Urgent! cloged copper tube

[michelle clarno]

Hello, We do have a serious problem. A copper tube (about 3mm inner diamter, about 40 m long) is cloged by deposits. What chemical could we use to get it open again. Replacement of the tube is not an option, it is a square diameter tube that is hard to get. This is a serious problem because the cloging renders a very expensive instrument unusableThanks is advance, Gert

[Gert von Helden]

: Hello, : We do have a serious problem. A copper tube (about : 3mm inner diamter, about 40 m long) is cloged by deposits. : What chemical could we use to get it open again. : Replacement of the tube is not an option, it is a square : diameter tube that is hard to get. : This is a serious problem because the cloging renders : a very expensive instrument unusable: Thanks is advance, Gertwithout flow through the line chemical cleaners would take forever. can you get to the ends of tubing and use something like piano wire to physically clean out enough to allow chemical cleaner to flow through. what cleaner would depend on composition of blockage.

[Gert von Helden]

Is the wall of the pipe thick enough to allow you to put air pressure back up the line, and blow out the obstruction??DISCLAIMERAll advice is given with-out seeing the job, and hence all advice MUST be taken as advice with limited knowledge on the exact situation. NO responsibility can or will be taken. And yes, I am a licensed plumber with my own business in Brisbane Australia

[Gert von Helden]

: : Hello, : : We do have a serious problem. A copper tube (about : : 3mm inner diamter, about 40 m long) is cloged by deposits. : : What chemical could we use to get it open again. : : Replacement of the tube is not an option, it is a square : : diameter tube that is hard to get. : : This is a serious problem because the cloging renders : : a very expensive instrument unusable: : Thanks is advance, Gert: without flow through the line chemical cleaners : would take forever. : can you get to the ends of tubing and use something : like piano wire to physically clean out enough : to allow chemical cleaner to flow through. what cleaner : would depend on composition of blockage.There was a water/glycol mix running through the pipe for about 8 years. There are actually about seven lines, each about 40 meters long. Some have some flow through. The deposit is probably copper oxide as well as mineral deposit. We now use some organic acit (ph about 5), but that does not seem to be strong enough. What about hydrochloric acid? The wall thickness is about 1 mm. Replacment of the tubes is right now ot an option. They are an integral partof an magnet that is used in a (very expensive) free electron laser. A replacement would take about 6 month (including 3 month to get this strange square copper tubing).Thanks, Gert

[Gert von Helden]

: : : Hello, : : : We do have a serious problem. A copper tube (about : : : 3mm inner diamter, about 40 m long) is cloged by deposits. : : : What chemical could we use to get it open again. : : : Replacement of the tube is not an option, it is a square : : : diameter tube that is hard to get. : : : This is a serious problem because the cloging renders : : : a very expensive instrument unusable: : : Thanks is advance, Gert: : without flow through the line chemical cleaners : : would take forever. : : can you get to the ends of tubing and use something : : like piano wire to physically clean out enough : : to allow chemical cleaner to flow through. what cleaner : : would depend on composition of blockage.: There was a water/glycol mix running through the pipe for : about 8 years. There are actually about seven lines, each : about 40 meters long. Some have some flow through. The deposit : is probably copper oxide as well as mineral deposit. We now use : some organic acit (ph about 5), but that does not seem to be strong : enough. What about hydrochloric acid? : The wall thickness is about 1 mm. : Replacment of the tubes is right now ot an option. They : are an integral partof an magnet that is used in : a (very expensive) free electron laser. A replacement would : take about 6 month (including 3 month to get this : strange square copper tubing).: Thanks, Gertbefore you use acid on the pipes you may want to wait untill you get in a what have I got to lose sitituation. have you checked with antifreeze makers.

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