CA2525730C - Method and apparatus for cleaning a furnace burner - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for cleaning a furnace burner Download PDFInfo
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- CA2525730C CA2525730C CA 2525730 CA2525730A CA2525730C CA 2525730 C CA2525730 C CA 2525730C CA 2525730 CA2525730 CA 2525730 CA 2525730 A CA2525730 A CA 2525730A CA 2525730 C CA2525730 C CA 2525730C
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- scraper
- furnace
- scraper head
- discharge outlet
- burner
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23J—REMOVAL OR TREATMENT OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OR COMBUSTION RESIDUES; FLUES
- F23J3/00—Removing solid residues from passages or chambers beyond the fire, e.g. from flues by soot blowers
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Waste-Gas Treatment And Other Accessory Devices For Furnaces (AREA)
- Nozzles For Spraying Of Liquid Fuel (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention provides a furnace burner scraper that cleans a buildup of debris on the wall of a furnace in the vicinity of the furnace burner, and optionally the exterior wall of the furnace burner, without manual intervention and without shutting off the furnace burner. The furnace burner scraper intermittently lunges forward to scrape debris from the furnace wall about the discharge outlet of the firing tube, then retracts from the furnace interior so that the scraper head does not melt. The invention thus allows the furnace burner to operate for long periods of time without interrupting production.
Description
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING A FURNACE BURNER
FIELD OF TI-IE Il\VENTION
This invention relates to industrial furnaces. In particular, this invention relates to a furnace burner scraper for cleaning the buildup of debris on and in front of furnace burners used in smelting furnaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During smelting, debris accumulates on the interior walls of the furnace burner and the exterior surface of a burner firing tube, eventually to the point of obstructing the discharge outlet of the firing tube. It is necessary to dislodge this built-up debris every so often to ensure proper operation of the furnace burner. Since furnace burners used in smelting operations operate at verv high temperatures, any mechanical device used to dislodge the debris would melt in a short period of time. Thus, the burners are typically removed periodically to allow for manual clearing of the debris, which interrupts the furnace's production and results in significant lost revenues.
SLIMMARY OF THE INVENT'ION
The present invention provides a scraper for cleaning a wall of a fiarnace about a discharge outlet of a furnace burner mounted to the furnace and having a firing tube with an exterior wall, with the discharge outlet directed into the furnace.
The scraper comprises a scraper head for mounting over the exterior wall in sliding relation, having at least one scraping edge substantially conforming to the exterior wall, and at least one actuator connected to the scraper head, for moving the scraper head axially along the tube between a retracted position in which the scraper head is retracted from the discharge outlet and an extended position in which the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head extends at least to the discharge outlet.
'fhe present invention further provides a method of cleaning a wall of a furnace about a discharge outlet of a furnace burner mounted to the furnace and having a firing tube with ati exterior wall atid the discharge outlet directed into the fiurnace, comprising the steps of:
I
a. disposing a scraper head having at least one scraping edge substantially conforrning to the exterior wall in a retracted position over the exterior wall, and b. intermittentlv cleaning the furnace wall by engaging a cleaning cycle comprising the substeps of:
i. moving the scraper head from the retracted position to an extended position such that the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head moves toward the discharge outlet, and ii. moving the scraper head back to the retracted position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure lA is a front clevational view of an embodiment of the furnace burner scraper of the invention installed to a furnace burner in a fully extended position;
Figure 1 B is a rear elevational view of the furnace and burner scraper installed to the furnace burner shown in figure 1 A;
Figure 1C is a side elevational view of the furnace burner scraper installed to the furnace burner shown in figure 1 A;
Figure 2A is a side elevational view of the furnace burner scraper shown in figure 1 A showing extended and retracted positions of the scraper head;
Figure 2B is a partial top plan view of the furnace burner scraper of figure showing one positioning of the pneumatic cylinders;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a furnace burner showing the stuffing boxes for the extension rods;
Figure 4A is perspective view of the scraper head shown in figure 1 A; and Figure 4B is a perspective view of the scraper head of figure 4A rotated 90 degrees.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a furnace burner scraper 30 that cleans the furnace wall surrounding the furnace burner discharge outlet 20a, and in the preferred embodiment the interior wa112b of the furnace burner 10, without manual intervention and without removing the fumace burner 10. The furnace bumer scraper 30 intermittently lunges forward to scrape debris from the exterior surface of the burner firing tube 20 and in front of the firing tube discharge outlet 20a, then retracts away from the furnace interior so that the scraper head 40 does not melt. The invention thus allows the furnace burner 10 to operate for long periods of time without interrupting the furnace's production.
