EP1841968B1

EP1841968B1 - A device for transportation of liquids by steam or compressed air

Info

Publication number: EP1841968B1
Application number: EP05815080A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Boyan Kalov
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-19
Filing date: 2005-11-10
Publication date: 2008-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-10
Also published as: EP1841968A1; DE602005011861D1; BG108942A; US20080050248A1; WO2006053409A1; ATE418012T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for transportation of liquids by compressed gas or steam. According to the invention inside the vessel ( 1 ) at least two variable gas volumes V 1 , V 2 are formed. The level of the liquid in the two volumes changes and the switching of the processes of feeding and discharging is made by the created pressure difference between the gas volumes. Inside the device a second volume is formed by providing a cylinder ( 2 ) with opened bottom. A tube ( 10 ) with an inside valve ( 5 ) are installed in the cylinder ( 2 ). The movement of valves ( 3 ), ( 4 ), ( 5 ) is synchronized and depends on the position of the cylinder ( 2 ). The proposed method and device ensure smooth and trouble-free transportation of liquids.

Description

Technical Field

The present device for transportation of liquids by steam or compressed gas, according to the invention, could find application in different technical fields, where transportation of water, water solutions, liquid chemicals or condense have to be transported through pipelines and if steam or compressed air are available in the site.

Background of the invention

From the prior state of the art is known the transportation of liquids by electrical or mechanical operated pumps or by steam or compressed air operated pumps.
In most cases the availability of steam or compressed air on the sites determines as more profitable the usage of methods and devices for transportation using steam or compressed air to operate.
The most widely used device for transportation is by pushing the liquid by compressed air or steam. The liquid to be transported has fulfilled a vessel to a determined level. The compressed air or steam act upon the surface of the liquid with a definite pressure. After the determined volume of liquid is transported the pressure on the surface of the remaining liquid drops down to atmospheric, that allows new liquid to enter the vessel. When the level of the liquid reaches a definite value, compressed air or steam feed the vessel and the cycle is repeated.
The known device for transportation of liquids of "Armstrong" Int. USA and "Spirax Sarco" USA represents a closed vessel with inlet and outlet for the transported liquid and inlet and outlet for the compressed air or steam. Inside the closed vessel a spring assisted float mechanism is mounted. The mechanism is used for automation of the process of feeding and discharging of the liquid and switches two valves-inlet and outlet valve for compressed air or steam. The spring assisted float mechanism is designed to operate the outlet valve and the inlet valve simultaneously.
At the beginning of the process the outlet valve is opened and the inlet valve is closed. The liquid enters the vessel gravitationally through a check valve, rises the float and the corresponding air is evacuated through the outlet valve. When the position of the float reaches the point corresponding to the determined highest level of the liquid, the spring assisted float mechanism reverses the positions of the valves simultaneously. The compressed air or steam enters the vessel and the liquid is transported through the outlet check valve into the corresponding pipeline. While the liquid is transported the float lowers its positions until it passes its trip point corresponding to a determined low level of the liquid and the spring assisted float mechanism reverses the positions of the valves simultaneously and the whole cycle is repeated. The strength of spring material is dependent of the chemical structure of the liquid. That shortens the exploitation cycle of the devices and raises the cost of transportation of the liquid.
According to the US Patent No. 4,181,470 , publ. Jan. 1, 1980 is known device of another type "Gas-operate liquid pump" which includes a closed vessel with inlet and outlet for the transported liquid respectively with check valve and outlet check valve and with inlet and outlet for the compressed gas with outlet valve for the gas. Inside the closed vessel is formed a second volume by an opened in bottom cylinder, which is installed in parallel with the vertical axes of the closed vessel. At the inlet for the compressed air a pipeline is provided ending inside the cylinder. The cylinder is free to move in vertical direction.
The cylinder is movable between upper and lower position in the closed vessel. The cylinder has positive buoyancy in the liquid to be pumped. Valve means operated by movement of cylinder is provided to cause gas admitted to the cylinder to displace liquid there from when the cylinder is in its upper position and to permit gas to escape from the cylinder when the latter is in its lower position. The pump makes use of a continuous stream of compressed gas such as air to provide a pulsating flow of liquid. The known pump works without interruption of gas flow during the process of filling which increases the consumption of the compressed gas.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention has for an object to provide an alternative device for transportation of liquids by steam or compressed air based on the use of variable effective volumes compressed air or steam.
