Heat exchanger tubes

[JBurd]

heat exchanger tubes.JPG

Anybody have any advise about cleaning out the insides of these heat exchanger tubes? They are 5/8id, so my jetting hose will fit but it won't make the turn down the ends. There is over 10,000 linear feet of tubing to clean so I want to get it right. Also, I'm assuming there is some scale buildup, so I'm curious if de-scaling acid is required or at least helpful.

[Christopher]

At the refinery they were cleaned with the hydroblaster rigs running from 10,000 to 30,000psi on large trailers and fed with fire hydrants. All hydraulic rigs with a guy on a chair behind a blast shield operating the hydraulic gun, pushing it in and out of the tubes one by one. These had rust, scale, carbon and hydrocarbon residue so it took a lot of pressure to clean them.

[Rodger]

the tube doesn't make the corner most of the time. The heat exchanger is just the straight part and they should unbolt them where the bent pipes enter the straight section. I presume these are just for a HVAC system so it won't require the full hydroblast if they aren't getting a reduction in flow just hitting the straight pipes will improve the thermal exchange I would think.
just look up heat exchanger demonstration to get the companies that make high pressure equipment. most of them will rent you a rig.

[Rodger]

Oh, I forgot you can get a flexible rod you put on a drill and run through the tubes also. Sounds like what you want. Then run water on the strait section.