System and method for coating tubes
AssigneePlastocor, Inc.
InventorMichael J. Horn
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the coating of tubes, and more particularly to a system and method for renovating the inner surface of deteriorated or pitted tubes to extend tube life and enhance performance. A method of the present invention includes first providing a coating material in a tube. A pig device is then positioned in the tube, the pig device being sized and orientated to disperse the coating material along the tube's inner service. The pig device is then motivated through the tube to apply the coating material to form a coating on the inner surface.
Claims22
A method of coating an inner surface of a tube, comprising:
- providing a coating material in the tube;
- positioning a single pig device in the tube, sized and orientated to disperse the coating material along the inner service of the tube, said single pig including:
- a main body portion having a first end and a second end;
- a coating applicator disposed at said first end, said coating applicator having a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced apart ribs enabling the passage of the coating material beyond said applicator;
- and an end flange disposed at said second end, said end flange wiping the coating material to form a single layer coating, and
- motivating the pig device through the tube to apply the coating material to form said single layer coating on the inner surface of the tube.
A method of preparation and application of a coating to the inner surface of a heat exchanger tube, comprising the steps of:
- cleaning the inner surface of said heat exchanger tube;
- evaluating the integrity of said heat exchanger tube;
- providing a coating material in said heat exchanger tube;
- inserting a pig device in said heat exchanger tube, sized and oriented to disperse the coating material along the inner service of the tube, said pig device being comprised of a single plastic pig, said single pig including:
- a main body portion having a first end and a second end;
- a coating applicator disposed at said first end of the main body portion, said first end being the end of said pig that is first inserted into the tube, said coating applicator being conical in shape and having a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced apart ribs enabling the passage of the coating material beyond said coating applicator;
- and an end flange disposed at said second end of the main body portion;
- motivating the pig device through the tube to apply the coating material to form a thin, single layer coating on the inner surface of the tube, wherein said pig end flange wipes the coating material as the pig device is motivated through the tube to form a single layer coating;
- and
- wherein said single layer coating is approximately greater than 0 mils but less than or equal to 0.25 mils thick thereby having a minimal effect on the heat transfer properties of said tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.