Impulse ash deposit removal system and method

An impulse system for removing ash deposits from a boiler, comprising:

• at least one impulse generator having a hollow body with an inlet for air, an inlet for fuel, and an outlet for ignited air and fuel, and having an ignitor coupled to the body, wherein the outlet is in communication with the boiler, wherein the impulse generator body has a curved surface and the air inlet is generally tangential to the curved surface for inducing a helical swirling flow of the fuel and the air in the body;
• and
• a control system operable to activate the ignitor to ignite the air and fuel in the impulse generator body to produce pressure waves that are transmitted through the outlet and into the boiler to remove the ash deposits.

An impulse system for removing ash deposits from a boiler, comprising:

• at least one impulse generator having a hollow body with an inlet for air, an inlet for fuel, and an outlet for ignited air and fuel, and having an ignitor coupled to the body, wherein the outlet is in communication with the boiler, wherein the impulse generator body is toroidal-shaped for inducing a helical swirling flow of the fuel and the air therein;
• and
• a control system operable to activate the ignitor to ignite the air and fuel in the impulse generator body to produce pressure waves that are transmitted through the outlet and into the boiler to remove the ash deposits.

An impulse system for removing ash deposits from a boiler, comprising:

• at least one impulse generator having a hollow body with an inlet for air, an inlet for fuel, and an outlet for ignited air and fuel, and having an ignitor coupled to the body, wherein the outlet is in communication with the boiler, wherein the impulse generator body is toroidal-shaped and the air inlet is generally tangential to a plan view flow path centerline of the body for inducing the fuel and the air to flow in a loop within the body;
• and
• a control system operable to activate the ignitor to ignite the air and fuel in the impulse generator body to produce pressure waves that are transmitted through the outlet and into the boiler to remove the ash deposits.

An impulse system for removing ash deposits from a boiler, comprising:

• at least one impulse generator having a hollow body with an inlet for air, an inlet for fuel, and an outlet for ignited air and fuel, and having an ignitor coupled to the body, wherein the outlet is in communication with the boiler, and wherein the impulse generator further comprises a turbulizer having at least one generally corkscrew-shaped vane disposed within the hollow body for inducing a helical swirling flow of the fuel and the air in the body;
• and
• a control system operable to activate the ignitor to ignite the air and fuel in the impulse generator body to produce pressure waves that are transmitted through the outlet and into the boiler to remove the ash deposits.

An impulse system for removing ash deposits from a boiler, comprising:

• at least one impulse generator having a hollow body with an inlet for air, an inlet for fuel, and an outlet for ignited air and fuel, and having an ignitor coupled to the body, wherein the outlet is in communication with the boiler, and wherein the air inlet and the fuel inlet comprise a combined air/fuel inlet for delivering an air/fuel mixture into the impulse generator body;
• and
• a control system operable to activate the ignitor to ignite the air and fuel in the impulse generator body to produce pressure waves that are transmitted through the outlet and into the boiler to remove the ash deposits.

An impulse system for removing ash deposits from at least one heat exchanger of a boiler, comprising:

• at least one impulse generator having a toroidal-shaped hollow body with an inlet for air, an inlet for fuel, and an outlet for ignited air and fuel, and having an ignitor coupled to the body, wherein the air inlet is generally tangential or at an acute angle to a plan view flow path centerline of the body and the air inlet is generally tangential to a side view cross section of the body for inducing the fuel and the air to flow in a loop within the body while inducing a helical swirling flow of the fuel and the air in the body, and the outlet is in communication with the boiler;
• and
• a control system operable to intermittently activate the ignitor to intermittently ignite the air and fuel in the impulse generator body to intermittently produce pressure waves that are transmitted through the outlet and into the boiler to remove the ash deposits from the boiler heat exchanger.

An impulse system for removing ash deposits from at least one heat exchanger of a boiler, comprising:

• at least one impulse generator having a hollow body with an inlet for air, an inlet for fuel, and an outlet for ignited air and fuel, a turbulizer including at least one generally corkscrew-shaped vane disposed within the hollow body for inducing the helical swirling flow of the fuel and the air in the body, and an ignitor coupled to the body, wherein the outlet is in communication with the boiler;
• and
• a control system operable to intermittently activate the ignitor to intermittently ignite the air and fuel in the impulse generator body to intermittently produce pressure waves that are transmitted through the outlet and into the boiler to remove the ash deposits from the boiler heat exchanger.