EP1533048B1 - Control of detonative cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Control of detonative cleaning apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1533048B1
EP1533048B1 EP04257175A EP04257175A EP1533048B1 EP 1533048 B1 EP1533048 B1 EP 1533048B1 EP 04257175 A EP04257175 A EP 04257175A EP 04257175 A EP04257175 A EP 04257175A EP 1533048 B1 EP1533048 B1 EP 1533048B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vessel
monitoring
conduit
sensor
coupled
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP04257175A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1533048A1 (en
Inventor
James R Hochstein, Jr.
Michael J. Aarnio
Donald W. Kendrick
Thomas R.A. Bussing
Robert R. Niblock
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Raytheon Technologies Corp
Original Assignee
United Technologies Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US10/718,730 external-priority patent/US7011047B2/en
Priority claimed from US10/801,215 external-priority patent/US7267134B2/en
Application filed by United Technologies Corp filed Critical United Technologies Corp
Priority to PL04257175T priority Critical patent/PL1533048T3/pl
Publication of EP1533048A1 publication Critical patent/EP1533048A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1533048B1 publication Critical patent/EP1533048B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
    • F28G7/00—Cleaning by vibration or pressure waves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B7/00—Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass
    • B08B7/0007—Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by explosions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D19/00—Arrangements of controlling devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D21/00—Arrangements of monitoring devices; Arrangements of safety devices
    • F27D21/0014—Devices for monitoring temperature
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D25/00—Devices or methods for removing incrustations, e.g. slag, metal deposits, dust; Devices or methods for preventing the adherence of slag
    • F27D25/006—Devices or methods for removing incrustations, e.g. slag, metal deposits, dust; Devices or methods for preventing the adherence of slag using explosives
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
    • F28G15/00—Details
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
    • F28G15/00—Details
    • F28G15/02—Supports for cleaning appliances, e.g. frames
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
    • F28G7/00—Cleaning by vibration or pressure waves
    • F28G7/005—Cleaning by vibration or pressure waves by explosions or detonations; by pressure waves generated by combustion processes

Definitions

  • the invention relates to industrial equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to the detonative cleaning of industrial equipment.
  • Such equipment includes furnaces (coal, oil, waste, etc.), boilers, gasifiers, reactors, heat exchangers, and the like.
  • the equipment involves a vessel containing internal heat transfer surfaces that are subjected to fouling by accumulating particulate such as soot, ash, and minerals, more integrated buildup such as slag and/or fouling, and the like.
  • particulate build-up may progressively interfere with plant operation, reducing efficiency and throughput and potentially causing damage.
  • Cleaning of the equipment is therefore highly desirable and is attended by a number of relevant considerations. Often direct access to the fouled surfaces is difficult. Additionally, to maintain revenue it is desirable to minimize downtime associated with cleaning.
  • a variety of technologies have been proposed.
  • WO 01/78912 discloses an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 and method for acoustic cleaning. Additional technology is disclosed in Huque, Z. Experimental Investigation of Slag Removal Using Pulse Detonation Wave Technique, DOE/HBCU/OMI Annual Symposium, Miami, FL., March 16-18, 1999 . Particular blast wave techniques are described by Hanjali ⁇ and Smajevi ⁇ in their publications: Hanjali ⁇ , K. and Smajevi ⁇ , I., Further Experience Using Detonation Waves for Cleaning Boiler Heating Surfaces, International Journal of Energy Research Vol.
  • sensors including at least one temperature sensor and at least one pressure sensor.
  • Such sensors may also include at least one thermocouple positioned on the conduit or on the vessel and at least one infrared sensor.
  • the at least one infrared sensor may include an infrared camera.
  • the sensors may also include at least one combustion emission sensor.
  • the central controller may be programmed to generate maintenance or service requests responsive to the input.
  • the control system may be programmed to communicate with a remote monitoring system.
  • the control system may be programmed to control operation of the conduit responsive to input from the sensor.
  • the control system may be programmed with a number of different cleaning processes or protocols to execute the processes responsive to corresponding sensed conditions.
