Exhaust gas boiler (EGB) tube cleaning

Fouling in exhaust gas boilers reduces heat transfer, increases fuel consumption, shortens equipment life, and raises the risk of tube overheating or failure.

For hard deposits in exhaust gas boiler tubes, Goodway Benelux recommends a two-step mechanical cleaning: first, use scraper tools on a flexible shaft to remove the bulk of the deposit, then follow with nylon abrasive brushes to remove remaining fouling and lightly polish the tubes for optimal results.

Yes! Goodway® equipment is highly effective for fully blocked exhaust gas boiler tubes, using flexible shafts with scrapers and cutting tools to physically break up and remove even the toughest deposits.

Mechanical cleaning is generally safe for exhaust gas boiler tubes because of the larger wall thickness sizes and stronger tube materials. After having sold many boiler tube cleaning packages to vessels, Goodway Benelux has never received complaints regarding tube scratchings after cleaning.

To clean exhaust gas boiler tubes, you need a tube cleaning machine to drive rotation, a flexible rotating shaft to enter the tubes, and specialized tools such as brushes, scrapers, and drills. These allow you to remove all types of deposits effectively. The natural airflow of the boiler system can be used, to remove the loosened deposits during the cleaning. Otherwise, an industrial vacuum system should be used to create airflow inside the EGB tubes.

Yes! Goodway® tube cleaners are very versatile and can be adapted for both wet and dry cleaning with a simple change of tools and shafts. EGB tube cleaning is performed without water, but other applications aboard the vessel could require a wet cleaning, for example shell-and-tube heat exchangers.

To select the correct brush size, you must first accurately determine the tube inner diameter. Then, choose a brush that will continuously stay in touch with the tube wall, that usually means a slightly oversized brush. Nylon abrasive brushes are generally sized slightly larger to maximize contact and effectively remove hardened deposits.

Tube cleaning brushes and tools have different lifetimes. Depending on various factors such as; type and severity of fouling, length of the tube, tube material, and more. Rough estimates for nylon abrasive brushes are 20-40 tubes per brush. While tools, such as the flex hub, can be used for a longer period of time. Replacing the blades is important, once the tool start to become blunt or less effective. Always monitor the performance after each tube to determine if a brush or tool needs replacement.

A full cool-down is mandatory before exhaust gas boiler tube cleaning, required for safety reasons (including lockout/tagout) and to protect your equipment. Specifically, black cleaning shafts cannot tolerate temperatures exceeding 149 degrees Celsius, making the cool-down essential to prevent tool damage.

Goodway® equipment works by means of rotation, which allows for a wider range of cleaning applications and possibilities. For example, abrasive nylon brushes can be used to remove softer, light layers of deposits. While more agressive tools such as the flex hub scrapers can be used to remove hard deposits, even opening up blocked tubes. All this can be done with the same equipment, just chaning out the brushes for different tools. This versatility means that the equipment can be used for nearly any situation, both preventive and reactive cleanings. That is where the equipment excells compared to other techniques, such as automatic brush cleaning systems.