Control systems for operating gas cleaning devices

• US 6,171,366 B1
• Filed: 09/14/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lab SA
• Original Assignee: Lab SA
• Inventors: Gallo, Frank, Vicard, Jean-Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Bushey, C. Scott
• Application Number:
  US09/142,692
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 95/1, 95/10, 95/20, 95/25, 95/29, 95/6, 95/7, 952/78, 952/79, 952/80, 952/81, 952/82, 552/83, 552/92, 552/93, 553/02, 964/25, 96F/OR.168
• US Class Current: 95/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0086 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/04 Cleaning filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/44 controlling filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/76 involving vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/762 involving sonic or ultrasonic waves

Abstract

Systems and methods for cleaning and operating gas cleaning devices using vibration generators wherein the systems include sensors and programs for monitoring and predicting resonant conditions of different surface areas and zones in order to vary the frequency and amplitude of vibrations to establish optimum resonant conditions on such surface areas or zones and thereby optimize cleaning and operation of such gas cleaning devices.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the cleaning and operation of components within a gas cleaning device using a vibration generator, comprising the steps of;

a) determining resonant characteristics of at least one zone of the device by sensing vibrational conditions of the at least one zone of the device; and

b) controlling the vibration generator and varying frequencies and amplitudes of vibrations being generated therefrom dependent upon the resonant characteristics determined at the at least one zone.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the step of determining resonant characteristics of at least one zone by sensing, and providing in real time, information with respect to vibration conditions at the at least one zone and supplying the information as feedback to a controller whereby the controller utilizes such information to vary the frequency and amplitude of vibrations being generated from the vibration generator.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the step of determining resonant characteristics of at least one zone includes supplying real time indirect information to the controller concerning operational parameters of the gas cleaning device.

4. The method of claim 2 in which the step of determining resonant characteristics of at least one zone includes supplying real time indirect information to the controller concerning operational parameters of the gas cleaning device.

5. The method of claim 3 in which the operational parameters are selected from a group of parameters consisting of gas flow rates through the at least one zone of the gas cleaning device, pressure differentials through components of the gas cleaning device, electrical information regarding voltage, current, and power of electrical components used in the gas cleaning device.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of determining resonant characteristics of at least one zone includes the additional step of programming information into the controller with respect to resonant characteristics measured with respect to a similar gas cleaning device which have been previously determined.

7. The method of claim 1 including said vibration generator adding to the gas flow in the gas cleaning device a vibration component, and controlling said vibration generator so as to vary frequencies and amplitudes of the said vibration component.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining resonant characteristics of at least one zone includes programming information into the controller with respect to resonant characteristics measured with respect to similar gas cleaning devices which have been previously determined.

9. A system for cleaning components within a gas cleaning device which includes a plurality of surface areas on which particles are deposited, the system comprising;

a vibration generator, a controller operatively connected to said vibration generator, at least one direct vibration sensor means mounted to a surface area within said gas cleaning device, said at least one sensor means being operatively connected to said controller, and said controller being operative to vary frequency and amplitude of vibrations generated by said vibration generator dependent upon resonant characteristic information received from said at least one direct sensor means.

10. The system for cleaning of claim 9 wherein said at least one direct sensor means is selected from a group of sensors consisting of transducers, microphones and strain gauges.

11. The system for cleaning of claim 9 including at least one indirect sensor means for measuring parameters reflecting changes in gas flow through at least one component of the cleaning device, and said at least one indirect sensor means being operatively connected to said controller.

12. The system for cleaning of claim 9 in which said vibration generator includes a gas current generator for adding a vibration component to gas flow in the gas cleaning device.

13. The system for cleaning of claim 9 wherein said vibration generator includes an acoustic horn having an outlet, and damper means mounted to said horn for varying the frequency of vibrations generated therefrom.

14. The system for cleaning of claim 9 in which said vibration generator includes a fan means having a fluid outlet, a disc having a plurality of openings therein mounted adjacent said outlet, and means for rotating said disc at varying rates whereby the frequency of the change in the flow of fluid from said outlet is varied as it passes through said openings in said disc as it is rotated.

15. The system for cleaning of claim 9 in which said controller includes programmable means for receiving previously collected programmable information with respect to operative vibrational characteristics of a gas cleaning device.

16. The system for cleaning of claim 11 in which said controller includes programmable means for receiving previously collected programmable information with respect to operative vibrational characteristics of a gas cleaning device.

17. The system for cleaning of claim 12 in which said controller includes programmable means for receiving previously collected programmable information with respect to operative vibrational characteristics of a gas cleaning device.

18. A system for operating a gas cleaning device which includes a plurality of zones, the system comprising;

at least one vibration generator, a direct vibration sensor means mounted to a surface within said gas cleaning device, a controller operatively connected to said at least one vibration generator, said controller including programmable means for receiving previously collected programmable information with respect to operative vibrational characteristics of the plurality of zones of the gas cleaning device, and said controller being operative to vary the frequency and amplitude of vibrations generated by the at least one vibration generator dependent upon information programmed therein and the data sensed by the direct vibration sensor means.

19. The system for operating of claim 18 including at least one sensor means for monitoring the evaporation of liquid droplets within at least one zone, said at least one sensor means being operatively connected to said controller whereby the frequency and amplitude of vibrations from said at least one vibration generator are varied so as to control a rate of evaporation of the droplets.