System and method for removing ash deposits in a combustion device

A system for removing ash deposits in a combustion device, the system comprising:

• an inner port pipe in communication with an interior portion of a combustion device, the inner port pipe having an interior passageway for transporting an injected material to the interior portion of the combustion device;
• an annular blowing member configured around the inner port pipe and attached to an interior wall of the combustion device while being in communication with an interior portion of the combustion device such that a blowing/cooling medium is transported in an annular passageway defined by an outer wall surface of the port pipe and an inner wall surface of the blowing member so as to remove ash deposits in the combustion device;
• and
• an inner sleeve slidably engaged with an outside surface of the inner port pipe, the sleeve including a lip portion at a distal end thereof and configured to direct the flow of the blowing/cooling medium impacting upon the ash deposits, the lip portion being adapted to allow passage of a quantity of the blowing/cooling medium into the combustion device upon being retracted into the annular passageway.

A self-cleaning burner port for a combustion furnace, comprising:

• an air injecting pipe with an air passageway communicatively connected to a port opening in the combustion furnace;
• a fuel injecting pipe with a fuel passageway disposed in the air passageway and in communication with the port opening;
• a first retractable blowing lance disposed in the air passageway and configured to discharge a blowing medium outwardly away from the port opening so as to remove ash deposits in the combustion furnace adjacent to the port opening;
• and
• a second retractable blowing lance disposed in the fuel passageway and configured to discharge a blowing medium outwardly away from the port opening so as to remove ash deposits in the combustion furnace adjacent to the port opening;
• wherein when ash removal is desired, the first and second blowing lances are extended a preselected distance beyond the port opening into the interior of the combustion furnace, and when ash removal is completed, the first and second blowing lances are retracted out of the air passageway and the fuel passageway so as to not interfere with the flow of fuel and air.