One embodiinent of the apparatus of the present invention provides a scraper for cleaning a wall of a furnace about a discharge outlet of a furnace burner mounted to the furnace and having a firing tube with an exterior wall, with the discharge outlet directed into the fiarnace, the scraper comprising a scraper head for mounting over the exterior wall in sliding relation, having at least one scraping edge substantially conforming to the exterior wall, and an actuator connected to the scraper head, for moving the scraper head axially along the tube between a retracted position in which the scraper head is retracted from the discharge outlet and an extended position in which the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head extends at least to the discharge outlet.
One embodiment of the method of the present invention provides a method of cleaning a wall of a furnace about a discharge outlet of a funiace burner mounted to the furnace and having a firing tube with an exterior wall and the discharge outlet directed into the furnace, comprising the steps of: a. disposing a scraper head having at least one scraping edge substantially conforming to the exterior wall in a retracted position over the exterior wall, and b. intermittently cleaning the furnace wall by engaging a cleaning cycle comprising the substeps of: i. moving the scraper head from the retracted position to an extended position such that the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head moves toward the discharge outlet, and ii. moving the scraper head back to the retracted position.
Figures 1 A, 1 B and 1 C illustrate a preferred embodiment of a furnace burner embodying a furnace burner scraper 30 according to the invention, installed to a 5 furnace bumer 10, which in turn is mounted through the outer wall 2a and to the inner wall 2b of a smelting funiace 2. The burner 10 is disposed in a mounting frame disposed outside the outer wall 2a of the furnace. As is conventional, feed and oxygen inlets 12, 14 allow gas and feed to be injected in the firing tube 20 such that when the furnace burner 10 is in operation, a flame burns from the discharge outlet 20a of the 10 burner firing tube 20, into the furnace 2. A furnace burner 10 with which the invention may be employed, solely by way of non-limiting example, is described in U.S.
Patent No. 5,344,310 issued Sep. 6, 1994 to Harbeck et al. '1'he preferred embodiment of the invention is most advantageously used with furnace burners for smelting fumaces, but it will be appreciated that the invention can be configured in different shapes and sizes and thus can also be used beneficially with other burner firing tubcs.
The burner scraper 30 comprises a scraper head 40 affixed to a pair of extension rods 50, which are extended and retracted to force the scraper head 40 along the firing tube 20 until the leading edge of the scraper head 40 extends past the end of the discharge outlet 20a, to achieve the cleaning action. The extension rods 50 extend from actuators, in the preferred embodiment cylinders 60 affixed to the outer shell of the furnace bumer franie, and their free ends are attached to the scraper head 40. The cylindcrs 60 are preferably pneumatic and actuated by a 4-way pneumatic solenoid valve 80, however it will be appreciated that the cylinders 60 could be replaced by any other mechanical actuator suitable for intermittently driving the scraper head 40. The actuators 60 may be controlled by a timer, so as to allow the cleaning actions of the burner scraper 30 to be programmed to occur at desired intervals, or may be controlled manually either locally or i-eanoteiy.
"I'he most problematic buildup of debris occurs on the portion of the inner wall 2b about the fiimace burner discharge outlet 20a, best seen in figure ]A, because this 3o debris eventually starts to block the discharge outlet 20a. The burner scraper 30 of the invention is thus designed primarily to clear the debris accumulated on the inner wall 2b of the furnace 2 near the firing tube 20. However, in the preferred embodiment the scraper head 40 is configured and mounted so as to also clear debris off of the exterior wall of the firing tube 20 as well.
As best seen in figures 4A and 4B, the scraper head 40 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 42, for example formed from rolled steel plate.