The device for transportation of liquids by compressed air or steam consists of a closed vessel with inlet and outlet for the transported liquid, respectively with check valve and outlet check valve and with inlet and outlet for the compressed gas with outlet valve for the gas.
Inside the closed vessel is formed a second volume by an opened in bottom cylinder, which is installed in parallel with the vertical axes of the closed vessel. At the inlet for the compressed air a pipeline is provided ending inside the cylinder. The cylinder is free to move in vertical direction.
According to the invention the inlet for compressed air or steam is provided with an inlet valve, in that a pipeline connected after the inlet valve for the compressed air or steam provided with a check valve and ending inside in the upper part of cylindrical volume is installed. Inside the cylinder an inside tube with side orifices and inside valve is mounted. The inside valve in the tube is connected by lever to the inlet valve and outlet valve for compressed air or stream of the vessel. The lever mechanism is in contact with the inlet valve for compressed air or steam. The inside valve, the inlet and outlet valves for compressed air or steam make synchronized movement depending on the changing effective volume and pressure of the compressed air or steam inside the main vessel and the inner volume.
According to a preferable embodiment of the device the lever mechanism is designed, as the inside valve is solid-coupled with the outlet valve for compressed air or steam. The lever is la metal rod with a hole at one end to operate the coupled valves and hinge joint at the other to connect the wall of the vessel. At the same time a possibility for rotation of the rod, limited by a screw support is ensured. The thrust of the inlet valve for compressed air or steam is installed to slide on the surface of the rod. This way a synchronized movement of the inside valve and inlet and outlet valves for compressed air or steam is achieved.
The device according to the invention is equipped with a tube, axially mounted on the bottom of the vessel and the inside tube of the cylindrical volume is bearing with it allowing movement in vertical direction.
According to the invention the device for transportation of a condensate by steam is provided with an additional tube connected to the inlet steam tube before the inlet valve and ending in the upper part of the cylindrical volume. The free end of the tube is provided with an additional float steam valve to ensure maximal level of liquid inside the cylindrical volume mounted axially inside the vessel. In case the level of condense inside the cylindrical volume rises higher than the upper end of the additional tube with float / which can happen when super-cooled condense enters the volume/, the float valve opens and additional steam enters to lower the level.
According to the proposed device in the common case the liquid to be transported enters gravitationally the vessel through the inlet check valve for liquid and fills simultaneously the vessel and the cylindrical volume and the air or steam inside the cylindrical volume is evacuated through the opened inside valve until the level reaches the lower opening of the installed tube.
The further entering of liquid lifts the cylindrical volume and because of its vertical movement the valve installed in it closes and the lever mechanism to which is connected starts to close the outlet valve and open the inlet valve for compressed air or steam. The inlet valve transmits compressed air or steam through the tube and the check valve inside the cylindrical volume. The raise of the inside pressure additionally lifts the cylinder and fully switches the inlet and outlet valves for compressed air or steam. The inlet valve is now fully opened and the outlet- fully closed. The raised pressure inside the vessel closes the inlet check valve for the liquid and ejects the liquid through the opened outlet check valve and the level of the liquid inside the cylinder and the vessel drops. In consequence of the pressure equalization inside and outside the cylinder and because of the closed inside valve, the cylinder stays in upper position to the moment the liquid level drops to its lower edge and both air or steam volumes connect in their down part. Then the cylinder drops down because of its own weight, the installed in it valve opens and the lever mechanism moves downwards because of the weight of the cylinder and the force of the inlet valve stem on it. The movement of the lever switches the inlet and outlet valves for compressed air or steam- the inlet valve is closed and the outlet valve is opened. The outlet check valve for liquid closes because of the pressure inside the pipeline after it and the inlet check valve open because of the gravitational pressure of the liquid. The cycle is finished and the liquid starts to enter the vessel again.
The device for transportation of liquid by compressed air or steam according to the invention realizes discharging of the liquid and ensures smooth operation during the whole cycle by synchronize movement of the outlet and inlet valve for compressed gas and inside valve depending on the variable volume of the compressed gas or steam feeding the closed vessel and the cylinder.
The proposed device according to the invention for transportation of fluids:

