Patent ID: 7011047

Claim:
An apparatus for cleaning a surface within a vessel having a vessel wall separating a vessel exterior from a vessel interior and having a wall aperture, the apparatus comprising: an elongate conduit having an upstream first end and a downstream second end and positioned to direct a shock wave from the second end into the vessel interior; and a source of fuel and oxidizer coupled to the conduit to deliver the fuel and oxidizer to the conduit; and an initiator, wherein: the conduit comprises a first portion and a second portion downstream of the first portion; the first portion has a first characteristic cross-sectional area and the second portion has a second characteristic cross-sectional area, greater than the first characteristic cross-sectional area; the initiator is positioned to initiate a deflagration in the first portion of the fuel and oxidizer; and the conduit first and second portions are positioned to permit a deflagration-to-detonation transition from said deflagration to produce said shock wave.