Industrial cleaning is a growing field in which manufacturers constantly innovate
with new tools for high- and ultra-high-pressure waterblasting. Tools serve a variety of functions, from cleaning of tubes and tanks, to removing paint and other coatings from surfaces, to hydrodemolition and cutting. Here is a look at some of the latest developments.
Waterblast hoses
Wilco Supply Inc. offers AlfaGomma waterblast hoses, available in pressures to 20,000 psi, in sizes from 3/8 to 1 inch, and in temperatures to 200 degrees F. The company also manufactures 15,000-, 20,000- and 40,000-psi safety shrouds that have been burst-tested with no penetration of the shroud cover. A double layer of stainless braid with a Nitrile oil-, chemical- and fire-resistant cover protects the operator. 800/521-5284; www.wilcosupplyinc.com.
High-pressure pumps
The P3-45 pump by Chemac Inc. is the latest generation in the Uraca family of pumps, offering a maximum pressure of 3,625 psi and flow of 125 gpm. The unit can be used for a wide variety of applications and complements the entire Uraca line of pumps ranging up to 3,500 hp. 800/217-8677; www.chemacinc.com.
Versatile pumps
WOMA Corp. offers ARP high-pressure pumps from 15 hp to 1,000 hp with flow rates up to 443 gpm and pressure ratings up to 5,800 psi. The pumps are suitable for pumping water with grained or fibrous solids and have an internal gear reduction system. In addition, they have a stainless steel fluid end, and most have pressurized gear end lubrication. 800/258-5530; www.womacorp.com.
Easy plumbing
High Pressure Equipment Company offers NPT valves and fittings designed for safe and easy plumbing. They are made of high-tensile 316 stainless steel. The pipe connection valves are offered in two-way straight and two-way angle body configurations. Valve sizes include 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 inch. Fittings are available as elbows, tees and crosses to accommodate 10,000 or 15,000 psi and all the NPT tubing connection sizes. 800/289-7447; www.highpressure.com.
Tube cleaners
The 14,500 psi KBRV rotating nozzle series from ENZ USA Inc. are combination nozzles with two semi-radial waterjets with an angle of approximately 45 degrees, directed forward, along with two water jets acting radially at an angle of 90 degrees to the pipe wall. The nozzles are designed for use only with a lance. Various sizes are available. 630/692-7880; www.enzusainc.com.
Cleaning guns
DuraSafe high-pressure pistol grip dump-style control guns from Jetstream of Houston are designed for a variety of waterblast surface-cleaning applications. The line represents the latest upgrade on the widely used C-Series cartridge style control gun. It includes advanced features that enhance safety, durability, versatility and simplicity.
A 48-inch front barrel and 20-inch rear barrel keep high-pressure water and high-pressure hose away from operator’s body. The guns range from only 12 to 16 pounds, reducing operator fatigue. Light trigger force stays constant throughout life of the gun.
A fully adjustable, wide-body pad maximizes operator comfort in any position, and fully adjustable handgrip enables ease of use with precise control. A simple cartridge design means fewer parts and like-new working condition after repair. With stainless steel construction, the units are rated for 15,000 and 20,000 psi. 800/231-8192; www.waterblast.com.
Heavy-duty pumping
The 750 Series multi-blaster waterjet pumping units from Gardner Denver Waterjet Systems Inc. operate at pressures from 4,300 to 20,000 psi and flows from 51 to 274 gpm. Equipped with the company’s TGX600S/HB pump, the units are suited for applications requiring high flow at consistently high pressure.
All units include a 750-hp diesel engine or 500 hp electric motor along with appropriate transmission, drive system, fuel tank, pump filtration, pump instrumentation, and safety relief system. With Instant Pressure Range Conversions enabled by IPRC Technology, pumps can be converted for different pressures on location. 281/448-5800; www.gardnerdenverproducts.com/waterjetting.
Foot control
The foot-operated DYNA-GUN control from KMT Aqua-Dyne is designed for long and reliable performance in demanding applications. The operator’s foot controls the pressure, leaving both hands free to feed and return flex lances, hoses, and other equipment.
