Heat Exchanger Flushing Manifold for Particulate Removal

Solution Overview

Problem

Heat exchangers accumulate particulates within fluid pathways or on surfaces, inhibiting performance and requiring complex cleaning processes, especially in inaccessible locations where disassembly is necessary.

Innovation Solution

Integrating a flushing manifold with nozzles into the heat exchanger body to spray a flushing fluid directly into heat transfer pathways, allowing for particulate removal without disassembly and while the exchanger remains operational.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cleaning system is used to flush particulates from heat transfer pathways, then heat exchanger performance is improved, but the system requires disconnection of fittings or disassembly of the heat exchanger

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchanger performanceVSAvoidcleaning system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flushing manifold is integrated directly into the heat exchanger body, merging the cleaning function with the heat transfer structure. This eliminates the need for external cleaning systems and disassembly operations, allowing particulate removal while the exchanger remains installed and operational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchanger incorporates its own flushing capability through integrated manifolds and nozzles that can be activated without external intervention or disassembly. The system performs self-maintenance by injecting flushing fluid through pathways already present in the heat exchanger structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Area of stationary object

If the heat exchanger is located in an inaccessible position, then space utilization is improved, but cleaning becomes complicated requiring disassembly of surrounding equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidcleaning accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flushing manifold is integrated directly into the heat exchanger body, merging the cleaning function with the heat transfer structure. This eliminates the need for external cleaning systems and disassembly operations, allowing particulate removal while the exchanger remains installed and operational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchanger incorporates its own flushing capability through integrated manifolds and nozzles that can be activated without external intervention or disassembly. The system performs self-maintenance by injecting flushing fluid through pathways already present in the heat exchanger structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the heat exchanger is decommissioned and replaced rather than cleaned, then operational continuity is maintained, but cost and resource utilization worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidresource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchanger incorporates its own flushing capability through integrated manifolds and nozzles that can be activated without external intervention or disassembly. The system performs self-maintenance by injecting flushing fluid through pathways already present in the heat exchanger structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the heat exchanger when particulates accumulate, the system recovers performance by flushing particulates through the integrated manifold. This extends the service life of the heat exchanger and avoids the costs associated with replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

Improves heat exchanger performance by removing obstructing particulates, extending the exchanger's useful life, and enabling maintenance in any setting without additional space or service interruption.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of nozzles oriented so as to spray a flushing fluid onto one or more of the plurality of heat transfer pathways

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentUS11371788B2Heat exchangers with a particulate flushing manifold and systems and methods of flushing particulates from a heat exchanger

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

A heat exchanger including a body. The body includes a plurality of heat transfer pathways, and a flushing manifold formed with the body of the heat exchanger. The flushing manifold includes a plurality of nozzles oriented so as to spray a flushing fluid onto, into, or both onto and into one or more of the plurality of heat transfer pathways. A method of flushing particulates from a heat exchanger including supplying a flushing fluid through a flushing manifold formed with a body of a heat exchanger, and spraying the flushing fluid onto, into, or both onto and into one or more heat transfer pathways using one or more nozzles in fluid communication with the flushing manifold.