Method and apparatus for providing oscillating contaminant-removal stream
US4774975A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 1984 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/2234
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
For removal of the contaminant deposits from a surface such as a tube sheet of a vertical tube heat exchanger, as in a nuclear steam generator, having plural spaced heat exchange tubes connected to the tube sheet, a lance is radially moved along the tube sheet between parallel rows of tubes. The lance carries a nozzle for ejecting a stream of high pressure cleaning fluid toward the sludge deposits, the nozzle acting cyclically to sweep the stream throughout a range of directions centered about the nozzle axis. The nozzle may include diverting streams for deflecting the cleaning fluid stream, with the diverting streams either being generated by a fluidic oscillator or being fed back from the outlet portion of the nozzle. Alternatively, pivoting vane means may be provided in the nozzle to divert the cleaning fluid stream.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.