Without efficient heat exchanger performance, output suffers while costs increase and bottom-line results suffer.

The prime culprit in these situations is often grime and sediment buildup, which causes fouling of the exchangers and the reduction of efficient heat transference. The clear solution to this recurring problem is cleaning the heat exchangers at regular intervals. StoneAge offers the ABX-3L for just such situations.

The ABX-3L is an automated system for hands-free tube bundle and Fin Fan heat exchanger cleaning applications. It is designed to run triple-, dual-, or single-flex lance setups with an emphasis on portability, ease of setup and safety.

“This unit is going to be a fit for cleaning heat exchangers in an industrial setting, such as a municipal water or wastewater treatment plant,” says Frank Romito Jr., an automation technician with StoneAge. “It is very convenient to use, and compatible with a lot of waterblasting systems.”

The ABX-3L can be used with any pressure rated hose ranging in size from 3/2 to 8/4. Paired with StoneAge Banshee rotary tube cleaning nozzles and the company’s Lightweight Positioner, it offers safe and efficient tube cleaning in harsh exchanger environments. Hose clamp pressure and feed rates can be quickly adjusted for repeatable, consistent cleaning, while its modular compact design makes it easy to transport and quick to set up, with all components coming in under 50 pounds. According to Romito, the ABX-3L improves several aspects of the company’s previous version, the ABX-2L.

“It increases the amount of torque you can use, and has an updated guide assembly that can be oriented to fit different pit patterns,” he says. “It really is a ‘one size fits all’ deal.”

The unit includes a high-visibility guide tube assembly for easy indexing, with no tools or adapters required for guide tube adjustment, minimizing downtime when switching between hose sizes. It comes with a steel-reinforced drive belt with durable polyurethane cover, making it reliable for hundreds of hours of operation. It offers independent forward/reverse speed control from 0.3 to 3 feet per second. Its consistent cleaning in both directions also produces results in less time.

“It was designed as a modular unit with parts that are easy to replace in the field,” Romito says. “The nice thing about this product line is that everything is designed to hook to everything else. That makes it easier on the user.”  866/795-1586; www.stoneagetools.com.