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sheet does not display any tapped holes for eyebolts,
steel rods or cables inserted through tubes and
attached to bearing plates may be used. Do not handle
the tube bundles with hooks or other tools which might
damage the tubes. Baffles and support plates can be
easily damaged by dragging a bundle over a rough
surface.

Maus Italia’s bundle pullers
and lifters

Maus Italia has developed a complete series of tube
bundle pullers and lifters, which fall into two categories:
aerial and self-propelled. They are available for on-shore
Fig. 2 – MEF express efficiency. A marked increase in pressure drop and/or and off-shore operations and with a special treatment
reduction in performance usually indicates they need for operation in dangerous classified area:
cleaning. • aerial: “MEF express” and “Bundle Tutor”;
After having carried out all testing operations and designed to be used with the help of a crane, it
having excluded any possibility of partial reparation on can reach all the work- ing positions accessible
site the bundle must be removed from the shell. When overhead;
removing tube bundles from the exchangers you must • self-propelled: “MEF mobil” and “MEF Truck”; it
make sure they are not damaged by improper handling. has the advantage of avoiding the crane but
The total weight of the tube bundle must not be carried clearly has a more determined and limited range
by the tubes only: it should rest on the parts designed of use.
to carry it instead, e.g. tube sheet, baffles or tube
supports. This is a very critical phase, as adverse During the extraction and transport operations it is
conditions may often arise when moving tons of tube essential that the tube bundle is not damaged or
bundles to tens of meters of height and the working deformed. Maus Italia technical office has years of
activities must be performed safely. experience and invests thousands of hours in research
To avoid any possible damage during such removal and development to study customized solutions for
from the shell, a pulling device should be attached to every situation, geometry, size, area and position.
the eyebolts screwed into the tube sheet. If the tube

Fig. 3 – MEF express:
aerial tube bundle
puller

INDUSTRIAL PLANTS - May 2018
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