EP3933250B1 - Feed device and device for feeding a liquid odorant into a gas stream flowing through a gas line and uses thereof - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a feed device for feeding a liquid odorant into a gas stream flowing through a gas line and further to a device for feeding a liquid odorant into a gas stream flowing through a gas line with such a feed device. The invention further relates to the use of the feed device and the device.

When supplying the general public with natural gas, which is essentially odorless when processed, it is required for safety reasons that the natural gas has a sufficient odor so that any leaks in the pipeline network can be subjectively perceived by people.

If the processed natural gas does not have a sufficiently warning smell, it must be odorized in accordance with legal regulations (see, for example, DVGW worksheet G 280 for Germany). For this reason, it is known and common to add odorants to natural gas. Substances with a sufficiently warning smell that give the natural gas a sulfur-like smell are usually considered as odorants. A widely used odorant, for example, is tetrahydrothiophene (THT). Low-sulfur and sulfur-free odorants have also been used for several years.

Natural gas is usually provided in the gas transport networks (long-distance transport pipelines) without odorants. Odorization is then carried out by the gas network operator of the relevant gas distribution network when the gas is removed from the gas transport network and its pressure is reduced to the pressure prevailing in the gas distribution network. For this purpose, a liquid odorant is typically used an odorization system in a local gas pressure control and measuring system (GDRM system). The addition takes place depending on the size of a standardized gas volume flow calculated from the gas meter data as well as the gas temperature and the gas pressure. A corresponding amount of odorant is supplied by means of a pulse-controlled metering pump to a feed device (also referred to as an inoculation nozzle), which is often designed as a dip tube-shaped odorant nozzle inserted into the line with an evaporation body, onto which the odorant supplied to the odorant nozzle is applied in liquid form.

Feed devices known from the prior art are, for example, in EP 3 144 055 A1 , US 5,304,327 , EP 2 933 015 B1 , EP 3 591 280 A1 and DE 10 2017 128495 A1 described.

Typically, the odorant is added in proportion to the amount of gas flowing through. In Germany, for example, the odorant THT is supplied to the gas stream with a value of at least 10 mg/m ³ gas volume. Other, sometimes lower, limit values apply to other odorants. It is important to ensure that a predetermined limit value, for example 10 mg/m ³ for THT, is not exceeded throughout the entire distribution of the gas. The odorant is typically supplied intermittently with the feed device inserted into the gas line, with the natural gas flowing through the gas line flowing around an inflow body of the feed device. The liquid odorant evaporates from the evaporation body and is absorbed by the natural gas.

Feed devices known from the prior art are typically quite large and unwieldy with evaporation bodies of, for example, 1000 mm long and 500 mm wide. This limits the possible uses of the feed devices to large gas pipe cross-sections and also means that the installation or replacement of feed devices is very complex and time-consuming.

Against this background, the present invention is based on the object of a feed device and a device with such a feed device to propose which enables effective odorization of a gas stream in a gas line.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a feed device for feeding a liquid odorant into a gas stream flowing through a gas line with an odorant nozzle and with an inflow body for positioning in a gas stream in a gas line, the inflow body comprising an evaporation body, the odorant nozzle for acting on the evaporation body is set up with liquid odorant and wherein the feed device is set up to be inserted into a wall opening of a gas line section, so that the inflow body extends into the gas line section.

Such a feed device allows reliable odorization of a gas stream in a gas line. The odorant that reaches the evaporation body from the odorant nozzle during operation is evaporated as it flows around or through the evaporation body with the gas stream flowing in the gas line and mixes with the gas stream so that it is odorized.

The odorant nozzle is designed to apply liquid odorant to the evaporation body. For this purpose, the odorant nozzle in particular has an opening from which liquid odorant can reach the evaporation body during operation. Furthermore, the odorant nozzle preferably has a connection for connecting the odorant nozzle to an odorant supply.

In the present case, odorants are understood to mean, in particular, odorants according to DIN EN ISO 13 734.

The feed device is designed to be inserted into a wall opening of a gas line section, so that the inflow body is in the Gas pipe section extends. For this purpose, the feed device preferably has fastening means for fastening the feed device to a wall opening of a gas line section, for example to the odorant nozzle.

