Device, system and method for on-line explosive deslagging

Abstract

A device, system and method permitting on-line explosives-based cleaning and deslagging of a fuel burning facility such as a boiler, furnace, incinerator, or scrubber. A coolant, such as ordinary water, is delivered to the explosives 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. Alternative preferred embodiments include, but are not limited to: (1) using a non-liquid coolant, such as compressed air or other non-flammable gas, in place of the aforementioned liquid coolant; (2) using one or more highly-heat-resistant insulating materials to insulate the explosive and detonator cap, in place of or in addition to the aforementioned liquid or gaseous coolants; and (3) preparing and using a highly-heat-resistant explosive device, in place of or in addition to the aforementioned liquid or gaseous coolants, and/or the aforementioned highly-heat-resistant insulating materials, in any desired combination.

1 . A system for cleaning a hot heat-exchange device, comprising: 
 at least one explosive material;    a tubular device freely positioned into the hot heat-exchange device, enabling said at least one explosive material to be introduced into the hot heat-exchange device and enabling said at least one explosive material to be freely positioned to a desired position within the hot heat-exchange device;    a heat-resistant cooling envelope passively cooling said at least one explosive material, enabling said at least one explosive material to be in the hot heat exchange device while remaining cool; and    a detonator detonating said at least one explosive material at will.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1:   said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising a heat-insulating protective enclosure.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope in combination with a coolant, thereby preventing undesired high heating.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 said heat-insulating protective enclosure in combination with a coolant, thereby providing the heat insulation.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising a heat-insulating protective enclosure.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an explosive material housing containing said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6:   said explosive material housing comprising plastic.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , said system omitting actively providing a cooling medium.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1:   said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising said at least one explosive material inside a heat-resistant container.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 said heat-resistant container in combination with a coolant, thereby providing the heat resistance.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1:   said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising a heat-insulating protective device.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1:   said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising a plurality of heat-insulating layers.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 said heat-insulating protective device in combination with a coolant, thereby providing the heat insulation.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11:   said heat-insulating protective device enclosing said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1:   said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising at least one material selected from the material group consisting of treated and untreated: silica cloth; aluminized silica cloth; silicone coated silica cloth; fiberglass cloth; silicone impregnated fiberglass fabric; vermiculite coated fiberglass; neoprene coated fiberglass;    ceramic cloth; and knitted silica glass.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1:   said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising ceramics.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising at least one heat-reflecting material.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , said heat-reflecting material selected from the heat-reflecting material group consisting of: treated and untreated: aluminized cloth; silica cloth; fiberglass cloth; ceramic cloth; and stainless steel cloth.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 6:   said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising a protective envelope surrounding said explosive material housing.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 said protective envelope in combination with a coolant.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 11:   said heat-insulating protective device comprising at least one heat-insulating material.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1:   said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising at least one heat-insulating material.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a coolant cooling said at least one explosive material, further enabling said at least one explosive material to be introduced into the hot heat exchange device while remaining cool.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope in combination with said coolant, thereby preventing undesired high heating.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , said at least one explosive material introduced for cleaning once said coolant commences to cool said at least one explosive material.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , said coolant cooling said at least one explosive material after said at least one explosive material is introduced for cleaning.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , said coolant cooling said at least one explosive material while said at least one explosive material is introduced into the hot heat-exchange device.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23 , said coolant cooling said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material at said desired position.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 23 , said coolant enveloping said at least one explosive material.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 a coolant-delivery apparatus delivering said coolant proximate said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , said coolant-delivery apparatus omitting any return flow of said coolant.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , said coolant-delivery apparatus comprising at least one coolant delivery aperture delivering said coolant proximate said at least one explosive material.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 a distance maintained between said coolant-delivery apparatus and said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein: 
 said at least one coolant delivery aperture is spaced from said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material is at said desired position within said hot heat-exchange device.    
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30:   said coolant-delivery apparatus comprising said tubular device; and    said tubular device comprising at least one passageway for flowing said coolant through said tubular device.    
