A mechanical automatic descaling shell-and-tube heat exchanger and an automatic descaling method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mechanical automatic descaling shell-and-tube heat exchanger and an automatic descaling method. The heat exchanger includes a horizontally arranged outer shell, two end ring pipes arranged inside the outer shell, and a plurality of heat exchange straight pipes connecting the two end ring pipes and arranged inside the outer shell; a left end ring pipe vertically arranged on one side inside the outer shell is communicated with a hot water inlet for heat exchange at the upper part of the outer shell and is communicated with a hot water outlet for heat exchange at the lower part outside at the bottom. An upper piston plug is arranged inside the upper pipe of the left end ring pipe, and a lower piston plug is arranged inside the lower pipe. The upper piston plug and the lower piston plug are movably arranged inside the left end ring pipe and are driven by a driving mechanism to move positions. The right end ring pipe is vertically arranged and is located on the other side inside the outer shell, and a stop member is arranged in the middle at the top end of the right end ring pipe; a plurality of heat exchange straight pipes are horizontally arranged and are respectively communicated with the left and right end ring pipes at both ends. A metal descaling ball is respectively arranged inside each heat exchange straight pipe, and a limiting member for preventing the metal descaling ball from entering the end ring pipe is respectively installed at both ends of each heat exchange straight pipe.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of scale removal equipment and methods for shell-and-tube heat exchangers, and particularly relates to a mechanical automatic scale removal shell-and-tube heat exchanger and an automatic scale removal method. Background Art

[0002] Fouling widely exists in various processes of industrial production, which will seriously hinder the normal operation of heat exchange equipment, causing huge waste of energy and amazing economic losses. The formation process of fouling on heat exchange equipment is an extremely complex physical and chemical composite process of energy, mass, and momentum transfer. After the heat exchanger operates for a period of time, there is often fouling accumulated on the heat transfer wall surface, which generates an additional heat resistance to heat transfer, reduces the value of the heat transfer coefficient K, and seriously affects the heat exchange efficiency.

[0003] The heat exchange tubes are usually bent tubes. As the service time increases, the scale inside the heat exchange tubes will inevitably accumulate more and more, and its heat exchange efficiency will inevitably gradually decrease. The performance of some heat exchange tubes with poor performance even decreases very quickly. Eventually, the existing heat exchange tubes not only have low heat exchange efficiency but also short service life, and their cost performance is not high. The existing scale removal equipment and methods are difficult to implement and have relatively high economic costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a mechanical automatic scale removal shell-and-tube heat exchanger and an automatic scale removal method. The equipment and method can remove scale economically, effectively, directly, and continuously through mechanical means.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A mechanical automatic scale removal shell-and-tube heat exchanger includes a horizontally arranged outer shell, two end ring tubes arranged inside the outer shell, and a plurality of heat exchange straight tubes connecting the two end ring tubes and arranged inside the outer shell; the top of the vertically arranged left end ring tube on one side inside the outer shell is communicated with the hot water inlet at the upper part of the outer shell, and the bottom is communicated with the hot water outlet at the lower part of the outer shell. An upper piston plug is arranged inside the upper tube of the left end ring tube, and a lower piston plug is arranged inside the lower tube. The upper piston plug and the lower piston plug are movably arranged inside the left end ring tube and are driven by a driving mechanism to move positions. The right end ring tube is vertically arranged and located on the other side inside the outer shell, and a stop member is arranged in the middle at the top of the right end ring tube; a plurality of heat exchange straight tubes are horizontally arranged and are respectively communicated with the left and right end ring tubes at both ends. A metal scale removal ball is installed in each heat exchange straight tube, and limit members for preventing the metal scale removal balls from entering the end ring tubes are respectively installed at both ends of each heat exchange straight tube.

[0007] Furthermore, a refrigerant inlet and the hot water inlet are respectively arranged at one end of the upper portion of the shell, the hot water outlet is arranged below the hot water inlet on one side of the lower portion of the shell, and a refrigerant outlet is arranged on the other side of the lower portion of the shell, and solenoid valves are respectively installed on the refrigerant inlet, the hot water inlet, the hot water outlet and the refrigerant outlet.

[0008] Furthermore, the left end ring pipe and the right end ring pipe are both annular, and the left end ring pipe is located below the hot water inlet.

