EP1278961B1 - Pompage de gaz liquefie - Google Patents

Pompage de gaz liquefie Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1278961B1
EP1278961B1 EP01928264A EP01928264A EP1278961B1 EP 1278961 B1 EP1278961 B1 EP 1278961B1 EP 01928264 A EP01928264 A EP 01928264A EP 01928264 A EP01928264 A EP 01928264A EP 1278961 B1 EP1278961 B1 EP 1278961B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquefied gas
piston
pump
pump chamber
pumping
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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
EP01928264A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1278961A1 (fr
Inventor
Mikael Orsen
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AGA AB
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AGA AB
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B15/00—Pumps adapted to handle specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts
    • F04B15/06—Pumps adapted to handle specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts for liquids near their boiling point, e.g. under subnormal pressure
    • F04B15/08—Pumps adapted to handle specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts for liquids near their boiling point, e.g. under subnormal pressure the liquids having low boiling points
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C9/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B2201/00—Pump parameters
    • F04B2201/02—Piston parameters
    • F04B2201/0201—Position of the piston
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
    • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
    • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
    • F17C2205/0323—Valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
    • F17C2209/21—Shaping processes
    • F17C2209/2109—Moulding
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/013—Carbone dioxide
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/035—High pressure (>10 bar)
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
    • F17C2227/0128—Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
    • F17C2227/0135—Pumps
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
    • F17C2227/0128—Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
    • F17C2227/0135—Pumps
    • F17C2227/0142—Pumps with specified pump type, e.g. piston or impulsive type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/03—Control means
    • F17C2250/032—Control means using computers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
    • F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
    • F17C2250/043—Pressure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
    • F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
    • F17C2250/0478—Position or presence
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/04—Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
    • F17C2250/0404—Parameters indicated or measured
    • F17C2250/0482—Acceleration
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/06—Controlling or regulating of parameters as output values
    • F17C2250/0605—Parameters
    • F17C2250/0636—Flow or movement of content
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/06—Controlling or regulating of parameters as output values
    • F17C2250/0605—Parameters
    • F17C2250/0684—Acceleration
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00—Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/07—Actions triggered by measured parameters
    • F17C2250/072—Action when predefined value is reached
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
    • F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
    • F17C2260/013—Reducing manufacturing time or effort
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/05—Applications for industrial use
    • F17C2270/0554—Hydraulic applications
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/05—Applications for industrial use
    • F17C2270/0563—Pneumatic applications
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/07—Applications for household use
    • F17C2270/0736—Capsules, e.g. CO2

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to pumping of liquefied gas, and particularly to a device and a method, respectively, for pumping of liquefied gas, preferably at high pressures, and to a system and a method, respectively, for the manufacturing of polymer products, comprising said device and said method, respectively, for pumping of liquefied gas.
  • Known pumps for pumping of liquefied gas at high pressures comprise different piston and membrane pumps. These pumps operate continuously, often using several pistons or membranes driven by a common motor.
  • so called syringe pumps are known for instance within the field of HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography), which also are used for the pumping of liquefied gas, for instance carbon dioxide, at high pressure, though in very small amounts. Also these pumps are aimed for continuous pumping often during very long time (up to several hours).
  • HPLC High Pressure Liquid Chromatography
  • EP 0 501 806 A1 discloses a piston pump for continuous pumping of liquefied carbon dioxide (at pressures up to above 500 bar), which has a liner of low thermal conductivity provided along the inner surfaces of the pump cylinder to prevent heat arising during compression of the liquefied carbon dioxide from being transmitted to the pump cylinder. The heat remains in the carbon dioxide, which is pumped away and leaves the pump during compression. When a subsequent pumping cycle is initiated the newly carbon dioxide intaken is not exposed to any remaining heat and will thus stay in liquefied phase.
  • Another manner of avoiding boiling of carbon dioxide in the pump cylinder includes to circulate a cooling medium, for instance a liquefied gas, cooling water, or glycol around the cylinder to cool the same, see for instance the US patents 2,439,957 and 2,439,958.
