EP2059699A1 - Clapet de non-retour pour une source de combustible gazeux fugitif - Google Patents

Clapet de non-retour pour une source de combustible gazeux fugitif

Info

Publication number
EP2059699A1
EP2059699A1 EP07800553A EP07800553A EP2059699A1 EP 2059699 A1 EP2059699 A1 EP 2059699A1 EP 07800553 A EP07800553 A EP 07800553A EP 07800553 A EP07800553 A EP 07800553A EP 2059699 A1 EP2059699 A1 EP 2059699A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
engine
fugitive
gases
fuel
air
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07800553A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Howard L. Malm
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.)
Rem Technology Inc
Original Assignee
Rem Technology Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rem Technology Inc filed Critical Rem Technology Inc
Publication of EP2059699A1 publication Critical patent/EP2059699A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M21/00—Apparatus for supplying engines with non-liquid fuels, e.g. gaseous fuels stored in liquid form
    • F02M21/02—Apparatus for supplying engines with non-liquid fuels, e.g. gaseous fuels stored in liquid form for gaseous fuels
    • F02M21/0218—Details on the gaseous fuel supply system, e.g. tanks, valves, pipes, pumps, rails, injectors or mixers
    • F02M21/023—Valves; Pressure or flow regulators in the fuel supply or return system
    • F02M21/0242—Shut-off valves; Check valves; Safety valves; Pressure relief valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01N2560/00—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics
    • F01N2560/02—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics the means being an exhaust gas sensor
    • F01N2560/025—Exhaust systems with means for detecting or measuring exhaust gas components or characteristics the means being an exhaust gas sensor for measuring or detecting O2, e.g. lambda sensors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D29/00—Controlling engines, such controlling being peculiar to the devices driven thereby, the devices being other than parts or accessories essential to engine operation, e.g. controlling of engines by signals external thereto
    • F02D29/04—Controlling engines, such controlling being peculiar to the devices driven thereby, the devices being other than parts or accessories essential to engine operation, e.g. controlling of engines by signals external thereto peculiar to engines driving pumps
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D29/00—Controlling engines, such controlling being peculiar to the devices driven thereby, the devices being other than parts or accessories essential to engine operation, e.g. controlling of engines by signals external thereto
    • F02D29/06—Controlling engines, such controlling being peculiar to the devices driven thereby, the devices being other than parts or accessories essential to engine operation, e.g. controlling of engines by signals external thereto peculiar to engines driving electric generators
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
    • Y02T10/30—Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a check valve used to prevent the ingress of air into the intake of an engine and, more particularly, to a check valve which prevents the ingress of atmospheric air through the exhaust stack of an engine when such engine is using fugitive gases as a fuel source.
  • Engines, turbines and heating units using natural gas and other gaseous fuels are known and are used extensively, particularly in locations where natural gas production takes place. Such engines and turbines range from 30HP to over 10000 HP and may conveniently be used in powering gas compressors, pumps and electric generators and which powered equipment is normally associated with natural gas production.
  • the heating units are used in a wide range of industrial processes .
  • the natural gas or other gaseous fuel is introduced directly to the cylinder of the natural gas engine or to the intake manifold.
  • a spark ignitor is typically used to ignite the combustible natural gas and an air supply adds the air necessary to support the combustion.
  • the gaseous fuel used for such engines , turbines or heating units comes from a fuel source such as natural gas and the air to support the combustion of the gas comes from the atmosphere. Normally, the gaseous fuel is under pressure and appropriate ducting extends from the pressurized fuel supply to the engine.
  • a carburetor, valves or an electronic control mechanism is used to regulate the quantity of natural gas provided to the engine and the quantity of air added to the natural gas for efficient combustion.
  • Various production processes in natural gas production result in losses of combustible gases .
  • Such gaseous losses typically occur from compressors, particularly where the packing is old or otherwise deficient, from pneumatic instrumentation utilising natural gas, from initiating or starting engine procedure using natural gas , from gas dehydration units , from engine crankcases and from petroleum liquid storage tanks .
  • These gas losses typically called “fugitive and/or vent emissions”, are usually passed to the atmosphere or to a stack for burning. In either case, they are lost and the energy content of these gases which can be considerable, is similarly lost. It is disadvantageous and energy deficient to lose these fugitive or vent gases .
