Heat Exchange System Automatic Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat exchange systems face contamination issues, leading to reduced heat transfer performance and increased operating costs due to clogging, which complicates cleaning and can result in system failure, especially in environments with air pollution.

Innovation Solution

An automatic cleaning system is integrated into the heat exchange system, featuring a dirt filter and deflection device that allows for continuous cleaning during operation, ensuring a constant heat transfer performance by removing impurities from the transport fluid and preventing them from settling on the heat exchanger surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the heat exchanger operates in contaminated environments, then heat exchange function is achieved, but contamination accumulates on the heat exchanger surface reducing heat transfer performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer performanceVSAvoidcontamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system performs preliminary actions by continuously removing contaminants from the heat exchanger surface during operation, preventing accumulation before it significantly degrades heat transfer performance. The cleaning unit actively scans and cleans the heat exchanger surface in real-time, maintaining optimal thermal efficiency throughout the operating cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If manual cleaning is implemented, then contamination is removed, but system disassembly and labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecontaminationVSAvoidcleaning system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchange system incorporates a self-service cleaning mechanism where an integrated cleaning unit automatically cleans the heat exchanger surface during operation. The system uses its own operational resources (air flow, mechanical components) to perform cleaning without external intervention, eliminating the need for manual disassembly and labor while maintaining continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the heat exchanger is cleaned during operation, then continuous operation is maintained, but additional cleaning components are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidcleaning system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system is merged with the heat exchanger structure itself, integrating the cleaning unit directly into the heat exchanger assembly. The cleaning components (scan mechanism, cleaning elements) are combined with the heat exchanger's air flow paths and structural elements, allowing simultaneous heat exchange and cleaning functions without requiring separate standalone cleaning systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system maintains a substantially constant heat transfer performance over long periods without requiring manual cleaning or system disassembly, reducing labor and energy costs while preventing overheating and damage.

Implementation Method 1

for the exchange of heat between a transport fluid and a heating medium flowing through the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the transport fluid can be brought into flowing contact and can be guided away again from the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

removing impurities from the transport fluid and preventing them from settling on the heat exchanger surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2225528B1Heat exchange system
Publication Date: 2011.09.07 A HEAT ALLIED HEAT EXCHANGE TECH
  • EP2225528B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2225528B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2225528B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a heat exchange system (100) having a heat exchanger (1, 101, 102) comprising an inflow surface (2) and an outflow surface (3), wherein for the exchange of heat between a transport fluid (4) and a heating medium (5) flowing through the heat exchanger (1, 101, 102) in the operating state the transport fluid (4) can be fed to the heat exchanger (1, 101, 102) via a feed surface (200) of the heat exchange system (100) and via the inflow surface (2), brought into flow contact with the heat exchanger (1, 101, 102), and removed again from the heat exchanger (1, 101, 102) via the outflow surface (3). According to the invention, the heat exchange system (100) comprises an automatic cleaning system (7) for eliminating any contamination (6).