The odorant nozzle can in particular be designed in the form of an immersion sleeve which is designed to be inserted into a wall opening of a gas line section and for this purpose preferably has fastening means, for example an external thread, for gas-tight fastening to the gas line section.

The odorant nozzle and the inflow body preferably have fastening means that are complementary to one another, so that the inflow body can be attached to the odorant nozzle. In this way, the inflow body or the evaporation body can be replaced. For example, the inflow body can have an external thread, in particular an ISO thread, and the odorant nozzle can have a matching internal thread, or vice versa.

The above-mentioned object is further achieved according to the invention by a device for feeding a liquid odorant into a gas stream flowing through a gas line, with the feed device described above or an embodiment thereof and with an insert unit which has a housing with a gas line section through which gas can flow for installation in a gas line has, wherein the feed device is inserted into an opening in a wall of the housing such that the inflow body extends into the gas line section. The gas line can in particular be a gas distribution line or a gas transport line.

The feed device and the device can each be used for a new gas pressure control and measuring system (GDRM systems) as well as for installation in an existing system.

Various embodiments of the feed device and the device are described below, with the individual embodiments independently applying to both the feed device and the device. In addition, the individual embodiments can be combined with one another.

In one embodiment, the inflow body has a, preferably cylindrical, grid body in which the evaporation body is arranged. The grid body can in particular be designed in the form of a wire cage, in particular made of a wire grid. With a grid body, the desired mechanical properties of the inflow body can be achieved in order to resist the gas flow in the gas line.

In a further embodiment, the inflow body preferably has a length of 100 - 400 mm and / or a diameter of 0.5 - 1" (12.7 - 25.4 mm). While in
Prior art Inflow bodies with a length of 1000 mm and a width of 500 mm were common, it was found in the context of the present invention that sufficient odorization of a gas stream can be achieved even with a significantly smaller geometry of the inflow body.

This significantly simplifies the handling of the feed device, which in particular enables a quick and therefore cost-reduced change of the feed device, especially when using the previously described device. In addition, the smaller inflow body reduces the risk of unwanted leakage or spilling of odorant, especially when changing the feed device.

The smaller size also enables the introduction of odorants into gas lines with very different nominal widths, in particular from 50 - 1400 mm.

In a further embodiment, the evaporation body comprises an open-cell foam, in particular a metal or ceramic foam, or consists at least partially, preferably completely, thereof. By using an open-cell foam for the evaporation body, it has a very large surface area, which greatly increases the evaporation performance and thus enables smaller inflow bodies. The metal or ceramic foam can in particular be an aluminum foam, a nickel-chromium foam (e.g. NC2733, NC1723, NC0610, NC 1116), a nickel foam (e.g. NI 1116), an aluminum oxide foam (e.g. Al2O3 30, Al2O3 20, Al2O3 40), a silicon carbide foam (e.g. SiC 20) or combinations thereof. Such foams are available, for example, from Recemat BV (Dodewaards, NL) or Porosium GmbH (Coburg, DE). Oxidic foams, such as aluminum oxide foam, are chemically very stable to the odorants used in practice and are therefore preferred.

In a further embodiment, the open-cell foam of the evaporation body has, at least in sections, a pore density of 10 - 60 ppi. In this way, the evaporation performance for commercially available odorants, in particular according to DIN EN ISO 13 734, and typical gas flows in gas lines is optimized, which makes it possible to further reduce the size of the inflow body.

In a further embodiment, the evaporation body has several sections, the individual sections having different pore densities and/or different average pore sizes. For this purpose, the evaporation body can, for example, have several elements stacked one above the other, each with different pore densities and/or different average pore sizes. Alternatively, a monolithic evaporation body with, in particular, different pore densities and/or average pore sizes can be used, for example by using an evaporation body produced by 3D printing.

The gas velocity of a gas stream in a gas line is not constant over the cross section of the gas line but has a velocity distribution, whereby the speed at the edge of the gas line typically differs from the speed in the middle of the gas line. By providing several sections with different pore densities, the respective pore density can be adapted to the gas velocity of the respective position in relation to the gas line cross section. Accordingly, by providing several sections with different average pore sizes, the respective average pore size can be adapted to the gas velocity of the respective position in relation to the gas line cross section.

