The Armadillo tube cleaning system from Aqua Sales combines efficient and consistent tube cleaning with safe operation. Aimed at petrochemical, paper and other heavy manufacturing sectors that use heat exchangers, the system has a remote control that allows operation from a distance, away from the high-pressure water stream.
The remote enables operators to turn the water on and off, control the nozzle/hose revolutions (from 10 to 375 rpm), and control the insertion/extraction speed, says Doug Swanstrom, director of sales and marketing.
The unit’s indexer, which guides the high-pressure rotating nozzle/hose into each tube via the remote control, also enhances safety. It includes independent drives that allow the operator to align the traveling head exactly with each row of tubes, increasing cleaning efficiency. The indexer can be set up and taken down without tools.
“The indexer lets operators work close enough to see the tubes they’re cleaning, but without exposure to the water steam,” Swanstrom says.
The system is designed to function at 20,000 psi/26 gpm using 8-mm to 10- mm hoses (6-mm and 8-mm hoses are available). Specially designed nozzle tips can clean difficult surfaces, and the cleaning process leaves no residue.
The unit reduces manual labor by 40 to 50 percent by automating nozzle insertions into the tube bundles. As such, it cleans continuously. Auto-mation also minimizes operator fatigue, increasing cleaning quality and keeps workers more alert.
A positive hose rotation function spins the entire hose, not just the nozzle. “This assures that the nozzle cleans at a controlled rate from the beginning to the end of the tube,” Swanstrom says. “You get the same results over and over, and with just one pass. Without this, you’re susceptible to the skill levels of the employees operating it.”
The unit’s modular, portable design simplifies maintenance and repairs. “If something goes wrong, you can take the unit apart in minutes,” Swanstrom says. For information: 218/744-2489; www.armadillocleaner.com.
