At least one embodiment of the present invention generally relates to a system for cleaning an object, such as a heat exchanger comprising a bundle of feed-through tubes.
In the petrochemical industry, frequent use is made of heat exchangers for the purpose of cooling or heating fluid flows. A common heat exchanger is a tube heat exchanger consisting substantially of a bundle of tubes extending between two end plates or a common end plate enclosed by a casing. In the course of time these tubes become fouled such that the through-flow is blocked or restricted. In order to enable the heat exchanger to function optimally again the tubes are cleaned by injecting liquid under high pressure through these tubes using a high-pressure lance.
These lances are typically in the form of high-pressure hoses which carry a high-pressure injection nozzle on their front end. These hoses are pushed or fed into the heat exchanger pipes. After the high-pressure source for the washing liquid has been set into operation, the dirt is removed from the tube and the hose can herein be pushed further into the tube, until the whole length of the tube is cleaned.
As the lances carry liquid under very high pressure, a cleaning device is typically used to introduce and push the lances into the tubes, such that manual operation of the lances is not required. A suitable cleaning device as such is described in international patent publication WO 01/11303A1. This cleaning device arranged for driving a flexible lance is provided with a frame in which a device for driving a flexible lance is arranged for moving this flexible lance in the direction of an outlet opening. This cleaning device is operated by manually aligning the outlet opening with an opening of a tube and by subsequently operating the driving device for introducing the lance in the tube.
In order to further reduce the chances of accidents involving the high pressure liquid, it is known to couple the above mentioned cleaning device to a moving system for moving the cleaning device with respect to heat exchanger, such that manually operating the cleaning device is not longer needed. Such a moving system may for instance comprise a framework having a first set of beams onto which a perpendicularly oriented second beam can travel, for instance using a linear motor. The cleaning device can then travel, for instance also using a linear motor, on the second beam such that cleaning device is movable in a first direction and a second direction at least having a component perpendicular to the first direction. The motors for moving the cleaning device are remotely operable, such that the operator can operate the cleaning device from a safe distance.
Although this known moving system improves the safety by allowing remotely operating the device, the inventors have discovered that this known moving system having a relatively large frame is less useful in situations with limited space, for instance when the heat exchanger is to be cleaned in situ, instead of in a dedicated cleaning location. Moreover, they note that moving the known moving system between locations, in particular between objects to be cleaned, is labor intensive, in particular due to the size of the system.
At least one embodiment is directed to providing an improved system for cleaning an object, in particular a heat exchanger, wherein at least one of the above mentioned problems is at least partially alleviated.
At least one embodiment is directed to a system. More specifically, at least one embodiment is directed to a system for cleaning an object, such as a heat exchanger comprising a bundle of feed-through tubes extending between two end plates, wherein the system comprises a connection body for connecting the system to an object, a holder for holding a cleaning device and a moving system for moving the holder with respect to the connection body in a first direction and a second direction at least having a component perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the moving system comprises a rotation motor and a linear motor.
The present invention is further illustrated by the following Figures, which show an example embodiment of the system according to the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, wherein:
At least one embodiment is directed to a system. More specifically, at least one embodiment is directed to a system for cleaning an object, such as a heat exchanger comprising a bundle of feed-through tubes extending between two end plates, wherein the system comprises a connection body for connecting the system to an object, a holder for holding a cleaning device and a moving system for moving the holder with respect to the connection body in a first direction and a second direction at least having a component perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the moving system comprises a rotation motor and a linear motor.
By using a rotation motor in combination with a linear motor for moving the holder, and therewith the cleaning device, a relatively compact moving system is obtained. This makes the system according to at least one embodiment of the invention in particular useful for cleaning heat exchangers in situ.
In an example embodiment, the system is provided with one linear motor and one rotation motor only to actively move the holder and therewith the cleaning device. In other words, the holder in the moving system is actively moved in the first and second directions with respect to the object to be cleaned by only one rotation motor and one linear motor.
