US1838008A - Boiler cleaner - Google Patents

Description

N. L. SNOW.

BOILER CLEANER Dec. 22, 1931.

Original Filed Oct. 6, 1924 1 N VEN TOR. Aacwmv 4. .fi'n'aw A TTORNEYJ Patented Dec. 22, 1931 stares rA'rsur oFFicE NORMAN L. SNOW, OF NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO DIAMOND POWER SPECIALTY CORPORATION, OF DETRQET, IVTICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN BOILER CLEANER Application filed October 6, 1924. Serial No. 742,040. Renewed Islet/ember 17,1930;

This invention relates to boiler cleaners and among the objects of the invention are to, provide an improved apparatus and method of cleaning boilers.

The present invention has reference to all 'ypes of boilers such as water tube and fire tube boilers including super-heaters, economizers, air pro-heaters and other similar heat-transferring equipment, on the heating surface of which soot deposited or accumulates. It is well known that the soot deposited on such heating surfaces is inaintained at a relativelylow temperature due to the fact that the water, steam, air or other fluids which are to be heated are on the opposite side of the tubes or heating sure. The temperature of the soot is therefore kept so low that it is not completely consumed where it is in intimate contact with the heating surfaces, even though the gases which are the products of the combustion in the furnace or the other gases which are furnished for heating purposes from other sources are of a sufficient high temperature to otherwise cause combustion of the soot.

Among the objects of the invention is the creation of high temperature along the heating surface where the soot is deposited and also the furnishing of an excess amount of which will rapidly burn the soot. An- 0 ier object of the invention isthe novel arranrement for removing the soot bymeans of suction as set forth in one of the modifications of the invention.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic elevational view of an apparatus suitable for carrying out invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are detail views showing toe arrangement of the nozzle elements.

Describing first in detail the construction shown in the drawings, and in which the showing of the apparatus is somewhat diagrammetic, A designates the surface to be cleaned, in the present construction being illustrated as the tubes A which connect the drums A of a water tube boiler. In this type of boiler the soot to be cleaned olf would tend to accumulate on the outer surfaces of the water tubes which serve as heat interchangers. For cleaning the soot or other accumulations various apparatus can be em- .ployed embodying my invention but in the pipe D through the vertical header D to 69 the nozzles D which as shown in Figures 2 and 3 are positioned ad acent the boiler tubes A" and are provided withorilices D The flow of oxygen enriched air to the header?" .1) and nozzles D is controlled by a valve E although separate control valves D may be provided with each header. Leading from the tank B is a pipe F which through a similar series of branches F connects with I the nozzles D Preferably the connect-ion 10 to the nozzles is made through a smaller nozzle G which terminates in the interior of the nozzles D The supply of acetylene gas or other combustible gas through the pipes F is controlled by a valve F Also in place of the tank 0 being used as an oxygen su ply it may be used for containing compresse air. In use, the removal of the soot may be effected in various ways. For example, it may be burned by the contacting oxyacetylene flame, this direct contact of the flame with the heating surfaces to be cleaned being continued until all the soot is removed. In this case a flame. strongly oxidizing should be used. In place of this contact, the ignition of 85 the soot may be started by contact of the flame for an instant, the acetylene or combustible gas being first used and then turned off and the oxygen or oxygen-enriched air valve being left open so that the oxygen or oxygen-enriched air flowing out and impinging on the surfacesto'be cleaned causes combustion to continue until all the soot is consumed. In certain cases, the temperature of the boi er surfaces may be suflicient to cause ignition and consequent combustion of the soot, when oxygen or oxygen-enriched air alone is fed through the discharge nozzles and allowed to impinge on the heating surfaces to be cleaned. While in the illustrative embodiment I have shown a stationary element through which the combustible gases and oxygen pass, rotatable elements such as a. rotatable blower nozzle pipe or other ro,v

tatable movable member may be used instead of the fixed elements shown in the drawings. Describing now the novel arrangement for cleaning the soot by means of suction, the nozzles D are used as suction nozzles but the valves E and F are closed and the valve 7 H opened. In this adjustment of the parts the soot is drawn through the orifices D and pipe D down into a receiving or settling tank I by means of a suction pump J. In order to cool the soot laden gases before they reach the suction pump J there is provided a lead such as the pipe K leading to a suitable source of water supply. The connection of the water supply pipe K to the pipe D is cont-rolled by a valve K. In operation the suction pump J is started and the valve K opened. The soot from the surfaces to be cleaned is then drawn into the pipe D and water or other cooling liquid is drawn into the pipe K and the soot laden gases and the cooling liquid passed down into the settling tank I. The latter is preferably provided with an over-flow connection L leading to a sewer or other suitable liquid discharge. This =over flow L extends down below the water lev- --el so as to provide a gas seal that will prevent the gases from passing into the sewer. As the soot laden gases and water are drawn into the receiving tank I the soot will be deposited into the receiving tank while the gases will be drawn into the conduit 'N to the suction pump and discharged through the outlet N".

