Rotary tube cleaning
Rotary tube cleaning systems to remove fouling inside the tubes of water-cooled chillers, heat pumps and shell and tube heat exchangers.
Exhaust gas heat exchangers are critical components in energy recovery systems, capturing waste heat from the exhaust streams of engines, boilers, and industrial combustion processes to produce hot water, steam, or thermal energy for further use. They are widely applied in combined heat and power (CHP) installations, marine propulsion systems, biogas plants, and various industrial processes. Over time, the tubes and heat transfer surfaces inside these systems accumulate fouling from soot, carbon deposits, and other combustion by-products. This buildup reduces heat transfer efficiency, increases fuel consumption, and puts unnecessary strain on the overall system. Regular and preventive tube cleaning is essential to keep exhaust gas heat exchangers operating at peak performance.
Exhaust gas heat exchangers operate in demanding conditions, continuously exposed to high-temperature combustion gases containing unburned fuel particles, carbon compounds, and other contaminants. As these gases pass through the heat exchanger tubes, deposits gradually accumulate on the internal surfaces where heat transfer occurs, making the tubes particularly susceptible to fouling over time. The type and rate of fouling depends heavily on the fuel used: gaseous fuels such as natural gas produce relatively low fouling, while liquid fuels such as diesel or heavy fuel oil result in significantly faster and more aggressive deposit formation.
Commonly found deposit types in exhaust gas heat exchanger tubes are:
When heat transfer tubes inside an exhaust gas heat exchanger become fouled, the system’s efficiency is significantly reduced. Below, you can find some of the key effects of fouling in these components.
Cleaning exhaust gas heat exchanger tubes is a crucial activity to maintain a highly efficient system and maximise the return on your energy recovery installation. The key to effective cleaning and the best cleaning results lies in acting before deposits become too severe. Light to medium-hard deposits such as soot, carbon dust, and particulate matter can be effectively and reliably removed using mechanical cleaning with rotating brushes. Once deposits harden and carbonise significantly, cleaning becomes considerably more challenging and results are harder to guarantee, even with specialised tools. This makes preventive and regular cleaning the most reliable strategy for keeping your system in optimal condition.
Goodway Benelux offers the following cleaning solution for exhaust gas heat exchanger tubes:
From pre-sales inquiries to technical support, Goodway Benelux is available to assist customers at every stage. The company also provides on-site support, training, and product demonstrations. Their dedicated sales representatives and project engineers are ready to answer questions and provide guidance throughout the entire process.