Methods and systems for cleaning heat exchange surfaces of a heat exchange system

Abstract

Means for obtaining accurate knowledge of location and amount of fouling inside a heat exchange system, such as a boiler of a power plant, are provided. According to the invention this knowledge can be used to optimize cleaning of a heat exchange system. The system of the invention comprises: Means for measuring particles in the exhaust gas stream of the heat exchange system. These particles are at least partly released when cleaning a certain part of the heat exchange surface of the heat exchange system. Means for creating information of the fouling in an electronic memory by linking together coordinates of the part of the heat exchange surface being cleaned and the measurement data created during the cleaning of said part.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE[0001]This application is a continuation of commonly owned copending U.S. Application[0002]Ser. No. 10 / 549,280 filed on Sep. 13, 2005 (U.S. Pat. No. ______), which is the national phase application under 35 USC §371 of PCT / FI2004 / 000190, filed Mar. 31, 2004 and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 458,442, filed Mar. 31, 2003, the entire content of each being hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates generally to process industry, such as power plants. Particularly the present invention relates to determining fouling in a heat exchange system and method of cleaning such a heat exchange system, such as a boiler of a power plant. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for air / fuel control. Furthermore the present invention relates to a method for optimizing of cleaning particles or fouling from surfaces of a process system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]It ha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach allows for more precise control of air / fuel ratios and optimized soot cleaning schedules, reducing emissions and costs by accurately detecting fouling and optimizing cleaning processes based on real-time data.

Problems solved by technology

However, it has been identified that only matching the airflow and the fuel flow does not provide the minimum emission level for the NOx.

Running soot cleaners is expensive.

Furthermore, cleaning heat exchanger tubes with steam, without any particle layer on their surfaces, is very eroding for the walls of these tubes.

Erosion of the heat exchanger tubes is again a very expensive affair.

However, high expenses will emerge as well if soot cleaners are not used at all.

Information obtained by these methods does not necessarily give the precise information about which heat exchanger tubes has the most part of the soot stuck to its surface and which tubes are fairly clean.

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