EP3144055A1 - Device for feeding a liquid odoriser into a gas network - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (4) for feeding a liquid odorant into a gas network, comprising a housing (2) which is formed as a gas-flowable pipe section, an odorant nozzle, an evaporation body, wherein the odorant nozzle and the evaporation body through an opening (17) in the wall of the housing (2) are inserted into the housing (2), so that the evaporation body extends at least over a part of the free cross section of the housing (2) in the housing (2), a valve body which from a first open position in a second closed position can be brought, wherein the valve body in the second position closes the gas-permeable cross section of the housing (2) and in the second position, the gasdurchströmbaren cross section of the housing (2) releases and wherein the valve body in the second position with the housing (2 ) a removal lock for the evaporation body and / or the odorant nozzle forms.

Description

The invention relates to a device for feeding a liquid odorant into a gas network, comprising a housing which is formed as a gas-flowable pipe section, an odorant and an evaporation body, wherein the odorant and the evaporation body sealed by an opening in the wall of the housing in the opening the housing are inserted.

For a general public supply of natural gas, which is essentially odorless in the prepared state, it is required for safety reasons that the natural gas has a smell, so that any leaks in the network of people are subjectively perceivable.

If the treated natural gas does not have a sufficient warning smell, it must be odorized according to legal regulations. For this reason, it is known and customary to add odorant to the natural gas. As odorants are usually malodorous substances into consideration, which give the natural gas a sulfur-like odor. A widely used odorant is, for example, tetrahydrotiophene (THT). Furthermore, low-sulfur and sulfur-free odorants have also been used for several years.

Normally, natural gas is provided odoriermittelfrei in so-called gas transport networks (remote transport lines), an odorization is carried out by the gas network operator of the relevant gas distribution network in the removal of the gas from the gas transport network and in the pressure reduction of the gas to the prevailing in the gas network distribution pressure, For this purpose, a liquid odorant is added via an odorizer in a local gas pressure regulating and measuring system (GDRM system). The addition takes place as a function of the size of the standardized gas volume flow, calculated from the data of the gas meter and the gas temperature and the gas pressure. A corresponding amount of odorant is supplied by means of a pulse-controlled metering pump odorator. This odorant or vaccine nozzle is generally designed as immersion tube inserted into the gas line. The odorant is intermittently supplied to the dip tube inserted into the gas line, wherein the dip tube is flowed around by the gas flowing through the gas line. The liquid odorant evaporates and is absorbed by the natural gas.

Normally, the odorant is not atomized during injection into the dip tube and fed discontinuously or intermittently in the direction of gravity to the dip tube. Thus, it is not excluded that the odorant will not evaporate on or in the dip tube and the significant amounts of liquid odorant be entrained by the gas stream and be distributed uncontrollably in the gas line. So it has already occurred in practice that accumulate significant amounts of liquid odorant below the Impfdüse in the gas line.

In the prior art, it is generally known to improve the dosage in terms of a removal of odorant from a reservoir by utilizing the capillary effect. For example, from the US 2,279,705 known to arrange a perforated dip tube in a reservoir for a liquid odorant, wherein in the dip tube extends a cotton wick, which provides for a continuous removal of the odorant from the container. However, a targeted dosage depending on the gas flow rate flowing through the line is not possible. Therefore, compliance with a minimum odorant concentration in the gas stream can only be ensured by systematic overdosing of the odorant.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a device for odorization of a gas stream in a gas network, with which the aforementioned disadvantages are eliminated.

The object is solved with the features of claim 1, advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

One aspect of the invention relates to a device for feeding a liquid odorant in a gas network, comprising a housing which is formed as a gas-flowable pipe section, an odorant, an evaporation body, wherein the odorant and the evaporation body through an opening in the wall of the housing in the opening are sealed inserted into the housing, so that the evaporation body extends at least over part of the free cross section of the housing in the housing and a valve body which can be moved from a first open position to a second closed position, wherein the valve body in the second position the gas-permeable cross-section of the housing closes and releases in the first position the gas-permeable cross-section of the housing and wherein the valve body in the second position with the housing a removal lock forms for the evaporation body and / or the Odoriermitteldüse.