The connection body, or connecting device, is preferably arranged to stably hold and support the driving system by coupling the system to a stable environment. Although it is possible that the moving system according to the invention can be coupled to any suitable member associated with or located near the object to be cleaned, it is preferred if the connection body is arranged to be coupled to the object to be cleaned itself. Any further support members, for instance in the form of frames and the like, are then not required for operating the system.
According to a further example embodiment, the connection body is arranged to be coupled to the flange of a heat exchanger. This efficiently aligns the system with the heat exchanger to be cleaned. The connection body may be coupled to the flange, or any other part of the heat exchanger, for instance using a clamp for clamping around the flange, but it is preferred if the connection body is provided with a coupling plate with at least two openings for receiving bolts for coupling to the heat exchanger flange. The openings in the flange which are in use of the heat exchanger used for connecting an end plate, can thus be used for connecting the system according to the invention to the heat exchanger. In order to be able to connect to different types and sizes of heat exchangers, having different configurations of the openings in the flanges, it is preferred if the coupling plate is provided with a plurality of openings and/or wherein at least one of the openings is slot shaped.
The holder is arranged to hold a cleaning device, preferably a cleaning device arranged to drive a flexible lance for cleaning a heat exchanger duct or the like, provided with a frame in which a device to drive a flexible lance is arranged for moving this flexible lance in the direction of an outlet opening. An example of such a device is described in WO 01/11303A1, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The holder is thereto preferably provided with a receptacle shaped to receive the above mentioned frame or any outer housing, wherein the holder is further provided with a coupling, or coupling device, for coupling the cleaning device to the holder. The coupling may for instance comprise a clamp or any suitable connection for preferably removably coupling the cleaning device to the holder. A further example embodiment according to the invention further comprises a cleaning device, preferably a cleaning device of the above mentioned type, coupled to the holder.
It is noted that also other cleaning devices than the type mentioned above may be coupled to the holder. It is for instance possible to couple a cleaning device having a nozzle for cleaning the end plate, i.e. the structure between the ends of the tubes, of a heat exchanger. It may further be possible that the holder is arranged to couple and hold only a guiding tube for a lance, wherein the guiding tube extends between an externally located cleaning device provided with the driving device as mentioned above and the holder of the system according to the invention.
A further example embodiment of the system according to the invention further comprises a supporting arm for supporting the holder. The supporting arm hereby preferably has a suitable length such that the holder can be aligned with any of the tubes in a heat exchanger. Preferably, the rotation motor is arranged to rotate the supporting arm with respect to the connection device. The supporting arm and the holder are then movable with respect to the connection body, and thereby with respect to the object to the cleaned. It is preferred in terms of compactness if the system according to an example embodiment of the invention is provided with one supporting arm only.
According to further preferred embodiment, the linear motor is arranged to move the holder in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotation motor. The combination of the linear motor and the rotation motor thereby allows moving the holder in the plane, thereby efficiently moving the holder in the first and second direction while still allowing a compact configuration. Preferably the plane is substantially parallel to the plane or surface of the object to the cleaned. Specifically, the plane is preferably substantially parallel to the end plate wherein the to be cleaned tubes of a heat exchanger end. A particularly compact and efficient driving system is obtained if the linear motor is arranged to move the holder in a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis of the rotation motor.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the rotation motor is provided on the connection body. The rotation motor hereby rotates the supporting arm with respect to the connection body, wherein the rotation motor preferably interconnects the connection body and the supporting arm, such that only a single supporting arm is required. It is hereby preferred if the connection body and the rotation motor are arranged such that in connected state on a heat exchanger, the rotation axis of the rotation motor is substantially parallel to the tubes to be cleaned, i.e. perpendicular to the end surface of the object to be cleaned.
In order to be able to efficiently decouple the system according to at least one embodiment of the invention from an object to be cleaned to move and couple the system to the next object to be cleaned, it is preferred if the rotation motor comprises a removable rotation axle for decoupling the supporting arm and the connection body upon removal of the rotation axle. The rotation axle and the housing of the rotation motor are hereby removable from each other, such that upon decoupling of the axle, the connection body and the supporting arm are also decoupled. The connection body and the supporting arm can then be transported separately. It is hereby preferred if the housing of the rotation motor is provided on the connection body, whereas the rotation axle of the rotation motor is associated, preferably coupled, with the supporting arm.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the linear motor comprises a rack and pinion or similar system. The supporting arm may for instance be provided with a rack, for instance a wall provided with a plurality of openings thereby forming a rack, wherein a pinion engages for moving the holder.
