This invention relates to and solves the problem of buildup of scale and hard water deposits on heat transfer surfaces of heat exchange equipment.
In heat exchangers in which water is used as a heat transfer medium, materials dissolved in the water including metal oxides, inorganic salts, calcium and mineral deposits form scale deposits on the inside surfaces of the tubes. These scale deposits can seriously reduce the efficiency of heat exchange equipment, can lead to higher operating costs and expensive repairs or even replacement of entire units, and must be removed from heat exchange surfaces so that the heat exchanger can operate at design efficiency.
There is advantage in a system for removing scale and mineral deposits from heat exchangers using a descaling solution of particular strength and maintaining selected strength for duration of descaling operation. Such a system provides efficient descaling with minimum downtime while restoring a heat exchanger to design thermodynamic efficiency.
The present invention has for its chief objective a system for descaling heat exchanger using a chemical solution for improved economic and thermodynamic operating efficiency.
The present invention provides a system for descaling heat transfer systems such as tankless water heaters. The invention circulates an acid based descaling solution to remove scale and mineral deposits to keep water heating equipment in optimal operating condition. Regular descaling reduces energy costs by keeping equipment clean, and cures circulation and boiler noise problems caused by the accumulation of sludge, corrosion deposits, and scale.
In accordance with the invention, a portable descaling system for heat transfer systems comprises a covered container of portable capacity with system operating components installed on the container cover. The cover is secured to the container, and fluid lines are connected from the cover to a heat transfer system. A descaling chemical added to the container is circulated through internal piping of heat transfer system for removal of scale, corrosion deposits and sludge.
A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a generally available standard size container such as a five-gallon bucket. A cover for the container is modified for mounting operating components that circulate a descaling solution through a heat exchanger. The container with modified cover is portable and readily carried into position for tankless water heater descaling.
A motor driven circulating pump is mounted within a protective housing atop the cover for delivering descaling solution through the water side of a water heater. A two-way valve preferably mounted on the underside of the cover with valve control accessible on top of the cover directs flow of descaling solution for filling the container with descaling solution, and for circulating solution through a water heater. In addition, a fill opening through the cover is provided for adding descaling solution directly to the container from a supply bottle.
For descaling a water heater, suitable hose connections attach the cover pump head to the heater establishing flow through outlet and return paths between container and water heater. Descaling solution is added to the container by either direct pour through an opening in the cover, or by siphon to the suction side of the pump through a two-way selection valve. The selection valve has a second inlet to the pump for drawing solution poured into the container. The selection valve is set according to source of descaling solution, i.e., siphon from supply bottle of descaling solution or solution from the container.
With connections made, descaling solution is circulated through a water heater for cleaning its water side. During cleaning, solution pH is monitored and kept at or below pH 5.5 by adding solution to the container. When pH of solution does not rise, descaling is complete. Solution is then neutralized and discarded. After descaling is completed, clean water is flushed through the heat exchanger for thoroughly rinsing chemical from the water side.
Specific examples are included in the following description for purposes of clarity, but various details can be changed within the scope of the present invention.
An object of the invention is to provide a descaling system for closed heat exchangers.
Another object of the invention is to provide a self-contained portable machine for removing scale and mineral deposits from heat exchange surfaces of closed vessels.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system for circulating a descaling solution of selected strength for cleaning heat exchanger surfaces, and for monitoring and maintaining selected strength of solution until descaling is complete.
Another object of the invention is to provide a descaling machine using a descaling solution and utilizing pH value of circulating solution in comparison to a known pH value for monitoring progress of descaling operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide for cleaning heat exchange surfaces of scale and mineral deposits with a solution of an acidic chemical under safe and efficient conditions.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable descaling machine assembled in a standard size container for circulating acidic solution through tankless water heaters.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable descaling machine assembled in a standard size covered container in which all operating components are mounted on the cover and the container receptacle serves as a reservoir for acidic solution for descaling a heat exchanger, and for a purging fluid after descaling is completed.
Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent with an understanding of the following detailed description of the invention or upon employment of the invention.
A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for detailed description to enable those having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention appertains to readily understand how to construct and use the invention and is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:
The present invention provides a portable descaling machine particularly suited to descaling interior, pipe surfaces of the water side of tankless water heaters by pumping a descaling solution through the pipes, collecting and discarding spent solution, and pumping clean water through the pipes for purging any residue of descaling solution remaining in the pipes.
Referring to
The main container 12 comprises a standard size vessel in wide commercial use and preferably is a five-gallon bucket suitable for ease and safety of being carried to any location for tankless water heaters. A bail 12a is pivotally connected to opposite sides of the main container and defines a balance or pivot axis for slight roll movement of the container.
The cover 14 has nominal dimensions for top panel 14a and peripheral rim 14b, and, on its underside (
Top panel 14a comprises the platform for mounting operating components of the machine. A reinforced oblong recess 26 in top panel lies generally along line 4-4 of
An opening 22 through panel 14a is provided for pouring chemical solution from a supply bottle into the main container. Standard size garden hose fittings pass through top panel sleeves 28 and define ports for connections that conduct pumped solution from the main container to a heat transfer system, return solution to container from heat transfer system H (
As shown in
The motor pump comprises a 1 ampere, 115 volt, ⅙ HP motor with diaphragm type pump of 3 GPM flow and maximum head of 69 feet.
T-shape housing 24 encloses the motor pump and defines a covered hatch 32 through which solution is poured into the main container through cover opening 22. The housing 24 comprises a shell 24a having a base line 24b (
Housing vents 24g (
As shown in
In operation as shown in
After descaling, spent solution is sealed in the existing container using a standard five-gallon bucket cover and discarded. The machine cover 14 is placed on another container of clean water that is recirculated through the heat exchanger to rid coil of solution residue.
In practicing the invention, the acidic solution is a mixture of water and phosphoric acid in a, 70 to 90% water-to-acid ratio, and is available under the SpeedyBright tradename.
Various changes may be made to the structure embodying the principles of the invention. The foregoing embodiments are set forth in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3667488 | Paggen | Jun 1972 | A |
7513444 | Kurimski et al. | Apr 2009 | B1 |
20120118246 | Oberkorn et al. | May 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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WO 2007063452 | Jun 2007 | WO |
Entry |
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blog.speedclean.com—February—2011.pdf , web page posted on blog.speedclean.com in Feb. 2011. |
BucketDescaler—March—2011.pdf , web page posted on www.speedclean.com?BucketDescaler/default.aspx in Mar. 2011. |