is with simplified construction and much lower number of parts, that eliminates the usage of special materials and makes the device easier to produce and maintain;
ensures possibility for smooth switching, respectively for diminishing the wear-and-tire and prolonging the exploitation of the inlet and outlet valves and at the same time the problem element - the spring float mechanism for operation of top and down level with numerous hinge joints is evaded;
ensures wide range of discharge rates retaining the main elements by changing only the rod and the valves;
ensures independent transverse size because of the lack of spring float mechanism, which makes it useful at sites with special demands and limited space such as drill wells for water supply.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Fig. 1 - device for transportation of condense by steam at the start up of the condense supply
Fig.2 - the device from fig. 1 at closing the inside valve in the cylinder
Fig.3 - the device from fig.1 at ensuring the prescribed level in the opened cylinder when super-cooled condense is supplied
Fig.4 - the device from fig.1 at switching into regime of discharging of the condense
Fig.5 - the device from fig.1 at discharging the condense
Fig.6 - the device from fig. 1 at opening the inside valve of the cylinder
Fig.7 - the device from fig. 1 at switching to condense supply

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Device for Transportation of Condense by steam

The device for transportation of condense according to the invention in a preferred embodiment is shown in outline on Fig. 1 and the operation of the device for realization of the method is shown on figures 1 to 7.
The device represents a closed cylindrical vessel 1 with vertically mounted on its axis a cylinder with opened lower bottom, with connected to the upper bottom tube 10 with side openings in the lower part and installed inside valve 5, ensuring changeable effective volume. By the use of the enlarging tube 15, firmly connected to tube 10 and bearing on fulcrum 16 and situated axially towards the bottom of the vessel 1, the cylinder is free to move only in vertical direction. The flap of the installed inside valve 5 is axially connected to the flap of the outlet valve 3 /mounted vertically in the center of flange 8 of vessel 1/ by rod 17. The rod 17 is executed with transverse groove where the fork shaped end of lever 9 enters. The other end of the liver 9 is connected with hinge joint to the side wall of the vessel 1 with support to limit its down end position. The inlet steam valve 4 is mounted vertically on flange 8 with axis in the plain determined by the axis of the lever 9 and the axis of the outlet valve 3 and the heel of its flap in closed position touches the upper surface of the liver 9.
The lower part of the inlet valve seat is formed with an additional opening and in opened position of its flap, part of the steam is directed into the upper part of the vessel 1 and the rest through the pipeline 11 with a check valve 12 is directed inside the cylinder 2. Inside the cylinder a pipeline with float valve is installed to limit the maximum level of condense.
In the lower part of the vessel 1 an inlet check valve 6 and an outlet check valve 7 for condense are installed.

Operating Principal of the Device

The operating principal of the device is shown on figures from 1 to 7.
Fig. 1. The device at the start of fulfilling the vessel with condensate
The condensate is entering the lower part of vessel 1 through the check valve 6 opened by the gravitational force of the condensate. It evacuates the air out of the cylinder 2 through the orifices of the inner tube 10 and the opened internal valve 5 and also from the vessel 1 through the opened outlet valve 3. The inlet valve 4 and the check valve 12 are closed. The outlet check valve 7 is closed because of the backpressure of the condensate. The float valve 14 is closed by its own weight. The opened cylinder 2 is in its end down position and the lever 9 is also in its end down position. The process continues until the condense level reaches the orifices of the tube 10 in the cylinder 2.
Fig 2. The device at closing the installed in the cylinder 2 valve 5
When the level of the condense surpasses the level of the orifices of the tube 10, the cylinder 2 lifts as the air (pesp. the steam) inside it can no longer be evacuated through tube 10 because the condense level has closed its orifices. The inside valve connected to lever 9 is closing. The lever 9 doesn't change the position of the inlet valve 3 and outlet valve 4 because the steam pressure holds the thrust of valve 4 in its down position. The level of condense raises, which raises the lifting power of the cylinder 2.
Fig. 3. The device reaching the definite highest level of condensate inside the cylinder 2 and when supercooled condense enters the vessel
In case super cooled condense enters the vessel and the inside valve 5 in the cylinder 2 is closed, the steam in the closed volume of the cylinder starts condensing and condense takes its place. When the level of condense inside the cylinder 2 reaches the float of the float valve 14, it lifts and additional steam enters the cylinder 2 through pipeline 13. This steam pushes back the condense to the defined by the float of the float valve 14 level. Reaching this level the float valve closes by the force of its own weight.
Fig. 4 The device at switching to discharging of condense
At the moment the lifting power of the cylinder 2 exceeds the power acting on the thrust of the inlet valve 4, the lever 9 lifts and starts opening the inlet valve 4 and closing the outlet valve 3. The opening of inlet valve 4 causes steam to enter the vessel through the opening in the valve 4 seat and through the pipeline 11 and check valve 12 inside the cylinder. This leads to rapid lifting of the cylinder because of the enlarged steam volume in it and to full opening of the inlet valve 4 and full closing of outlet valve 3. The increased pressure in the vessel closes the inlet valve 6 stopping the process of fulfilling the vessel and opens the outlet check valve 7 starting the process of discharging the condense.
Fig. 5 The device at discharging the condense.
The level of the condense in the cylinder 2 and the vessel 1 drops, but the lifting power because of the pressure difference inside the cylinder 2 and inside the vessel 1 keeps the cylinder in its up position as the installed valve 5 is closed.
The process continues until the condense level inside the vessel 1 drops lower the down edge of the cylinder 2.
Fig. 6 The device at opening
When the condense level inside the vessel 1 drops lower the down edge of the cylinder 2 the pressure difference is not enough to hold the cylinder 2 in its up position and the cylinder stars dropping down. This leads to opening of the valve 5.
Fig. 7 The device at switching into a process of fulfilling
After the full opening of valve 5 the weight of the cylinder 2 acts on lever 9, which also drops down to its end position. Liver 9 moving downwards opens the outlet valve 3 and closes the inlet valve 4, while the check valve 12 comes back to closed position.
The discharging of the condensate is completed. The pressure inside the vessel 1 drops to atmospheric and the outlet valve closes by the force of the back pressure inside the condense pipeline. The inlet valve 6 opens because of the gravitationally incoming condense. The cycle is completed and starts the next cycle of filling - discharging.
The proposed device for transportation of liquids by compressed air or steam could be applicated in all industrial plants to transport either condense or other liquids, replacing the existing rapidly wearing devices with spring supported mechanisms, and at the same time ensuring smooth and throuble-free performance of the equipment. One of the preferred applications is for constructing of water pumps for drill wells where the horizontal section is limited if compressed air is available on the site.
The device could have application as cheep solution for constructing of dozing units for liquids if no high accuracy is required A specially preferable application of the method and the device is constructing pumps for flamable and explosion risk liquids at a corresponding choice of material, as during the operation of the device hit loaded parts are eluded.

Claims

A device for transportation of liquids by compressed gas or steam including a closed vessel (1) with inlet and outlet for the liquid respectively with inlet check valve (6) and outlet check valve (7), with inlet and outlet for the compressed gas or steam with outlet valve (3) for the gas, whereby a second volume inside the vessel (1) is formed by an opened in the bottom, cylinder (2) which is installed in parallel with the vertical axes of the vessel (1), free to move in vertical direction; at the inlet for the compressed air or steam a pipeline (11) is provided, ending free inside the cylinder (2) characterizing with that the inlet for the compressed air is provided with a inlet valve (4) and a valve (12) is provided in a pipeline (11), in that a pipe (10) with side orifices and inside valve (5) is mounted inside the cylinder (2) and in that the inside valve (5) is connected by a lever (9) to the inlet valve (4) and outlet valve (3) at which the movement of outlet valve (3), inlet valve (4) and inside valve (5) is made synchronized depending on the variable volume of the compressed gas or steam feeding the closed vessel (1) and the cylinder (2).
The device according to claim 1, characterizing with that the flap of the inside valve (5) is enlarged and firmly connected to the flap of the outlet valve (3) at which on the enlargement of the flap of inside valve (5) a channel is formed to connect the end of lever (9), connected to the side wall of the vessel (1) with limited by end stop rotational movement and at which lever (9) the thrust of the flap of valve (4) is sliding.
The device according to any claim 1 or 2, characterizing with that in parallel with the axis of the vessel (1) a tube (15) is mounted free connected to the support (16) on the bottom of the vessel (1), at which the tube (10) of the cylinder (2) is connected firmly to tube (15).
The device according to any claim 1, 2 or 3 characterizing with that to the inlet of the compressed gas or steam a pipeline (13) is installed ending inside the cylinder (2) near its upper end, at which to the free end of the pipeline (13) inside the cylinder (2) a float valve (14) for limiting of the maximum level of the liquid inside the cylinder (2) is provided.