FLUID COOLING APPARATUS
A fluid cooling apparatus with a heat exchanger device (3), which cools heated fluid under the action of a cooling air stream passed through it is characterized in that an air filter arrangement (21, 43) is provided upstream of the heat exchanger device (3) in the flow path of the cooling air stream.
The invention relates to a fluid cooling apparatus with a heat exchanger device, which cools heated fluid through the action of a cooling air stream passed through it.
Cooling devices of this kind are known from the prior art. For example, DE10 2008 027 424 A1 discloses such a cooling apparatus that includes an associated filter device for filtering the fluid that must be cooled, for example in the form of hydraulic or lubricating oil or the like, and that can be forwarded to a consumer. The heat exchanger device that constitutes the actual cooling unit is formed by a plate-shaped cellular radiator in this type of device and mounted to a fan housing of an air-flow device containing a fan that is powered by a motor, and that generates the cooling air stream flowing through the cellular radiator.
Devices of this kind are often used in systems that are operated at locations where it must be expected that the ambient air, which is used as cooling air, will be loaded with contaminants, such as dust particles, soot particles, or the like. This is primarily a problem in systems that are operated outdoors, for example machinery in the construction industry equipped with an operating hydraulic system or a hydrostatic traveling drive, or in wind turbine generator systems where the heavily loaded transmission is provided with an oil cooler. Depending on the level of contamination of the cooling air, after longer or shorter operating times, particles, such as dust or soot particles or the like, form accretions on the cooling unit, thereby causing clogging that is accompanied by a corresponding reduction of the flow rate of the cooling air stream. To avoid damage or failures in the connected consumer loads due to a reduction of the cooling capacity, cleaning of the cooling unit is compulsory in an effort to remove contaminations. However, the involved labor complexity is considerable; these efforts are especially time-consuming when the cooling unit is disposed at a location that is cumbersome to reach, as is the case, for example, with cooling devices that are located in the power houses of wind turbine generator systems, where any cleaning work must be performed high off the ground and after climbing or ascending the tower of the facility.
In view of this problem, it is the object of the present invention to provide a fluid cooling apparatus that is operationally reliable and expedient for use while requiring a comparatively low level of maintenance, even at locations where the ambient air is loaded with contaminants.
This object is achieved with a fluid cooling apparatus that has the characteristics of claim 1.
An essential special aspect of the invention provides for an air filter arrangement in the flow path of the cooling air stream, upstream of the heat exchanger device. The required maintenance complexity for a reliable operation is limited herein to returning the air filter arrangement to a functional state, if necessary. This task can be performed faster and easier than cleaning the cooling unit, such as by implementing a replacement step in the course of which the totality of the air filter arrangement or the filter medium thereof is replaced, or a fresh surface section of a filter material is brought in position on the cooling unit.
Aside from the very few instances, when a natural cooling air stream is available, for example due to an air flow that is generated by the movement of mobile device, an air flow apparatus is provided that generates a cooling air stream by means of a motor-operated fan. The usual velocities of the cooling air stream that are applicable with such a forced cooling means offer the possibility of optimally designing the filter unit of the air filter arrangement in such a manner that even fine dirt particles, like fine dusts, are safely separated.
In especially advantageous embodiments, wherein the heat exchanger device includes a plate-shaped cooling unit, such as a cellular radiator, the arrangement is advantageously selected in such a manner that the air filter arrangement constitutes a filter area that is disposed upstream of the air inlet area.
Preferably, the filter area therein can be constituted of a filter mat that is retained inside a frame, which is adjusted to an air inlet area of the cooling unit. Replacement processes can be achieved with particular ease simply by removing the used filter mat from the frame and inserting a fresh filter mat.
Advantageously, the apparatus is arranged such that the frame includes at least one grate that rests as a supporting structure against one side of the filter mat. This allows for the use of soft filter mats without intrinsic rigidity, for example nonwoven filters or paper filters.
In advantageous embodiments, it is also possible to provide for an air filter arrangement in the form of a continuous belt filter device that includes a filter belt which constitutes the filter surface and that can be moved in front of the air inlet area of the cooling unit. To reactivate the functionality of the air filtering operation, in this case, the continuous filter belt is moved in front of the cooling unit in such a manner that a contaminated longitudinal section of the filter belt is moved away from the air inlet area of the cooling unit and a fresh longitudinal section of the filter belt is moved to the location in front of the air inlet area. It is especially advantageous, when the filter belt is transported by a motor, such that the operator does not require access to the device that is involved in order to carry out maintenance work.
