Method of monitoring and operating heat exchanger for fuels containing carbon

Abstract

This method of monitoring and operating a heat exchanger for fuels containing carbon has a process to calculate the Mahalanobis distance on the basis of temperatures in a plurality of locations in the direction of flow in a heat transfer face of a heat exchanger of a heat exchanger for fuels containing carbon, a process to determine the presence of an abnormality on the heat transfer face by way of the Mahalanobis distance, and a process to modify the operating conditions of a removing device.

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A method of monitoring a heat exchanger for fuels containing carbon, comprising:
 a process of calculating the Mahalanobis distance on the basis of a matrix having, as elements, temperatures in a plurality of locations in a direction of flow on a primary side of a heat exchanger of a heat exchanger for fuels containing carbon; and   a process of determining the presence of an abnormality on the heat transfer face by the Mahalanobis distance.   
     
     
         5 . The method of monitoring a heat exchanger for fuels containing carbon according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein in the process of calculating the Mahalanobis distance, the Mahalanobis distance is calculated on the basis of a matrix having, as an element, at least one of a differential pressure between an inlet and an outlet on the primary side, a flow rate on the primary side, a plurality of temperatures in a direction of flow on a secondary side of the heat exchanger, a flow rate on the secondary side, and the like, in addition to the temperatures in the plurality of locations in the direction of flow on the primary side of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         6 . A method of operating a heat exchanger for fuels containing carbon, comprising:
 a process of modifying the operating conditions of a removing device included in the heat exchanger when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the heat transfer face by the method of monitoring a heat exchanger for fuels containing carbon according to  claim 4 .