In a further embodiment, the pore density and/or the average pore size of the individual sections of the evaporation body increases or decreases at least in sections from the end of the evaporation body remote from the odorant nozzle in the direction of the odorant nozzle. Through such a gradient achieved over sections with different pore densities or average pore sizes, the evaporation body can be adapted, for example, to the slower gas velocities towards the edge of the gas pipe.

In particular, it is possible to adapt the course of the pore density and/or the average pore size across the evaporation body to the average gas velocity distributions prevailing in a gas line in summer or winter. It was found that gas velocity distributions can differ greatly between summer and winter. In winter, the larger quantities of gas to be transported and the associated higher gas speeds can lead to more turbulence in the gas pipe, which results in a different speed distribution in the gas pipe compared to summer, especially at the edge of the gas pipe.

Since the feed device described here enables a quick change of the feed device, it is economically possible and sensible to change, for example, twice a year between a feed device optimized for summer and a feed device optimized for winter.

In a further embodiment, the evaporation body is produced using 3D printing. In particular, with 3D printing, the open-cell foam structure of the evaporation body can be printed directly. 3D printing further enables a pore density gradient and/or a pore size gradient, in particular as described above, in a monolithic evaporation body.

In addition, 3D printing also enables the production of a self-supporting evaporative body. In this way, a grid body can be dispensed with. Alternatively, the grid body can also be printed directly. Preferably, the evaporation body has a 3D printed thread, preferably ISO thread, to connect the evaporation body to the odorant nozzle.

Plastics, metals or other 3D printable materials can be used to produce the evaporation body using 3D printing, as long as they are resistant to the odorants to be used or gases conducted in the gas lines.

In a further embodiment, the grid body has a cup-shaped base part at the end of the grid body remote from the odorant nozzle. In this way, excess odorant can be collected so that the odorant does not drip into the gas line and contaminate it. The evaporation body preferably dips into the cup-shaped base part, in particular down to the bottom of the cup-shaped base part. In this way, the odorant accumulated in the cup-shaped base part can be supplied to evaporation via the capillary action of the pores of the evaporation body.

In a further embodiment, the lattice body is equipped with stabilizing struts. In this way, the grid body can be stabilized so that it can mechanically withstand the gas flow in the gas line. In particular, vibrations that arise from the gas flowing around it and could otherwise lead to the nozzle breaking off can be reduced in this way.

In addition, by providing stabilizing struts, other parts of the lattice body can be made thinner, for example thinner wires can be used, whereby a larger mesh size and/or a higher mesh proportion and thus better flowability to the evaporation body arranged in the lattice body can be achieved. In this way the evaporation capacity can be increased.

In a further embodiment, several thicker longitudinal wires are provided as stabilizing struts. For example, the grid body can have a wire grid in which some longitudinal wires have a greater thickness. For example, if the wire mesh has 50 or 100 longitudinal wires, four of the longitudinal wires can have a greater thickness. The thicker longitudinal wires are preferably evenly distributed over the circumference of the lattice body, for example with four thicker longitudinal wires each offset from one another by a quarter circumference.

In a further embodiment, longitudinal tubes are provided as stabilizing struts. In particular, the grid body can have a wire grid in which the longitudinal tubes are arranged like longitudinal wires. In this way, the rigidity of the lattice body can be increased.

According to the invention, a sensor is arranged on the inflow body, preferably on the grid body. In this way, the condition and/or operation of the feed device can be monitored.

The sensor can be, for example, a wear sensor that monitors the wear of a component of the inflow body, for example the grid body. In this way, the feed device can be replaced in good time before it fails.

The sensor can also be a vibration sensor that measures the vibration of the inflow body in the gas flow. In this way, for example, a failure prediction can be made.

The sensor can also be a failure sensor, for example a break sensor, which monitors the failure of a component of the inflow body, for example the grid body. In this way, the feed device can be replaced promptly after a failure, for example due to a pressure surge in the gas line.