The gun weighs 14 pounds. Unit dimensions are 14 by 12 by 8 inches. It is equipped with the QC1 quick-change piston seal assembly. Units are available in maximum working pressures of 15,000-psi and 20,000-psi. 800/324-5151; www.kmtgroup.com.
Abrasive blasting
The Profiler nozzle from NLB Corp. enables abrasive wet blasting at 20,000 to 40,000 psi. The device profiles a 4-inch path at rates of up to 15 feet per minute, and leaves a high-quality bonding surface for new coatings. The nozzle operates at flows of 3 to 6 gpm.
The tool works with various abrasive media to suit specific applications. The abrasive is fed to the nozzle from an abrasive feed hopper through metering discs that restrict the flow to a predetermined rate. A typical flow is two pounds per minute. The nozzle profiles metal and welds. 248/624-5555; www.nlbcorp.com.
Vessel cleaning
The traveling cable swivel tool (CST) from StoneAge Inc., uses air-powered rotation and 10,000-psi water for no-entry cleaning of direct-fired furnaces, boilers, reboilers, superheater and economizer sections, reformers, precipitators and cokers. The tool slides on a stretched cable and is moved along by jet reaction or by way of a pulling cable.
It has a versatile 6-port head with varying angles, including one that allows the tool to travel by itself. The operator selects the ports to be used and plugs the others. The ports include two at 90 degrees, two at 80 degrees, one at 70 degrees, and one at 110 degrees. Extension nipples further adapt the tool to various vessel sizes and improve jet quality by reducing standoff distances. 970/259-2869; www.stoneagetools.com.
Plunger pump
GHC-Series super-duty high-pressure plunger pumps from Udor USA include a 22 mm keyed solid shaft, stainless steel block manifold, and pressurized inlet only. Models include 1,450 rpm and 1,750 rpm electric units rated at 7,300 psi (15 hp and 20 hp), and gear reduction gasoline engine models rated at 7,300 psi (20 hp and 24 hp). 651/785-0666; www.udorusa.com.
Improved grip
A new handgrip design from Hammelmann Corp. enables operation of blasting guns with less force to enhance safety and extend blasting times. A lever mechanism allows the trigger to be held by the operator’s little finger. It can be fitted to all the company’s trigger-actuated blasting guns. Ergonomically formed grip extensions in various designs can be easily attached. Each operator can select the one that best conserves energy and increases operational safety. 937/859-8777; www.hammelmann.com.
Bundle cleaner
The IBC-5 Inside Bundle Cleaner from Peinemann Equipment is designed to clean a large number of bundles on the cleaning slab during shutdowns. From a cabin, a single operator can control up/down and left/right movement with a simple joystick, turn the rollers, operate the outriggers, and move the lancebed forward and backward. The lancebed is made of 10-meter T-bars that guide the lances and keep from remaining in the bed.
The machine has two standard emergency stops, inside the cabin and outside at the back side. If a person enters with the lances inside a tube, all other hydraulic controls are blocked. The cabin locks itself at any height if there is a hydraulic failure during lifting or lowering. All controls are located inside the cabin, next to the operator, to create an unobstructed view and comfortable working position. 713/473-3135; www.peinemannequipment.com.
Tank cleaning
The Vertical Tank Cleaning (VTC) system from JETECH Inc., can be fixed on top of a reactor or tank. Equipped with a standard 3-D nozzle or the Jetech 959 external-speed-controlled, air-driven 3-D nozzle, it cleans reactors and tanks in a simple and safe process. Mounted on the top of the VTC tower is a high-pressure hose reel suitable for up to 40,000-psi hose. The VTC is an automated system and can be programmed for a variety of reactor cleaning sequences. Feedback of nozzle position, pressure, cycle time and flow rate can be read on the system control panel. 269/965-6311; www.jetech.com.
High-pressure hose
Type 6/2K hose from Spir Star Inc. is designed for waterblasting applications including tube cleaning. The hose has an inner core of polyoxymethylene, two layers of high-tensile steel wire for pressure support, an outer cover of polyamide, and a top layer of stainless steel wire. With an inside diameter of 0.24 inch and an outside diameter of 0.52 inch, it is designed for temperatures from -22 to 140 degrees F and working pressures up to 14,500 psi. 281/664-7800; www.spirstar.com.
