EP0682993B1 - Système de distribution de produits liquides - Google Patents

Système de distribution de produits liquides Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0682993B1
EP0682993B1 EP19950250112 EP95250112A EP0682993B1 EP 0682993 B1 EP0682993 B1 EP 0682993B1 EP 19950250112 EP19950250112 EP 19950250112 EP 95250112 A EP95250112 A EP 95250112A EP 0682993 B1 EP0682993 B1 EP 0682993B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pig
conduit
trap
valve
satellite
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19950250112
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0682993A2 (fr
EP0682993A3 (fr
Inventor
Wendelin Labus
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Maschinenfabrik Nordwig
Original Assignee
Maschinenfabrik Nordwig
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Maschinenfabrik Nordwig filed Critical Maschinenfabrik Nordwig
Publication of EP0682993A2 publication Critical patent/EP0682993A2/fr
Publication of EP0682993A3 publication Critical patent/EP0682993A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0682993B1 publication Critical patent/EP0682993B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17D—PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES
    • F17D3/00—Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations
    • F17D3/03—Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of several different products following one another in the same conduit, e.g. for switching from one receiving tank to another
    • F17D3/08—Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of several different products following one another in the same conduit, e.g. for switching from one receiving tank to another the different products being separated by "go-devils", e.g. spheres
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
    • B08B9/04—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes
    • B08B9/053—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved along the pipes by a fluid, e.g. by fluid pressure or by suction
    • B08B9/055—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes moved along the pipes by a fluid, e.g. by fluid pressure or by suction the cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the same cross-section of the pipes, e.g. pigs or moles
    • B08B9/0551—Control mechanisms therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid distribution system suitable for the substantially contamination free collection of one of a variety of liquid products of differing character from a selected source, and/or the substantially contamination free delivery of such a product to a selected one of a variety of destinations.
  • liquid product a material in a pumpable form which may vary from a mobile liquid such as alcohol or a light hydrocarbon which may be a compressed liquid (i.e. gaseous at ambient pressure) to a viscous or paste-like material such as a sludge.
  • a mobile liquid such as alcohol or a light hydrocarbon which may be a compressed liquid (i.e. gaseous at ambient pressure)
  • a viscous or paste-like material such as a sludge.
  • the invention is especially concerned with products employed in the chemical and petroleum industries.
  • Such places may be e.g. blending tanks, scales, meters, loading and filling facilities or reactors.
  • a particular product may need to be selected from a bank of storage tanks located at one end of a facility and delivered to a selected reactor or blending tank at a remote part of the facility. If each product were to be delivered to an individual destination by a separate pipeline, this would hardly be possible for lack of space and would be prohibitively expensive.
  • distribution systems were developed and installed utilising e.g. hoses with coupling devices. Such systems are still in operation and constitute the state of the art.
  • Products are pumped from storage tanks via pipelines to a central distribution point called a "snake pit" from whence other pipe lines lead to various destinations.
  • the snake pit can contain a hundred or more hoses whose handling always represents an operational safety risk. Handling of the hoses calls for great physical exertion and can lead to accidents and mistakes which can have serious consequences. Likewise, assuring proper hose connection is not without problems.
  • a common conduit is provided to which a plurality of supply conduits are connected, each comprising a valve, and in which, in addition, a plurality of satellite conduits connect the common conduit to different destinations with a satellite valve in each satellite conduit.
  • the common conduit comprises a pig trap for a sole pig. The pig can be moved through the common conduit by means of pressurized air to effect cleaning of the common conduit.
  • a return conduit is connected between the end of the common conduit upstream of the pig trap and its end downstream of the last satellite conduit.
  • the pig In the cleaning cycle, the pig, therefore, circulates from the pig trap through the common conduit and through the return conduit back into the pig trap.
  • This system therefore, requires a return conduit just for circulating the pig which return conduit might be very long since the ends of the common conduit may be located at relatively far remote positions.
  • Another prior system (EP-A-0 375 533) comprises a common conduit to which a supply conduit and a plurality of satellite conduits are connected through valves wherein the satellite conduits connect the common conduit selectively to one of a plurality of destinations.