The wear or failure sensor can in particular be arranged on or in one of the stabilizing struts.

The sensor can also be a flow velocity sensor that measures the flow velocity of the gas stream in the gas line. In this way, for example, the amount of odorant applied to the evaporation body can be regulated depending on the flow speed of the gas stream.

The sensor can also be a liquid sensor for detecting liquid in the cup-shaped base part. The presence of liquid in the cup-shaped bottom part may indicate poor evaporation performance or an excessive supply of odorant.

In a further embodiment, the sensor or a line to the sensor is arranged in a longitudinal tube. In this way, the sensor or its The line in the longitudinal tube must be protected from damage when installing or removing the feed device or by the gas flow.

In a further embodiment, the feed device further has a wired or wireless interface for connecting the sensor to external evaluation or monitoring electronics, in particular on the odorant nozzle. In this way, for example, it is possible to connect the sensor to local evaluation or monitoring electronics or, through remote data transmission means that can be switched in between, to remote evaluation or monitoring electronics. In this way, for example, central monitoring of various feed devices can be made possible, so that, for example, in the event of a failure, repairs can be carried out quickly. Furthermore, the data obtained with the sensor of the feed device can also be used to monitor the gas pipeline network.

In a further embodiment, the inflow body is semi-cylindrical, with the rounded part of the inflow body being placed in particular in the flow. It was found that with a semi-cylindrical shape of the inflow body, turbulence of the gas flow occurs on the flat back, which results in a higher evaporation performance. Such a semi-cylindrical inflow body can be produced in particular using 3D printing.

In a further embodiment of the device, the insert unit has a valve body which can be moved from a first open position to a second closed position, the valve body closing the gas line section in the second position and releasing it in the first position and the valve body in the second Position with the housing forms a removal lock for the feed device. In this way, the replacement of the feed device is simplified, since the valve body enables both the shutting off of the gas line and the removal or insertion of the feed device. The above-mentioned object is further achieved according to the invention by using the described feed device or an embodiment thereof or the described device or an embodiment thereof for odorizing a gas stream in a gas line.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Odorierung eines Gasstroms in einer Gasleitung,

Fig. 2

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Einspeiseeinrichtung,

Fig. 3

das Ausführungsbeispiel aus Fig. 2 in einer Einbausituation und ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 4a-b

einen Anströmkörper eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Einspeiseeinrichtung,

Fig. 5a-b

einen Anströmkörper eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Einspeiseeinrichtung,

Fig. 6a-b

einen Anströmkörper eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Einspeiseeinrichtung,

Fig. 7

einen Querschnitt eines Anströmkörpers eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Einspeiseeinrichtung,

Fig. 8a-b

einen Gitterkörper eines Anströmkörpers eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Einspeiseeinrichtung,

Fig. 9a-b

einen Gitterkörper eines Anströmkörpers eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Einspeiseeinrichtung,

Fig. 10

ein weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Einspeiseeinrichtung und

Fig. 11a-b

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.

Further advantages and features of the feed device, the device and their uses result from the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference being made to the accompanying drawing. Show in the drawing

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a device for odorizing a gas stream in a gas line,

Fig. 2

a first exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention,

Fig. 3

the exemplary embodiment Fig. 2 in an installation situation and an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 4a-b

an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention,

Fig. 5a-b

an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention,

Fig. 6a-b

an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention,

Fig. 7

a cross section of an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention,

Fig. 8a-b

a grid body of an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention,

Fig. 9a-b

a grid body of an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention,

Fig. 10

a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention and

Fig. 11a-b

a further embodiment of a device according to the invention.

Figure 1 first shows the basic structure of a device for odorizing a gas stream in a schematic representation.

In Figure 1 a gas line section 1 of a gas line 2 is shown, which is connected downstream of a gas meter 3 in the direction of flow of the gas. The odorization device can be arranged, for example, in a GDRM system of a local gas distribution network. In the gas line 2, in the present case, natural gas is provided from a high-pressure transport network for the gas pressure distribution network at a reduced pressure.