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 an explosive material housing containing said at least one explosive material; wherein:    said coolant cools said explosive material housing.    
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , said explosive material housing introduced for cleaning once said coolant commences to cool said explosive material housing.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , said coolant cooling said explosive material housing after said at least one explosive material is introduced for cleaning.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36 , said coolant cooling said at least one explosive material while said at least one explosive material is introduced into the hot heat-exchange device.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , said coolant cooling said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material at said desired position.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 36 , said coolant enveloping said explosive material housing.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 a protective envelope surrounding said explosive material housing with said coolant to cool said explosive material housing.    
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said protective envelope is semipermeable.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 a coolant-delivery apparatus delivering said coolant proximate said explosive material housing.    
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , omitting any return flow of said coolant.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 44 , said coolant-delivery apparatus comprising at least one coolant delivery aperture delivering said coolant proximate said at least one explosive material.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 a distance maintained between said coolant-delivery apparatus and said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein: 
 said at least one coolant delivery aperture is spaced from said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material is at said desired position within said hot heat-exchange device.    
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 44:   said coolant-delivery apparatus comprising said tubular device; and    said tubular device comprising at least one passageway for flowing said coolant through said tubular device.    
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a coolant cooling said tubular device, enabling said tubular device to remain cool while introducing said at least one explosive material into the hot heat-exchange device    
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , said at least one explosive material introduced for cleaning once said coolant commences to cool said tubular device.  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 50 , said coolant cooling said tubular device after said at least one explosive material is introduced for cleaning.  
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 50 , said coolant cooling said tubular device while said at least one explosive material is introduced into the hot heat-exchange device.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 50 , said coolant cooling said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material at said desired position.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 50:   said tubular device comprising at least one passageway for flowing said coolant, thereby cooling said tubular device.    
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 50 , omitting any return flow of said coolant.  
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 50 , said tubular device comprising at least one coolant delivery aperture delivering at least some coolant proximate said at least one explosive material.  
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising: 
 a distance maintained between said tubular device and said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein: 
 said at least one coolant delivery aperture is spaced from said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material is at said desired position within said hot heat-exchange device.    
     
     
         60 . 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 positioning said at least one explosive material to a freely-chosen desired position within the hot heat-exchange device, using a tubular device freely positioned into the hot heat-exchange device;    passively cooling said at least one explosive material, using a heat-resistant cooling envelope, when said at least one explosive material is in the hot heat exchange device; and    detonating said at least one explosive material at will.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprises a heat-insulating protective enclosure.    
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising the step of: 
 preventing undesired high heating by using a coolant in combination with said heat-resistant cooling envelope.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing the heat insulation by using a coolant in combination with said heat-insulating protective enclosure.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprising a heat-insulating protective enclosure.    
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein: 
 said explosive material is contained in an explosive material housing.    
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said explosive material housing comprises plastic.    
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the method is carried out without actively providing a cooling medium.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprises said at least one explosive material inside a heat-resistant container.    
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing the heat resistance by using said heat-resistant container in combination with a coolant.    
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprises a heat-insulating protective device.    
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprises a plurality of heat-insulating layers.    
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 70 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing the heat insulation by using said heat-insulating protective device in combination with a coolant.    
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein: 
 said heat-insulating protective device encloses said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprises at least one material selected from the material group consisting of treated and untreated: silica cloth; aluminized silica cloth; silicone coated silica cloth; fiberglass cloth; silicone impregnated fiberglass fabric; vermiculite coated fiberglass; neoprene coated fiberglass;    ceramic cloth; and knitted silica glass.    
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprises ceramics.    
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprises at least one heat-reflecting material.    
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein: 
 said heat-reflecting material is selected from the heat-reflecting material group consisting of: treated and untreated: aluminized cloth; silica cloth; fiberglass cloth; ceramic cloth; and stainless steel cloth.    
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 65 , further comprising the step of: 
 surrounding said explosive material housing in a protective envelope of said heat-resistant cooling envelope.    
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78 , further comprising the step of: 
 using said protective envelope in combination with a coolant.    
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein: 
 said heat-insulating protective device comprises at least one heat-insulating material.    
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein: 
 said heat-resistant cooling envelope comprises at least one heat-insulating material.    
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising the step of: 
 actively cooling, using a coolant, said at least one explosive material when introducing said at least one explosive material into the hot heat exchange device.    
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising the step of: 
 preventing undesired high heating, using said heat-resistant cooling envelope in combination with said coolant.    
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising the step of: 
 introducing said at least one explosive material for cleaning once said coolant commences to cool said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said at least one explosive material after said at least one explosive material is introduced for cleaning.    
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said at least one explosive material while said at least one explosive material is introduced into the hot heat-exchange device.    
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material at said desired position.    
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising the step of: 
 enveloping said at least one explosive material with said coolant.    
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising the step of: 
 delivering said coolant proximate said at least one explosive material, using a coolant-delivery apparatus.    
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising the step of: 
 omitting any return flow of said coolant.    
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising the step of: 
 delivering said coolant proximate said at least one explosive material through at least one coolant delivery aperture of said coolant-delivery apparatus.    
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising the step of: 
 maintaining a distance between said coolant-delivery apparatus and said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 91 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a space between said at least one coolant delivery aperture and said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material is at said desired position within said hot heat-exchange device.    
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 89 , said coolant-delivery apparatus comprising said tubular device, further comprising the step of: 
 flowing said coolant through at least one passageway of said tubular device.    
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing an explosive material housing to contain said at least one explosive material; and    cooling said explosive material housing using said coolant.    
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , further comprising the step of: 
 introducing said at least one explosive material for cleaning once said coolant commences to cool said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 95 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said at least one explosive material after said at least one explosive material is introduced for cleaning.    
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 95 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said at least one explosive material while said at least one explosive material is introduced into the hot heat-exchange device.    
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 95 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material at said desired position.    
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 95 , further comprising the step of: 
 enveloping said at least one explosive material with said coolant.    
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 95 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said explosive material housing using a protective envelope surrounding said explosive material housing with said coolant.    
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein said protective envelope is semipermeable.  
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 95 , further comprising the step of: 
 delivering said coolant proximate said at least one explosive material, using a coolant-delivery apparatus.    
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , further comprising the step of: 
 omitting any return flow of said coolant.    
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 103 , further comprising the step of: 
 delivering said coolant proximate said at least one explosive material through at least one coolant delivery aperture of said coolant-delivery apparatus.    
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 103 , further comprising the step of: 
 delivering said coolant proximate said at least one explosive material through at least one coolant delivery aperture of said coolant-delivery apparatus.    
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 105 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a space between said at least one coolant delivery aperture and said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material is at said desired position within said hot heat-exchange device.    
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 103 , said coolant-delivery apparatus comprising said tubular device, further comprising the step of: 
 flowing said coolant through at least one passageway of said tubular device.    
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising: 
 cooling, using a coolant, said tubular device when introducing said at least one explosive material into the hot heat-exchange device    
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the step of: 
 introducing said at least one explosive material for cleaning once said coolant commences to cool said tubular device.    
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said tubular device after said at least one explosive material is introduced for cleaning.    
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said tubular device while said at least one explosive material is introduced into the hot heat-exchange device.    
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material at said desired position.    
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the step of: 
 cooling said tubular device by flowing said coolant through at least one passageway of said tubular device.    
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the step of: 
 omitting any return flow of said coolant.    
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the step of: 
 delivering at least some coolant proximate said at least one explosive material through at least one coolant delivery aperture of said tubular device.    
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the step of: 
 maintaining a distance between said tubular device and said at least one explosive material.    
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 116 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a space between said at least one coolant delivery aperture and said at least one explosive material when said at least one explosive material is at said desired position within said hot heat-exchange device.