  • a cooling medium for instance a liquefied gas, cooling water, or glycol
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a device and a method, respectively, for pumping of an accurately and precisely controllable amount of liquefied gas, wherein cavitation of the liquefied gas is essentially avoided.
  • Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a device and a method for discontinuous pumping of an accurately and precisely controllable amount of liquefied gas.
  • Still a further object of the invention is to provide a device and a method for pumping of an accurately and precisely controllable amount of liquefied gas, wherein the pump velocity is variably controllable during a single piston stroke.
  • Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a system and a method for the manufacturing of polymer products comprising said device and method, respectively, for pumping of liquefied gas.
  • An advantage of the present invention is that the amount of liquefied gas, which is pumped during a single piston stroke, is accurately and precisely controllable, wherein also the pump velocity can be altered during the piston stroke per se.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically, in cross section, a device for pumping of liquefied gas according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows schematically a block scheme of a system for manufacturing of polymer products, where the system comprises the device for pumping of liquefied gas shown in Fig. 1.
  • Figs. 3a-c are diagrams showing typical values in arbitrarily units of the amount of liquefied gas pumped per time unit as a function of time for the pump device shown in Fig. 2 (solid lines). Fig 3c also shows typical values of the amount of plasticized polymer fed by time unit as a function of time for the system for manufacturing of polymer products as shown in Fig. 2 (dashed line).
  • Fig. 4 shows schematically, in cross section, a device for pumping of liquefied gas according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating typical values in arbitrarily units of the amount of liquefied gas pumped per time unit as a function of time for the device shown in fig. 1 (solid line) and for the device shown in Fig. 4 (dashed line).
  • Fig. 1 in a schematic cross sectional view, illustrates a first embodiment of a pump 1 according to the present invention.
  • the pump comprises a pump body or a cylinder 3 having a cylindrical bore 5, which constitutes a pump chamber.
  • the pump chamber 5 is provided with an inlet 7, which is connected to a source of liquefied CO 2 (not shown in Fig. 1).
  • the source may be a conventional gas bottle with liquefied carbon dioxide at room temperature and at a pressure at approximately 60 bars, but is preferably a ring conduit system, wherein carbon dioxide can be stored in a more controlled manner.
  • a non-return valve 9 which prevents carbon dioxide from flowing out from chamber 5 through the inlet. In the forward direction the valve 9 opens preferably at a pressure of about 0.5 bar.
  • the pump chamber is further provided with an outlet 11, through which the carbon dioxide is pumped from the chamber.
  • a valve 13 for instance a spring closing non-return valve, which preferably opens at a predetermined pressure, for instance 80 bars in the forward direction and is completely closed in the reversed direction.
  • valves for instance remotely controlled valves, can be used to achieve a similar functionality.
  • the present invention includes of course use of such valves.
  • the pump device 1 further includes a piston or needle 15 arranged in the cylindrical bore 5 of the pump body, which is axially movable between a front position and a back position, which is indicated in Fig. 1 by means of a bi-directional arrow 17.
  • a piston or needle 15 arranged in the cylindrical bore 5 of the pump body, which is axially movable between a front position and a back position, which is indicated in Fig. 1 by means of a bi-directional arrow 17.
  • the pump In order to operate at high pressure the pump comprises a sealing (not shown in Fig. 1) for sealing between the piston and the cylinder wall. It is of course important that the sealing has a good resistance against permeability and/or diffusion of carbon dioxide, such that the risk that the sealing expands and disables pumping functionality is very low.
  • a preferable version of the pump device 1 manages a pressure of up to 500 bars.
  • the piston is driven by a motor 19, suitably a linear electrical motor via a transmission medium, in Fig. 1 schematically indicated by 21.
  • the transmission can for instance be hydraulic or pneumatic. It shall, however, be apparent to the man skilled in the art that any given motor having power transmission capable of achieving a linear movement of piston 15 is usable in the present invention.
  • a servomotor provided with a rack gearing can be used for driving of piston 15.
  • the motor 19 is controlled by means of a control computer 23 provided with suitable software via signals over a control conduit 25.