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

For this purpose, the odorant is removed from an odorant container 5 and fed to the feed device 4 via a metering pump 6. The metering pump 6 is connected to the gas meter 3 via a control device 7. The gas meter 3 supplies the control device 7 with information about the gas volume flow in the gas line 2 and the control device 7 controls the metering pump 6 in such a way that the metering pump 6 delivers an amount of odorant adapted to the gas volume flow to the feed device 4. To control the metering pump 6, a flow meter 9 can be provided, which measures the odorant volume flow pumped by the metering pump 6. Furthermore, a level meter 10 can be provided to monitor the level in the odorant container 5. A check valve 11 is preferably provided between the metering pump 6 and the feed device 4 in order to prevent gas flow from the gas line 2 to the odorant container 5.

The Figures 2 and 3 now show a first exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows a view of the individual parts of the feed device 22 and Fig. 3 the installation situation in a gas pipe section 24.

The feed device 22 has an odorant nozzle 26 and an inflow body 28.

The inflow body 28 has a cylindrical grid body 30, at one end 32 of which an external thread 34 is provided, with which the grid body 30 can be screwed into a complementary internal thread 36 of the odorant nozzle 26. At its end 38 opposite the end 32, the lattice body has a cup-shaped base part 40. An evaporation body 42 made of an open-cell foam, for example made of an open-cell metal or ceramic foam, is arranged in the grid body 30.

The odorant nozzle 26 is designed in the form of an immersion sleeve so that it can be inserted into a wall opening 44 of the gas line section 24 in order to position the inflow body 28 screwed to the odorant nozzle 26 in a gas stream 46 flowing in the gas line section 24. Fig. 3 show the Feed device in assembled state and after installation in the gas line section 24.

The odorant nozzle 26 preferably has fastening means which enable a gas-tight insertion and fastening of the odorant nozzle 26 to the gas line section 24 - as in Fig. 3 shown - allow. In the case of the odorant nozzle 26, for example, an external thread 50 corresponding to an internal thread 48 of the wall opening 44 and a flange 52 for external contact with the gas line section are provided. The flange can, for example, have a circumferential sealing ring 54 on its underside.

Furthermore, the odorant nozzle 26 has a connecting piece 56 for connecting an odorant feed line 58, so that during operation, odorant 60 from the connected odorant feed line 58 reaches the evaporation body 42 through a channel 64 running from the connecting piece 56 through the odorant nozzle 26 to an opening 62.

Due to its open-cell sponge structure, the evaporation body 42 has a very large inner surface over which the odorant 60 that reaches the evaporation body 42 during operation is distributed. The pore density of the evaporation body 42 is also optimized at 10 - 60 ppi for the typically used odorants (e.g. tetrahydrotiophene) and the typical gas flow velocities in gas lines, so that a high evaporation performance is achieved with the feed device 22.

Due to its high evaporation capacity, the inflow body can be made very compact and has a length between 400 and 600 mm and a diameter in the range of 0.5 - 1 inch. In this way, the feed device 22 is easier to handle and can also be used in gas pipes with smaller nominal widths.

The cup-shaped base part 40 provided at the lower end 38 of the grid body ensures that any excess odorant, for example if the odorant supply is too high or if the gas flow 46 is reduced, does not drip onto the wall of the gas line section 24 and contaminate it, but rather is collected in the cup-shaped base part 40 becomes. The evaporation body 42 dips all the way into the cup-shaped bottom part 40, so that the accumulating odorant is sucked back into the evaporation body 42 by capillary forces and can evaporate.

Fig. 3 shows the installation situation of the feed device 22 in the gas line section 24. The gas line section 24 can be, for example, a possibly longer gas line, a short piece of pipe, for example provided with connecting flanges 66, for installation in a gas line or a pipe fitting (see Fig. see also the example in Fig. 11 ). Regardless of the specific design, the gas line section 24 with the wall opening 44 represents an insert unit 68 and the entirety of the insert unit 68 and the feed device 22 inserted therein represents a device 70 for feeding a liquid odorant 60 into a gas stream flowing through a gas line.

