The secret behind our condenser tube cleaning solution
Heat exchangers transfer heat between media without these mixing with each other. They are indispensable for cooling and heating processes as well as for heat recovery. The efficiency of the heat transfer process is particularly important when it comes to large quantities of heat. This applies, for example, to cooling water circuits in thermal power plants, seawater desalination, large industrial cooling water circuits, and heat pump applications. It has a direct effect on the capital expenditures (CAPEX) and on the operational expenditures (OPEX) of thermal plants. However, heat exchangers are susceptible to debris, deposits, and fouling (micro- and macrofouling), which reduce the efficiency and thereby increase energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. Even the thinnest deposits on the inner surfaces of the condenser tubes noticeably impair the heat transfer. This is where our Taprogge cleaning balls come in.
The right choice
Thanks to their simple yet effective mode of operation, our Cleaning Balls help extend your plant’s service life and maintain optimal heat transfer in the long term. This reduces operating costs, the use of primary energy, and CO₂ emissions. The cleaning balls are the centerpiece of the Taprogge system. Choosing the right ones is essential for successful cleaning. With over 70 years of experience, over 13,000 systems worldwide, and production exclusively in Germany, we supply Cleaning Balls of the highest quality – precisely tailored to your specific use case.
With over 70 years of experience, over 13,000 systems worldwide, and production exclusively in Germany, we supply Cleaning Balls of the highest quality.
Kevin Meyer, Director Service
Suitably selected from experience
The hundreds of Cleaning Ball types we have developed throughout our company’s history form the basis for our unique expertise when it comes to choosing the right cleaning balls. The crucial factors here are the specific operating conditions: the tube material used, the chemical and physical properties of the cooling water, the hydraulic conditions, the site-specific fouling, and the design parameters of the Taprogge System. The choice of Cleaning Ball is based on the interplay between these factors. In practice, it is often the result of a carefully balanced compromise between competing influencing variables.
3 categories of Cleaning Balls
Sponge rubber balls
Clean gently without abrasion. They are particularly suitable for copper-alloy condenser tubes and for tubes with linings or inserts. They reliably remove light fouling such as sediments while also helping to build and maintain a protective film.
Polishing balls
Use an integrated polishing agent to achieve a gently abrasive effect in order to remove more significant deposits. They are the standard choice for stainless steel and titanium tubes.
Coated balls
Have a special coating for removing stubborn, firmly adhering deposits. Their use can be individually tailored to the relevant use case.
The choice of the optimum Cleaning Ball is based on the interplay between these factors. In practice, it is often the result of a carefully balanced compromise between competing influencing variables. Providing us with additional application-specific information will enable us to select the optimum Cleaning Ball. Just get in touch with our application consultants.
Quality without compromise
Our production and quality control processes meet the requirements of DIN EN ISO 9001:2015. All raw materials and additives comply with the European REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. With millions of Cleaning Balls in stock, we can deliver worldwide at any time.
Get the ball rolling in three steps
Condenser tube material, plant type, fouling: three parameters, one solution. You can use our product finder as an initial guidance in choosing the right cleaning balls for your system.
Product finder
TP150
Polishing ball coated with polishing agent for low-salinity waters
Description
Polishing ball coated with polishing agent (totally coated polishing ball) for stainless steel and titanium tubes in low-salinity waters.
Deployment
For particularly hard scaling, such as lime, in stainless steel and titanium tubes.
Special features
Cleaning ball basic type P150 with polishing agent admix. Totally coated polishing balls may be used as regular operating balls. Cleaning is effected in two steps: Initially, the cleaning effect is increased by the coating. After the coating has worn off, the cleaning ball acts like the polishing ball in a second step.
TP130
Polishing ball coated with polishing agent for low-salinity waters and special hydraulic conditions
Description
Polishing ball coated with polishing agent (totally coated polishing ball) for stainless steel and titanium tubes and low-salinity waters.
Deployment
For particularly hard scaling, such as lime, in stainless steel and titanium tubes.
Special features
Cleaning ball basic type P130 with polishing agent admix. Totally coated polishing balls may be used as regular operating balls. Cleaning is effected in two steps: Initially, the cleaning effect is increased by the coating. After the coating has worn off, the cleaning ball acts like the polishing ball in a second step.
Sponge rubber ball coated with corundum for all types of cooling water
Description
Sponge rubber ball with corundum coating (totally coated corundum ball) for stainless steel and titanium tubes and all types of cooling water. The use of this cleaning ball in copper-alloy tubes is subject to a Taprogge recommendation.
Deployment
For the removal of hard scaling as calcite, residuals or corrosion products.
Special features
Cleaning ball basic type S160 with corundum coating. To ensure effective cleaning, the ball charge is exchanged once the coating has worn off from most of the cleaning balls. This ball type should not be used as regular operating ball. Application also after the corundum ring ball was used to remove scaling from the entire tube surface.
Note
The microscopically visible scoring resulting from the ball use is smaller than the scoring resulting from the manufacture of the stainless steel and titanium tubes itself. Uncontrolled use of this cleaning ball type may damage tubes and system parts.
