System for cleaning heat exchangers

Abstract

A mobile heat exchanger cleaning system, in particular for power plant heat exchangers, allows a heat exchanger to be safely and reliably cleaned. The cleaning system has an apparatus for collecting, introducing and removing cleaning bodies, a pump for pumping a fluid with cleaning bodies and at least one connector connected with the apparatus and the pump for releasably connecting the cleaning system with a heat exchanger.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A mobile heat exchanger cleaning system for power plant heat exchangers, comprising
 an apparatus for collecting, introducing and removing cleaning bodies,   a pump for pumping a fluid with cleaning bodies, and   connecting means connected to the apparatus and the pump for the releasable connection of the cleaning system with a heat exchanger.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile heat exchanger cleaning system according to  claim 14 , wherein the system is connectable with the heat exchanger in such a manner that, in a usage position, a volume flow flowing through the heat exchanger essentially corresponds to a volume flow flowing through at least one of the heat exchanger cleaning system and the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile heat exchanger cleaning system according to  claim 14 , wherein the connecting means comprise:
 a first connecting element for the releasably connecting of the cleaning system with an inlet line of the heat exchanger, and   a second connecting element for the releasably connecting the cleaning system with an outlet line of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         17 . The mobile heat exchanger cleaning system according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the pump and the apparatus are connected in series,   the apparatus is connected with the first connecting element via a supply line,   the pump is connected with the second connecting element via a return line, and   at least a first valve is arranged in the supply line and a second valve is arranged in the return line to separate at least one of the apparatus and the pump from the connecting means.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile heat exchanger cleaning system according to  claim 17 , comprising:
 a first reversal line with at least a third valve, wherein the first reversal line connects the apparatus with the second connecting element, and   a second reversal line with at least a fourth valve, wherein the second reversal line connects the pump with the first connecting element.   
     
     
         19 . The mobile heat exchanger cleaning system according to  claim 14 , wherein the pump comprises a control unit to adjust a volume flow of the pump. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile heat exchanger cleaning system according to  claim 19 , wherein the control unit is adapted to intermittently operate the pump. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile heat exchanger cleaning system according to  claim 14 , wherein a counting device is provided for the cleaning bodies. 
     
     
         22 . The mobile heat exchanger cleaning system according to  claim 14 , wherein a second apparatus is provided for collecting the cleaning bodies. 
     
     
         23 . The mobile heat exchanger cleaning system according to  claim 14 , wherein a filter is provided for separating out particulate material. 
     
     
         24 . An adapter for a heat exchanger comprising at least
 a first port for connection with a heat exchanger,   a second port for the releasable connection of a heat exchanger cleaning system, and   a third port for connection with a cooling line of a cooling circuit.   
     
     
         25 . A heat exchanger for power plants, comprising an inlet line and an outlet line and a plurality of tubes connecting the inlet line with the outlet line, wherein at least one guiding element is arranged for distributing cleaning bodies to the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         26 . A method of operating a heat exchanger cleaning system comprising providing a pump, using said pump to pump a fluid with cleaning bodies through a heat exchanger, and operating the pump intermittently and/or controlling the pump to achieve a variation of a pumped volume flow in the heat exchanger.