  • An imaging inspection camera may be coupled to the control system for visual monitoring of the vessel interior.
  • a monitoring system for monitoring the operation of a number of remote detonative cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 11.
  • At least one of the processor and memory may store instructions for causing the apparatus to operate.
  • the monitoring system may include one or more displays. At least one of the one or more displays may be connected to permit at least part time display of a video camera input.
  • a method for cleaning surfaces within a number of vessels at a number of locations At a central location, data is monitored regarding each of the vessels. Responsive to the monitored data for a particular one of the vessels, a detonative cleaning apparatus associated with a particular vessel is caused to be discharged to clean the surface within the particular vessel.
  • the method may be performed via a programmed control and monitoring system that is programmed to select, responsive to the monitored data, at least one of a number of at least partially predetermined cleaning protocols and to cause the discharge according to the selected protocol.
  • the method may be performed in a repeated sequential way.
  • An infrared camera may be used within each vessel to inspect the associated surface while the vessel is in operation.
  • the monitoring may include at least one of monitoring a surface emissivity within the vessel, monitoring an image of a vessel interior, and monitoring a quantity of a chemical species in the vessel interior.
  • the method may include receiving an automated maintenance or service request for at least one of the vessels. The request may be specific to one of the apparatus or may be general.
  • FIG. 1 shows a furnace 20 having an exemplary three associated soot blowers 22.
  • the furnace vessel is formed as a right parallelepiped and the soot blowers are all associated with a single common wall 24 of the vessel and are positioned at like height along the wall.
  • Other configurations are possible (e.g., a single soot blower, one or more soot blowers on each of multiple levels, and the like).
  • Each soot blower 22 includes an elongate combustion conduit 26 extending from an upstream distal end 28 away from the furnace wall 24 to a downstream proximal end 30 closely associated with the wall 24.
  • the end 30 may be well within the furnace.
  • combustion of a fuel/oxidizer mixture within the conduit 26 is initiated proximate the upstream end (e.g., within an upstreammost 10% of a conduit length) to produce a detonation wave which is expelled from the downstream end as a shockwave along with associated combustion gases for cleaning surfaces within the interior volume of the furnace.
  • Each soot blower may be associated with a fuel/oxidizer source 32.
  • An exemplary source includes a liquified or compressed gaseous fuel cylinder 34 and an oxygen cylinder 36 in respective containment structures 38 and 40.
  • the oxidizer is a first oxidizer such as essentially pure oxygen.
  • a second oxidizer may be in the form of shop air delivered from a central air source 42.
  • air is stored in an air accumulator 44.
  • Fuel, expanded from that in the cylinder 34 is generally stored in a fuel accumulator 46.
  • Each exemplary source 32 is coupled to the associated conduit 26 by appropriate plumbing below.
  • each soot blower includes a spark box 50 for initiating combustion of the fuel oxidizer mixture and which, along with the source 32, is controlled by a control and monitoring system (not shown).
  • FIG. 1 further shows the wall 24 as including a number of ports for inspection and/or measurement. Exemplary ports include an optical monitoring port 54 and a temperature monitoring port 56 associated with each soot blower 22 for respectively receiving an infrared and/or visible light video camera and thermocouple probe for viewing the surfaces to be cleaned and monitoring internal temperatures. Other probes/monitoring/sampling may be utilized, including pressure monitoring, composition sampling, and the like.
  • FIG. 2 shows further details of an exemplary soot blower 22.
  • the exemplary detonation conduit 26 is formed with a main body portion formed by a series of doubly flanged conduit sections or segments 60 arrayed from upstream to downstream and a downstream nozzle conduit section or segment 62 having a downstream portion 64 extending through an aperture 66 in the wall and ending in the downstream end or outlet 30 exposed to the furnace interior 68.
  • the term nozzle is used broadly and does not require the presence of any aerodynamic contraction, expansion, or combination thereof.
  • Exemplary conduit segment material is metallic (e.g., stainless steel).
  • the outlet 30 may be located further within the furnace if appropriate support and cooling are provided.