[0009] Furthermore, the upper piston plug and the lower piston plug are movably arranged in the left end ring tube and have magnetism; a rotatable turning rod is arranged on the inner side outside the left end ring tube, one end of the turning rod is aligned with the upper piston plug and is fixedly connected to an upper magnet, the other end of the turning rod is aligned with the lower piston plug and is fixedly connected to a lower magnet, the middle part of the turning rod is fixedly connected to a horizontally arranged extension shaft, the extension shaft passes through the outer shell and cooperates with the outer shell rotation seal, and the end of the extension shaft located outside the outer shell is connected to the rotating shaft of the motor through a coupling.

[0010] Furthermore, the plurality of straight heat exchange tubes are symmetrically arranged with the line connecting the hot water exchange inlet and the hot water exchange outlet of the left end ring tube as the symmetry line.

[0011] Furthermore, both ends of each heat exchange straight tube close to the end ring tube are respectively connected to an expansion tube with a diameter larger than that of the heat exchange straight tube, a retaining ring is installed in the expansion tube, the middle part of the retaining ring has a through hole with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the metal descaling ball, and a water hole is provided on the circumferential side wall of the retaining ring, and the other end of the expansion tube is connected to the end ring tube through a pipeline.

[0012] The above-mentioned automatic descaling method for a mechanical automatic descaling shell and tube heat exchanger comprises the following steps:

[0013] The driving mechanism drives the upper piston plug to move to the outer side of the hot water inlet, and the lower piston plug to move to the inner side of the hot water outlet;

[0014] The hot water flows into the left end ring tube from the hot water inlet. After the water flow in the left end ring tube is blocked by the upper and lower piston plugs, the water flows counterclockwise through the inner part of the left end ring tube into the multiple heat exchange straight tubes inside. The water pushes the metal descaling balls in the heat exchange straight tubes to move closer to the right end ring tube side, flushing and cleaning the inner wall of the heat exchange straight tube inside. The metal descaling balls are stopped by the limiter at the end of the heat exchange straight tube, and the water flows into the right end ring tube through the water holes on the retaining ring.

[0015] The water flows along the right end ring tube and merges into the multiple heat exchange straight tubes on the outside, pushing the metal descaling balls in the outer heat exchange straight tubes to move and flush the inner walls of the heat exchange straight tubes; finally, the water flow is blocked by the lower piston plug, and flows out of the heat exchanger from the hot water outlet in a clockwise direction at the outer part of the left end ring tube, completing the first descaling cycle process;

[0016] The driving mechanism drives the upper piston plug to move to the inner side of the hot water inlet, and the lower piston plug to move to the outer side of the hot water outlet;

[0017] The hot water flows into the left end ring tube from the hot water inlet. After the water flow in the left end ring tube is blocked by the upper and lower piston plugs, the water flows clockwise in the outer part of the left end ring tube into the multiple heat exchange straight tubes on the outside. The water flow pushes the metal descaling balls in the heat exchange straight tubes to move closer to the right end ring tube. The metal descaling balls are stopped by the retaining ring in the tube at the end of the heat exchange straight tube, and the water flows into the right end ring tube through the water holes on the retaining ring.

[0018] The water flows along the right end ring tube and merges into the multiple heat exchange straight tubes on the inner side, pushing the metal descaling balls in the inner heat exchange straight tubes to move and flush the inner walls of the heat exchange straight tubes. Finally, the water flow is blocked by the lower piston plug and flows out of the heat exchanger from the heat exchange water outlet in a counterclockwise direction on the inner part of the left end ring tube, completing the second descaling cycle process.

[0019] The motor drives the rotating rod to rotate, so that the upper piston plug and the lower piston plug move positions synchronously.

[0020] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] The present invention optimizes the pipe structure of the heat exchange tube and utilizes the energy of the water flow in the tube to push the metal balls in the tube to clean the inner wall of the heat exchange tube, so that the metal balls circulate in the heat exchange tube, thereby efficiently and energy-savingly removing scale from the tube, ensuring the life of the instrument and the heat exchange efficiency, saving the initial investment cost of operation, and making the operation more feasible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a local enlarged structure;

[0024] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the retaining ring;

[0025] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a descaling cycle process of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments:

[0027] See also Figures 1 to 4 A mechanical automatic descaling shell and tube heat exchanger comprises a horizontally arranged shell 1, two end ring tubes 2 arranged in the shell 1 and a plurality of heat exchange straight tubes 3 arranged in the shell 1 and connecting the two end ring tubes 2.

