# US 2018/0321002 A1 · Cleaning system with wire brush bundles

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- Number: US 2018/0321002 A1
- Document ID: US20180321002A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/023,968
- Filed: 2018-06-29
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-24
- Assignees: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
- Applicants: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
- Inventors: Jihad Hassan ALSADAH; Esmail M. A. Mokheimer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180321002A1

## CPC

- F28G 3/04: having brushes (brushes A46B)
- A46B 13/02: power-driven {carriers}
- B08B 9/0535: {the cleaning device being restricted in its movement by a cable or the like}
- F28G 1/16: using jets of fluid for removing debris (F28G1/12 takes precedence)
- F28G 7/00: Cleaning by vibration {or pressure waves}
- F28G 15/02: Supports for cleaning appliances, e.g. frames
- F28G 15/04: Feeding and driving arrangements, e.g. power operation
- F28G 15/08: Locating position of cleaning appliances within conduits
- F28G: CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS (cleaning pipes or tubes in general B08B9/02; devices or arrangements for removing water, minerals, or sludge from boilers while the boiler is in operation, or which remain in position while the boiler is in operation, or are specifically adapted to boilers without any other utility F22B37/48; removal or treatment of combustion products or combustion residues F23J; removing ice from heat-exchange apparatus F28F17/00)
- A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL

## Abstract

An online cleaning system for tube and shell heat exchangers is presented. The system includes a positioner, a plunger, an umbilical cleaner, and a motor. The cleaning system cleans the tubes while the heat exchanger remains in operation. The cleaning system locates and isolates a single tube via rotating and translating mechanical actions and inserts the umbilical cleaner into the tube, which may clean the tube via rotational movement or via sonication. The cleaning system may further clean the outer surface of the tubes of the heat exchanger.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1: An online cleaning system with connected cleaning elements configured to clean an online tube and shell heat exchanger comprising:
a positioner that locates and isolates a tube of the online tube and shell heat exchanger, wherein the positioner includes an annular rail sliding on a fixed rail support fixed on a face of the online tube and shell heat exchanger;
an angular selector that rotates the annular rail to a rotational position according to a (r, θ) coordinate selection system;
a plunger that is connected to the positioner that is configured to attach to the tube of the online tube and shell heat exchanger while the online tube and shell heat exchanger is online; and
a plurality of wire brush bundles connected by a cylindrical cable that is configured to pass through the plunger and into the tube of the online tube and shell heat exchanger and is mechanized by circulation of a fluid passing through the tube while the online tube and shell heat exchanger is in operation, wherein the wire brushes are.

### Claim at position 2

2-5. (canceled)

### Claim at position 3 (depends on 1)

6: The online cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the flow rate of the fluid controls a rotational rate of a rotational brush present on each of the plurality of cleaning elements.

### Claim at position 4

7-8. (canceled)

### Claim at position 5 (depends on 1)

9: The online cleaning system of claim 1, further comprising:
a filter attached externally to the online tube and shell heat exchanger, wherein the filter is configured to filter contaminates from the fluid.

### Claim 10

(canceled)

### Claim at position 7 (depends on 1)

11: The online cleaning system of claim 1, further comprising:
a diagnostic tool fitted to the online cleaning system.

### Claim at position 8

12-13. (canceled)