Heat exchanger effluent collector

Abstract

A gas to gas heat exchanger 110 is equipped with a heat transfer element cleaning system 160 , effluent collector hopper 162 and effluent collector hopper cleaning system 164 . The heat transfer element cleaning system 160 is useful to remove accumulated substances from the heat exchanger 110 heat transfer elements 134 . The effluent collector hopper 162 is useful to capture a cleaning fluid used to remove accumulated substances from the heat exchanger 110 heat transfer elements 134 . The effluent collector hopper cleaning system 164 is useful to remove accumulated substances captured with the cleaning fluid from the effluent collector hopper 162 to prevent clogging thereof.

1 . A method of making a gas to gas heat exchanger comprising:
 providing a heat exchanger equipped with element supporting baskets;   fabricating from rigid material sheets heat transfer elements for arrangement and support within the element supporting baskets to form closed passageways therebetween for fluid flow through the closed passageways;   providing a heat transfer element cleaning system arranged within an untreated flue gas outlet duct of the heat exchanger, equipped with a plurality of nozzles fluidly connected to a fluid supply operable for an upward fluid spray cleaning of accumulated substances from the heat transfer elements and closed passageways for downward drainage of the accumulated substances and sprayed fluid from the heat transfer elements and closed passageways;   providing an effluent collector hopper arranged below the heat transfer element cleaning system and operable for collection of the downward drainage of sprayed fluid and accumulated substances removed from the heat transfer elements and closed passageways; and   providing an effluent collector hopper cleaning system equipped with a drain and fluidly connected to a fluid supply operable for a horizontal fluid spray cleaning of the effluent collector hopper for fluid and accumulated substance drainage from the effluent collector hopper through the drain to clean and prevent effluent collector hopper clogging.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply is water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upward fluid spray of the heat transfer element cleaning system is of a pressure of approximately 400 bar to approximately 700 bar for cleaning the heat transfer elements and closed passageways. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid spray of the heat transfer element cleaning system is of a pressure of approximately 500 bar for cleaning the heat transfer elements and closed passageways. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal fluid spray of the effluent collector hopper cleaning system is of a pressure of approximately 400 bar to approximately 700 bar for effluent collector hopper cleaning system cleaning to prevent clogging thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A method of using a gas to gas heat exchanger comprising:
 providing a heat exchanger equipped with element supporting baskets;   arranging heat transfer elements within the element supporting baskets to define closed passageways therebetween for fluid flow through the closed passageways;   passing fluids of differing temperatures through the closed passageways for heat transfer between the passing fluids;   using a heat transfer element cleaning system arranged within an untreated flue gas outlet duct of the heat exchanger, equipped with a plurality of nozzles fluidly connected to a fluid supply arranged and operable for an upward fluid spray cleaning of accumulated substances from the heat transfer elements and closed passageways for downward drainage of the accumulated substances and sprayed fluid from the plurality of heat transfer elements and closed passageways;   using an effluent collector hopper arranged below the heat transfer element cleaning system and operable for collection of the downward drainage of the sprayed fluid and accumulated substances removed from the heat transfer elements and closed passageways; and   using an effluent collector hopper cleaning system equipped with a drain and fluidly connected to a fluid supply operable for a horizontal fluid spray cleaning of the effluent collector hopper for fluid and accumulated substance drainage from the effluent collector hopper through the drain to clean and prevent effluent collector hopper clogging.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid supply is water. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the upward fluid spray of the heat transfer element cleaning system is of a pressure of approximately 400 bar to approximately 700 bar for cleaning of the heat transfer elements and closed passageways. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the upward fluid spray of the heat transfer element cleaning system is of a pressure of approximately 500 bar for cleaning of heat transfer elements and closed passageways. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the horizontal fluid spray of the effluent collector hopper cleaning system is of a pressure of approximately 400 bar to approximately 700 bar for effluent collector hopper cleaning system cleaning to prevent clogging thereof.