System and method of cleaning a heat exchanger

A method of cleaning a heat exchanger, the method including:

• determining, with a controller, a tube in the heat exchanger to be supplied with cleaning fluid and blasting media from a first cleaning head of a first cleaning device during a cleaning cycle;
• determining, with the controller, a characteristic of the tube;
• determining, with the controller, a delivery parameter of the cleaning cycle for the tube based at least in part on the characteristic of the tube;
• performing the cleaning cycle for the tube based at least in part on the delivery parameter;
• concurrently supplying the cleaning fluid and the blasting media into the tube using the first cleaning device and supplying reclaimed blasting media to the first cleaning device using a reclaimer;
• wherein the cleaning cycle comprises delivering the cleaning fluid and the blasting media from through the first cleaning head of the first cleaning device, through the tube, and through a second cleaning head of a second cleaning device at the opposite end of the tube;
• and
• wherein the first cleaning device, the second cleaning device, and the reclaimer define a first portion of a closed loop flow path for the cleaning fluid and the blasting media, and the tube when coupled to the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device defines a second portion of the closed loop flow path;
• and wherein the reclaimer is configured to collect the cleaning fluid and blasting media from the second cleaning device, separate debris from the blasting media for disposal, and supply the reclaimed blasting media to the first cleaning device without the separated debris.

A system for cleaning inner surfaces of a plurality of tubes included in a heat exchanger, the system comprising:

• a first motorized tool movable along at least one dimension of a tubesheet, the tubesheet containing an end of each of the plurality of tubes, and the motorized tool having a first tool head for delivering a cleaning fluid and blasting media into each of the plurality of tubes;
• a second motorized tool movable along at least one dimension of a second tubesheet the second tubesheet containing an opposite end of each of the plurality of tubes, and the second motorized tool having a second tool head for receiving the cleaning fluid and the blasting media from each of the plurality of tubes;
• wherein the first motorized tool, the second motorized tool form, and a reclaimer define a first portion of a closed loop flow path for the cleaning fluid and the blasting media, wherein each of the plurality of tubes when coupled to the first motorized tool and the second motorized tool defines a second portion of the closed loop flow path, and wherein the reclaimer is configured to collect the cleaning fluid and blasting media from the second motorized tool, separate debris from the blasting media for disposal, and supply reclaimed blasting media to the motorized tool without the separated debris;
• and
• a controller configured to automatically set at least one of:
• a pressure of the cleaning fluid and
• a flow rate of at least one of the cleaning fluid and the blasting media based on a current position of the motorized tool with respect to the tubesheet, and
• wherein the controller is configured to send a signal to the first motorized tool to supply the cleaning fluid and the blasting media into the tube, wherein reclaimed blasting media is concurrently supplied to the first cleaning device using the reclaimer.