Cleaning apparatus and process

• US 5,082,502 A
• Filed: 09/08/1988
• Issued: 01/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cabot Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cabot Corporation
• Inventors: Puckett, Dan K., Richards, L. Willard, Lee, Kam B., Morgan, Allan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAL, ASOKKUMAR
• Application Number:
  US07/241,454
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 134/1, 134/17, 134/21, 134/22.12, 134/22.18, 134/37, 137/15, 164/132
• US Class Current: 134/1
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0007 by explosions
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0325 Control mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0326 Using pulsations
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 7/00 Cleaning by vibration or pressure waves
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 7/005 by explosions or detonations; by pressure waves generated by combustion processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0419 Fluid cleaning or flushing

Abstract

Particles adhering to the internal surfaces of an object are removed by the movement of a shock wave past the surfaces. The shock wave is generated by the explosion of a gas in a chamber located inside the object. The invention has particular application for use in cleaning process equipment.

Claims

1. A process for cleaning an interior surface of an apparatus comprising:

generating a shock wave in the apparatus in a chamber that is separate from the surface to be cleaned;

directing the shock wave past the surface to be cleaned, wherein said shock wave is supersonic at the point of initial contact with the surface, to dislodge particles from the surface;

removing the particles with a gaseous stream.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the gaseous stream flows continuously through the apparatus while the apparatus is being cleaned.

3. The process of claim 1 further comprising continuously generating the shock wave.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the gaseous stream flows continuously through the apparatus while the apparatus is being cleaned.

6. The process of claim 2 wherein the gaseous stream is a process stream of a process being performed by the apparatus concurrently with the apparatus being cleaned.

7. The process of claim 3 wherein the gaseous stream is a process stream of a process being performed by the apparatus concurrently with the apparatus being cleaned.

5. The process of claim 5 wherein the apparatus is a heat exchanger.