According to the invention, a device for feeding a liquid odorant is provided, which comprises a housing with an extending therein evaporation body in which an odorant via a Odoriermitteldüse is introduced so that the evaporation body is wetted and promotes the evaporation of the odorant.

The housing is also designed as a removal lock for the evaporation body. The evaporation body can extend substantially over the entire inside width of the free housing cross-section within the housing. The evaporation body can be provided, for example, as an open-pore foam body, preferably as one which has a certain intrinsic stability. The evaporation body may be formed, for example, as rigid foam body with a gas-flowable macroporous structure.

A macroporous structure in the sense of the invention means an open pore structure with a pore diameter in the order of millimeters, for example, the pores of the evaporation body can have a diameter between 1 mm to 10 mm, preferably between 4 mm and 5 mm.

It is expedient if the evaporation body is formed of a metal foam, for example of aluminum foam. Alternatively, metal foams based on iron or nickel come into consideration. For example, such metal foams find application in the slip reaction foam sintering process made of iron-based and nickel-based powder.

Within the scope of the invention, evaporation bodies may also be provided as plastic foam bodies.

The evaporation body may be provided in a gas-permeable enclosure or in a gas-permeable housing, which may be formed, for example, in the form of a perforated dip tube.

Alternatively, the evaporation body may be formed as a housing with a fiber filling or a lamellar structure. As fiber filling, for example, a metal wool or a steel wool can be provided. Alternatively, chemically resistant plastic fibers may be disposed in a housing provided with flow openings. The particular embodiment of the removal lock according to the invention makes it possible to replace the evaporation body substantially without disassembly and decommissioning of the gas line. Likewise, of course, a simple replacement of Odoriermitteldüse with the evaporation body or only the Odoriermitteldüse is possible. Under a removal lock in the context of the present invention, a space within the housing is to be understood, which is hermetically shut off relative to the gas-flowable pipe section.

It is particularly advantageous that the removal lock for the odorant nozzle and / or the evaporation body is formed by only a single valve body which simultaneously obstructs the cross section of the gas line. This eliminates the need for the housing of the device for feeding the liquid odorant on both sides to shut off a connection to the gas line.

In a gas line section, for example, within a GDRM system comprising the device according to the invention, it is expedient and expedient to provide a bypass line for the device according to the invention.

In a particularly preferred variant of the device according to the invention it is provided that the valve body has a lock chamber which cooperates with a valve seat of the housing so that the valve seat seals the lock chamber when the valve body is in the second, closed position.

As a lock chamber, for example, a cavity may be provided in the valve body, which is dimensioned so that it can accommodate the evaporation body and preferably also parts of the Odoriermitteldüse.

It is particularly useful if a device for preliminary relaxation of the lock chamber is provided. This makes it possible, after shutting off the free cross section of the housing, first to relieve the lock chamber from the prevailing pressure in the housing, so that the housing can then be opened from the outside for the purpose of removing the evaporation body and / or the odorant.

The evaporation body can be arranged, for example, in a dip tube or a dip tube of the odorant. For example, the evaporation body and the odorant nozzle may form a whole unit to be handled in the form of a cartridge.

As Vorentspannungseinrichtung for preliminary relaxation of the lock chamber, for example, the Odoriermitteldüse having a Vorentspannungsventil that is suitably arranged on a part of the Odoriermitteldüse which extends outside of the housing.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the valve body is designed as a ball valve body having a flow channel. The odorant nozzle and / or the evaporation body can, for example, enforce a passage in one pole of the ball valve body. Such a ball valve body expediently comprises two diametrically opposite poles which define the axis of symmetry and the axis of rotation of the ball valve body. At one pole, a switching shaft for actuating the ball valve body attack, at the opposite pole may be provided a passage into which drown the Odoriermitteldüse and / or the evaporation body.

Conveniently, the ball valve body via a ball valve is actuated, which is secured to a housing passing through the selector shaft.