  • natural gas As a supplementary fuel for a diesel engine by adding natural gas to the intake air.
  • This natural gas is not a fugitive or vent gas and the gas is maintained under pressure as a normal fuel source.
  • the use of such fuel does not lower costs by using a fuel normally lost or deliberately discarded and such a fuel is not an emission resulting from venting or escaping gas .
  • Fugitive gases have been collected and used as a fuel source but such gases have been collected and put under pressure. Such gases are not used as a supplementary fuel source .
  • a check valve to prevent the ingress of atmospheric air through an exhaust stack used to vent fugitive gases to the atmosphere, said fugitive gases being used as a fuel source for an engine, said check valve being operable to release said fugitive gases to said atmosphere through said exhaust stack when said engine is not in operation and to prevent the ingress of air through said exhaust stack to said engine when said engine is in operation .
  • an accumulator for storing excessive volumes of fugitive gas flow used as a fuel source for an engine, said accumulator being positioned within ducting between said source of fugitive gases and the intake of said engine .
  • Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a typical building housing an engine and a compressor driven by the engine and which illustrates various sources of fugitive combustible gases which may be used as a supplementary fuel source for the engine according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a typical control circuit used to regulate the 'input of fugitive combustible gases to the engine according to the invention
  • FIGS. 3A-3E diagrammaticalIy illustrate various control techniques when fugitive gases are used as a supplementary fuel source for the engine according to the invention
  • Figure 4 is a table illustrating fugitive gas emissions taken from various sources in a typical operating environment during experimentation
  • Figure 5 is a side diagrammatic view which illustrates a building which encloses various sources of fugitive gas emissions which pass into the atmosphere of the building and are diluted thereby and which are collected near the ceiling or upper portion of the enclosed building according to a further aspect of the invention;
  • Figure 6 is a diagrammatic schematic view particularly illustrating a check valve positioned in an exhaust stack according to the invention.
  • Figure 7 is a diagrammatic schematic view of an accumulator positioned between the exhaust stack of an engine and the intake of the engine according to the invention ; and Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the check valve of Figure 6 but illustrating the typical operation of such check valve .
  • combustible gases or “fugitive emissions” or “fugitive gases” or “vent gases” or “vent emissions” are used throughout this specification.
  • the terms are used interchangeably and, by the use of such terms, it is intended to include combustible gases which escape from various apparatuses or which are released deliberately into the atmosphere.
  • Such combustible gases normally exist at or near atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the sources from where they originate.
  • These fugitive gases are intended to be collected and to be used as a supplementary fuel supply for an engine which, conveniently, uses natural gas as its primary fuel supply and which natural gas is pressurized before entering the engine.
  • the various apparatuses from which the fugitive gases may escape include compressor cylinder packings, instruments, starting gas sources for the engine, gas dehydration units , crankcases , petroleum liquid storage tanks and the like.
  • an engine is shown generally at 101 in Figure 1.
  • the engine 101 is conveniently a natural gas powered engine normally located at a place of natural gas production.
  • the engine 101 powers a compressor generally illustrated at 102.
  • the engine 101 and compressor 102 are normally located within a building 100.
  • an outside location for cooling apparatus 103 assists in drawing cooler air or cooling water for cooling purposes .
  • a cabinet 104 for housing various instrumentation used in support of the engine 101 and compressor 102 is located near the engine 101.
  • a petroleum liquid storage tank 110 is also conveniently located within the building 100.
  • V 1 represents the gases released from the petroleum liquid storage tank 110.
  • V la and V n leakages originate from the compressor 102 which gases are routed into the petroleum liquid storage tank 110 and leave with leakage V 1 .
  • Leakages V 1 , and V 11 represent leakages from the various packings used to seal the compressor 102 thereby to prevent the escape of gases .
  • V 2 represents the fugitive emissions released from the crankcase of the engine 101.
  • V 3 represents the gases released from the pneumatic control of a control valve 105 and V 4 represents the emissions released from the instrumentation used in support of the engine 101 and compressor 102 , housed in cabinet 104.
  • the fugitive gases shown as being emitted from various locations within the building 100 of Figure 1 are collected into a collector source 111 by way of appropriately sized and appropriately located ducting, piping, tubing and the like. These collected fugitive gases are fed into ducting 131 extending to a diverter valve 112 which, in a first configuration, passes the fugitive emissions to the normal vent or stack 113 to bypass the engine 101 and which, in a second configuration, pass the gases to a flow meter 114 and thence to the air intake 120 of the engine 101. The fugitive gases and the air enter the engine 101 from the air intake 120 through a control valve 133.
