The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 28, 1991
Filed:
Dec. 26, 1989
Richard D Franklin, Hemet, CA (US);
Gregg D Auld, Trafford, PA (US);
David E Murray, Connellsville, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
Both a system and a method for removing sludge and debris from the interior of the secondary side of a nuclear steam generator is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of introducing a sufficient amount of water in the secondary side to submerge at least the tubesheet, generating a succession of shock waves in the water by means of pulses of pressurized gas to create shock waves that loosen the sludge and debris, and vertically flushing the interior of the secondary side by suctioning water off from the bottom portion of the steam generator while simultaneously forcefully spraying water from the top portion of the generator over the bundle of heat exchanger tubes in order to remove the sludge and debris loosened by the shock waves. To conserve the water used in the flushing operation, the water that is suctioned off from the bottom portion of the steam generator is filtered and de-ionized and re-introduced through hoses at the top portion of the generator which forcefully directs water downwardly through the bundle of heat exchanger tubes and against the tubesheet. The invention greatly enhances the effectiveness of pressure pulse, water slap and water cannon cleaning methods in the secondary sides of nuclear steam generators.