In an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention, the valve body is designed as a slide, in particular as a wedge slide, which can be actuated via a spindle drive.

In a further variant of the device according to the invention it is provided that the housing has a first, second and third pipe outlet, that the valve body releases the third pipe outlet in the second closed position and that the third Pipeline outlet is closed with a revision cover.

In this variant of the device according to the invention, the inspection cover with the housing limits the removal lock. The inspection cover may for example be provided with a sight glass, which allows a visual inspection of the removal lock, the evaporation body or the Odoriermitteldüse.

The first, second and third pipe outlets may all have approximately the same cross-section, wherein preferably the first and the second pipe outlets form the gas-throughflowable pipe section of the device. Through the third pipe outlet a relatively large access opening is provided to the removal lock. This makes it possible to insert a component, such as the Odoriermitteldüse or the evaporation body from the side into the device. As a result, a larger cross-section is available for introducing components into the device.

A preliminary relaxation of the lock chamber can take place in the manner described above or via a connection which is arranged in the region of the removal lock.

The invention will be explained below with reference to two illustrated in the drawings embodiments.

Figur 1

Eine schematische Darstellung einer Anordnung zur Odorierung eines Gasstroms;

Figur 2

Einen Längsschnitt durch eine Vorrichtung zur Einspeisung eines flüssigen Odoriermittels gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Figur 3

einen Längsschnitt durch eine Vorrichtung zur Einspeisung eines flüssigen Odoriermittels gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung

Figur 5

einen Querschnitt durch eine Vorrichtung zur Einspeisung eines flüssigen Odoriermittels gemäß einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Figur 6

eine der Figur 5 entsprechende Ansicht, in welcher sich der Ventilkörper in der zweiten Stellung befindet und

Figur 7

einen Längsschnitt durch eine Vorrichtung gemäß dem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

Show it:

FIG. 1

A schematic representation of an arrangement for odorization of a gas stream;

FIG. 2

A longitudinal section through a device for feeding a liquid odorant according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3

a longitudinal section through a device for feeding a liquid odorant according to a second embodiment of the invention

FIG. 5

a cross section through a device for feeding a liquid odorant according to a third embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6

one of the FIG. 5 corresponding view in which the valve body is in the second position and

FIG. 7

a longitudinal section through a device according to the third embodiment of the invention.

It is first referred to the FIG. 1 , which illustrates the basic structure of an arrangement for odorization of a gas stream. Reference numeral 1 denotes a pipeline section of a gas line which is connected downstream of a gas meter 3 in the flow direction of the gas. The arrangement including the device according to the invention is arranged for example in a GDRM system of a local gas distribution network. In the gas line 2 natural gas for the gas pressure distribution network is provided at a reduced pressure from a high pressure transport network.

In the flow direction behind the gas meter 3, a liquid odorant is introduced, for example in the form of THT in the gas line 2 via a device 4 for feeding the liquid odorant.

The odorant is removed from an odorant container 5 and fed to the device 4 via a metering pump 6. The metering pump 6 is connected via a control unit 7 to the gas meter 3. The gas meter 3 provides via a volume corrector 8 information to a pulse generator, not shown in the figure, which in turn mediates control pulses to the control unit 7. About the control unit 7, the metering pump 6 receives corresponding control signals, which are respectively implemented in injection strokes of the example designed as a piston pump metering pump 6. The pulse generator may be formed, for example, as a gate counter or the like.

A first variant of the device 4 according to the invention is shown in FIG FIG. 2 shown.

The device 4 comprises a housing 9, which is designed as a gas-flowable pipe section, which has a first and second connection flange 10a, 10b, which are connectable to pipe sections of the gas line 2 and whose nominal diameter is matched to the nominal diameter of the relevant gas line 2. The housing 9 forms a sealing seat 11 for a valve body designed as a ball valve body 12. The ball valve body 12 includes a first pole 12 a and a second pole 12 b, which are located in the rotation and symmetry axis of the ball valve body 12. On the first pole 12a, a switching shaft 13 of a ball valve 14 acts, which engages positively in a blind hole 15 of the ball valve body 12. It is understood that the leading end of the switching shaft 13 and the blind hole 15 are profiled accordingly.