  • the pump device may be arranged such that movement of piston 15 is achieved depending on amplitudes or amplitude variations of said signals.
  • motor 19 and/or control computer 25 are/is provided with A/D and D/A converters, if needed (not shown in Fig. 1).
  • the computer has further a bi-directional interface 27 for communication for instance with an operator of the pump, or with another control system such as for instance a control computer for control of a manufacturing process of micro-cellular polymer products.
  • a bi-directional interface 27 for communication for instance with an operator of the pump, or with another control system such as for instance a control computer for control of a manufacturing process of micro-cellular polymer products.
  • the function of the pump will in the following be briefly described, starting from a position where piston 15 is fully moved forward and where the volume of the pump chamber, called dead volume, is minimum, and assuming that this dead volume includes liquefied carbon dioxide.
  • dead volume the volume of the pump chamber
  • the force, with which the piston is held in its advanced position is decreased such that the pressure of the carbon dioxide source will be sufficient in order to have liquefied carbon dioxide flowing into chamber 5 and press the piston backwards.
  • the force to balance piston 15 during the intake phase is needed to safeguard that the intake of carbon dioxide is performed slowly. In such manner the pump 1 is not self-priming.
  • the pump When the pump has sucked a predetermined amount of liquefied carbon dioxide (i.e. the piston has been moved backwards a corresponding length), the pump is ready for pumping of the carbon dioxide.
  • Pumping of the amount of liquefied carbon dioxide is controlled by means of software in any suitable manner.
  • the velocity, at which the amount of carbon dioxide is pumped, can be controlled in a predetermined manner, such that an accurately and precisely controlled amount of liquefied carbon dioxide can be delivered at an exact correct point of time.
  • the pump according to the present embodiment is thus operating with a single piston stroke, which can be repeated subsequent to the slow piston movement backwards. In this respect a discontinuous pumping function is obtained.
  • a particular version of the pump manages to pump up to 2 g/s during the piston advancement at a pressure up to 500 bars (this pressure shall thus be overcome in order to pump the carbon dioxide through the outlet).
  • the maximum amount, which can be pumped (during a single piston stroke), is given by the increase of the volume of the chamber when the piston is moved backwards, which for a given cross sectional area of the piston is given by the piston movement length L.
  • the piston is preferably moved at a velocity such that liquefied gas is flown into the pump chamber at a rate slower than 10, 5, 3 or 2 g/s.
  • liquefied gas is flown into the pump chamber at a rate of about 1 g/s.
  • the pump may further comprise a position sensor 29, which in any suitable manner, measures the exact position of the piston 15 and transmits a position signal via a signal conduit 31 to the control computer 23.
  • the present invention thus provides for very accurate and precise control of the amount of carbon dioxide pumped during a single piston stroke and this control can even be enhanced by means of providing the control computer with this feedback whereby the position signal can, if the sensed position of the piston is not matching the computed position in the control computer, compensate the control of the movement of the piston in real time.
  • the carbon dioxide source is preferably localized, whether it is a bottle or a ring conduit system, above, particularly high above, the pump per se.
  • the hydrostatic pressure which arises in the liquid column, achieved, prevents boiling of the carbon dioxide or at least reduces the amount of carbon dioxide, which boils.
  • a cooling medium particularly liquefied carbon dioxide, cooling water or glycol
  • passages are led through passages (not shown in Fig. 1) along the outsides of the pump body in order to cool the same and further minimize the risk of boiling.
  • a system 41 for injection molding of micro-cellular plastic details in a cavity 43 by means of an injection tool 45 is shown.
  • the system comprises a device 47 for plasticizing and feeding of a polymer, including an inlet for supply of polymer raw material (indicated by arrow 49) and a screw for feeding and plasticizing (schematically indicated by an arrow 51), where the screw is driven by a motor 53 controlled by a computer 55 or other control means provided with suitable software.
  • the plasticized polymer is further fed to a mixing chamber or mixer 57, wherein liquefied carbon dioxide is supplied in a controlled manner, which is described further below.
