US2012031350A1PendingUtilityA1

Ice blast cleaning systems and methods

39
Assignee: ZHANG TIAN XUANPriority: Aug 6, 2010Filed: Aug 6, 2010Published: Feb 9, 2012
Est. expiryAug 6, 2030(~4.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Tian Xuan ZhangDavid Michael ChapinRobert Warren Taylor
B24C 1/086B24C 1/003
39
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Claims

Abstract

The present application provides an ice blast cleaning method for a layer of slag on a surface. The ice blast cleaning method may include the steps of maintaining the surface with the layer of slag thereon at an elevated temperature, shooting a number of ice pellets at the layer of slag on the surface, and loosening the layer of slag on the surface via a mechanical impact of the ice pellets on the layer of slag and a thermal shock caused by a temperature differential between the ice pellets and the layer of slag.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An ice blast cleaning method for a layer of slag on a surface, comprising:
 maintaining the surface with the layer of slag thereon at an elevated temperature;   shooting a plurality of ice pellets at the layer of slag on the surface; and   loosening the layer of slag on the surface via a mechanical impact of the plurality of ice pellets on the layer of slag and a thermal shock caused by a temperature differential between the plurality of ice pellets and the layer of slag.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a boiler tube and wherein the step of maintaining the surface at an elevated temperature comprises a combustion stream within a boiler. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of shooting a plurality of ice pellets comprises shooting a plurality of water ice pellets. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of shooting a plurality of ice pellets comprises shooting a plurality of dry ice pellets. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing the layer of slag from the surface. 
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger system, comprising:
 a heat exchanger positioned within a combustion stream;   wherein the combustion stream creates a layer of slag on the heat exchanger; and   an ice blast system positioned about the heat exchanger;   wherein the ice blast system shoots a stream of ice pellets at the layer of slag so as to loosen the layer of slag via a mechanical impact of the stream of ice pellets on the layer of slag and a thermal shock caused by a temperature differential between the stream of ice pellets and the layer of slag.   
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of boiler tubes. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 6 , wherein the ice blast system comprises a hopper and a mixer. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 6 , wherein the ice blast system comprises a tube and a nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 6 , wherein the stream of ice pellets comprises a plurality of water ice pellets. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 6 , wherein the stream of ice pellets comprises a plurality of dry ice pellets. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 6 , wherein the ice blast system comprises a compressed air source. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises an elevated temperature. 
     
     
         14 . A boiler system, comprising:
 a boiler with a plurality of boiler tubes therein;   wherein the plurality of boiler tubes comprises a layer of slag thereon; and   an ice blast system positioned about the boiler;   wherein the ice blast system shoots a stream of ice pellets at the layer of slag so as to loosen the layer of slag via a mechanical impact of the stream of ice pellets on the layer of slag and a thermal shock caused by a temperature differential between the stream of ice pellets and the layer of slag.   
     
     
         15 . The boiler system of  claim 14 , wherein the ice blast system comprises a hopper and a mixer. 
     
     
         16 . The boiler system of  claim 14 , wherein the ice blast system comprises a tube and a nozzle. 
     
     
         17 . The boiler system of  claim 14 , wherein the stream of ice pellets comprises a plurality of water ice pellets. 
     
     
         18 . The boiler system of  claim 14 , wherein the stream of ice pellets comprises a plurality of dry ice pellets. 
     
     
         19 . The boiler system of  claim 14 , wherein the ice blast system comprises a compressed air source. 
     
     
         20 . The boiler system of  claim 14 , wherein the boiler comprises an elevated temperature.

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