The Figures 4a-b show an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention. Fig. 4a shows a longitudinal section and Fig. 4b shows a cross section corresponding to that in Fig. 4a Section plane marked IVb.

The inflow body 78 has a similar structure to the inflow body 28 Fig. 2 . Corresponding components are therefore provided with the same reference numerals and the above description applies in this respect Fig. 2 referred. The odorant nozzle of the further exemplary embodiment of the feed device has an identical structure to the odorant nozzle 26 Fig. 2 .

The inflow body 78 therefore differs from the inflow body 28 Fig. 2 that the evaporation body 80 of the inflow body 78 consists of a plurality of stacked elements 82a-f made of open-cell foam with different pore densities and / or different average pore sizes. In this way, it can be taken into account that the speed of a gas flow in a gas line is not constant over its cross section, but rather has a speed distribution. By stacking the elements 82a-f, the respective pore density and/or the respective pore sizes can be better adapted to the different gas velocities at the respective points in the gas line cross section, so that overall better evaporation performance is achieved.

For example, the speed of a gas stream on the wall of the gas line is typically lower than in the middle of the cross-section of the gas line. For this purpose, the elements 82a-f can, for example, be stacked in such a way that the (possibly average) pore density and/or the average pore size of the individual elements decreases or increases from element 82a to element 82f. The elements 82a-f can in particular also be stacked in such a way that the pore density and/or average pore size is adapted to the respective position of the individual elements in a gas line with a predetermined nominal diameter. If there is an order accordingly Fig. 3 For example, the elements 82a-f could be arranged in such a way that the elements 82c-d, which are arranged in the middle of the gas line in this case, have the highest or lowest pore density and the pore density of the remaining elements decreases or increases towards the respective ends of the inflow body.

The Figures 5a-b show an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention. Fig. 5a shows a longitudinal section and Fig. 5b a cross section corresponding to that in Fig. 5a cutting plane marked Vb.

The inflow body 88 has a similar structure to the inflow body 28 Fig. 2 or the inflow body 78 Fig. 4a-b . Corresponding components are therefore provided with the same reference numerals and the above description applies in this respect Fig. 2 and 4a-b referred. The odorant nozzle of the further exemplary embodiment of the feed device has an identical structure to the odorant nozzle 26 Fig. 2 .

The inflow body 88, like the inflow body 78, has an evaporation body 90, the average pore density of which varies in the longitudinal direction of the evaporation body. Unlike the evaporation body 80, however, this is not achieved by stacking individual elements 82a-f on top of each other. Instead, the evaporation body 90 is made in one piece. Such a one-piece evaporation body 90 with pore density varying in the longitudinal direction can be produced, for example, by 3D printing. For example, 3D printing processes such as selective laser melting or sintering can be used to produce metallic foam structures with varying pore densities. In a corresponding manner, an inflow body with an average pore size that varies in the longitudinal direction can also be produced.

The Figures 6a-b show an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention. Fig. 6a shows a longitudinal section and Fig. 6b shows a cross section corresponding to that in Fig. 6a Section plane marked Vlb.

The odorant nozzle of this exemplary embodiment of the feed device has an identical structure to the odorant nozzle 26 Fig. 2 .

The inflow body 94 differs from the inflow bodies 28, 78 and 88 in that it does not have a separate grid body but is formed by a self-supporting, one-piece evaporation body 96. Such a one-piece, self-supporting evaporation body 96 can be produced using 3D printing be, for example by means of selective laser melting or sintering. In particular, the evaporation body 96 can also be provided with a pore density and/or average pore size that varies in the longitudinal direction. When manufactured using 3D printing, the evaporation body 96 is preferably provided directly with an external thread 98 for attachment to the odorant nozzle, so that the evaporation body 96 can simply be screwed to the odorant nozzle 26.

Fig. 7 shows a cross section of an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention in a schematic view. The inflow body of this exemplary embodiment can basically have a structure like the inflow body 28 Fig. 2 , the inflow body 78 Fig. 4a-b , the inflow body 88 Fig. 5a-b or the inflow body 94 Fig. 6a-b have, the cross section 104 of the inflow body - different from the circular cross sections of the inflow bodies 28, 78 (see. Fig. 4b ), 88 (see Fig. 5b ) and 94 (see Fig. 6b ) - is semicircular. In particular, the grid body and the evaporation body arranged therein of the inflow body or, in particular in the case of a self-supporting evaporation body without a grid body, such as in Fig. 6a-b , only the evaporation body has a semicircular cross section.

