Pressure pulse cleaning method
US4921662A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 1988 |
| Grant date | May 1, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF22B37/483
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for loosening and removing sludge and debris from the vessel of a heat exchanger, such as the secondary side of a nuclear steam generator, is disclosed herein. The method generally comprises the steps of providing a sufficient volume of a liquid, such as water, into the steam generator so that the lower portion which includes the tubesheet is submerged, and then generating a succession of pressure pulses within the water from one or more pressure pulse generators wherein each pressure pulse creates shock waves that exert momentary forces throughout the submerged portion of the generator of a magnitude sufficient to loosen the sludge and debris, but safely below the yield and fatigue limits of the heat exchanger tubes and other components within the generator. The pressure pulses commence as soon as a sufficient amount of water is introduced into the steam generator to submerge the tubesheet, and continue all the way through the draining of the steam generator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.