  • two pigs are provided in the common conduit. In feeding operation one of the pigs is positioned at a first end of the common conduit adjacent to the supply conduit and the other pig is held in a position just downstream of the satellite conduit opened to thereby close the remaining downstream section of the common conduit against entrance of liquid supplied by the supply conduit.
  • the first pig is moved through the common conduit from the pig trap at the upstream end of the common conduit to the open satellite conduit until it contacts the second pig. Thereafter, both pigs are moved back along the common conduit to its upstream end.
  • the invention provides for a manifold system connectable in use for the collection of one of a variety of liquid products of differing character from a selected source, or the delivery of a said product to a selected one of a variety of destinations which comprises a manifold having a common conduit connecting a plurality of satellite conduits themselves connectable with respective said sources or destinations, a satellite valve in each satellite conduit, a connecting conduit leading from said common conduit at a position spaced from the satellite conduits, a main valve in said connecting conduit, cleaning means comprising a sole pig operable for freeing said common conduit of contaminants between conveyance of different said products, wherein said common conduit extends from a first point beyond a first satellite conduit furthermost from said connecting conduit to a second point beyond a junction with said connecting conduit, and at least one pig trap for parking said pig, and which system is characterized by a first pig trap at said first point and a second pig trap at said second point, wherein said pig is arranged to be actuated in one direction by hydraulic pressure of a
  • This system permits cleaning of the common conduit by simple reciprocation of a sole pig in a simple and effective manner.
  • the manifold system of the invention may be designed to be suitable for the collection of a liquid product selected from a plurality of sources.
  • the manifold system of the invention may also be designed to be suitable for the delivery of a liquid product to a selected one of a variety of destinations.
  • a system may e.g. include a pilot line connecting the second pig trap to a connection point on the far side of the main valve from the central conduit, the first pig trap being connected to a pneumatic gas source via a gas valve, and to an exhaust line via an exhaust valve.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a manifold system comprising a manifold 10 having a main or common conduit 11 and e.g. twenty satellite conduits 12, only the four endmost of which, at each end, are shown in detail.
  • each of the conduits 12 contains a satellite valve 13.
  • the manifold system of this embodiment is suitable in use for the collection of one of a variety of liquid products and when arranged in situ each satellite conduit 12 will be connected from the remote end of its valve 13 through a pump to a respective source such as a storage tank.
  • a connecting conduit 14 leads from the common conduit 11 at a position spaced (in this embodiment downstream) from the satellite conduits 12, and contains a main valve 15 which may be fitted with a flow meter 16.
  • the satellite conduits 12 and connecting conduit 14 are connected via their valves 13 and 15 at T junctions and the common conduit is a smoothly extending pipe which may be straight as shown in Figure 1 or have a gradual curve as in Figure 2.
  • An important feature of the invention lies in the provision of cleaning means in association with the manifold for freeing the common conduit 11 of contaminants.
  • this is operable between the conveyance of different products to free the conduit from contaminants which may arise from the previous product.
  • the cleaning means takes the form of a pig 17 located within the common conduit 11 and movable past the satellite connections and connecting conduit between pig traps 18, 19 at respective extremities of the conduit.
  • the pig trap 18 defines a rest position in the present embodiment and the trap 19 an active position.
  • each satellite conduit 12 is connected at the far side of its valve 13 to the remote or dead end of the pig trap 18 by a pilot line 20 containing a pilot valve 21.
  • the pilot lines are connected with the dead end of trap 18 through a central pilot line 20a of a manifold which is only shown diagrammatically.
  • the lines from the trap to the pilot valves, in particular the length of any common pilot line, 21 can be kept short to reduce any contamination through product remaining there between operations.
  • the pig is driven from its rest position in pig trap 18 to the active position in pig trap 19 by the hydraulic pressure of product flowing in a selected pilot line. In doing so it frees the common conduit of air and ensures that no contaminant remains from earlier operations.
  • the pig trap 19, which is downstream in the present embodiment, is connected at its dead end through return valve 22 to a source of compressed air or other pneumatic gas for return to the rest position at pig trap 18 after an operation. It is also connected through exhaust valve 23 to waste, so that air in the conduit 11 and any contaminants picked up by the pig can be discharged during active movement of the pig.