  • Fuel from the normal fuel source 121 conveniently natural gas in the case of a natural gas powered engine 101, passes to a fuel meter 122 and, thereafter, to the engine 101 through a control valve 134. Combustion products from engine 101 are exhausted through an exhaust stack 123. An exhaust analyzer 130 may monitor the combustion products from the engine 101 passing through the exhaust stack 123.
  • a control unit 124 is operatively connected to the fuel meter 122 and to the valves 133, 134 which control unit 124 controls the quantity of inletted fugitive gases and air and fuel from the normal fuel supply 121, respectively.
  • Exhaust analyzer 130 may also be associated with the control unit 124. If, for example, the fugitive gases entering air intake 120 and engine 101 provide increased richness in the exhaust stack 123 as indicated by the exhaust sensor 130, the control unit 124 may adjust the quantity of air passing through valve 133 thereby maintaining the proper air-fuel ratio for efficient combustion within the engine 101.
  • the operation of engine 101 is initiated and will be operating with the normal fuel source 121 and the normal air supply entering the engine 101.
  • the emissions of the fugitive gases from the various apparatuses 110, 101, 105 and 104 as represented by V 1 , V 2 , V 3 and V 4 , respectively, will be collected with appropriate ducting and piping at fugitive emission collector source 111.
  • the fugitive gases are then conveyed to the air intake 120 of engine 101 through ducting 131, diverter valve 112 and flow meter 114.
  • the diverter valve 112 will normally divert the fugitive gases through stack 113 when the engine 101 is not running and the fugitive gases are still being collected.
  • a holding container (not illustrated) may store the gases until the engine 101 commences operation.
  • the fugitive gases may be diverted to a flare stack (not illustrated) where they are burned.
  • the position of diverter valve 112 is changed either manually or otherwise, so that the fugitive gases flow directly to the air intake 120 through ducting 132 and flow meter 114.
  • Flow meter 114 located between the diverter valve 112 and the air intake 120, operates to measure the flow of the fugitive gases entering the air intake 120.
  • the use of the fugitive gases operates to increase the fuel supply which enriches the fuel flow to the engine 101 thereby creating an increased engine speed.
  • a governor (not illustrated) for measuring and controlling engine speed is operably connected to the engine 101 and the valve 134. As the engine speed increases , the governor will reduce the normal fuel supplied to the engine 101 by way of partially closing valve 134. This will act to reduce the normal fuel supplied to the engine 101 and return the engine speed to that desired. The reduced normal fuel supplied to the engine 101 will be replaced with that energy supplied by the fugitive gases thereby resulting in less use of normal fuel in the engine 101.
  • an exhaust sensor 130 may be operably associated with the exhaust stack 123.
  • the exhaust sensor 130 monitors the components in the exhaust of exhaust stack 123. If the exhaust sensor 130 senses hydrocarbon and/or oxygen content greater than desired, appropriate adjustment will be provided to either the air or fuel supply, the adjustment changing the percentage of hydrocarbons and/or oxygen in the exhaust stack thereby contributing to combustion of increased efficiency.
  • a further application utilises the techniques disclosed in United States Patent 6,340,005 (Malm et al) , the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
  • the flow of the fugitive gases added to the inlet 120 of the engine 101 may be measured by a flow meter 114 as earlier set forth. As the rate of flow of the fugitive gases increases, the rate of flow of the normal pressurized fuel will decrease thereby causing the normal control system based on the quantity of normal pressurized fuel relative to the air supplied to deliver too little air.
  • the control unit 124 will maintain the proper fuel-air ratio in engine 101 to provide for appropriate and efficient combustion.
  • the normal fuel entering the engine 101 through fuel meter 122 is replaced by the supplementary fuel supply provided by the fugitive gas emissions and measured by flow meter 114.
  • the fuel flow meter 114 can also be calibrated to ensure that the quantity of fuel added to the engine 101 by the fugitive emissions does not exceed the fuel supply required by the engine 101.
  • FIG. 3A Yet a further control application is illustrated in Figure 3A where manual control is used for the fugitive gases entering the air intake 204.
