Systems and methods of using cleaning robots for removing deposits from heat exchange surfaces of boilers and heat exchangers

A system for cleaning heat exchanging boiler tubes comprising:

• a boiler having two or more boiler tubes that are spaced from one another for allowing heated exhaust gas to pass between said boiler tubes, wherein each said boiler tube has an outer surface;
• a plurality of cleaning robots assembled with said two or more spaced boiler tubes, wherein each one of said cleaning robot is assembled with a different one of said boiler tubes;
• wherein each said cleaning robot comprises
• a housing having an opening extending therethrough for receiving one of said boiler tubes,
• a scraper blade extending into the opening of said housing, said scraper blade having an inner scraping edge that opposes the outer surface of the one of said boiler tubes,
• a wheel coupled with said housing for rolling over the outer surface of the one of said boiler tubes,
• a motor coupled with said wheel for driving rotation of said wheel to move said cleaning robot over the outer surface of the one of said boiler tubes;
• a system controller including one or more microprocessors and one or more software programs for monitoring and controlling operation of each of said cleaning robots, wherein said system controller is in wireless communication with each of said cleaning robots, and wherein said cleaning robots move independently of one another.

A system for cleaning a boiler comprising:

• a first boiler tube having an outer surface;
• a second boiler tube having an outer surface, wherein said first and second boiler tubes are spaced from one another;
• a first cleaning robot assembled with said first boiler tube and being configured to travel over the outer surface of said first boiler tube to clean deposits from the outer surface of said first boiler tube;
• a second cleaning robot assembled with said second boiler tube and being configured to travel over the outer surface of said second boiler tube to clean deposits from the outer surface of said second boiler tube;
• a system controller including one or more microprocessors and one or more software programs for monitoring and controlling operation of each of said first and second cleaning robots, wherein said system controller is in wireless communication with said first and second cleaning robots, and wherein said system further comprises code for moving said first and second cleaning robots independently of one another between first and second ends of said respective boiler tubes.

A system for cleaning a surface of a heat exchanging boiler tube comprising:

• a boiler tube having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface that extends between the first and second ends;
• a cleaning robot configured to travel over the outer surface of said boiler tube for cleaning the outer surface of said boiler tube, said cleaning robot comprising
• a housing having an opening extending therethrough,
• a cleaning tool mounted on said housing and extending into the opening of said housing,
• a wheel coupled with said housing,
• a motor coupled with said wheel for driving rotation of said wheel to move said housing over the outer surface of said boiler tube:
• a system controller including one or more microprocessors and one or more software programs for monitoring and controlling operation of said cleaning robot;
• wherein said motor comprises an electric motor coupled with said wheel, and wherein said system further comprises a battery that produces electricity for said electric motor and a charging station for re-charging said battery.