Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
  • F28G1/00—Non-rotary, e.g. reciprocated, appliances
  • F28G1/16—Non-rotary, e.g. reciprocated, appliances using jets of fluid for removing debris
  • F28G1/166—Non-rotary, e.g. reciprocated, appliances using jets of fluid for removing debris from external surfaces of heat exchange conduits
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
  • F28G13/00—Appliances or processes not covered by groups F28G1/00 - F28G11/00; Combinations of appliances or processes covered by groups F28G1/00 - F28G11/00
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
  • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
  • A47L5/14—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum cleaning by blowing-off, also combined with suction cleaning
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L7/00—Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
  • A47L7/0004—Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/02—Nozzles
  • A47L9/06—Nozzles with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/02—Nozzles
  • A47L9/08—Nozzles with means adapted for blowing
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
  • A47L9/2805—Parameters or conditions being sensed
  • A47L9/2821—Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
  • F28F1/10—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
  • F28F1/12—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
  • F28G1/00—Non-rotary, e.g. reciprocated, appliances
  • F28G1/02—Non-rotary, e.g. reciprocated, appliances having brushes
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
  • F28G15/00—Details
  • F28G15/003—Control arrangements
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28G—CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS
  • F28G15/00—Details
  • F28G15/02—Supports for cleaning appliances, e.g. frames
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F2221/00—Details or features not otherwise provided for
  • F24F2221/22—Cleaning ducts or apparatus
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/0068—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for refrigerant cycles
  • F28D2021/007—Condensers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to cleaning mechanism for use in relation to chiller systems.
• this invention relates to an apparatus and method for the removal of dust from adjacent the condenser of such chiller systems.
• Chiller systems shall include, but shall not be limited to refrigeration systems, cold cabinet systems, freezer systems, air conditioning systems, and the like.
• Chiller systems such as, refrigeration systems, cold cabinet systems, freezer systems, air conditioning systems, and the like; rely on a chiller to reduce the temperature of a process fluid, for example, water.
• Such chiller systems usually comprise a compressor that constricts or compresses a refrigerant vapour, raising its pressure and pushing through condenser coils. When the compressed gas meets a cooler air temperature it becomes a high pressure liquid. The liquid refrigerant absorbs the heat from the chiller unit, cooling down the air adjacent to the evaporator coils. In doing so, the refrigerant evaporates to gas and flows back to the compressor.
• Air cooled condensers are the most common form of condensers used in chiller systems. Typically, air cooled condensers comprise one or more condenser coils and one or more fans that induce airflow over the coils. Some chiller systems may also be fitted with a heat exchanger to improve performance and make the system more efficient.
• an array of fins are usually provided, for example, in the form of a grid, to protect the condenser and also to protect users from moving parts.
• fin grid condensers tend to collect dust, debris and smoke fumes over its grid structure. Such dusts blocks part of the gaps of the grid and negatively affect heat exchange, resulting in reduction in the efficiency of condensing of the condenser.
• US Patent application No. 2011/296641 describes a cleaning brush device for a condenser of refrigerator.
• the brush device brushes the dust and debris from the cooling fin grid, however, the dust and debris is not removed from the system as a whole and will fall down inside condenser housing the chiller system. This results in and accumulation of dust and debris within the chiller system and constant cleaning of the condenser is still required due to condenser fans powerful airflow suction will take some of the dust and debris back into condenser fins. This is a particular issue for condensers located external to buildings, for example, in air conditioning systems or and exposed to outside open air environment in cities and towns.
• An objective of the invention is to provide a comprehensive cleaning system for cooling fin grids.
• a cleaning device for a condenser of a chiller system comprising:
• a condenser provided with a cooling grid, said cooling grid comprising one or more fins;
• a dust extraction system configured to remove dust from the surface of the one or more fins of the grid and/or the condenser.
• the dust extraction system shall not consist of a brush only. However, it is within the scope of the present invention for a brush to be incorporated with other dust extraction systems herein described.
• a chiller system shall include, but shall not be limited to a refrigeration system, a cold cabinet system, a freezer system, an air conditioning system, and the like.
• a chiller system shall include remote air cooled condensers, such as the ALTOTM, ADAGIOTM and TENORTM remote condensers, available in the United Kingdom from Carrier Air Conditioning, Worcestershire B61 OGD.
