Air Blowing & Steam Blowing

Overview

Industrial process piping systems require specialized cleaning methods to remove debris, scale, and blockages. When High-Velocity Chemical Cleaning and Passivation is not required or in the work scope, three additional pipe cleaning techniques are used, depending on the application and cleanliness requirements: Hydrolazing for removing stubborn blockages with high-pressure water, Air Blowing for clearing lighter debris quickly and cost-effectively, and Steam Blowing for thorough removal of construction debris and mill scale using high-temperature steam. Each method serves specific purposes and is selected based on the type of contamination and system requirements.

What Hydrolazing is and how it works

High-pressure water: The process uses water jets at very high pressures, typically between 12,000 PSI & 40,000 psi, depending on the application and material being removed.

Rotating nozzle: A special, high-pressure nozzle with precisely controlled, rotating orifices is sent into the pipe.

Cleaning action: The nozzle’s front-facing jets cut through blockages, while rear-facing jets propel the nozzle forward and pull the loosened debris back out of the pipe as it’s retracted.

Comprehensive cleaning: This method cleans the entire internal surface of the pipe, creating a “stripe-free” surface that is not possible with other methods like a simple snake.

Air Blowing

Purpose: To clean piping systems of lighter debris like dust, sand, and loose scale. It is a faster and less expensive alternative to steam blowing.

Process: Compressed air is pumped into the system and rapidly released through quick-opening valves. The process is repeated until the cleanliness criteria are met.

Methods: Common types include continuous, pulse, and hybrid air blowing.

Steam Blowing

Purpose: To remove construction debris, weld slag, sand, oil, rust, and mill scale from pipelines. High temperature and high velocity steam are needed to effectively remove mill scale.

Process: High-pressure steam is released from the boiler to clean the piping system. A target is often placed at the exit to check for impurities, with the process repeated until the target comes out clean.

Methods: Can be done in a continuous low-pressure flow or in controlled bursts called the “puffing method”.