Restore Corroded Exchanger Tubes Quickly and Cost-Effectively
From day one, heat exchanger tubes face continuous threats—corrosion, erosion, and mechanical damage gradually shorten the life of these critical components. When tubes begin to fail, the common response is to plug the damaged tubes. However, plugging tubes is only a temporary fix and can lead to reduced thermal performance and accelerated deterioration of remaining tubes.
The Limits of Tube Plugging
While tube plugging may seem like the easiest and lowest-cost option, it causes:
- Decreased heat exchanger efficiency due to fewer active tubes
- Increased tube inlet velocities leading to inlet erosion and premature failures
- Higher maintenance costs and potential for unexpected shutdowns
As the percentage of plugged tubes rises, so does the risk to your equipment’s reliability and lifespan.
Curran’s Solution: Tube-In-Tube Repairs with Hydraulically Expanded Liners
At Curran International, we specialize in restoring corroded heat exchanger tubes with a proven, tube-in-tube liner repair method that minimizes downtime and cost.
How It Works
- Full-length alloy liners are hydraulically expanded inside the existing parent tubes to create an intimate, 100% metal-to-metal contact bond
- Expansion pressures of 6000–7000 PSI ensure a tight fit that eliminates air gaps, which prevents insulation effects and enhances heat transfer
- The liner installation addresses tubes with severe wall loss, cracking, pitting, or through-wall defects
- Tube ends are mechanically rolled and trimmed or flared to secure the liner and optimize flow
This approach restores tube integrity without the need for costly and time-consuming complete exchanger retubing.
Alloy Upgrades for Enhanced Corrosion and Erosion Resistance
Curran offers a wide selection of alloy liner materials tailored to your operating conditions, including:
- Stainless steel
- AL-6XN®
- Alloy 825
- Hastelloy C276
- Admiralty Brass
Many liners come in thin-wall gauges (as low as 0.022”) to minimize impact on tube velocity and thermal conductivity, while providing superior resistance to corrosion and erosion compared to original materials.
Superior Tube Cleaning for Optimal Liner Installation
A clean tube ID is essential for successful liner installation. Curran’s dry grit blasting technology achieves near “white metal” cleanliness by removing all corrosion, deposits, and contaminants, enabling better metal-to-metal contact and improving heat transfer performance.
Poor cleaning can cause trapped corrosion cells in the liner annulus, leading to premature liner failure due to “hot spots.” Therefore, Curran’s comprehensive cleaning, inspection, and quality assurance process ensures optimal conditions before liner installation.
Maximize Heat Exchanger Life — Don’t Just Plug Tubes
Instead of repeatedly plugging failing tubes, trust Curran’s turnkey tube restoration services to extend your exchanger’s life and maintain operational efficiency.
Contact Curran International today at (281) 339-9993 or email Ed Deely at edeely@curranintl.com to learn how our hydraulic tube liners and advanced cleaning services can save you time and money on exchanger maintenance.
