Air flow apparatus including cleaning device for cleaning an array of air channels of the air flow apparatus

Abstract

Air flow apparatus has at least one array of air channels, an air duct covering the array of air channels and being connected to the air channels, a fan arranged at the air duct for generating an air flow through the array of air channels, a cleaning device for the array of air channels arranged inside the air duct, the cleaning device including: a nozzle bar extending in front of the array of air channels and a nozzle manifold including a plurality of nozzles arranged along the nozzle bar and directed towards the array of air channels, wherein the nozzle bar is mounted to the air flow apparatus to be movable across at least a section of the array of air channels.

Claims

1. An air flow apparatus comprising: at least one array of air channels, an air duct covering the at least one array of air channels and being connected to the air channels, a fan arranged at the air duct for generating an air flow through the at least one array of air channels, and a cleaning device for the at least one array of air channels, arranged inside the air duct, the cleaning device comprising: a nozzle bar extending in front of the at least one array of air channels, and a nozzle manifold including a plurality of nozzles arranged along the nozzle bar and directed towards the at least one array of air channels, wherein the nozzle bar is mounted to the air flow apparatus to be movable across at least a section of the at least one array of air channels, wherein the cleaning device further comprises: at least one rail arranged on the at least one array of air channels; and a trolley carrying the nozzle bar and movable along the rail in a front and rear direction of the trolley, wherein the nozzle bar extends in a transverse direction of the trolley, wherein the trolley comprises a motor and at least one driving wheel for moving the trolley along the rail, and wherein the trolley has one of the following: at least one wheel, at least one slider or at least one wheel and at least one slider, that engages a bearing surface of the rail against lifting the trolley from the rail, wherein the rail has a hollow profile including a groove that is open at the top side of the rail, wherein inside the groove, there is formed at least one of the at least one bearing surface of the rail.

2. An air flow apparatus comprising: at least one array of air channels, an air duct covering the at least one array of air channels and being connected to the air channels, a fan arranged at the air duct for generating an air flow through the at least one array of air channels, and a cleaning device for the at least one array of air channels, arranged inside the air duct, the cleaning device comprising: a nozzle bar extending in front of the at least one array of air channels, and a nozzle manifold including a plurality of nozzles arranged along the nozzle bar and directed towards the at least one array of air channels, wherein the nozzle bar is mounted to the air flow apparatus to be movable across at least a section of the at least one array of air channels, wherein the cleaning device further comprises a fastener arranged on the nozzle bar, wherein the nozzle bar is mounted to a shaft of the air flow apparatus by the fastener to be rotatable about an axis of the shaft in a direction across at least a section of the at least one array of air channels, the shaft having a rotation axis perpendicular to a surface of the array of air channels, wherein the nozzle bar includes at least one fixed arm and at least one pivotable arm that is hinged to the at least one fixed arm, wherein at least some of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle manifold are arranged along the fixed arm, and wherein at least some of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle manifold are arranged along the pivotable arm.

3. The air flow apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the air flow apparatus comprises a guiding surface for the at least one pivotable arm, wherein the at least one pivotable arm is configured to pivot in a first pivoting direction when the guiding surface of the air flow apparatus makes contact with one end of the pivotable arm.

4. The air flow apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the nozzle bar comprises at least one spring configured to act against a force applied to the end of the pivotable arm and to pivot the arm in a second pivoting direction opposite of the first pivoting direction when the force of the spring is higher than the force applied to the end of the pivotable arm.

5. The air flow apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guiding surface is a surface of the air duct.

6. The air flow apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the air flow apparatus comprises a guiding surface for the at least one pivotable arm, and wherein the pivotable arm comprises one of the following: at least one slider, at least one wheel or at least one slider and at least one wheel, arranged on at least an end of the pivotable arm that makes contact with the guiding surface.

7. The air flow apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surface of the rail comprises a left surface and a right surface.

8. The air flow apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trolley has one of the following: at least one wheel, at least one slider or at least one wheel and at least one slider that engages a guiding surface of the rail for guiding the trolley along the rail.

9. The air flow apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trolley comprises a proximity switch for changing a moving direction of the trolley when the trolley reaches an end of a cleaning track.

10. The air flow apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trolley includes a column and a bracket that projects from the column for supporting the nozzle bar from above.

11. The air flow apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air duct includes at least one access hatch for inserting the cleaning device into the air duct.

12. The air flow apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the air duct includes a hatch door for closing the access hatch.

13. The air flow apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air flow apparatus is an induced draft heat exchanger, and the array of air channels is a cooling array of the induced draft heat exchanger.

14. The air flow apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the air flow apparatus is an induced draft heat exchanger, and the array of air channels is a cooling array of the induced draft heat exchanger.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description of preferred embodiments given herein below and the accompanying drawings, and wherein

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an air flow apparatus;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a part of the air flow apparatus including a cleaning device, in accordance with a first embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3a-b are different views of a part of the cleaning device including a trolley;

(5) FIG. 3c is a side view of the cleaning device in a working position;

(6) FIG. 4a-b are schematic views of a cleaning device in accordance with a second embodiment; and

(7) FIG. 5 is a top view of the air flow apparatus according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a side view of an air flow apparatus 10 including two identical cells 12, 14, which each include a base 16, an array of vertical air channels 18 and an air duct 20 including a hood. In the following, the setup is described exemplary for one cell 12. The cells 12, 14 each include an access hatch 22 in a side wall 24 of the air duct 20 which can be closed by a hatch door 26. However, only one cell 12, 14 may be configured to include the access hatch 22. The access hatch 22 may be arranged on the side wall 24 that is facing away from the side, on which the cells 12, 14 are connected to each other via a passage opening 28. On the connecting side, the air ducts 20 of the cells 12, 14 are divided by at least one movable partition wall 30 that separates the neighbouring cells 12, 14 and can be moved to open or close the passage opening 28. The wall 30 is configured to be pulled upwards, away from the array of air channels 18, to open the passage 28. When closed, the wall 30 ensures an efficient air flow in each cell 12, 14.

(9) The air duct 20 has an upper opening 32 which is located next to a fan 34 and allows an airflow, which is drawn by the fan 34 from the base 16 of the air flow apparatus 10, to leave the air duct 20. The fan is driven by a fan shaft 36, extending through the air duct 20 towards the fan 34. The fan shaft 36 is perpendicular to the top surface of the array of air channels 18. The fan shaft 36 may be driven by a motor or drive, known as such.

(10) FIG. 2 shows the air flow apparatus 10 of FIG. 1, only the array of air channels 18 being schematically shown. The array of air channels 18 includes two sections 18.1 and 18.2. Between these sections, the fan shaft 36 is arranged. In each of the sections 18.1 and 18.2, a rail 38 is arranged on top of the array of air channels 18. The rails 38 are parallel, and each rail 38 extends longitudinally in a first direction across the array of air channels 18 between the ends of the cell 12, 14. Each rail 38 is disposed in such a way that the outer end 38.1 faces the side wall 24 that includes the hatch 22 and is accessible through the respective hatch 22 (not shown). The inner ends 38.2 of the rails 38 face the passage opening 28 connecting the cells 12 and 14. The rails 38 project in such a way that the ends 38.2 of the cells 12 and 14 are adjacent to each other. The adjacent rails 38 may also be formed integrally.

(11) FIG. 2 further shows a trolley 40, which is arranged on the rail 38 in its working position and is configured to move along the rail 38 in the first direction. The trolley 40 includes a nozzle bar 42 that extends transversely to the first direction, defining a second direction The nozzle bar 42 extends between the (in FIG. 2) upper end of the array of air channels 18 and the fan shaft 36, allowing the trolley to move along the full length of the rail 38 and clean the respective area of the array of air channels 18 that is defined by the extension of the respective section 18.1, 18.2. Furthermore, the partition wall 30 shown in FIG. 1 is configured in such a way that pulling up the wall 30 allows passage of the trolley from one cell 12, 14 into the other cell 14, 12. Because each of the rails 38 of cell 12 are adjacent to their respective counterpart in cell 14, both rails form a continuous cleaning track allowing the trolley to clean the respective sections in each of the cells 12, 14 in one movement along the continuous rail.

(12) The trolley 40 is configured be removed from and inserted into the rail 38 and the air duct 20 through the access hatch 22 shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, each cell 12, 14 includes two access hatches 22 to access each respective rail 38. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle bar 42 may be detachable from the trolley 40, or it may consist of two parts that can be pivoted to allow removal or insertion of the trolley 40 through the hatch. Also, the access hatch 22 may be configured to allow removal or insertion of the trolley 40 with a fixed nozzle bar 42.

(13) To clean the section 18.1 of the array of air channels 18, the trolley 40 is inserted into the cell 12 and onto the (in FIG. 2) upper rail 38 at its outer end 38.1, it then is arranged in its working position as shown. Following, it moves along the rail 38 towards the passage opening 28, cleaning the section 18.1 of the array of air channels 18. The passage opening 28 may be opened pulling up by the partition wall 30 (FIG. 1) and the trolley 40 moves into the cell 14, crossing the inner ends 38.2 of the upper rail 38. At the outer end 38.1 of the rail 38 of cell 14, the trolley 40 is either removed or it moves back to cell 12. It then is removed from the air flow apparatus 10 and the process is repeated for section 18.2 of the array of air channels 18. It is thereby negligible, into which cell 12, 14 the trolley 40 is inserted into. Moreover, only one of the cells may be cleaned.

(14) In FIGS. 3a and 3b, the trolley 40 is shown in detail. FIG. 3a shows a perspective of the trolley 40. The trolley 40 further includes a motor 44 for moving the trolley 40 along the rails 38 of FIG. 2. Furthermore, the trolley 40 includes the nozzle bar 42, which is arranged below the motor 44 and extends transversely to the first direction defined by the longitudinal extension of the rail, defining the second direction. The nozzle bar 42 includes a nozzle manifold 46 with a plurality of nozzles 48 arranged along the nozzle bar 42 and extending towards the array or air channels 18 (see also FIG. 3c). Furthermore, the nozzle bar 42 includes a connector 50 for supplying the nozzle manifold 46 with a cleaning liquid, the connector 50 extends in the first direction but is not limited thereto.

(15) The trolley 40 further includes a L-shaped column 52 having two corresponding side parts 52.1 and 52.2. The trolley 40 further includes a proximity switch 54, arranged on one end of the trolley 40. The proximity switch extends in the first direction and is configured to be switched at a defined position on the rail 38 by moving against a closed hatch 22, for example, to change the moving direction of the trolley 40 or stop the moving of the trolley 40.

(16) FIG. 3b shows a side view of the trolley 40. Between the bottom of the parts 52.1 and 52.2, the trolley 40 includes two wheels 56 and 58. These wheels run on top of the rail 38 as shown in FIG. 3c to move the trolley 40 along the rail 38. The motor power is transmitted to the driving wheel 56 by the means of gears 60, 62, which may be connected by a drive chain or another gear (not shown). Consequently, the wheel 56, which is the driving wheel, moves the trolley 40 along the rail 38.

(17) The trolley 40 further includes a bearing part 64 extending from the in FIG. 3b lower part of the trolley 40 below the wheels 56, 58. The bearing part comprises bearing wheels 66, 68, 70, 72. The bearing wheels 66, 68 are arranged vertically, with their tread facing the trolley 40 and the wheels 56, 58. The bearing wheels 70, 72 are arranged horizontally.

(18) FIG. 3c shows the trolley 40 in a position corresponding to FIG. 2. The trolley 40 is arranged above the array of air channels 18 and running on the rail 38. The rail 38 is shown in a cross-section and comprises two side walls 74 and 76 which form a groove that has an opening 78 at the top side of the rail 38. In their upper sections, side walls 74, 76 are tilted towards the middle of the opening, respectively. Each side wall 74,76 defines a bearing surface 80, 82 respectively. The bearing surfaces 80, 82 face the bottom wall of the rail 84 and the tread of the bearing wheels 66 and 68. The wheel 66 comprises two parts 66.1, 66.2, which bear on the bearing surface 80, 82, respectively. On top of the side walls 74,76, the side walls 74, 76 define a running surface 86 of the rail 38, on which the wheels 56 and 58 of the trolley 40 run. The treads of the bearing wheels 70, 72 face the lower vertical or tilted sections of the side walls 74,76. In case the trolley moves into the direction of the side walls 74, 76 while running on the rail 38, the bearing wheels 70, 72 bear onto the inner surface of the side walls 74,76 and ensure a smooth running on the rail 38 while keeping the trolley 40 in running orientation. To set the trolley 40 in its working position, the bearing part 64 is inserted into the rail 38 via its outer end 38.1 (see FIG. 2).

(19) FIGS. 4a and 4b show a cleaning device 140 of another embodiment of the air flow apparatus in two different working positions. The cleaning device 140 is arranged in the air duct of the air flow apparatus of FIG. 1. The cleaning device 140 is similar to the cleaning device shown in FIG. 2-3c and comprises a nozzle bar 142 comprising a fastener 144 at one of its outer ends. The nozzle bar 142 comprises a nozzle manifold 146 with a plurality of nozzles 148. The nozzle bar 142 further comprises a connector 150 to connect the nozzle manifold to a supply of cleaning liquid, such as high pressure water. The nozzle bar 142 comprises two arms 152, 154. The arm 152 is fixed to the fastener 144. The arm 154 is a pivotable arm and is hinged to the arm 152 via a pivot 156. The arm 154 is configured to pivot in a horizontal plane Y. FIG. 4a shows the arm 154 in an extended position wherein its longitudinal axis is nearly identical to the longitudinal axis of the arm 152. The nozzle bar 142 may also be configured for identical longitudinal axes of arms 152, 154. FIG. 4b shows the arm 154 in a hinged position, wherein its longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm 152. It goes without saying that the arm 154 may take any position in between the shown positions.

(20) The arm 154 is also connected to the arm 152 via a spring 158. The spring 158 is configured to urge the arm 154 from the hinged position in FIG. 4b into the extended position in FIG. 4a. The arm 154 comprises two bearing wheels 160, 162 at its outer end that is facing away from the pivot 156. The bearing wheels 160, 162 are arranged horizontally, their treads facing a plane perpendicular to the plane Y.

(21) The fastener 144 comprises two brackets 164, 166. The brackets 164, 166 face each other and form a tube or collar for receiving a tubular shape in between. The bracket 164 can be screwed to the bracket 166 by screws 168. The brackets 164, 166 are configured to fasten the cleaning device 140 to a rotatable element of the air flow apparatus, preferably the fan shaft 36 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, a rotation of the fan shaft 36 may impart a rotation of the cleaning device in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the shaft 36.

(22) The nozzle bar 142 further comprises two arm connectors 170 and 172, located towards the ends of the arms 154, 152 that are facing each other, respectively. The arm connectors are connected by a flexible tube (not shown), connecting the respective nozzle manifolds 146 of the arms 152, 154.

(23) FIG. 5 shows the cleaning device 140 in two working positions inside the cell 112 of an air flow apparatus 110 similar to the air flow apparatus 10 of FIG. 1. The cell 112 is similar to the cell 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The air flow apparatus 110 may also comprise a second cell as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It comprises an air duct 120 with an upper opening 132. Through the opening 132, a section of an array of air channels 118 is visible, located identical to the air flow apparatus as shown in FIG. 1. At the opening 132, a fan 134 is located, mounted on and driven by a fan shaft 136. The side wall 124 of the air duct 120 also comprises an access hatch 122 covered by a hatch door 126.

(24) The shown working positions of the cleaning device 140 correspond to the postures of the nozzle bar 142 shown in FIG. 4. The cleaning device 140 is mounted above the array of air channels 118 and below the upper opening of the air duct 132 to the fan shaft 136 by its fastener 144. A rotation of the fan shaft 136 also leads to a rotation of the cleaning device 140 above the array of air channels 118. In the embodiment shown, the fan shaft 136 and thus the cleaning device 140 rotate clockwise. In the extended working position corresponding to FIG. 4a (lower position in FIG. 5), the arms 152 and 154 are extended in such a way that the bearing wheels 160 and 160 make contact with the parts 124.1 and 124.2 of the side wall 124. The inner surfaces of the guide wall 124 therefore act as guiding surfaces for the pivotable arm 154.

(25) In the extended posture, the force exerted by the walls 124.1 and 124.2 onto the arm 154 via the bearing wheels 160, 162 is lower than the opposite force exerted by the spring 158 onto the arm 154. Therefore, the arm 154 is pivoted into its extended position and the nozzle bar 142 extends into the corner of the air duct 120 formed by the walls 124.1 and 124.2. Thereby, the cleaning device 140 is also able to clean the section of the array of air channels 118 located below the corner of the air duct 120.

(26) As soon as the fan shaft 136 and thus the cleaning device 140 rotates further clockwise, the side walls 124.2 blocks the path of the extended position of the arm 154. The force exerted onto the arm 154 by the wall 124.2 is higher than the opposite force exerted by the spring 158. Subsequently, the arm 154 pivots around the pivot 156 from its extended position into a hinged position. The spring 158 pushes the end of the arm 154 carrying the bearing wheels 160, 162 towards the side wall 124.2. The bearing wheels 160, 162 thus stay in contact with the wall 124.2 and ensure a low friction and wear between the wall 124.2 and the arm 154. This process continuous, until the arm 154 is in its maximum hinged position (upper hinged position, corresponds to FIG. 4b). When rotating further clockwise, the force exerted by the wall 124.2 gradually lowers and the arm 154 is pushed into a further extended position by the spring 158. When the bearing wheels 160, 162 reach the in FIG. 5 upper left corner of the air duct 120, the working position of the cleaning device 140 corresponds to the shown lower working position rotated by 90 degrees.

(27) This embodiment allows the cleaning device 140 to clean the whole area below the air duct 120 and thus the whole area of the array of air channels 118.

(28) The embodiments of the air flow apparatus 10, 110 and the cleaning device may be the combined as necessary. For example, the shown nozzle bar 142 may be used for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-3c.