John C Tsou

US Patent:

59839945, Nov 16, 1999

Filed:

Oct 30, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/961760

Inventors:

John L. Tsou - Foster City CA

Assignee:

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

F28G 108
F28F 1312

US Classification:

165 94

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are described for cleaning the inside of a heat exchanger tube while the tube is in operation and for simultaneously enhancing the heat transfer rate across the tube wall. The method consists of positioning a rod containing a tube cleaner inside of the heat exchanger tube and moving the rod in a back and forth motion during operation of the heat exchanger tube. The tube cleaner is designed to scrape the inside wall of the heat exchanger tube and to create turbulence in the fluid near the tube wall thereby improving the heat transfer rate across the tube wall.

US Patent:

55907067, Jan 7, 1997

Filed:

Jul 3, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/497959

Inventors:

John L. Tsou - Foster City CA
John F. Garey - Marion MA

Assignee:

Electric Power Research Institute - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

F28G 1300

US Classification:

165 111

Abstract:

An electro-mechanical, dual tube and plug device for on-line monitoring of performance losses due to reduced conductivity of a non condensing heat exchanger resulting from micro-bio fouling of the surfaces of said heat exchanger and for detecting change of heat transfer resistance of individual heat transfer tubes. The dual tube and plug assembly includes a first flow assembly tube and a second temperature assembly tube attached to the discharge end of a heat exchanger for providing accurate measurement of temperature and cooling water flow. The first flow assembly tube includes a tube having an inner chamber, including a flow sensor a temperature sensor for measuring discharge water temperature. The second temperature assembly tube plugs the inlet and the outlet of a heat transfer tube immediately adjacent to the flow assembly tube and includes a plurality of temperature sensors in the plugged empty heat transfer tube. Flow and discharge temperature signals from a first dual tube device are combined with other flow and discharge temperature signals, from additional dual tube devices.

US Patent:

50707230, Dec 10, 1991

Filed:

Sep 20, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/409709

Inventors:

John L. Tsou - Foster City CA
Yusuf Mussalli - Pawtucket RI

Assignee:

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G01M 322

US Classification:

73 407

Abstract:

System and method for detecting and locating leaks in a steam condenser while the condenser is on-line and operating in its normal capacity. A tracer gas is mixed with water and introduced into the tubes of the condenser through an injector which can be positioned selectively to direct the gas toward different ones of the tubes. The occurrence of a leak is detected by monitoring for the presence of the tracer gas in the condensation chamber, and the location of the leak is determined from the position of the injector when the leak occurs.