• the chiller system comprises a refrigeration system.
• the chiller system comprises a cold cabinet system.
• the chiller system comprises a freezer system.
• the chiller system comprises an air conditioning system.
• sensors may be included that detect, for example, temperature, wind, rain, etc.
• the use of such sensors may be advantageous in that, inter alia, they can help the cleaning operation to work safely, for example, if there is rain and heavy wind the cleaning device can be switched off so that it does not perform its cleaning cycle. This can prevent the cleaning device and/or the condenser from being damaged.
• rain water may be utilised as a natural cleaning agent, for example, a suction system may be used to wash the condenser and/or grid fins and the spent rain water and dust can be removed together.
• the cooling grid will generally comprise a plurality of fins.
• the fins on the cooling grid may comprise a plurality of horizontal fins, e.g. one or more rows of horizontal fins.
• the fins on the cooling grid may comprise a plurality of vertical fins, e.g. one or more columns of vertical fins.
• the cooling grid may comprise a plurality of diagonally mounted fins.
• a particular advantage of the present invention is that the dust extraction system of the invention may be configured to remove dust from any of the aforementioned fin arrangements, including any combination thereof. It will be understood by the person skilled in the art that the term "dust" shall be interpreted broadly and shall include, but not be limited to, lint, matted dust, dirt, and the like.
• dust shall include "dust bunnies”.
• Dust bunnies are small agglomerations or clumps of dust that form in areas that are not cleaned regularly. They are generally made of hair, lint, dead skin, spider webs, dust, and sometimes light rubbish and debris.
• the small agglomerations or clumps are held together by static electricity and/or entanglement. They can house dust mites or other parasites and can lower the efficiency of condensers by clogging. The movement of a single large particle can start the formation of a dust bunny.
• the dust extraction system configured to remove dust from the surface of the one or more fins of the grid, may comprise one or more of a suction system, e.g. a vacuum; a blowing system, e.g. an air blowing system or a washing system, including any combination thereof.
• the extraction system is adapted to sweep over the one or more cooling fins, e.g. horizontally, vertically or diagonally, in a predetermined period of time and remove the dust collected in the cooling grid.
• the extraction system may remove dust from the condenser as well as the cooling grid.
• the extraction system comprise one or more of a suction system, a blowing system, or a washing system, may also include a brushing system.
• the dust extraction system may comprise means for ionisation of the dust, for example, the fins or grid could be ionised, thus preventing attraction of dust to the fins and/or condenser.
• the extraction system comprises a suction system.
• the suction system may be adapted to clean the grid fins and/or the condenser.
• the suction system will generally comprise a vacuum.
• the suction system may comprise one or more vacuum nozzles connected to a vacuum system.
• the one or more vacuum nozzles will generally be adapted to sweep the grid fins and/or the condenser.
• the extraction system comprises a blowing system.
• the blowing system may be adapted to clean the grid fins and/or the condenser.
• the blowing system will generally comprise an air blowing system and may comprise one or more air blowing nozzles connected to a blowing system.
• the one or more air blowing nozzles will generally be adapted to sweep the grid fins and/or the condenser.
• the extraction system comprises a washing system.
• the washing system may be adapted to clean the grid fins and/or the condenser.
• the washing system could generally use any liquid suitable for washing, the washing system may comprise the use of water alone or water combined with a choice of cleaning agents, e.g. appropriate chemical cleaning agents.
• the washing system may comprise one or more washing nozzles connected to a water outlet system. The one or more washing nozzles will generally be adapted to sweep the grid fins and/or the condenser.
• the washing system may optionally comprise the use of steam or other vapour or gas.
• washing system provides a water spray for the condenser, which may be advantageous during hot days, preventing overheating of the condenser and accelerate heat loss.
• the dust extraction system e.g. the one or more vacuum nozzles, air blowing nozzles or washing nozzles, may sweep horizontally, vertically or diagonally over the cooling fin grid in a predetermined period of time to remove the dust collected in the cooling fin grid. The predetermined period of time may be controlled according to, inter alia, the amount of dust collected on the cooling fin grid.
• the dust extraction system may sweep a first row horizontally in a first direction from a first side of the cooling fin grid to a second side of the cooling fin grid, move down and sweep vertically to a second row at the second side of the first row, and then sweep the second row horizontally from the second side of the cooling fin grid to the first side of the cooling fin grid.
