DEVICE FOR THE CLEANING OF FLUE GAS TUBES OF A BOILER PLANT WITH A CLEANING HOSE, A HOSE STORE AND A HOSE GUIDE

Abstract

A cleaning hose conveying module is proposed for the simple and quick cleaning of flue gas tubes, with which the cleaning hose can be conveyed from a hose store into a hose guide. A hose cleaning means is formed by a rinsing and drying unit for a hose after its withdrawal from the flue gas tube.

Claims

1: A device (1, 1) for the cleaning of flue gas tubes (28) of a boiler plant (2) with a cleaning hose (4, 4), which can be inserted through an entrance in a flue gas tube, a hose store (18), for providing the cleaning hose outside the flue gas tube (28), and a hose guide (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), by means of which the cleaning hose (4, 4) can be inserted into the flue gas tube (28), wherein it comprises a cleaning hose conveying module (19), with which the cleaning hose (4, 4) can be pushed from the hose store into the hose guide (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), which extends between the roof of the boiler (2) and a platform (16).

2: The device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning hose conveying module (19) is arranged directly in front of the hose guide (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).

3: The device according to claim 1, wherein the hose guide (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) comprises a vertical and horizontal direction component, in order to guide the cleaning hose (4, 4) in the pipe-shaped hose guide also over oblique stretches to an opening in a flue gas tube.

4: The device according to claim 1, wherein the hose guide (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) comprises arcs of larger than 30 with a bending radius of at least 500 mm.

5: The device according to claim 1, wherein the hose reel (37) is arranged horizontally.

6: The device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning hose conveying module (19) comprises contact rollers (22, 23, 24, 25) pre-tensioned by means of a spring force.

7: The device according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the cleaning hose (4, 4) driven by the cleaning hose conveying module (19) is controlled via a feed drive.

8: The device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a cleaning hose positioning means (3), which guides the cleaning hose (4, 4) on a defined route to a number of hose guides (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).

9: The device according to claim 5, wherein the route follows a circle line (11).

10: The device according to claim 5, wherein the route follows a straight line (10).

11: The device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a hose cleaning means (26) with a pneumatic blast unit (35).

12: The device according to claim 8, wherein the hose cleaning means comprises a spraying unit (34) which sprays a cleaning fluid, in particular a cleaning liquid, onto the hose.

13: The device according to claim 8, wherein the hose cleaning means (26) is attached to the cleaning hose conveying module (19) and is connectable to the hose guide (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).

14: A method for the cleaning of flue gas tubes (28) of a boiler plant (2) with a cleaning hose (4, 4), where the cleaning hose (4, 4) is unrolled from a hose store (18) and inserted through an opening into a flue gas tube (28), wherein the cleaning hose (4, 4) is pushed using a cleaning hose conveying module (19) from the hose store (18) through a pipe-shaped hose guide (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) into the opening.

15: The method according to claim 14, wherein the pipe-shaped hose guide (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) is rinsed with a gliding agent, before, while or after the cleaning hose (4, 4) is pushed into the hose guide (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).

Description

[0026] A preferred exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention is shown in the drawing and will now be explained in detail, in which

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a laterally movable cleaning hose positioning means and a number of entrances of hose guides,

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a swivelling cleaning hose positioning means with a number of entrances of hose guides arranged on a circle line,

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a cleaning hose positioning means with cleaning hose conveying module,

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a cleaning hose cleaning means and

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a partially cross-sectional lateral view of the entire plant.

[0032] FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show, how with a device 1 for the cleaning of flue gas tubes of a boiler plant 2 a cleaning hose positioning means 3 guides a cleaning hose 4 to a number of hose guides 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The hose guides 5 to 9 are arranged on a straight line 10, while the hose guides 5 to 9 are arranged on a circle line 11.

[0033] The cleaning hose positioning means 3 can be moved along the direction of arrow 12 on a straight line, in order to guide the cleaning hose 4 to the hose guides 5 to 9. The cleaning hose positioning means 3 however may be swivelled along arrow 13 about a point 14, in order to guide the cleaning hose 4 to the hose guides 5 to 9.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows the cleaning hose positioning means 3, which stands on a platform 16 with a base 15. For a linear arrangement the base is connected to a kind of rail system so that the cleaning hose positioning means 3 moves in one axis. In case of a semi-circular arrangement of the connection pieces 17 of the hose guides 5 to 9 this base 15 is rotatably mounted. Rotation of the cleaning hose positioning means 3 is effected via a drive motor flanged onto the frame, until the position above the desired connection piece 17 has been reached.

[0035] The cleaning hose positioning means 3, 3 has a hose reel 37 arranged on it, which serves as a hose store 18, and the cleaning hose 4 is guided by means of a cleaning hose conveying module 19 to a hose guide 5 to 9.

[0036] In order to prevent the hose driven by the cleaning hose conveying module 19 and unrolled from the hose reel 37, from bending prior to entering the hose guide 5 to 9, the cleaning hose conveying module 19 is arranged directly in front of the hose guide.