  • FIG. 2 further shows furnace interior tube bundles 70, the exterior surfaces of which are subject to fouling.
  • each of the conduit segments 60 is supported on an associated trolley 72, the wheels of which engage a track system 74 along the facility floor 76.
  • the exemplary track system includes a pair of parallel rails engaging concave peripheral surfaces of the trolley wheels.
  • the exemplary segments 60 are of similar length L, and are bolted end-to-end by associated arrays of bolts in the bolt holes of their respective flanges. Similarly, the downstream flange of the downstreammost of the segments 60 is bolted to the upstream flange of the nozzle 62.
  • a reaction strap 80 (e.g., cotton or thermally/structurally robust synthetic) in series with one or more metal coil reaction springs 82 is coupled to this last mated flange pair and connects the combustion conduit to an environmental structure such as the furnace wall for resiliently absorbing reaction forces associated with discharging of the soot blower and ensuring correct placement of the combustion conduit for subsequent firings.
  • additional damping (not shown) may be provided.
  • the reaction strap/spring combination may be formed as a single length or a loop. In the exemplary embodiment, this combined downstream section has an overall length L 2 .
  • Alternative resilient recoil absorbing means may include non-metal or non-coil springs or rubber or other elastomeric elements advantageously at least partially elastically deformed in tension, compression, and/or shear, pneumatic recoil absorbers, and the like.
  • the predetonator conduit segment 84 Extending downstream from the upstream end 28 is a predetonator conduit section/segment 84 which also may be doubly flanged and has a length L 3 .
  • the predetonator conduit segment 84 has a characteristic internal cross-sectional area (transverse to an axis/centerline 500 of the conduit) which is smaller than a characteristic internal cross-sectional area (e.g., mean, median, mode, or the like) of the downstream portion (60, 62) of the combustion conduit.
  • the predetonator cross-sectional area is a characterized by a diameter of between 8 cm and 12 cm whereas the downstream portion is characterized by a diameter of between 20 cm and 40 cm.
  • exemplary cross-sectional area ratios of the downstream portion to the predetonator segment are between 1:1 and 10:1, more narrowly, 2:1 and 10:1.
  • An overall length L between ends 28 and 30 may be 1-15 m, more narrowly, 5-15 m.
  • a transition conduit segment 86 extends between the predetonator segment 84 and the upstreammost segment 60.
  • the segment 86 has upstream and downstream flanges sized to mate with the respective flanges of the segments 84 and 60 has an interior surface which provides a smooth transition between the internal cross-sections thereof.
  • the exemplary segment 86 has a length L 4 .
  • An exemplary half angle of divergence of the interior surface of segment 86 is ⁇ 12°, more narrowly 5-10°.
  • a fuel/oxidizer charge may be introduced to the detonation conduit interior in a variety of ways. There may be one or more distinct fuel/oxidizer mixtures. Such mixture(s) may be premixed external to the detonation conduit, or may be mixed at or subsequent to introduction to the conduit.
  • FIG. 3 shows the segments 84 and 86 configured for distinct introduction of two distinct fuel/oxidizer combinations: a predetonator combination; and a main combination.
  • a pair of predetonator fuel injection conduits 90 are coupled to ports 92 in the segment wall which define fuel injection ports.
  • a pair of predetonator oxidizer conduits 94 are coupled to oxidizer inlet ports 96.
  • these ports are in the upstream half of the length of the segment 84.
  • each of the fuel injection ports 92 is paired with an associated one of the oxidizer ports 96 at even axial position and at an angle (exemplary 90° shown, although other angles including 180° are possible) to provide opposed jet mixing of fuel and oxidizer.
  • a purge gas conduit 98 is similarly connected to a purge gas port 100 yet further upstream.
  • An end plate 102 bolted to the upstream flange of the segment 84 seals the upstream end of the combustion conduit and passes through an igniter/initiator 106 (e.g., a spark plug) having an operative end 108 in the interior of the segment 84.
  • an igniter/initiator 106 e.g., a spark plug
  • main fuel and oxidizer are introduced to the segment 86.