By the novel arrangement above described it is possible to not only draw the soot deposits from the surfaces to be cleaned but also to commingle them with the cooling liquid and to then cool the gases and settle the soot-deposits out into the reoei ving tank where they will be taken out with the overflow. It 'isef :course understood that the invention is not limited to the nozzle arrangement -shown, as any arrangementof either station- :ary or movable suction nozzles, for example a rotatable'pipe, could :be employed and va rious ether changes in the construction and arrangements-of parts could be made without dep'ar'ting from the scope of my invention.

What I claim as :my invention is:

1. The method of changing the character of soot deposits boilers, furnaces and the like wherebysuch deposits may easily be removed which consists bringing a supply of substantially pure oxygen gas into association with the deposits while such deposits are s'oheated in the normal use of theboiler, furnace ort'he 'like as to cause combustible elements'thereof to ignitein the presence of the oxygen gas. 5 "9. 'Ihermethod of changing the Character the gases of combustion.

3. In combination with a boiler, a heating device for removing combustion products from a tube of the boiler comprising a member having :a burner nozzle, means for permanently locating and supporting said member within the boiler setting adjacent said boiler tube with the said burner nozzle directed toward the said tube, a source of supply of a high temperature producing substance located outside the boiler setting, and

means for conducting said substance to said member for discharge through said burner nozzle for creating a temperature at the boiler "tube surface relatively greater than the normal boiler operating temperature to establish combustion of said deposits.

4-. In combination with a boiler, aheating device for removing combustion products from a tube of the boiler comprising a member transversely curved in a direction transverse'ly of the said boiler tube to substantially conform with the boiler tube surface and provided with a plurality of burner nozzles in said transversely curved portion, means for permanently locating and supporting said member within the boiler setting adjacent said boiler tube with the said burner nozzles directed toward the said tube, a source of supply of a high temperature producing substance located outside the boiler setting, and-means for conducting said substance to sald member fordischarge through said burner nozzles for creating a temperature at the boiler tube surface relatively greater than the normalboi'ler operating temperature to establish combustion of said deposits.

5. In combination with a boiler, a heating device for removing combustion deposits from the exterior surface of a tube of the boiler comprising a member having a plu rality of burner vnozzles spaced longitudinally'thereof, means for permanently locating and supporting said member within the boiler setting adjacent the exterior surface of said boiler tube with the burner nozzles di- .rected toward said tube longitudinally thereof, a source of supply of a high temperature producing substance located outsidethe boiler setting, andmeans for conducting said substance to said member for discharge through said burner nozzles for creating a temperature at the boiler tube surface relatively greater than the normal boiler operating temperature to establish combustion of said deposits.

6. In combination with a boiler, a heating device for removing combustion deposits from the exterior surface ofa tube of the boiler comprising a member having a plurality of burner nozzles spaced longitudinah ly thereof, said member being transversely curved to substantially conform to the boil er tube, burner nozzles spaced along said transversely curved portion of the said member, means for permanently locating and supporting said member within the boiler setting adjacent the exterior surface of said boiler tube with the burner nozzles directed toward said tube, a source of supply of a high temperature producing substance located outside the boiler setting, and means for conducting said substance to said member for discharge through said burner nozzles for creating a temperature at the boiler tube surface relatively greater than the normal boiler operating temperature to establish combustion of said deposits.

7. In combination with a boiler, a heating device for removing combustion products from a tube of the boiler comprising a member having a burner nozzle, means for permanently locating and supporting said member within the boiler setting adjacent said boiler tube and intermediate the length thereof with the said burner nozzle directed to ward the said tube, a source of supply of a high temperature producing substance located outside the boiler setting, a source of supply of substantially pure oxygen gas located outside the boiler setting, piping for conducting said substance to said member for discharge through said burner nozzle and piping for conducting said oxygen gas to said member for discharge through said burner nozzle, and control means for the aforesaid sets of piping whereby the sup ply of said substance to the member may be controlled independently of the supply of said oxygen gas to said member, the said substance and oxygen gas being discharged from said burner nozzle for creating a temperature at the boiler tube surface relatively greater than the normal boiler operating temperature to establish combustion of said deposits.

8. In combination with a boiler, a heating device for removing combustion deposits from the exterior surface of a tube of the boiler comprising a member having a plurality of burner nozzles spaced longitudinally thereof, means for permanently locating and supporting said member within the boiler setting adjacent the exterior surface of said boiler tube with the burner nozzles directed toward said tube longitudinally thereof, a source of supply of substantially pure oxygen gas located outside the boiler setting, and means for conducting said oxygen gas to said memating means, a source of gas suitable for permitting combustion of the soot deposits, and means for selectively causing communication between the nozzle and with the said suction means or the said source of gas.

10. In combination with'a boiler, a device .v

for removing soot or like deposits from a tube of the boiler comprising a member formed with a suction nozzle, means for locating and supporting said member permanently within the boiler setting adjacent the outer surfacei of said tube with the nozzle directed toward he outer tube surface, means for creating a suction, and means forming a communication between said suction means and said member whereby the soot deposits are removed from the said tube by way of the suction nozzle and said member.

