Multi-media rotating sootblower and automatic industrial boiler cleaning system

A sootblower for cleaning internal components of an industrial boiler while the boiler is in operation, comprising:

• a lance tube having at least two separately controlled water applicators, the lance rotating as it delivers water streams from the separately controlled water applicators to clean interior components of the boiler;
• a drive system for linearly inserting the lance tube into and retracting the lance tube from the boiler while rotating the lance tube;
• and
• a control system for controlling the rotation and linear motion of the lance tube to apply a substantially constant progression of the first water stream as it contacts a planar face of a platen positioned perpendicular to the direction of linear motion of the lance as the lance is inserted into the boiler;
• and
• the control system further configured to control the rotation and linear motion of the lance tube to apply a substantially constant progression of the second water stream as it contacts an opposing planar face of the platen as the lance is retracted from the boiler.

A sootblower for cleaning internal components of a power plant boiler while the boiler is in operation, comprising:

• a frame supporting a steam tube, a toothed rack and a rail;
• a lance tube telescopically received on the steam tube, which is configured to deliver steam into an interior cavity of the lance tube;
• one or more steam nozzles in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the lance tube for directing the steam out of the lance tube and into the boiler interior;
• a steam valve for controlling the delivery of steam to the steam tube;
• a carriage configured to telescopically move the lance tube with respect to the steam tube to insert the lance tube into and retract the lance tube from the boiler while the lance tube rotates and the steam tube remains stationary;
• first and second water conduits located within the lance tube;
• a first water nozzle in fluid communication with the first water conduit for directing a water stream out of the lance tube and into the boiler interior;
• a second water nozzle in fluid communication with the second water conduit for directing a water stream out of the lance tube and into the boiler interior;
• a water distributor carried by the carriage and having a first pressurized water channel for delivering water from a first water hose to the first water conduit while the first water conduit rotates with respect to the water hose, a first water valve for controlling the deliver of water to the first water conduit, a second pressurized water channel for delivering water from a second water hose to the second water conduit while the water conduit rotates with respect to the water hose, and a second water valve for controlling the deliver of water to the second water conduit;
• a rotation motor carried by the carriage for rotating the lance tube while the lance travels along the steam tube;
• a linear travel motor carried by the carriage for driving inserting the lance into and retracting the lance from the boiler interior;
• a roller coupled to the carriage and riding on the rail for supporting the linear travel of the carriage;
• a pinion gear driven by the linear travel motor and engaged with the rack for driving the linear travel of the lance tube;
• and
• a control system for simultaneously controlling rotation of the lance, linear travel of the lance, delivery of the steam, delivery of water from the first set of water nozzles, and delivery of water from the second set of water nozzles.

An automatic cleaning system for a power plant boiler, comprising:

• boiler monitoring equipment for detecting an ash accumulation condition of the interior of the boiler;
• boiler cleaning equipment for cleaning the interior of the boiler while the boiler is in operation comprising at least one multi-media rotating sootblower comprising a lance tube simultaneously carrying at least two separately controlled cleaning fluid applicators, the lance tube rotating as it delivers cleaning fluids through the separately controlled cleaning fluid applicators to clean the interior components of the boiler, and a drive system for linearly inserting the lance tube into and retracting the lance tube from the boiler while rotating the lance tube;
• and
• a control system configured to receive sensor data from the boiler monitoring equipment, determine the ash accumulation condition of the interior of the boiler based on the sensor data, and to generate control signals to automatically activate and control the boiler cleaning equipment in response to the ash accumulation condition including turning on or off each separately controlled cleaning fluid applicator without have to install a device on or remove a device from the lance tube.

A power plant having a boiler with a thermal output rating, comprising:

• an automatic cleaning system for the boiler configured to automatically clean the boiler to maintain the thermal output rating including;
• boiler monitoring equipment for detecting the ash accumulation condition including turning on or off each separately controlled cleaning fluid applicator without have to install a device on or remove a device from the lance tube of the interior of the boiler,
• boiler cleaning equipment for cleaning the interior of the boiler while the boiler is in operation comprising at least one multi-media rotating sootblower comprising a lance tube simultaneously carrying at least two separately controlled cleaning fluid applicators, the lance tube rotating as it delivers cleaning fluids through the separately controlled cleaning fluid applicators to clean the interior components of the boiler, and a drive system for linearly inserting the lance tube into and retracting the lance tube from the boiler while rotating the lance tube;
• and
• a control system configured to receive sensor data from the boiler monitoring equipment, determine the ash accumulation condition of the interior of the boiler based on the sensor data, and to generate control signals to automatically activate the boiler cleaning equipment in response to the ash accumulation condition.

A sootblower for cleaning internal components of an industrial boiler while the boiler is in operation, comprising:

• a lance tube simultaneously carrying separately controlled steam and water applicators, the lance tube rotating as it selectively delivers stream to clean the interior components of the boiler;
• a drive system for linearly inserting the lance tube into and retracing the lance tube from the boiler while rotating the lance tube;
• a water distributor operative for delivering the water to the lance tube while the lance tube simultaneously receives the steam;
• and
• a control system for controlling the delivery of the water.

A sootblower for cleaning internal components of an industrial boiler while the boiler is in operation, comprising:

• a lance tube simultaneously carrying at least two separately controlled cleaning fluid applicators, the lance tube rotating as it delivers first and second separately controlled cleaning fluids to clean the interior components of the boiler;
• a drive system for linearly inserting the lance tube into and the lance tube from the boiler while rotating the lance tube;
• a cleaning fluid distributor operative for delivering the first cleaning fluid to the lance tube while the lance tube simultaneously receives the second cleaning fluid;
• and
• a control system for controlling the delivery of the first and second cleaning fluids.

A sootblower for cleaning internal components of an industrial boiler while the boiler is in operation, comprising:

• a lance tube simultaneously carrying at least two separately controlled cleaning fluid applicators, the lance tube rotating as it delivers first and second separately controlled cleaning fluids to clean the interior components of the boiler:
• a drive system for linearly inserting the lance tube into and retracting the lance tube from the boiler while rotating the lance tube;
• and
• a control system for remotely controlling the delivery of the first and second cleaning fluids.