Sludge lance

Abstract: A lance (10) to clean sludge located between steam generator tubes has a plurality of radius blocks (20) attached to the end of a manipulator member (12) and actuable by a cam assembly (14) to form an arc permitting the lance to be received between adjacent tubes within a tube bundle. A plurality of fluid passageways interconnect a fluid inlet on the manipulator member (12) with one or more outlet orifices adjacent the end of the lance (10). The outlet orifices are positioned outwardly with respect to the end of the manipulator member (12) so that fluid passing therethrough can be directed to impinge upon sludge surrounding the tubes. A spring backing plate (16) biases the radius blocks (20) and the manipulator member (12) back into the same plane upon deactuation of the cam assembly (14).

Description: The invention relates, in general, to equipment for cleaning steam generators and, in particular, to a fluid lance for cleaning sludge from the lower portions of steam generator tubes. In nuclear power stations, steam generators, such as recirculating steam generators and once-through steam generators, are used for heat exchange purposes in the generation of steam to drive the turbines. Primary fluid which is heated by the core of the nuclear reactor passes through a bundle of tubes in the steam generator. Secondary fluid, generally water, which is fed into the space surrounding the tubes receives heat from the tubes and is converted into steam for driving the turbines. After cooling and condensation has occurred, the secondary fluid is directed back into the space around the tubes to provide a continuous steam generation cycle. Due to the constant high temperature and severe operating conditions, sludge accumulates on the lower portions of the tubes and on the tubesheet which supports the tubes. The sludge which mainly comprises an iron oxide, such as magnetite, reduces the heat transfer efficiency of the tubes and can cause corrosion. Thus, the tubes must be cleaned periodically to remove the sludge and various types of apparatus and methods are available to accomplish this task. Patent specification US-A-4 566 406 entitled "Sludge Removing Apparatus for a Steam Generator" discloses a manifold which is rigidly attached to the tubesheet and remains in place during conventional operation of the steam generator. A plurality of nozzles on the manifold emits streams of water to break up sludge on the upper surface of the tubesheet. Openings are provided in the walls of the steam generator to remove the slurry. Patent specification US-A-4 079 701 entitled "Steam Generator Sludge Removal System" discloses an arrangement of headers at the elevation of the sludge to be removed from around the tubes in order to establish a circumferential fluid stream at that elevation. A fluid lance moved along a line between the headers emits a fluid jet perpendicular to the line of movement of the fluid lance. The lance may also be rotated as it is moved. Patent specification US-A-4 700 662 entitled "Sludge Lance Wand" discloses a lance for cleaning once-through steam generator tubes. The lance has a fixed radius of curvature thus necessitating manual manipulation of the lance in order to insert the lance between tubes within the tube bundle in the steam generator. Patent Specification WO 88/07156 discloses a flexible multi-tube duct with an output end through which fluid can be discharged and a rigid manipulator member bent through a right angle and through which the flexible duct can be slid to move a bend in the flexible member longitudinally of the flexible member to assist in positioning the free end of the flexible member at desired positions within the tubes of steam generator. All of the foregoing apparatus have some inherent disadvantages which prevent them from efficiently removing the sludge which accumulates around the tubes within the tube bundle. Because of this, it has become desirable to develop a sludge lance which can be manipulated so as easily to pass through the openings between the adjacent tubes within the tube bundle. According to the invention there is provided a lance to assist in the removal of sludge located between a plurality of tubes within a steam generator comprising a rigid manipulator member, a flexible member locatable by means of the rigid manipulator member, a fluid duct extending through the rigid manipulator member and being provided with at least one outlet orifice (42) and the flexible member and actuating means to cause the flexible member to bend through an arc so that the flexible member can be received between the tubes and can locate an outward end of the fluid duct at desired positions, characterised in that the flexible member comprises a sequence of rectangular block members disposed side-by-side between the rigid manipulator member and the outward end of the fluid duct and the actuating means comprises an elongate member secured to an outer one of the rectangular block members, extending through the rectangular block members and being coupled to operating means which can move the elongate member to one side or the other to bend the sequence of rectangular block members into an arc. Since such a sludge lance is articulated it can easily be inserted between the tubes of a tube bundle in a steam generator. Preferably the block members are movable through the actuation of a cam assembly causing the block members to form an arc having an adjustable radius of curvature. The fluid duct can have a split manifold at its outward end affixed to the manipulator member and its outward end affixed to the manipulator member and the block members and positioned so that the split manifold is positioned beyond the end of the plurality of block members. A spring backing plate can be attached to the manipulator member and the block members so as to cover a portion of the fluid duct, and can be used to bias the manipulator member and the block members into the same plane upon deactuation of the cam assembly. A plurality of orifices in the split manifold located at the outward end of the fluid duct can permit the passage of fluid therethrough for impingement upon the sludge between the tubes within the tube bundle to dissolve the sludge. The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a sludge lance according to the invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the sludge lance shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view of a fluid distribution member of a sludge lance according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a top plan view of a sludge lance according to the invention in use in a steam generator. Referring to the drawings, a sludge lance 10 is articulated and comprises a manipulator member 12, a cam assembly 14 attached to one end of the manipulator member 12, a spring backing plate 16 attached to the underside of the manipulator member 12 adjacent the opposite end thereof, and a water distribution member 18 positioned so that a portion thereof is interposed between the bottom surface of the manipulator member 12 and the top surface of the spring backing plate 16. The manipulator member 12 is formed from a high impact strength plastics, is elongate and typically has a substantially rectangular cross-section. As previously stated, the cam assembly 14 is attached to one end of the manipulator member 12. A plurality of radius blocks 20, which each have a substantially rectangular cross-section of approximately the same size as the manipulator member 12, is attached to the opposite end of the manipulator member 12 so as to be aligned therewith. Attachment is affected by means of the spring backing plate 16 which is attached to the bottom of the manipulator member 12 and to the bottom of each of the radius blocks 20 by fasteners 22. The radius blocks 20 are positioned in an abutting relationship to one another and to said opposite end of the manipulator member 12. As shown in Figure 2, a wire cable 24 traverses through the length of the manipulator member 12 and through each of the radius blocks 20. One end of the cable 24 is connected to the outermost radius block 20 and the other end of the cable 24 is connected to a pin 26 (shown in broken lines) within the cam assembly 14. A cam lever 28 is attached to the cam assembly 14 permitting rotation thereof. Rotation of the cam lever 28 in the clockwise direction causes the wire cable 24 to move to the left causing the radius blocks to be drawn into an arc with respect to the manipulator member 12, as illustrated in Figure 1. Subsequent rotation of the cam lever 28 back to its original position causes the wire cable 24 to move to the right resulting in the radius blocks 20 returning to their original position so as to be in the same plane as the manipulator member 12. The spring backing plate 16 urges the radius blocks 20 to return to their original position. The water distribution member 18 is elongate and has a substantially rectangular cross-section which is similar to, but smaller than, the rectangular cross-section of the manipulator member 12 and is attached thereto by a mounting block 30. The water distribution member 18 is similarly received within a recess provided within the bottom of each radius block 20 so as to be interposed between the spring backing plate 16 and the radius blocks 20. The length of the water distribution member 18 is greater than the combined length of the manipulator member 12 and the radius blocks 20 attached thereto causing the outer end of the water distribution member 18 to be exposed. A rear manifold portion 32 of the water distribution member 18 includes a water inlet 34 which communicates with a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced apart water tubes 36 within the water distribution member 18. Approximately eight water tubes 36 each having an outside diameter of 2.13mm (.084 inches) and a wall thickness of 2mm (.008 inches) are provided. The water tubes 36 terminate in a transverse passageway 38 located in a split manifold 40 at the outer end of the water distribution member 18. The split manifold 40 is positioned so as to be located adjacent the outermost radius block 20. Each of the ends of the transverse passageway 38 and the middle thereof is provided with an outlet orifice 42. Each outlet orifice 42 is provided with a sapphire jewel therein to minimize wear thereof. Referring now to Figure 4, in operation, the sludge lance 10 is inserted through a handhole 50 provided in a steam generator shell 52 and into a lane or space between tubes in a tube bundle 54. As shown, a space provided in a shroud 56 surrounding the tube bundle 54 allows each access thereto. The manipulator member 12 is supported by a lower tubesheet of the steam generator and fluid pressure is supplied to the lance from a fluid source (not shown). By rotation of the cam lever 28, the angular deflection of the radius blocks 20 can be adjusted permitting the sludge lance 10 to enter between tubes within the tube bundle 54. As the sludge lance 10 is moved through the tube bundle 54, fluid flow from the outlet orifices 42 in the water distribution member 18 loosens and removes sludge from the tubes which is then removed from the generator by a suction system. The fluid/sludge mixture is filtered to remove the solids and the fluid is recirculated. Manipulation of the sludge lance 10 by rotation of the cam lever 28 during operation permits entry of the lance 10 between the tubes within the tube bundle 54 and the foregoing manipulation can be done manually or remotely while being monitored by a video system.

