Scours Tube-IDs “NDE Clean” – Eliminates Catwalk Clean-Up

Curran International’s dry-grit blast tube-ID cleaning is a preferred method for air cooler (Fin Fan) turnarounds and maintenance inspections. It delivers:

  • Tube-IDs cleaned to high-integrity NDE standards
  • Fully-contained debris and spent grit collection
  • Elimination of cumbersome catwalk clean-up

Curran’s tube-end-to-tube-end blast system removes the need for temporary containment setups on narrow catwalks, saving both time and labor.

Safety First

Air-cooled exchangers provide essential cooling and condensing of hydrocarbon products using ambient air. Regular tube inspections ensure:

  • Tubes maintain safe operating conditions
  • Release risks of hydrocarbons or process streams are minimized
  • Plant operations remain safe for personnel

Failure to maintain tube integrity can lead to unit upset and operational hazards.

Highly Effective Scouring

Curran’s proprietary dry-grit blast system scours tube-IDs to “near white metal”, ready for all forms of NDE inspection.

How it works:

  1. Proprietary nozzles fit the tube-ID, bridging headers at both ends.
  2. Dry grit is propelled down the tube at high volume and velocity, creating turbulent flow that scours away deposits and scale.
  3. Spent grit exits via the header and is collected in a containment bin at grade, eliminating clean-up.

Unlike traditional hydro-lancing, which may require specialized rigs and operators, Curran’s self-contained system is faster, safer, and more cost-effective.

Visible Results in Minutes

  • Technicians can operate from the catwalk in front of the headers
  • Cleaning is self-contained and highly visible
  • No tube-lancing or extensive containment setup is required
  • Tube cleanliness meets NDE standards in the shortest possible time

Key Benefits

  • Predictable cleaning eliminates most rework and remobilization
  • Cleaner tubes yield higher integrity NDE and improved thermal performance
  • Eliminates catwalk containment wraps and reduces clean-up costs
  • Rapid turnaround minimizes exchanger downtime

Proven Track Record

Curran originated this field service nearly 20 years ago, safely completing millions of manhours of work at refineries around the world.

Learn More

Discover more about Curran’s unique, self-contained tube cleaning system:

🌐 Curran Exchanger Tube Cleaning

📞 281.339.9993