  • a diverter valve 201 is provided which allows the fugitive gases to pass to the normal fugitive gas vent or stack 202 which may vent or burn the fugitive gases .
  • a control signal 211 may provide that the diverter valve 201 pass all fugitive gases to the stack 202 in the event there is an engine failure or an engine shutdown.
  • a three-way manual valve 203 is provided downstream of the diverter valve 201.
  • This valve 203 provides for the entry of fugitive gases to the air intake 204 of the engine and it can be adjusted to regulate the quantity of fugitive gases to the air inlet 204 and to the fugitive gas stack 202 through piping 210.
  • a slow addition of fugitive gases passed to the air intake 204 by adjusting valve 203 will minimize the engine speed change and will allow the operator to manually adjust the air-fuel ratio to account for the addition of the fugitive gases .
  • a control signal 211 moves the diverter valve 201 so that the fugitive gases vent to stack 202 in the normal manner.
  • the three-way valve 203 should be selected so that the flow path of the fugitive gases is
  • a further embodiment of the control technology is contemplated wherein an exhaust gas sensor is provided which initiates a signal related to the amount of oxygen and/or unburned fuel in the combustion exhaust. Normally, this technique would use the signal to control the air/fuel ratio for the combustion. If the signal advised that the mixture was too rich, the normal air supplied to the engine would be increased and if the signal advised that the air/fuel ratio was too lean, the normal air supplied to the engine could be decreased.
  • FIG. 3B A further control technique is illustrated in Figure 3B wherein automatic control of the three way valve 203 is provided which allows the control system to control the quantity of fugitive emissions diverted to the combustion air intake 204. If the addition of fugitive gases to the air intake 204 through valve 203 is excessive thereby prohibiting the engine speed from otherwise being automatically adjusted, a control signal advises the three-way valve 203 that any excessive quantity of fugitive gases are to be diverted to the fugitive gas stack 202. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the diverter valve 201 could be deleted with control of the fugitive gases provided wholly by the three-way valve 203.
  • a flow meter 220 is added upstream of the engine air intake 204 and downstream of three-way valve 203 to measure the quantity of fugitive gases added to the air intake 204.
  • the information obtained from the flow meter 220 can be used to determine general operating characteristics and/or to determine the fraction of fuel used by the engine which originates with the fugitive gases.
  • the diverter valve 201 could be deleted with control provided solely by the flow meter 220 which would provide appropriate control signals to three-way valve 203.
  • FIG. 3D A further control technique using a combination of fuel flow measurement and manual control for the fugitive gases is illustrated in Figure 3D.
  • the control system will increase the air flow to the air intake 204. If the flow of fugitive gases is relatively constant, following the initiation of the fugitive gas flow, the control system can be adjusted to compensate for the addition of the fugitive gases . Diverter valve 201 ensures that the fugitive gases are vented in the event of engine shutdown or a safety hazard arising. Any changes in the rate of flow of the fugitive gases will be done manually since no automatic adjustment of the fugitive gas flow rate is provided in this case .
  • FIG. 3E A further control technique is illustrated in Figure 3E.
  • the control system 230 utilises fuel flow measurement and fugitive flow measurement with the air- fuel ratio being controlled by the rate of air flow to the combustion process .
  • a fugitive gas flow meter 220 is required.
  • the fugitive gas flow measured by meter 220 is added to the normal combustion fuel flow value and the control system 230 will use the input from flow meter 220 to determine the proper quantity of air to be added to the air intake 204.
  • the control system 230 is contemplated to be sufficient to determine the correct air quantity without the use of flow meter 220.
  • the fugitive gas flow signal from flow meter 220 can be used as a feed-forward signal to adjust the combustion fuel control valve (not illustrated) coincident with the addition or removal of the fugitive gases .
  • This fugitive gas flow value is again useful for operating information and/or to determine the fraction of fuel used by the engine which may come from the fugitive gases.
  • the average packing leak as found in reciprocating compressors is described in "Cost Effective Leak Mitigation at Natural Gas Transmission Compressor Stations", Howard et al, Pipeline Research Council International , Inc . , (PRCI) Catalogue No.
  • the fuel flow consumption was approximately 138 kg/h at 932 rpm.
  • the estimated load percentage based on fuel was 72% by using the manufacturer' s specifications for the maximum load capacity and comparing it with the actual load for the engine estimated from the operating conditions.
