Do you have a boiler in use in your industry? If your answer is yes, we have a question for you: how clean are the boiler tubes in your industry? Are they up to date? Do they need to be improved?

If you think you need to improve, you should read this content. This is because, in industrial processes, boilers are equipment that naturally generate a lot of ash and soot, a fact that reinforces the importance of cleaning boiler tubes.

Therefore, it is essential that industries take certain precautions when cleaning boiler tubes in order to keep this equipment functioning and safe at all times. See in this content the main precautions we must take to efficiently clean the tubes.

Boiler cleaning: why do it periodically?

In industrial processes, cleaning a boiler is a very important task. This equipment always operates under high pressure and temperature, which is why it requires careful maintenance to ensure the equipment operates more efficiently and optimally.

For this reason, cleaning boilers is a fundamental procedure. By doing so, it will be possible to remove excessive water deposits that can lead to corrosion processes, mineral scale, sludge or process contaminants such as calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and silica.

In addition to minimizing possible failures, boiler cleaning, when carried out regularly, will reveal the true condition of the metal that makes up the boiler, enabling the restoration of its energy efficiency.

And cleaning boiler tubes: why are they so important?

One of the most important parts of boilers, especially fire tube boilers, are their tubes. In these boilers, the gases resulting from combustion are sent into the boiler and circulate inside the tubular bundle (tubes) that are submerged in the water to be vaporized and transformed into steam, generating the necessary energy.

What happens is that scale, soot and other residues are usually a consequence of this fuel burning. These residues can start to accumulate and cover the internal surface of the boiler, significantly reducing the heat transfer potential and consequently the combustion efficiency.

The table below shows the effect that soot thickness will have on boiler performance and heat loss. Check it out:

Source: MBX

For this reason, cleaning industrial boiler tubes is a process that must be carried out regularly, thus avoiding the escalation of these problems.

The recommendation is that cleaning be done at least once a year and always by qualified professionals with the right equipment.

How to clean boiler tubes?

As seen, cleaning the tubes of fire tube boilers is essential, preventing the accumulation of scale, dirt and debris inside the tubes.

This accumulation can even alter the air/fuel ratio, which will cause a loss of efficiency, so it should be avoided.

However, boiler tubes must be cleaned periodically and correctly. There are basically two options: manual cleaning, using a steel brush, and cleaning using specific systems.

For manual cleaning, it is recommended to use an appropriate steel brush, but it is also possible to use specific equipment, such as pneumatic equipment that cleans the pipes more easily, quickly and practically, and only one person can carry out the operation.

MBX 2000 – Solution for cleaning boiler tubes

As we have seen, one of the main items responsible for increasing boiler efficiency and fuel savings is related to the cleaning potential of boiler tubes.

Thinking about this need, MBX Indústria e Manutenção de Máquinas offers its customers the MBX 2000 , responsible for the internal cleaning of steel pipes.

This product is a compact, lightweight and easy-to-use tool (only one person can handle it), and it also does not require professional qualifications, just basic operational training.

The equipment is complete, including pneumatic oil, flexible hose, air valve set, PPE and spare accessories, all well packaged in a storage case.

Among its technical data, the MBX 2000 features:

• Compressed air drive;
• Works safely up to 200º C;
• Works by impulses instead of rotation;
• Ensures energy savings;
• Does not damage steel pipes;
• Cleans pipes measuring 2” to 4” inches;
• Great flexibility and agility;
• Works vertically and horizontally;

Finally, the MBX 2000 has a full factory warranty and is 100% nationally manufactured, focusing on increasing the productivity of its customers.

Meet the MBX 2000 right now and keep your industry's boiler tubes clean at all times.