---
title: "Detonation cleaning"
description: "Detonation cleaning uses a controlled pulse-detonation device — a small chamber where a gaseous fuel-air mixture is ignited — to generate high-energy shock waves projected into the boiler. The shock waves dislodge consolidated deposits that lighter cleaning methods cannot remove. The best-known commercial offering is the Swiss-based Bang & Clean system, marketed primarily for WtE, biomass, and lignite-fired boilers with persistent fouling."
canonical_url: "https://sylio.co/glossary/detonation-cleaning"
last_updated: "2026-06-28T02:29:21.974Z"
---

**Detonation cleaning** uses a controlled pulse-detonation device — a small chamber where a gaseous fuel-air mixture is ignited — to generate high-energy shock waves projected into the boiler. The shock waves dislodge consolidated deposits that lighter cleaning methods cannot remove. The best-known commercial offering is the Swiss-based **Bang & Clean** system, marketed primarily for [WtE](/glossary/waste-to-energy), [biomass](/glossary/waste-to-energy), and lignite-fired boilers with persistent fouling.

## Trade-offs vs sonic horns

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Attribute
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Detonation cleaning
    </th>
    
    <th>
      <a href="/glossary/sonic-horn">
        Sonic horn
      </a>
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      Energy per shot
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Very high
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Low
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Frequency
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Episodic (per shift)
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Continuous (every few minutes)
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Damage potential
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Documented on weld points if mis-targeted
    </td>
    
    <td>
      None
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Capital cost per unit
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Higher
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Lower
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Best application
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Hard consolidated deposits, periodic remediation
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Continuous prevention
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Operator presence required
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Yes for each shot
    </td>
    
    <td>
      No, fully automatic
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

The two technologies are complementary: sonic horns prevent the buildup that detonation cleaning is otherwise needed to remove, allowing detonation cycles to be reduced in frequency.

## Related terms

- [Explosive deslagging](/glossary/explosive-deslagging)
- [Shock-pulse generator](/glossary/shock-pulse-generator)
- [Sonic horn](/glossary/sonic-horn)