Method and system for servicing a heat exchanger

Abstract

A system ( 100 ) for servicing a heat exchanger is disclosed that includes a clog detection assembly ( 108 ) which further includes a light source ( 110 ) configured to be positioned on a first side of a component associated with the heat exchanger and illuminate the component. The clog detection assembly ( 108 ) further includes a light detector ( 112 ) configured to be positioned on a second side opposite the first side of the component to detect transmitted light and correspondingly generate a first signal. The system ( 100 ) further includes a processing device ( 102 ) communicatively coupled to the light detector ( 112 ). The processing device ( 102 ) analyzes the first signal to detect presence of a clog in association with the component. The processing device ( 102 ) may further cause a cleaning nozzle to move across the component, to perform a cleaning operation on the component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for servicing a heat exchanger, the system comprising:
 a clog detection assembly comprising:
 a light source configured to be positioned on a first side of a component associated with the heat exchanger and further configured to illuminate the component with a projected light beam; 
 a light detector configured to be positioned on a second side opposite to the first side of the component and further configured to detect transmitted light, in response to the projected light beam transmitting through the component, to generate a first signal corresponding to the transmitted light; and 
   a processing device communicatively coupled to the light detector, the processing device comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory configured to store processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor-executable instructions, upon execution by the processor, cause the processor to:
 receive, from the light detector, the first signal corresponding to the transmitted light; and 
 analyze the first signal to detect presence of a clog in association with the component. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a clog cleaning assembly communicatively coupled to the processing device, the clog cleaning assembly comprising:
 a cleaning nozzle configured to:
 move across the component; 
 spray a clog cleaning agent on the component; and 
 upon spraying the clog cleaning agent, spray a pressurized fluid on the component. 
 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 cause the cleaning nozzle to move across the component along a path,
 wherein the path is a predefined path, and 
 wherein the path is defined between a first position and a second position relative to the component. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the path is generated in real time, based on the analysis. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 cause the cleaning nozzle to spray the clog cleaning agent on the component during its movement along the path, from the first position to the second position relative to the component; and   cause the cleaning nozzle to spray the pressurized fluid on the component during its movement along the path, from the second position to the first position relative to the component.   
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 obtain a current position of the cleaning nozzle; and   cause the cleaning nozzle to return to the first position, by moving along a reset path,
 wherein the reset path is generated based on a predefined criterion. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further cause the processor to cause the cleaning nozzle to resume the path from the current position. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the predefined criterion is selected from a set of predefined criteria, the set of predefined criteria comprising:
 a first predefined criteria, based on a shortest path between the current position and the first position;   a second predefined criteria, based on a quickest travel path between the current position and the first position; and   a third predefined criteria, based on a least operation time of one or more motors configured to cause the cleaning nozzle to move between the current position and the first position.   
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light detector is a photodiode configured to:
 detect intensity of the transmitted light to determine a detected intensity value, in response to the projected light beam transmitting through the component, to generate the first signal corresponding to the transmitted light.   
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein analyzing the first signal to detect presence of the clog comprises at least one of:
 comparing the detected intensity value of the transmitted light with a rated intensity value associated with the light source; or   comparing the detected intensity value of the transmitted light with a predefined threshold intensity value.   
     
     
         11 . A method of servicing a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a light detector, a first signal corresponding to a transmitted light,
 wherein the light detector is positioned on a second side of a component associated with the heat exchanger, the light detector further configured to detect transmitted light in response to a projected light beam projected by a light source and transmitting through the component, to generate the first signal corresponding to the transmitted light, wherein the light source is positioned on a first side of the component opposite to the second side; and 
   analyzing the first signal to detect presence of a clog in association with the component;   upon detecting presence of the clog in association with the component, cause a cleaning nozzle to:
 move across the component along a path, wherein the path is defined between a first position and a second position relative to the component; 
 spray a clog cleaning agent on the component during its movement along the path, from the first position to the second position; and 
 spray a pressurized fluid on the component during its movement along the path, from the second position to the first position relative to the component.