FILTER CLEANING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• Main Author: CLEMENTS, JACK THOMAS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 26.01.2008
• Subjects: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; SEPARATION; TRANSPORTING

A cleaning system (100) for a gas turbine inlet filter (40) mounted to a tubesheet (24). The filter (40) defines an upstream side (46) at which particulates are separated from a fluid stream passing through the filter and a downstream side (48) substantially free of the particulates. The cleaning system (100) comprises a blowpipe (124) for supplying a pressurized fluid. A one-piece nozzle (140) is made from a tubular member having a substantially constant cross-section extending along the length of the member. The nozzle (140) is permanently attached to the blowpipe (124) at a first end portion (142). The nozzle (140) is in fluid communication with the blowpipe (124) to direct a cleaning pulse of the pressurized fluid from a second opposite end portion (144) into the downstream side (48) of the filter (40) to dislodge particulates into th e upstream side. An aspirator (180) is formed in the nozzle (140) at an upstream locati on spaced from the second end portion (144) of the nozzle. The aspirator (180) enables an additional volume of fluid to be delivered from the second end portion (144) of the nozzle (140) than is delivered from the blowpipe (124) to the first end portion (142) of the nozzle. A diffuser (200, 300, 400) is fixed to at least one of the blowpipe (124) and the nozzle (140). The diffuser (200, 300, 400) directs a portion P1 of t he cleaning pulse to a proximal portion (50) of the filter (40) located adjacent to the tubesheet (24).