Claims: A lance (10) to assist in the removal of sludge located between a plurality of tubes within a steam generator comprising a rigid manipulator member (12), a flexible member locatable by means of the rigid manipulator member (12), a fluid duct (18) extending through the rigid manipulator member (12) and being provided with at least one outlet orifice (42) and the flexible member and actuating means (24, 26, 28) to cause the flexible member to bend through an arc so that the flexible member can be received between the tubes and can locate an outward end (40) of the fluid duct (18) at desired positions, characterised in that the flexible member comprises a sequence of rectangular block members (20) disposed side-by-side between the rigid manipulator member (12) and the outward end (40) of the fluid duct (18) and the actuating means comprises an elongate member (24) secured to an outer one of the rectangular block members (20), extending through the rectangular block members (20) and being coupled to operating means (26, 28) which can move the elongate member (20) to one side or the other to bend the sequence of rectangular block members (20) into an arc. A lance according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of rectangular block members (20) are positioned in abutting relationship relative to one another. A lance according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means includes lever means (28) and a cam assembly (14). A lance according to claim 3, including biasing means (16) attached to the rigid manipulator member (12) and the plurality of rectangular block members (20), the biasing means (16) urging the plurality of rectangular block members (20) and the manipulator member (12) into the same plane upon the deactuation of the lever means (28). A lance according to claim 1, wherein the fluid duct (18) includes a plurality of passageways (36) positioned substantially parallel to one another along the longitudinal axis of the fluid duct (18). A lance according to claim 5, including fluid inlet means (34) to the fluid duct (18), the fluid inlet means (12) being in fluidic communication with the plurality of passageways (36) and being substantially oppositely disposed to the at least one orifice (42) in the fluid duct (18). A lance according to claim 6, including manifold means (40) having at least one passageway (38) in fluidic communication with the plurality of passageways (36) in the fluid duct (18), the at least one outlet orifice (42) being positioned within the end of the at least one passageway (38). A lance according to claim 7, including jewel means received within the at least one outlet orifice (42) in the fluid duct (18).

Inventors: BOWMAN JAMES M, SCHNEIDER WILLIAM G, ST LOUIS DANIEL M, BOWMAN, JAMES M., SCHNEIDER, WILLIAM G., ST. LOUIS, DANIEL M.
Applicants: BABCOCK & WILCOX CO, THE BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY
Application year: 1990
Main classification: F22B37
IPC codes: F22B37, F28G1