Automatic cleaning system for chillers

Abstract

To provide an automatic cleaning system for a chiller that effectively prevents the formation of biofilm layers and slime in cooling water pipes. [Solution] The chiller comprises a compressor 2, an evaporator 3, a condenser 4 and an expansion valve 5, and is provided with a refrigerant pipe and a cooling water pipe for heat exchange within the condenser, the condenser including a front cover 41, a main body 42, a rear cover 43 and at least one electrode rod 6, the front cover and the rear cover are respectively connected to both ends of the main body to cover it, a water inlet pipe 411 and a water outlet pipe 412 are provided on the outside of the front cover, at least one first fixing part 431 is provided on the outer surface of the front cover, one end of the at least one electrode rod has at least one second fixing part 61 for fixing and connecting the at least one first fixing part, and the other end of the at least one electrode rod passes through each of the at least one first fixing part and enters the cooling water pipe inside the front cover.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of automatic cleaning systems for chillers, and more particularly to an automatic cleaning system for chillers that effectively prevents the formation of biofilm layers and slime in the cooling water pipes of condensers, thereby ensuring heat transfer capacity and cooling efficiency during heat exchange, ensuring stable operation of the chiller, and effectively saving electricity costs and energy. [Background technology]

[0002] A chiller is a type of cooling equipment commonly used to cool various industrial process equipment. It primarily consists of four components: a compressor, evaporator, condenser, and expansion valve. Its main operating principle is that the compressor compresses the refrigerant into a high-pressure, high-temperature liquid refrigerant, which then enters the condenser to condense into a high-pressure, room-temperature liquid refrigerant. The expansion valve then vaporizes the refrigerant, returning it to a low-temperature, heat-absorbing state. Due to the phase change, the refrigerant forms a low-pressure, low-temperature vaporization effect. After entering the evaporator, it reduces heat on the load side and provides cooling. The refrigerant in the evaporator also absorbs heat and returns to a low-pressure liquid state. Finally, it returns to the compressor for a compression cycle, achieving repeated cooling.

[0003] The chiller is the most important piece of equipment in a cooling system and consumes the most power. Chiller efficiency is generally evaluated using three metrics: energy efficiency rating (EER), coefficient of performance (COP), and power consumption per ton of refrigeration (kW / RT). Energy efficiency rating (EER) is expressed as cooling capacity (kcal / h) divided by power consumption (W), with a higher EER indicating a more efficient chiller. COP is expressed as EER (kcal / h·W) / 0.86, with a higher COP indicating higher efficiency and lower power consumption. For example, when measuring the initial COP of a Haier 400RT magnetic levitation unit, if the COP value drops, the display panel will display a warning message stating, "Slime has formed in the condenser. Please clean it." An investigation into the cause revealed that it was not actually a problem of scale, but rather a problem of thermal resistance caused by a biofilm layer inside the cooling water pipes. At the same time, the approach temperature was displayed as rising sharply, the cooling efficiency of the condenser was reduced, and power consumption was increasing. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If a biofilm layer is present in the cooling water pipes of a conventional chiller, it reduces the heat transfer capacity, reduces the cooling efficiency of the condenser, and increases power consumption, which is a problem that must be solved.

[0005] The main purpose of this invention is to provide a structure in which at least one electrode rod is fixed and attached to the front or rear cover of the condenser, thereby preventing the formation of a biofilm layer in the cooling water pipe, suppressing bacterial growth and slime formation, ensuring smooth flow of cooling water, and further ensuring heat conduction capacity and cooling efficiency during heat exchange, allowing the chiller to operate stably and effectively saving electricity costs and energy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the chiller of the automatic cleaning system for chillers according to the present invention has the following main technical features: a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve; a refrigerant pipe and a cooling water pipe adjacent to each other within the condenser, which perform heat exchange; one end of the condenser has a water inlet pipe and a drain pipe; the cooling water passes through the cooling water pipe via the water inlet pipe and then flows out via the drain pipe; the condenser includes a front cover, a main body, and a rear cover; the front cover is connected to one end of the main body to cover it, and the rear cover is connected to the other end of the main body to cover it; the cooling water pipe is provided on the inside of the front cover, the water inlet pipe and the drain pipe are provided on the outside of the front cover; at least one first fixing part is provided on the outer surface of the front cover; one end of at least one electrode rod has at least one second fixing part for fixing and connecting to the at least one first fixing part; and the other end of at least one electrode rod passes through the at least one first fixing part and enters the cooling water pipe.