[0028] One end of the upper part of the housing 1 is respectively provided with a refrigerant inlet 11 and a heat exchange water inlet 12. One side of the lower part of the housing 1 is provided with a heat exchange water outlet 13 below the heat exchange water inlet 12, and the other side of the lower part of the housing 1 is provided with a refrigerant outlet 14. Solenoid valves are respectively installed on the refrigerant inlet 11, the heat exchange water inlet 12, the heat exchange water outlet 13 and the refrigerant outlet 14.

[0029] Both end ring pipes 2 are circular rings. The left end ring pipe 21 located on the left side inside the housing 1 is vertically arranged. The left end ring pipe 21 is located below the heat exchange water inlet 12, and its top is communicated with the heat exchange water inlet 12 through a connecting pipe, and its bottom is communicated with the heat exchange water outlet 13 through a connecting pipe. An upper piston plug 211 is arranged in the upper part of the pipe of the left end ring pipe 21, and a lower piston plug 212 is arranged in the lower part of the pipe. The upper piston plug 211 and the lower piston plug 212 are movably arranged in the left end ring pipe and have magnetism.

[0030] A rotatable rotating rod 41 is arranged on the inner side of the outer wall of the left end ring pipe 21. One end of the rotating rod 41 is aligned with the upper piston plug 211 and fixedly connected with an upper magnetic attractor 411, and the other end of the rotating rod 41 is aligned with the lower piston plug 212 and fixedly connected with a lower magnetic attractor 412. The middle part of the rotating rod 41 is fixedly connected with a horizontally arranged extension shaft 42. The extension shaft 42 passes through the housing 1 and is rotationally and sealingly matched with the housing 1. The end of the extension shaft 42 located outside the housing 1 is connected with the rotating shaft of the motor 43 through a coupling. The motor 43 drives the rotating rod 41 to rotate, and the two magnetic attractors at the ends of the rotating rod 41 drive the two piston plugs in the left end ring pipe 21 to move positions in the ring pipe.

[0031] The right end ring pipe 22 of the two end ring pipes 2 located on the right side inside the housing 1 is vertically arranged. A stop member 221 is arranged in the middle of the top end of the right end ring pipe 22 to cut off the water flow.

[0032] A plurality of heat exchange straight pipes 3 are horizontally arranged and are respectively communicated with the left and right end ring pipes 2 at both ends. Preferably, the plurality of heat exchange straight pipes 3 are symmetrically arranged before and after with the connection line of the heat exchange water inlet 12 and the heat exchange water outlet 13 of the left end ring pipe 21 as the symmetry line. Both ends of each heat exchange straight pipe 3 close to the end ring pipe 2 are respectively connected with an enlarged diameter pipe 31 with a diameter larger than that of the heat exchange straight pipe 3. A retaining ring 32 is installed in the enlarged diameter pipe 31. The middle part of the retaining ring 32 has a through hole 321 with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the metal descaling ball 33. Water passing holes 322 are arranged on the circumferential side wall of the retaining ring 32. The other end of the enlarged diameter pipe 31 is communicated with the end ring pipe 2 through a pipe. A metal descaling ball 33 is respectively installed in each heat exchange straight pipe 3. The enlarged diameter pipe 31 and the retaining ring 32 therein constitute a limiting member for preventing the metal descaling ball from entering the end ring pipe.

[0033] The automatic descaling method of the above-mentioned mechanical automatic descaling shell-and-tube heat exchanger includes:

[0034] Descaling cycle process one:

[0035] The motor 43 drives the rotating rod 41 to rotate, so that the upper piston plug 211 is located on the outer side of the hot water inlet 12, and the lower piston plug 212 is located on the inner side of the hot water outlet 13;

[0036] The hot water inlet 12 is opened, and the hot water outlet 13, the refrigerant inlet 11 and the outlet are all closed; the hot water flows into the left end ring pipe 21 from the hot water inlet 12. After the water flow in the left end ring pipe 21 is blocked by the upper and lower piston plugs 212, the water flow flows counterclockwise in the inner part of the left end ring pipe 21 into the multiple inner heat exchange straight pipes 3, and the water flow pushes the metal descaling balls 33 in the heat exchange straight pipes 3 to move Figure 1 shown to move to the right close to the right end ring pipe 22 side, scouring and cleaning the inner wall of the inner heat exchange straight pipe 3. The metal descaling balls 33 stop at the end of the heat exchange straight pipe 3 due to the block of the retaining ring 32 in the pipe, and the water flow then converges into the right end ring pipe 22 through the water passing holes 322 on the retaining ring 32.

[0037] The water flow flows along the right end ring pipe 22 and converges into the multiple outer heat exchange straight pipes 3, pushing the metal descaling balls 33 in the outer heat exchange straight pipes 3 to scour the inner wall of the heat exchange straight pipe 3 to the left as shown. The hot water outlet 13 is opened, and finally the water flow is blocked by the lower piston plug 212 and flows out of the heat exchanger clockwise from the hot water outlet 13 at the outer part of the left end ring pipe 21, completing the first descaling cycle process;

[0038] Descaling cycle process two:

[0039] The motor 43 drives the rotating rod 41 to rotate, so that the upper piston plug 211 is located on the inner side of the hot water inlet 12, and the lower piston plug 212 is located on the outer side of the hot water outlet 13;

[0040] The hot water inlet 12 is opened, and the hot water outlet 13, the refrigerant inlet 11 and the outlet are all closed; the hot water flows into the left end ring pipe 21 from the hot water inlet 12. After the water flow in the left end ring pipe 21 is blocked by the upper and lower piston plugs 212, the water flow flows clockwise in the outer part of the left end ring pipe 21 into the multiple outer heat exchange straight pipes 3, and the water flow pushes the metal descaling balls 33 in the heat exchange straight pipes 3 to move to the right as shown close to the right end ring pipe 22 side. The metal descaling balls 33 stop at the end of the heat exchange straight pipe 3 due to the block of the retaining ring 32 in the pipe, and the water flow then converges into the right end ring pipe 22 through the water passing holes 322 on the retaining ring 32.

[0041] The water flow flows along the right end ring pipe 22 and converges into the multiple inner heat exchange straight pipes 3, pushing the metal descaling balls 33 in the inner heat exchange straight pipes 3 to move alongFigure 4 The inner wall of the left flushing heat exchange straight pipe 3 shown. The heat exchange water outlet 13 is opened. Finally, the water flow is blocked by the lower piston plug 212, and flows out of the heat exchanger counterclockwise from the heat exchange water outlet 13 of the heat exchanger at the inner part of the left end ring pipe 21, completing the second descaling cycle process.

[0042] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, and thus does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformation made by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present invention, or directly or indirectly applied to other related technical fields, shall be similarly included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A mechanical automatic descaling shell-and-tube heat exchanger, characterized in that: It includes a horizontally arranged housing (1), two end ring pipes (2) arranged inside the housing (1), and multiple heat exchange straight pipes (3) arranged inside the housing (1) and connecting the two end ring pipes (2); the top of the left end ring pipe (21) vertically arranged on one side inside the housing (1) is communicated with the hot water inlet (12) at the upper part of the housing (1), and the bottom is communicated with the hot water outlet (13) at the lower part of the housing (1). An upper piston plug (211) is arranged inside the upper pipe of the left end ring pipe (21), and a lower piston plug (212) is arranged inside the lower pipe. The upper piston plug (211) and the lower piston plug (212) are movably arranged inside the left end ring pipe (21) and are driven by a driving mechanism to move positions. The right end ring pipe (22) is vertically arranged and is located on the other side inside the housing (1). A stopper (221) is arranged in the middle of the top end of the right end ring pipe (22); multiple heat exchange straight pipes (3) are horizontally arranged and are respectively communicated with the left and right end ring pipes (2) at both ends. A metal descaling ball (33) is respectively installed in each heat exchange straight pipe (3), and limit pieces for preventing the metal descaling ball (33) from entering the end ring pipe (2) are respectively installed at both ends of each heat exchange straight pipe (3). A refrigerant inlet (11) and the above-mentioned hot water inlet (12) are respectively arranged at one end of the upper part of the housing (1). The above-mentioned hot water outlet (13) is arranged on one side of the lower part of the housing (1) below the hot water inlet (12). A refrigerant outlet (14) is arranged on the other side of the lower part of the housing (1). Solenoid valves are respectively installed on the refrigerant inlet (11), the hot water inlet (12), the hot water outlet (13), and the refrigerant outlet (14). At both ends of each heat exchange straight pipe (3) close to the end ring pipe (2), an enlarged diameter pipe (31) with a diameter larger than that of the heat exchange straight pipe (3) is respectively connected. A retaining ring (32) is installed inside the enlarged diameter pipe (31). The middle of the retaining ring (32) has a through hole (321) with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the metal descaling ball (33). Water passing holes (322) are arranged on the circumferential side wall of the retaining ring (32). The other end of the enlarged diameter pipe (31) is communicated with the end ring pipe (2) through a pipeline.

2. The mechanical automatic descaling shell-and-tube heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein: Both the left end ring pipe (21) and the right end ring pipe (22) are circular rings, and the left end ring pipe (21) is located below the hot water inlet (12).

3. The mechanical automatic descaling shell-and-tube heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper piston plug (211) and the lower piston plug (212) are movably arranged inside the left end ring pipe (21) and have magnetism; a rotatable rotating rod (41) is arranged on the inner side of the outer wall of the left end ring pipe (21). One end of the rotating rod (41) is aligned with the upper piston plug (211) and fixedly connected with an upper magnetic body (411). The other end of the rotating rod (41) is aligned with the lower piston plug (212) and fixedly connected with a lower magnetic body (412). The middle of the rotating rod (41) is fixedly connected with a horizontally arranged extension shaft (42). The extension shaft (42) passes through the housing (1) and is rotationally and sealingly matched with the housing (1). The end of the extension shaft (42) located outside the housing (1) is connected with the rotating shaft of the motor (43) through a coupling.

4. The mechanical automatic descaling shell-and-tube heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plurality of heat exchange straight tubes (3) are symmetrically arranged with the line connecting the heat exchange water inlet (12) and the heat exchange water outlet (13) of the left end ring tube (21) as the symmetry line.

5. The automatic descaling method of the mechanical automatic descaling shell-and-tube heat exchanger according to claim 3, characterized in that, The following steps are involved: The driving mechanism drives the upper piston plug (211) to move to the outer side of the hot water inlet (12), and the lower piston plug (212) to move to the inner side of the hot water outlet (13); The hot water flows from the hot water inlet (12) into the left end ring tube (21). After the water flow in the left end ring tube (21) is blocked by the upper and lower piston plugs (212), the water flows counterclockwise into the multiple heat exchange straight tubes (3) inside the inner part of the left end ring tube (21). The water flow pushes the metal descaling balls (33) in the heat exchange straight tubes (3) to move closer to the right end ring tube (22), flushing and cleaning the inner wall of the heat exchange straight tube (3). The metal descaling balls (33) are stopped by the stopper at the end of the heat exchange straight tube (3), and the water flows into the right end ring tube (22) through the water holes (322) on the retaining ring (32); The water flows along the right end ring tube (22) and merges into the plurality of outer heat exchange straight tubes (3), pushing the metal descaling balls (33) in the outer heat exchange straight tubes (3) to move and flush the inner wall of the heat exchange straight tubes (3); finally, the water flows out of the heat exchanger from the hot water outlet (13) in a clockwise direction at the outer part of the left end ring tube (21), completing the first descaling cycle process; The driving mechanism drives the upper piston plug (211) to move to the inner side of the hot water inlet (12), and the lower piston plug (212) to move to the outer side of the hot water outlet (13); The hot water flows from the hot water inlet (12) into the left end ring tube (21). After the water flow in the left end ring tube (21) is blocked by the upper and lower piston plugs (212), the water flows clockwise through the outer part of the left end ring tube (21) into the plurality of heat exchange straight tubes (3) on the outer side. The water flow pushes the metal descaling balls (33) in the heat exchange straight tubes (3) to move closer to the right end ring tube (22). The metal descaling balls (33) are blocked and stopped by the retaining ring (32) in the tube at the end of the heat exchange straight tube (3). The water flows through the water holes (322) on the retaining ring (32) and flows into the right end ring tube (22). The water flows along the right end ring tube (22) and merges into the multiple heat exchange straight tubes (3) on the inner side, pushing the metal descaling balls (33) inside the inner heat exchange straight tubes (3) to move and flush the inner wall of the heat exchange straight tubes (3). Finally, the water flows counterclockwise from the inner part of the left end ring tube (21) and out of the heat exchanger through the heat exchanger hot water outlet (13), completing the second descaling cycle process.

6. The automatic descaling method of the mechanical automatic descaling shell-and-tube heat exchanger according to claim 5, characterized in that: The motor (43) drives the rotating rod (41) to rotate, so that the upper piston plug (211) and the lower piston plug (212) move to different positions synchronously.

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