Deep Cleaning Alignment Equipment

Abstract

Systems and methods for cleaning a heat recovery steam generator system including tubes and fins associated therewith using deep cleaning alignment equipment are described. The deep cleaning alignment equipment primarily includes at least one wedge and at least one wand. The wedge may be an elongate wedge configured to maximize the surface area that contacts the tubes and fins, which in turn minimizes the amount of stress about any specific point of the tubes or the fins. Additionally, the wedge may be made of a variety of different materials. The wedge may be releasably secured to a plate to improve ease with which the wedge may be driven into tubes and fins. The wedge may also include wedge halves that are movable between expanded and collapsed positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A deep cleaning alignment equipment used to clean a heat recovery steam generator system including a plurality of metallic tubes, wherein each of the plurality of tubes includes a base with a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the base, the deep cleaning alignment equipment comprising:
 an elongate wedge having a near end and a far end separated by a length, wherein the wedge is configured to contact and spread the plurality of tubes and the plurality of fins to form a channel therebetween; and   a wand configured to spray one of a liquid or a gas about the heat recovery steam generator system;   wherein the elongate wedge contacts the plurality of tubes and the plurality of fins about an extended surface area to minimize a stress force between the wedge and the plurality tubes and the plurality of fins; and   wherein the wand is removably insertable into the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The deep cleaning alignment equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate configured to be releasably secured to the near end of the elongate wedge. 
     
     
         3 . The deep cleaning alignment equipment of  claim 2 , wherein the plate has a first cross sectional area;
 wherein the near end of the elongate wedge has a second cross sectional area; and   wherein the first cross sectional area is greater than the second cross sectional area.   
     
     
         4 . The deep cleaning alignment equipment of  claim 3 , wherein the plate is substantially rectangular in size; and
 wherein the first cross sectional area is approximately nine square inches.   
     
     
         5 . The deep cleaning alignment equipment of  claim 2 , wherein the plate further comprises at least one hook;
 wherein the elongate wedge further comprises at least one protrusion extending from the elongate wedge; and   wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to releasably engage with the at least one hook.   
     
     
         6 . The deep cleaning alignment equipment of  claim 2 , wherein the plate further comprises at least one bracket;
 wherein the elongate wedge further comprises at least one opening compatible with the at least one bracket; and   wherein one or more bolts, screws, and nuts are configured to secure the plate and the elongate wedge about the at least one bracket and the at least one opening.   
     
     
         7 . The deep cleaning alignment equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate wedge further comprises:
 a first wedge half; and   a second wedge half;   wherein the first wedge half and the second wedge half are movable between:
 a collapsed configuration having a first width; 
 an expanded configuration having a second width; and 
   wherein the second width is wider than the first width.   
     
     
         8 . The deep cleaning alignment equipment of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a rod; and   at least one gate mounted to the rod, the at least one gate in contact with the first wedge half and the second wedge half;   wherein the rod is rotatable to move the at least one gate between:   a first position where the at least one gate is substantially parallel to the rod; and   a second position where the at least one gate is substantially perpendicular to the rod.   
     
     
         9 . The deep cleaning alignment equipment of  claim 7 , further comprising an expandable bag located between the first wedge half and the second wedge half that is configured to move between:
 a first configuration where the expandable bag is substantially deflated; and   a second configuration where the expandable bag is substantially inflated and contacts the first wedge half and the second wedge half.   
     
     
         10 . A method of using a deep cleaning alignment equipment to clean a heat recovery steam generator system including a plurality of metallic tubes, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting a wedge having a width, a length, and a height, between the plurality of tubes to spread the plurality of tubes to form a channel therebetween;   inserting a wand into the channel;   spraying a liquid or a gas through the wand to clean the plurality of tubes; and   removing the wedge from the plurality of tubes.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 releasably securing the wedge to a plate; and   contacting the plate to drive the wedge between the plurality of tubes to spread the plurality of tubes to form a channel therebetween.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of releasably securing one or more protrusions extending from the wedge to one or more hooks extending from the plate. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 aligning one or more openings formed in the wedge with one or more openings formed in brackets extending from the plate; and   inserting a fastener into the one or more openings formed in the wedge and the one or more openings formed in the brackets.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 inserting the wedge between the plurality of tubes when the wedge is at a first width; and   pivoting first and second wedge halves of the wedge about a hinge so that the wedge is at a second width greater than the first width.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 inserting the wedge between the plurality of tubes when the wedge is at a first width;   rotating a rod located between a first wedge half and a second wedge half in a first direction to move one or more gates located between the first wedge half and the second wedge half;   moving the first wedge half and the second wedge half to a second width greater than the first width.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 rotating the rod located between the first wedge half and the second wedge half in a second direction opposite the first direction; and   removing the wedge from the plurality of tubes.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 inserting the wedge between the plurality of tubes when the wedge is at a first width; and   inflating a bag located between a first wedge half and a second wedge half to expand the first wedge half and the second wedge half to a second width greater than the first width.   
     
     
         18 . A deep cleaning alignment equipment comprising:
 an elongate wedge configured to contact and spread a plurality of tubes and fins to form a channel therebetween and having a first piece and a second piece releasably secured to the first piece; and   a wand configured to spray one of a liquid or a gas about the heat recovery steam generator system; and   wherein the wand is removably insertable into the channel.   
     
     
         19 . The deep cleaning alignment equipment of  claim 18 , further comprising a plate configured to be releasably secured to a near end of the elongate wedge;
 wherein the plate has a first cross sectional area;   wherein the near end of the elongate wedge has a second cross sectional area; and   wherein the first cross sectional area is greater than the second cross sectional area.   
     
     
         20 . The deep cleaning alignment equipment of  claim 18 , wherein the elongate wedge further comprises:
 a first wedge half; and   a second wedge half;   wherein the first wedge half and the second wedge half are movable between:
 a collapsed configuration having a first width; 
 an expanded configuration having a second width; and 
   wherein the second width is wider than the first width.