Apparatus for cleaning industrial components

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning industrial components has a liquid container defining a liquid enclosure for containing a cleaning liquid and ultrasonic transducers having an operating frequency and a wavelength in the cleaning liquid and secured to at least a portion of the liquid container at a spacing of between 2 and 10 wavelengths. In operation, the transducers generate a larger power density in the component-receiving area of the liquid container than an average power density of the liquid container.

1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method of cleaning industrial components, the method comprising the steps of:
 fixedly securing resonating rod ultrasonic transducers to an inner surface of at least a portion of a liquid container in a two dimensional plane at a spacing of between 2 and 10 wavelengths between adjacent ultrasonic transducers in a radial direction relative to an axis of the ultrasonic transducers and based on an operating frequency and operating wavelength of the ultrasonic transducers in a cleaning liquid;   introducing the cleaning liquid into the liquid container such that a minimum liquid level is reached and the ultrasonic transducers are submerged in the cleaning liquid;   introducing an industrial component into the cleaning liquid and positioning the industrial component in a component-receiving area of the liquid container that is spaced from the ultrasonic transducers; and   operating the ultrasonic transducers to generate a uniform energy density in the component-receiving area of the liquid container that is greater than an average power density in the liquid container.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein operating the ultrasonic transducers comprises operating the ultrasonic transducers at a frequency between 20 kHz and 30 kHz. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein at least some of the ultrasonic transducers are out of phase. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the ultrasonic transducers generate frequencies about a center frequency of 25 kHz. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the ultrasonic transducers comprise one or two active ultrasonic heads. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the liquid container is a liquid tank having an open top. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the liquid container is a liquid tank with a removable or retractable top cover. 
     
     
         57 . The method of cairn  50 , wherein the industrial component is a set of heat exchanger tubes. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the set of heat exchanger tubes are between 2 feet and 150 feet in length and between 6 inches and 12 feet in diameter. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the liquid container comprises a sloped bottom surface. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the sloped bottom surface is one of flat, concave or “V” shaped. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the ultrasonic transducers generate a power density within the liquid container, when filled with the cleaning liquid, of between 10-60 Watts/gallon. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the ultrasonic transducers are mounted vertically to the inner surface of the liquid container. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the ultrasonic transducers are mounted using a compliant clamping at a top of the ultrasonic transducer, and a mount device that does not restrict motion along the axis of the ultrasonic transducer. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the liquid container comprises an aqueous based degreasing surfactant solution having a pH between 7-11. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the liquid container comprises an aqueous cleaning solution comprising at least one of solvent additives, an acid solution, and an alkaline solution. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the component-receiving area is positioned about 5-10 wavelengths away from the ultrasonic transducers. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the ultrasonic transducers are operated to create an acoustic approximation of a planar transducer at 5-10 wavelengths from the ultrasonic transducers.