Pipe cleaning using microwave energy
OwnerChang Yul Chainventor
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for cleaning carbonaceous deposited material from the inside of pipes or tubes by utilizing microwave catalysis to dynamically remove such soot-like material as it chemical reacts with oxygen supplied by a sweep gas to form gaseous products. The metallic pipe is converted to a waveguide by the use of appropriate frequencies of microwave energy. The soot-like material is catalyzed by the microwave energy so that any oxygen reactions occur at a relatively low bulk temperature.
Claims5
A process for cleaning a metallic pipe fouled within by carbonaceous material comprising:
- passing a gas containing oxygen-containing molecules through said pipe;
- and
- converting said pipe to a waveguide by energizing said pipe with radiofrequency energy at a cutoff frequency or above while catalyzing oxidizing reactions between said carbonaceous material and said oxygen-containing molecules.
A process for cleaning a metallic pipe fouled within by soot comprising:
- passing air through said pipe;
- converting said pipe to a waveguide by energizing said pipe with radiofrequency energy at a cutoff frequency or above, wherein the cutoff frequency is calculated from the expression:
- 6.91/D where D is the inside pipe diameter in inches and the resulting cutoff frequency is expressed in gigahertz, and where the actual frequency employed must be no less than this cutoff frequency;
- catalyzing oxidizing reactions between said soot and said air with said radiofrequency energy;
- and
- maintaining a bulk temperature below about 500.degree. F.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.