Abstract: A sootblower for the cleaning of internal surfaces of large scale boilers which are subject to the accumulation of soot or slag encrustations. In instances where a sootblower is used to project the jet of steam of steam or a steam/air mixture, between actuation cycles, condensate can form in the sootblower or the associated piping. At the beginning of an actuation cycle the condensate is ejected from the sootblower. If the condensate impinges against the heat transfer surfaces inside the boiler it can cause damage to these surfaces through excessive thermal and mechanical shock. In accordance with this invention the sootblower is provided with a nozzle block assembly incorporating a condensate separator which causes condensate to be ejected by the lance tube away from impact with the heat transfer surfaces where it can be safely dissipated from the boiler without causing damage to the heat transfer surfaces which are cleaned using a substantially fully vaporous pure spray of sootblowing medium.

Abstract: A lance tube for soot blowers having a steam nozzle near its end, a liquid nozzle spaced rearwardly from the steam nozzle, and a thermostatically operable valve interposed between the nozzles which closes off the steam nozzle when liquid at a temperature lower than that of steam is in the lance tube.