• the dust extraction system may sweep the rows and columns of the cooling fin grid from a top row to a bottom row for a first sweep cycle.
• the dust extraction system may retrace the rows and columns of the cooling fin grid back from a bottom row to a top row for a second sweep cycle, and the first and second sweep cycles may be consecutive such that motion line of the dust extraction system is minimised.
• the dust extraction system may sweep a first row vertically, depending, inter alia, upon the system being cleaned.
• the term between the first and second sweep cycles may be equal to the predetermined period of time.
• the predetermined period of time may be adjusted according to, inter alia, the nature and performance of the condenser.
• the condenser cleaning system of the invention may operate to clean only one side of a condenser and/or grid fins or, more desirably, both sides of the condenser and/or grid fins.
• both sides of the condenser and/or grid fins are cleaned, they can be cleaned with parallel running of the cleaning system.
• Cleaning of both sides of the condenser and/or grid fins may be cleaned by a single cleaning system or two independent cleaning systems may be arranged so that a first cleaning system cleans a first side of the condenser and/or grid fins; and a second cleaning system cleans a second side of the condenser and/or grid fins.
• first and second cleaning systems are used in this manner, the cleaning systems may be the same or different.
• the dust extraction system may comprise a performance detector, i.e. a detector that measures whether the condenser is operating at optimum efficiency.
• the predetermined period of time may be adjusted according to an output of the performance detector.
• the performance detector may comprise a first pressure sensor disposed at an input side of the condenser and a second pressure sensor disposed at out output side of the condenser.
• the performance detector may comprise one or more cameras that allow an operator to remotely inspect the grid fins and/or the condenser.
• the dust extraction system may be operated when the ratio of a reading of the second pressure sensor to a reading of the first pressure sensor is above a predetermined value.
• the performance detector may further comprise a controller for processing outputs from the first and second pressure sensors and controlling operation of the cleaning device, e.g. the dust extraction system.
• the cleaning device of the invention may be controlled by its own controller device or it may be controlled by a master control system, which may be designed to control an entire suite of cleaning devices, for example, air conditioning controllers, building controllers or chiller cabinet controllers, may operate a suite of chiller devices and cleaning devices.
• a centralised cleaning system may also comprise a centralised dust collection means.
• the performance detector may comprise a pressure sensor combined with one or more cameras as herein described.
• a camera may be used to provide mages of the condenser which may be viewed for various aspects of the system input for control requirements.
• the performance detector may also comprise a humidity and/or moisture sensor for the detection of the moisture level on the condenser/fins and also the humidity of the surroundings.
• the performance detector may also comprise a variety of temperature sensors to detect the heat dissipated.
• the cleaning device of the present invention may be adapted to operate in two-dimensions, e.g. horizontally or vertically.
• the cleaning device of the present invention may be adapted to operate in three-dimensions.
• Three dimensional operation may be facilitated by the use of a three-dimensional rig.
• a suitable three-dimensional rig is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 herein.
• a cleaning device mount slidably located on a cross-bar
• the cross-bar being slidably mounted on first and second upright columns; and wherein the first upright column is located on and slidably mounted in a first base plate; and the second upright column is located on and slidably mounted in a second base plate.
• the invention provides a cleaning device as herein described mounted on a three dimensional rig, said rig comprising:
• a cleaning device mount located at one end of an upright column; said upright column being slidably located on a cross-bar;
• cross-bar being slidably mounted in a pair of base plates.
• the invention also provides the use of a three dimensional rig as herein described in conjunction with a cleaning device or method for extracting dust form a condenser and/or grid fins.
• the use of the three dimensional rig as herein described is novel per se.
• the use of the three dimensional rig may be in conjunction with any of the cleaning device embodiments described herein.
• the three dimensional rig may also be advantageously used in conjunction with other know cleanings systems, for example such as the brush system described in US Patent application No. 2011/296641 and the reversible fan system described in US Patent application No. 2002/124586.
• a chiller unit fitted with a dust extraction system as herein described.
• a chiller unit fitted with a cleaning device for a condenser of the chiller unit wherein the condenser of the chiller unit is provided with a cooling grid, said cooling grid comprising one or more fins;
• the cleaning device comprising a dust extraction system configured to remove dust from the surface of the one or more fins of the grid.