In the embodiment shown the body 42 has two scraping portions 44a, 44b extending about the full circumference of the firing tube 20, one portion 44a at the foremost end of the body 42 and another portion 44b along an intermediate portion of the body 42 defined by cutouts 46 from the body 42 which have circumferential edges extending substantially radially relative to the axis of the body 42. This configuration provides multiple scraping edges substantially confomiing to the exterior wall of the firing tube that are used to dislodge and move accumulated debris from the exterior wall of the firing tube 20 and from the inner wall 2b of the furnace 2 about the discharge 15 outlet 20a of the firing tube 20. The cutouts 46 allow any debris caught between the firing tube 20 and the scraper head 40 to drop out of the scraper head 40. The leading edge of the scraper head 40, which is exposed to the highest levels of heat, may be coated with a eeramic coating such as a porcelain enamel or any other suitable high-heat-resistant material, to provide added resistance to deformation and melting.
20 The scraper head 40 is deployed over the burner firing tube 20 so as to slide axially along the exterior of the firing tube 20. The bunier firing tube 20 may conventionally include a cooling jacket such that the burner firing tube 20 is double-walled. When the furnace burner 10 is in operation, debris builds up on the exterior of the burner firing tube 20. The burner scraper 30 dislodges the debris, which then falls, or is pushed by the scraper head 40, past the end of the fiarnace burner 10 as shown in figure 1 A. The dislodged debris will fall into the furnace 2 and burn off.
According to the preferred embodiment shown in figure 2B, the scraper head 40 is affixed to two extension rods 50 driven by the actuators 60. The extension rods 50 pass through heat-resistant seal sleeves 100. The exposed end of each extension rod 50 is affixed to the scraper head 40 by any suitable fastener, such as a bolt. The pistons 62 of cylinders 60 are respectively connected to the extension rods in any suitable fashion. The extension rods 50 allow the cylinders 60 to be removed for repair or replacement without having to remove the connection to the burner head 40, however it will be appreciated that alternatively the pistons 62 could extend fully to the scraper head 40 to avoid the use of extcnsion rods 50.
Each extension rod 50 is attached to at least one actuator, for example a pneumatic or air cylinder 60 as shown, mounted to the rear of the burner 10.
Two cylinders 60 are shown in the embodiment illustrated, but depending on the size and weight of the scraper head 40 used more or fewer actuators 60 could be used to move the scraper head 40. The heat-resistant seal sleeves 100 allow the extensions rods 50 to pass through and also maintain a seal between the extension rods 50 and burner flange I 10. The air cylinders 60 are each connected at both ends by braided hosing 70 to a 4-way pneumatic solenoid valve 80, which provides compressed air via a supply of compressed air 90, for example a compressor, to the air cylinders 60 for extension and retraction of the scraper head 40. The 4-way pneumatic solenoid valve 80 is either remotely controlled or has a built-in timer, which allows control of the timing of cleaning actions. Thus, the 4-way pneumatic solenoid valve 80 is controlled to cause the air cylinders 60 to extend the scraper head 40 and retract it to its original position at selected intervals, or on demand.
The burner scraper 30 may be integrated with the furnace burner 10 when built, or the burner scraper 30 may be retrofitted to an existing furnace burner 10.
Figure 3 shows modifications that can be made to an existing furnaee burner 10 to acconimodate the extension rods 50. Two heat-resistant seal sleeves 100 are added to the burner flange 110 in line with the cylinders 60, and positioned over holes to receive the extension rods 50. The extension rods 50 extend through the heat-resistant seal sleeves 100 into the cavity 120 surrounding the burner firing tube 20 (seen in figure 1 A) from the rear of the furnace burner 10.
In operation, debris accumulates on the exterior of the firing tube 20 and about the discharge opening 20a. Prior to the cleaning cycle, the scraper head 40 is in its retracted position over the burner firing tube 20, with the leading portion 40a of the scraper head 40 overlapping the cooling jacket of the firing tube 20. The extension rods 50 are fullv retracted, extending only slightly past the ends of the heat-resistant seal sleeves 100.
When the timer signals the solenoid valve 80, or by manual remote actuation, the solenoid valve 80 is activated to allow air from the supply of compressed air (not shown) through air supply line 90 to force the extension rods 50 out of the air cylinders 60. The scraper head 40 is extended forward from the retracted position, scraping debris off the exterior surface of the burner firing tube 20 and off the interior wall of the furnace 2 about the discharge outlet 20a of the firing tube 20.