  • the polymer and the carbon dioxide are mixed, and the mixture is further fed to a piston system 59 for increase of pressure.
  • a valve 61 is opened and a mixture is allowed to be injected (foamed) into the cavity 43 of the molding tool 45 for the manufacturing of a micro-cellular plastic detail, i.e. a plastic detail having very small gas-filled micro-cells, which typically are in the size of a few micrometer or smaller.
  • plastic details are of substantially lower weight than corresponding homogeneous details, at the same time as the mechanical strength can be equally good, or in some respects even better.
  • the carbon dioxide is introduced by means of the pump shown in Fig. 1.
  • the pump 1 is only shown briefly comprising pump 3, pump piston 15, motor 19 and control computer 23.
  • the inlet of the pump is connected to a source of carbon dioxide 63 and the outlet thereof is connected to the mixing chamber 57 via a non-return valve 65.
  • This non-return valve 65 safeguards that no polymer can flow in the reversed direction, i.e. towards the outlet of the pump.
  • control computer 23 and 55 are constituted by a single control computer, and in a further alternative version also motors 19, 53 are constituted by a single motor.
  • Pumping of carbon dioxide is performed during a limited part of a cycle of plastic molding, where a cycle typically lasts approximately 60 - 150 s.
  • pumping is performed (advancement of the pump piston) during typically about 20 s, where the pump velocity is typically in the order of 2 g/s of liquefied carbon dioxide.
  • the pump velocity is typically in the order of 2 g/s of liquefied carbon dioxide.
  • the pump according to the present invention may be used in a plurality of different cyclic manufacturing techniques for manufacturing of polymer products.
  • Figs. 3a-c are thus diagrams illustrating typical values in arbitrary units of the amount of liquefied gas pumped per time unit as a function of time for the pump device shown in Fig. 2 (solid lines).
  • Fig. 3a the result of pumping at a constant pumping velocity is shown
  • Fig. 3b the result of pumping at a pumping velocity varying according to a step function
  • Fig. 3c the result of pumping at a pumping velocity varying continuously - firstly an increasing velocity and then a decreasing velocity - during a piston stroke, is shown.
  • Fig. 3c also shows typical values of the amount of plasticized polymer fed per time unit in an arbitrary scale as a function of time for the system for manufacturing of polymer products shown in Fig. 2 (dashed line).
  • communication interface 67 synchronization may thus be performed between feeding of polymer and supply of liquefied carbon dioxide.
  • the pump according to the present invention not only provides for an accurate and precise control of the pumping velocity but also provides for flexible and variable advancement of the piston, for instance according to the functions shown in Figs. 3a-c.
  • FIG. 4 schematically, in a cross sectional view, shows a device for pumping a liquefied gas, a further embodiment of the present invention will be depicted.
  • the device comprises four pumps 81-87 arranged side by side. Each one of the pumps 81-87 is in principal constituted by a pump as the one shown in fig. 1. However, this four-pump system is utilizing a common motor for power transmission and a common control computer (not shown in Fig. 4).
  • the four-pump system comprises a supply conduit system 89, which in a parallel manner connects a source of liquefied carbon dioxide (not shown in Fig. 4) to the respective inlets of pumps 81-87, and an outlet conduit system 91, which in a parallel manner connects the respective outlets of the pumps 81-87 to a common outlet conduit.
  • the motor and the control computer are arranged to perform pumping cycles with respective pump 81-87 according to the inventive method depicted with reference to Fig. 1.
  • the pumping system is arranged with the same phase delay between each pump (as illustrated in Fig.4), such that the system is performing as a single pump of the kind shown in Fig. 1, but which is four times as fast.
  • This embodiment of pumping system is particularly useful in a system for injection molding of a micro-cellular plastic detail where the cycle times are very short.
  • the pistons are completely in phase such that the system is performing as a single pump of the kind shown in Fig. 1, but which has four times higher pumping capacity per stroke.
  • the present invention puts no limitations as regards the phase delays between the pistons in the system.
