Remote cleaning technology expands access in heater maintenance
RELATED PRODUCTS
PRODUCT INFORMATION
MANUFACTURED BY Integrated Global Services
PUBLISH DATE
July 6, 2026
RELEASE DATE
July 6, 2026
CATEGORY
Robotics
Integrated Global Services has introduced Rovex, a robotic cleaning system for fired heater convection sections used in the energy, power and heavy industry sectors.
Rovex builds on the TubeTech robotic cleaning technology already used at industrial facilities for several years. The new system combines robotic cleaning with changes in mobility, access and digital performance verification under a single platform.
The remotely operated vehicle is designed to move through complex tube geometries. It uses cleaning lance technology and inspection tools to remove fouling without requiring confined-space entry.
Fouling in fired heaters can reduce thermal efficiency in refining and petrochemical operations. Even small efficiency losses can increase operating costs, making convection section cleaning an important maintenance activity.
Rovex is designed to clean more than 90% of accessible tube surface area, offering an alternative to manual cleaning and water jetting.
Each deployment includes thermal performance analysis before and after cleaning to identify fouled areas and measure changes in operating performance. Recent projects showed fuel efficiency improvements of up to 2.9%, stack temperature reductions of up to 60 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit), annual carbon dioxide emissions reductions of more than 1,600 metric tons, and payback periods of less than three months, depending on furnace design and operating conditions.
At Oman Methanol Co., Rovex reduced stack temperature by 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 degrees Fahrenheit) and improved fuel efficiency by 1.8%, allowing a return to full production capacity while lowering fuel use and emissions.
Rovex combines robotic cleaning and digital performance analysis to support maintenance planning and efficiency improvement.
Integrated Global Services, Inc.
Edited by Puja Mitra, WTWH Media, for Plant Engineering