  • main fuel is carried by a number of main fuel conduits 112 and main oxidizer is carried by a number of main oxidizer conduits 110, each of which has terminal portions concentrically surrounding an associated one of the fuel conduits 112 so as to mix the main fuel and oxidizer at an associated inlet 114.
  • the fuels are hydrocarbons.
  • both fuels are the same, drawn from a single fuel source but mixed with distinct oxidizers: essentially pure oxygen for the predetonator mixture; and air for the main mixture.
  • Exemplary fuels useful in such a situation are propane, MAPP gas, or mixtures thereof.
  • ethylene and liquid fuels e.g., diesel, kerosene, and jet aviation fuels.
  • the oxidizers can include mixtures such as air/oxygen mixtures of appropriate ratios to achieve desired main and/or predetonator charge chemistries.
  • monopropellant fuels having molecularly combined fuel and oxidizer components may be options.
  • the combustion conduit is initially empty except for the presence of air (or other purge gas).
  • the predetonator fuel and oxidizer are then introduced through the associated ports filling the segment 84 and extending partially into the segment 86 (e.g., to near the midpoint) and advantageously just beyond the main fuel/oxidizer ports.
  • the predetonator fuel and oxidizer flows are then shut off.
  • An exemplary volume filled the predetonator fuel and oxidizer is 1-40%, more narrowly 1-20%, of the combustion conduit volume.
  • the main fuel and oxidizer are then introduced, to substantially fill some fraction (e.g., 20-100%) of the remaining volume of the combustor conduit.
  • the main fuel and oxidizer flows are then shut off.
  • the spark box is triggered to provide a spark discharge of the initiator igniting the predetonator charge.
  • the predetonator charge being selected for very fast combustion chemistry, the initial deflagration quickly transitions to a detonation within the segment 84 and producing a detonation wave. Once such a detonation wave occurs, it is effective to pass through the main charge which might, otherwise, have sufficiently slow chemistry to not detonate within the conduit of its own accord.
  • the wave passes longitudinally downstream and emerges from the downstream end 30 as a shockwave within the furnace interior, impinging upon the surfaces to be cleaned and thermally and mechanically shocking to typically at least loosen the contamination.
  • a purge gas e.g., air from the same source providing the main oxidizer and/or nitrogen
  • a baseline flow of the purge gas may be maintained between charge/discharge cycles so as to prevent gas and particulate from the furnace interior from infiltrating upstream and to assist in cooling of the detonation conduit.
  • internal surface enhancements may substantially increase internal surface area beyond that provided by the nominally cylindrical and frustoconical segment interior surfaces.
  • the enhancement may be effective to assist in the deflagration-to-detonation transition or in the maintenance of the detonation wave.
  • FIG. 4 shows internal surface enhancements applied to the interior of one of the main segments 60.
  • the exemplary enhancement is nominally a Chin spiral, although other enhancements such as Shchelkin spirals and Smimov cavities may be utilized.
  • the spiral is formed by a helical member 120.
  • the exemplary member 120 is formed as a circular-sectioned metallic element (e.g., stainless steel wire) of approximately 8-20mm in sectional diameter. Other sections may alternatively be used.
  • the exemplary member 120 is held spaced-apart from the segment interior surface by a plurality of longitudinal elements 122.
  • the exemplary longitudinal elements are rods of similar section and material to the member 120 and welded thereto and to the interior surface of the associated segment 60.
  • Such enhancements may also be utilized to provide predetonation in lieu of or in addition to the foregoing techniques involving different charges and different combustor cross-sections.
  • the apparatus may be used in a wide variety of applications.
  • the apparatus may be applied to: the pendants or secondary superheaters, the convective pass (primary superheaters and the economizer bundles); air preheaters; selective catalyst removers (SCR) scrubbers; the baghouse or electrostatic precipitator; economizer hoppers; ash or other heat/accumulations whether on heat transfer surfaces or elsewhere, and the like.
  • SCR selective catalyst removers
  • economizer hoppers ash or other heat/accumulations whether on heat transfer surfaces or elsewhere, and the like.
