Method and apparatus for online and offline cleaning of industrial systems

#The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus of cleaning industrial systems while they remain operational. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus of cleaning pipes of either negatively or positively pressure-charged industrial systems, such as air flues, air scrubbers, quenchers, forced air fans, liquid containment and handling devices, and the like, while such systems are still in operation and subsequently preventing flow-back of contaminants, cleaning liquids, gases, hazardous materials and the like, during such cleaning and continuous system operation.

#Many industrial systems that use or produce liquid hazardous materials have a need to insure that these materials are not introduced into the environment. Due to the reactive nature of these systems, debris build up can occur within the transport mechanisms of such materials. The necessity for industrial systems to be cleaned without spillage of hazardous materials is thus paramount. Furthermore, the need for these systems to remain operational at all times can is critical to the dependent manufacturing process. Lastly, the need for these systems to have an effective flow is important to the reactive process and underlying efficiency of the system. Therefore, the option of cleaning these systems online with the ability to prevent exit of debris, or to move the debris into a container without spillage, is very cost effective to industries that deal with hazardous materials.

#Furthermore, many industrial systems that produce waste gases wherein a majority of the encapsulated particulates and toxins must be removed before the effluent gas is released into the air. For example, coal burning facilities incorporate air scrubbers in order to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulates, and other contaminants from the effluent air stream before being released into the atmosphere. These cleansing systems, whose main purpose is to reduce pollution and particulate flow into the environment, are often under high internal pressures and temperatures and are very complex and subsequently costly to maintain.

#The preferred embodiment is herein described in detail with references to the drawings, where appropriate, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view depicting the location and organization of the connected components of the present invention with the high-pressure cleaning hose attached;

#FIG. 2 is a detailed plan view showing the bell reducer, the pipe extension and the access valve;

#Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method and apparatus to access the interior of an air or liquid handling device for cleaning and de-scaling purposes while the device remains operational. Alternately, the present invention can be used to clean the interior of an air or liquid handling device when it is not operational. The present invention provides interior access by being attached to an access location on the handling device which is to be cleaned. Preferably this attachment occurs at a pipe access location.

#The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a flexible, high-pressure hose 1 with a liquid ejection nozzle located at its distal end (not shown). The ejection nozzle preferably has the ability to eject liquid at 360 degrees. Alternately, ejection nozzles of varying ejection parameters can be utilized, depending on the cleaning circumstances and desired outcome. As such, when the present invention is inserted into the air or liquid handling device piping system which is to be cleaned, pressurized liquid, preferably water or a viscous chemical, is ejected from the ejection nozzle, thus cleaning the interior surfaces of the piping system. Alternately, the present invention can utilize an abrasive granular blasting material, such as sandblasting media, with an appropriate ejection nozzle to achieve its cleaning purposes.

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the high pressure hose 1 is preferably inserted into a hose sealing means which creates an air-tight seal around the periphery of the hose. Preferably, the hose sealing means uses a packing gland compressor 2 which, in turn, is connected to a packing gland chamber 5. Within the interior of the packing gland chamber 5 is a preferably viscous packing material 16, such as a fluoropolymer, liquefied graphite, or the like. Still preferably, the fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Alternately, the packing material 16 can be any material with viscosity properties which support an intended purpose of creating an air-tight seal around the periphery of the high pressure hose 1, but still allowing rotational and longitudinal movements of the high pressure hose 1. Still alternately, any device which has the ability to create an air-tight seal around the periphery of the high pressure hose 1 will be adequate.