Laser system for non-contact and selective removal of corrosion from tubes internal surfaces

A laser cleaning system (2) for cleaning a plurality of tubes (9) within a reactor or a heat exchanger, comprising:

• a. a fiber optic cable (12) comprising a proximal probe output end (20) and a distal cable end (17) able to emit a laser beam;
• b. a laser probe unit comprising a substantially hollow tubular housing (14) enclosing the distal cable end (17) and a laser emitting optics unit (5 or 6) comprising one or more of:
• a double convex lens, and/or one or two plano-convex lens, able to produce a reflected or a diffracted, fixed ring laser beam or a rotating laser beam, wherein a laser beam diameter is about equal to a tube inner diameter;
• c. an air vacuum system (30) positioned over the laser probe unit (14), and able to cool the laser cleaning system while removing debris;
• d. wherein said laser cleaning system emits a laser beam able to ablate clean a tube inner wall from rust and other corrosive deposits while sliding said laser probe unit manually or automatedly through at least one tube;
• and
• e. wherein said laser cleaning system is safe by providing no user-contact with said tubes, laser beam, or debris.