The dislodged debris is pushed out of the furnace burner 10 into the furnace 2.
When the scraper head 40 reaches the end of its stroke length, the extension rods 50 are fully extended and the scraper head 40 has scraped out to or just beyond the discharge outlet 20a of the furnace burner firing tube 20, as shown in figure 1 A. The solenoid valve 80 then immediately pneumatically triggers the air cylinders 60 to retract the extension rods 50. The extension rods 50 retract and pull the scraper head 40 back to the retracted position, to avoid melting from the high-heat from the burner firing tube 20, dislodging any remaining debris in the process. The duration of the extension/retraction cycle is fully adjustable but in the preferred embodiment is less than three seconds.
Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made witliout departing from the invention. Although the exemplary embodiment has been described in the context of cleaning the firing tube and the surrounding furnace wall in an industrial furnace burner for use with a smelting furnace, in which the invention may be advantageously employed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invcntion is not so litnited and can be employed for other furnaces.
FIELD OF TI-IE Il\VENTION
This invention relates to industrial furnaces. In particular, this invention relates to a furnace burner scraper for cleaning the buildup of debris on and in front of furnace burners used in smelting furnaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During smelting, debris accumulates on the interior walls of the furnace burner and the exterior surface of a burner firing tube, eventually to the point of obstructing the discharge outlet of the firing tube. It is necessary to dislodge this built-up debris every so often to ensure proper operation of the furnace burner. Since furnace burners used in smelting operations operate at verv high temperatures, any mechanical device used to dislodge the debris would melt in a short period of time. Thus, the burners are typically removed periodically to allow for manual clearing of the debris, which interrupts the furnace's production and results in significant lost revenues.
SLIMMARY OF THE INVENT'ION
The present invention provides a scraper for cleaning a wall of a fiarnace about a discharge outlet of a furnace burner mounted to the furnace and having a firing tube with an exterior wall, with the discharge outlet directed into the furnace.
The scraper comprises a scraper head for mounting over the exterior wall in sliding relation, having at least one scraping edge substantially conforming to the exterior wall, and at least one actuator connected to the scraper head, for moving the scraper head axially along the tube between a retracted position in which the scraper head is retracted from the discharge outlet and an extended position in which the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head extends at least to the discharge outlet.
'fhe present invention further provides a method of cleaning a wall of a furnace about a discharge outlet of a furnace burner mounted to the furnace and having a firing tube with ati exterior wall atid the discharge outlet directed into the fiurnace, comprising the steps of:
I
a. disposing a scraper head having at least one scraping edge substantially conforrning to the exterior wall in a retracted position over the exterior wall, and b. intermittentlv cleaning the furnace wall by engaging a cleaning cycle comprising the substeps of:
i. moving the scraper head from the retracted position to an extended position such that the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head moves toward the discharge outlet, and ii. moving the scraper head back to the retracted position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure lA is a front clevational view of an embodiment of the furnace burner scraper of the invention installed to a furnace burner in a fully extended position;
Figure 1 B is a rear elevational view of the furnace and burner scraper installed to the furnace burner shown in figure 1 A;
Figure 1C is a side elevational view of the furnace burner scraper installed to the furnace burner shown in figure 1 A;
Figure 2A is a side elevational view of the furnace burner scraper shown in figure 1 A showing extended and retracted positions of the scraper head;
Figure 2B is a partial top plan view of the furnace burner scraper of figure showing one positioning of the pneumatic cylinders;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a furnace burner showing the stuffing boxes for the extension rods;
Figure 4A is perspective view of the scraper head shown in figure 1 A; and Figure 4B is a perspective view of the scraper head of figure 4A rotated 90 degrees.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a furnace burner scraper 30 that cleans the furnace wall surrounding the furnace burner discharge outlet 20a, and in the preferred embodiment the interior wa112b of the furnace burner 10, without manual intervention and without removing the fumace burner 10. The furnace bumer scraper 30 intermittently lunges forward to scrape debris from the exterior surface of the burner firing tube 20 and in front of the firing tube discharge outlet 20a, then retracts away from the furnace interior so that the scraper head 40 does not melt. The invention thus allows the furnace burner 10 to operate for long periods of time without interrupting the furnace's production.
