1/8″ of soot in a fire tube boiler reduces the heat transfer by 47%

Boiler Tube Cleaning Brushes

Types of cleaning brushes Available

For maintenance professionals, cleaning tubes in tubular equipment is a commonly undertaken task. There are many methods to clean the tubes of heat exchangers, chillers, or boilers, but one prevalent method involves using a brush attached to a tube cleaning rod or flexible shaft on a machine. Selecting the appropriate cleaning method for your needs is crucial, as is choosing the right brush. The correct brush ensures effective and efficient cleaning, minimizes the risk of tube damage, and extends the equipment’s service life.

Boiler Tube Cleaning Brushes are supplied in Nylon, Brass, Stainless Steel or in Carbon Steel. Depending on the deposits within the tubes will dictate the brush medium. As for the brush size, you need the brush to be slightly less than the diameter of the inside of the tube. This then allows the brush to vibrate while rotating and cleaning. Brushes need to be married to the right tube cleaning machines. We can advise you on the correct machine to give you power needed due to tube size and deposit type. Alternatively, we rent these machines where you could try before you buy.

Tube fouling refers to the deposits or materials left inside a tube following heat exchange. The specific type of fouling found in heat exchanger, boiler, and chiller tubes is a critical consideration when choosing a cleaning brush. Different fouling types necessitate different brushes. Incorrect brush selection can result in poor cleaning and substantial tube damage.

Nylon brushes:
– Best for soft, light deposits such as mud, silt, and biological growth in heat exchanger tubes.
– Also good for microbiological growth in chiller tubes.

Brass brushes:
– Effective for scale and sediment removal in heat exchanger tubes.
– Also removes rust and debris in chiller tubes.

Stainless steel brushes:
– Ideal for tough deposits like scale and sediment in ferrous heat exchanger tubes.
– Also clears rust and debris in ferrous chiller tubes.

Wire brushes:
– Best for removing scale, sediment, rust, and debris in ferrous heat exchanger tubes.
– Also handles soot, ash, and slag in boiler tubes.

Understanding that fouling varies by type and severity according to the application is crucial.