Heat exchanger cleaning system

Abstract

A cleaning system is disclosed for use with a heat exchanger. The cleaning system may have a nozzle configured to discharge a flow of fluid, and an actuator operatively attachable to a side of the heat exchanger and configured to move the nozzle across a face of the heat exchanger. The cleaning system may also have a control panel mounted remotely from the actuator and connected to the actuator and to the nozzle. The control panel may be configured to receive operator input indicative of desired movement of the nozzle, and to selectively energize the actuator based on the operator input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger cleaning system, comprising:
 a nozzle configured to discharge a flow of fluid;   an actuator operatively attachable to a side of a heat exchanger and configured to move the nozzle across a face of the heat exchanger; and   a control panel mounted remotely from the actuator and connected to the actuator and to the nozzle, the control panel configured to:
 receive operator input indicative of desire to move the nozzle; and 
 selectively energize the actuator based on the operator input. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is linear actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger cleaning system of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator includes:
 a rotary motor;   a lead screw attached to rotate with the rotary motor; and   a lead nut engaged with the lead screw and connected to the nozzle.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is electrically powered. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the nozzle in a direction generally aligned with gravity. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is compressed air. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein the control panel includes an air inlet port connectable with an offboard air source. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein the nozzle is a knife blade nozzle configured to discharge a sheet of compressed air. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the control panel is configured to direct compressed air in parallel flows to opposing ends of the knife blade nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nozzle is a first nozzle associated with a first heat exchanger;   the actuator is a first actuator associated with the first nozzle;   the heat exchanger further includes:
 a second nozzle associated with a second heat exchanger; and 
 a second actuator associated with the second nozzle; and 
 the control panel is:
 configured to receive operator input indicative of desired movement of the second and nozzle; and 
 connected to the second actuator and to the second nozzle in parallel with the first actuator and the first nozzle. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel further includes a valve movable to regulate fluid flow to the nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger cleaning system of  claim 11 , wherein the control panel further includes an input device movable to selectively energize the actuator. 
     
     
         13 . A method of cleaning a heat exchanger, comprising:
 directing fluid through a nozzle toward the heat exchanger;   receiving an input indicative of a desire to move the nozzle; and   selectively moving the nozzle across a face of the heat exchanger in response to the input during fluid discharge.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein selectively moving the nozzle includes moving the nozzle linearly in a direction generally aligned with gravity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein selectively moving the nozzle across the face of the nozzle in response to the input includes selectively energizing an electrically powered actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid is compressed air. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including receiving a supply of compressed air from a temporary offboard source. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein directing fluid through a nozzle includes discharging a sheet of fluid toward the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including directing parallel flows of fluid to opposing ends of the nozzle. 
     
     
         20 . A machine, comprising:
 a frame;   a plurality of heat exchangers arranged in rows and supported by the frame;   a fan located at one side of the heat exchangers and configured to generate a flow of air through the plurality of heat exchangers;   a nozzle associated with a first of the plurality of heat exchangers located in an upper one of the rows opposite the frame, between the plurality of heat exchangers and the fan, and configured to discharge compressed air toward the first of the plurality of heat exchangers;   an actuator mounted to a second of the plurality of heat exchangers located in a lower one of the rows adjacent the frame and operatively connected to the nozzle, the actuator configured to selectively move the nozzle across a face of the first of the plurality of heat exchangers; and   a control panel mounted at an edge of the plurality of heat exchangers remote from the actuator, the control panel having:
 an air inlet port fluidly connected to the nozzle; 
 an air valve disposed between the air inlet port and the nozzle; and 
 an input device movable by an operator to selectively energize the actuator.