One embodiinent of the apparatus of the present invention provides a scraper for cleaning a wall of a furnace about a discharge outlet of a furnace burner mounted to the furnace and having a firing tube with an exterior wall, with the discharge outlet directed into the fiarnace, the scraper comprising a scraper head for mounting over the exterior wall in sliding relation, having at least one scraping edge substantially conforming to the exterior wall, and an actuator connected to the scraper head, for moving the scraper head axially along the tube between a retracted position in which the scraper head is retracted from the discharge outlet and an extended position in which the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head extends at least to the discharge outlet.
One embodiment of the method of the present invention provides a method of cleaning a wall of a furnace about a discharge outlet of a funiace burner mounted to the furnace and having a firing tube with an exterior wall and the discharge outlet directed into the furnace, comprising the steps of: a. disposing a scraper head having at least one scraping edge substantially conforming to the exterior wall in a retracted position over the exterior wall, and b. intermittently cleaning the furnace wall by engaging a cleaning cycle comprising the substeps of: i. moving the scraper head from the retracted position to an extended position such that the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head moves toward the discharge outlet, and ii. moving the scraper head back to the retracted position.
Figures 1 A, 1 B and 1 C illustrate a preferred embodiment of a furnace burner embodying a furnace burner scraper 30 according to the invention, installed to a 5 furnace bumer 10, which in turn is mounted through the outer wall 2a and to the inner wall 2b of a smelting funiace 2. The burner 10 is disposed in a mounting frame disposed outside the outer wall 2a of the furnace. As is conventional, feed and oxygen inlets 12, 14 allow gas and feed to be injected in the firing tube 20 such that when the furnace burner 10 is in operation, a flame burns from the discharge outlet 20a of the 10 burner firing tube 20, into the furnace 2. A furnace burner 10 with which the invention may be employed, solely by way of non-limiting example, is described in U.S.
Patent No. 5,344,310 issued Sep. 6, 1994 to Harbeck et al. '1'he preferred embodiment of the invention is most advantageously used with furnace burners for smelting fumaces, but it will be appreciated that the invention can be configured in different shapes and sizes and thus can also be used beneficially with other burner firing tubcs.
The burner scraper 30 comprises a scraper head 40 affixed to a pair of extension rods 50, which are extended and retracted to force the scraper head 40 along the firing tube 20 until the leading edge of the scraper head 40 extends past the end of the discharge outlet 20a, to achieve the cleaning action. The extension rods 50 extend from actuators, in the preferred embodiment cylinders 60 affixed to the outer shell of the furnace bumer franie, and their free ends are attached to the scraper head 40. The cylindcrs 60 are preferably pneumatic and actuated by a 4-way pneumatic solenoid valve 80, however it will be appreciated that the cylinders 60 could be replaced by any other mechanical actuator suitable for intermittently driving the scraper head 40. The actuators 60 may be controlled by a timer, so as to allow the cleaning actions of the burner scraper 30 to be programmed to occur at desired intervals, or may be controlled manually either locally or i-eanoteiy.
"I'he most problematic buildup of debris occurs on the portion of the inner wall 2b about the fiimace burner discharge outlet 20a, best seen in figure ]A, because this 3o debris eventually starts to block the discharge outlet 20a. The burner scraper 30 of the invention is thus designed primarily to clear the debris accumulated on the inner wall 2b of the furnace 2 near the firing tube 20. However, in the preferred embodiment the scraper head 40 is configured and mounted so as to also clear debris off of the exterior wall of the firing tube 20 as well.
As best seen in figures 4A and 4B, the scraper head 40 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 42, for example formed from rolled steel plate.
In the embodiment shown the body 42 has two scraping portions 44a, 44b extending about the full circumference of the firing tube 20, one portion 44a at the foremost end of the body 42 and another portion 44b along an intermediate portion of the body 42 defined by cutouts 46 from the body 42 which have circumferential edges extending substantially radially relative to the axis of the body 42. This configuration provides multiple scraping edges substantially confomiing to the exterior wall of the firing tube that are used to dislodge and move accumulated debris from the exterior wall of the firing tube 20 and from the inner wall 2b of the furnace 2 about the discharge 15 outlet 20a of the firing tube 20. The cutouts 46 allow any debris caught between the firing tube 20 and the scraper head 40 to drop out of the scraper head 40. The leading edge of the scraper head 40, which is exposed to the highest levels of heat, may be coated with a eeramic coating such as a porcelain enamel or any other suitable high-heat-resistant material, to provide added resistance to deformation and melting.
