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The achievement of the cokebuster design is outstanding.
The original aim was to overcome the known concerns of scraper
pigs which have become familiar in use around the World. Despite
rapid growth in popularity of pig decoking, misgivings remain
in areas of tube u-bend damage and the questionable ability
of soft core pigs to fully remove hard coke without skidding
over resistant patches.
 Since
first use in February 2003, the cokebuster pigs have been
shown to cut out coke with a unique combination of speed and
efficiency. In some cases with visbreaker, vacuum and delayed
coker fired heaters, decoke duration reductions in excess
of 40% have been achieved, with a 30% time reduction being
normal.
Such a big time saving hard to believe?
Could it be worth a try?....maybe
it is true.
What is the refining value of a single day’s downtime
saved? Two days saved?
An open web site limits publication, but case histories exist
to prove the claim. Imagine such a time saving…..…and
simultaneously improving decoking quality.
 Cokebuster
pigs are unique – they are neither solid bodied,
nor soft core. This sets the technology apart from scraper
pigs currently in use and achieves an optimum combination
of strength, durability and flexibility.
In order to ensure the exact blend, pigs are of a complex
laminated construction using special gas filled polymers.
Each pig is produced through eight separate casting processes.
All pigs are prepared and cast identically, each being tested
for compressibility quotients.
Manufacture and stock control are managed at our own premises
in the UK under ISO 9001 internationally accredited quality
systems.
The pigs are able to successfully achieve a full bore clean
decoke, without tracking, striping or missed patches. To manage
this, designs are individual and complex; as an example, the
3¾; pig, the most commonly used size, comprises 106
individual component parts, using six specially machined alloy
moulds in its production.
 With
close control of design and production, feedback from site
works is regularly used to make adjustment for continuous
improvement.
Cokebuster pigs need no modification for passage through box
header returns or tight radius u-bends. Pigs are capable of
passing bi-directionally from inlet to outlet whilst thoroughly
cleaning convection & radiant sections. Cokebuster pigs
have proven abilities, matching the strength of solid hard
bodied pigs for the removal of hard contaminations often missed
by soft core pigs, yet combining this strength with a flexibility
respectful of tube wall metal.
In this way cokebuster technology achieves the best of both:-
measurably reduced downtime, with all tubes thoroughly &
smoothly cleaned.
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