A heat exchanger descaling system and method based on digital imaging technology

Abstract

This invention discloses a heat exchanger descaling system and method based on digital imaging technology. The method includes: a handheld operating unit; a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being connected to the handheld operating unit; a descaling head rotatably disposed at the distal end of the rod; a driving device for driving the descaling head to rotate; an image acquisition unit disposed at the distal end of the rod, its imaging area covering the area in front of the descaling head; a display device disposed on the handheld operating unit and electrically connected to the image acquisition unit for real-time display of images acquired by the image acquisition unit; and a dosing pipeline arranged along the rod, having a dosing outlet located at the distal end of the rod. This application integrates three core functions—image observation, chemical dosing, and mechanical descaling—into a handheld device, greatly simplifying operation, shortening cleaning time, and reducing labor costs. Furthermore, the real-time feedback from the image acquisition unit and the display device enables visualized operation and precise cleaning.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of heat exchanger equipment maintenance technology, and in particular to a heat exchanger descaling system and method based on digital imaging technology. Background Technology

[0002] In numerous industrial sectors such as chemical engineering, energy, and food processing, as well as in civil facilities, heat exchangers, pipelines, and reaction vessels inevitably accumulate fouling during use due to fluid impurities, chemical reactions, or microorganisms. This fouling not only creates thermal resistance, significantly reducing heat transfer efficiency and increasing energy costs, but also reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​fluid channels, affecting the stability of the process flow, and may even cause localized corrosion, shortening the equipment's lifespan.

[0003] Currently, the main cleaning methods for the interior of equipment include mechanical cleaning, chemical cleaning, and high-pressure water jetting. Each of these methods has its limitations, often requires multiple tools, is cumbersome to operate, inefficient, and makes it difficult to monitor the cleaning process and results in real time.

[0004] To address these issues, several new technological solutions have emerged in the industry. For example, Chinese patent application CN119146799A discloses a heat exchanger descaling and corrosion prevention system based on intelligent control. This system is a highly automated online monitoring and maintenance system that monitors parameters such as temperature and flow rate in real time, uses an anomaly identification model to determine the scaling situation, and automatically adjusts power oscillation waves for descaling and corrosion prevention. The fundamental drawback of this solution is that it is a fixed-installation system, limiting its application to specific equipment pre-installed with the system. It cannot clean the vast number of existing equipment without the system pre-installed, lacking versatility and incurring high costs.

[0005] In view of the above problems, there is an urgent need for a universal and economical handheld cleaning device that integrates the three core functions of real-time image observation, chemical agent injection and active mechanical descaling, in order to meet the urgent need for efficient, accurate and visualized cleaning of the interior of various existing equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, this application provides a heat exchanger descaling system and method based on digital imaging technology. The main purpose is to solve the technical problem of the lack of a portable and versatile internal cleaning tool for heat exchangers that integrates real-time observation, chemical dosing and mechanical descaling functions in the prior art.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger descaling system based on digital imaging technology is provided, comprising: a handheld operating unit; a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being connected to the handheld operating unit; a descaling head rotatably disposed at the distal end of the rod; a driving device for driving the descaling head to rotate; an image acquisition unit disposed at the distal end of the rod, the image acquisition area of ​​which covers the area in front of the descaling head; a display device disposed on the handheld operating unit and electrically connected to the image acquisition unit for real-time display of images acquired by the image acquisition unit; and a dosing pipeline arranged along the rod and having a dosing outlet located at the distal end of the rod. This application employs a combination of handheld, visual, and mechanical + chemical descaling methods, enabling precise positioning, real-time observation, mechanical removal, and chemically assisted descaling of scale inside the heat exchanger, thereby improving descaling efficiency and accuracy.

[0008] Furthermore, the rod is an adjustable telescopic rod, which allows the descaling system to adapt to the internal space of heat exchangers of different sizes and depths, thereby overcoming the descaling blind spots caused by equipment size and depth limitations, and further enhancing the applicability and flexibility of the system.

[0009] Furthermore, the handheld operating unit is equipped with a control module, which includes a first control button for controlling the start and stop of the drive device, and a second control button for controlling the start and stop of the dosing pipeline, so that the operator can directly control the rotation of the descaling head and the spraying of the agent while holding the device, thus achieving convenient integrated operation.

[0010] Furthermore, the system also includes a speed control button for adjusting the rotation speed of the drive device. Based on the real-time observed hardness and thickness of the scale, the rotation speed of the descaling head is dynamically adjusted, thereby ensuring the descaling effect while avoiding damage to the inner wall of the heat exchanger due to excessive rotation speed.

[0011] Furthermore, the system also includes an illumination unit located at the far end of the rod to illuminate the imaging area of ​​the image acquisition unit, providing clear visual support for the descaling operation and ensuring the accuracy of the descaling.

[0012] Furthermore, the descaling head is detachably connected to the distal end of the rod, allowing the descaling head to be replaced with descaling heads of different shapes or materials according to different types, thicknesses, or internal structures of the heat exchanger, thereby improving the system's versatility and descaling efficiency.

[0013] Furthermore, the drive device is located inside the distal end of the rod and is coaxially connected to the descaling head. In this application, the drive mechanism is located close to the descaling head, which can reduce energy loss, improve transmission efficiency, and reduce the size of the equipment, making it easier to operate inside the narrow heat exchanger cavity.

[0014] Furthermore, the dosing pipeline is located inside the rod body and has a dosing port located near the handheld operating part. In this application, the dosing pipeline is built-in, which not only protects the pipeline from damage by the external environment, but also allows the operator to easily add descaling agent to the handheld part, thereby improving the system's integration and ease of use.

[0015] Furthermore, the system also includes a battery disposed within the handheld operating unit for powering the drive device, image acquisition unit, and display device.

[0016] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for descaling a heat exchanger based on digital imaging technology is provided, using the system described in any of the above-mentioned inventions, the method comprising the following steps: a) extending the distal end of the rod of the system into the interior of the heat exchanger to be cleaned; b) After inserting the rod into the heat exchanger to be cleaned, the location and extent of scaling inside the heat exchanger can be observed in real time through the image acquisition unit and the display device. c) Based on the observation results of step b), control the dosing pipeline to spray descaling agent onto the target scaling area. The observation results include at least the location and extent of scaling inside the heat exchanger. d) After spraying the descaling agent onto the target scaling area, start the drive device to drive the descaling head to mechanically remove the scale from the target scaling area; e) During or after step d), observe the descaling effect in real time again through the image acquisition unit and the display device to determine whether steps c) and d) need to be repeated.

[0017] Beneficial effects This invention integrates three core functions—image observation, chemical dosing, and mechanical descaling—into a single handheld device. Operators no longer need to use multiple tools such as endoscopes, spray guns, and cleaning brushes; a single device can complete the entire closed-loop workflow of "observation-treatment-re-observation," greatly simplifying operation, shortening cleaning time, and reducing labor costs.

[0018] On the other hand, this application achieves visualized operation and precise, thorough cleaning. Specifically, through real-time feedback from the image acquisition unit and display device, operators can clearly see the internal contamination status of the equipment, allowing for precise targeting of stubborn contamination areas for focused cleaning. The cleaning effect can also be evaluated in real time, ensuring thorough and complete cleaning without blind spots or omissions, significantly improving cleaning quality. As a portable tool, this invention is not limited by the structure or model of the heat exchanger itself and can be widely applied to the internal cleaning of various types of existing heat exchangers, exhibiting strong versatility. Compared to high-cost fixed intelligent systems or specially customized built-in structures, the device of this invention is lower in cost and more economical.

[0019] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, specific embodiments of this application are given below. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings, as part of this invention, are provided to further illustrate the invention. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the invention are used to explain the invention, but do not constitute an undue limitation thereof. Clearly, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0021] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 This diagram illustrates a structural schematic of a heat exchanger descaling system based on digital imaging technology provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 A flowchart of a heat exchanger descaling method based on digital imaging technology provided by an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0022] Reference numerals: 101. Descaling head; 102. Rod body; 103. Dosing pipeline; 104. Image acquisition unit; 105. Threaded connection; 106. Dosing port; 107. Display device; 108. Handheld operating unit; 109. Speed ​​adjustment button; 110. First control button; 111. Dosing pipeline open button; 112. Dosing pipeline close button; 113. Image system stop button; 114. Image system start button; 115. Telescopic rod retraction button; 116. Telescopic rod extension button; 117. First wire; 118. Second wire; 119. Third wire; 120. Battery; 121. Charging port; 122. Drive device.

[0023] It should be noted that these accompanying drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0025] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0026] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0027] Example 1 like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a heat exchanger descaling system based on digital imaging technology. The system is designed as a portable handheld tool, comprising a handheld operating part 108 and a lever body 102.

[0028] In this embodiment, the handheld operating unit 108 is equipped with a grip for the operator to hold and integrates control, display, and power modules. A series of control buttons are centrally arranged near the grip for easy operation. The handheld operating unit 108 is also equipped with a display device 107, preferably an LED display device. The handheld operating unit 108 has a built-in battery 120, which is charged through a charging port 121 to provide power to the entire system (powering the drive device 122, the image acquisition unit 104, and the display device 107), achieving good portability.

[0029] In one feasible implementation, the rod 102 has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is fixedly or detachably connected to the handheld operating part 108, and the distal end is used to extend into the interior of the heat exchanger to be cleaned. Preferably, the rod 102 is an adjustable-length telescopic rod, the length of which can be electrically adjusted by the telescopic rod extension button 116 and the telescopic rod retraction button 115 to accommodate heat exchangers of different depths and lengths.

[0030] In one feasible implementation, the core of the present invention lies in the fact that the three major functions of descaling, imaging and chemical dosing are integrated in one piece at the distal end of the rod 102.

[0031] In this embodiment, a descaling head 101 is rotatably disposed at the distal end of the rod 102; a driving device 122, which is disposed inside the distal end of the rod 102 and coaxially connected to the descaling head 101, is used to drive the descaling head 101 to rotate at high speed, thereby achieving mechanical removal of scale from the inner wall of the heat exchanger. Preferably, the descaling head 101 is detachably connected to the distal end of the rod 102 via a threaded connection 105. This design allows for easy replacement with different types of descaling heads, such as hard scraper heads or soft brush heads, depending on the type and hardness of the scale.

[0032] An image acquisition unit 104, preferably a miniature camera, is disposed at the distal end of the rod 102, and its imaging area covers the area in front of the descaling head 101. The image acquisition unit 104 is electrically connected to a display device 107 disposed on a handheld operating unit 108 via a connection circuit 119, thereby displaying the real-time acquired internal images to the operator. The display device 107 is disposed on the handheld operating unit 108 and electrically connected to the image acquisition unit 104, for displaying the images acquired by the image acquisition unit 104 in real time. Preferably, an illumination unit (not shown), such as an LED light, is also disposed at the distal end of the rod 102 to illuminate the imaging area of ​​the image acquisition unit 104, ensuring clear images can be obtained even in the dark environment inside the heat exchanger.

[0033] A dosing line 103 is laid along the rod body 102 and has a dosing outlet located at the distal end of the rod body 102. Preferably, the dosing line 103 is located inside the rod body 102, with one end being a dosing port 106 located near the handheld operating part 108 and the other end being a dosing outlet located at the distal end of the rod body 102. The operator can inject the descaling agent through the dosing port 106 and spray it onto the target area using a control button.

[0034] In one feasible implementation, the handheld operating unit 108 is equipped with a control module for controlling various functions. The control module includes a first control button 110 for controlling the start and stop of the drive device 122, and a second control button for controlling the start and stop of the dosing line 103. The second control button includes a dosing line start button 111 and a dosing line stop button 112. Preferably, the system further includes a speed adjustment button 109 for adjusting the rotational speed of the drive device 122.

[0035] In one feasible implementation, the drive device 122 is electrically connected to the battery 120 via a wire, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the wires include: a first wire 117 for connecting the telescopic rod to the control system circuit, a second wire 118 for connecting the drive device to the control system circuit, and a third wire 119 for connecting the image acquisition unit 104 to the control system circuit.

[0036] Example 2 like Figure 2 As shown, in one feasible implementation, this application discloses a heat exchanger descaling method based on digital imaging technology, implemented based on the system described in any of the embodiments of Example 1 above. The method includes the following steps: a) Insert the distal end of the rod 102 of the system into the heat exchanger to be cleaned; b) After the rod 102 is inserted into the heat exchanger to be cleaned, the location and extent of the scale inside the heat exchanger can be observed in real time through the image acquisition unit 104 and the display device 107. c) Based on the observation results of step b), operate the dosing pipeline 103 to spray descaling agent onto the target scaling area. The observation results include at least the location and extent of scaling inside the heat exchanger. d) After spraying the descaling agent onto the target scaled area, start the drive device 122 to drive the descaling head 101 to mechanically clean the target scaled area; e) During or after step d), the descaling effect is observed again in real time through the image acquisition unit 104 and the display device 107 to determine whether steps c) and d) need to be repeated.

[0037] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-described technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The implementation schemes in the above embodiments can also be further combined or replaced. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger descaling system based on digital imaging technology, characterized in that, include: Handheld operating unit (108); A rod (102) having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being connected to the handheld operating part (108); A descaling head (101) is rotatably disposed at the distal end of the rod (102); Drive unit (122) for driving the descaling head (101) to rotate; An image acquisition unit (104) is disposed at the far end of the rod (102), and its imaging area covers the front area of ​​the descaling head (101); Display device (107), disposed on the handheld operating unit (108) and electrically connected to the image acquisition unit (104), for real-time display of images acquired by the image acquisition unit (104); and dosing pipeline (103), arranged along the rod (102) and having a dosing outlet located at the far end of the rod (102).

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rod (102) is a telescopic rod with adjustable length.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The handheld operating unit (108) is provided with a control module, which includes a first control button for controlling the start and stop of the drive device (122) and a second control button for controlling the start and stop of the dosing pipeline (103).

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The system also includes a speed control button (109) for adjusting the rotational speed of the drive device (122).

5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The system also includes an illumination unit located at the far end of the pole (102) for illuminating the shooting area of ​​the image acquisition unit (104).

6. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The descaling head (101) is detachably connected to the distal end of the rod (102).

7. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The drive device (122) is located inside the distal end of the rod (102) and is coaxially connected to the descaling head (101).

8. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The dosing line (103) is located inside the rod (102) and has a dosing port (106) located near the handheld operating part (108).

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The system also includes a battery (120) disposed in the handheld operating unit (108) for powering the drive device (122), the image acquisition unit (104) and the display device (107).

10. A method for descaling a heat exchanger based on digital imaging technology, characterized in that, Using the system of any one of claims 1 to 9, the method comprises the following steps: a) Insert the distal end of the rod (102) of the system into the heat exchanger to be cleaned; b) After inserting the rod (102) into the heat exchanger to be cleaned, the location and extent of scaling inside the heat exchanger are observed in real time through the image acquisition unit (104) and the display device (107); c) Based on the observation results of step b), control the dosing pipeline (103) to spray descaling agent onto the target scaling area, wherein the observation results include at least the location and extent of scaling inside the heat exchanger; d) After spraying the descaling agent onto the target scaled area, start the drive device (122) to drive the descaling head (101) to mechanically remove the target scaled area; e) During or after step d), the descaling effect is observed again in real time through the image acquisition unit (104) and the display device (107) to determine whether steps c) and d) need to be repeated.

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