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ZERO BALL LOSS (ZBL) SYSTEMS

This compact machine is a sponge-ball type tube-cleaning system

PURPOSE AND APPLICATION

In spite of upstream screens and strainers:


  1. Dissolved chemicals precipitate and build into scale on the tube surface,

  2. Biological elements settle and grow on the tube surface,

  3. Fine mineral particles deposit on the low-velocity boundary and combine with the biological growth.


As a result, the heat transfer by the tubes is much reduced and the plant’s loss of generation can be 3% or more.


Fitting a BEAUDREY ZBL system totally eliminates the above problems without any balls being released into the environment. The system is used in all plants with tubular exchangers and condensers.

DESCRIPTION

The water enters the cylindrical, flanged spool piece with a rotating screening wheel divided into a number of deep, radial, debris-collection compartments. The downstream face of the compartments is fitted with the patented, low head-loss NOCLING(TM) screening element. The balls are arrested and stored in the compartments. The wheel, driven by a peripheral gear and pinion, rotates. Each compartment passes in front of an upstream scoop which is connected to the skid-mounted ball pump, concentrator and ball collector.


The optional ball counter and undersize ball remover are also skid mounted.


When in circulation, the balls travel back to the upstream side of the condenser where they are injected into the incoming cooling water. As the size of the balls is slightly larger than the diameter of the tubes, they squeeze into the tubes, pushed by the condenser head-loss. The balls sweep the tubes clean before exiting from the condenser towards the ball catcher.

ZBL
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ADVANTAGES

  • No possible ball escape to the environment

  • Constant efficiency

  • Very compact, fits where no other system fits

  • Proven and reliable

  • Eliminates periodical shut-downs for manual tube-cleaning

  • Eliminates periodical chemical cleaning

  • Can easily be retrofitted to existing plants

  • Short pay-back time (often less than 18 months)

NECESSARY ANCILLARIES

  • Differential pressure sensor

  • Electrical control cabinet

OPTIONAL FEATURES

  • Inspection manholes

  • Undersize ball sorter / remover

  • Ball counter

  • Flow straightener

  • Special design to fit in restricted, existing locations

SIZES AND DATA

  • Standard sizes from DN500 (12”) to DN3200 (128”)     
    Larger machines and special shell dimensions on special order         

  • Head-loss about 1.5 V²/2g in most cases, “V” being the inlet velocity in the spool piece.

MATERIALS

  • Shell:        
    For fresh-water applications: painted carbon steel       
    For seawater applications: lined carbon steel, duplex or super-duplex stainless steel     

  • Moving parts and internal fixtures:         
    For fresh-water applications: AISI 304L or AISI 316L stainless steel
    For seawater application: AISI 316L stainless steel, duplex or super-duplex stainless steel

  • Ball-arresting grids:         
    For fresh-water applications: AISI 304L or AISI 316L stainless steel
    For seawater application: AISI 316L stainless steel, duplex or super-duplex stainless steel

  • Ball pump :       
    For fresh-water applications: Cast iron  
    For seawater application: Super-duplex stainless steel

  • Ball collector and fittings:  
    For fresh-water applications: AISI 304L or AISI 316L stainless steel
    For seawater application: AISI 316L stainless steel, duplex or super-duplex stainless steel

  • Skid pipework:     
    HDPE

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