This disclosure relates generally to a method and system for real time monitoring and forecasting of fouling of an air preheater (APH) in a thermal power plant. The system is deploying a digital replica or digital twin that works in tandem with the real APH of the thermal power plant. The system receives real-time data from one or more sources and provides real-time soft sensing of intrinsic parameters as well as that of health, fouling related parameters of APH. The system is also configured to diagnose the current class of fouling regime and the reasons behind a specific class of fouling regime of the APH. The system is also configured to be used as advisory system that alerts and recommends corrective actions in terms of either APH parameters or parameters controlled through other equipment such as selective catalytic reduction or boiler or changes in operation or design.

A method for measuring mass changes of a heat exchanger bank (1, 2, 3) or the heat exchangers thereof of a steam boiler, which heat exchanger (4) is supported by hanger rods (7) to support beams (5,8) above the steam boiler, wherein at least one hanger rod (7) of at least one heat exchanger (4) is connected a lower measuring element (9) and an upper measuring element (10), and the changes of the measuring length (X) between the measuring elements (9, 10) is measured by a measuring instrument (15) connected between the measuring elements (9, 10) for measuring the mass changes of the heat exchanger (4). The measuring instrument (15) may be attached in between the measuring elements (9, 10) and the change in the measuring length (X) is measured by the deformation of the measuring instrument (15). A connecting member (11) parallel to the hanger rod (7) may be located between the measuring elements (9, 10), which connecting member (11) relays the change in the length to the measuring instrument (15). An elastic member (16) may be attached between the measuring element (9) and the upper measuring element (10).

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 system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances through tubes penetrating a tube sheet of a heat exchanger tube sheet, includes a smart lance tractor drive, a controller, and a tumble box connected to the controller operable to generate and/or distribute electrical power to the AC induction sensor from an air pressure source, supply electrical power to the controller and distribute pneumatic power to pneumatic motors for positioning the tractor drive on the positioner frame. The smart tractor drive includes sensors for detection of mismatch between expected and actual lance positions, sense lance insertion distance and lance removal and provide automated drive reversal operation to remove blockages within tubes being cleaned.

An apparatus for cleaning HVAC cooling coils comprises a supply and collection assembly having a housing defining an interior space for containing a quantity of cleaning solution. A pump has a pump inlet positioned to be in fluid communication with the cleaning solution and is operative to deliver the cleaning solution to a supply outlet of the supply and collection assembly. A vacuum source has a vacuum inlet positioned to be in fluid communication with an ullage space above the quantity of cleaning solution such that the vacuum source creates negative pressure in the ullage space during operation. A collection inlet is in fluid communication with the ullage space such that the cleaning solution is returned to the interior space through the collection inlet during operation of the vacuum source. A nozzle device is in fluid communication with the supply outlet via outlet piping so as to deliver the cleaning solution to a surface of an HVAC coil unit. A fluid return tool is in fluid communication with the collection inlet via return piping so as to collect used cleaning solution from the HVAC coil unit.

A heat exchanger cleaning system comprises: a target rotating body which rotates around a rotation axis; a first inlet through which first gas on the target rotating body is introduced; and a first soot blower located in the inner space of the first inlet and including a first injection port through which a first substance is injected and a second injection port through which a second substance is injected, wherein a first distance of the first injection port from the rotation axis is substantially the same as a second distance of the second injection port from the rotation axis. A heat exchanger cleaning method using the heat exchanger cleaning system comprises: a step for positioning the first soot blower; a step for spraying the first substance and the second substance at the same time; and a step for removing foreign substances.

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 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.

A cleaning method for a heat exchanger is a cleaning method for a heat exchanger which includes a header passage and a plurality of internal passages connected to the header passage, that includes: a step of supplying a cleaning fluid, via the header passage, to some of the plurality of internal passages connected to the header passage, selectively.

A device and method for increasing accuracy in the determination of fouling in a heat exchanger in which heat is transferred from a first medium to a second medium, wherein a value for a variable characterizing the fouling is determined from a value for a first variable influenced by the fouling and a value for a second variable, where the second variable compensates for a change in the first variable caused by a change in flow of the first and/or second mediums through the heat exchanger, where the first variable can be a thermal transmission resistance, a thermal transmittance or a thermal transmission coefficient, where the first and second variable are determined from values measured totemperaturesr and flows of the first and second mediums without using material properties of the first and second mediums and structural properties of the heat exchanger when determining the first and second variables.