  • FIG. 6 schematically shows one of a number of levels of a vessel 200. At this level, a number of combustion conduits 202A-D are positioned. In the exemplary embodiment, downstream outlets of the conduits are positioned in the interior of the vessel and upstream ends are external to the vessel. Although shown straight, the conduits may have non-straight configurations to discharge shockwaves in desired locations with desired directions.
  • Each conduit is closely associated with an interface module 204A-D which may provide local control of various operational parameters (e.g., including fuel and oxidizer introduction, purge and cooling gas introduction, initiation, and the like). Further details of an exemplary interface module are discussed below.
  • the given vessel level may also include sensors 206 and 208. However, the sensors need not be level-specific. Similarly, the conduits could be other than level-specific and other than oriented to discharge in parallel planes.
  • the sensors may be conduit-specific (e.g., close to the outlet of a specific associated conduit or to the furnace surface cleaned by such conduit) or may be more generally located.
  • the sensors may detect one or more of thermal conditions, pressures, flows, chemical conditions, and/or visual conditions. Exemplary sensor operation is discussed in further detail below.
  • the modules and sensors are coupled via communication lines 209 to a hub (e.g., ethernet) 210.
  • the sensors are coupled to the hub via the modules (e.g., coupled to the modules by communication or signal lines).
  • the modules are coupled to a central supply unit 212 via fluid and power lines 213.
  • the hub and supply unit may be level-specific, common, or some combination.
  • the hub is coupled for signal communication (e.g., via network lines 215 such as a fiber optic line, Ethernet line, or the like) to a control and monitoring system 214 of the facility (e.g., a general purpose computer running control/monitoring software) which may be specific to the vessel or central to a group of vessels at a site (e.g., a given facility).
  • the supply unit may similarly be coupled to the system 214 via the hub 210 or may exist independently.
  • the system 214 is in communication with a remote control and monitoring system 216.
  • the system 216 may be in secure communication with a number of systems 214 at a number of different sites.
  • the system 216 may be colocated with one or more of those systems 214 and off-site of the others.
  • the exemplary communication between the system 216 and systems 214 is via a wide area network 217 such as the internet.
  • Alternative public and private networks or other communication systems may be used.
  • the supply unit 212 may, itself, be fed from a remotely located tank farm 218 (e.g., a central tank farm of the facility) via lines 219 for supply of non-air gases and other fluids and from appropriate shop air and power sources (not shown) which may also be central sources of the facility).
  • the system 214 may communicate with several central systems.
  • the system 216 may be a central system of a facility owner/operator communicating with systems 214 at various facilities of that owner/operator.
  • a central system 223 may be a central system of a service vendor communicating with systems 214 of various facilities of various owners/operators either directly or via the systems 216.
  • the systems 214 may inform the system 223 that service or routine maintenance is necessary or otherwise appropriate (the decision being made at any of the systems 214, 216, or 223).
  • an emergency control panel 220 is in close proximity to the system 214.
  • the exemplary emergency control panel includes one or more status lights and one or more switches (e.g., red/green status lights and emergency kill switches for each conduit plus a master kill switch for all conduits). These are coupled by lines 222 extending to the individual interface modules.
  • the kill switches may be tripped by a technician to safe the conduits (e.g., shut the fuel and oxidizer valves, disable the ignition, and the like, to safely shut down and/or disable the associated conduits).
  • the interface modules themselves may be set up in a failsafe mode whereby a break in the associated line(s) 215 or 222 causes a module to transition to a safe mode.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 show an exemplary interface module 204 in association with a combustion conduit 202.
  • the interface module includes a control electronics enclosure 230 from which a status light 232 extends.
  • a status light 232 extends in close proximity to the enclosure 230 are respective fuel and oxidizer valve enclosures 234 and 236 and an air accumulator 238.
  • fuel and oxidizer lines 240 and 242 extend into the valve enclosures 234 and 236 and connect with electronically-controlled valves (not shown) which, in turn, are connected via appropriate fluid lines to the conduit 202.
