Detonative cleaning apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for cleaning a surface within a vessel. An elongate combustion conduit extends from an upstream end to a downstream end associated with an aperture in a wall of the vessel and positioned to direct a shockwave toward the surface. A resilient member resiliently restrains the combustion conduit against recoil forces.

1 . An apparatus for cleaning a surface within a vessel, the apparatus 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; and    a resilient member resiliently restraining the combustion conduit against recoil forces.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the resilient member couples the combustion conduit to the wall.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the resilient member comprises a metal coil spring.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the resilient member comprises a tension spring.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of movable supports supporting weight of the combustion conduit at a plurality of locations along a length of the combustion conduit.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein: 
 the plurality of supports accommodate longitudinal expansion and/or contraction of the combustion conduit.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein: 
 the plurality of supports comprise a plurality of trolleys each having wheels engaging a track on a support surface.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  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.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein: 
 the plurality of supports comprise a plurality of hangers.    
   
   
       10 . A method for cleaning a surface within a vessel of a piece of industrial equipment, the vessel having a wall with an aperture therein, the method comprising: 
 introducing fuel and oxidizer to a conduit; and    initiating a reaction of the fuel and oxidizer so as to cause a shock wave to impinge upon the surface, a recoil force upon the conduit being resiliently taken up by a resilient member.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the resilient member stores energy of the recoil as the conduit shifts from an initial position to a recoiled position and then returns the conduit to the initial position.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein: 
 the shift is at least 0.01 m.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 shifting the conduit as a unit along a support mechanism to disengage a downstream end of the conduit from the vessel.