to be cleaned with fluid. A controller may be in operative communication with the positioner to move the lance relative to the tube, wherein the controller has three modes of operation including a manual mode, a semi-autonomous mode, and an autonomous mode. The manual mode receives manual user-inputs at the controller to move a portion of the positioner. The semi-autonomous mode utilizes a combination of user-inputs at the controller and automated movements to move the portion of the positioner.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a tube bundle may utilize a cleaning methodology that determines relative locations of the tubes. A computer table has a plurality of cells, wherein locations of tubes in the tube bundle correspond to cells in the table. A first tube is represented by a first cell in the table and a second tube is represented by a second cell. Additional tubes may be represented by additional cells in the table. The table has a layout that corresponds to the configuration of the tubes in the tube bundle. The system determines the actual distances that were previously unknown in the computer table by calculating a dimensional distance offset between the first tube and the second tube. The system moves the lance on the tube cleaning device to the additional tubes based on the dimensional distance and relative locations of tubes in the table.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a tube bundle may utilize a cleaning methodology for conserving movement of the lances, thereby increasing the cleaning efficiency by reducing the amount time needed to clean the bundle. The system and method may employ a top-down approach where multiple tubes in a tube bundle are cleaned by a plurality of lances. Thereafter, a trolley may advance the plurality of lances downward to another row of tubes. The vertical movement required is less than the horizontal movement required. Thus, by moving downward in a vertical movement, the system can clean the tube bundle more efficiently than if it were traveling horizontally across a row because the trolley and indexer will span a shorter distance to clean the same number of tubes.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a tube bundle may utilize a cleaning methodology for adjusting movement of a positioner. The positioner feeds a lance into the tube in a row of tubes in a tube bundle that is to be cleaned with fluid. A controller moves the lance relative to the row of tubes. Any positioner movements that are not parallel to row of tubes is indicative that the first rail is not parallel to the row of tubes. There is compensation logic to adjust movement of a portion of the positioner based on an angular offset from how far the first rail is from parallel to the row of tubes. There may be a valve that enables the controller to provide instructions to release air pressure to drive a motor in operative communication with the first rail nudge the lance fed by the positioner incrementally.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling a variable feed rate of a lance on a cleaning device for cleaning one or more tubes in a heat exchanger. Different regions of the tubes within the heat exchanger are identified as hotter regions and cooler regions depending on a temperature gradient of fluid moving through the heat exchanger. The hotter regions tend to develop more fouling on the inner surface of the tube. The lance uses the variable feed rate to spend more time cleaning the hotter regions with more fouling than the cooler regions with less fouling. This enables a more optimized cleaning profile to be implemented to efficiently clean the tubes in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a cylindrical housing is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of pressurized fluid to be bled to an area between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid force acts axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force exerted by the pressurized fluid. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. A plurality of centrifugal weight segments around the inlet end of the shaft are thrust outwardly against the cylindrical housing to retard rotational speed while pressurized fluid around the centrifugal weight segments provides a fluid bearing between the weights and the housing.

Abstract: A rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a cylindrical housing is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of pressurized fluid to be bled to an area between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid force acts axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force exerted by the pressurized fluid. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. A plurality of centrifugal weight segments around the inlet end of the shaft are thrust outwardly against the cylindrical housing to retard rotational speed while pressurized fluid around the centrifugal weight segments provides a fluid bearing between the weights and the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a flexible lance hose into and out of tubes in a heat exchanger tube sheet includes a housing and an upper endless belt drive assembly and a lower endless belt drive assembly spaced apart by a gap for receiving a flexible lance hose therein. One of the drive assemblies is fixed to the housing. The other drive assembly is movable within the housing toward and away from the one endless belt drive assembly. The apparatus further includes a drive motor fastened to the housing configured to engage at least one of the upper and lower endless belts and drive a flexible lance hose disposed in the gap.

Abstract: The disclosed principles provide embodiments of a novel part cleaning system, and related methods of use and manufacturing, capable of cleaning parts having any nontraditional shapes. An exemplary parts cleaning system provides at least five axes of movement, and comprises a drive rail comprised of a plurality of connectable modular sections, a base configured to support the drive rail, and a cleaning arm and nozzle. The system includes base drive assemblies translating the drive rail across the base, a powered carriage driving on the drive rail, and a feed assembly moving the cleaning arm towards and away from the turntable. The system includes a rotational assembly on the carriage and carrying the feed assembly to rotate the feed assembly and the cleaning arm. A turntable is mounted on the base and sized to carry a part to be cleaned, where the turntable bidirectionally rotates the part along a fifth axis of movement.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A nozzle for water jet equipment and a method of use thereof. The nozzle has a body including a base with a shaft extending outwardly therefrom. The shaft is inserted through a bore of a sleeve that rotatable about the shaft. The base and shaft define a bore therein. At least one opening is defined in the shaft and one or more grooves are milled into the shaft's exterior surface. Each opening places the body's bore in fluid communication with one of the grooves and the sleeve's bore. Water flowing through the body's bore will flow through each opening, into the associated groove and into a space between the shaft and sleeve. The shaft terminates in a conical section usable as a battering ram to break up blockages in pipes during cleaning operations.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A data logger device for monitoring operation of a flexible lance drive apparatus is disclosed that includes a cylindrical housing removably connected to an air fluid pressure line to the drive apparatus, a circuit board mounted in the housing, a pressure sensing switch mounted on the circuit board and communicating with the fluid in the pressure line, and a processor and memory on the board operable to log time at which the switch changes state between two predetermined states.

Abstract: A high-pressure fluid supply system and apparatus including a battery electric powered high pressure fluid pump that can be located in proximity to a piece of equipment such as a heat exchanger in an industrial plant in need of being cleaned wherein the system is modularized on a plurality of pallets capable of being transported in the industrial plant elevator to a location near the heat exchanger location.