System and method of cleaning condenser for binary power generation

Abstract

A system of cleaning a condenser provided in a circulation flow passage for allowing circulation of a working medium in a binary power generation system, includes: an inlet header into which a cooling medium flows; and a heat exchanger including a plurality of branch ports into which the cooling medium flows from the inlet header. The heat exchanger is configured to perform heat exchange between the working medium and the cooling medium to condense the working medium. The cleaning system includes a switching unit configured to switch a flow of the cooling medium to a direction from the heat exchanger to the inlet header.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system of cleaning a condenser for binary power generation, the condenser being provided in a circulation flow passage for allowing circulation of a working medium in a binary power generation system, wherein
 the condenser comprises:   an inlet header into which a cooling medium flows; and   a heat exchanger including a plurality of branch ports into which the cooling medium flows from the inlet header, the heat exchanger being configured to perform heat exchange between the working medium and the cooling medium to condense the working medium, and   the cleaning system comprises a switching unit configured to switch a flow of the cooling medium to a direction from the heat exchanger to the inlet header.   
     
     
         2 . The system of cleaning the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a third pipe adapted to connect a first pipe for allowing the cooling medium to flow into the inlet header of the condenser, to a second pipe for allowing the cooling medium to flow out of the condenser; and   a fourth pipe adapted to connect a second portion of the first pipe to a fourth portion of the second pipe, the second portion being located downward, in a flow direction of the cooling medium, of a first portion of the first pipe to which the third pipe is connected, the fourth portion being located downstream, in the flow direction of the cooling medium, of a third portion of the second pipe to which the third pipe is connected,   wherein the switching unit switches from a first state where the cooling medium flows from the first pipe into the condenser to a second state where the cooling medium flows from the first pipe through the third pipe and the second pipe into the condenser.   
     
     
         3 . The system of cleaning the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 2 , comprising a strainer provided in the fourth pipe and configured to remove foreign substances in the cooling medium from the cooling medium. 
     
     
         4 . The system of cleaning the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 2 , comprising:
 a first pressure meter provided in the first pipe and configured to measure a pressure of the cooling medium flowing from the first pipe into the condenser; and   a second pressure meter provided in the second pipe and configured to measure a pressure of the cooling medium flowing out of the condenser.   
     
     
         5 . The system of cleaning the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 4 , comprising
 a control unit configured to, when a difference between a pressure value measured by the first pressure meter and a pressure value measured by the second pressure meter has exceeded a predetermined value, control the switching unit to establish the second state.   
     
     
         6 . The system of cleaning the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 5 , wherein the control unit is configured to, when a difference between a pressure value measured by the first pressure meter and a pressure value measured by the second pressure meter has reached a value smaller than or equal to the predetermined value, control the switch means to establish the first state. 
     
     
         7 . The system of cleaning the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 2 , comprising:
 a first thermometer provided in the first pipe and configured to measure a temperature of the cooling medium flowing from the first pipe into the condenser; and   a second thermometer provided in the second pipe and configured to measure a temperature of the cooling medium flowing out of the condenser.   
     
     
         8 . The system of cleaning the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 7 , comprising
 a control unit configured to, when a temperature difference between a temperature measured by the first thermometer and a temperature measured by the second thermometer has exceeded a predetermined value, control the switching unit to establish the second state.   
     
     
         9 . The system for the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 8 , wherein the control unit is configured to, when a temperature difference between a temperature measured by the first thermometer and a temperature measured by the second thermometer has reached a value smaller than or equal to the predetermined value, control the switching unit to establish the first state. 
     
     
         10 . A method of cleaning a condenser for binary power generation, the condenser being provided in a circulation flow passage for allowing circulation of a working medium in a binary power generation system, wherein
 the condenser comprises:   an inlet header into which a cooling medium flows; and   a heat exchanger including a plurality of branch ports into which the cooling medium flows from the inlet header, the heat exchanger being configured to perform heat exchange between the working medium and the cooling medium to condense the working medium, and   the cleaning method comprises the step of switching a flow of the cooling medium to a direction from the heat exchanger to the inlet header.   
     
     
         11 . The method of cleaning the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 10 , comprising:
 a first branched pipe branched from a first pipe for allowing the cooling medium to flow into the inlet header of the condenser, the first branched pipe including a first joint at an end thereof;   a second branched pipe branched from a second pipe for allowing the cooing medium to flow out of the condenser, the second branched pipe including a second joint at an end thereof;   a third branched pipe branched from a second portion of the first pipe, which is located downstream, in a flow direction of the cooling medium, of a first portion of the first pipe from which the first branched pipe is branched, the third branched pipe including a third joint at an end thereof;   a fourth branched pipe branched from a fourth portion of the second pipe, which is located downstream, in the flow direction of the cooling medium, of a third portion of the second pipe from which the second branched pipe is branched, the fourth branched pipe including a fourth joint at an end thereof; and   a switching unit configured to stop the flow of the cooling medium between the first portion and the second portion of the first pipe and to stop the flow of the cooling medium between the third portion and the fourth portion of the second pipe, wherein   the method comprises:   a first step of connecting the first branched pipe through the third pipe to the second branched pipe via the first joint and via the second joint;   a second step of connecting the third branched pipe through the fourth pipe to the fourth branched pipe via the third joint and via the fourth joint; and   a third step of switching by the switching unit from a first state where the cooling medium flows from the first pipe into the condenser to a second state where the cooling medium flows from the first pipe through the third pipe and the second pipe into the condenser.   
     
     
         12 . The system of cleaning the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 3 , comprising:
 a first pressure meter provided in the first pipe and configured to measure a pressure of the cooling medium flowing from the first pipe into the condenser; and   a second pressure meter provided in the second pipe and configured to measure a pressure of the cooling medium flowing out of the condenser.   
     
     
         13 . The system of cleaning the condenser for binary power generation according to  claim 3 , comprising:
 a first thermometer provided in the first pipe and configured to measure a temperature of the cooling medium flowing from the first pipe into the condenser; and   a second thermometer provided in the second pipe and configured to measure a temperature of the cooling medium flowing out of the condenser.