S220
L220
Sponge rubber ball for special hydraulic conditions
Description
Cleaning ball for copper and brass tubes in salt water.
Deployment
With copper and brass tubes (particularly combined with ferrous sulphate dosing) in salt water; additionally with evaporators of MSF-Plants.
Special features
Due to the roughness of copper-alloy tube surfaces, the cleaning ball type S220 may also be applied as long-life ball (L220).
S170
L170
Sponge rubber ball for special hydraulic conditions
Description
For copper and brass tubes in low-salinity waters.
Deployment
For copper and brass tubes (particularly combined with ferrous sulphate dosing) in low-salinity waters.
Special features
Special cleaning ball for copper-alloy structured tubes, or for particularly unfavourable hydraulic conditions. Due to the roughness of copper-alloy tube surfaces, the cleaning ball type S170 may also be applied as long-life ball (L170).
S200
L200
Sponge rubber ball
Description
Standard cleaning ball for copper and brass tubes in salt water.
Deployment
For copper and brass tubes (particularly combined with ferrous sulphate dosing) in salt water; additionally in evaporators of MSF-Plants.
Special features
Due to the roughness of copper-alloy tube surfaces, the cleaning ball type S200 may also be applied as long-life ball (L200).
S160
L160
Sponge rubber ball
Description
Standard cleaning ball for copper and brass tubes in low-salinity waters.
Deployment
For copper and brass tubes (particularly combined with ferrous sulphate dosing) in low-salinity waters.
Special features
Due to the roughness of copper-alloy tube surfaces, the cleaning ball type S160 may also be applied as long-life ball (L160).
P130
PL130
Polishing ball for special hydraulic conditions
Description
Cleaning ball with polishing agent admix for stainless steel and titanium tubes in low-salinity waters.
Deployment
For stainless steel and titanium tubes in low-salinity waters.
Special features
cleaning ball with polishing agent admix. Type PL130 should not be used with clean stainless steel and titanium tubes.
P091
PL091
Polishing ball for the TAPROGGE CCS (Chiller Cleaning System)
Description
Cleaning ball for stainless steel and titanium tubes in low-salinity waters.
Deployment
For stainless steel and titanium tubes, particularly with heat exchangers of refrigeration plants and low-salinity waters.
Special features
Cleaning ball with polishing agent admix. Cleaning ball for stainless steel and titanium tubes in refrigeration plants. Type PL091 should not be used with clean stainless steel and titanium tubes.
P250
PL250
Polishing ball
Description
Standard cleaning ball with polishing agent admix for stainless steel and titanium tubes in salt water.
Deployment
For stainless steel and titanium tubes in salt water; additionally with evaporators of MSF-Plants.
Special features
Cleaning ball with polishing agent admix. Due to the roughness of tube surfaces in MSF systems, particularly during the summer months on the grounds of the increased lime precipitation, type P250 may then also be applied as long-life ball (PL250).
Sponge rubber ball coated with corundum for all types of cooling water and special hydraulic conditions
Description
Sponge rubber ball with corundum coating (totally coated corundum ball) for stainless steel and titanium tubes and all types of cooling water. The use of this cleaning ball in copper-alloy tubes is subject to a Taprogge recommendation.
Deployment
For the removal of hard scaling as calcite, residuals or corrosion products.
Special features
Cleaning ball basic type S300 with corundum coating. To ensure effective cleaning, the ball charge is exchanged once the coating has worn off from most of the cleaning balls. This ball type should not be used as regular operating ball. Application also after the corundum ring ball was used to remove scaling from the entire tube surface.
Note
The microscopically visible scoring resulting from the ball use is smaller than the scoring resulting from the manufacture of the stainless steel and titanium tubes itself. Uncontrolled use of this cleaning ball type may damage tubes and system parts.
P150
PL150
Polishing ball
Description
Standard cleaning ball with polishing agent admix for stainless steel and titanium tubes in low-salinity waters.
Deployment
For stainless steel and titanium tubes in low-salinity waters.
Special features
cleaning ball with polishing agent admix. Type PL150 should not be used with clean stainless steel and titanium tubes.
P230
PL230
Sponge rubber ball for the Taprogge CCS (Chiller Cleaning System)
Description
For copper and brass tubes in low-salinity waters.
Deployment
For copper-alloy tubes, particularly in heat exchangers of refrigeration plants with low-salinity waters.
Special features
Cleaning ball for copper-alloy tubes in refrigeration plants. Due to the roughness of copper-alloy tube surfaces, the cleaning ball type S110 may also be applied as long-life ball (L110).
S110
L110
Sponge rubber ball for the Taprogge CCS (Chiller Cleaning System)
Description
For copper and brass tubes in low-salinity waters.
Deployment
For copper-alloy tubes, particularly in heat exchangers of refrigeration plants with low-salinity waters.
Special features
Cleaning ball for copper-alloy tubes in refrigeration plants. Due to the roughness of copper-alloy tube surfaces, the cleaning ball type S110 may also be applied as long-life ball (L110).
CONTACT
Questions, projects, support? We are all ears!
Whether initial project inquiry or technical support. Contact us and we will respond promptly using the fastest channel. We are keen to receive your request and to implement solutions tailored to your needs.
