IP Library Granted Patent US 11,644,255
Granted Patent B2
US 11,644,255 · App. 17/703,652 · Granted May 9, 2023

Heat recovery steam generator cleaning system and method

Inventors: Bradley A. McGinnis (Greenup, KY); Rodrick E. Hall (Huffman, TX)
Assignee: Dos Viejos Amigos, LLC
F28G3/163B08B9/0323F22B37/48F28D2021/0024
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,644,255
App. No.
17/703,652
Granted
May 9, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cleaning system and method includes suspending and exploding, adjacent a bank of HRSG finned-tubing, a plurality of generally uniformly spaced detonation cords. Each detonation cord has an explosive grain loading of 18-50 grains per foot. A detonation delay assembly attached to each of the plurality of detonation cords creates a predetermined delay between each detonation cord explosion. After the detonation cords are exploded, a suspended elongated beam, having a transport assembly and a pressurized air blower assembly directs pressurized air towards an adjacent the bank of HRSG finned-tubing as the pressurized air blower assembly is moved along a portion of the beam. A suspension assembly moves the beam, the transport assembly, and the pressurized air blower assembly up or down so that a next portion of the bank of HRSG finned-tubing may be cleaned by the pressurized air.

Claims (31)

1. A cleaning system comprising:

an explosive subsystem including:

a plurality of detonation cords; and

a locating assembly locating the plurality of detonation cords relative to each other; and

wherein the locating assembly spaces each of the detonation cords apart from a system to be cleaned; and

a pressurized air blower assembly adjacent a portion of the system to be cleaned, the pressurized air blower assembly being configured to direct pressurized air towards the portion of the system to be cleaned after the detonation cords have been exploded.

2. The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the explosive subsystem further comprises a detonation delay assembly, and wherein the detonation delay assembly is connected to each detonation cord such that each detonation cord explodes in sequence with a predetermined delay between each explosion.

3. The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the spacing between each detonation cord is approximately 12 inches.

4. The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the locating assembly spaces the detonation cords away from the portion of the system to be cleaned by approximately 12 inches.

5. The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined delay is between 5-25 milliseconds.

6. The cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising an elongated beam, and wherein the elongated beam is at least 24 feet long.

7. The cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising an elongated beam, and wherein the elongated beam is a box beam.

8. The cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an elongated beam; and

a transport assembly operably coupled to the elongated beam for reciprocal movement along a portion of a length of the beam;

wherein the transport assembly includes a drive motor connected to a set of drive wheels for moving the transport assembly back and forth along the elongated beam.

9. The cleaning system of claim 8 , wherein the transport assembly moves along the elongated beam at a rate of 1-12 inches per minute.

10. The cleaning system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a suspension assembly suspending the elongated beam,

wherein the suspension assembly includes a pair of winches mounted above the portion of the system to be cleaned and each winch is connected to opposing ends of the elongated beam.

11. The cleaning system of claim 10 , wherein the transport assembly moves the pressurized air blower assembly along the portion of the beam length twice before the suspension assembly moves the suspended elongated beam, the transport assembly, and the pressurized air blower assembly up or down.

12. The cleaning system of claim 10 , wherein the suspension assembly moves the suspended elongated beam, the transport assembly, and the pressurized air blower assembly up or down 1-3 inches.

13. The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the pressurized air blower assembly includes an inlet configured to receive pressurized air and at least one outlet nozzle configured to direct the pressurized air towards the portion of the system to be cleaned.

14. The cleaning system of claim 13 , wherein a pressure produced at the at least one outlet nozzle is 100-600 pounds per square-inch.

15. The cleaning system of claim 13 , further including a motor for oscillating the at least one outlet nozzle during use.

16. The cleaning system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one outlet nozzle is positioned approximately 4 inches from the portion of the system to be cleaned.

17. The cleaning system of claim 13 , further including at least a second outlet nozzle configured to direct the pressurized air in an opposite direction from the at least one nozzle and towards another portion of the system to be cleaned.

18. The cleaning system of claim 17 , further including a third outlet nozzle adjacent the at least one outlet nozzle and a fourth outlet nozzle adjacent the second outlet nozzle.

19. The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the pressurized air blower assembly delivers a volume of air of 250-1600 cubic-feet per minute.

20. The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the explosive subsystem includes a pair of elongated rods,

wherein opposite ends of each of the detonation cords are attached to each of elongated rods in a generally uniformly spaced manner forming a plurality of essentially parallel straight lengths of the detonation cords when at least one of the elongated rods is suspended adjacent the portion of the system to be cleaned.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2025
From: UNIVEST BANK AND TRUST CO.
To: GROOME INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS, LLC; GIH BLOCKER CORP.; GROOME INDUSTRIAL SERVICE GROUP, LLC; GROOME DOOR & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, LLC; EXPLOSIVE PROFESSIONALS, LLC; EXPRO (DE), LLC; EXPRO SPECIALIZED SERVICES, LLC; NOXCO, LLC; DOS VIEJOS AMIGOS, LLC; EXPLOSIVES PROFESSIONALS MIDWEST, LLC; BLASTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; GROOME REAL ESTATE, LLC
Reel/Frame 072153/0177 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2025
From: SEACOAST CAPITAL PARTNERS V, L.P.
To: GROOME INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS, LLC; GROOME INDUSTRIAL SERVICE GROUP, LLC; GROOME REAL ESTATE, LLC; W-S COMPANIES, LLC; W-S INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC; W-S SPECIALTY SERVICES, LLC; W-S MECHANICAL GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 072153/0026 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 29, 2025
From: GROOME INDUSTRIAL SERVICE GROUP, LLC
To: BSP AGENCY, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072758/0624 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 18, 2025
From: DOS VIEJOS AMIGOS, LLC
To: GROOME INDUSTRIAL SERVICE GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 072043/0043 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2024
From: GROOME INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS, LLC; GROOME INDUSTRIAL SERVICE GROUP, LLC; GROOME REAL ESTATE, LLC; W-S COMPANIES, LLC; W-S INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC; W-S SPECIALTY SERVICES, LLC; W-S MECHANICAL GROUP, LLC
To: SEACOAST CAPITAL PARTNERS V, L.P.
Reel/Frame 066731/0434 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2023
From: DOS VIEJOS AMIGOS, LLC
To: UNIVEST BANK AND TRUST CO.
Reel/Frame 063642/0116 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2022
From: MCGINNIS, BRADLEY A.; HALL, RODRICK E.
To: DOS VIEJOS AMIGOS, LLC
Reel/Frame 059393/0841 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17204423 · Mar 17, 2021
Continuation 16249120 · Jan 16, 2019
Related Publication 20220214122A1 · Jul 7, 2022