Method for deicing and cleaning of fans

Abstract

The invention pertains to a method for removing ice layers and/or snow layers and/or dirt layers from the rotor blades (B) of axial fans in cooling installations for refrigerating and/or freezing products. At least one cleaning substance jet (S) is directed toward the rotor blades (B) of an axial fan within certain time intervals in such a way that ice layers and/or snow layers and/or dirt layers are at least separated from the surfaces of the rotor blades (B) and transported away, wherein the rotor blades (B) rotate with nominal speed while cleaning jets (S) act upon their surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for removing ice layers and/or snow layers and/or dirt layers from the rotor blades of axial fans in cooling installations for refrigerating and/or freezing products, comprising directing at least one cleaning jet toward the rotor blades of an axial fan within certain time intervals such that ice layers and/or snow layers and/or dirt layers are at least separated from surfaces of the rotor blades and transported away, wherein the rotor blades rotate with nominal speed while the at least one cleaning jet acts upon the surfaces. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning jet is produced by means of cleaning nozzles. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning jet is produced of substances that do not lead to a contamination of the products being refrigerated and/or frozen in the cooling installation and do not freeze to any location of the cooling installation. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning jet comprises gas selected from dehumidified compressed air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide; and mixtures of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, mixtures of nitrogen and dehumidified compressed air, mixtures of carbon dioxide and dehumidified compressed air, and mixtures of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and dehumidified compress air. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning comprises solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) produced of liquid, pressurized carbon dioxide by means of suitable expansion. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a mixture of a suitable gas and a granulate comprising solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) is used for producing the at least one cleaning jet. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one cleaning jet is produced by means of at least one supersonic nozzles. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claims 1 , wherein the rotor blades are cleaned in a time-controlled fashion, and wherein a time interval between two successive cleaning processes is from between 1 min and 60 min. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claims 1 , wherein cleaning the rotor blades begins when refrigerating capacity of the cooling installation falls below a certain value or as soon as power required for driving the rotor blades to be cleaned exceeds or falls below a certain value.