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INTERMITTENT
DYNAMIC ENHANCEMENT/
AUTOMATIC TUBE BRUSHING SYSTEMS
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hope that this page of our web-site will serve to
familiarize you with
ATB Systems, their simplicity of operation and design
characteristics
enroute to consideration of a retro-fitting at your
facility. |
WHAT
CAN WE TELL YOU ABOUT ATB SYSTEMS . . .
with a few quick page links?
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ATB
Systems enable you to clean ALL heat exchanger tubes
while operating under load and without a shutdown. The
system virually eliminates tube fouling by removing deposits
from tube surfaces as often as necessary.
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a ball-cleaning system, where balls may be unevenly
distributed, the ATB System ensures that every tube-side
surface is scoured six times per day on a typical
8 hour cycle. |
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Operating
Principles of
the ATB System |
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The
benefits of an ATB
System are derived from inserting a nylon
bristle brush into each tube along with the permanent
installation of plastic cages at each end of each
heat exchanger tube. By reversing the flow of water
(or other solution with fouling tendencies) through
the heat exchanger, the brushes are shuttled back-and-forth
through the tubes and foulants are removed at the
initiation stage.
The
reversal of flow is accomplished by a 4-way valve
that is activated by a control panel with an automatic
timer. The timer allows cleaning to take place automatically
at pre-selected intervals, normally 2 or 3 times
per day, depending upon the severity of the fouling
encountered or anticipated. |
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Primary
Components and Simplicity of Operation
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Multiple
sets of 1 brush and 2 baskets
- brush propelled
through tube by reversing flow
- baskets designed
to catch brushes at each cleaning cycle
Automatic
4-way flow diverter valve
- custom fabricated
to fit existing HX inlet/outlet piping
- pneumatically
actuated and timer controlled
Control
panel with timer
- provides automatic
cycling of the cleaning system
- permits operator
to set timing cycle to suit the severity of
fouling (typically 6 to 8 hours)
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Design
Characteristics and Operating Parameters
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Brush
and Basket Selection
- brushes
are sized to provide interference fit
- degree of interference
is dependent upon tube velocity and characteristics
of the fouling liquid
- brushes of nylon
bristles supported by titanium wire
- baskets normally
of polypropylene, available in stainless steel
Critical
Design Parameters and Heat Transfer Performance
- long-term reliability
requires minimum tube-side velocities of
3.0 ft/sec
- ATB Systems
have consistently delivered fouling factors
of.0001 to .0002 and have never exceeded .0005
after being applied to heat exchanger fouling
problems defined by design fouling factors of
.0010 and higher
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ATB
System Eliminates Fouling in Glycol Cooling Service
- A Typical Case Study
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The
Problem
- glycol
chiller at major producer of resins and fibers
- "white toothpaste-like
foulant" required disassembly and costly
off-line cleaning every 3 to 4 months
The
Solution
- an ATB System
was installed in January of 1996
- retro-fitting
of glycol chiller converted it to a self-cleaning
heat exchanger
Operating
Experience
- previous off-line
cleaning cycles were totally eliminated
- highly successful
operation led to retro-fitting of a second chiller
in the Spring of 1997
- original glycol
chiller operated with no downtime for off-line
cleaning for over 2 years and was only shut-down
for routine inspection and maintenance in mid
1998
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Whenever
an existing heat exchanger requires a frequent and costly
cleaning cycle and Plant Management is seeking a cost-effective
solution, its time to consider the benefits and the
ROI that can be derived from retro-fitting with an ATB
System.
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The
Benefits of ATB Systems have been most widely
demonstrated and accepted throughout the HVAC Industry |
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Electrical
Energy Consumption is reduced by up to 30% with
an ATB System because tube are always maintained
in a clean condition.
| Reduction
of Energy Consumption |
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Semi-annual
maintenance of chillers is eliminated by an ATB
System. Besides the cost of labor, chemicals &
cleaning brushes, human exposure to corrosive/hazardous
chemicals is eliminated.
| Reduction
of Maintenance Costs |
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The
amount of chemicals added to prevent fouling or
scaling can often be significantly reduced or eliminated
as the ATB System keeps the precipitates from accumulating
and aging on the tube walls. Cleaning chemicals
are totally eliminated. |
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The
ATB System will consistently increase the up-time
of any condenser, chiller or heat exchanger installation
that has experienced fouling or scaling problems.
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The
ATB System normally allows higher cooling tower
water concentrations, thus reducing blowdown requirements.
This results in additional savings in water supply
and wastewater treatment costs.
| Reduction
of Cooling Tower Blowdown |
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(Fax) 281-292-3221
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Updated
2005 © 1999 Advanced Heat Transfer Technologies |