11. In combination w1th a boiler, a device for removing soot or like deposits from a tube of the boiler comprising a member.

formed with a. plurality of suction nozzles longitudinally thereof, means for locating and supporting said member permanently within the boiler setting adjacent the outer surface of said tube with the nozzles directed toward the tube at points longitudinally thereof, means for creating a suction, and means forming a communication between said suction means and said member whereby the soot deposits are removed from the said tube i by way of the suction nozzle and said member.

12. In combination with a boiler, a heating device for removing combustion products from a tube of the boiler comprising a member shaped to substantially conform to the i boiler tube and having a burner nozzle, means for permanently locating and supporting said member within the boiler setting adjacent said boiler tube with the said burner nozzle directed toward the said tube and po-' sitioned intermediate the length thereof, a

source of supply of a high temperature producing substance located outside the boiler setting, and means for. conducting said substance tosaid member for discharge through said burner nozzle for creating a temperature 'atthe boiler tube surface relatively greater than the normal boiler operating temperature to establish combustion of said deposits.

13. In combination with a boiler, a heating device for removing combustion products from a tube of the boiler comprising a member having a plurality of burner nozzles,

means for permanently locating and supporting said member within the boiler setting ad .jacent said boiler tube with the said burner nozzles directed'toward'the.said tubeand extending substantially the entire length of the tube, a source of supply of a high temperature producing substance located outside the boiler setting and means for conducting said substance to said memberfor discharge through said burner nozzles for creating a temperature at the boiler tube surface relatively greater than he normal boiler operating temperature to establish combustion of said deposits.

14. In combination with a boiler, a device for removing soot-or like deposits from a tube of the boiler comprising a member formed with a'suction nozzle, said member being transversely curved to substantially conform to the boiler tube, means for locating and supporting said member permanentl-y within the boilersetting adjacent the outer surface of said tube with the nozzle directed toward the outer tube surface, means for creating a suction, and means for forming a communication between said suction means and said member whereby the soot deposits are removed from the said tube by way of the suction nozzle and said member.

1-5. In combination with a boiler, a device for removing soot or like deposits from a tube of the boiler comprising a member formed with a plurality of suction nozzles longitudinally thereof, said member being transversely curved to substantially conform to the boiler tube, means for locating and supporting said .member permanently within the boiler setting adjacent the outer surface of said tube with the nozzles directed toward the tube at points spaced lon- 'gitudinally thereof, means for creating a suction, and means forming a communication between said suction means and said member whereby the soot deposits are re- :moved'from the said tube :by way of the suction nozzles and member.

'16. The method of changing the character of soot deposits in boilers, furnaces and the like whereby such deposits may easily be removed, which consists in bringing a supply of combustion supporting gas into association with the deposits while such deposits are so heated in the normal use of the boiler, furnace or the like as to cause the combustible elements thereof to, ignite in the pres ence of the said gas. I V

17. The method. of cleaning soot deposits from a boiler part which consists in introducing a supply of a combustion supporting gas into the boiler and into association with the deposits while such deposits are so heated in the normal use of the boiler as to cause the combustible elements thereof to ignite in the presence of the gas, and subsequently effecting a removal of the residue ofthe deposits from the said boiler part.

1-8. The method of cleaning soot deposits from a boiler part which consists in introducing a supply of a combustion supporting gas into the boiler :and into association with the deposits while such deposits are so heated in the normal use of the boiler as to cause the, combustible elements thereof to ignite in the presence of the gas, and subsequently creating a pressure adjacent said boiler part differing from the normal pressure adjacent said part to effect a removal of the residue of the deposits from the said boiler part.

19. The method of cleaning soot deposits from a boiler part which consists in introducing asupply of a combustion supporting gas into the boiler and into association with the deposits while such deposits are so heated in the normal-use of the boiler as to cause the combustible elements thereof to ignite in the presence of the gas, and subsequently creating a suction adjacent said boiler part to effect aremovalof the residue of the deposits from the said boiler part.

20. The method of cleaning soot deposits from boilers, furnaces and the like which consists in bringing a supply of substantial ly pure oxygen gas into association with the deposits while such deposits are so heated in the normal use of the boiler, furnace or the like as to cause the combustible elements thereof to ignite in the presence of the oxygen gas, and subsequently efiecting a removal of the residue of the deposits from the said boiler, furnace or the like.

21. In combination with a boiler, a device for removing soot or like deposits from a tube of the boiler, comprising a member formed with a suction nozzle, means for locating and permanently supporting said member within the boiler setting adjacent the outer surface of said tube with the nozzle directed toward the outer tube surface,

suction creating means, a source of gas suitv able for permitting combustion of the soot deposits, and'means for selectively causing communication between the said nozzle and with the said suction means or the said source of gas.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

NORMAN L. SNOIV.

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