Although it is possible that the holder is moved along the supporting arm, i.e. along its longitudinal axis, it is preferred if, according to a further preferred embodiment, the holder is coupled to the supporting arm and wherein the linear motor is arranged to move the supporting arm with respect to the connection body. The combination of the supporting arm and the holder coupled thereto is thus moved with respect to the connection body. The linear motor can hereby be located close to the connection body, where also the rotation motor is preferably arranged as mentioned above. This results in a compact and robust configuration.
To however still be able to adjust the configuration of the holder and the supporting arm to the environment, it is preferred if the holder is removably coupled to the supporting arm for moving the holder along the longitudinal axis of the supporting arm. The holder is hereby preferably manually, thus not actively using a motor, movable along the supporting arm. The holder may for instance be provided with a clamp for clamping the supporting arm. It is further possible that the holder is provided with a connection system which cooperates with the rack-like structure on the supporting arm for mutually interconnecting the holder and the supporting arm. In case the wall of the supporting arm is provided with a plurality of openings along the length as mentioned above, the connection system may for instance comprise a pin which locks in at least one of the openings.
In case the linear motor is arranged to move the combination of the supporting arm and the holder with respect to the connection body a mentioned above, it is preferred if the system further comprises a sleeve for receiving the supporting arm, wherein the linear motor is arranged to move the supporting arm within the sleeve. The sleeve hereby closely receives and guides the supporting arm, such that the relative movement between the sleeve and supporting arm is substantially limited to a movement along one direction, preferably along the longitudinal axis of the supporting arm. The sleeve or tube hereto preferably has an inner cross sectional shape which corresponds to the cross sectional shape of the supporting arm. The cross section is preferably non-circular to prevent mutual rotation.
In case a removable rotation axle is used as mentioned above, it is preferred if the rotation axle is coupled to the sleeve. A robust configuration is hereby obtained which can be assembled and disassembled efficiently.
As the system according to at least one embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable to clean a heat exchanger in situ, i.e. without removing the heat exchanger from its surroundings, electric components are to be avoided. Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment, the motors comprise pneumatic motors. It is further preferred if the linear and rotation motors comprise the same type of pneumatic motors. The motors are then coupled using suitable transmission device(s). Also the motor of the cleaning device is preferably of the same kind as the motors of the linear and rotation motor.
A further preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention further comprises a controller for remotely controlling at least the motors and preferably also a cleaning device held in the holder. The controller is then coupled to the motors and is provided with suitable controller(s) for controlling the operation of the motor. Preferably the controller is coupled to the motors using pneumatic lines.
In
Further referring to
Also the connection body 3 is in greater detail shown in
The rotation axle 62 of the rotation motor 6 can be decoupled from the motor housing 61 such that the axle can be moved in a direction of the rotation axis R, indicated with arrows II in
Also with reference to
Provided near an outer end of the supporting arm 4 is a holder 5 which is arranged to couple to a cleaning device 2, see
The operation of the system 1 will now be explained while referring to
In the connected situation, the outlet 22 of the cleaning device 2 is arranged to be aligned such that a lance can be inserted substantially parallel into the tubes 101. The system 1 is hereby arranged to move the cleaning device 2 in a plane parallel to the end plate 104 such that the outlet 22 can be aligned with each of the tubes 101 for cleaning. Actuation of the linear motor 7 will hereby move the arm 4 with respect to the connection body 3, such that the cleaning device 2 is moved in a direction along the longitudinal direction A indicated with the arrows C. This movement can be seen when comparing
With reference to
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but extends also to other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
None of the elements recited in the claims are intended to be a means-plus-function element within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. §112(f) unless an element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, using the phrases “operation for” or “step for.”
Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/242,506 filed Oct. 16, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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