Flexible Hose Explosive Cleaning for Incinerators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning methods for incineration systems, such as boiler cleaning, are inefficient and hazardous due to the use of explosives, requiring system shutdown, posing health risks, and incurring high costs, while existing gas mixture explosion methods have limited reach and handling difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A flexible transport hose system for delivering an explosive mixture to hard-to-reach areas within incineration systems, allowing for remote operation and increased accessibility without the need for explosives, using a gas-impermeable hose with a cooling channel and multiple layers for enhanced safety and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional cleaning methods (boiler knocking, steam jet cleaning, water jet blowers) are used, then cleaning can be performed on shut-down plants, but the cleaning process requires system shutdown for days or weeks, causing significant loss of production or revenue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidsystem downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical cleaning systems (boiler knocking, steam jet cleaning, water jet blowers) with an explosion-based cleaning system that uses explosive mixtures contained in flexible hoses. The explosive mixture is delivered to the cleaning point and detonated to remove deposits, achieving cleaning in hours rather than days or weeks of system shutdown

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the explosive mixture from rigid containers and delivers it through flexible transport hoses to the cleaning point inside the system. This allows the explosive cleaning agent to be delivered precisely where needed without requiring complete system shutdown or complex scaffolding setups

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If explosives are used for cleaning, then cleaning power is sufficient to remove hard deposits, but high security measures are required during storage and handling, and special permits are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning powerVSAvoidsecurity measures
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The explosive cleaning system is segmented into separate components: the explosive mixture is contained within flexible transport hoses that can be delivered to the cleaning point, while the ignition system remains outside the system being cleaned. This segmentation reduces security risks by eliminating the need for large-scale explosive storage and handling within the cleaning area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible transport hose acts as an intermediary that delivers the explosive mixture from the supply location to the cleaning point inside the system. This intermediary allows the explosive agent to reach difficult-to-access areas without requiring personnel to manually handle explosives within the system, reducing security and safety risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If a rigid cleaning lance is used to deliver explosive mixture, then structural strength is sufficient, but the operating radius is limited and hard-to-reach areas cannot be accessed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelance structural strengthVSAvoidaccessibility to hard-to-reach areas
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid cleaning lances with flexible transport hoses that can dynamically adapt to the geometry of the system being cleaned. The flexible hose can be maneuvered into hard-to-reach areas, coils within itself to navigate tight spaces, and extends the operating radius significantly compared to rigid lance structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses flexible transport hoses as thin-walled containers to deliver the explosive mixture. These flexible hoses can bend, coil, and extend to reach areas that rigid structures cannot access, while still maintaining the integrity of the explosive mixture during transport and delivery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Strength

If the transport line is rigid, then structural integrity is maintained, but the system cannot reach into the interior of containers or adapt to complex geometries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport line integrityVSAvoidflexibility of delivery
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The transport line is designed as a flexible hose that can dynamically change its configuration during delivery. The hose can be extended, retracted, coiled, and maneuvered to adapt to the interior geometry of containers and complex system layouts while maintaining structural integrity under pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The transport line uses a flexible hose with sufficient wall strength to contain and transport the explosive mixture under pressure. The flexible shell structure allows the hose to bend and conform to complex geometries while maintaining the integrity required to deliver the explosive agent to the cleaning point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient and safe cleaning of incineration systems while operational, reducing downtime and costs by allowing for targeted explosive mixture delivery to previously inaccessible areas, improving handling safety and flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

The force of the explosion and the surface which vibrates as a result of the shock waves blow the wall deposits and slag off

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExplosion: Explosion

Implementation Method 2

the surface which vibrates as a result of the shock waves blow the wall deposits and slag off

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShock wave: Shock Wave

Data Source

PatentEP3630379B1Method and device for cleaning interiors of containers and facilities
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 BANG & CLEAN GMBH
  • EP3630379B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2
  • EP3630379B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3630379B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (10.1-10.8) and a method for removing build-up from interiors (71) of containers and facilities (51.1-51.6) by means of explosion technology. The device (10.1-10.8) contains a supply system (37) for providing an explosive mixture or the starting components thereof, and a transport line (1.2-1.3) connected to the supply system (37), for transporting the explosive mixture to a cleaning station. The transport line (1.2-1.3) is embodied as a transport tube at least in sections.