Ultrasonic cleaning method and apparatus for heat exchangers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for effecting useful heat exchange in a liquid environment and a device for cleaning said apparatus in said liquid environment without removal therefrom comprising in combination:
- heat exchange means comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart banks of pipes each having external surfaces exposed to said liquid environment wherein said surfaces are subject to having substances accumulate thereon as a result of said liquid being in contact therewith, said substances affecting adversely the transfer of heat through said surfaces;
ultrasonic cleaning means for producing ultrasonic energy in sufficient quantities to produce cavitation of said liquid to dislodge said substances, said ultrasonic cleaning means comprising a plurality of transducers arranged in a portable array and powered by suitable power supply means; and
means for positioning said ultrasonic cleaning means adjacent to said surfaces between said banks of pipes without removal of said surfaces from said liquid environment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Biofouling is removed from the external surfaces of spaced apart pipes of a heat exchanger which are in contact with a liquid by positioning a plurality of ultrasonic transducers between the pipes and operating the transducers at sufficient power levels to cause cavitation within the liquid to effect the desired cleaning action. The transducers are arranged in a planar configuration to produce bi-directional acoustic radiation. Various types of instrumentation are provided for determining extent of biofouling and effectiveness of cleaning as well as for monitoring transducer operating parameters.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for effecting useful heat exchange in a liquid environment and a device for cleaning said apparatus in said liquid environment without removal therefrom comprising in combination:
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heat exchange means comprising a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart banks of pipes each having external surfaces exposed to said liquid environment wherein said surfaces are subject to having substances accumulate thereon as a result of said liquid being in contact therewith, said substances affecting adversely the transfer of heat through said surfaces; ultrasonic cleaning means for producing ultrasonic energy in sufficient quantities to produce cavitation of said liquid to dislodge said substances, said ultrasonic cleaning means comprising a plurality of transducers arranged in a portable array and powered by suitable power supply means; and means for positioning said ultrasonic cleaning means adjacent to said surfaces between said banks of pipes without removal of said surfaces from said liquid environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus for immersion in a liquid environment in which an object to be cleaned resides comprising:
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a housing forming a chamber therein; a plate fixedly secured within said housing, said plate having a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough; a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed within said apertures; means for mounting said transducers within said apertures; means for covering selected ends of said apertures, said covering means for reflecting acoustic radiation from said tranducers; and fluid means for filling said chamber of said housing, said fluid means for propagating acoustical waves from said transducers through said housing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for cleaning heat exchanger apparatuses functionally incorporating a plurality of spaced apart pipes having the external surfaces thereof in contact with a liquid which causes buildup of substances on said surfaces and reduces the heat transfer through said surfaces comprising the steps of:
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positioning ultrasonic transducer means dimensioned for insertion between said spaced apart pipes within said liquid between said spaced apart pipes proximate to a surface of said pipes to be cleaned so that the energy radiated from said transducer is directed toward said surface; applying power to said ultrasonic transducer means; and moving said ultrasonic transducer means relative to said surface of said heat exchanger at a rate permitting the cleaning thereof. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification