Method for monitoring a heat exchanger unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10545002-B2
Application number	US-201715591086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2017
Priority date	Apr 10, 2016
Publication date	Jan 28, 2020
Grant date	Jan 28, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a method for monitoring a heat exchanger unit that may include the steps of: coupling the heat exchanger unit with a heat generating device; associating a monitoring module with an airflow side of the heat exchanger unit; operating the monitoring module whereby a microcontroller performs tasks related to providing an indication; and taking an action based on the indication. The monitoring module includes an at least one sensor proximate to the airflow side; a logic circuit in operable communication with the at least one sensor, and further comprising the microcontroller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring a heat exchanger unit, the method comprising:
coupling the heat exchanger unit with a heat generating device;
associating a monitoring module with an airflow side of the heat exchanger unit, the monitoring module comprising:
a mounting frame;
a cover panel coupled to the mounting frame and having a front side and a back side, the front side facing away from the heat exchanger unit;
a sensor proximate to the airflow side and mounted to the monitoring module, the sensor having a rotating member;
a logic circuit in operable communication with the sensor, and further comprising: a microcontroller configured with computer instructions for performing the tasks of:
i) acquiring a set of data from the sensor;
ii) sampling the set of data over a predetermined period of time, and computing an average and a standard deviation;
iii) comparing the standard deviation with predetermined data stored on a data storage;
iv) determining whether the set of data is acceptable within a defined parameter;
v) determining whether a first lookup table comprising a set of lookup data has been completed, and creating the first lookup table using an averaging method if the first lookup table comprising a set of lookup data has not been completed;
vi) comparing the set of data to the set of lookup data; and
vii) providing an indication based on a result of the comparing the set of data to the set of lookup data; and

drawing ambient air through the heat exchanger unit with a fan to change a temperature of at least one service fluid;
operating the monitoring module whereby the microcontroller performs tasks i)-vii); and
taking an action based on the indication.

2. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller receives power at least partially from the sensor.

3. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 1 , wherein the indication is communicated to an end user by way of at least one of: a text message, an email, an audio signal, a display, a visual indicator, or one or more combinations thereof.

4. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 3 , wherein the indication is related to an amount of fouling present within the airflow side.

5. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, and each of the plurality of sensors are in operable communication with the microcontroller, and wherein the indication pertains to an amount of fouling associated with the airflow side of the heat exchanger unit.

6. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring module further comprises each of a solid data storage, a Wi-Fi module, a GSM module, and a CAN-Bus module being disposed within a controller housing and in operable communication with the microcontroller, and wherein the microcontroller is provided with additional computer instructions for communicating with one or more of the solid data storage, the Wi-Fi module, the GSM module, and the CAN-Bus module.

7. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one service fluid comprises one or more of lube oil, hydraulic fluid, fuel, charge air, transmission fluid, jacket water, or engine cooler.

8. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 7 , wherein the heat generation device is a diesel engine, and wherein the heat exchanger unit comprises four sides, each side of the four sides having a respective cooler mounted to a frame.

9. A method for monitoring a heat exchanger unit, the method comprising:
coupling the heat exchanger unit in fluid communication with a motor;
associating a monitoring module with an airflow side of the heat exchanger unit, the monitoring module comprising:
a mounting frame;
a cover panel coupled to the mounting frame and having a front side and a back side, the front side facing away from the heat exchanger unit;
a plurality of sensors mounted to the monitoring module, each of the plurality of sensors having a rotating member with a plurality of blades extending from each of the rotating members; and
a logic circuit in operable communication with the plurality of sensors, and further comprising: a microcontroller operable with computer instructions for performing the tasks of:
i) acquiring a set of data from at least one of the plurality of sensors;
ii) sampling the set of data over a predetermined period of time;
iii) determining whether the set of data is acceptable within a defined parameter;
iv) determining whether a first lookup table comprising a set of lookup data has been completed;
v) comparing the set of data to the set of lookup data; and
vi) providing an indication based on a result of the comparing the set of data to the set of lookup data; and

drawing ambient air through the heat exchanger unit with a fan to change a temperature of at least one service fluid;
initiating operation of the monitoring module whereby the microcontroller performs tasks i)-vi); and
based on the indication, performing a cleaning action on the heat exchanger unit.

10. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 9 , the method comprising operating the monitoring module to communicate the indication to an end user by way of at least one of: a text message, an email, an audio signal, a display, a visual indicator, or one or more combinations thereof.

11. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 10 , wherein the indication is related to an amount of fouling present within the airflow side of the heat exchanger unit.

12. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 9 , wherein the monitoring module further comprises each of a solid data storage, a Wi-Fi module, a GSM module, and a CAN-Bus module being disposed within a controller housing and in operable communication with the microcontroller, and wherein the microcontroller is provided with additional computer instructions for communicating with one or more of the solid data storage, the Wi-Fi module, the GSM module, and the CAN-Bus module.

13. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 12 , wherein the at least one service fluid comprises one or more of lube oil, hydraulic fluid, fuel, charge air, transmission fluid, jacket water, or engine cooler; and the drawing the ambient air through the heat exchanger unit with the fan comprises drawing the ambient air through the cover panel to rotate said each of the rotating members.

14. The method for monitoring the heat exchanger unit of claim 13 , wherein the heat generation device is a diesel engine, and wherein the heat exchanger unit comprises four sides, each side of the four sides having a respective cooler mounted to a frame.

15. A method for monitoring a heat exchanger unit, the method comprising:
coupling the heat exchanger unit in fluid communication with a heat generating device;
associating a monitoring module with an airflow side of the heat exchanger unit, the monitoring module comprising:
a mounting frame;
a cover panel coupled to the mounting frame and having a front side and a back side, the front side facing away from the heat exchanger unit;
a plurality of sensors mounted to the monitoring module, at least one of the sensors has a rotating member with a plurality of blades extending from the rotating member;
a logic circuit in operable communication with the plurality of sensors, and further comprising: a microcontroller operable with computer instructions for performing the tasks of:
i) acquiring a set of

Assignees

• Global Heat Transfer Ulc
• Forum Us Inc

Inventors

• Vanberg Randy
• Rajani Hamid Reza Zareie
• Larimi Seyed Reza
• Abbasi Morteza

Classifications

• H10W40/43

  by flowing gases, e.g. forced air cooling · CPC title

• F28G15/003 Primary

  Control arrangements · CPC title

• F04D25/068

  Mechanical details of the pump control unit (pump control details F04D27/00) · CPC title

• F28D1/024

  with an air driving element · CPC title

• F28D2021/0031

  Radiators for recooling a coolant of cooling systems · CPC title