[0007] When implemented, the condenser of the automatic cleaning system for a chiller according to the present invention may include a front cover, a main body, and a rear cover, wherein the front cover is connected to one end of the main body to provide a cover, and a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe are provided on the outside of the front cover, the rear cover is connected to the other end of the main body to provide a cover, and a cooling water pipeline is provided on the inside of the rear cover, and at least one first fixing part is provided on the outer surface of the rear cover, and one end of at least one electrode rod is provided with at least one second fixing part for fixing and connecting to the at least one first fixing part, and the other end of the at least one electrode rod passes through the at least one first fixing part and enters the cooling water pipeline.

[0008] In practice, the electrode rod includes a ceramic housing and a cable wire, the ceramic housing is inserted into the first fixing part and accommodated in the cooling water pipe, one end of the cable wire is inserted and fixed inside the ceramic housing, and the other end is electrically connected to a power supply device to input high-voltage, low-current DC power. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The design of the present invention has the following advantages: 1. In this invention, during the cooling process of the chiller, the electrode rods prevent the formation of biofilm in the cooling water pipes, suppressing bacterial growth and slime formation, improving water quality and ensuring heat transfer capacity and cooling efficiency during heat exchange. Furthermore, the chiller operates stably and maintains a low approach temperature for a long period of time, thereby saving electricity bills and energy. 2. Pre-manufactured and largely pre-assembled in the factory, the electrodes are pre-attached to the front or rear cover, which greatly improves the convenience and accuracy of on-site installation work and allows for seamless use without the need for the owner to stop related processes during installation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of the flow path layout of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional appearance of a condenser according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional appearance of a condenser according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The chiller of the automatic chiller cleaning system of this invention comprises a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve. During the cooling process, the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe is compressed by the compressor into a high-pressure, high-temperature liquid refrigerant, which then enters the condenser and condenses into a high-pressure, room-temperature liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant then vaporizes through the expansion valve, returning to a low-temperature, heat-absorbing state. The refrigerant undergoes a phase change, creating a low-pressure, low-temperature vaporization effect. After entering the evaporator, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the load side, returning to a low-pressure liquid state. Finally, the refrigerant returns to the compressor for a further compression cycle, achieving repeated cooling. The refrigerant pipes and cooling water pipes adjacent to the condenser exchange heat, lowering the refrigerant temperature and enhancing the cooling effect.

[0012] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, this is a preferred embodiment of the automatic cleaning system 1 for a chiller according to the present invention. It mainly includes a compressor 2, an evaporator 3, a condenser 4, an expansion valve 5, and at least one electrode rod 6. The condenser 4 includes adjacent refrigerant and cooling water pipes for heat exchange within the condenser 4. The condenser 4 includes a front cover 41, a main body 42, and a rear cover 43. The front cover 41 is lockably connected to one end of the main body 42, and the rear cover 43 is lockably connected to the other end of the main body 42. A water inlet pipe 411 and a water outlet pipe 412 are provided on the outside of the front cover 41. Cooling water enters through the water inlet pipe 411, passes through the cooling water pipe inside the rear cover 43, and then exits through the water outlet pipe 412. The water outlet pipe 412 is connected to a cooling tower, allowing repeated introduction of cooled water. The rear cover 43 has at least one first fixing part 431 on its outer surface. In this embodiment, the at least one first fixing portion 431 includes two first fixing portions 431, and the two first fixing portions 431 each have a through-hole that penetrates the rear cover 43.

[0013] In this embodiment, the at least one electrode 6 includes two similar electrodes 6, one end of which is provided with a second fixing portion 61, and the other end of which is provided with a ceramic housing 62 and one end of a cable 63. One end of the cable 63 is inserted into and fixed in the ceramic housing 62, and the other end is electrically connected to a power supply 7, which converts 90 to 240 volts of AC power into 35,000 volts of high-voltage, low-current DC power and inputs it into the ceramic housing 62. In practice, the long, rod-shaped ceramic housings 62 of the two electrodes 6 are inserted into the two through-holes of the two first fixing portions 431, respectively, and are housed in the cooling water pipeline. The two second fixing portions 61 are respectively lockably connected to the two first fixing portions 431, and the two electrodes 6 are thereby directly attached to the front cover 41 of the condenser 4.

[0014] In this way, after the power supply 7 inputs 35,000 volts of high-voltage, low-current DC power into the electrode rod 6, a high-voltage electric field is formed between the ceramic housing 62 and the water pipe wall of the cooling water pipe. This increases the surface charge of the colloidal particles in the water, maintaining them at a high zeta potential due to electrostatic repulsion. When the zeta potential of the electrostatic repulsion is greater than the van der Waals attractive force, the colloidal particles in the water are less likely to aggregate and are dispersed. Furthermore, the colloidal particles are stably suspended and dispersed, are less likely to aggregate, and are prevented from adhering to the surface of the water pipe wall, preventing the formation of slime and gel-like lumps and suppressing the growth of bacteria and microorganisms. Furthermore, it ensures heat conduction capacity and cooling efficiency during heat exchange.

[0015] 3 shows another embodiment of the automatic cleaning system 1 for chillers according to the present invention, which differs from the first embodiment in that the cooling water pipe is provided inside the front cover 41, and at least one first fixing part 431' is provided on the outer surface of the front cover 41. In this embodiment, the at least one first fixing part 431' includes two first fixing parts 431', each of which has a through-hole penetrating the front cover 41. Two electrodes 6 are respectively locked to the two first fixing parts 431' by two second fixing parts 61'. Similarly, two electrodes 6 can be pre-attached to the front cover 41 of the condenser 4 before shipment.

[0016] In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention discloses preferred specific embodiments, but does not limit the structural features of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, any changes or modifications that can be easily made within the technical spirit of the present invention are possible, and all such changes or modifications fall within the scope of the utility model claims of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0017] As described above, based on the above disclosure, the present invention achieves the intended purpose of the invention, effectively preventing the formation of biofilm layers and slime in the cooling water pipes of the condenser, ensuring high thermal conductivity and cooling efficiency during heat exchange, allowing the chiller to operate stably, and providing an automatic cleaning system for a chiller that effectively saves electricity costs and energy. Because the invention is practical and has industrial applicability, a utility model patent application has been filed in accordance with the law. [Explanation of symbols]

[0018] 1. Automatic cleaning system for chillers, 2 compressors, 3 evaporator, 4 condensers, 41 Front cover, 411 Water Inlet Pipe, 412 Drain pipe, 42 main body, 43 Rear cover, 431,431' 1st fixed part, 5 expansion valve, 6 electrode rods, 61,61' 2nd fixed part, 62 ceramic housing, 63 cable wires, 7 Power supply

Claims

1. An automatic cleaning system for a chiller, the chiller including a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve, a refrigerant pipe and a cooling water pipe adjacent to each other and performing heat exchange within the condenser, one end of the condenser including a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe, the cooling water passing through the cooling water pipe via the water inlet pipe and then flowing out to the outside via the water outlet pipe, the condenser includes a front cover, a main body, and a rear cover, the front cover is connected to one end of the main body to cover it, and the rear cover is connected to the other end of the main body to cover it, the cooling water pipe is provided inside the front cover, the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe are provided outside the front cover, at least one first fixing part is provided on the outer surface of the front cover, one end of at least one electrode rod is provided with at least one second fixing part for fixing and connecting to the at least one first fixing part, and the other end of the at least one electrode rod passes through each of the at least one first fixing part and enters the cooling water pipe.

2. An automatic cleaning system for a chiller, the chiller including a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve, a refrigerant pipe and a cooling water pipe adjacent to each other and performing heat exchange within the condenser, one end of the condenser including a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe, the cooling water passing through the cooling water pipe via the water inlet pipe and then flowing out to the outside via the water outlet pipe, the condenser includes a front cover, a main body, and a rear cover, the front cover is connected to one end of the main body to cover it, the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe are provided on the outside of the front cover, the rear cover is connected to the other end of the main body to cover it, the cooling water pipe is provided on the inside of the rear cover, at least one first fixing part is provided on the outer surface of the rear cover, one end of at least one electrode rod has at least one second fixing part for fixing and connecting to the at least one first fixing part, and the other end of the at least one electrode rod passes through the at least one first fixing part and enters the cooling water pipe.

3. 3. The automatic cleaning system for a chiller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrode rod includes a ceramic housing and a cable wire, the ceramic housing is inserted into the first fixing portion and housed within the cooling water pipe, one end of the cable wire is inserted into and fixed within the ceramic housing, and the other end is electrically connected to a power supply device for inputting high-voltage, low-current DC power.

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