In the region of the second pole 12b of the ball valve body 12 is provided with a through-opening 16 which is aligned with a coaxially aligned opening 17 in a wall of the housing 9.

In this area, the housing 9 forms a threaded connector 18, in which a cartridge 19 comprising the odorant nozzle and an evaporation body is used as a one-piece arrangement. The drawing is simplified in that the odorant nozzle and the evaporation body are not shown in detail. The cartridge 19 is screwed into the threaded connector 18 and sealed in this. This passes through the opening 17 and the passage opening 16 and extends in a flow channel 20 of the ball valve body 12. The cartridge 19 extends almost over the entire clear width or height of the flow channel 20, the cartridge 19 itself is formed gas-permeable, for example as a cylindrical sleeve with flow openings and an internally arranged evaporation body.

On the circumference of the threaded neck 18, a Zwischenumumentspannungsanschluss 21 is provided, in which a not shown Zwischenraumentspannungsventil is used.

In FIG. 2 the device 4 is shown in the operating position, in which the ball valve body 12 is opened, that is, gas can be flowed through. If the ball valve 14 is adjusted by a quarter turn, so the ball valve body 12 seals both the respective pipe section 1 and the flow channel 20 of the ball valve body 12 formed lock chamber 22 from. In the lock chamber prevails at this time, the operating pressure of the gas line, which abuts both sides of the ball valve body 12. By means of the intermediate space tensioning valve 21 arranged at the intermediate space tensioning connection 21, the lock chamber 22 can now be relieved to atmospheric pressure so that the cartridge 19 can be rotated out of the threaded connection 18.

Also, an odorant connection to the cartridge 19 is not shown in the drawing for reasons of simplicity.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the device 4 according to the invention, where the same components are provided with the same reference numerals.

The principle of operation and essentially also the construction principle of the device 4 according to FIG. 3 corresponds to that of the device according to FIG. 2 , with the difference that the Ventikörper is designed as a wedge slide 23, which is not, as the ball valve body 12 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, but via a spindle 24 and a spindle drive 25 transversely to the flow direction of the housing 2 from the open position in the closed position is spent in a wedge-shaped valve seat 26. Via an operating wheel 27, which acts on the spindle drive 25, the spindle 24 is moved axially. The spindle 24 is connected to the wedge slide 23.

The housing 2 comprises a housing closure cover 27, which serves as a spindle bearing. The spindle passes through an opening of the housing closure cover 27.

On the opposite side of the housing 2, an opening 17 with an internal thread for receiving the cartridge 19 is provided. The wedge slide 23 encloses an opening in the direction of the opening 17 receiving space, which forms the lock chamber 22 for the cartridge 19.

As in the previously described embodiment, the cartridge 19 comprises an unspecified odormitteleinlass and a Zwischenraumspannunganschluss 21, to which an unillustrated Zwischenraumentspannungsventil is connected.

FIG. 3 shows the closed position of the wedge slide 23, in which the lock chamber 22 is hermetically sealed with respect to the gas-permeable cross-section of the housing 2. In this state, the cartridge can be removed from the housing 2 after pre-expansion via the intermediate volume voltage connection 21.

A third embodiment of the invention is in the FIGS. 4 to 6 shown. The embodiment according to the FIGS. 4 to 6 shows a device which is designed in the manner of a so-called "3-way ball valve", wherein the ball valve body 12 is formed as a 2-way ball valve. Identical components are provided with the same reference numerals in this embodiment.

The housing 9 comprises a first, second and third pipe outlet 28, 29 and 30. The first and second pipe outlet 28, 29 form the pipe section 1, which is connected to the gas line 2 on both sides. The third pipe outlet 30 is closed with a revision cover 31 and bounded with the housing 9, the lock chamber 22nd

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the device according to the invention, in which the ball valve body 12 is in the first open position in which this releases the gas-permeable cross-section of the housing 2. The third pipe outlet 30 and the inspection cover 31 forms a lateral access into the housing 9, which can be opened as needed. For this purpose it is necessary to remove the inspection cover 31.

