Device, system and method for on-line explosive deslagging

• US 6,644,201 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northamerican Industrial Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Northamerican Industrial Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Zilka, Timothy, Howard, Donald, Prouty, Kurt, Zilka, Francis, Scaringe, Christopher, Youngs, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US10/063,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20020112638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 102/302, 102/331, 86/50, 165/84, 165/95, 122/379
• US Class Current: 102/302
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0007 by explosions
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/08 Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 3/02 Cleaning furnace tubes; Cleaning flues or chimneys
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 3/023 cleaning the fireside of watertubes in boilers
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 1/12 incorporating cooling arrangements constructions of tube assemblies in general F28
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 1/1694 Breaking away the lining or removing parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 25/006 using explosives
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 9/00 Cooling of furnaces or of charges therein F27D1/00, F27D3/00 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

A device, system and method permitting on-line explosives-based cleaning and deslagging of a fuel burning facility such as a boiler, furnace, incinerator, or scrubber. A coolant, such as ordinary water, is delivered to the explosives to prevent them from detonating due to the heat of the on-line facility. Thus, controlled, appropriately-timed detonation can be initiated as desired, and boiler scale and slag is removed without the need to shut down or cool down the facility. Alternative preferred embodiments include, but are not limited to: (1) using a non-liquid coolant, such as compressed air or other non-flammable gas, in place of the aforementioned liquid coolant; (2) using one or more highly-heat-resistant insulating materials to insulate the explosive and detonator cap, in place of or in addition to the aforementioned liquid or gaseous coolants; and (3) preparing and using a highly-heat-resistant explosive device, in place of or in addition to the aforementioned liquid or gaseous coolants, and/or the aforementioned highly-heat-resistant insulating materials, in any desired combination.

Claims

1. A heat-resistant explosive device to facilitate controlled explosive detonation in a hot surrounding environment, comprising:

a heat-resistant explosive casing; and

explosive material encased within, thereby insulated and prevented from overheating by, said heat-resistant explosive casing.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a detonator well sufficiently removed from an outside surface of said explosive device and said explosive casing to provide suitable heat insulation to a detonator cap placed within said detonator well.

3. The device of claim 1, said heat-resistant explosive casing comprising at least one layer of at least one heat insulating material selected from the heat insulator group consisting of:

treated and untreated;

silica cloth;

aluminized silica cloth;

silicone coated silica cloth;

fiberglass cloth;

silicone impregnated fiberglass fabric;

vermiculite coated fiberglass;

neoprene coated fiberglass;

ceramic cloth; and

knitted silica glass.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a traditional explosive casing encasing said explosive material, wherein said traditional explosive casing and said explosive material therein is encased within said heat-resistant explosive casing.

5. The device of claim 1, said explosive material comprising a pliable explosive emoltion.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a high-heat resistant insulator for sealing a detonator cap within a detonator well of the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination, thereby providing heat insulation to said detonator cap.

7. The device of claim 6, said high-heat resistant insulator comprising a high heat-resistant tape.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a high-heat resistant material insulating at least one of any wires connected to said device.

9. The device of claim 8, said high-heat resistant material comprising at least one heat insulating material selected from the heat insulator group consisting of:

high heat-resistant tape;

treated and untreated;

silica cloth;

silica tubing;

aluminized silica cloth;

silicone coated silica cloth;

fiberglass cloth;

fiberglass tubing;

silicone impregnated fiberglass fabric;

vermiculite coated fiberglass;

silicone coated fiberglass;

silicone tubing;

neoprene coated fiberglass;

ceramic cloth; and

knitted silica glass.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

cooling means for cooling the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination prior to its use in said hot surrounding environment.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an explosive positioning system with the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination affixed thereto, enabling a force applied to said explosive positioning system to freely move the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination to any desired location within said hot surrounding environment and particularly into a desired position for detonation, while said heat-resistant explosive casing insulates and prevents said explosive material from overheating.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

detonating means for detonating at will said explosive material.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a coolant-delivery apparatus delivering a coolant to, and cooling, the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one layer of at least one heat insulating material surrounding at least part of the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination, thereby further insulating and preventing said explosive material from overheating.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a detonator well sufficiently removed from an outside surface of said explosive device and said explosive casing to provide suitable heat insulation to a detonator cap placed within said detonator well;

a high-heat resistant insulator comprising a high heat-resistant tape for sealing a detonator cap within said detonator well, thereby providing additional heat insulation to said detonator cap;

a traditional explosive casing encasing said explosive material, wherein said traditional explosive casing and said explosive material therein is encased within said heat-resistant explosive casing;

a high-heat resistant material comprising at least one heat insulating material selected from the heat insulator group consisting of;

high heat-resistant tape;

treated and untreated;

silica cloth;

silica tubing;

aluminized silica cloth;

silicone coated silica cloth;

fiberglass cloth;

fiberglass tubing;

silicone impregnated fiberglass fabric;

vermiculite coated fiberglass;

silicone coated fiberglass;

silicone tubing;

neoprene coated fiberglass;

ceramic cloth; and

knitted silica glass, insulating at least one of any wires connected to said device;

cooling means for cooling the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination prior to its use in said hot surrounding environment;

an explosive positioning system with the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination affixed thereto, enabling a force applied to said explosive positioning system to freely move the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination to any desired location within said hot surrounding environment and particularly into a desired position for detonation, while said heat-resistant explosive casing insulates and prevents said explosive material from overheating;

detonating means for detonating at will said explosive material;

a coolant-delivery apparatus delivering a coolant to, and cooling, the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination; and

at least one layer of at least one heat insulating material surrounding at least part of the heat-resistant explosive casing and explosive material combination, thereby further insulating and preventing said explosive material from overheating;

wherein;

said heat-resistant explosive casing comprises at least one layer of at least one heat insulating material selected from the heat insulator group consisting of;

treated and untreated;

silica cloth;

aluminized silica cloth;

silicone coated silica cloth;

fiberglass cloth;

silicone impregnated fiberglass fabric;

vermiculite coated fiberglass;

neoprene coated fiberglass;

ceramic cloth; and

knitted silica glass; and

said explosive material comprises a pliable explosive emoltion.