Method of pressure pulse cleaning a tube bundle heat exchanger
AssigneeAnco Engineers, Inc.
InventorsTerry D. Scharton, George B. Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved method of cleaning a tube bundle heat exchanger by removing the buildup of sedimentation or "sludge" which accumulates in the bottom or at other elevations of a heat exchanger vessel through utilization of a repetitive shock wave induced in the liquid layer above the sludge. The shock waves are induced by air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave sources or pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave sources. The shock wave serves to effectively and safely loosen the products of corrosion and other elements which settle at the bottom of the heat exchanger or steam generator and thereby facilitates their easy removal through flushing and vacuuming the vessel.
Claims80
A method of removing the products of corrosion, oxidation, sedimentation and comparable chemical reactions collectively known as sludge which settle on the bottom of a tube bundle heat exchanger and form a pile of sludge, the tube bundle heat exchanger characterized by a tube bundle heat exchanger wall and a thick metal plate known as a tube sheet near the lower portion of the tube bundle heat exchanger wall's interior surface, the tube sheet serving to support the lower ends of a multiplicity of heat exchanger tubes within the tube bundle heat exchanger, the tube bundle heat exchanger wall further comprising a multiplicity of small holes known as hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents, located around its circumference and above the tube sheet, the method of removing the pile of sludge which settles on the tube sheet comprising:
- a. locating at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source outside the tube bundle heat exchanger so as to be able to introduce pressure pulse shock waves through one or more of the multiplicity of hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents;
- b. filling said tube bundle heat exchanger with a liquid to a level above said pile of sludge;
- c. activating the at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source to generate a repetitive series of explosive transient shock waves into said liquid and from said liquid into said pile of sludge such that the explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serve to agitate and loosen the sludge;
- d. continuing the generation of repetitive, explosive, transient shock waves which are generated with pressure between approximately 50 pounds per square inch and 5000 pounds per square inch which result in energy predominantly in the frequency range between 1 Hertz and 1000 Hertz for each pulse to create transient shock waves which produce a pressure level of approximately 1/100th to 100 Bars in the liquid of Pressure at 1 meter;
- e. continuing the shock wave impact for approximately 1 to 24 hours whereby the impact of the repetitive explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serves to mechanically agitate and move the sludge in the liquid;
- and
- f. draining the liquid from the heat exchanger and removing said at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source.
A method of removing the products of corrosion, oxidation, sedimentation and comparable chemical reactions collectively known as sludge which settle on the bottom of a tube bundle heat exchanger and form a pile of sludge, the tube bundle heat exchanger characterized by a tube bundle heat exchanger wall and a thick metal plate known as a tube sheet near the lower portion of the tube bundle heat exchanger wall's interior surface, the tube sheet serving to support the lower ends of a multiplicity of heat exchanger tubes within the tube bundle heat exchanger, the tube bundle heat exchanger wall further comprising a multiplicity of small holes known as hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents, located around its circumference and above the tube sheet, the method of removing the pile of sludge which settles on the tube sheet comprising:
- a. introducing at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source through one or more of the multiplicity of hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents such that the at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source is located inside the tube bundle heat exchanger;
- b. filling said tube bundle heat exchanger with a liquid to a level above said pile of sludge;
- c. activating the at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source to generate a repetitive series of explosive transient shock waves into said liquid and from said liquid into said pile of sludge such that the explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serve to agitate and loosen the sludge;
- d. continuing the generation of repetitive, explosive, transient shock waves which are generated with pressure between approximately 50 pounds per square inch and 5000 pounds per square inch which result in energy predominantly in the frequency range between 1 Hertz and 1000 Hertz for each pulse to create transient shock waves which produce a pressure level of approximately 1/100th to 100 Bars in the liquid of Pressure at 1 meter;
- e. continuing the shock wave impact for approximately 1 to 24 hours whereby the impact of the repetitive explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serves to mechanically agitate and move the sludge in the liquid;
- and
- f. draining the liquid from the heat exchanger and removing said at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source.
A method of removing the products of corrosion, oxidation, sedimentation and comparable chemical reactions collectively known as sludge which settle on the tube support plates of a tube bundle heat exchanger and form a pile of sludge, the tube bundle heat exchanger characterized by a tube bundle heat exchanger wall and a series of tube support plates arranged transverse to and sequentially spaced along the longitudinal axis of a multiplicity of heat exchanger tubes and forming junctions therewith, the tube bundle heat exchanger further characterized by a thick metal plate known as a tube sheet near the lower portion of the heat exchanger wall, the tube sheet serving to support the lower ends of the heat exchanger tubes, the tube bundle heat exchanger wall further comprising a multiplicity of small holes known as hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents, located around its circumference and along the height of the tube bundle heat exchanger, the method of removing the pile of sludge which settles on the tube support plates and the junctions between the heat exchanger tubes and the tube support plates, comprising:
- a. locating at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source outside the tube bundle heat exchanger so as to be able to introduce pressure pulse waves through one or more of the multiplicity of hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents;
- b. filling said tube bundle heat exchanger with a liquid to a level at or above said tube support plate to be cleaned;
- c. activating the at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source to generate a repetitive series of explosive transient shock waves into said liquid and from said liquid into said pile of sludge and into the junctions between the tube support plate and the heat exchanger tubes such that the explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serve to agitate and loosen the sludge;
- d. continuing the generation of repetitive, explosive, transient shock waves which are generated with pressure between approximately 50 pounds per square inch and 5000 pounds per square inch which result in energy predominantly in the frequency range between 1 Hertz and 1000 Hertz for each pulse to create transient shock waves which produce a pressure level of approximately 1/100th to 100 Bars in the liquid of Pressure at 1 meter;
- and
- e. continuing the shock wave impact for approximately 1 to 24 hours whereby the impact of the repetitive explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serves to mechanically agitate and move the sludge in the liquid.
A method of removing the products of corrosion, oxidation, sedimentation and comparable chemical reactions collectively known as sludge which settle on the tube support plates of a tube bundle heat exchanger and form a pile of sludge, the tube bundle heat exchanger characterized by a tube bundle heat exchanger wall and a series of tube support plates arranged transverse to and sequentially spaced along the longitudinal axis of a multiplicity of heat exchanger tubes and forming junctions therewith, the tube bundle heat exchanger further characterized by a thick metal plate known as a tube sheet near the lower portion of the heat exchanger wall, the tube sheet serving to support the lower ends of the heat exchanger tubes, the tube bundle heat exchanger wall further comprising a multiplicity of small holes known as hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents, located around its circumference and along the height of the tube bundle heat exchanger, the method of removing the pile of sludge which settles on the tube support plates and the junctions between the heat exchanger tubes and the tube support plates, comprising:
- a. introducing at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source through one or more of the multiplicity of hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents such that the at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source is located inside the tube bundle heat exchanger;
- b. filling said tube bundle heat exchanger with a liquid to a level at or above said tube support plate to be cleaned;
- c. activating the at least one air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave source to generate a repetitive series of explosive transient shock waves into said liquid and from said liquid into said pile of sludge and into the junctions between the tube support plate and the heat exchanger tubes such that the explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serve to agitate and loosen the sludge;
- d. continuing the generation of repetitive, explosive, transient shock waves which are generated with pressure between approximately 50 pounds per square inch and 5000 pounds per square inch which result in energy predominantly in the frequency range between 1 Hertz and 1000 Hertz for each pulse to create transient shock waves which produce a pressure level of approximately 1/100th to 100 Bars in the liquid of Pressure at 1 meter;
- and
- e. continuing the shock wave impact for approximately 1 to 24 hours whereby the impact of the repetitive explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serves to mechanically agitate and move the sludge in the liquid.
A method of removing the products of corrosion, oxidation, sedimentation and comparable chemical reactions collectively known as sludge which settle on the bottom of a tube bundle heat exchanger and form a pile of sludge, the tube bundle heat exchanger characterized by a tube bundle heat exchanger wall and a thick metal plate known as a tube sheet near the lower portion of the tube bundle heat exchanger wall's interior surface, the tube sheet serving to support the lower ends of a multiplicity of heat exchanger tubes within the tube bundle heat exchanger, the tube bundle heat exchanger wall further comprising a multiplicity of small holes known as hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents, located around its circumference and above the tube sheet, the method of removing the pile of sludge which settles on the tube sheet comprising:
- a. locating at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source outside the tube bundle heat exchanger so as to be able to introduce pressure pulse shock waves through one or more of the multiplicity of hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents;
- b. filling said tube bundle heat exchanger with a liquid to a level above said pile of sludge;
- c. activating the at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source to generate a repetitive series of explosive transient shock waves into said liquid and from said liquid into said pile of sludge such that the explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serve to agitate and loosen the sludge;
- d. continuing the generation of repetitive, explosive, transient shock waves which are generated with pressure between approximately 50 pounds per square inch and 5000 pounds per square inch which result in energy predominantly in the frequency range between 1 Hertz and 1000 Hertz for each pulse to create transient shock waves which produce a pressure level of approximately 1/100th to 100 Bars in the liquid of Pressure at 1 meter;
- e. continuing the shock wave impact for approximately 1 to 24 hours whereby the impact of the repetitive explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serves to mechanically agitate and move the sludge in the liquid;
- and
- f. draining the liquid from the heat exchanger and removing said at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source.