  • the speed of the Waukesha engine was set to 932 rpm and the measured suction pressure at the compressor intake remained relatively constant during the test, ranging between 347 to 358 kPa, which confirmed the relatively constant engine load during the test.
  • the fugitive emissions were mostly methane. These emissions contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions .
  • GHG emission CO 2 (e)
  • CO 2 (e) equivalent or estimated GHG emission
  • Tonnes per year CO 2 mass/y + 2I x CH 4 mass/year
  • CO 2 (e) would drop to 3010 Tonnes per year, a decrease of 40% or 1890 T/y.
  • this is contemplated to provide a good technique for the reduction of greenhouse gases.
  • the teachings are specifically directed to a natural gas engine where natural gas is used as the normal fuel, the fugitive gases are contemplated to be a useful supplementary fuel source for other engines, including diesel and gasoline powered engines and turbines. Indeed, with appropriate controls, it is contemplated that the fugitive gases may be usefully added as a supplementary fuel to virtually any device using the combustion of air and fuel where the fuel may be liquid or gaseous so long as the fuel is combustible.
  • the invention has been described as providing for the fugitive gases to emanate from a storage tank to an engine and compressor located within a building, the presence of a building is of course unnecessary and quite optional.
  • the engine and/or compressor and/or storage tank may be instead located in the open .
  • fugitive gases may have been diluted by air as is illustrated in Figure 5.
  • Such fugitive gases may have escaped from various sources such as block and control valves, pressure relief valves, regulators, flange connections, compressor seals, compressor valve stems and valve caps, coal mines, livestock and sewage treatment and the like without such list being all inclusive.
  • Sources for such fugitive gases are described in "Catalytic Solutions for Fugitive Methane Emissions in the Oil and Gas Sector", Hayes , R.E., r-hom-i ⁇ J*1 Engineering Science 59 (2004) 4073-4080. While Hayes describes the source of such dilute fugitive gases , he does not contemplate that the dilute fugitive gases could be used as a supplemental fuel source for an engine or turbine.
  • the fugitive gas emissions which are diluted by air may occur in buildings where the sources of gas emissions are located.
  • the air in such buildings is replaced constantly with the use of vans or ventilators using atmospheric air which is provided to the building and which replaces the internal air of the building together with the escaped fugitive gases.
  • a fugitive gas of considerable interest is methane which, being of a density which is lighter than air, passes to the inside ceiling of the building before being replaced by external air and evacuated to the atmosphere.
  • methane and other dilute fugitive gases being of a density lighter than air can be collected and used as intake air for the engine or turbine in which the fuel is used and thereby serve as a supplementary fuel for the engine or turbine similar to the procedure desired above where an exhaust >gas oxygen sensor is described.
  • methane as a supplemental fuel source is particularly attractive since methane is a greenhouse gas. The combustion of such methane is beneficial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • fugitive gases are shown as being emitted from various locations within the building 300 which gases particularly will usually include methane and which gases are shown by the broken lines V 5 , V 6 and V 7
  • the fugitive gases* migrate to the inside ceiling of the building 300 because they will include, typically, methane which is of a density lighter than air. They are collected there by a collector 311. These collected dilute fugitive gases are fed into ducting 311 extending to a diverter valve 312 which, in a first configuration, is positioned such that all of the engine intake air is drawn via a duct 313 from outside the building.
  • the exhaust fan 324 is turned on to ensure the dilute fugitive gases are drawn from the building.
  • the diverter valve In a second configuration, the diverter valve is moved to draw all or part of the engine intake gases from the collector 311.
  • the control and inletting of natural gas or other fuel together with control processes provided for the collected and dilute fugitive gases is similar to the embodiments earlier described to obtain the desired air-fuel control for the engine or turbine which utilises the dilute fugitive gases as a supplemental fuel source.
  • the diverter valve 312 is controlled (manually or by a control system) to achieve the desired amount of outside intake air and intake air, which may contain diluted fugitive gases .
  • An exhaust sensor 330 may conveniently be associated with the exhaust stack 323 to monitor the components in the exhaust of exhaust stack 323 as previous described.
  • the animal husbandry may be a source of methane and that the building 300 may be a barn, for example, with cattle or other animals being located therein.
