Heat Exchanger With Threaded Spindle Cleaning Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers for natural gas drying and cleaning face challenges such as deposit formation on heat transfer surfaces, complex multi-stage processes, large volume requirements for porous beds, and labor-intensive bed replacement, which complicates the removal of water and accompanying substances.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger with a cleaning element that attaches to a threaded spindle, allowing axial movement to remove deposits from heat transfer surfaces without manual intervention, using a hollow-cylindrical design with internal threads and axial recesses to prevent jamming, and a thermally decoupled deposit reservoir for efficient contaminant collection and heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If natural gas is cooled to remove water and accompanying substances, then the purity of natural gas is improved, but deposits form on heat transfer surfaces reducing heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning element is positioned and configured in advance to prevent deposit accumulation on heat transfer surfaces before they can significantly reduce heat exchange efficiency. The cleaning mechanism is pre-installed within the first cylinder tube to continuously or periodically remove deposits as they form during the cooling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger performs self-cleaning through the integrated cleaning element that automatically removes deposits from heat transfer surfaces without external intervention. The cleaning element is driven by the threaded spindle mechanism that moves it axially to scrape and remove deposits during normal operation.
2Quantity of substance
If porous beds are used for gas drying, then water absorption capability is improved, but the volume required for the dryer increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the drying function from large porous beds and transfers it to the heat exchanger system itself. By removing water and accompanying substances through cooling and condensation on heat transfer surfaces, the system eliminates the need for separate porous drying beds, significantly reducing the overall volume required.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling and drying functions are merged into a single integrated system. The heat exchanger performs both cooling to remove accompanying substances and drying to remove water content, combining multiple functions into one compact unit rather than requiring separate large-volume porous beds for drying.
3Reliability
If cleaning devices are added to heat exchangers, then deposit removal capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded spindle mechanism serves multiple functions: it drives the cleaning element to remove deposits, and its axial movement mechanism is utilized for both cleaning operations and potentially for other operational functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
4Reliability
If the cleaning element is moved axially to clean deposits, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but wear and tear on the cleaning element increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning element is designed to be replaceable and can be recovered for maintenance or replacement without replacing the entire heat exchanger system. The modular design allows the cleaning element to be discarded when worn and a new one installed, extending the overall system service life while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
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 solution enables effective, automated cleaning of heat transfer surfaces, reducing process complexity and construction volume, while preventing wear and tear on the cleaning element, and allowing for efficient removal and thermal treatment of contaminants without disrupting the heat exchanger's operation.
Implementation Method 1
The threaded spindle is actuated for cleaning, as a result of which the cleaning element is displaced in the axial direction within the first cylinder tube
Implementation Method 2
the cooling of the natural gas in one or more steps to suitably low temperatures. In particular, liquefaction of the natural gas can be expedient here
Implementation Method 3
Condensing and freezing accompanying substances such as water, CO2 and hydrocarbon compounds are separated on the heat transfer surfaces
Implementation Method 4
a thermally decoupled deposit reservoir for efficient contaminant collection and heating
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising a first cylindrical tube (2) and a lead screw (3) which extends coaxially inside the first cylindrical tube (2); the inner surface of the first cylindrical tube (2) has guiding grooves (22), and a cleaning element (12) is secured to the lead screw (3) in such a way that a rotating movement of the lead screw (3) moves the cleaning element (12) in the axial direction along the guiding grooves (22).