  • a shop air line 244 may connect to the oxidizer valve enclosure 236.
  • the control enclosure is connected via appropriate ones of the lines 209 to both the control panel 220 and to the hub 210.
  • a local kill switch 246 may be connected to the control electronics via a line 248 and may be mounted directly on the electronics enclosure 230 or in proximity thereto.
  • FIG. 9 shows exemplary control electronics from the electronics enclosure 230 of the interface module 204.
  • the electronics serve as a local control/monitoring system specific to the associated conduit.
  • the core of the electronics is a CPU emulator board 250 running interface control software.
  • the emulator 250 communicates with a relay bank 252 via lines 254 for controlling the various valves within the enclosures 234 and 236 associated with the respective relays via valve control lines 256.
  • the valves are fail-closed.
  • the emulator 250 receives a timer input via a line 258 connected to conduit-mounted ionization probes (e.g., two probes longitudinally spaced near the conduit downstream end and representing subsets of the generically-identified sensors 206).
  • the emulator communicates via lines 260 with an ethernet based controller 262 that interfaces with the hub 210 via the lines 209.
  • the controller 262 is configured to receive input from thermocouples and resistance temperature detectors (RTD) via lines 270, from pressure sensors via analog lines 272, and limit switches via discrete input lines 274.
  • the thermocouples may be connected at various locations along the conduit, to the valve enclosures, or somewhere within the vessel,.
  • the pressure sensors e.g., transducers
  • the thermocouples/RTDs may represent subsets of the generically-identified sensors 206 and 208.
  • the limit switches may verify the positioning of mechanical hardware (e.g., to confirm that enclosures are securely closed before firing).
  • UPS uninterruptible power supply
  • battery back-up 286 delivers the AC power to the power supplies 280 and 282 and the ethernet controller in the event of loss of power from the source 284.
  • a variety of means may permit the control and monitoring system 214 to decide to initiate detonative cleaning by one or more of the conduits and to determine characteristics of such cleaning.
  • the identified sensors may include combinations of imaging or non-imaging radiation sensors (e.g., IR sensors). Alternatively, or additionally, sensors external to the vessel may monitor the vessel interior through windows as described above.
  • the sensors may provide an indication of chemical emissions (e.g., pollutants). For example, ions such as CH - and OH - have characteristic frequencies which can be sensed (e.g., 324 nm and 282 nm in the IR band). Emissivity or other measurements may directly detect build-up on surfaces. Temperature measurements of fluid traveling through tube bundles may provide indications of insulative build-up on the tubes.
  • the sensors may facilitate continuous monitoring.
  • the various sensors may be used to determine the nature of any build-up (e.g., the composition of a deposit, the thickness of the deposit, and the extent of the deposit). These may be used to determine appropriate cleaning sequences/protocols characterized by the particular conduits to be discharged and the characteristics of such discharge (e.g., the nature and quantity of the particular fuel/oxidizer charge(s) to be introduced to particular conduit(s)).
  • the relative timing of the firing of different conduits may be selected to achieve desired performance (this may include delays to avoid interference or synchronization to provide a combined effect).
  • a firing sequence which may include one or more firings of one or more conduits
  • the results of such reassessment and subsequent reassessments may be used to fine tune particular cleaning protocols for future use.
  • Data from the sensors may also be used to determine the condition of the cleaning system and its components.
  • a lack of input from ion sensors may indicate a lack of detonations.
  • Pressure sensors may indicate insufficient or excess fuel or oxidizer pressures.
  • Temperature sensors may indicate conduit overheating.
  • Such abnormal condition data may cause a warning to be displayed and may cause n automated service/maintenance request to be generated.
  • the control system 214 may be programmed to generally command any of various kinds of single shot discharges and send corresponding commands to the control electronics of the individual conduits.
  • That control electronics may store the information necessary to actually charge and discharge in the appropriate way for the specific shot (e.g., the fuel/oxidizer amounts).
