Indexer, indexer retrofit kit and method of use thereof
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- A method of cleaning a plurality of tubes in a tube bundle of a heat exchanger, wherein each tube has a bore having an opening thereto defined in a face plate provided at one end of the tube bundle;
said method comprising;
providing a water-jet cleaning system including an X-Y indexer having a first arm and a second arm that are oriented at right angles to each other;
a trolley;
one or more lances provided on the trolley, and a sensor that measures distance;
engaging the X-Y indexer on the heat exchanger so that the one or more lances of the trolley are adjacent the face plate;
moving the trolley relative to the face plate;
measuring a distance the trolley moves relative to the face plate with the sensor;
determining, with the aid of the measured distances, a set of x/y coordinates for at least two horizontally spaced apart openings from a plurality of openings defined in the face plate and a set of x/y coordinates for at least two vertically spaced apart openings from the plurality of openings in the face plate;
mapping a pattern of the plurality of openings in the face plate; and
initiating a cleaning operation using the mapped pattern.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for cleaning of heat exchanger tubes including an assembly, an indexer and a communication device provided with specialized software and programming. The indexer includes orthogonally arranged first and second arms. A trolley and sensors are provided on the indexer arms. One or more lances are provided on the trolley to deliver water jets into the openings. Sensors measure displacement as the trolley is moved relative to the heat exchanger'"'"'s face plate. An operator controls the system from a distance away using the communication device. During setup, the pattern of the face plate is learned and mapped utilizing information from the sensors as one of the inputs. This information is utilized to help navigate the face plate during a subsequent cleaning operation. A kit for retrofitting existing X-Y indexers is also disclosed.
74 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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A method of cleaning a plurality of tubes in a tube bundle of a heat exchanger, wherein each tube has a bore having an opening thereto defined in a face plate provided at one end of the tube bundle;
said method comprising;providing a water-jet cleaning system including an X-Y indexer having a first arm and a second arm that are oriented at right angles to each other; a trolley; one or more lances provided on the trolley, and a sensor that measures distance; engaging the X-Y indexer on the heat exchanger so that the one or more lances of the trolley are adjacent the face plate; moving the trolley relative to the face plate; measuring a distance the trolley moves relative to the face plate with the sensor; determining, with the aid of the measured distances, a set of x/y coordinates for at least two horizontally spaced apart openings from a plurality of openings defined in the face plate and a set of x/y coordinates for at least two vertically spaced apart openings from the plurality of openings in the face plate; mapping a pattern of the plurality of openings in the face plate; and
initiating a cleaning operation using the mapped pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification