Air Handling Unit Support Tray for Tilted Cleaning and Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning techniques for air handling units are inefficient, as they fail to thoroughly clean heat exchangers due to obstructing shrouds and risk damaging electrical components with moisture, making the process time-consuming and incomplete, especially when dealing with multiple units.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning apparatus that includes a support tray for air handling units, allowing for tilting and adjustable positioning to facilitate access and drainage, combined with a suction assembly to capture cleaning fluids and debris, enabling effective cleaning without exposing electrical components to moisture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cleaning techniques are used on air handling units, then the cleaning process is simple, but the cleaning effectiveness is poor due to obstructing shrouds and risk of moisture damage to electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling unit is segmented into accessible sections by removing or displacing shrouds and panels, allowing cleaning personnel to access heat exchangers and other components without exposing electrical components to moisture. The unit is divided into cleanable areas and protected areas.
Solution Approach 2:
A suction device is introduced as an intermediary tool to remove debris and contaminants during the cleaning process. The suction device allows cleaning to proceed without directly exposing electrical components to cleaning fluids, as debris is continuously removed through the suction mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If shrouds are removed to access heat exchangers for cleaning, then cleaning access is improved, but the risk of moisture damage to electrical components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device serves as an intermediary that enables cleaning access while protecting electrical components. It continuously removes moisture and debris from the cleaning area, preventing moisture from reaching electrical components even when shrouds are removed for access.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning process replaces traditional spray-and-wipe mechanical methods with a suction-based system. Instead of applying moisture and manually removing it, the system uses continuous suction to prevent moisture accumulation, thereby protecting electrical components while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
3Reliability
If thorough cleaning of heat exchangers is performed, then cleaning completeness is improved, but the time required for cleaning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device operates continuously throughout the cleaning process, maintaining constant removal of debris and moisture. This continuous action prevents reaccumulation of contaminants and eliminates the need for intermittent stopping and restarting, thereby achieving thorough cleaning more efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction device is positioned and activated before the main cleaning operation begins. This preliminary setup ensures that debris is removed as it is generated during cleaning, preventing the need for additional time-consuming steps such as manual removal or secondary cleaning passes.
4Productivity
If multiple air handling units are cleaned using conventional methods, then the number of units serviced is high, but the total cleaning time and labor requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device enables continuous cleaning operation across multiple units without interruption. By maintaining constant debris removal, the process eliminates time-consuming interruptions for manual cleanup between units, allowing faster servicing of multiple air handling units.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction device performs the function of debris removal automatically during the cleaning process, eliminating the need for separate manual cleanup operations. This self-service capability reduces labor requirements and accelerates the overall cleaning process for multiple units.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for supporting an air handling unit during servicing may comprise a support tray which defines a space for receiving the unit and may include opposite sides and opposite ends, with a front side and top of the tray being substantially open such that the is movable through the front side into the support tray. The apparatus may also include a support frame supporting the support tray above a ground surface and wheels on the support frame. The support frame may be configured to permit the tray to tilt end to end with respect to the support frame to adjust heights of the ends and to permit the tray to tilt side to side with respect to the support frame to adjust a height of the front side of the tray.