Removable Tube Sheet Heat Exchangers

Tube removal is a process that involves cutting tubes, pulling out tubes and tube stubs, and even knocking tubes out of the vessel. You can look to Elliott for all your tube removal needs ranging from tube cutters to tube taggers to pneumatic hammers.The tube removal process includes several process steps that must be performed with critical sequencing and tolerances. The initial step of our process is the Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) shrinking of the tube to-tube sheet expansion joints where applicable, which is performed with our standard plug removal TIG system.

Specifications :

The TIG process is carefully monitored for power and travel so that only designated areas in the tube are shrunk. For some tubes with minimal tube sheet contact, shrinking is not required.

Applications :

Tube Removers-One or a combination of the three below methods is used to remove a tube from a boiler or chiller vessel

Tube Cutters- Tube Cutters are used to internally cut from the inside to the outside of the tube behind the tube sheet on one end. This lessens the force required to pull a tube. To eliminate tube cutting chips in the vessel, tubes should be scored and not totally cut through. The tube cutter needs to have sufficient reach to cut behind the tube sheet. Proper lubrication and cutting speed will increase cutting blade life.

Tube Pullers- Used to break the seal and pull expanded tubes from a tube sheet. A spear or expanding collect is inserted and engaged into the tube inner diameter. A ram or gun applies force to exert an extracting force on the tube. The power to pull the tube is generated manually or through an hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump can be manually, electrically or pneumatically driven. The pulling force required will vary with the tube size and wall, the depth of the tube sheet and tube material.