Rappable steam generator tube bank

摘要

An apparatus and method of operating a steam generator tube bank are disclosed in which a water drum of a typical steam drum/water drum combination is replaced with a plurality of smaller readers to permit the use of rapping, or mechanical rappers, to clean the tubes extending between the steam drum and the headers. The steam generator tube bank of the present invention comprises a steam drum or collecting header, a plurality of headers extending below the steam drum, and a plurality of tubes extending between the steam drum and the headers and placing the steam drum and headers in fluid flow communication. The headers are sized to permit debris or deposits which accumulate on the tubes to be removed by rapping the headers, thereby inducing vibration of the headers and the tubes. The tubes are arranged in rows, and the headers are arranged to form rows of axially-aligned pairs of headers. A mechanical rapper is associated with each header to periodically strike the header and induce vibration of the header and tubes connected thereto to remove debris and deposits which may have accumulated on the tubes.