HVAC Coil Cleaning Nozzle with High-Velocity Fluid Stream
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC cooling coil cleaning methods are ineffective in reaching deep into coils with closely spaced fins, leading to contamination buildup, reduced airflow, and potential health risks from microbiological growth, as they cannot completely remove contaminants without damaging the fins or reaching the entire coil cross-section.
Innovation Solution
A novel apparatus and method using a higher velocity flow of cleaning solution augmented with air to reach deeper into the coils, featuring a supply and collection assembly with a pump, vacuum source, nozzle device, and filter assembly to deliver and recirculate the solution, ensuring thorough cleaning and containment of contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional cleaning methods are used, then the cleaning process is simple and easy to operate, but the cleaning solution cannot reach deep into coils with closely spaced fins, leading to contamination buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic principles by using a high-velocity liquid stream delivered through a nozzle to penetrate deep into the coil fins. The cleaning solution is propelled at high speed to overcome the resistance of closely spaced fins and reach contaminants in hard-to-access areas, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and cleaning penetration depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the velocity parameter of the cleaning solution by using a pump to increase flow rate and a nozzle to concentrate the stream. This parameter change enables the cleaning solution to penetrate deeper into the coils while maintaining an operationally simple process, thus resolving the technical contradiction.
2Manufacturing precision
If high velocity flow is used to reach deep into coils, then cleaning penetration improves, but the risk of damaging delicate fins increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the velocity parameter of the cleaning solution to achieve sufficient penetration depth while remaining below the threshold that would cause fin damage. The pump and nozzle system allows precise control of flow parameters, enabling deep cleaning without compromising fin strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle acts as an intermediary that concentrates and directs the cleaning solution in a controlled manner. It transforms the bulk flow into a focused high-velocity stream that can penetrate deep into fins without excessive force, mediating between the need for deep penetration and the risk of damage.
3Strength
If conventional low pressure sprayer is used, then the risk of fin damage is minimized, but contaminants deep within the coils cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic principles with a pump to generate high-velocity flow that penetrates deep into the coils to remove contaminants, while the controlled application method maintains fin integrity. This resolves the contradiction between gentle cleaning and thorough contaminant removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic cleaning approach where the high-velocity stream is moved systematically across the coil surface. This dynamic application allows the concentrated stream to penetrate deep into fins and remove contaminants while the brief contact time and controlled movement prevent cumulative damage to fin strength.
4Manufacturing precision
If cleaning solution is applied to reach entire coil cross-section, then complete contamination removal is achieved, but the cleaning system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cleaning task by using a movable nozzle that systematically covers different sections of the coil. This segmentation allows complete contamination removal through methodical section-by-section cleaning rather than requiring a complex system to treat the entire coil simultaneously, thus resolving the contradiction between completeness and simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle serves as an intermediary that concentrates the cleaning solution into a focused stream, enabling deep penetration and complete contaminant removal with a relatively simple pump-and-nozzle system rather than requiring complex multi-component equipment.
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 effectively removes contaminants deep within the coils, improving airflow and preventing microbiological growth, while maintaining the integrity of the fins and ensuring the HVAC system operates efficiently and safely.
Implementation Method 1
A pump is also provided, having a pump inlet positioned to be in fluid communication with the cleaning solution. The pump is operative to deliver the cleaning solution to a supply outlet of the supply and collection assembly.
Implementation Method 2
A vacuum source has a vacuum inlet positioned to be in fluid communication with an ullage space such that the vacuum source creates negative pressure in the ullage space during operation. A collection inlet is in fluid communication with the ullage space such that the cleaning solution is returned to the interior space through the collection inlet during operation of the vacuum source.
Implementation Method 3
The apparatus and method use a higher velocity flow of cleaning solution augmented with a flow of air (or other suitable gas) to remove contaminants that cannot be removed with conventional coil cleaning systems and procedures.
Implementation Method 4
featuring a supply and collection assembly with a pump, vacuum source, nozzle device, and filter assembly to deliver and recirculate the solution, ensuring thorough cleaning and containment of contaminants.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of cleaning an HVAC coil unit located above a drain basin comprises providing a supply and collection assembly having a reservoir containing liquid cleaning solution, a pump operative to output the liquid cleaning solution through a supply outlet, and a vacuum source operative to draw in used liquid cleaning solution through a collection inlet. A nozzle device is in fluid communication with the supply outlet. A fluid return tool is in fluid communication with the collection inlet, and positioning the fluid return tool in the drain basin. A filter assembly is located between the fluid return tool and the collection inlet in the fluid return path. A further step of the method involves moving the delivery face of the nozzle device across the surface of the HVAC coil unit to deliver the cleaning solution into areas between fins thereof.