Detection device for a cleaning sysytem

Abstract

The present disclosure describes embodiments of a detection device for a cleaning system used in heat exchange systems which comprise a plurality of tubes. The detection device comprises a mounting plate defining a plurality of perforations and a plurality of sensors. Each sensor is being coupled to at least one perforation. In many embodiments of this disclosure, each of the plurality of tubes is operable with a corresponding one of the sensors and during a cleaning process where cleaning balls passage through the plurality of tubes, the cleaning balls are detected by a corresponding one of the sensors.

1 . A detection device for use with a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes, the device comprising:
 a mounting plate couplable to the plurality of tubes, the mounting plate defining a plurality of perforations, the plurality of perforations aligned with the plurality of tubes, the plurality of perforations being shaped and dimensioned to facilitate passage of at least one of a plurality of cleaning balls therethrough; and   a plurality of sensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensors being coupled to at least one of the plurality of perforations;   wherein each of the plurality of tubes is operable with a corresponding one of the plurality of sensors and when the plurality of cleaning balls is introduced into a portion of the heat exchanger for passage through the plurality of tubes for cleaning thereof, each cleaning ball passaging through one of the plurality of tubes is detectable by the corresponding one of the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The detection device of  claim 1 , the plurality of tubes defining two extremities, the plurality of tubes defining a plurality of inlets at one of and a plurality of outlets at the other of the extremities. 
     
     
         3 . The detection device of  claim 2 , the mounting plate being shaped and dimensioned for disposing onto one of the extremities of the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         4 . The detection device of  claim 1 , the mounting plate being formed from at least one of plastic, graphene, rubber and polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE). 
     
     
         5 . The detection device of  claim 1 , the mounting plate having a thickness of between approximately 20 and 80 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The detection device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of perforations include at least 3 perforations. 
     
     
         7 . The detection device of  claim 1 , each of the plurality of perforations being of any shape. 
     
     
         8 . The detection device of  claim 1 , each of the plurality of sensors being one of couplable to and formed with the corresponding at least one of the perforations by way of adhesive, embedding, sputtering, metal injection moulding, casting, compressing, printing and etching. 
     
     
         9 . The detection device of  claim 1 , further comprising a manifold, the manifold couplable to the plurality of sensors for one of receiving detection signals and electronically communicating with the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         10 . The detection device of  claim 1 , each of the plurality of balls being detectable by the plurality of sensors by way of at least one of frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR), electromagnetic, acoustic-magnetic, magnetic resonance, inductive coupling including antenna, infrared, eddy current, ultrasonic and piezoelectric. 
     
     
         11 . The detection device of  claim 1 , each of the plurality of sensors being one of coupled to and disposed on the periphery of a corresponding perforation of the plurality of perforations. 
     
     
         12 . The detection device of  claim 1 , at least one of the plurality of sensors being embedded within the mounting plate. 
     
     
         13 . The detection device of  claim 1 , the mounting plate having a first planar surface and a second planar surface outwardly opposing the first planar surface. 
     
     
         14 . The detection device of  claim 10 , at least one of the plurality of sensors being disposed on the first planar surface. 
     
     
         15 . A detection device for use with a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes, the plurality of tubes being demarcated into a plurality of regions, each of the plurality of regions includes at least one tube, the device comprising:
 a mounting plate couplable to the plurality of tubes, the mounting plate defining a plurality of perforations, each of the plurality of perforations shaped and dimensioned to facilitate fluid communication with at least one tube of each region, the plurality of perforations shaped and dimensioned to facilitate passage of at least one of a plurality of cleaning balls therethrough; and   a plurality of sensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensors being coupled to at least one of the plurality of perforations;   wherein each of the plurality of perforations is operable with a corresponding one of the plurality of sensors and when the plurality of cleaning balls is introduced into a portion of the heat exchanger for passage through the plurality of tubes for cleaning thereof, each cleaning ball passaging through a tube of the plurality of tubes is detectable by the corresponding sensor of the perforation.   
     
     
         16 . The detection device of  claim 15 , the mounting plate being formed from at least one of plastic, graphene, rubber and polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE). 
     
     
         17 . The detection device of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of sensors being coupled to the at least one of the plurality of perforations includes at least one sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The detection device of  claim 15 , further comprising a manifold, the manifold couplable to the plurality of sensors for one of receiving detection signals and electronically communicating with the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         19 . The detection device of  claim 15 , each of the plurality of balls being detectable by the plurality of sensors is by way of at least one of frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR), electromagnetic, acoustic-magnetic, magnetic resonance, inductive coupling including antenna, infrared, eddy current, ultrasonic and piezoelectric. 
     
     
         20 . The detection device of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors being one of coupled to and disposed on the periphery of a perforation of the plurality of perforations.