  • Figure 2 shows the construction of the manifold in more detail than Figure 1, but only one of the satellite conduits 12 and associated components is shown for the sake of clarity and to illustrate the operation of the manifold system.
  • the satellite valve has a rotatable ball member which in the closed position conforms to the cylindrical surface of the common conduit, thereby creating no dead volume or projection to impede the cleansing action of the pig 17 which can sweep the whole inner surface clean.
  • the pig may be put into operation manually it is preferred to use automatic means to control the sequence of steps.
  • the position of the pig at various points on its course is detected by sensors.
  • Sensors 37 and 38 ( Figure 2) are positioned to detect the presence of the pig respectively in the traps 18 and 19.
  • Sensor 39 is positioned downstream of the final or last downstream satellite connection and sensor 40 upstream of the junction with the connection conduit 14. The automatic circuit arrangement will be evident from the sequence of operations.
  • the manifold system of Figures 1 and 2 e.g. when connected in a liquid distribution system arranged for collection of a selected liquid product, operates as follows.
  • the nominal diameter of the conduit 11 will normally be designed in line with the volume to be handled. No physical movement is required of the manifold for the conveyance of the liquid products. Essentially only two valves need to be opened and closed again on return of the pig. Contamination in a manifold of 25 satellite lines has been found in tests to be at a maximum 0.1 to 1 litre, depending upon product viscosity and the arrangement of the pilot lines and is negligible. Products tested had viscosities from 30 to 3,000 cSt (3x10 7 to 3x10 9 m 2 /s).
  • the concept of the invention can also be applied to the delivery of a product to a number of different destinations.
  • the satellite conduits will be connected in use to the respective destinations or consumers. It will be evident that in such an arrangement the satellite conduits will require to be cleaned throughout their lengths, since different products may be flowing through them. As mentioned earlier, this is normal.
  • the control of the operations can be effected generally as before, i.e. utilising pneumatic pressure for pig propulsion in the return direction and utilising hydraulic pressure from the single product line as the forward propulsion medium.
  • a single pilot line and pilot valve can be used to connect the dead end of pig trap 19 to the upstream (right hand) side of main valve 15 (which will in use be receiving a pumped liquid product) and the dead end of pig trap 18 arranged for receiving pneumatic gas and expelling exhaust as presently shown for trap 19. Since the downstream direction will in this case be from right to left in Figure 2 the following is a possible sequence.
  • a manifold system of the invention at two ends of a liquid product distribution system, i.e. both for collection from a variety of sources and final delivery to a selected one of a number of destinations or consumers, the two manifold systems, which may be as separately described above, being interconnected by a common transit conduit.
  • the transit conduit may run e.g. from a storage facility at one plant location to a consumer facility at another general location. It, like the satellite lines to different consumers, will normally require to be cleaned by a suitable pig.
  • the invention provides a simple and inexpensive liquid distribution means avoiding the problems inherent in snake pits. It can be used in a great number of plants or facilities, some examples being in the loading and unloading of tank trucks, rail tanks or barges, the collection and delivery of products at tank farms, and in the filling of products via scales or meters, as well as in refineries and chemical reaction facilities.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Pipeline Systems (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Système collecteur susceptible d'être raccordé en service pour recueillir l'un d'une variété de produits liquides de différents caractères provenant d'une source choisie, ou délivrer un tel dit produit à une destination choisie parmi une variété de destinations, comprenant :
    un collecteur (10) ayant une conduite commune (11) raccordant une pluralité de conduites satellites (12) elles-mêmes susceptibles d'être raccordées auxdites sources ou destinations respectives,
    une soupape satellite (13) dans chaque conduite satellite,
    une conduite de raccordement (14) menant de ladite conduite commune dans une position espacée de la conduite satellite,
    une soupape principale (15) dans ladite conduite de raccordement,
    un moyen de nettoyage comprenant un seul faubert (17) susceptible de débarrasser ladite conduite commune d'agents de contamination entre le transport desdits différents produits, ladite conduite commune (11) s'étendant d'un premier point (18) au-delà d'une première conduite satellite plus loin de ladite conduite de raccordement (14) jusqu'à un second point (19) au delà d'une jonction avec ladite conduite de raccordement (14), et
    au moins un récepteur de faubert (18; 19) pour parquer ledit faubert (17),
    caractérisé par