  • Fig. 5 finally, is a diagram illustrating typical values in arbitrary units of the amount of liquefied gas pumped per time unit as a function of time for the device shown in Fig. 1 (solid line) and for the device shown in Fig. 4 (dashed line). It is seen that the frequency of the piston strokes are increased proportionally with the number of pistons.
  • the pump may be used in any application having a need of a discontinuous, accurate and precise supply of liquefied gas.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
  • Gas Separation By Absorption (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Claims (26)

  1. Dispositif pour pomper une quantité soigneusement et précisément contrôlable de gaz liquéfié, comprenant:
    un corps de pompe (3) présentant un alésage cylindrique (5), qui constitue une chambre de pompe;
    un piston (15) arrangé dans l'alésage du corps de pompe et axialement mobile entre une position avant et une position arrière;
    un moyen d'entraínement (19, 21) pour commander le déplacement dudit piston entre lesdites positions avant et arrière;
    une entrée (7) dans ladite chambre de pompe, ladite entrée pouvant être connectée à une source de gaz liquéfié; et
    une sortie (11) hors de ladite chambre, dans lequel
    un gaz liquéfié en provenance de ladite source peut être introduit dans la chambre de pompe à travers ladite entrée pendant que le moyen d'entraínement déplace ledit piston de la position avant à la position arrière, et le gaz liquéfié peut être pompé à partir de ladite chambre de pompe à travers ladite sortie pendant que le moyen d'entraínement déplace ledit piston de la position arrière à la position avant, caractérisé en ce que:
    un moyen de commande (23) est arrangé pour commander ledit moyen d'entraínement à:
    déplacer ledit piston de la position avant à la position arrière suffisamment lentement pour substantiellement éviter l'ébullition du gaz liquéfié introduit dans la chambre de pompe; et
    déplacer le piston de la position arrière à la position avant à une vitesse contrôlable d'une façon variable, ce qui rend la quantité de gaz liquéfié qui est pompé à travers la sortie soigneusement et précisément contrôlable.
  2. Dispositif suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen de commande est arrangé de manière à commander au moyen d'entraínement de déplacer ledit piston de ladite position avant à ladite position arrière à une vitesse telle que le gaz liquéfié soit introduit dans la chambre de pompe à un débit plus lent que 10 g/s.
  3. Dispositif suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen de commande est arrangé de manière à commander audit moyen d'entraínement de déplacer ledit piston de ladite position avant à ladite position arrière à une vitesse telle que le gaz liquéfié soit introduit dans la chambre de pompe à un débit plus lente que 5 g/s.
  4. Dispositif suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen de commande est arrangé de manière à commander audit moyen d'entraínement de déplacer ledit piston de ladite position avant à ladite position arrière à une vitesse telle que le gaz liquéfié soit introduit dans la chambre de pompe à un débit plus lente que 3 g/s, de préférence plus lent que 2 g/s, et plus préférablement à un débit égal à environ 1 g/s.
  5. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel ledit dispositif est arrangé de manière à pomper ledit gaz liquéfié d'une façon discontinue.
  6. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel ledit dispositif est un type de pompe à course unique.
  7. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, comprenant en outre un détecteur de position (29) connecté audit moyen de commande au moyen d'une seule conduite (31), dans lequel ledit détecteur de position est arrangé de manière à mesurer la position du piston et à transmettre la position mesurée au moyen de commande.
  8. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, comprenant en outre un passage le long de l'extérieur du corps de pompe arrangé pour le transport d'un agent de refroidissement, en particulier un gaz liquéfié, et donc pour refroidir ledit corps de pompe.
  9. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel le moyen d'entraínement comprend un moteur linéaire.
  10. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel le moyen d'entraínement est arrangé de manière à entraíner le piston d'une façon hydraulique.
  11. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel ladite entrée est arrangée en vue d'une connexion à une source de gaz liquéfié, dans lequel ladite source est située au-dessus, en particulier très au-dessus, dudit corps de pompe.
  12. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, dans lequel ladite entrée est pourvue d'une vanne qui, dans une direction vers la chambre de pompe, est arrangée de manière à s'ouvrir à une pression prédéterminée, et qui, dans une direction à partir de la chambre de pompe, est fermée.
  13. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 12, dans lequel ladite sortie est pourvue d'une vanne qui, dans une direction à partir de la chambre de pompe, est arrangée de manière à s'ouvrir à une pression prédéterminée, et qui, dans une direction vers la chambre de pompe, est fermée.
  14. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 13, dans lequel le gaz liquéfié est le dioxyde de carbone.
  15. Dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 14, dans lequel ladite sortie peut être connectée à un système pour fabriquer des produits polymères.
  16. Système de pompe comprenant au moins deux (81, 83, 85, 87) dispositifs du type revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 15.
  17. Système de pompe suivant la revendication 16, dans lequel les entrées de tous les dispositifs sont connectées au moyen d'un système de conduites d'alimentation (89), et les sorties de tous les dispositifs sont connectées au moyen d'un système de conduites de sortie (91).
  18. Procédé pour pomper une quantité soigneusement et précisément contrôlable de gaz liquéfié au moyen d'une pompe, comprenant un corps de pompe (3) présentant un alésage cylindrique (5), qui constitue une chambre de pompe, un piston (15) arrangé dans l'alésage du corps de pompe et axialement mobile entre une position avant et une position arrière, une entrée (7) dans ladite chambre de pompe, entrée qui peut être connectée à une source de gaz liquéfié, et une sortie (11) hors de ladite chambre, dans lequel ledit procédé comprend les étapes consistant à:
    introduire un gaz liquéfié à partir de ladite source dans la chambre de pompe à travers ladite entrée lorsque ledit piston est déplacé de la position avant à la position arrière; et
    pomper le gaz liquéfié hors de la chambre de pompe à travers ladite sortie lorsque ledit piston est déplacé de la position arrière à la position avant, caractérisé en ce que:
    ledit piston est déplacé de la position avant à la position arrière suffisamment lentement en vue d'éviter substantiellement toute ébullition du gaz liquéfié introduit dans la chambre de pompe; et
    ledit piston est déplacé de la position arrière à la position avant à une vitesse contrôlable d'une façon variable.
  19. Procédé suivant la revendication 18, dans lequel ledit piston est déplacé de la position avant à la position arrière à une vitesse telle que le gaz liquéfié soit introduit dans la chambre de pompe à un débit plus lent que 10 g/s.
  20. Procédé suivant la revendication 18, dans lequel ledit piston est déplacé de la position avant à la position arrière à une vitesse telle que le gaz liquéfié soit introduit dans la chambre de pompe à un débit plus lent que 5 g/s.
  21. Procédé suivant la revendication 18, dans lequel ledit piston est déplacé de la position avant à la position arrière à une vitesse telle que le gaz liquéfié soit introduit dans la chambre de pompe à un débit plus lent que 3 g/s, de préférence plus lent que 2 g/s, et plus préférablement à une débit égal à environ 1 g/s.
  22. Procédé suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 18 à 21, dans lequel les étapes consistant à introduire un gaz liquéfié à partir de ladite source dans la chambre de pompe, et à pomper le gaz liquéfié hors de la chambre de pompe sont répétées de manière à offrir ainsi une fonction de pompage discontinue.
  23. Système pour fabriquer d'une façon cyclique des produits polymères, comprenant un dispositif (47) pour plastifier et fournir un polymère, une pompe à piston (1) connectée à une source (63) de gaz liquéfié, une chambre de mélange (57), et un outil de moulage (45) comprenant une cavité de moulage (43), dans lequel, lors de chaque cycle de fabrication, le dispositif de plastification et de fourniture est arrangé pour recevoir un polymère, pour plastifier le polymère et pour fournir le polymère plastifié, la pompe est arrangée pour pomper un gaz liquéfié, la chambre de mélange est arrangée pour recevoir ledit polymère plastifié et le gaz liquéfié, et pour mélanger ceux-ci, et l'outil de moulage est arrangé pour recevoir le mélange et pour former le produit polymère, caractérisé en ce que la pompe est constituée d'un dispositif suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 14, dans lequel le dispositif est arrangé pour effectuer une seule course par cycle de fabrication.
