Detonative cleaning apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a surface within a vessel is supported at least partially above a support surface. The apparatus had an elongate combustion conduit extending from an upstream end to a downstream end The downstream end is associated with an aperture in a wall of the vessel and positioned to direct a shock wave toward the surface. A guide member is on the support surface. A number of support assemblies support the combustion conduit at a number of locations along a length of the combustion conduit and engage the at least one guide member.

1 . An apparatus for cleaning a surface within a vessel, the apparatus supported at least partially above a support surface and comprising: 
 an elongate combustion conduit extending from an upstream end to a downstream end associated with an aperture in a wall of the vessel and positioned to direct a shock wave toward said surface;    a guide member on the support surface; and    a plurality of support assemblies supporting the combustion conduit at a plurality of locations along a length of the combustion conduit and engaging the at least one guide member    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the at least one guide member comprises at least one track; and    each support has at least one wheel engaging the at least one track.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein: 
 the at least one track comprises first and second spaced-apart rails; and    each support assembly comprises at least one pair of said at least one wheel being first and second spaced-apart wheels.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein: 
 each support assembly comprises a trolley having first and second of the at least one pair of said at least one wheel.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein: 
 the combustion conduit comprises a plurality of separable segments; and    each of the segments is supported atop a single associated one of the plurality of trolleys.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a fuel and oxidizer source coupled to the combustion conduit to deliver a charge to the conduit; and    an ignitor positioned to ignite the charge to cause a deflagration-to-detonation transition for generating the shock wave.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a resilient member coupling the combustion conduit to the wall.    
   
   
       8 . A plurality of apparatus of  claim 1  positioned at a given level of the vessel.  
   
   
       9 . The plurality of  claim 8  wherein: 
 the combustion conduits are oriented parallel to each other.