US4773357A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water cannon apparatus and method for cleaning a tube bundle heat exchanger, boiler, condenser, or the like
Assignee: ANCO ENGINEERS Inc A CORP OF CA
•
Filing: 1986-08-29
•
Granted: 1988-09-27
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Expires: 2006-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A water cannon, having an air gun disposed within its breach, for explosively discharging a quantity of water from the muzzle, which may include a constricted directional nozzle, to dislodge sludge from the tube sheet of a heat exchanger, and a method of cleaning the tube sheet of a heat exchanger are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Terry D. Scharton
- 👤 George B. Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:12
CPC Classifications
F; F22; F22B; F22B37/00; F22B37/02; F22B37/48; F22B37/483; F28; F28G; F28G1/00; F28G1/16; F28G1/166; F28G9/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
A method of dislodging sludge from the tube sheet of a heat exchanger using a water cannon which provides exit velocities for water through its nozzle in the range of 10 to 1000 feet per second and mass flow rates of water in the range of 100 to 30,000 gallons per minute, comprising: a. inserting said nozzle of said water cannon into the heat exchanger at an opening in the heat exchanger shell located above the tube sheet; b. charging said water cannon with pressurized gas confined in an air gun having a pressurized gas valve, a gas storage plenum, at least one gas port, and a firing mechanism; c. charging said water cannon with water; d. firing said air gun by discharging pressurized gas through said at least one gas port, thereby explosively discharging water from the nozzle of the water cannon such that the water is traveling at exit velocities in the range of 10 to 1000 feet per second and is being discharged through the nozzle at mass flow rates in the range of 100 to 30,000 gallons per minute, and is being directed at the tube sheet; and e. continuously recharging said air gun and recharging said water cannon with water and providing automatic repetitive firing blasts of said water cannon with each firing blast having a duration in the range of 0.001 to 1 second and with repetition intervals in the range of 0.1 to 100 seconds; f. whereby the firing blasts of water from the water cannon serve to cause sludge resting on or above the tube sheet area to be moved to a location from which it can be removed from the heat exchanger.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
281 words
A method of dislodging sludge from the tube sheet of a heat exchanger using a water cannon which provides exit velocities for water through its nozzle in the range of 10 to 1000 feet per second and mass flow rates of water in the range of 100 to 30,000 gallons per minute, comprising: a. inserting said nozzle of said water cannon into the heat exchanger at an opening in the heat exchanger shell located above the tube sheet; b. charging said water cannon with pressurized gas confined in an air gun having a pressurized gas valve, a gas storage plenum, at least one gas port, and a firing mechanism; c. charging said water cannon with water; d. firing said air gun by discharging pressurized gas through said at least one gas port, thereby explosively discharging water from the nozzle of the water cannon such that the water is traveling at exit velocities in the range of 10 to 1000 feet per second and is being discharged through the nozzle at mass flow rates in the range of 100 to 30,000 gallons per minute, and is being directed at the tube sheet; and e. continuously recharging said air gun and recharging said water cannon with water and providing automatic repetitive firing blasts of said water cannon with each firing blast having a duration in the range of 0.001 to 1 second and with repetition intervals in the range of 0.1 to 100 seconds; f. whereby the firing blasts of water from the water cannon serve to cause sludge resting on or above the tube sheet area to be moved to a location from which it can be removed from the heat exchanger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising said water cannon being aligned at a downward angle relative to the shell of said heat exchanger such that the nozzle end of the water cannon is higher than the breach end of the water cannon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising charging said gas storage plenum to a pressure in the range of from 50 psi to 5,000 psi.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the volume of gas released during each firing is in the range of 10 to 1000 cubic inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the valve opening time is in the range of 1 to 100 milliseconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger is partially filled with water to a level which covers the sludge resting on the tube sheet but is below the level of the opening in the shell through which the nozzle of the water cannon is inserted, before the water cannon firing is begun.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger is filled with water to a level above the level of the opening in the shell through which the nozzle of the water cannon is inserted, before the water cannon firing is begun.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger further comprises a multiplicity of heat exchanger tubes which are spaced apart at the location adjacent the tube sheet so as to form an opening called the tube lane, and the nozzle of the water cannon is aligned so as to direct the flow of water at the tube lane and the tube sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of: a. inserting a suction nozzle into said heat exchanger at a location remote from said water cannon; b. filling said heat exchanger with water to a level above the nozzle of said water cannon and the level of said suction nozzle; and c. sucking the mixture of water and loosened sludge from the heat exchanger through said suction nozzle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein step c further comprises sucking continuously throughout the time the heat exchanger is being cleaned and the water cannon is being fired.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising the steps of filtering the removed water for removal of the entrained and suspended sludge and other debris extracted from the water in the heat exchanger and from the water shot out of the water cannon, and reintroducing the cleaned water into the water cannon for subsequent firing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of inducing a flow of water on the tube sheet of said heat exchanger, said flow running from the location of said water cannon to a point remote from said water cannon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 comprising the additional step of repeating step e continuously for from about 1 to about 24 hours.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
314 words
A method of dislodging sludge from the tube support plates of a heat exchanger using a water cannon which provides exit velocities for water through its nozzle in the range of 10 to 1000 feet per second and mass flow rates of water in the range of 100 to 30,000 gallons per minute, comprising: a. inserting said nozzle of said water cannon into the heat exchanger at an opening in the heat exchanger shell and directing the nozzle toward the tube support plate to be cleaned; b. filling the heat exchanger with water to a level above the tube support plate to be cleaned; c. charging said water cannon with pressurized gas confined in an air gun having a pressurized gas valve, a gas storage plenum, at least one gas port, and a firing mechanism; d. charging said water cannon with water; e. firing said air gun by discharging pressurized gas through said at least one gas port, thereby explosively discharging water from the nozzle of the water cannon such that the water is traveling at exit velocities in the range of 10 to 1000 feet per second and is being discharged through the nozzle at mass flow rates in the range of 100 to 30,000 gallons per minute, and is being directed at the tube support plate to be cleaned; and f. continuously recharging said air gun and recharging said water cannon with water and providing automatic repetitive firing blasts of said water cannon with each firing blast having a duration in the range of 0.001 to 1 second and with repetition intervals in the range of 0.1 to 100 seconds; g. whereby the firing blasts of water from the water cannon serve to cause sludge resting on or above the tube support plate to be cleaned to be moved to a location from which it can be removed from the heat exchanger.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
314 words
A method of dislodging sludge from the tube support plates of a heat exchanger using a water cannon which provides exit velocities for water through its nozzle in the range of 10 to 1000 feet per second and mass flow rates of water in the range of 100 to 30,000 gallons per minute, comprising: a. inserting said nozzle of said water cannon into the heat exchanger at an opening in the heat exchanger shell and directing the nozzle toward the tube support plate to be cleaned; b. filling the heat exchanger with water to a level above the tube support plate to be cleaned; c. charging said water cannon with pressurized gas confined in an air gun having a pressurized gas valve, a gas storage plenum, at least one gas port, and a firing mechanism; d. charging said water cannon with water; e. firing said air gun by discharging pressurized gas through said at least one gas port, thereby explosively discharging water from the nozzle of the water cannon such that the water is traveling at exit velocities in the range of 10 to 1000 feet per second and is being discharged through the nozzle at mass flow rates in the range of 100 to 30,000 gallons per minute, and is being directed at the tube support plate to be cleaned; and f. continuously recharging said air gun and recharging said water cannon with water and providing automatic repetitive firing blasts of said water cannon with each firing blast having a duration in the range of 0.001 to 1 second and with repetition intervals in the range of 0.1 to 100 seconds; g. whereby the firing blasts of water from the water cannon serve to cause sludge resting on or above the tube support plate to be cleaned to be moved to a location from which it can be removed from the heat exchanger.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising said water cannon being aligned at a downward angle relative to the shell of said heat exchanger such that the nozzle end of the water cannon is higher than the breach end of the water cannon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising charging said gas storage plenum to a pressure in the range of from 50 psi to 5,000 psi.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the volume of gas released during each firing is in the range of 10 to 1000 cubic inches.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method if accordance with claim 17 wherein the valve opening time is in the range of 1 to 100 milliseconds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising the steps of: a. inserting a suction nozzle into said heat exchanger at a location remote from said water cannon; and b. sucking the mixture of water and loosened sludge from the heat exchanger through said suction nozzle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein step b further comprises sucking continuously throughout the time the heat exchanger is being cleaned and the water cannon is being fired.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method in accordance with claim 19 further comprising the steps of filtering the removed water for removal of the entrained and suspended sludge and other debris extracted from the water in the heat exchanger and from the water shot out of the water cannon, and reintroducing the cleaned water into the water cannon for subsequent firing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 comprising the additional step of repeating step f continuously for from about 1 to about 24 hours.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-27 | 1992-03-28 | 1992-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-27 | 1996-03-28 | 1996-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-27 | 2000-03-28 | 2000-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |