Separation of cleaning bodies from a stream of fluid

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for separation of cleaning bodies from a stream of fluid. A pipe wall (12) serves to guide the stream of fluid from an inflow side (16) to an outflow side (18). A screen (22) is arranged within the pipe wall (12). The screen (22) has a frustoconical screen surface (50) for guiding cleaning bodies to a cleaning body outlet (26) arranged in the direction of the outflow side (18). A lifting device (24) comprises at least one swirl body (40) arranged at least substantially parallel to the screen surface (50). The swirl body (40) is arranged rotating or pivoting about a rotation shaft (34), such that it sweeps across the screen surface (50). A gap (68) is formed between the swirl body (40) and the screen surface (50). The swirl body (40) has a cover (70) at least at the end (72) directed towards the inflow side (16). The gap (68) is partially closed off by the cover (70), such that the cover (70) covers at least 5% and not more than 80% of a cross-sectional area of the gap (68).

Description

[0001] Description SEPARATION OF CLEANING BODIES FROM A FLUID STREAM

[0002] The invention relates to a device and a method for separating cleaning bodies from a fluid stream.

[0003] To clean systems through which fluids flow, especially pipelines such as those in heat exchangers, it is known to place cleaning bodies into the fluid flow so that they move with the fluid flow through the system, thereby achieving a cleaning effect. For example, the cleaning bodies can be spherical and have a core made of a flexible material such as sponge rubber. By appropriately matching the dimensions (e.g., ball diameter) and properties (e.g., degree of hardness) of the cleaning bodies to the specific system, very efficient pipe cleaning can be achieved.

[0004] After passing through the system components to be cleaned, the cleaning bodies are preferably removed from the fluid flow, e.g. water flow.

[0005] DE 3938566 Ai discloses a method and device for separating cleaning particles from a cooling water stream downstream of a tubular heat exchanger. The cleaning particles are collected on a screen, lifted from the screen by a lifting device, and fed to an outlet opening. With the aid of flow guide elements, the lifting device generates a roller-shaped vortex that extends into the screen openings, thereby lifting cleaning particles and contaminants from the screen surface and causing them to rotate around the vortex core. By suctioning a small amount of water from the vortex chamber, the vortex roller is imparted an axial component, which can be supported by an oblique arrangement to the water flow. This transports cleaning particles and contaminants to the suction opening. By moving the vortex roller relative to the screen surface, all areas of the screen are successively encompassed.RU 2 721468 Ci describes a ball trap as part of a ball cleaning system for installation in a circulating water drain line downstream of a heat exchanger for trapping contaminated balls in contaminated water. Three embodiments are described, the first of which is equipped with a stationary ball trap in the shape of a right circular truncated cone with automatic flushing by return water using a rotating vortex cleaner with forced backwash on the inside of the cone.The second embodiment features a stationary ball trap in the shape of a straight circular truncated cone, with automatic flushing by reverse water flow using a vortex inductor on the inside of the cone and forced flushing under directed excessive water pressure from the outside of the cone, with the option of two forced flushing system variants: a common drive or two independent drives. The third embodiment features a movable ball trap in the shape of sections of a straight circular truncated cone with a mechanism for opening sections of the trap, with automatic cleaning by reverse water flow using a vortex inductor attached to the inside of the cone and with the optional use of forced flushing under excessive water pressure from the outside of the cone, also with two possible drive system variants for the optional forced flushing.

[0006] US5728297 A discloses a device for the mechanical cleaning of liquids, particularly cooling water, conveyed from a heat exchanger and flowing in a pipeline. The device comprises a rotationally symmetrical, conical sieve approximately the size of the pipe diameter, as well as a coaxial sieve suction device arranged on the upstream side of the sieve. It is mounted in a rotating manner, either continuously or intermittently, for the duration of a cleaning interval. During the cleaning interval, the entire surface of the sieve is gradually vacuumed. On the upstream side, the sieve is divided into sections, and the suction nozzle of the suction device can cover the respective sections.In each area of ​​the actual screen surface and the suction device, there is a cavity for temporarily collecting contaminants. The screen is divided on its upstream side by essentially radial barriers into individual sectors forming the areas. The suction nozzle of the suction device is shaped such that, at the moment the suction nozzle just covers one sector and leaves neighboring sectors essentially free, the gap between the free barrier edges and the edges of the suction nozzle of the suction device is sealed by sealing lips of at least the height of the gap.Preferably, the apex of the cone has no barriers and the ends of the barriers arranged in the remaining area have no closures, so that funnel-shaped chutes are created so that hard contaminants, such as stones, mussels, slide along the sieve surface into the barrier-free cone tip and are sucked out of the opening in the coupling pipe.

[0007] DE 8526836 Ui relates to a device for collecting cleaning media from cooling water flowing downstream of a heat exchanger provided with tubes. The cleaning media circulate through the tubes of the heat exchanger to clean them. The device comprises a pipe section with at least one sieve arranged therein and at least one drain opening in the wall of the pipe section, which is connected to the suction port of a pump.

[0008] The drain opening is connected to a suction device with a water inlet. The part of the suction device with the water inlet and the sieve are arranged so that they can move relative to each other.

[0009] It can be regarded as an object to provide a device and a method for separating cleaning bodies from a fluid flow, with which a reliable removal of the cleaning bodies is achieved in a structurally particularly simple manner.

[0010] The object is achieved by a device according to claim 1, a cleaning system according to claim 13 and a method according to claim 14. Dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0011] The device according to the invention for separating cleaning bodies from a fluid stream is hereinafter referred to simply as a "screening device" since it is designed to filter and remove cleaning bodies, which are usually spherical, from the fluid stream (usually a water stream). The device according to the invention comprises a pipe wall designed to guide the fluid stream from an inflow side to an outflow side. The device can thus be a section of a pipeline, e.g., for discharging cooling water from a heat exchanger. The interior space formed by the pipe wall preferably has a circular cross-section, although other cross-sectional shapes are not excluded.

[0012] A sieve and at least one outlet for the cleaning media are arranged within the pipe wall. The sieve serves to retain the cleaning media. The cleaning media, preferably balls made of sponge rubber, can be removed through the cleaning media outlet, preferably together with a portion of the flowing fluid. The cleaning media outlet preferably comprises an outward-leading line that runs, for example, transversely to the flow direction and penetrates the pipe wall. The flow direction is understood to be the direction from the inflow side to the outflow side, preferably parallel to the wall or a longitudinal center axis of the pipe.

[0013] An inlet area of ​​the cleaning body discharge can be arranged at various points along the cross-section of the pipe wall, including, for example, laterally close to the wall, but is preferably arranged at least substantially centrally in the pipe wall. The inlet area preferably comprises an opening oriented toward the upstream side, while being closed toward the downstream side.

[0014] According to the invention, the sieve has a truncated cone-shaped sieve surface which is designed such that it serves to guide the cleaning media to the cleaning media outlet. The inlet region of the cleaning media outlet is preferably arranged at the tip of the truncated cone and preferably adjoins the sieve surface. The truncated cone shape of the sieve surface has a round cross-section, wherein the conical shape is preferably oriented such that the dimensions taper towards the downstream side, i.e. towards the cleaning media outlet. While oblique arrangements are also conceivable in principle, the truncated cone is preferably aligned with its central axis parallel to the flow direction and to the central axis of the pipe wall, particularly preferably at least substantially centered.

[0015] While in principle flatter conical shapes are also conceivable, the preferred conical shape has a relatively steep inclination of the conical surface, so that the sieve surface in the longitudinal section preferably encloses an angle with the longitudinal center axis of the pipe wall or the truncated cone that is less than 60°, for example 15-60°, preferably 20-45°.

[0016] According to the invention, a movable lifting device is provided with at least one vortex body, which is preferably arranged at least substantially parallel to the sieve surface and can serve locally to create vortex flows in the fluid flow. The vortex body is arranged to rotate or pivot about a rotary shaft so that it sweeps over the sieve surface when moving. The vortex body is preferably elongated, i.e. it preferably has a length which is at least twice its width, preferably at least 5 times its width. The vortex body is preferably straight and can, for example, have a profile shape, i.e. a cross-sectional shape which is at least substantially constant over its length. The vortex body preferably has substantially the length of the sieve surface (measured in longitudinal section). The arrangement of the vortex body relative to the sieve surface can, deviating from an exactly parallel alignment, also be at a slight inclination, for example.not more than 10°, preferably not more than 5°. The vortex body is preferably arranged at a short distance from the sieve surface, so that it preferably sweeps over the entire length but does not touch it. Further preferably, the distance is selected such that no balls can be crushed between the vortex body and the sieve surface.

[0017] According to the invention, the lifting device is designed such that an intermediate space is formed between the vortex body and the screen surface. The intermediate space can be shown in particular in a cross-section through the vortex body and the screen surface located underneath. The dimensions of the intermediate space are understood to be limited by lines perpendicular to the screen surface up to the outer edges of the vortex body. As it moves across the screen surface, the vortex body causes vortices to form in the fluid flow directed from the inflow side to the outflow side. These vortices cause contaminants to be lifted off the screen surface on the one hand and to transport cleaning particles temporarily present there on the other.

[0018] According to the invention, the vertebral body has a cover at least at one end, namely the end facing the inflow side (hereinafter occasionally referred to as the "upper" end for simplicity), which at least partially closes off the intermediate space. Preferably, the vertebral body has no cover at the opposite end, referred to here as the "lower" end, so that the intermediate space is completely open at the lower end.

[0019] As has been shown, this also influences the flow conditions at the vortex body and thus the transport of the cleaning media. The cover results in an increased flow component in the longitudinal direction of the vortex body and along the gap towards the cleaning media outlet. This concentrates and collects the cleaning media at the outlet, enabling removal with a comparatively small amount of fluid and representing an improvement by reducing the amount of fluid required to remove the cleaning media.

[0020] The device according to the invention uses only a vortex body as a movable element relative to the screen surface, beneath which a gap is formed that is open along its sides. The vortex body acts as an obstacle to be flowed around in the fluid flow, thereby creating the desired vortex flows. Such a passive arrangement differs from an active suction device, in which a suction head is positioned sealingly in front of the screen surface and, through external suction, reverses the flow direction through the screen surface below the suction head.

[0021] The lifting device is preferably arranged so that the rotating shaft lies along the longitudinal axis of the truncated cone formed by the sieve surface. The vertebral body can be mounted on the rotating shaft with a support so that the rotating shaft, support, and vertebral body can rotate together. This includes not only uniform rotation in one direction but also other movement patterns such as intermittent rotation, alternating pivoting in opposite directions, etc.

[0022] The device according to the invention and the method implemented by its operation enable very good functionality with a simple structural design, both with regard to the transport of cleaning bodies and, on the other hand, with regard to cleaning the screening surface by removing contaminants. While other parts can be designed to be movable if necessary, only the mobility of the swirl body (or possibly several swirl bodies) relative to the screening surface is actually necessary, while other parts of the device can be stationary.

[0023] The size and shape of the cover at the upper end of the vortex body can be varied depending on the design and the desired effect. According to the invention, the cover is designed to cover at least 5% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the intermediate space, but not more than 80%. A coverage of 10-40% of the cross-sectional area is considered particularly suitable, with 10-30% being particularly preferred. This cover design has been shown to provide favorable flow conditions for transporting the cleaning bodies along the length of the vortex body.

[0024] Various shapes, particularly cross-sectional shapes, are possible for the design of the vertebral body. In particular, the vertebral body can have a cross-sectional shape that has an interior space that is open toward the sieve surface but closed in the opposite direction, i.e., it is concave. The vertebral body can preferably have two parallel end edges on the side facing the sieve surface, which are more preferably arranged at the same distance from the sieve surface. More preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the vertebral body is designed symmetrically with respect to the perpendicular to the sieve surface.

[0025] As a possible cross-sectional shape, the vertebral body can be shaped, for example, as part of a circular arc (preferably with the concave side towards the sieve surface), or alternatively, for example, angled, polygonal, U-shaped (preferably with the open side towards the sieve surface) or T-shaped (preferably with the flat side towards the sieve surface).

[0026] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the vertebral body can have a cross-sectional configuration referred to here as a roof shape, with two (roof) limbs arranged at an angle. The angle enclosed by the limbs can be, for example, 60-120°, preferably 70-100°, relative to each other. The roof limbs have, for example, a length of 30-120 mm, preferably 50-70 mm. The two limbs are preferably of equal length.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the distance between the vortex body and the screen surface is 20-80 mm, particularly preferably 30-50 mm. The distance can preferably be measured as the shortest perpendicular line from the screen surface to a portion of the vortex body. This leaves a sufficiently large free area below the vortex body so that the vortex flows triggered by the vortex body can take effect. At the same time, the sufficient distance ensures that no cleaning balls are crushed between the vortex body and the screen surface.

[0028] In principle, the sieve can be constructed in various ways, including, for example, as a wire sieve or perforated sheet. Preferably, the sieve is constructed with a plurality of parallel sieve bars, between which sieve spaces are formed as slots. The sieve bars can have various cross-sectional shapes, e.g. round, square, or triangular. A sieve with sieve bars of rectangular cross-section is particularly preferred. Particularly preferably, the height of the cross-sectional shape (i.e. the dimension transverse to the sieve surface) is greater than the thickness (i.e. the dimension parallel to the sieve surface) and more preferably corresponds to at least twice the thickness, so that the height / thickness ratio corresponds to at least 2, particularly preferably lies in the range 5 - 20.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the screen bars are arranged parallel to one another and preferably obliquely in the direction of flow, i.e., the direction from the upstream side to the downstream side, and preferably also to the longitudinal center axis of the pipe wall. The oblique configuration of the screen bars corresponds to the oblique configuration of the screen surface in longitudinal section. As a result, the fluid flows at least partially along the screen bars, which minimizes flow disturbances and leads to the lowest possible pressure loss. Particularly with the preferred steep shape of the truncated cone, the screen bars extend predominantly in the direction of flow (when considering a vector decomposition).

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sieve with the frustoconical sieve surface can have one or more tension rods that are bent in a circular or partially circular shape. Sieve rods can then be connected to the tension rods. For example, the entire sieve or segments of the sieve can be constructed such that, for example, two or more circular or partially circular, parallel tension rods with different bending radii are connected transversely by sieve rods. The sieve rods can be attached to the tension rods in various ways, e.g., welded thereto. Particularly preferably, the sieve rods are drilled through and penetrated by the tension rods. This is particularly advantageous for sieve bars with a rectangular cross-section. Further preferably, spacers can be arranged between the sieve bars, preferably on the tension rods, e.g., in the form of sleeves that surround the tension rods.In this way, a desired arrangement of the sieve bars can be achieved at a distance from one another and, particularly preferably, parallel to one another.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the sieve bars can have different lengths. While in the frustoconical sieve, for example, some sieve bars can be completely continuous, others can have a shorter length. This allows for a parallel arrangement of adjacent sieve bars to one another. Such an arrangement can be selected for a one-piece sieve as well as for a preferred multi-piece design of the sieve with a plurality of segments. Even within the segments, the sieve bars are preferably arranged parallel to one another and have different lengths.

[0032] As part of the design of the sieve, a holding element can be provided which extends diagonally in the direction of flow along the sieve surface. A segment of the sieve can, for example, be delimited laterally by two holding elements, with tension rods preferably extending between the holding elements. The holding element preferably has stepped recesses. Sieve bars can then be arranged such that at least some of the sieve bars end in the stepped recesses. Thus, sieve spaces are formed between adjacent sieve bars as sieve slots which, at least at one end on the stepped recess, have a transverse end, preferably running at right angles to the sieve bars, instead of a pointed convergence to which fibrous contaminants in particular could adhere more readily.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, a screen basket is arranged on the cleaning body discharge, i.e., an area that is at least partially and preferably predominantly equipped with a screen wall rather than a closed wall. The screen basket is preferably cylindrical in shape and has a screen wall in the radial direction. The screen basket is preferably arranged centrally within the pipe wall. The screen basket preferably forms the tip of the truncated cone formed by the screen surface. The screen basket preferably merges into an inlet area of ​​the cleaning body discharge.

[0034] The above-described device for separating cleaning media can be part of a cleaning system for a heat exchanger. The cleaning system comprises a device for feeding cleaning media, arranged on a cooling water line upstream of the heat exchanger. The described device for separating the cleaning media is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger to collect and remove the cleaning media after they have passed through the heat exchanger.

[0035] Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through an embodiment of a device for separating cleaning media with a sieve and a cleaning media outlet in a pipeline; Figures 2 and 3 show the sieve and the cleaning media outlet from Figure 1 in plan view and perspective view;

[0037] Figure 4-6 Segments of the sieve from Figure 2, 3 in perspective view, side view and front view;

[0038] Figure 6a is a schematic sectional view of part of a segment from Fig. 4 - 6;

[0039] Figures 7a, 7b show a first and a second end of a vertebral body according to a first embodiment of the device of Figure 1;

[0040] Figures 8a, 8b show a partially schematic representation of a section through a sieve plane with a vertebral body arranged above it according to Figures 7a, 7b;

[0041] Figures 9-11 partially schematic representations of cross-sectional shapes of vertebral bodies according to a second, third and fourth embodiment.

[0042] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a device 10 for separating cleaning bodies from a fluid stream.

[0043] The device shown is part of a cleaning system for a heat exchanger (not shown), in which cleaning bodies in the form of sponge rubber cleaning balls are fed into a cooling water stream upstream of the heat exchanger in a manner known per se, which balls pass through the tubes of the heat exchanger with the cooling water stream and clean them in the process. The device 10, which is also referred to below for the sake of simplicity as a screening device 10, is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger and serves to separate and remove the cleaning bodies from the cooling water stream. For this purpose, the screening device 10 has a cylindrical pipeline with a pipe wall 12 which defines a cylindrical interior space 20, as shown by way of example in longitudinal section in Figure 1. Flanges 14 serve for connection to preceding and subsequent sections of the pipeline, for example within the system outlined above.The screening device 10 is arranged such that the flow direction of the water through the pipeline is directed from an upper inflow side 16 in Fig. 1 to a lower outflow side 18, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 1.

[0044] The screening device 10 comprises in the interior 20 a truncated cone-shaped screen 22, a lifting device 24 and a cleaning body removal device 26.

[0045] The sieve 22 has a frustoconical sieve surface 50 and is arranged centrally in the interior space 20 so that its longitudinal center axis coincides with a longitudinal center axis A of the pipeline. The sieve 22 is arranged such that it tapers in the direction of flow. Starting from an external attachment 28 on the wall 12, where the sieve 22 covers the entire cross-section of the pipeline, the sieve surface of the sieve 22 leads to a cylindrical sieve basket 30, to which the cleaning body discharge 26 is connected with a collecting pot 31 and a discharge line 32 running transversely to the axis A, which leads through the pipe wall 12 to the outside. As can be seen from Figure 3, the walls of the collecting pot 31 are closed, while the wall of the cylindrical sieve basket 30 is formed from preferably parallel sieve bars.

[0046] The lifting device 24 comprises a rotary shaft 34, to which an elongated vertebral body 40 is attached by a holder 36 such that it rotates with the rotary shaft 34 about the axis A. For this purpose, the rotary shaft 34 is mounted in a bearing 38 and coupled to a rotating drive (not shown) via a deflection gear 42 and a drive shaft 44 passing through the pipe wall 12.

[0047] The vortex body 40 is arranged parallel to the sieve surface 50 and at a distance from it such that it extends over the entire length of the sieve 22. When the unit comprising the rotating shaft 34, holder 36 and vortex body 40 rotates, driven by the drive shaft 40, the vortex body 40 thus sweeps over the entire sieve surface 50. The sieve 22 is shown separately in Figure 2 in a view from below and in Figure 3 in a perspective view. As can be seen there, the truncated cone shape is made up of a number of segments 46, one of which is shown separately in Figures 4-6. To form the sieve 22, the segments 46 are joined together both laterally, i.e. in the circumferential direction of the truncated cone, and with one another, i.e. in the direction of the collecting pot 31.

[0048] As shown in Figure 4-6, the segments 46 of the screen 22 are each constructed from parallel screen bars 48 arranged between support members 52 and transversely connected by transversely extending, curved tension bars 54.

[0049] The sieve bars 48 have, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 6a, a rectangular cross-section, in the preferred embodiment with a height of 20 mm and a thickness of 2 mm.

[0050] As further shown in Figure 6a, the sieve bars 48 are drilled through and penetrated by the tension rods 54. Spacer sleeves 56 surrounding the tension rods 54 hold the sieve bars 48 parallel and spaced from each other.

[0051] As can be seen particularly from Figure 5, the sieve bars 48 of the illustrated segment 46 differ in terms of their length. While the middle sieve bars 48 extend over the full length of the segment 46, the outer sieve bars 48 are shorter and end in stepped recesses 58 of the holding elements 52. Depending on the desired design, the stepped recesses 58 can be formed integrally with the holding elements 52; however, the recesses 58 are preferably formed by triangular covers that are attached separately, e.g., welded. The triangular covers can be arranged, for example, on the inside of the sieve 22, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0052] The stepped steps 58 and the parallel arrangement of the sieve bars 48 ensure that the sieve spaces have a rectangular cross-section. The sieve bars 48 thus do not form constrictions in which contaminants would preferentially accumulate.

[0053] The vertebral body 40 is formed as a narrow, elongated strip with a continuous profile. Figures 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b show the shape of the vertebral body 40 according to a first embodiment.

[0054] The vertebral body 40 has a profile shape corresponding to a roof shape with two equally long roof limbs 62, in the example shown, arranged at an internal angle of approximately 90° to each other. This creates an interior space 64 of the vertebral body 40 that is open downward, i.e., toward the sieve surface 50.

[0055] The arrangement of the vertebral body 40 relative to the sieve surface 50 is particularly evident in Figures 8a and 8b. As shown there, a distance d remains between the lower edges 66 of the roof limbs 62 below the sieve surface 50. This forms the intermediate space 68, shown hatched in Figure 8b, which is located below the roof limbs 62 and is laterally delimited by the vertical projection of the edges 66 onto the sieve surface 50, thus consisting of the downwardly open interior space 64 of the vertebral body 40 and the rectangular area defined by the distance d. As can be seen from Figures 8a and 8b, the interior space 64 is laterally open along the edges 66.

[0056] The cross-sectional shape of the vertebral body 40 remains constant throughout as shown in Figures 7b, 8b, with the exception of its end 72 pointing in the direction of the inflow side 16 (see Figure 1), which is referred to here as the upper end 72 for the sake of simplicity.

[0057] Figure 7a shows the upper end of the vertebral body 40. As shown there, the interior space 64 of the vertebral body 40 is partially closed off at the upper end 72 by a cover 70. The cover 70 conceals part of the interior space 64, as well as part of the entire space 68 between the sieve surface 50 and the vertebral body 40, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vertebral body 40.

[0058] No cover is provided at the lower end 74 of the vertebral body 40 opposite the upper end 72; here the interior space 64 remains open in the longitudinal direction (Figure 7b).

[0059] Due to the shape and arrangement of the vortex body 40 as shown and described above in a fluid flow, here in particular a water flow in the flow direction from the inflow side 16 to the outflow side 18, defined, highly advantageous flow conditions are formed. Due to the flow around the vortex body 40, here the roof leg 62, vortex flows form as indicated in Figures 8a, 8b. These vortex flows locally change the flow direction and partially reverse it, particularly in the area of ​​the screen surface 50. This allows contaminants and deposits to be removed from there. In particular, cleaning particles that temporarily remain on the screen surface 50 are also released in this way, so that they can move along the screen surface 50 in the direction of the cleaning particle discharge 26.

[0060] This movement is supported by a longitudinal component of the vortex flow resulting from the partial covering of the intermediate space 68. The cover 70 attached to the upper end 72 of the vortex body 40 thus creates flow conditions that support the transport of cleaning media along the vortex body 40 to the cleaning media outlet 26.

[0061] With regard to the dimensioning of the cover 70, the inventors assume that - viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vortex body 40, as shown, for example, in Figures 8a, 8b - the ratio of the covered area (see hatched area in Figure 8a) to the area of ​​the entire intermediate space 68 (see hatched area in Figure 8b) is decisive. The effect of a longitudinal component of the resulting flow can therefore be observed even with a low degree of coverage of, for example, at least 5%. However, a considerably higher proportion of the area making up the intermediate space 68 can also be covered, for example up to 80%, i.e. the cover 70 can also cover the entire interior space 64 of the vortex body 40 and even protrude beyond the edges 66 in the direction of the sieve surface 50. Good flow conditions can be achieved, for example, with a size of the cover 70 which corresponds to 10 - 40%, particularly preferably 10 - 30% of the area forming the intermediate space 68.While the roof shape of the vertebral body 40 shown in Figures a-8b has proven particularly suitable, a wide variety of designs are possible. Figures 9-11 show corresponding examples. The profile of the vertebral bodies 40 is shown in solid lines, the shape and size of the front cover 70 in dashed lines, and the gap 68 in dotted lines.

[0062] In a second embodiment of a vortex body 40a according to Figure 9, a T-profile is used, the flat side of which faces the screen surface 50. The intermediate space 68 is defined by the vertical projection from the screen surface 50 to the edges of the flat side of the T-profile, which do not protrude in this case. The cover 70 is designed as a rectangular sheet metal projecting in the direction of the screen surface 50.

[0063] In a third embodiment of a vertebral body 40b according to Figure 10, the vertebral body 40b has a 90° angular shape, which, however, in contrast to the first embodiment, is not symmetrically aligned with the perpendicular to the sieve surface 50. Instead, one leg 62 is parallel to the sieve surface 50 and the second leg 62 is perpendicular to the sieve surface 50. The cover 70 is also rectangular in shape here.

[0064] In the third embodiment according to Figure 11, a vortex body 40c is formed as a roof shape with two legs 62, to which, however, in this case, extensions are connected that extend parallel to the screen surface 50. A triangular sheet metal is provided as the cover 70, which in this case covers the entire interior space 64.

[0065] During operation of the screening device 10, when cleaning an upstream system component, such as a heat exchanger, a water stream containing cleaning media is supplied from the inflow side 16. The cross-section of the pipeline formed by the pipe wall 12 is completely covered by the screen 22, and the interstices 60 of the screen 22 are dimensioned such that the cleaning media cannot reach the outflow side 18, but are held back by the screen 22 and directed toward the cleaning media outlet 26. There, they enter the collecting pot 31 and are sucked away via the outlet line 32 along with a certain amount of water.

[0066] This is supported by the operation of the lifting device 24. For this purpose, the rotating shaft 34 is driven by the drive shaft 44 so that it rotates about the axis A, and the vortex body 40 sweeps over the sieve surface 50. The rotation can occur continuously in the same direction, but also in alternating pivoting movements in opposite directions.

[0067] When the vortex body 40 sweeps over the screen surface 50, vortex flows are triggered locally in the water flow of the interior 20 as described, which also have a longitudinal component in the direction of the cleaning media outlet 26. As a result, cleaning media are lifted from the screen surface 50 and conveyed toward the screen basket 30 and the collecting pot 31 located behind it. Furthermore, the vortex flow loosens any contaminants adhering to the screen 22.

[0068] The embodiments shown above are merely exemplary; in fact, the invention can be implemented in various ways, and numerous modifications to the embodiments shown are possible. For example, the shape of the sieve 22 can vary so that the sieve surface 50 is flatter or steeper than shown in the example of Figure 1, in which the angle enclosed between the axis A and the sieve surface 50 is approximately 30°. Instead of just one vortex body 40, several vortex bodies can be attached to the rotational axis of the rotating shaft 34, which together sweep the sieve surface 50.

[0069] List of reference symbols

[0070] A Longitudinal center axis d Distance io Device for separating cleaning bodies (screening device)

[0071] 12 Pipe wall

[0072] 14 flanges

[0073] 16 Inflow side

[0074] 18 Downstream side

[0075] 20 Interior

[0076] 22 Sieve

[0077] 24 Lifting device

[0078] 26 Cleaning body extraction

[0079] 28 Fastening

[0080] 30 strainer basket

[0081] 31 Catch pot

[0082] 32 Exhaust pipe

[0083] 34 Rotating shaft

[0084] 36 holders

[0085] 38 warehouses

[0086] 40 vertebral bodies

[0087] 42 Deflection gear

[0088] 44 Drive shaft

[0089] 46 segments

[0090] 48 sieve bars

[0091] 50 screen area

[0092] 52 holding elements

[0093] 54 tension rods

[0094] 56 spacer sleeves

[0095] 58 stepped steps 6o sieve spaces

[0096] 62 roof legs

[0097] 64 Interior of the vertebral body

[0098] 66 Edges of the roof legs 68 Space

[0099] 70 Cover

[0100] 72 upper end of the vertebral body

[0101] 74 lower end of the vertebral body

Claims

Claims 1. Device for separating cleaning bodies from a fluid flow, with a pipe wall (12) for conducting the fluid flow from an inflow side (16) to an outflow side (18), a sieve (22) arranged within the pipe wall (12) with a frustoconical sieve surface for conducting cleaning bodies to a cleaning body discharge (26) arranged in the direction of the outflow side (18), a lifting device (24) with at least one vortex body (40) arranged at least substantially parallel to the sieve surface (50) at a distance (d) from the sieve surface (50), wherein the vortex body (40) is arranged rotating or pivoting about a rotary shaft (34) in such a way that it sweeps over the sieve surface (50), wherein an intermediate space (68) is formed between the vortex body (40) and the sieve surface (50), wherein the vortex body (40) is at least on the side towards the inflow side (16) directed end (72) has a cover (70),by which the intermediate space (68) is partially closed off such that the cover (70) covers at least 5% and not more than 80% of a cross-sectional area of ​​the intermediate space (68).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate space (68) is laterally open.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the vertebral body (40) has a roof shape in cross section with two roof legs (62) arranged at an angle of 60-120°.

4. Device according to one of claims 1, 2, wherein the vertebral body (40) has a partial circular shape, angled shape, U-shape, T-shape or polygonal shape in cross section. 5- Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the vortex body (40) has a distance (d) from the sieve surface (50) of 20 - 80 mm.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sieve (22) comprises a plurality of parallel sieve bars (48), wherein the sieve bars (48) extend obliquely in the flow direction.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sieve (22) has a plurality of sieve bars (48) with a rectangular cross-section.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sieve (22) has one or more tension rods (54) which are bent in a circular or partially circular shape, wherein sieve rods (48) are connected to the tension rods (54).

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein spacers (65) are arranged between the sieve bars (48).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims 6 - 9, in which a part of the sieve bars (48) ends in step-shaped steps (60) of at least one holding element (52) extending obliquely in the direction of flow.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the step-shaped steps (60) are formed by means of covers.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cleaning body discharge (26) has a cylindrical sieve basket (30) adjoining the sieve (22). 13- Cleaning system for a heat exchanger, comprising a device for feeding cleaning bodies arranged on a cooling water line upstream of a heat exchanger, and a device for separating the cleaning bodies arranged downstream of the heat exchanger according to one of the preceding claims.

14. A method for separating cleaning bodies from a fluid flow, in which a fluid flow is guided within a pipe wall (12) from an inflow side (16) to an outflow side (18), and the fluid flow is screened by means of a screen (22) arranged within the pipe wall (12) with a frustoconical screen surface, so that the cleaning bodies are guided in the direction of the outflow side (18), wherein a lifting device (24) with at least one vortex body (40) arranged at least substantially parallel to the screen surface (50) rotates about a rotary shaft (34) such that the vortex body (40) sweeps over the screen surface (50), wherein an intermediate space (68) is formed between the vortex body (40) and the screen surface (50), and wherein the vortex body (40) has a cover at least on one end (72) directed towards the inflow side (16). (70) by which the intermediate space (68) is at least partially closed.

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