Cleaning system and method for continuous emissions monitoring equipment

1. An apparatus for cleaning a continuous emissions monitor system that is in fluid communication with a flue stack conducting exhaust gas from a combustion source, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a probe mounted in the housing, the probe being tubular and defined by an inner wall, the probe being in fluid communication with the flue stack to acquire a sample of gas from the flue stack, the probe tending to have deposits from the exhaust gas accumulate on the inner wall of the probe; and

a device for imparting cleaning energy to the probe for dislodging accumulated deposits from the inner wall of the probe while the probe remains in operational fluid communication with the flue stack, all probe cleaning energy is in the form of probe vibration and is imparted by the device from outside of the probe.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device is a mechanism connected with the probe and the cleaning energy imparted to the probe is mechanical.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device is an acoustic horn and the cleaning energy imparted to the probe is acoustical.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a controller operatively connected with the device to control the application of cleaning energy.

5. An apparatus for cleaning gas acquisition components of a continuous emissions monitor system that is in fluid communication with a flue stack conducting an exhaust gas from a combustion source, the apparatus comprising:

tubular components in fluid communication with the flue stack to acquire a sample of gas from the flue stack, the tubular components tending to have deposits from the exhaust gas accumulate on the inner wall of the tubular components; and

a device for imparting cleaning energy to the tubular components for dislodging accumulated deposits from the inner wall of the tubular components while the tubular components remain in operational fluid communication with the flue stack, all probe cleaning energy is in the form of probe vibration and is imparted by the device from outside of the probe.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the device is a mechanism connected with the probe and the cleaning energy applied to the tubular components is mechanical.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a controller operatively connected with the device to control the application of cleaning energy.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the device is an acoustic horn and the cleaning energy applied to the tubular components is acoustical.

9. A method of cleaning a continuous emissions monitor system that is in fluid communication with a flue stack conducting exhaust gas from a combustion source, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tubular probe defined by an inner wall in fluid communication with the flue stack to acquire a sample of gas from the flue stack, the probe tending to have deposits from the exhaust gas accumulate on the inner wall of the probe; and

imparting cleaning energy to the probe for dislodging accumulated deposits from the inner wall of the probe while the probe remains in operational fluid communication with the flue stack, all probe cleaning energy is in the form of probe vibration and is imparted by the device from outside of the probe.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the cleaning energy imparted to the probe is mechanical.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the cleaning energy imparted to the probe is acoustical.

12. The method of claim 9 further including the step of controlling the application of cleaning energy.