An apparatus comprising a heat exchanger and one or more induction heating elements is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a coolant side conduit and a process side conduit, the process side conduit being susceptible to fouling by at least partial desublimation, condensation, crystallization, deposition, or combinations thereof of a fouling component of a circulating process fluid. An electrically conductive first metal is disposed adjacent to the process side conduit. The one or more induction heating elements are disposed proximate to the heat exchanger. The one or more induction heating elements are connected to a source of electrical current. When the electrical current flows through the induction heating elements, eddy currents are induced in the first metal, heating the first metal such that the fouling component sublimates, melts, absorbs, or a combination thereof into the circulating process fluid.

A method for semi-continuous operation of a heat exchange process that alternates between two heat exchangers is disclosed. The method comprises, first, providing a contact liquid to a first heat exchanger while the second heat exchanger is on standby. The contact liquid contains a dissolved gas, an entrained gas, or residual small particles that foul the first heat exchanger by condensing or depositing as a foulant onto the first heat exchanger, restricting free flow of the contact liquid. Second, detecting a pressure drop across the first heat exchanger. Third, switching flows of the coolant from the first to the second heat exchanger. Fourth, removing the foulant from the now standby first heat exchanger by providing heat to the heat exchanger, passing a non-reactive gas through the heat exchanger, or a combination thereof. In this manner, the heat exchange process operates semi-continuously.

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.

A heat recovery steam generator includes a gas inlet for receiving a flow of exhaust gas from a gas turbine, a gas outlet opposite the gas inlet, at least one heat exchanger intermediate the gas inlet and the gas outlet, the heat exchanger having a plurality of heat transfer surfaces configured to transfer heat from the exhaust gas to a fluid within the heat exchanger, and a valve associated with the heat exchanger and configured to regulate a flow of the fluid through the heat exchanger. The valve is controllable from an open position to a closed position to decrease the flow of the fluid through the heat exchanger in order to effect an increase in a temperature of the heat transfer surfaces of the heat exchanger to clean the heat transfer surfaces.

Provided herein is a universally applicable biofouling mitigation technology using acoustically excited encapsulated microbubbles that disrupt biofilm or biofilm formation. For example, a method of reducing biofilm formation or removing biofilm in a membrane filtration system is provided in which a feed solution comprising encapsulated microbubbles is provided to the membrane under conditions that allow the encapsulated microbubbles to embed in a biofilm. Sonication of the embedded, encapsulated microbubbles disrupts the biofilm. Thus, provided herein is a membrane filtration system for performing the methods and encapsulated microbubbles specifically selected for binding to extracellular polymeric substances (EFS) in a biofilm.

This invention relates to an apparatus (10) for cleaning a helical member (52) such as a tabulator blade. The apparatus comprises opposed scrubbing brushes (32, 34) for removing deposits from the helical faces of the helical member (52) as it is passed between opposed bristles of the scrubbing brushes (32, 34). The opposed scrubbing brushes (32, 34) are mounted with the apparatus via a rotatable bearing (12) such that as the helical faces are reciprocated between the brushes, the continuously curving profile of the helical member (52) causes the brushes to rotate. Accordingly, the opposed scrubbing brushes (32, 34) maintain good contact with the helical surfaces thereby simplifying and improving the removal of deposits.

This invention relates to an apparatus (10) for cleaning a helical member (52) such as a tabulator blade. The apparatus comprises opposed scrubbing brushes (32, 34) for removing deposits from the helical faces of the helical member (52) as it is passed between opposed bristles of the scrubbing brushes (32, 34). The opposed scrubbing brushes (32, 34) are mounted with the apparatus via a rotatable bearing (12) such that as the helical faces are reciprocated between the brushes, the continuously curving profile of the helical member (52) causes the brushes to rotate. Accordingly, the opposed scrubbing brushes (32, 34) maintain good contact with the helical surfaces thereby simplifying and improving the removal of deposits.

The invention relates to a device (1) for generating steam. The device (1) comprises a first plate (2) being inclined at a positive first angle (A0) compared to the horizontal direction (H) to define a first upper end (2a) and a first lower end (2b), a heating element (3) to heat the first plate (2) to a predetermined temperature being at least above water evaporation temperature, a water inlet arrangement (4) for dispensing water onto the first plate (2), a second plate (5) being inclined at a negative second angle (B0) compared to the horizontal direction (H) to define a second upper end (5a) and a second lower end (5b), the second upper end (5a) adjoining the first lower end (2b), and a container (6) extending at least below said first lower end (2b), said container (6) being arranged for collecting scale flakes falling from the first plate (2). This solution allows creating a larger volume for the collection of scale, thus increasing the operating life of the device (1).

The present cooling-water circulation system includes a cooling-tower-side circulation path for circulating cooling water between a cooling tower and a chiller machine, and a chiller-machine-side circulation path for circulating cooling water between the chiller machine 6 and a cooling target part. The cooling-tower-side circulation path and the chiller-machine-side circulation path are connected by a first connection pipe for introducing cooling water circulating in the chiller-machine-side circulation path into the cooling-tower-side circulation path.

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.