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Methods and apparatus are provided for cleaning a surface within a vessel. A fuel/oxidizer charge is provided within a combustion conduit. An initial deflagration commenced in a first portion of the charge produces a final detonation at least in another portion of the charge to expel a shockwave fro

Methods and apparatus are provided for cleaning a surface within a vessel. A fuel/oxidizer charge is provided within a combustion conduit. An initial deflagration commenced in a first portion of the charge produces a final detonation at least in another portion of the charge to expel a shockwave from the conduit which impinges upon the surface. The deflagration-to-detonation transition may be encouraged by mechanical enhancements and/or by making the first charge portion more detonable than the second.

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What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface within a vessel having a vessel wall separating a vessel exterior from a vessel interior and having a wall aperture, the apparatus comprising: an elongate conduit having an upstream first end and a downstream second end and positioned to di

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface within a vessel having a vessel wall separating a vessel exterior from a vessel interior and having a wall aperture, the apparatus comprising: an elongate conduit having an upstream first end and a downstream second end and positioned to direct a shock wave from the second end into the vessel interior; and a source of fuel and oxidizer coupled to the conduit to deliver the fuel and oxidizer to the conduit; and an initiator, wherein: the conduit comprises a first portion and a second portion downstream of the first portion; the first portion has a first characteristic cross-sectional area and the second portion has a second characteristic cross-sectional area, greater than the first characteristic cross-sectional area; the initiator is positioned to initiate a deflagration in the first portion of the fuel and oxidizer; and the conduit first and second portions are positioned to permit a deflagration-to-detonation transition from said deflagration to produce said shock wave. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source comprises: a first fuel source of a first fuel; a first oxidizer source of a first oxidizer; a second fuel source of a second fuel; and a second oxidizer source of a second oxidizer. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the second fuel and oxidizer sources are coupled to the conduit downstream of where the first fuel and oxidizer sources are coupled. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the second portion comprises a plurality of conduit sections secured end-to end and being of essentially constant characteristic diameter; and the first portion includes an upstream portion of essentially constant characteristic diameter and a downstream portion having an essentially downstream increasing diameter. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first portion comprises an internal surface area enhancement. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the second portion comprises an internal surface area enhancement. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first portion of the fuel and oxidizer is a minor portion and is more detonable than a major second portion of the fuel and oxidizer. 8. An apparatus for cleaning a surface within a vessel having a vessel wall separating a vessel exterior from a vessel interior and having a wall aperture, the apparatus comprising: an elongate conduit having an upstream first and a downstream second end and positioned to direct a shock wave from the second end into the vessel interior; and means for introducing first and second fuel/oxidizer mixtures to the conduit and initiating a deflagration of the first mixture so as to produce a deflagration-to-detonation transition from said deflagration and detonate said second mixture to produce said shock wave. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the oxidizer of the first mixture is more oxygen-rich than the oxidizer of the second mixture. 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the second fuel/oxidizer mixture is different from the first fuel/oxidizer mixture in chemistry or proportion. 11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means comprises: a plurality of changes in conduit internal transverse cross-sectional area. 12. A method for cleaning a surface within a vessel, the vessel having a wall with an aperture therein, the method comprising: providing a first fuel/oxidizer mixture in a first conduit portion; providing a second fuel/oxidizer mixture, different from the first in chemistry or proportion in a second conduit portion; and initiating a reaction of the first fuel/oxidizer mixture so as to, in turn, cause a detonation of the second fuel/oxidizer mixture so as to cause a shock wave to impinge upon the surface. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein: the reaction of the first fuel/oxidizer mixture comprises a deflagration-to-detonation transition. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein: the second mixture is less detonable than the first mixture. 15. The method of claim 12 wherein: the oxidizer of the second mixture is less oxygen-rich than the oxidizer of the first mixture. 16. The method of claim 12 wherein: the first fuel/oxidizer mixture is introduced to the first conduit portion as separate fuel and oxidizer components; and the second fuel/oxidizer mixture is introduced premixed to the second conduit portion. 17. The method of claim 12 wherein: the first fuel/oxidizer mixture is introduced premixed to the first conduit portion; and the second fuel/oxidizer mixture is introduced premixed to the second conduit portion. 18. The method of claim 12 further comprising: purging the conduit with a purge gas. 19. The method of claim 12 wherein: the first conduit portion has a characteristic cross-sectional area less than a characteristic cross-sectional area of the second conduit portion. 20. The method of claim 12 wherein: a major portion of said first fuel/oxidizer mixture is provided before a major portion of said second fuel/oxidizer mixture is provided.