Truss Beam Cleaning Apparatus for Inclined Cooling Tube Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning apparatuses for cooling tube arrays in heat exchangers are cumbersome, difficult to handle, and lack structural strength, making them inefficient and labor-intensive, especially when dealing with large, inclined arrays in outdoor power station condensers.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning apparatus featuring a truss beam with C-channel rails and a separate, elevated tube, connected by truss supports, which provides high structural stability and ease of assembly, along with a hydraulic drive system that uses water pressure to move the nozzle carriage, eliminating the need for external power sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a traditional cleaning apparatus structure is used, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but the structural strength and stability are insufficient for large inclined cooling tube arrays
Solution Approach 1:
The truss beam is divided into multiple modular sections that can be assembled together to form a complete structure. Each section includes standardized components (chord tubes, bracings, connectors) that can be manufactured separately and connected on-site, providing both structural strength and ease of assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The truss beam combines different structural elements (chord tubes, bracings, connectors) into a composite framework that leverages the strengths of each component. This composite structure achieves high structural strength while maintaining manufacturability through standardized design of individual components.
2Productivity
If manual cleaning with high-pressure cleaners is used, then the equipment is simple, but the cleaning efficiency is low and labor intensity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle carriage is designed to be movable along the truss beam, allowing dynamic positioning and adjustment during cleaning operations. This enables the cleaning system to adapt to different sections of the cooling tube array, improving cleaning efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized motion mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning apparatus integrates multiple functions into a single system: the truss beam provides structural support and mobility, the nozzle carriage enables positioning, and the high-pressure nozzles perform cleaning. This multi-functional design improves productivity while consolidating equipment rather than requiring multiple separate tools.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cooling tube array is cleaned at high inclination angles, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the handling and positioning of the cleaning apparatus becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The truss beam and nozzle carriage are designed as movable structures that can be positioned and adjusted on inclined surfaces. The modular design allows the apparatus to adapt to different inclination angles while maintaining ease of operation through standardized connection mechanisms and mobility features.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning apparatus operates in three-dimensional space along the inclined tube array, with the nozzle carriage moving along the length of the truss beam which itself can be positioned at various angles. This multi-dimensional mobility enables adaptation to inclined arrays while maintaining operational ease through systematic motion control.
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 apparatus achieves high cleaning efficiency with high water output pressure, reduces manual labor, and simplifies the assembly and handling of large cooling tube arrays by providing a stable and lightweight structure, enabling effective cleaning of large, inclined arrays without the need for external power sources.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic drive system that uses water pressure to move the nozzle carriage
Implementation Method 2
high-pressure cleaners
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a cooling tube array (15) of a heat exchanger has a nozzle carriage (16) movably held on a truss beam, and a plurality of cleaning nozzles (40) mounted to the nozzle carriage. A truss beam has two parallel C-channel rails (20) having back sides that face each other, a tube (22) arranged separate and distant from the C-channel rails and at a different height than the C-channel rails in a cross-sectional plane of the truss beam, and truss supports (24) connecting the rails and the tube; the nozzle carriage has rollers (48) that are arranged for travelling in the C-channel rails. A water intake (82) is coupled to the nozzle manifold (42) and to a hydraulic drive (80) having a mechanical power take-off member (96) that is operably coupled to the nozzle carriage (16) for moving the nozzle carriage.