Abstract:
A retractable soot blower is used as a temperature detector or a heat flow detector. The lance tube of the blower acts as a temperature or a total heat sensing probe in addition to performing its normal boiler cleaning function, and when inserted in the combustion chamber of a steam generator, boiler, or the like, the temperature of the pressurized blowing medium, or the total heat flow into the blowing medium, is determinable as a function of the pneumatic resistance of the discharging orifice of the lance tube. The detector is adapted to provide the heat flux profile of the chamber during movements of the lance tube, and can be utilized in conjunction with various control apparatus to selectively meter unvaporized water to the blowing medium during cleaning operations in response to changes in heat flow into the blowing medium.