  • the control system 214 may send a general command representative of a sharp, high power pulse to the local control electronics which, in turn, is able to generate the shot even though the fill parameters for a sharp, high power shot may differ amongst the conduits.
  • the control system 214 may further be programmed to generate combinations of such shots for particular protocols.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Incineration Of Waste (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
  • Magnetically Actuated Valves (AREA)
  • Bidet-Like Cleaning Device And Other Flush Toilet Accessories (AREA)
EP04257175A 2003-11-20 2004-11-19 Control of detonative cleaning apparatus Not-in-force EP1533048B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL04257175T PL1533048T3 (pl) 2003-11-20 2004-11-19 Sterowanie urządzeniem do czyszczenia przez detonację

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US801215 1997-02-18
US10/718,730 US7011047B2 (en) 2003-11-20 2003-11-20 Detonative cleaning apparatus
US718730 2003-11-20
US10/801,215 US7267134B2 (en) 2004-03-15 2004-03-15 Control of detonative cleaning apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1533048A1 EP1533048A1 (en) 2005-05-25
EP1533048B1 true EP1533048B1 (en) 2008-06-04

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EP04257175A Not-in-force EP1533048B1 (en) 2003-11-20 2004-11-19 Control of detonative cleaning apparatus

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Country Link
EP (1) EP1533048B1 (ru)
JP (1) JP3993596B2 (ru)
CN (1) CN1623690A (ru)
AT (1) ATE397498T1 (ru)
AU (1) AU2004229043B2 (ru)
DE (1) DE602004014232D1 (ru)
ES (1) ES2309469T3 (ru)
NZ (1) NZ536700A (ru)
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US20080264357A1 (en) * 2007-04-26 2008-10-30 United Technologies Corporation Control of detonative cleaning apparatus
JP5601538B2 (ja) * 2008-05-13 2014-10-08 スートテック アクティエボラグ スートブロワを使用して動力ボイラ炉内の状態を測定するための方法
US20110302904A1 (en) * 2010-06-11 2011-12-15 General Electric Company Pulsed Detonation Cleaning Device with Multiple Folded Flow Paths
CN102297635A (zh) * 2010-06-22 2011-12-28 北京凡元兴科技有限公司 军工枪械尘垢清理机
US8651066B2 (en) 2010-09-28 2014-02-18 Bha Altair, Llc Pulse detonation cleaning system
RU2487297C1 (ru) * 2012-01-10 2013-07-10 Федеральное Государственное Автономное Образовательное Учреждение Высшего Профессионального Образования "Сибирский Федеральный Университет" Способ очистки поверхностей нагрева парогенератора
JP2017187267A (ja) * 2016-03-31 2017-10-12 Ｊｆｅエンジニアリング株式会社 ボイラの腐食防止装置及び腐食防止方法
JP7458180B2 (ja) 2019-12-23 2024-03-29 川崎重工業株式会社 衝撃波式スートブロワシステムおよびその運転方法
JP7432359B2 (ja) 2019-12-26 2024-02-16 川崎重工業株式会社 衝撃波式スートブロワおよびその運転方法

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US5082502A (en) * 1988-09-08 1992-01-21 Cabot Corporation Cleaning apparatus and process
FI109098B (fi) * 2000-04-14 2002-05-31 Nirania Ky Akustinen puhdistuslaite ja -menetelmä
US6935281B2 (en) * 2001-04-12 2005-08-30 Bang & Clean Gmbh Method for cleaning combustion devices

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ATE397498T1 (de) 2008-06-15
AU2004229043A1 (en) 2005-06-09
PL1533048T3 (pl) 2009-02-27
EP1533048A1 (en) 2005-05-25
ES2309469T3 (es) 2008-12-16
AU2004229043B2 (en) 2007-04-26
DE602004014232D1 (de) 2008-07-17
RU2285567C2 (ru) 2006-10-20
RU2004133923A (ru) 2006-05-10
NZ536700A (en) 2007-01-26
CN1623690A (zh) 2005-06-08
JP3993596B2 (ja) 2007-10-17
JP2005188918A (ja) 2005-07-14

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