  • the methane produced by the animals would be collected in a similar manner to that described and inputted to an engine or turbine 303.
  • Figure 6 illustrates an exhaust stack 600 and a passive check valve 601 which is installed in the exhaust stack 600.
  • the check valve 601 prevents the ingress of air into the intake ducting 602 which extends to the engine 603 and which otherwise allows atmospheric air passing through air filter 604 to the intake ducting 602.
  • the passive check valve 601 is operable to maintain a maximum positive pressure at the source 610 of fugitive gases of 1 to 5 inches of water (H 2 O) where the pressures are here stated as inches of water column with 27.7 inches of water column equaling 1 psi or 6,895 kiloPascals . • .
  • a control or on/off valve 611 is closed when it is not desired to use the fugitive gases as a fuel source such as when the engine 603 is not in operation.
  • the fugitive gases will thereby pass directly to the stack 600 and vent to the atmosphere and the back pressure exerted by the check valve 601 is of a value that it will not adversely affect this passage of the fugitive gases to the atmosphere through stack 600.
  • Yet a further embodiment of the invention relates to the addition of an accumulator 612 within the duct 613 extending from the fugitive gas source to the engine 603 as illustrated in Figure 7.
  • the use of an accumulator 612 is valuable if the flow of fugitive gas is variable on a short term basis.
  • the accumulator 612 will smooth out the fluctuations in fugitive gas flow to the engine 603 thereby obviating excessive instrument and control variations .
  • the volume of the accumulator 612 selected is calculated based upon the volume of gas flow from the fugitive gas source 610 and the expected time variables involved in such flow.
  • the normal pressure in the accumulator 612 will be similar to the pressure in the air intake, typically 3 to 15 " H2O below atmospheric pressure. If there is a burst of fugitive gases, the pressure in the accumulator 612 will rise to a maximum determined by the check valve 601. When the check valve 601 opens, the excess gas is vented through stack 600 to the atmosphere. If the fugitive gas burst is small relative to the volume of the accumulator 612, the fugitive gases will all be consumed by the engine 603 due to the storage capacity of the accumulator 612.
  • the check valve 601 is conveniently better illustrated in more detail in Figure 8 wherein one embodiment is shown.
  • a seal 621 is conveniently provided to prevent the ingress of air and for reliability purposes , no spring is used and the weight of the movable member 620 is designed to provide a force equivalent to a pressure of 1 to 2" H 2 O closure force on the check valve 601.
  • a pliable material is conveniently provided to ensure seal integrity for the small forces involved.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Output Control And Ontrol Of Special Type Engine (AREA)
  • Electrical Control Of Air Or Fuel Supplied To Internal-Combustion Engine (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un clapet de non-retour installé dans une cheminée d'aération qui empêche l'entrée d'air atmosphérique qui, dans le cas contraire, se mélangerait à des gaz fugitifs fournis en tant que source de combustible à un moteur. Un accumulateur est positionné à l'intérieur de la gaine qui achemine les gaz fugitifs jusqu'au moteur à partir de la source de gaz fugitifs pour ainsi empêcher les fluctuations d'écoulement excessives du gaz fugitif jusqu'au moteur. La mesure et le contrôle des gaz fugitifs et le fonctionnement du moteur sont améliorés.
EP07800553A 2006-08-30 2007-08-30 Clapet de non-retour pour une source de combustible gazeux fugitif Withdrawn EP2059699A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US82402806P 2006-08-30 2006-08-30
PCT/CA2007/001529 WO2008025158A1 (fr) 2006-08-30 2007-08-30 Clapet de non-retour pour une source de combustible gazeux fugitif

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2059699A1 true EP2059699A1 (fr) 2009-05-20

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EP07800553A Withdrawn EP2059699A1 (fr) 2006-08-30 2007-08-30 Clapet de non-retour pour une source de combustible gazeux fugitif

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2059699A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2007291858B2 (fr)
CA (2) CA2678569C (fr)
WO (1) WO2008025158A1 (fr)

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CA2905319C (fr) 2018-03-20
CA2905319A1 (fr) 2008-03-06
CA2678569A1 (fr) 2008-03-06
AU2007291858A1 (en) 2008-03-06
CA2678569C (fr) 2016-11-15
AU2007291858B2 (en) 2014-07-10
WO2008025158A1 (fr) 2008-03-06

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