20 The scraper head 40 is deployed over the burner firing tube 20 so as to slide axially along the exterior of the firing tube 20. The bunier firing tube 20 may conventionally include a cooling jacket such that the burner firing tube 20 is double-walled. When the furnace burner 10 is in operation, debris builds up on the exterior of the burner firing tube 20. The burner scraper 30 dislodges the debris, which then falls, or is pushed by the scraper head 40, past the end of the fiarnace burner 10 as shown in figure 1 A. The dislodged debris will fall into the furnace 2 and burn off.
According to the preferred embodiment shown in figure 2B, the scraper head 40 is affixed to two extension rods 50 driven by the actuators 60. The extension rods 50 pass through heat-resistant seal sleeves 100. The exposed end of each extension rod 50 is affixed to the scraper head 40 by any suitable fastener, such as a bolt. The pistons 62 of cylinders 60 are respectively connected to the extension rods in any suitable fashion. The extension rods 50 allow the cylinders 60 to be removed for repair or replacement without having to remove the connection to the burner head 40, however it will be appreciated that alternatively the pistons 62 could extend fully to the scraper head 40 to avoid the use of extcnsion rods 50.
Each extension rod 50 is attached to at least one actuator, for example a pneumatic or air cylinder 60 as shown, mounted to the rear of the burner 10.
Two cylinders 60 are shown in the embodiment illustrated, but depending on the size and weight of the scraper head 40 used more or fewer actuators 60 could be used to move the scraper head 40. The heat-resistant seal sleeves 100 allow the extensions rods 50 to pass through and also maintain a seal between the extension rods 50 and burner flange I 10. The air cylinders 60 are each connected at both ends by braided hosing 70 to a 4-way pneumatic solenoid valve 80, which provides compressed air via a supply of compressed air 90, for example a compressor, to the air cylinders 60 for extension and retraction of the scraper head 40. The 4-way pneumatic solenoid valve 80 is either remotely controlled or has a built-in timer, which allows control of the timing of cleaning actions. Thus, the 4-way pneumatic solenoid valve 80 is controlled to cause the air cylinders 60 to extend the scraper head 40 and retract it to its original position at selected intervals, or on demand.
The burner scraper 30 may be integrated with the furnace burner 10 when built, or the burner scraper 30 may be retrofitted to an existing furnace burner 10.
Figure 3 shows modifications that can be made to an existing furnaee burner 10 to acconimodate the extension rods 50. Two heat-resistant seal sleeves 100 are added to the burner flange 110 in line with the cylinders 60, and positioned over holes to receive the extension rods 50. The extension rods 50 extend through the heat-resistant seal sleeves 100 into the cavity 120 surrounding the burner firing tube 20 (seen in figure 1 A) from the rear of the furnace burner 10.
In operation, debris accumulates on the exterior of the firing tube 20 and about the discharge opening 20a. Prior to the cleaning cycle, the scraper head 40 is in its retracted position over the burner firing tube 20, with the leading portion 40a of the scraper head 40 overlapping the cooling jacket of the firing tube 20. The extension rods 50 are fullv retracted, extending only slightly past the ends of the heat-resistant seal sleeves 100.
When the timer signals the solenoid valve 80, or by manual remote actuation, the solenoid valve 80 is activated to allow air from the supply of compressed air (not shown) through air supply line 90 to force the extension rods 50 out of the air cylinders 60. The scraper head 40 is extended forward from the retracted position, scraping debris off the exterior surface of the burner firing tube 20 and off the interior wall of the furnace 2 about the discharge outlet 20a of the firing tube 20.
The dislodged debris is pushed out of the furnace burner 10 into the furnace 2.
When the scraper head 40 reaches the end of its stroke length, the extension rods 50 are fully extended and the scraper head 40 has scraped out to or just beyond the discharge outlet 20a of the furnace burner firing tube 20, as shown in figure 1 A. The solenoid valve 80 then immediately pneumatically triggers the air cylinders 60 to retract the extension rods 50. The extension rods 50 retract and pull the scraper head 40 back to the retracted position, to avoid melting from the high-heat from the burner firing tube 20, dislodging any remaining debris in the process. The duration of the extension/retraction cycle is fully adjustable but in the preferred embodiment is less than three seconds.
