Soot Blower with Rotating Lance for Heat Exchanger Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cleaning tubular heat exchangers, such as using compressed air or steam, are inadequate, particularly in cement and biomass boilers, as they can degrade cement quality or increase corrosion, and fail to effectively remove contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A soot blower with a lance tube that reciprocally moves and rotates, equipped with nozzles for discharging high-temperature steam and solid particles like dry ice pellets or sand, to effectively clean tubular heat exchangers by mechanically dislodging and removing contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If compressed air or steam is used to remove contaminants from heat exchanger tubes, then the cleaning process is simple, but the contaminants cannot be removed effectively and steam degrades cement quality or increases corrosion in biomass boilers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional compressed air or steam cleaning system with a mechanical cleaning system. A rotating blade assembly mechanically contacts and scrapes contaminants from the heat exchanger tube surfaces, providing effective removal without the limitations of fluid-based methods. The mechanical action ensures reliable contaminant removal while avoiding the harmful effects of steam on cement quality and corrosion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cleaning mechanism from fluid-based (compressed air/steam) to solid mechanical contact (rotating blades). This parameter change in the cleaning method enables effective contaminant removal while avoiding the side effects of steam, such as cement degradation and increased corrosion in biomass boiler environments.
2Ease of operation
If steam is used to clean heat exchanger tubes in cement factories, then the cleaning process is straightforward, but the steam degrades cement quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes steam-based cleaning with a mechanical blade cleaning system. The rotating blades physically scrape contaminants from the heat exchanger tubes, achieving effective cleaning without introducing steam that would degrade cement quality. This mechanical approach maintains operational simplicity while eliminating the harmful chemical effects of steam on cement.
3Ease of operation
If steam is used to clean biomass boiler tubes, then the cleaning process is simple, but the steam increases corrosion of the tube caused by chlorine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces steam-based cleaning with a mechanical blade cleaning system for biomass boiler tubes. The rotating blades mechanically remove contaminants including chlorine-containing substances without using steam, thereby preventing the steam-chlorine interaction that causes tube corrosion. This maintains operational simplicity while eliminating the corrosion problem.
4Device complexity
If conventional cleaning methods are used, then the equipment structure is simple, but the contaminants cannot be removed well
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mechanical blade cleaning system that rotates against the heat exchanger tubes. This mechanical contact system provides effective contaminant removal while maintaining relatively simple equipment structure. The rotating blade assembly, driven by a motor, creates mechanical friction and scraping action that reliably removes stubborn contaminants without requiring complex multi-component systems.
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
The soot blower efficiently removes contaminants from tubular heat exchangers, improving thermal efficiency and preventing corrosion, while being suitable for various industrial environments without degrading materials like cement.
Implementation Method 1
a first nozzle which is connected to the one end of the lance tube and discharges steam to the inlet port
Implementation Method 2
a second nozzle which is disposed adjacent to the first nozzle and connected to the one end of the lance tube and discharges solid particles to the inlet port
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a soot blower including: a lance tube which includes one end that reciprocally moves in one direction on a surface of an inlet port of a flow path of the tubular heat exchanger; a drive unit which is connected to the lance tube and reciprocally moves and rotates the lance tube in the one direction; a first nozzle which is connected to the one end of the lance tube and discharges steam to the inlet port; and a second nozzle which is disposed adjacent to the first nozzle and connected to the one end of the lance tube and discharges solid particles to the inlet port, and the present disclosure relates to a method of cleaning a tubular heat exchanger by using the soot blower.