• the chiller unit shall include, but shall not be limited to a refrigeration unit, a cold cabinet unit, a freezer unit, an air conditioning unit, and the like.
• a kit for retrofitting a cleaning device e.g. a dust extraction system, to a chiller unit, the kit comprising a dust extraction system; control means for operating the dust extraction system for a first predetermined period of time, the time periods being sufficient to effectively extract dust from the grid fins and/or the condenser; the control means including a timer and optionally comprising a performance detector.
• the chiller unit according to this aspect of the invention shall include, but shall not be limited to a refrigeration unit, a cold cabinet unit, a freezer unit, an air conditioning unit, and the like.
• a method of cleaning a condenser of a chiller unit wherein said method comprises extracting dust from the condenser of the chiller unit by fitting or retrofitting with a dust extraction system as herein described to the chiller unit.
• a method of cleaning a condenser of a chiller unit comprising fitting or retrofitting a cleaning device to the chiller unit for a condenser of the chiller unit, wherein the condenser of the chiller unit is provided with a cooling grid, said cooling grid comprising one or more fins;
• the cleaning device comprising a dust extraction system configured to remove dust from the surface of the one or more fins of the grid.
• the chiller unit shall include, but shall not be limited to a refrigeration unit, a cold cabinet unit, a freezer unit, an air conditioning unit, and the like.
• An objective of the invention is to provide a clean comprehensive automatic dust extraction, air blowing or washing system which can help the efficiency of the condenser life cycle. It is another The advantages of the present invention include:
• the cleaning devices are able to extract the dust away from the condenser and/or grid fins.
• the cleaning device and method of the invention may suitably be used to clean any such condensers or evaporators wherever similar condensers or evaporators are housed.
• a cold cabinet unit, a freezer unit, an air conditioning unit examples include, but shall not be limited to, air purification systems, dehumidifier systems, the inside cars, trucks, aircraft, inside of office buildings, retail buildings, houses and factories.
• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a three-dimensional rig for use in conjunction with cleaning device for a condenser of a chiller system
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional rig for use in conjunction with cleaning device for a condenser of a chiller system.
• a three-dimensional rig (1) comprises cleaning device mount (2) which is slidably located on a cross-bar (3).
• the cross-bar (3) is itself slidably mounted in a pair of upright columns (4) and (5).
• Upright column (4) is located on and slidably mounted in a first base plate (6).
• Upright column (5) is located on and slidably mounted in a second base plate (7).
• a cleaning device e.g. a dust extraction device (not shown) is located on mount (2).
• the mount (2) and the cleaning device are slidable on a cross-bar (3) in a horizontal plane (the z-axis in the illustration of Figure 1).
• Cross-bar (3) (supporting the mount (2) and the cleaning device) is slidable on the pair of upright columns (4) and (5) in a vertical plane (the y-axis in the illustration of Figure 1).
• the pair of upright columns (4) and (5) (supporting cross-bar (3)) is slidable on the base plates (6) and (7) and the upright columns are slidable on the base plates (6) and (7) in a horizontal plane (the x-axis in the illustration of Figure 1).
• a three-dimensional rig (8) comprises cleaning device mount (9) which is located at one end of an upright column (10).
• Upright column (10) is slidably located on a cross-bar (11).
• the cross-bar (11) is itself slidably mounted in a pair of base plates (12) and (13).
• a first end (14) of cross-bar (11) is slidably mounted in a first base plate (12).
• a second end (15) of cross-bar (11) is slidably mounted in a second base plate (13).
• a cleaning device e.g. a dust extraction device (not shown) is located on mount (9) at one end of an upright column (10).
• Upright column (10) (supporting the mount (9) and the cleaning device) is slidable on a cross-bar (11) in a vertical plane (the y-axis in the illustration of Figure 2) and in the horizontal plane the z-axis in the illustration of Figure 2).
• Each end (14) and (15) of cross-bar (11) are slidable on the base plates (12) and (13) in a horizontal plane (the x-axis in the illustration of Figure 2).

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

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• 2015
  • 2015-08-07 EP EP15763390.0A patent/EP3245471A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2015-08-07 WO PCT/GB2015/052302 patent/WO2016020705A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2015-08-07 US US15/502,482 patent/US20170227307A1/en not_active Abandoned

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