In the pre-commissioning world, terms like AquaLazing and hydrolazing may be used interchangeably and spark confusion. Are they different processes? Are they different names for the same procedure? B&W Energy Services is here to answer these questions and provide clarity.
What is Hydrolazing?
Hydrolazing, also known as hydromilling, utilizes high-pressure water jets to remove mill-scale, construction debris and process deposits from the internals of piping systems. Hydrolazing is often performed on combined cycle power systems, refining and petrochemical steam systems, process piping systems, and process equipment that’s underperforming due to process deposits or water contamination.
What is AquaLazing?
AquaLazing is an advanced water-jetting process that cleans piping systems of process deposits, mill-scale, corrosion and construction debris. Rotating, highly pressurized water is advanced through the piping or plant equipment at calculated speeds to ensure a thorough, even clean.
So, What’s the Difference?
If you think you just read the same definition twice worded slightly differently, you would be correct. At first glance, AquaLazing and hydrolazing appear to be the exact same process. What most people in the industry traditionally call hydrolazing is what B&W has branded as AquaLazing. By coining the term “AquaLazing,” we highlight our unique approach that sets us apart from the competition. AquaLazing is hydrolazing…done with better people, better equipment and better engineering.
How Does AquaLazing Work?
B&W’s AquaLazing services involve a powerful diesel pump operating at over 15,000 psi enclosed in a 78 dB noise-suppressing container to minimize disruption to surrounding work activities. The diesel engine energizes the high-pressure jetting pump, which supplies water through a rotating hose and customized cleaning nozzle. The device advances through the piping system gradually, guaranteeing a complete clean and traversing through multiple changes in direction and varying pipe diameters. We’re committed to utilizing only the most advanced technology.
During AquaLazing, B&W takes every precaution to protect personnel and plant equipment. By using our wireless remote controller, we can control the AquaLazing pump from up to 500 feet away. We also include an anti-withdrawal device installed on each system entry point to keep both our team and yours safe. Our field teams are highly trained and experienced in the safe execution of AquaLazing services.
What Sets B&W Apart
Before B&W added AquaLazing to our service offerings, companies were often forced to subcontract their hydrolazing services with the rest of their pre-commissioning activities. With B&W, you don’t need to pay a third party to perform AquaLazing — we do it all in-house! We also commonly combine AquaLazing with steam blowing, air blowing, pulse flushing, chemical cleaning and other services for a more effective clean, more streamlined operations and drastically reduced costs.
Although the idea of paying for an extra service to save money during pre-commissioning may seem counterintuitive, the numbers don’t lie. When AquaLazing is combined with other pre-commissioning services, the savings on consumed fuel will often pay for the AquaLazing (and then some).
This doesn’t just save you money — it saves you time and resources as well (which ultimately equates to money). With an average 2-over-1 HRSG project, it can take approximately 300-400 hours of runtime per gas turbine to complete steam blows without performing AquaLazing beforehand. Conducting steam blowing may also use up to 30 million gallons of demineralized water to run the turbines involved for the same duration. The total amount of time spent performing steam blowing services typically lasts 12-15 days.
However, a 2-over-1 HRSG project that does implement AquaLazing prior to steam blowing can reduce the runtime per gas turbine by 75%. It can also decrease water usage by 80%, natural gas consumption by 50% and time spent on steam blowing by approximately 5-8 days.
How else does our AquaLazing stand apart? We provide a fully engineered package including detailed procedures and sign-off sheets to keep track of our progress each step of the way. B&W offers detailed AquaLazing engineering plans that include marked drawings, a construction activities punch list and a detailed description of each cleaning path.
We’re constantly testing and updating our equipment and procedures to ensure the highest levels of safety, quality and effectiveness. B&W maintains a large fleet of AquaLazing equipment, and we pride ourselves on making sure that every piece of equipment is in tip-top shape for our clients. Our custom nozzles are able to clean piping systems ranging from two inches to 60 inches or larger, depending on configuration. Our cutting-edge technology and project management expertise enable us to navigate 90-degree bends and distances up to 1,500 linear feet and 100 vertical feet.
AquaLazing in Action
B&W has performed AquaLazing services for over a decade on large-scale projects worldwide. In 2018, our team had the opportunity to perform AquaLazing services on the Masinloc Thermal power plant expansion project for Ventanas Philippines Construction Inc. The project was behind schedule prior to our involvement, and the client called on our team to demonstrate how AquaLazing saves time and money throughout a project’s life cycle.
While the client typically performed pre-commissioning services on their own, they contracted B&W for AquaLazing services while the plant was undergoing steam blowing. This was a successful opportunity for B&W to not only demonstrate our cutting-edge cleaning technologies but also to prove we could meet deadlines on a project halfway across the globe in less than four weeks with no prior notice.
So, while AquaLazing and hydrolazing are technically the same, partnering with B&W Energy Services makes a world of difference. With B&W’s AquaLazing services, there’s no need to sacrifice safety, quality or cost-efficiency. Through innovative technology, top-tier engineering and the finest fleet of equipment on the market, we can minimize your project’s timeline and budget, guaranteed.