Ultrasonic Pipe Cleaning

[advsign]

Part of our process deals with Aluminum Chloride. We heat trace the piping to help prevent it from plugging. We still have issues with it build up on the inside of the carbon steel pipe over time and plugging the pipe.

When it plugs we have to pull and clean the pipe.

One manager here wants to look at Ultrasonic Cleaning this pipe when it plugs. He is saying that we will not have to remove it.

Anyone here have experience in using ultrasonic cleaning for industrial piping?

Thanks in advance
Ken

 

[unclesyd]

I have not seen this process in action but have seen the results, which were impressive. It is called Hydrokinetics it is not pure ultrasonics but does the job without the power required with ultrasonics.
i definately would give them a call with your cleaning problem.

http://aimmtechnologies.com/services.html

 

[advsign]

Looks like ultrasonic cleaning requires the use of water and a solution. For our process we cannot introduce water or other solution.

May just have to continue to remove pipe spools and clean them by hand.

Ken

 

[unclesyd]

Have you looked at taking the piping out in larger sections and cleaning more than one section at a time?

If possible can you give a little more information about your process.
Do you understand the process that is causing the plugging problem?

One thing you might do is to ascertain if there are areas in your piping where your plugging problem is worst than others and in these areas verify that the heat tracing is the right temperature, not too hot or cold. Depending on your process there are modifications that can be made to the piping configuration and other equipment to help mitigate plugging.

We have the same problem with our polymer process in that on overhauls every inch of pipe pass a certain point has to taken apart and cleaned. We are fortunate in that we are cleaning organics and can remove them by Pyrolysis. We have around 100 pipe spools with half being jacketed pipe.

 

[MAeng11]

Have you considered a coating or liner for the inside of the pipe? (i.e. teflon or some other epoxy coating to prevent adhesion to the pipe wall). We lined a zirconium reactor with PTFE in order to prevent char build up and plugging and it has worked very well for us. albeit the processes are not the same but just a thought.

regards,
MAeng11