Heat Exchanger World Magazine September 2023 | Page 11

hydraulic power unit and created a cordless version . We did away with the pump , hoses , and need for shop air or electricity . It ’ s now a self-contained unit that looks similar to a large cordless power drill . Making for far easier installation of our Pop-A-Plug ® products ,” explained Burns . The Smart Ram 640T allows operators to quickly perform heat exchanger tube repairs without significant setup or breakdown times . The selfcontained battery-operated hydraulic unit provides reliable installation of heat exchanger tube plugs through its long-lasting 18v / 3.0Ah Lithium-ion battery allowing for cordless operation in remote and close quarters environments without the need for electric or plant air connection .
Severed tubes ? Try Pop-A-Plug ® Tube Stabilizers ! For weakened or completely severed tubes , Pop-A-Plug ® Tube Stabilizers are recommended . “ Stabilizers are most often used with a broken or severely damaged tube ; typically , when the tube itself is completely severed ,” explained Kronen . The Tube Stabilizer is made up of a three-part system that includes a wedge or bullet type tip , the use of which is recommended based on whether the tube is completely severed . If it is severed , it is recommended to use a wedge tip , as it will help pull the severed tube through the system . The next component of the Tube Stabilizers are rods , which add rigidity to the severed tube . “ Some stations use a cable instead of a rod , which will also work . Cables are favored in some applications , due to the lower cost ,” said Kronen . The final component of the Tube Stabilizer is the unique Pop-A-Plug ® anchor . It anchors the stabilizer ( rod or cable ) to the tube , preventing the system from vibrating itself down the tube . “ What will happen with a broken tube during operation is , the tube whips around , or vibrates in the heat exchanger . As the tubes are so close together in the bundle , the severed tube will ultimately damage adjacent tubes and so on , essentially destroying itself from the inside out ,” said Kronen . “ Therefore , anchoring the stabilizer is the most important part of the operation .” A lot of the time , power plants do not anchor their systems . “ Sometimes , this will work . However , there have been instances where the lack of an anchor causes the cable to vibrate its way into the system , bringing the whole system down ,” explained Kronen .
Quality assurance EST Group is focused on continuous improvement and reducing waste at every level within its organization . This ensures that our customers get the best solution to their problem in a timely fashion . The company ’ s quality program is integrated into each element of its operation – manufacturing , supply chain , engineering , and sales . Each process is audited and reviewed to ensure products exceed the demand of customers . By offering several testing tools , solutions , and installation methods , EST Group offers a complete package . “ Pop-A-Plug ® Tube Plugs are proven to provide the lowest lifecycle cost for all types of plug systems used in heat exchanger maintenance ,” said Kronen . Maintenance and repairs are at the heart of EST Group ’ s operations , as the company continues to provide innovative solutions that help reduce downtime . “ We serve critical and severe service customers , so providing safe and reliable solutions is crucial . We do in-house testing of our products to ensure they are of the highest quality ,” said Burns . “ We work continuously to provide optimal solutions for our end users , and make sure that we hold ourselves , and products to the highest standards ,” concluded Burns .
To learn more about EST Group ’ s Pop-A-Plug ® Tube Plugging System , visit : www . cw-estgroup . com or call + 1 800 355 7044 or + 31 172 418841 .
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