Method and system for cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles

A method of cleaning a heat exchanger bundle comprising the steps of:

• providing a mobile cleaning unit having a cleaning enclosure accessible by a top door and having a cleaning fluid reservoir;
• transporting the mobile cleaning unit to a facility having a heat exchanger;
• filling the cleaning fluid reservoir of the mobile cleaning unit with a cleaning fluid obtained at the facility;
• opening the top door of the cleaning enclosure to provide access thereto;
• loading at least one heat exchanger tube bundle into the cleaning enclosure;
• closing the top door of the mobile cleaning unit and pressurizing a seal positioned about top door to provide a fluid and vapor lock of the cleaning enclosure;
• and
• cleaning the heat exchanger tube bundle by spraying the cleaning fluid on the bundle.

A method of cleaning a heat exchanger bundle comprising the steps of:

• providing a mobile cleaning unit having a cleaning enclosure accessible by a top door and having a cleaning fluid reservoir;
• transporting the mobile cleaning unit to a facility having a heat exchanger;
• opening the top door of the cleaning enclosure to provide access thereto;
• loading at least one heat exchanger tube bundle into the cleaning enclosure;
• closing the top door of the mobile cleaning unit and pressurizing a seal to provide a fluid and vapor lock of the cleaning enclosure;
• filling the cleaning fluid reservoir of the mobile cleaning unit with a cleaning fluid obtained at the facility;
• heating the cleaning fluid to a temperature up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit;
• purging oxygen from at least one of the enclosure, the reservoir, and a control panel by filling the at least one of the enclosure, the reservoir, and the control panel with nitrogen such that any displaced gasses are filtered by a carbon filter canister;
• cleaning the heat exchanger tube bundle by spraying cleaning fluid on the bundle and continuously or periodically rotating the heat exchanger tube bundle within the enclosure;
• removing the at least one heat exchanger tube bundle from the cleaning enclosure;
• and
• removing the cleaning fluid from the reservoir of the mobile cleaning unit by returning the cleaning fluid back to the facility.

A system for cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles comprising:

• a mobile cleaning unit comprising a tube bundle receiving reservoir enclosure having a bottom, upstanding opposing sidewalls and end walls, and at least one door pivotally secured to one of said sidewalls,
• a cleaning fluid sump in communication with the tube bundle receiving reservoir enclosure,
• a plurality of drive roller assemblies and guide roller assemblies positioned in the tube bundle receiving reservoir enclosure to receive the heat exchanger tube bundles,
• an adjustable spray means positioned in the tubular bundle receiving reservoir enclosure for spraying a cleaning fluid over the length of the heat exchanger tubular bundle,
• a pump and filter assembly for recirculating the cleaning fluid from the sump to the adjustable spray means,
• a cleaning fluid supply reservoir interconnected with the sump,
• a means for heating the cleaning fluid in the supply reservoir prior to recirculating through the pump and filter assembly,
• a means for controlling the drive roller assembly, the pump and filter assembly, and the means for heating the cleaning fluid in the cleaning fluid supply reservoir, the controlling means comprising a plurality of explosion-proof control elements housed in a cabinet, and
• a vapor lock seal comprising an interior chamber, the seal positioned between the top of the reservoir enclosure and the door, the seal effectively closing a gap between the door and the walls of the enclosure to prevent the escape of gas or fluid from the receiving enclosure when the interior chamber of the seal is pressurized by a source of gas.