       un premier récepteur de faubert (18) audit premier point et un second récepteur de faubert (19) audit second point, ledit faubert (17) étant agencé pour être actionné dans un sens par la pression hydraulique dudit produit et dans l'autre sens par un moyen pneumatique, et à la fois ladite pression hydraulique et ladite pression pneumatique devant être appliquées à l'extrémité morte du récepteur de faubert respectif (18; 19).
  2. Système selon la revendication 1 pour recueillir un tel dit produit choisi parmi une pluralité de sources, caractérisé par un collecteur pilote comprenant une conduite pilote centrale (20a) raccordant ledit premier récepteur de faubert (18) à une pluralité de conduites pilotes (20), chacune contenant une soupape pilote (21), lesdites conduites pilotes (20) étant associées respectivement à une conduite satellite respective (12) et raccordées à celle-ci en un point de raccordement sur le côté de la soupape satellite respective (13) opposé à ladite conduite commune (11).
  3. Système selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdites conduites satellites (12) sont raccordées à des sources de produit respectives via des pompes.
  4. Système selon la revendication 2 ou 3, comprenant des moyens de commande (37, 38, 39, 40) aménagés
    lors de la sélection d'une telle dite source, pour ouvrir la soupape pilote correspondante (21), et ouvrir une soupape d'échappement (23) dans ledit second récepteur de faubert (19) afin de permettre au produit sélectionné de s'écouler vers ledit premier récepteur de faubert (18) sous pression suffisante pour presser le faubert (17) d'une position de repos dans ledit récepteur (18) à une position active dans ledit second récepteur de faubert (19),
    après passage du faubert (17) au-delà du raccordement satellite final, pour déclencher (en 39) l'ouverture de la soupape satellite (13) correspondant à la source sélectionnée afin de permettre l'écoulement du produit dans ladite conduite commune (11),
    lors de l'arrivée du faubert (17) dans ledit second récepteur de faubert (19), pour fermer ladite soupape d'échappement (23) et ouvrir ladite soupape principale (15), en permettant au produit de s'écouler vers une destination souhaitée,
    à la fin d'un volume d'écoulement de produit sélectionné, pour fermer la soupape principale (15) et ensuite permettre l'introduction de gaz pneumatique (22) dans ledit second récepteur de faubert (19) pour renvoyer le faubert (17) à sa position de repos dans le premier récepteur de faubert (18),
    après passage du faubert (17) au-delà de la jonction avec ladite conduite de raccordement (14), pour fermer ladite soupape satellite (13), de sorte que le produit restant en service dans ladite conduite commune (11) soit renvoyé à la conduite de source via la conduite pilote (20a, 20),
    à l'arrivée du faubert (17) dans le premier récepteur de faubert (18), pour fermer ladite soupape pilote (21) et désactiver l'entrée de gaz pneumatique (22).
  5. Système selon la revendication 1 pour la délivrance d'un dit tel produit à une destination sélectionnée d'une variété de destinations, caractérisé par une conduite pilote raccordant ledit second récepteur de faubert (19) à un point de connexion sur le côté de la soupape principale (15) éloigné de la conduite commune (11), ledit premier récepteur de faubert (19) étant raccordé à une source de gaz pneumatique via une soupape à gaz (22), et à une conduite d'échappement via une soupape d'échappement (23).
  6. Système selon la revendication 5, comprenant des moyens de commande (37, 38, 39, 40) aménagés :
    lors de la sélection d'une dite destination, pour ouvrir la soupape pilote (21) et ouvrir la soupape d'échappement dans ledit premier récepteur de faubert afin de permettre au produit de s'écouler vers ledit second récepteur de faubert sous pression suffisante pour pousser le faubert (17) d'une position de repos dans ledit récepteur à une position active dans le premier récepteur de faubert,
    après passage du faubert (17) au-delà du raccordement satellite final, pour déclencher l'ouverture de la soupape principe (15) afin de permettre l'écoulement du produit dans ladite conduite commune (11),
    lors de l'arrivée du faubert (17) dans ledit premier récepteur de faubert, pour fermer ladite soupape d'échappement et ouvrir la soupape satellite (13) correspondant à la destination sélectionnée, afin de permettre au produit de s'écouler vers la destination souhaitée,
    une fois atteint le volume d'écoulement de produit sélectionné, pour fermer la soupape satellite (13) et permettre ensuite l'introduction de gaz pneumatique dans ledit premier récepteur de faubert afin de renvoyer le faubert (17) dans sa position de repos dans le second récepteur de faubert,
    après passage du faubert (17) au-delà de la jonction avec ladite conduite de raccordement (14), pour fermer ladite soupape principale (15), de sorte que le produit restant en usage dans ladite conduite commune (11) soit renvoyé à la conduite de source via la conduite pilote (20),
    lors de l'arrivée du faubert (17) dans le second récepteur de faubert, pour fermer ladite soupape pilote (21) et désactiver l'entrée de gaz pneumatique.
EP19950250112 1994-05-19 1995-05-11 Système de distribution de produits liquides Expired - Lifetime EP0682993B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9410081 1994-05-19
GB9410081A GB2289740A (en) 1994-05-19 1994-05-19 Liquid product distribution system with cleaning means

