Careers Texas Tower Heat Exchanger (VCFE) Fouling Removal
Restore Heat Transfer and Capacity with Rovex® Robotic Cleaning
Address difficult Texas Tower fouling, unblock restricted tubes and restore heat transfer with TubeTech™ engineered cleaning services.
Texas Towers, also known as Vertical Combined Feed Exchangers (VCFEs) or Feed Effluent Exchangers, can experience severe shell- and tube-side fouling that restricts flow, reduces heat transfer and limits process capacity.
Common challenges include HCFE fouling location, asset accessibility, unknown deposit materials, safety, and costs. When taking equipment offline it is essential to conduct fouling removal quickly, and safely, and use techniques which deliver maximum results.
TubeTech™ combines more than 30 years of specialist experience with patented cleaning and unblocking technologies. Rovex® robotic cleaning can access difficult shell-side areas and complex exchanger geometries, while engineered tube-side systems remove compacted deposits and restore blocked tubes for inspection and return to service.
I’m here to help
Scott Donson
IGS Subject Matter Expert
See: TubeTech™ Texas Tower and VCFE Cleaning in Action
How Fouling Affects Texas Tower (VCFE) Performance
A Texas tower heat exchanger is a vertically configured shell-and-tube exchanger used in hydrocarbon processing. It may also be referred to as a Vertical Combined Feed Exchanger, Feed Effluent Exchanger or Combined Feed Exchanger.
These exchangers transfer heat between process streams to recover energy and support efficient unit operation. As fouling accumulates on the shell side or within the tubes, heat transfer, flow and process capacity can gradually decline.
Why Should Fouling be Removed from Texas Towers (VCFEs)?
Shell- and tube-side fouling can restrict flow, increase pressure drop and reduce the exchanger’s ability to recover heat. If the deposits are not addressed, the unit may experience declining throughput, reduced thermal efficiency and increasing risk of blocked tubes or an unplanned outage.
TubeTech™ cleaning and unblocking technologies remove difficult deposits from restricted areas throughout the exchanger. Where appropriate, Rovex® robotic cleaning reaches deep within complex shell-side geometries, while specialist tube-side systems restore blocked tubes for inspection and continued operation.
When Should a Texas Tower Be Cleaned?
Texas Towers may remain in service for extended operating periods, which can allow performance deterioration to develop gradually and remain unnoticed.
Cleaning intervals should be based on exchanger performance, pressure drop, throughput, fouling history, inspection findings and planned turnaround schedules. Indicators that cleaning may be required include:
- Reduced heat-transfer performance
- Increasing pressure drop
- Restricted or blocked tubes
- Lower process capacity
- Difficulty achieving inspection requirements
Texas Tower and VCFE Cleaning Case Studies
Nearly 1,000 Blocked VCFE Tubes Identified with Only 2 m of Headroom
The Caribbean refinery was experiencing a significant drop in performance due to an unknown number of tube blockages.
- Client estimated 12% of over 2,000 tubes were blocked
- TubeTech™ inspection found that nearly 1,000 tubes (50%) were blocked
- In 5 days TubeTech™ successfully unblocked more than 300 tubes to allow the VCFE to be returned to production – with a further 750 tubes to be cleared during the next turnaround
“TubeTech™ showed great resourcefulness – our VCFE was unblocked and inspected to production standard without overrunning the shutdown period.”
Read more
Tube Blockages Removed in Seven Shifts After Previous Cleaning Failed
The large Asian refinery was suffering from a significant performance drop caused by tube bore blockages. TubeTech™ worked during a critical path, there was a limited time frame in which to complete the HCFE fouling removal.
- Traditional fouling removal methods including chemicals were attempting by previous contractors without success
- Time limited fouling removal to only 7 shifts – traditional water jetting required up to 50 shifts
- Super high-pressure pumps 55,000psi capability
Read more
Two Texas Towers (VCFE) Restored Five Times Faster
Safety, speed, and cleanliness were the most important factors for the French refinery. With a critical shut down schedule, the client was eager to have both the shell side and tube side of both vertical combined feed/effluent exchangers cleaned within a 6-day window.
- Previous fouling removal had required 24 shifts to restore each of the two combine feed/effluent exchangers
- TubeTech™ required just 5 shifts
Read more
What do our customers say?
“We have used local and international contractors before, but with mixed results. Since using TubeTech™ to remove fouling from the VCFEs, the Texas Towers on the CCR Platformer are delivering near-original efficiency and productivity for the first time since the refinery was commissioned.”
Senior Shutdown Manager, Middle Eastern Refinery
Contact a Texas Tower and VCFE Cleaning Specialist
IGS is here to provide information, answer questions and create an effective solution for your needs.