Device, system and method for on-line explosive deslagging
AssigneeNorthAmerican Industrial Services, Inc.
InventorsFrancis Zilka, Timothy Zilka, Kurt Prouty, Donald Howard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device, system and method permitting on-line explosives-based cleaning and deslagging of a fuel burning facility (31) such as a boiler, furnace, incinerator, or scrubber. A coolant, such as ordinary water, is delivered to the explosives (101) to prevent them from detonating due to the heat of the on-line facility. Thus, controlled, appropriately-timed detonation can be initiated as desired, and boiler scale and slag is removed without the need to shut down or cool down the facility.
Claims27
A method for cleaning a hot heat-exchange device, comprising the steps of:
- introducing at least one explosive material into the hot heat-exchange device and moving said at least one explosive material to a freely-chosen desired position within the hot heat-exchange device, using a cleaning delivery assembly comprising a cooling apparatus and said explosive material proximate a first end of a tubular device, including placing said cleaning delivery assembly into said hot heat-exchange device through an entry port of said hot heat-exchange device and then applying force to part of said tubular device outside of said hot heat-exchange device, to position said cleaning delivery assembly to said desired position;
- cooling, using a coolant of said cooling apparatus, said at least one explosive material while introducing said at least one explosive material into the hot heat exchange device, such that when said at least one explosive material is detonated, shock waves from the detonation cause slag to be separated from a region of said hot heat-exchange device without damaging said hot heat-exchange device;
- and
- detonating said at least one explosive material at will.
A method for cleaning a hot heat-exchange device, comprising the steps of:
- introducing at least one explosive material into the hot heat-exchange device and moving said at least one explosive material to a freely-chosen desired position within the hot heat-exchange device, using a cleaning delivery assembly comprising a cooling apparatus and said explosive material proximate a first end of a tubular device, including placing said cleaning delivery assembly into said hot heat-exchange device through an entry port of said hot heat-exchange device and then applying force to part of said tubular device outside of said hot heat-exchange device, to position said cleaning delivery assembly to said desired position;
- cooling, using a coolant of said cooling apparatus, said at least one explosive material while introducing said at least one explosive material into the hot heat exchange device;
- and
- detonating said at least one explosive material at will.
A method for cleaning a hot heat-exchange device, comprising the steps of:
- placing a cleaning delivery assembly comprising a cooling apparatus and at least one material for explosive proximate a first end of a tubular device into said hot heat-exchange device through an entry port of said heat-exchange device and then applying force to part of said tubular device outside of said hot heat-exchange device, to position said cleaning delivery assembly to a desired position within the hot heat-exchange device;
- introducing said at least one material for explosive into the hot heat-exchange device and positioning said at least one material for explosive to said desired position, using said cleaning delivery assembly, via said tubular device;
- cooling, using a coolant of said cooling apparatus, said at least one material for explosive when introducing said at least one material for explosive into the hot heat exchange device;
- delivering said coolant proximate said at least one material for explosive by flowing said coolant through at least one passageway of said tubular device;
- and
- detonating said at least one material for explosive at will.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.