Methods and systems for evaluating heat exchangers

A method for evaluating a heat exchanger, the method comprising:

• (i) measuring a plurality of operating properties of the heat exchanger with a plurality of sensors to provide measurement data;
• (ii) using a controller, identifying a set of operating values by evaluating a plurality of rules with the measurement data, wherein each of the plurality of rules compares a corresponding operating parameter of the heat exchanger that is based on the measurement data with a predetermined threshold value;
• (iii) using the controller, comparing the set of operating values to a rules matrix in which each of a plurality of possible diagnoses for the heat exchanger are associated with a corresponding set of predetermined values from a set of the plurality of rules;
• and
• (iv) based on the comparison, and using the controller, determining at least one likely diagnosis for the heat exchanger from among the plurality of possible diagnoses in the rules matrix, wherein the likely diagnosis corresponds to one of the plurality of possible diagnoses that is associated with a set of predetermined values that matches at least 80% of the set of operating values.

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to process measurement information from a plurality of sensors that measure a plurality of operating properties of a heat exchanger including steps of:

• (i) identifying a set of operating values by evaluating a plurality of rules with the measurement information, wherein each of the plurality of rules compares a corresponding operating parameter of the heat exchanger that is based on the measurement information with a predetermined threshold value;
• (ii) comparing the set of operating values to a rules matrix in which each of a plurality of possible diagnoses for the heat exchanger are associated with a corresponding set of predetermined values from a set of the plurality of rules;
• and
• (iii) based on the comparison, determining at least one likely diagnosis for the heat exchanger from among the plurality of possible diagnoses in the rules matrix.