A heatsink comprising a heat exchange device having a plurality of heat exchange elements each having a surface boundary with respect to a heat transfer fluid, having successive elements or regions having varying size scales. According to one embodiment, an accumulation of dust or particles on a surface of the heatsink is reduced by a removal mechanism. The mechanism can be thermal pyrolysis, vibration, blowing, etc. In the case of vibration, adverse effects on the system to be cooled may be minimized by an active or passive vibration suppression system.

The current document discloses a ground-detecting direct-wire descaler that detects and indicates whether or not a descaling signal with sufficient current and voltage is produced or, in other words, detects and indicates whether the pipe or other equipment to which the ground-detecting direct-wire descaler is coupled is isolated from AC ground. AC-ground detection occurs both on initial power on and at regular monitoring intervals. In certain implementations, ground-detecting direct-wire descaler additionally detects and indicates whether or not the three-pronged outlet, into which the power-cord plug of the ground-detecting direct-wire descaler is inserted, conforms to UBC standards and therefore has safety ground available for use as signal ground. The ground-detecting direct-wire descaler only attempts to produce a descaling signal when safety ground is detected.

The current document discloses a ground-detecting direct-wire descaler that detects and indicates whether or not a descaling signal with sufficient current and voltage is produced or, in other words, detects and indicates whether the pipe or other equipment to which the ground-detecting direct-wire descaler is coupled is isolated from AC ground. AC-ground detection occurs both on initial power on and at regular monitoring intervals. In certain implementations, ground-detecting direct-wire descaler additionally detects and indicates whether or not the three-pronged outlet, into which the power-cord plug of the ground-detecting direct-wire descaler is inserted, conforms to UBC standards and therefore has safety ground available for use as signal ground. The ground-detecting direct-wire descaler only attempts to produce a descaling signal when safety ground is detected.

Fluid flow systems can include one or more thermoelectric devices in contact with the fluid flowing through the system. One or more thermoelectric devices can be operated in a temperature control mode and a measurement mode. Thermal behavior of the one or more thermoelectric devices can be analyzed to characterize a level of deposit formed on the thermoelectric device(s) from the fluid flowing through the system. Characterizations of deposition on thermoelectric devices operated at different temperatures can be used to establish a temperature-dependent deposition profile. The deposition profile can be used to determine if depositions are likely to form at various locations in the system, such as at a use device or in a flow vessel. Detected deposit conditions can initiate one or more corrective actions that can be taken to remove deposits, or to prevent or minimize deposit formation before deposits negatively impact operation of the system.

A heat and mass transfer system configured to be a passive system using gravitational force to form a thin liquid film flow on an outer surface of a flow distribution head and downstream conduit member to subject the thin liquid film to heat transfer mediums. The at least partially spherical flow distribution head creates a uniform thin flow of liquid on the outer surface increasing the efficiency of the heat and mass transfer system. The heat and mass transfer system may include a heat transfer medium supply system in fluid communication with internal aspects of the downstream conduit such that a heat transfer medium flows within the downstream conduit while the liquid film flows on the outer surface of the downstream conduit. Rather than conventional sheet flow on inner surfaces of a conduit, the flow distribution head enables sheet flow to be formed on an outside surface of a component.

A heat and mass transfer system configured to be a passive system using gravitational force to form a thin liquid film flow on an outer surface of a flow distribution head and downstream conduit member to subject the thin liquid film to heat transfer mediums. The at least partially spherical flow distribution head creates a uniform thin flow of liquid on the outer surface increasing the efficiency of the heat and mass transfer system. The heat and mass transfer system may include a heat transfer medium supply system in fluid communication with internal aspects of the downstream conduit such that a heat transfer medium flows within the downstream conduit while the liquid film flows on the outer surface of the downstream conduit. Rather than conventional sheet flow on inner surfaces of a conduit, the flow distribution head enables sheet flow to be formed on an outside surface of a component.

The present tourmaline treatment device includes a housing, and a container disposed in the housing so as to partition the inside of the housing into an upstream space and a downstream space and contain tourmaline granules. The container includes an upstream partition wall facing the upstream space and a downstream partition wall facing the downstream space. The upstream partition wall is provided with a plurality of inflow holes for introducing cooling water into the container from the upstream space, and the downstream partition wall is provided with a plurality of outflow holes for allowing cooling water to flow out from the container into the downstream space. The container further includes flow velocity control means for increasing flow velocity of cooling water passing through the inside of the container.

The present tourmaline treatment device includes a housing, and a container disposed in the housing so as to partition the inside of the housing into an upstream space and a downstream space and contain tourmaline granules. The container includes an upstream partition wall facing the upstream space and a downstream partition wall facing the downstream space. The upstream partition wall is provided with a plurality of inflow holes for introducing cooling water into the container from the upstream space, and the downstream partition wall is provided with a plurality of outflow holes for allowing cooling water to flow out from the container into the downstream space. The container further includes flow velocity control means for increasing flow velocity of cooling water passing through the inside of the container.

A system and method includes at least one heat exchanger, a ram fan, and a controller. The ram fan is driven by a motor. A motor control circuit is configured to provide power to the motor to drive the ram fan. The ram fan is configured to provide a ram flow through the at least one heat exchanger from a ram air inlet. The controller is configured to determine a blockage level of the at least one heat exchanger based on the power to the motor, a speed of the ram fan, and a temperature of the ram flow at the ram fan.

A method cleans surfaces in an internal volume of an aircraft component through which a medium flows. The method includes: connecting the internal volume to be cleaned to a steam generator; generating a cleaning steam having a predetermined vapour pressure and temperature by the steam generator; applying the cleaning steam to the surfaces to be cleaned in the internal volume; maintaining the vapour pressure and the temperature within the internal volume for the duration of a predetermined condensation time; generating a pressure drop in the internal volume of the aircraft component, in order to vaporise the portion of the cleaning steam that condensed during the condensation time; and removing the cleaning steam from the internal volume via a discharge device.