Detonative cleaning apparatus nozzle

Abstract

An apparatus directs gas from an upstream conduit through a vessel wall for cleaning surfaces within the vessel. A mounting flange couples the apparatus to the upstream conduit delivering the gas. The flange has first and second faces, an inboard surface bounding a central aperture, an outboard perimeter, and an array of bolt holes between the first and second faces. A conduit extends downstream from the flange and has inner and outer walls along at least a portion of a length and a space between the inner and outer walls for carrying a cooling fluid. The apparatus has a cooling fluid inlet and a cooling fluid outlet.

1 . An apparatus for directing a gas from an upstream conduit through a vessel wall for cleaning surfaces within the vessel comprising: 
 a mounting flange for coupling the apparatus to the upstream conduit delivering the gas and having: 
 first and second faces;  
 an inboard surface bounding a central aperture;  
 an outboard perimeter; and  
 an array of bolt holes between the first and second faces;  
   a conduit extending downstream from the flange and having: 
 inner and outer walls along at least a portion of a length; and  
 a space between the inner and outer walls for carrying a cooling fluid;  
   a cooling fluid inlet; and    a cooling fluid outlet.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the space extends from an upstream end outside the vessel wall at least partially downstream within the wall.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the cooling fluid outlet is along the conduit; and    the cooling fluid inlet is along the flange.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein: 
 the inner and outer walls each have a downstream rim; and    the cooling fluid outlet is between the inner and outer walls.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the inner wall is essentially formed by a first tubular piece extending from an upstream rim to a downstream rim and having interior and exterior surfaces, along an upstream portion, the interior surface providing the flange inboard surface.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in combination with: 
 said vessel, being a furnace, having a furnace wall separating a furnace exterior from a furnace interior and having a wall aperture; and    a detonative source of said gas.    
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 6  wherein: 
 the flange is upstream of an exterior surface of the furnace wall; and    the conduit extends through the furnace wall to protrude downstream of an interior surface of the furnace wall.    
   
   
       8 . A soot blower nozzle comprising: 
 means for mounting the nozzle to an upstream soot blower gas conduit;    a surface for guiding gas from the soot blower gas conduit into the interior of the vessel; and    means for cooling the nozzle.    
   
   
       9 . A method for operating an apparatus for cleaning interior surfaces within a vessel having a vessel wall, the method comprising: 
 causing a combustion pulse in a combustion conduit;    directing combustion gases along the combustion conduit through the vessel wall to be ejected from an outlet of the combustion conduit; and    passing a cooling gas along a portion of the combustion conduit exposed to heat from the vessel.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said passing is essentially continuous between a plurality of said combustion pulses.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said passing comprises passing the cooling fluid along a path at least partially surrounding a portion of a combustion gas flowpath.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein: 
 said passing comprises passing the cooling fluid along a path into the vessel interior.