Air Blaster

How about a shovel-ful of dry sand thrown into the firebox?

I recommend that you use "Google" (or some other search engine) and check for:

- Types - Steam driven, Air driven, Sonic, other

- Steam, Air or Electric load

- Mechanical configuration

- Installation, Operational and Maintenance space requirements

and check here for images of many different types of "Soot Blowers"

http://www.google.com/search?q=soot+blower+types&hl=en&prmd=imvnsb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=--cHUMvwOIXm8gSAquSiBA&ved=0CF4QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=665

Comment: I do not recommend using Instrument Air (IA) for Soot Blowing. If you are going to use Air then use Plant Air. Using IA for maintenance could deplete the air supply to your critical plant controls and cause an unintentional plant shut-down.

Yes that works well in most situations provided the soot is not too hard or caked in but it does require substantial volumes of air to work properly and there tends to be a high level of hot solids and ash particle fallout that comes out the chimney when you do it.

Regarding substantial I am talking about needing to produce air flows possibly up to around 150+ PSI at several thousand CFM for short bursts of a few seconds or more for each flu pipe being cleaned.

IN TPS -Thermal Power Station - the soot is quit hard and has affinity to 'stick' to the tubes/basket of APH coupled with the Temp.

Secondly,Air Blasters being "unidirectional" - it may possibly require more units to cover desired area.

On the other hand Sonic system- one unit covers 2 Meter dia x 5.5 Meters in length in all directions.

Atleast I have NOT heard of Air Blasters being used in TPS - hence to get proper feed back the question was submitted.

anyone having more information - please do answer.

Thanks Ravi