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0682993A2 EP0682993A2 (fr) 1995-11-22
EP0682993A3 EP0682993A3 (fr) 1996-03-20
EP0682993B1 true EP0682993B1 (fr) 2001-11-28

Family

ID=10755420

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19950250112 Expired - Lifetime EP0682993B1 (fr) 1994-05-19 1995-05-11 Système de distribution de produits liquides

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0682993B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69524137T2 (fr)
GB (1) GB2289740A (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19729051C1 (de) * 1997-07-08 1999-01-07 Henkel Kgaa Reinigungszyklen in der Parfümölindustrie mittels Molchtechnik
DE10160136B4 (de) * 2001-12-07 2005-03-24 Abb Patent Gmbh Anordnung und Verfahren zur automatischen Reinigung eines Rohrleitungssystems
EP1779937B1 (fr) * 2005-10-27 2014-08-27 Galloway Company Systeme de raclage

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2605253B1 (fr) * 1986-10-21 1988-12-30 Elf Aquitaine Lubrifiants Installation d'enfutage
GB8625423D0 (en) * 1986-10-23 1986-11-26 Int Testing & Commissioning Lt Pipeline pig launching apparatus
FR2640716B1 (fr) * 1988-12-20 1991-04-05 Fmc Europe Vanne raclable a trois voies et conduite raclable de distribution de liquides la comportant
DE4119743A1 (de) * 1991-06-15 1992-12-17 Frisse Richard Maschf Verfahren zum reinigen von rohrleitungen, vorrichtung zur durchfuehrung des verfahrens und durchlaufsensor
US5444886A (en) * 1993-09-03 1995-08-29 Fuji Oil Co., Ltd. Apparatus for cleaning a piping

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0682993A2 (fr) 1995-11-22
EP0682993A3 (fr) 1996-03-20
GB2289740A (en) 1995-11-29
DE69524137D1 (de) 2002-01-10
DE69524137T2 (de) 2002-06-20
GB9410081D0 (en) 1994-07-06

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