FIG. 5 shows one of the FIG. 4 corresponding view in which the ball valve body 12 is in the second closed position in which the gas-flowable cross-section of the housing 9 is closed. The third pipe outlet 30, however, is released from the ball valve body 12. Since the third pipe outlet 30 is closed by the inspection cover 31, initially no pressure can escape from the lock chamber 22.

FIG. 6 shows the longitudinal section through the in the FIGS. 4 and 5 shown device. As well as device according to FIG. 2 the housing 9 comprises a threaded connector 18 having an opening 17 into which a cartridge 19 comprising the odorant nozzle is inserted. As in the previously described embodiments, the cartridge 19 includes an unspecified odorant inlet. At the periphery of the threaded connector 18, a Zwischenraumentspannungsanschluss 21 is provided, in which an unspecified Zwischenraumentspannungsventil can be used. The Zwischenraumentspannungsventil may alternatively be arranged in the region of the removal lock.

In this variant of the device according to the invention the evaporation body can be introduced laterally separated from the odorant through the third outlet 30 into the housing 9.

Reference numerals:

1

Pipeline section

2

gas pipe

3

gas Meter

4

Device for feeding the liquid odorant

5

Odoriermittelgebinde

6

metering

7

control unit

8th

Volume Corrector

9

casing

10a, 10b

First and second connection flange

11

sealing seat

12

Ball valve body

12a

First pole of ball valve body

12b

Second pole of the ball valve body

13

shift shaft

14

ball valve

15

blind

16

execution

17

Opening for receiving the cartridge

18

threaded connector

19

cartridge

20

Flow channel of the ball valve body

21

Gap expansions tube

22

lock chamber

23

wedge slide

24

spindle

25

spindle drive

26

valve seat

27

Housing cover as spindle bearing

28

first pipe outlet

29

second pipe outlet

30

third pipe outlet

31

Access Doors

Claims (12)

Apparatus for feeding a liquid odorant into a gas network, comprising a housing (2) which is designed as a gas-flowable pipe section, an odorizer nozzle, an evaporation body, the odorant nozzle and the evaporation body being guided through an opening (17) in the wall of the housing (2) in the opening (17) sealed in the housing (2) are inserted so that the evaporation body extends at least over part of the free cross section of the housing (2) in the housing (2), and a valve body (12, 23) can be brought from a first open position to a second closed position, wherein the valve body (12, 23) in the second position closes the gas-permeable cross-section of the housing (2) and releases in the first position the gas-permeable cross-section of the housing (2) and wherein the valve body (12, 23) in the second position with the housing (2) a removal lock for d en evaporation body and / or the odorant nozzle forms. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve body (12, 23) has a lock chamber (22) which cooperates with a valve seat (11, 26) of the housing (2) so that the valve seat (11, 26) the lock chamber (22) seals when the valve body (12, 23) is in the second, closed position. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a device for the preliminary relaxation of the lock chamber (22) is provided. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the evaporation body is attached to the Odoriermitteldüse. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the evaporation body is arranged in a dip tube or a dip tube of Odoriermitteldüse. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the Odoriermitteldüse has a Zwischenraumentspannungsventil as Vorentspannungseinrichtung for preliminary relaxation of the lock chamber 22. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the Zwischenraumentspannungsventil is arranged on a part of the Odoriermitteldüse extending outside of the housing (2). Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the valve body is designed as a ball valve body (12) having a flow channel (20). Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the odorant nozzle and / or the evaporation body passes through a passage (16) in a pole (12b) of the ball valve body (12). Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the ball valve body (12) via a ball valve (14) is actuated, which is attached to a housing (2) passing through the switching shaft (13). Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the valve body as a slide (23) is formed, which is actuated via a spindle drive (25). Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the housing (2) has a first, second and third pipe outlet (28,29,30) that the valve body in the second closed position, the third pipe outlet (30) releases and the third pipeline outlet (30) is preferably closed by a revision cover (31).

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