Heat exchanger with vibrator to remove accumulated solids

• US 7,946,337 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Colling, Arthur K., Birbara, Philip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg; Teresa J
• Application Number:
  US11/833,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20090032222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 165/84
• US Class Current: 165/84
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0019 Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0033 for cryogenic applications air separation F25J3/04, cold heat exchange systems F25J1/0262
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 15/003 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 7/00 Cleaning by vibration or pressure waves
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 9/00 Cleaning by flushing or washing, e.g. with chemical solvents appliances using jets of fluid for removing debris F28G1/16, F28G3/16

Abstract

A ultrasonic transducer is associated with a heat exchanger and is operable to vibrate a tube associated with the heat exchanger to break up accumulated solids which may have formed on an outer periphery of the tube. A gas flow passes over the tube to remove the pulverized solids.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising:

a plurality of heat exchanger tubes for receiving a cooling fluid;

a space around said plurality of heat exchanger tubes for receiving a gas to be cooled; and

an ultrasonic device for vibrating at least a portion of the heat exchanger to remove built up accumulation on said plurality of heat exchanger tubes, said ultrasonic device being operable to vibrate said plurality of heat exchanger tubes while a working gas is flowing over said plurality of heat exchanger tubes, and said space being defined by a housing surrounding said plurality of said heat exchanger tubes, with said ultrasonic device mounted upon said housing, for cleaning said plurality of heat exchanger tubes; and

a first working gas is passed over the plurality of heat exchanger tubes to be cooled, and a second working gas is passed over the plurality of heat exchanger tubes while the ultrasonic transducer is vibrating the plurality of heat exchanger tubes to remove pulverized solids removed from the first working gas.

2. The heat exchanger set forth in claim 1, wherein the working gas is air to be cooled, and said ultrasonic device operates as the air continues to pass over said plurality of heat exchanger tubes.

3. The heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first working gas is air.

4. A system for supplying an air flow into an enclosed space comprising:

a pair of heat exchangers, each of said heat exchangers having at least one heat exchanger tube for receiving a cooling tube;

valving for selectively delivering an airflow over a first of said pair of heat exchangers, while a purge gas flows over a second pair of heat exchangers; and

an ultrasonic device for vibrating at least one tube of the second heat exchanger as the purge gas flows over the at least one tube to remove solids which have been previously built up on said at least one tube of said second heat exchanger.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the valving alternates the airflow and purge gas flow over the first and second heat exchangers.

6. The system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first and second heat exchangers each have a fixed ultrasonic device.

7. The system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the enclosed space is one of a spaceship and a space suit.

8. The system as set forth in claim 4, wherein there are a plurality of said heat exchanger tubes in each of said first and second heat exchangers, and a housing surrounding said plurality of heat exchanger tubes in each of said first and second heat exchangers, with an ultrasonic device mounted on each of said housings.

9. A method of operating a pair of heat exchangers comprising the steps of:

passing a cooling fluid through a heat exchanger tube in each of a first and second heat exchanger;

passing a first gas to be cooled around said tube in said first heat exchanger;

vibrating at least a portion of said tube in said second heat exchanger to remove built up accumulation while a working gas is flowing over said tube; and

air being passed over the tube to be cooled in the first heat exchanger, while the working gas is passed over the tube while vibrating to remove pulverized solids in the second heat exchanger.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first gas is air.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein a housing is positioned to surround the tubes for each of first and second heat exchangers, with said housings being vibrated to vibrate said portion of said tube.