A method of removing the products of corrosion, oxidation, sedimentation and comparable chemical reactions collectively known as sludge which settle on the bottom of a tube bundle heat exchanger and form a pile of sludge, the tube bundle heat exchanger characterized by a tube bundle heat exchanger wall and a thick metal plate known as a tube sheet near the lower portion of the tube bundle heat exchanger wall's interior surface, the tube sheet serving to support the lower ends of a multiplicity of heat exchanger tubes within the tube bundle heat exchanger, the tube bundle heat exchanger wall further comprising a multiplicity of small holes known as hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents, located around its circumference and above the tube sheet, the method of removing the pile of sludge which settles on the tube sheet comprising:
- a. introducing at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source through one or more of the multiplicity of hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents such that the at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source is located inside the tube bundle heat exchanger;
- b. filling said tube bundle heat exchanger with a liquid to a level above said pile of sludge;
- c. activating the at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source to generate a repetitive series of explosive transient shock waves into said liquid and from said liquid into said pile of sludge such that the explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serve to agitate and loosen the sludge;
- d. continuing the generation of repetitive, explosive, transient shock waves which are generated with pressure between approximately 50 pounds per square inch and 5000 pounds per square inch which result in energy predominantly in the frequency range between 1 Hertz and 1000 Hertz for each pulse to create transient shock waves which produce a pressure level of approximately 1/100th to 100 Bars in the liquid of Pressure at 1 meter;
- e. continuing the shock wave impact for approximately 1 to 24 hours whereby the impact of the repetitive explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serves to mechanically agitate and move the sludge in the liquid;
- and
- f. draining the liquid from the heat exchanger and removing said at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source.
A method of removing the products of corrosion, oxidation, sedimentation and comparable chemical reactions collectively known as sludge which settle on the tube support plates of a tube bundle heat exchanger and form a pile of sludge, the tube bundle heat exchanger characterized by a tube bundle heat exchanger wall and a series of tube support plates arranged transverse to and sequentially spaced along the longitudinal axis of a multiplicity of heat exchanger tubes and forming junctions therewith, the tube bundle heat exchanger further characterized by a thick metal plate known as a tube sheet near the lower portion of the heat exchanger wall, the tube sheet serving to support the lower ends of the heat exchanger tubes, the tube bundle heat exchanger wall further comprising a multiplicity of small holes known as hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents, located around its circumference and along the height of the tube bundle heat exchanger, the method of removing the pile of sludge which settles on the tube support plates and the junctions between the heat exchanger tubes and the tube support plates, comprising:
- a. locating at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source outside the tube bundle heat exchanger so as to be able to introduce pressure pulse shock waves through one or more of the multiplicity of hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents;
- b. filling said tube bundle heat exchanger with a liquid to a level at or above said tube support plate to be cleaned;
- c. activating the at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source to generate a repetitive series of explosive transient shock waves into said liquid and from said liquid into said pile of sludge and into the junctions between the tube support plate and the heat exchanger tubes such that the explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serve to agitate and loosen the sludge;
- d. continuing the generation of repetitive, explosive, transient shock waves which are generated with pressure between approximately 50 pounds per square inch and 5000 pounds per square inch which result in energy predominantly in the frequency range between 1 Hertz and 1000 Hertz for each pulse to create transient shock waves which produce a pressure level of approximately 1/100th to 100 Bars in the liquid of Pressure at 1 meter;
- and
- e. continuing the shock wave impact for approximately 1 to 24 hours whereby the impact of the repetitive explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serves to mechanically agitate and move the sludge in the liquid.
A method of removing the products of corrosion, oxidation, sedimentation and comparable chemical reactions collectively known as sludge which settle on the tube support plates of a tube bundle heat exchanger and form a pile of sludge, the tube bundle heat exchanger characterized by a tube bundle heat exchanger wall and a series of tube support plates arranged transverse to and sequentially spaced along the longitudinal axis of a multiplicity of heat exchanger tubes and forming junctions therewith, the tube bundle heat exchanger further characterized by a thick metal plate known as a tube sheet near the lower portion of the heat exchanger wall, the tube sheet serving to support the lower ends of the heat exchanger tubes, the tube bundle heat exchanger wall further comprising a multiplicity of small holes known as hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents, located around its circumference and along the height of the tube bundle heat exchanger, the method of removing the pile of sludge which settles on the tube support plates and the junctions between the heat exchanger tubes and the tube support plates, comprising:
- a. introducing at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source through one or more of the multiplicity of hand holes, manways, drain lines and vents such that the at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source is located inside the tube bundle heat exchanger;
- b. filling said tube bundle heat exchanger with a liquid to a level at or above said tube support plate to be cleaned;
- c. activating the at least one pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave source to generate a repetitive series of explosive transient shock waves into said liquid and from said liquid into said pile of sludge and into the junctions between the tube support plate and the heat exchanger tubes such that the explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serve to agitate and loosen the sludge;
- d. continuing the generation of repetitive, explosive, transient shock waves which are generated with pressure between approximately 50 pounds per square inch and 5000 pounds per square inch which result in energy predominantly in the frequency range between 1 Hertz and 1000 Hertz for each pulse to create transient shock waves which produce a pressure level of approximately 1/100th to 100 Bars in the liquid of Pressure at 1 meter;
- and
- e. continuing the shock wave impact for approximately 1 to 24 hours whereby the impact of the repetitive explosive transient shock waves and resultant liquid motion serves to mechanically agitate and move the sludge in the liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.