  24. Système suivant la revendication 23, dans lequel la pompe est arrangée pour admettre un gaz liquéfié durant une première période de temps de chaque cycle et pour pomper le gaz liquéfié durant une deuxième période de temps de chaque cycle, dans lequel ladite première période de temps est plus longue que ladite deuxième période de temps.
  25. Procédé pour fabriquer d'une façon cyclique des produits polymères, comprenant les étapes consistant à:
    fournir un polymère;
    plastifier ledit polymère;
    amener une quantité de gaz liquéfié audit polymère;
    mélanger ladite quantité de gaz liquéfié et ledit polymère; et
    injecter ledit mélange dans la cavité (43) d'un outil de moulage, et dans lequel on laisse le mélange se solidifier, caractérisé en ce que:
    ladite quantité de gaz liquéfié est amenée au polymère à l'aide d'un pompage réalisé suivant le procédé revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications 18 à 22.
  26. Procédé suivant la revendication 25, dans lequel le gaz liquéfié est introduit dans la pompe à piston durant une première période de temps de chaque cycle, et dans lequel le gaz liquéfié est pompé à partir de ladite pompe à piston durant une deuxième période de temps, dans lequel ladite première période de temps est plus longue que ladite deuxième période de temps.
EP01928264A 2000-05-03 2001-05-03 Pompage de gaz liquefie Expired - Lifetime EP1278961B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0001618 2000-05-03
SE0001618A SE519091C2 (sv) 2000-05-03 2000-05-03 Anordning och förfarande för pumpning av flytande gas, pumpsystem för pumpning av flytande gas samt system och förfarande för cyklisk framställning av polymerprodukter
PCT/SE2001/000945 WO2001083989A1 (fr) 2000-05-03 2001-05-03 Pompage de gaz liquefie

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1278961A1 EP1278961A1 (fr) 2003-01-29
EP1278961B1 true EP1278961B1 (fr) 2004-10-20

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EP01928264A Expired - Lifetime EP1278961B1 (fr) 2000-05-03 2001-05-03 Pompage de gaz liquefie

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EP (1) EP1278961B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE280327T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2001255121A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60106594T2 (fr)
SE (1) SE519091C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001083989A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10054117B2 (en) 2010-02-18 2018-08-21 Grundfos Management A/S Dosing pump unit and method for controlling a dosing pump unit

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10229261C1 (de) * 2002-06-28 2003-10-09 Erich Schuermann Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Dosieren eines als Aufschäummittel dienenden Fluids in eine Schmelzekammer einer Kunststoffverarbeitungsmaschine
EP2362102B1 (fr) 2010-02-18 2012-10-03 Grundfos Management A/S Agrégat de pompes de dosage
FR3115335B1 (fr) * 2020-10-19 2022-12-09 F2M Pompe comprenant un piston à course variable

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2651173B1 (fr) * 1989-08-28 1992-01-17 Carboxyque Francaise Procede d'extrusion de matiere plastique expansee a l'aide de freon.
FR2695188B1 (fr) * 1992-09-01 1994-10-28 Andre Lermuzeaux Dispositif de distribution de fluides cryogéniques à leurs appareils d'utilisation.
EP0878284B1 (fr) * 1997-05-05 2002-12-11 Hennecke GmbH Procédé et dispositif pour la production de mousse polyuréthane utilisant du CO2 comme agent moussant

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10054117B2 (en) 2010-02-18 2018-08-21 Grundfos Management A/S Dosing pump unit and method for controlling a dosing pump unit

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WO2001083989A1 (fr) 2001-11-08
DE60106594D1 (de) 2004-11-25
DE60106594T2 (de) 2005-11-10
SE0001618L (sv) 2001-11-04
SE519091C2 (sv) 2003-01-14
AU2001255121A1 (en) 2001-11-12
SE0001618D0 (sv) 2000-05-03
ATE280327T1 (de) 2004-11-15
EP1278961A1 (fr) 2003-01-29

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