Multi-angle sludge lance

1. A sludge lancing system for use in a steam generator including a no tube lane disposed between a first bank of tubes and a second bank of tubes that are transverse to a horizontal reference plane, comprising:

a rail that extends through the no tube lane and includes a longitudinal center axis that is parallel to the reference plane; and

a first lancing head, comprising:

a body defining a conduit;

a nozzle assembly that is mounted to the body and is pivotable with respect to the body about an axis of rotation, the nozzle assembly including a manifold defining a conduit that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the body, a first nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet; and

a second nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet, the first nozzle and the second nozzle defining an acute angle therebetween,

wherein a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the first nozzle and a longitudinal center axis of the second nozzle lie in a first vertical plane that is transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the rail so that the lancing fluid jets of the first nozzle and the second nozzle are disposed in the first vertical plane when the manifold is pivoted about the axis of rotation.

2. The sludge lancing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet;

a fourth nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet,

wherein a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the third nozzle and a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the fourth nozzle lie in a second vertical plane that is both transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the rail and parallel to the first vertical plane so that that the lancing fluid jets of the third nozzle and the fourth nozzle are disposed in the second vertical plane when the manifold is pivoted about the axis of rotation.

3. The sludge lancing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a housing secured to the body portion; and

a motor that is disposed within the housing and operably connected to the manifold so that the motor pivots the manifold about the axis of rotation.

4. The sludge lancing system of claim 3 , further comprising a shaft that connects the motor to the manifold.

5. The sludge lancing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the rail defines an elongated slot that is parallel to its longitudinal center axis; and

the first lancing head includes a head portion that is slidably received in the elongated slot.

6. The sludge lancing system of claim 5 , wherein a cross-sectional shape defined by the elongated slot in the first vertical plane is the same as a cross-sectional shape of the head portion in the first vertical plane.

7. A sludge lancing system for use in a steam generator including a no tube lane disposed between a first bank of tubes and a second bank of tubes that are transverse to a horizontal reference plane, comprising:

a rail that extends through the no tube lane and includes a longitudinal center axis that is parallel to the reference plane; and

a first lancing head, comprising:

a body defining a conduit;

a nozzle assembly that is mounted to the body and is pivotable with respect to the body about an axis of rotation, the nozzle assembly including a manifold defining a conduit that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the body, at least a first nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet;

a first bore defined by the manifold, the first bore being in fluid communication with both the conduit of the manifold and the conduit of the first nozzle, the first bore extending radially outwardly from the conduit of the manifold; and

a flow straightener disposed in the first bore, the flow straightener including a first end, a second end, and at least one flow conduit extending therebetween,

wherein a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the first nozzle lies in a first vertical plane that is transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the rail so that the lancing fluid jet of the first nozzle is disposed in the first vertical plane when the manifold is pivoted about the axis of rotation.

8. The sludge lancing system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one flow conduit further comprises a plurality of parallel flow conduits.

9. The sludge lancing system of claim 8 , wherein the flow conduit of the first nozzle includes a frustoconical portion disposed adjacent the flow straightener and a conical portion that extends from the frustoconical portion to a distal end of the first nozzle.

10. A sludge lancing system for use in a steam generator including a no tube lane disposed between a first bank of tubes and a second bank of tubes that are transverse to a horizontal reference plane, comprising:

a rail that extends through the no tube lane and includes a longitudinal center axis that is parallel to the reference plane;

a first lancing head, comprising:

a body defining a conduit; and

a nozzle assembly that is mounted to the body and is pivotable with respect to the body about an axis of rotation, the nozzle assembly including a manifold defining a conduit that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the body, and at least a first nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet,

wherein a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the first nozzle lies in a first vertical plane that is transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the rail so that the lancing fluid jet of the first nozzle is disposed in the first vertical plane when the manifold is pivoted about the axis of rotation, and

a second lancing head, comprising:

a body including a manifold defining a conduit; and

a nozzle assembly that is mounted to the manifold of the body, the nozzle assembly including a first nozzle housing that is mounted to the manifold and defines a bore that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the manifold, a first nozzle that is mounted to the first nozzle housing and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet, a second nozzle housing that is mounted to the manifold and defines a bore that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the manifold, and a second nozzle that is mounted to the second nozzle housing and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet,

wherein a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the first nozzle lies in a first vertical plane that is transverse to both the horizontal reference plane and a first horizontal plane that is parallel to the horizontal reference plane and contains a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the manifold, and the longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the first nozzle and an intersection line of the first vertical plane and the first horizontal plane define a first acute angle therebetween, and

wherein a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the second nozzle lies in a second vertical plane that is transverse to both the horizontal reference plane and the first horizontal plane that is parallel to the horizontal reference plane and contains a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the manifold, and the longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the second nozzle and an intersection line of the second vertical plane and the first horizontal plane define a second acute angle therebetween,

wherein the first acute angle is larger than the second acute angle.

11. A sludge lancing system for use in a steam generator including a no tube lane disposed between a first bank of tubes and a second bank of tubes that are transverse to a horizontal reference plane, comprising:

a rail that extends through the no tube lane and includes a longitudinal center axis that is parallel to the reference plane; and

a first lancing head, comprising:

a body including a manifold defining a conduit; and

a nozzle assembly that is mounted to the manifold of the body, the nozzle assembly including a first nozzle housing that is mounted to the manifold and defines a bore that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the manifold, a first nozzle that is mounted to the first nozzle housing and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet, a second nozzle housing that is mounted to the manifold and defines a bore that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the manifold, and a second nozzle that is mounted to the second nozzle housing and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet,

wherein a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the first nozzle lies in a first vertical plane that is transverse to both the horizontal reference plane and a first horizontal plane that is parallel to the horizontal reference plane and contains a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the manifold, and the longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the first nozzle and an intersection line of the first vertical plane and the first horizontal plane define a first acute angle therebetween, and

wherein a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the second nozzle lies in a second vertical plane that is transverse to both the horizontal reference plane and the first horizontal plane that is parallel to the horizontal reference plane and contains a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the manifold, and the longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the second nozzle and an intersection line of the second vertical plane and the first vertical plane defines a second acute angle therebetween.

12. The sludge lancing system of claim 11 , wherein:

the rail defines an elongated slot that is parallel to its longitudinal center axis; and

the first lancing head includes a head portion that is slidably received in the elongated slot.

13. The sludge lancing system of claim 12 , wherein a cross-sectional shape defined by the elongated slot in a vertical plane that is both transverse to the horizontal reference plane and the longitudinal center axis of the rail is the same as a cross-sectional shape of the head portion in that same vertical plane.

14. The sludge lancing system of claim 11 further comprising:

a first bore defined by the nozzle housing, the first bore being in fluid communication with both the conduit of the manifold and the conduit of the first nozzle, the first bore extending radially outwardly from the conduit of the manifold; and

a flow straightener disposed in the first bore, the flow straightener including a first end, a second end, and at least one flow conduit extending therebetween.

15. The sludge lancing system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one flow conduit further comprises a plurality of parallel flow conduits.

16. The sludge lancing system of claim 15 , wherein the flow conduit of the first nozzle includes a frustoconical portion disposed adjacent the flow straightener and a conical portion that extends from the frustoconical portion to a distal end of the first nozzle.