Sootblowing optimization system

• US 6,425,352 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diamond Power International LLC (Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Diamond Power International Incorporated (Babcock International Group PLC)
• Inventors: Perrone, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Jiping
• Application Number:
  US09/920,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 122/379, 122/390, 122/392, 153/161
• US Class Current: 122/379
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 37/56 Boiler cleaning control devices, e.g. for ascertaining proper duration of boiler blow-down
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 3/023 cleaning the fireside of watertubes in boilers
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 15/00 Details measuring thickness of deposit G01B

Abstract

Removal of combustion deposits from a fossil fuel boiler surface is optimized by using a sootblower to direct a cleaning medium in accordance with adjustable operating parameters against a surface of the boiler to remove accumulated deposits. Following the sootblowing operation, a parameter indicative of the extent of deposits remaining on the surface is measured to determine the efficiency of the sootblowing operation with the operating parameters used. If deposit removal is inadequate, at least one of the sootblower operating parameters is adjusted to increase its aggressiveness. If deposit removal is acceptable, at least one of the sootblower operating parameters in adjusted to decrease its aggressiveness, thereby reducing operating costs and/or the risk of damage to boiler surfaces. Additional steps of periodically measuring deposit accumulation and initiating a subsequent sootblowing operation when the deposit accumulation reaches a predetermined level can be included.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing the removal of combustion deposits from a fossil fuel boiler surface comprising:

a) directing a cleaning medium against said surface to remove combustion deposits from said surface in accordance with an adjustable operating parameter selected from the group consisting of jet progression rate, spray pattern, cleaning pattern, cleaning medium velocity, and cleaning medium pressure;

b) acquiring data indicative of a surface condition following treatment of said surface with said cleaning medium;

c) comparing acquired data against a predetermined standard; and

d) adjusting at least one of said operating parameters based upon the results of the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparison indicates inadequate cleaning and the aggressiveness of said operating parameter is increased.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparison indicates adequate cleaning and the aggressiveness of said operating parameter is decreased.

4. The method of claim 1, including selecting a set of operating conditions from a plurality of sets of operating conditions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the extent of residual deposits is determined by sensing heat flux.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said cleaning medium is air, steam, water, or mixtures thereof.

7. A method for optimizing the removal of combustion deposits from a fossil fuel boiler surface comprising:

a) directing a cleaning medium against said surface to remove combustion deposits from said surface in accordance with an adjustable operating parameter selected from the group consisting of jet progression rate, spray pattern, cleaning pattern, cleaning medium velocity, and cleaning medium pressure;

b) acquiring data indicative of a surface condition following treatment of said surface with said cleaning medium;

c) comparing acquired data against a predetermined standard;

d) adjusting at least one of said operating parameters based upon the results of the comparison; and

e) periodically measuring a parameter indicative of the extent of deposit accumulation following directing of said cleaning medium against said surface, and again directing said cleaning medium against said surface after said deposit accumulation reaches a predetermined amount.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the comparison indicates inadequate cleaning and the aggressiveness of said operating parameter is increased.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the comparison indicates adequate cleaning and the aggressiveness of said operating parameter is decreased.

10. The method of claim 7, including selecting a set of operating conditions from a plurality of sets of operating conditions.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the extent of residual deposits is determined by sensing heat flux.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said cleaning medium is air, steam, water, or mixtures thereof.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein a given sensor is used to measure both a parameter indicative of residual deposits and deposit accumulation.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein a first sensor is used to measure parameters indicative of residual deposits and a second sensor is used to measure deposit accumulation.