[0037] The cleaning hose conveying module 19 comprises a feed roller 20 with a circumferential groove 21, in which the hose 4 is guided. The hose 4 can be retained in the groove 21 so that when the roller 20 is rotating, a circumferential force of the roller 20 is transferred to the hose 4. It is advantageous if a number of contact rollers 22 to 25 press the hose into the groove 21.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a hose cleaning means 26. A nozzle 27 is arranged at the front end of the hose 4, which can be pushed through the hose cleaning means 26 and through the connection piece 17 into the hose guide 5. The nozzle 27 then gets into the boiler plant 2 and from there into the flue gas tube 28 for the cleaning of heat exchange surfaces and membrane walls in there.

[0039] During insertion and withdrawal of the nozzle 27 the hose 4 comes into contact with flue gases. This has the effect that the cleaning hose 4 with its protective outer envelope consisting of a typical metal fabric transports a considerable amount of fly ash to the outside during withdrawal from the interior of the boiler. This may lead to contamination on the slide 29, the connection piece 17 and the hose reel 37 of the hose store 18. The cleaning hose conveying module 19 is also adversely affected by this contamination. Therefore the hose cleaning means 26 is used for cleaning the hose 4 and, as required, also the nozzle 27.

[0040] The hose cleaning means 26 is a pipe-shaped element serving as rinsing pipe 30, which has a gas inlet 31 and a liquid inlet 32 arranged on it. The gas inlet 31 is in communication with a pressurised gas line (not shown), whilst the liquid inlet 32 is in communication with a cleaning liquid line such as a service water line (not shown).

[0041] During withdrawal of the soiled hose 4 from the hose guide 5 the hose 4 is initially sprayed with cleaning liquid via nozzles 33 and subsequently dried by means of pneumatic blasting. Every part of the hose 4, during withdrawal of the same, is initially guided past a unit 34 spraying the hose with a liquid, and thereafter it is guided past a pneumatic blast unit 35, whereafter the hose leaves the rinsing pipe 30 in a cleaned state.

[0042] In order to insert the hose 4 accurately into the cleaning means 26, a stroke cylinder unit 36 is provided, which is arranged between the cleaning means 26 and the cleaning hose conveying module 19.

[0043] So as to ensure that only one hose cleaning means 26 is required for many connection pieces 17 of hose guides 5 to 9, the hose cleaning means 26 is attached to the cleaning hose conveying module 19.

[0044] When using the device 1 for the cleaning of flue gas tubes 28, the cleaning module is positioned with a first drive motor of the cleaning hose positioning means 3 above a connection piece 17 of a hose guide 5. A second motor is provided for winding and unwinding of the hose. Using two couplings either the feed roller 20 (for lowering the hose 4) or the hose reel 37 of the hose store 18 (for withdrawing the hose 4) is connected to the drive. In order to prevent the hose from unwinding on its own, the hose reel 37 is held in position via a brake 38.

[0045] When the hose cleaning means 26 is positioned over the desired connection piece 17 by a drive motor arranged on the frame of the hose positioning means 3, the hose cleaning means 26 is lowered into the connection piece 17 by means of a pneumatic cylinder 36 through a slide 29. The hydraulic spraying unit 34 and the pneumatic blast unit 35 act as a rinsing and drying unit. Due to their positioning in a funnel (not shown) of the connection piece 17 the rotational movement of the cleaning hose positioning means 3 is sufficiently arrested. An additional fixing in this position is not necessary. This leads to the creation of a practically closed system, which can reduce the outflow of flue gas due to e.g. deflagrations.

[0046] By closing a first coupling, a pulley wheel is then connected to a drive shaft, and using the integrated cleaning hose conveying module 19 the hose 4 is pushed with its nozzle 27 into the hose guide 5. To this end the spring-loaded contact rollers 22 to 25 press the hose 4 into the groove 21 of the feed roller 20, so that, due to the frictional connection with the feed roller, this is pulled off the hose reel 37. The feed roller 20 is driven by a drive shaft via the first coupling, a toothed belt and an angle gear. The prerequisite is that both the second coupling and the brake are open so that the hose reel is able to rotate freely.

[0047] The cleaning hose conveying module 19 has the advantage that the hose 4 can be inserted into a hose guide 5 either vertically or horizontally. Moreover, due to the use of the cleaning hose conveying module, arcs of more than 30 with a radian measure of at least 400 to 500 mm can be employed so that constructional bottlenecks or narrow spaces in the area between the boiler roof of the boiler 2 and the platform 16, where the hose guides are arranged, do not cause any problems.

[0048] When the hose 4 is to be withdrawn, a first coupling is opened, so that the feed roller 20 can rotate freely. At this point the hose reel 37 is connected to the drive shaft via the second coupling. When the hose 4 has been withdrawn completely from the rinsing pipe of the hose guide 5, the brake 38 is closed so that the nozzle 27 cannot drop. The second coupling is then opened again.

[0049] Finally the hose cleaning means 26 is pulled out of the connection piece 17. The cleaning hose positioning means 3 can now either remain in this position or be moved to the next connection piece 17 of another hose guide 6. It is advantageous if the cleaning hose positioning means 3, after cleaning is finished, is moved to a defined parking position, which is at a certain connection piece usually located on the outside or in an area outside the connection pieces.