Abstract: A water cannon, having an air gun disposed within its breach, for explosively discharging a quantity of water from the muzzle, which may include a constricted directional nozzle, to dislodge sludge from the tube sheet of a heat exchanger, and a method of cleaning the tube sheet of a heat exchanger are disclosed.

Abstract: A water cannon, having an air gun disposed within its breach, for explosively discharging a quantity of water from the muzzle, which may include a constricted directional nozzle, to dislodge sludge from the tube sheet of a heat exchanger, and a method of cleaning the tube sheet of a heat exchanger are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of cleaning a nuclear steam generator by removing the buildup of deposits which accumulate on the upper tube support plates, on the heat exchanger tubes, on flow holes in the support plates and between the support plates and heat exchanger tubes, and on other secondary side surfaces of a heat exchanger vessel through utilization of a repetitive shock wave induced in the deposits. The shock wave serves to effectively and safely loosen the products of corrosion and other elements which settle on these surfaces of the heat exchanger vessel and thereby facilitiates their easy removal through flushing and vacuuming the vessel. The shock waves are induced by air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave sources or pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave sources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for magnetically measuring the amount and location of magnetite (Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4) debris adhering to the exterior of heat exchanger tubes which can be made of Inconel. A probe containing one or more coils of electrical wire is used to traverse the interior of the subject tube. One of the probe coils is energized with direct electric current to magnetize the magnetite coating on the tube exterior as the probe traverses the tube. The thickness of the magnetized coating is deduced from measurement of the voltage generated across a second coil of wire on a probe which traverses the tube at constant velocity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of cleaning a tube bundle heat exchanger by removing the buildup of sedimentation or "sludge" which accumulates in the bottom or at other elevations of a heat exchanger vessel through utilization of a repetitive shock wave induced in the liquid layer above the sludge. The shock waves are induced by air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave sources or pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave sources. The shock wave serves to effectively and safely loosen the products of corrosion and other elements which settle at the bottom of the heat exchanger or steam generator and thereby facilitates their easy removal through flushing and vacuuming the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of cleaning and removing the products of corrosion, oxidation and sedimentation which occur within and become attached to the walls of the interior of heat exchanger tubes which are located within a pressure vessel such as a tube bundle heat exchanger, boiler, condenser or the like, through utilization of a repetitive shock wave induced into a liquid which is placed within the tubes and then subsequently flushing the tubes. The shock wave serves to effectively and safely loosen the products of corrosion, oxidation and sedimentation which are located within or settle on the walls of the interior of the heat exchanger tubes, and thereby facilitates their easy removal through flushing and vacuuming the vessel. The shock waves are induced by air-gun type pressure pulse shock wave sources or pressurized gas-type pressure pulse shock wave sources.