Various embodiments of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made witliout departing from the invention. Although the exemplary embodiment has been described in the context of cleaning the firing tube and the surrounding furnace wall in an industrial furnace burner for use with a smelting furnace, in which the invention may be advantageously employed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invcntion is not so litnited and can be employed for other furnaces.
Claims (12)
1. A scraper for cleaning a wall of a furnace about a discharge outlet of a furnace burner mounted to the furnace and having a firing tube with an exterior wall, with the discharge outlet directed into the furnace, the scraper comprising a scraper head for mounting over the exterior wall in sliding relation, having at least one scraping edge substantially conforming to the exterior wall, and at least one actuator connected to the scraper head, for moving the scraper head axially along the tube between a retracted position in which the scraper head is retracted from the discharge outlet and an extended position in which the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head extends at least to the discharge outlet.
2. The scraper of claim 1 wherein in the extended position at least one scraping edge of the scraper head extends beyond the discharge outlet.
3. The scraper of claim 1 wherein the scraper head has multiple scraping edges.
4. The scraper of claim 1 wherein at least a leading edge of the scraper head is coated with a high-heat-resistant material.
5. The scraper of claim 1 further comprising a timer for signalling the actuator to move the scraper head.
6. The scraper of claim 1 further comprising at least one extension rod affixed to the scraper head, the extension rod being extended and retracted by the actuator to move the scraper head along the firing tube.
7. The scraper of claim 6 further comprising a heat-resistant seal sleeve which protects the portion of the at least one extension rod not extending past the heat-resistant seal sleeve from the high-heat of the furnace burner.
8. A method of cleaning a wall of a furnace about a discharge outlet of a furnace burner mounted to the furnace and having a firing tube with an exterior wall and the discharge outlet directed into the furnace, comprising the steps of:
a. disposing a scraper head having at least one scraping edge substantially conforming to the exterior wall in a retracted position over the exterior wall, and b. intermittently cleaning the furnace wall by engaging a cleaning cycle comprising the substeps of:
i. moving the scraper head from the retracted position to an extended position such that the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head moves toward the discharge outlet, and ii. moving the scraper head back to the retracted position.
a. disposing a scraper head having at least one scraping edge substantially conforming to the exterior wall in a retracted position over the exterior wall, and b. intermittently cleaning the furnace wall by engaging a cleaning cycle comprising the substeps of:
i. moving the scraper head from the retracted position to an extended position such that the at least one scraping edge of the scraper head moves toward the discharge outlet, and ii. moving the scraper head back to the retracted position.
9. The method of claim 8 in which in step b.(i.) a leading edge of the scraper head extends beyond the discharge outlet.
10. The method of claim 8 in which step b. further comprises the substep of remotely triggering an engagement of the cleaning cycle.
11. The method of claim 8 in which step b. further comprises the substep of locally triggering an engagement of the cleaning cycle.
12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of a timer triggering an engagement of the cleaning cycle.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2525730 CA2525730C (en) | 2005-11-04 | 2005-11-04 | Method and apparatus for cleaning a furnace burner |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2525730 CA2525730C (en) | 2005-11-04 | 2005-11-04 | Method and apparatus for cleaning a furnace burner |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2525730A1 CA2525730A1 (en) | 2007-04-24 |
| CA2525730C true CA2525730C (en) | 2010-02-02 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2525730 Expired - Fee Related CA2525730C (en) | 2005-11-04 | 2005-11-04 | Method and apparatus for cleaning a furnace burner |
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| CA (1) | CA2525730C (en) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020068963A1 (en) | 2018-09-26 | 2020-04-02 | Sidel Global Environmental Llc | Systems and methods of using cleaning robots for removing deposits from heat exchange surfaces of boilers and heat exchangers |
| CN112594691B (en) * | 2020-12-16 | 2023-04-28 | 北京高安屯垃圾焚烧有限公司 | Garbage incinerator |
-
2005
- 2005-11-04 CA CA 2525730 patent/CA2525730C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2525730A1 (en) | 2007-04-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20141104 |