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We have steam methane reformer. The outer surface of the tube is having deposits and leading to high fuel consumption as well as high temperature in flue gas side in waste heat section. During turn around we want to clean the outer surface of reformer catalyst tube so that we can reduce the fuel consumption and reduction in waste heat section temperatures. Is there any standard method available to clean the outer surface of the tubes?
 
Answers
06/01/2015 A: Mike Watson, Tube Tech International Ltd, mike.watson@tubetech.com
Tube Tech have a remote control robot that removes this fouling.
26/04/2014 A: Balasubramanian Iyer, Nexen CNOOC Limited, balasubramanian.n@aol.in
Yes, the outer surface of the tubes can be cleaned. We also used this system to clean the outer surface of the tubes. It was quite effective. If you need you can contact me further for the details of the cleaning method.
29/01/2014 A: Rakesh Kumar Jain, SIUCI, jainrakeshj@gmail.com
The fuel is being used is natural gas & synthesis gas. Due self respiratory burner dust may deposits on the outer surface of the tubes.
15/01/2014 A: keith bowers, B and B Consulting, kebowers47@gmail.com
What is the composition of the deposits? Why are they forming? This is not typical. What fuel is being fired? Are burners eroded and not making a good flame?
Method of Removing 'deposits' is completely dependent on the deposit--fluffy and soft; hard and scaly; hard and glassy; composition?
Root cause of deposits must be determined and rectified
15/01/2014 A: Mike Watson, Tube Tech International Ltd, mike.watson@tubetech.com
www.tubetech.com have developed a bespoke cleaning and inspection technology that is incredibly fast and efficient because it physically penetrates between the very narrow tube space, typically 3 to 10 mm between tube walls (and larger of course). Other similar examples include external surface of fired heater convection bank's and HRSG's. Their system can remove deposits from between finned or bare tubes ranging from compact refractory dust to solid concrete, even coke hydrocarbons. What's good about the Tube Tech International service is that they also simultaneously inspect between the finned tubes after cleaning, using a "Blade Camera", again small enough to penetrate between the 3 to 10 mm tube space. Return on investment as you can imagine is extremely quick.