System and method for cleaning stator cooling coils

摘要

Methods and systems are disclosed for removing cuprous oxide deposits from a copper-containing water-based cooling system, such as those used to cool stators in industrial generators, without disrupting operation of the cooling system. A complexing agent, such as a 1,10-phenanthroline, e.g., 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine), a 2,2-bipyridine compound, or the like can be introduced into the coolant fluid to facilitate dissolution of the deposits by forming a complex with the cuprous ions. The complexing agent can be dissolved in an alcohol at a concentration of about 4-5%, and then added to the coolant fluid to a concentration of about 6e-3 M or less to avoid undesirable precipitation of the agent. The complexing agent can be recovered by flowing the coolant mixture through an adsorbent material such as activated carbon, and the copper can be removed from the agent by reacting it with sodium sulfide.

主权项

1. A method for removing cuprous oxide deposits from a copper-containing cooling system, comprising:
introducing a complexing agent into a fluid coolant that flows through the cooling system and a generator stator cooled by the cooling system, wherein the complexing agent is selected to form a complex with cuprous ions and wherein the flow of fluid coolant through the cooling system and generator stator is maintained when the complexing agent is introduced into the fluid coolant; and removing a mixture of the complexing agent and the fluid coolant from the cooling system after at least a portion of the complexing agent has formed a complex with at least a portion of the copper contained in the cuprous oxide deposits wherein the flow of fluid coolant through the cooling system and generator stator is maintained when the mixture of the complexing agent and the fluid coolant is removed from the cooling system and wherein the introduction of the complexing agent and removal of complexing agent and fluid coolant are performed simultaneously.