It is especially advantageous for the apparatus to be provided with a signaling device for detecting any contamination of the filter area, based on a contamination-induced reduction of the flow rate of the cooling air stream that passes through the filter area, and that issues an alert to the operator. The operational reliability of the related facilities is thereby ensured, in particular, because the risk that corrective measures are omitted, due to ignorance of the fact that an impairment of the cooling air stream has indeed occurred, is thereby avoided.
Especially advantageously, the movement of the filter belt of the belt filter apparatus can be controlled by the signaling device in such a manner that contaminated belt sections of the filter belt are automatically replaced with fresh belt sections, whereby the maintenance of the apparatus is automated.
In particularly advantageous embodiments, the apparatus can be disposed such that the belt transportation device routes any contaminated belt sections of the continuous filter belt that are located upstream of the cooling unit through the flow path that is located downstream the cooling unit and that dirt particles are blown off by the cooling air stream; afterwards, the belt sections that have been cleaned in this manner are returned to the air inlet area. Instead of cutting out used up filter belt sections, such a filter belt is thus reused following a cleaning of the belt, which is performed inside the device itself, meaning filter material only needs replacing, if at all, after a corresponding number of cleaning cycles, whereby the operating costs are lowered.
The invention will be described, based on the embodiments in the drawings, in further detail below.
Depicted are as follows:
The signaling device 25 includes a flow sensor 27 that detects a drop of the flow rate in the flow channel 9 in the manner of an anemometer. Moreover, a speed sensor 29 is provided that detects if the fan wheel 11 operates at a normal speed. It is thereby ensured that the signaling device 25 only alerts the operator to the presence of a clogged filter, when the flow sensor 27 detects a decrease in the flow rate, provided that the speed sensor 29 confirms the operation of the fan wheel 11 at a normal speed, meaning that the drive unit 13 is not switched off.
The filter material 23 can be a mat-type, nonwoven filter, for example nonwoven polyester. A nonwoven paper material, glass-fiber mat, or melt-blow nonwoven fabric are also conceivable as structural fabrics, such as a polyester fabric, metal wire or plastic mesh, or plastic grates having a net-type structure. For example,
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Claims
1. A fluid cooling apparatus with a heat exchanger (3), which cools heated fluid through the action of a cooling air stream passed through it, characterized in that an air filter arrangement (21, 43) is provided upstream of the heat exchanger device (3) in the flow path of the cooling air stream.
2. The fluid cooling apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that an air-flow apparatus is provided that can be operated by a motor-actuated fan (11) that generates the cooling air stream.
3. The fluid cooling apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchanger device (3) includes a plate-shaped cooling unit, approximately in the shape of a cellular radiator, and in that the air filter arrangement (21, 43) constitutes a filter area upstream of the air inlet area (19).
4. The fluid cooling apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter area is formed by a filter mat (23, 37, 39, 41) that is held inside a frame (31) adjusted to the air inlet area (19) of the cooling unit.
5. The fluid cooling apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (31) includes at least one grate (33) that rests as a support structure on one side of the filter mat (23, 37, 39, 41).
6. The fluid cooling apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that there is provided an air filter arrangement in the form of a belt-type filter apparatus (43) that includes a filter belt (45) constituting the filter surface that can be moved upstream of the air inlet area (19).
7. The fluid cooling apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a signaling device (25) is present that detects the contamination of the filter area based on the reduction of the flow rate of the cooling air stream that passes through the filter area and issues an alert signal.
8. The fluid cooling apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement of the filter belt (45) of the belt filter arrangement (43) is controlled such by the signaling device (25) that contaminated belt sections of the filter belt (45) are replaced with fresh belt sections.
9. The fluid cooling apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the belt filter arrangement (43) includes a belt transportation device that transports the contaminated belt sections through the flow path (9) that is located downstream of the cooling unit (3) in such a manner that any contaminations (51) are blown off by the cooling air stream and the cleaned belt sections are returned to the air inlet area (19).
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 19, 2011
Publication Date: Nov 21, 2013
Inventors: Guiseppe Zeolla (Minusio), Davide Rini (Bizzarone (Como))
Application Number: 13/261,669
International Classification: F28D 15/00 (20060101);