Heat exchanger cleaning system and method

A heat exchanger cleaning system (HECS), comprising:

• an engine;
• an engine intake conduit having an intake throttle valve disposed therein, and an engine exhaust port;
• an exhaust manifold having a single inlet conduit and two outlet paths, wherein the single inlet conduit connects to the engine exhaust port, wherein a first path of the two outlet paths includes a thermal management valve disposed therein, and wherein a second path of the two outlet paths includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve disposed therein;
• an EGR cooler having a cooler inlet in fluid communication with the EGR valve and a cooler outlet in fluid communication with the intake throttle valve;
• a first pressure sensor disposed in the first path upstream of the thermal management valve;
• a second pressure sensor disposed in the second path upstream of the EGR valve;
• a third pressure sensor disposed in the engine intake conduit upstream of the intake throttle valve;
• and
• a controller in electrical communication with the EGR valve, the thermal management valve, the intake throttle valve, the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, and the third pressure sensor;
• wherein the controller is configured to implement a predetermined set of operating parameters for the engine, the EGR valve, the thermal management valve, and/or the intake throttle valve, wherein implementation of the predetermined set of operating parameters causes an increased flow velocity of exhaust gas through the EGR cooler.

A heat exchanger cleaning system (HECS), comprising:

• an engine;
• an engine intake conduit having an intake throttle valve disposed therein, and an engine exhaust port;
• an exhaust manifold having single inlet conduit and two outlet paths, wherein the single inlet conduit connects to the engine exhaust port, wherein a first path of the two outlet paths includes a thermal management valve disposed therein, and wherein a second path of the two outlet paths includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve disposed therein;
• an EGR cooler having a cooler inlet in fluid communication with the EGR valve and a cooler outlet in fluid communication with the intake throttle valve;
• a variable geometry turbocharger disposed within the HECS so that a compressor side of the turbocharger is disposed in the intake conduit upstream of the intake throttle valve and a turbine side of the turbocharger is disposed in the first path, wherein the turbine side of the turbocharger includes vanes that are adjustable to control the amount of exhaust gas that flows through the turbine side;
• a first pressure sensor disposed in the first path upstream of the thermal management valve;
• a second pressure sensor disposed in the second path upstream of the EGR valve;
• a third pressure sensor disposed in the engine intake conduit upstream of the intake throttle valve;
• and
• a controller in electrical communication with the EGR valve, the thermal management valve, the intake throttle valve, the turbine side of the turbocharger, the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, and the third pressure sensor;
• wherein the controller is configured to implement a predetermined set of operating parameters for the engine, the EGR valve, the thermal management valve, the vanes of the turbine side of the turbocharger, and/or the intake throttle valve, wherein implementation of the predetermined set of operating parameters causes an increased flow velocity of exhaust gas through the EGR cooler.