Patent ID: 9689790
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: B64D,F28F,G01N,G05B

Claim:
1. A technique for monitoring heat exchanger fouling, wherein the technique comprises the steps of: providing a correlation of heat exchanger fouling to an operating variable, wherein the correlation is programmed into a maintenance system that includes a processor adapted to receive data regarding the operating variable, wherein the operating variable is chosen from inlet temperatures of input streams into the heat exchanger and outlet temperatures of output streams out of the heat exchanger, heat exchanger pressure drop, overall heat transfer coefficient value, speed of rotation of an air conditioning machine that includes the heat exchanger, and combinations thereof, and wherein providing the correlation comprises providing a mathematical model that uses heat exchanger effectiveness to relate heat exchanger fouling to the heat exchanger effectiveness; gathering data regarding the operating variable via a sensor that is adapted to measure the operating variable; and determining that the measured operating variable corresponds to excessive heat exchanger fouling in accordance with the correlation using the processor.