Steam generator auto - blow down and scale reduction system

• US 20070157949A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffery Ohler
• Original Assignee: Jeffery Ohler
• Inventors: Ohler, Jeffery
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/22.100
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/08 Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks

Abstract

The invention is a dual functioning system for de-scaling or blowing down an electrically powered steam boiler. The steam boilers are generally used for sterilizing equipment and other items commonly used by health care professionals. The system includes a microprocessor controlled module, which is interfaced with the sterilizer controlled module, to measure the frequency and duration of the cleaning or blow down cycles. Typically, a cleaning cycle involves the use of an acid, such as phosphoric acid, to facilitate chemical removal of scale which is mineral deposits resulting from the use of hard water in the boiler. In the blow down cycle, the scale is removed by simple mechanical means without the use of a phosphoric acid cleaning solution. Various pumps and valves are utilized so that cleaning or blow down may be accomplished without having to disassemble or modify any input or drain lines.

Claims

1. A dual functioning system for de-scaling and blowing down an electrically powered steam boiler, which includes main controls and having an inlet valve and an outlet valve, comprising:

a control module mounted in an easily accessible position with respect to the steam boiler main controls and in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry to which the boiler is connected and further operatively connected to the inlet and outlet valves to enable opening and closing thereof,

a pressure module in fluid communication with the pressure inside the boiler and in fluid communication with a transducer connected to the control module to enable the monitoring of the pressure inside the boiler and permit the activation of the de-scaling and blow down steps through the control module,

a peristaltic pump connected to a fresh water supply and in fluid communication with the interior of the boiler and contemporaneously connected to a reservoir of cleaning solution, which is in fluid communication with the pump,

whereby the control module is activated to open the boiler outlet valve while the boiler is under a positive pressure below its normal operating pressure and then allowing the contents of the boiler to discharge and subsequently closing the outlet valve and activating the pump to fill the boiler to its operating level and subsequently returning online or continuing as desired by refilling the boiler with cleaning fluid and allowing the boiler to come up to a pressure near its operating pressure and remain in such condition for a period of time sufficient for the cleaning fluid to remove the scale from the interior of the boiler and once again draining the boiler under light pressure and refilling it with fresh water to its operating level, draining, refilling and twice again draining and refilling so that the boiler has been flushed three times prior to its being placed online again.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising two transducers in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry such that the first transducer is connected to the control module and the second is in communication with the pressure module, the first and second transducers being operatively connected to enable functioning of the system.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning solution comprises water and phosphoric acid.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the phosphoric acid is present in an amount of between about 15 and 45 percent by weight of cleaning solution.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the phosphoric acid comprises about 30 percent by weight of cleaning solution.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the cleaning solution includes a chelating agent.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure near the operating pressure is in the range of between 10 and 18 PSI.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the pressure near the operating pressure is 15 PSI.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of . . .

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the cleaning solution includes a surfactant.

11. The dual functioning system of claim 1 wherein the control module comprises circuitry to start the blowdown cycle;

enable the continuation of the blowdown cycle;

permit the operation of a reset switch;

permit the opening of a valve connected thereto in fluid communication with the blowdown tank;

permit the operation of additional motorized ball valves in fluid communication with the boiler system;

enable the operation of the solution pump;

enable the operation of the complete light, the fault light and the operate light and also enable the interruption of the normal steam generator operation to permit either descaling or blowdown.

12. A method for either optionally descaling or blowing down a boiler having the ability to begin blowing down the boiler and continuing into a full descaling operation by operating a processing control switch and selecting either blowdown mode or descaling mode, checking the boiler status either on or off, turning the boiler on, determining the pressure if less than 10 psi, initiating the boiler until a pressure in the range of between 10 and 18 psi is reached rapidly draining the boiler to a pressure of less than 2 psi and closing the boiler outlet valve, determining whether to return the boiler to operational mode or continuing by descaling the boiler according to the following steps:

allowing the boiler to reheat and the pressure to build to 10 to 18 psi with 15 psi being preferred, simultaneously injecting a cleaning solution into the boiler and allowing the solution to boil tumultuously until the desired 10 to 18 psi pressure is reached allowing the cleaning solution to stand in the boiler for between 5 and 30 minutes with 15 minutes being the preferred amount of time, emptying the boiler allowing the pressure to drop to 2 psi or less, closing the boiler activating the boiler to generate a pressure of between 10 and 18 psi and rapidly draining the boiler again repeating the draining and deactivating steps for three cycles, closing the boiler outlet and allowing it to refill and placing it once again into service.