Figures:
A Water Cannon spraying a water jet on the waterwall (evaporator of a typical power plant) on the opposite side of the boiler, typically some 20 meters away with an accuracy of about 0.2 meters!. The picture on the left shows the jet going through the flame (during normal operation or "on-load") and impinging in the deposit. The upper part has already been cleaned. The right hand shows the full cleaning pattern.

The backbone of the Intelligent Sootblowing system are so-called Water Cannons. These cannons are essentially computer controlled installations, able spray a water jet onto the waterwall on the other side.

The process of intelligent sootblowing is largely made possible because of the fact that these Water Cannons can selectively clean certain area's. Detail of Water Cannon. This implies that a cannon, is capable of cleaning only when and where needed.

Advantages of Water Cannons relative to conventional retractable sootblowers that work with steam as cleaning medium are numerous. The Water Cannon can be controlled with greater resolution, reach the whole surface area, is gentler to tube material, uses low cost water contrary to precious steam ect. As a result Water Cannon technology is replacing conventional sootblowers in many applications, most notably in coal fired boilers.

The leading supplier in this field of technology is Clyde Bergemann.

Water Cannons, although smart, are not the full story. In order to determine the right moment of starting their employment, heat flux sensors are used.