METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSPECTION OF COOLING TOWERS
First Claim
1. A method of inspecting cooling tower fill pack to detect the presence of fouling, the method comprising:
- providing a ground penetrating radar (GPR) apparatus;
moving the GPR apparatus relative to a top surface, a bottom surface, or a side surface of the fill pack; and
processing received GPR data to form a three-dimensional plot of a location and degree of fouling within the fill pack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for inspecting cooling tower fill pack to detect the presence of fouling, wherein the method comprises using ground penetrating radar (GPR). The method comprises transmitting GPR to the fill pack and detecting reflected radar signals from the fill pack. A method of cleaning fouling from a cooling tower, comprising the steps of: inspecting the cooling tower fill pack with ground penetrating radar (GPR); identifying those parts of the fill pack in which unacceptable levels of fouling are present; and cleaning the parts so identified is also presented.
12 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of inspecting cooling tower fill pack to detect the presence of fouling, the method comprising:
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providing a ground penetrating radar (GPR) apparatus; moving the GPR apparatus relative to a top surface, a bottom surface, or a side surface of the fill pack; and processing received GPR data to form a three-dimensional plot of a location and degree of fouling within the fill pack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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3. (canceled)
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4. The method according to claim 31, in which the GPR apparatus is traversed across the top of the fill pack in a series of parallel scan lines.
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5. (canceled)
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10. (canceled)
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16. A method of cleaning fouling from a cooling tower, comprising the steps of:
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providing a ground penetrating radar (GPR) apparatus; inspecting a cooling tower fill pack of the cooling tower with GPR by moving the GPR apparatus relative to a top surface, a bottom surface, or a side surface of the fill pack; processing received GPR data to form a three-dimensional plot of a location and degree of fouling within the fill pack; identifying those parts of the fill pack in which unacceptable levels of fouling are present; and cleaning the parts so identified.
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- 17. An apparatus for inspecting cooling tower fill pack to detect the presence of fouling, the apparatus comprising a remotely operable vehicle (ROV) capable of traversing a surface of the fill pack without damage, and a ground penetrating radar (GPR) apparatus mounted on the ROV, characterized in that the GPR apparatus is configured to process received GPR data to form a three-dimensional plot of a location and degree of fouling within the fill pack.
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18. Apparatus for use in inspecting cooling tower fill pack to detect the presence of fouling, the apparatus comprising a remotely operable vehicle (ROV) capable of traversing a surface of the fill pack without damage, and a ground penetrating radar (GPR) apparatus mounted on the ROV, characterized in that the GPR apparatus is configured to process received GPR data to form a three-dimensional plot of a location and degree of fouling within the fill pack.
Specification