Back to Refineries (Onshore - Downstream) Case Studies Print this page

Texas Tower (VCFE Platformer) x 2 Combined Feed and Effluent Exchangers Cleaned Shell and Tube Side

“NEW” Multi Drill – Unblocks severe fouling in record time

Summary

Shell and tube side was expected to be fouled 10%. In reality both sides were fouled 60% on two Israeli VCFE’s. They had not been cleaned since installation 16 years ago. Tube Tech International cleaned the Texas Towers, shell and tube side simultaneously with new multi drill system. VCFE’s cleaned in a very short period of time using innovative cleaning techniques.

Challenge

3856 tubes were believed to contain thin ferrous oxide and polycyclic aromatics.
Shell side fouling was believed to have thin fouling of hydrocarbons.
Dimensions were 2 x 3856 tubes x 12mm x 20.9 m long. Largest to date.
After identifying blocked tubes, Tube Tech revealed ca. 60% of tubes blocked.
Inspection of the shell side revealed 60% of hard coke bridging between the tubes

Solution (Tube Side)

After identifying the blocked tubes Tube Tech used a 3 stage process:
- Pulse jets and robotic acoustic sensors to locate and unblock soft blockages
- More severe blockages were removed with a multiple drilling unit
- Rotary darTT™ were propelled the tubes to remove deposits on 7712 tubes

Solution (Shell Side)

Many sections were bridged with extremely hard coke:
- Polymeric water jets used to remove the majority of bridging
- Revolutionary Shell Side PlateJett™ to remove soft fouling
- A new Rotary PlateJett™ used to drill blockages from between tubes

Tube Tech comment

Mike Watson, Managing Director: “Planning Planning Planning. From designing the support structure to hold both VCFE’s vertically and safely to sending the client 3D animations of scaffolding requirements there was no ambiguity. The thorough testing of new innovative cleaning solutions in house was also highly beneficial. Tube Tech have never cleaned such fouled Texas Towers yet were able to develop ideal technology. Communication and minute by minute reports ensured the client knew of everything that was going on. A very happy client.”

Clients can be contacted via Tube Tech for references.

Back to

Refineries (Onshore - Downstream) Case Studies