For use, the cross section 104 of the inflow body is aligned so that the rounded part of the cross section 104 points in the direction of the gas flow 46. At the sharp edges of the cross section 104 towards the flat area on the side facing away from the gas stream 46, turbulence occurs, which improves the evaporation performance of the inflow body.

The Fig. 8a-b show a grid body 108 of an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention. Fig. 8a shows a view from the side and Fig. 8b a cross section corresponding to that in Fig. 8a Section plane designated VIIIb. The grid body 108 can, for example, instead of the grid body 30 in one of the previously described inflow bodies 28, 78 and 88 can be used. Like the grid body 30, the grid body 108 is provided at one end with an external thread 34 and at the other end preferably with a cup-shaped base part 40 (in Fig. 8a not shown for clarity).

The grid body 108 has a grid of thin longitudinal wires 110 and transverse wires 112, which form a grid. Four longitudinal wires 114 distributed over the circumference have a greater thickness than the remaining longitudinal wires 110 and thus represent stabilizing struts of the grid body 108. These stabilizing struts ensure sufficient stability of the grid body 108 even with a small thickness of the longitudinal wires 110 to the gas flow 46 in the gas line section 24 to be able to withstand. The small thickness of the longitudinal wires 110 and transverse wires 112 made possible thereby increases the mesh proportion of the grid body 108, i.e. the area proportion of the meshes compared to the total area including the longitudinal and transverse wires, so that the gas stream can flow through the grid body 108 with less resistance, which on the one hand Evaporation performance can be increased and, on the other hand, vibrations can be reduced.

The Fig. 9a-b show a grid body 118 of an inflow body of a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention. Fig. 9a shows a view from the side and Fig. 9b a cross section corresponding to that in Fig. 9a Section plane marked IXb. The grid body 118 can, for example, be used instead of the grid body 30 in one of the previously described inflow bodies 28, 78 and 88. Like the grid body 30, the grid body 118 is provided at one end with an external thread 34 and at the other end preferably with a cup-shaped base part 40 (in Fig. 9a not shown for clarity).

The grid body 118 has a similar structure to the grid body 108 Fig. 8 , with corresponding elements provided with the same reference numerals and in this respect reference is made to the above description. The lattice body 118 differs from the lattice body 108 in that instead of the thicker longitudinal wires 114, longitudinal tubes 120 are arranged as stabilizing struts in the lattice body 118. The longitudinal tubes 120 increase the rigidity of the grid body 118. In addition, the channels 122 running in the longitudinal tubes 120 can be used for sensors or lines.

Fig. 10 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a feed device according to the invention. The feed device 130 has a similar structure to the feed device 22 Fig. 2 , where corresponding elements are provided with the same reference numerals and in this respect refer to the above description Fig. 2 is referred to.

The feed device 130 differs from the feed device 22 in that the inflow body 132 of the feed device 130 forms the grid body 118 instead of the grid body 30 Fig. 9 with the longitudinal tubes 120. The longitudinal tubes 120 are in Fig. 9 For the sake of illustration, shown with an exaggeratedly large cross section. Furthermore, the inflow body 132 is equipped with several sensors 134, 136.

The sensor 134 arranged in the cup-shaped base part 40 is a liquid sensor which can be used to determine whether odorant is accumulating in the cup-shaped base part 40. For example, the supply of odorant can be controlled via such a sensor.

The sensor 136 is arranged on or in one of the longitudinal tubes 120 and can be designed, for example, as a vibration sensor or as a break sensor. In this way, the feed device can be monitored for mechanical loads or failure, so that if failure is imminent or has occurred, a replacement can be carried out at short notice.

The lines 138, 140 for power supply to the sensors and for signal transmission are led through a channel 122 of a respective one of the longitudinal tubes 120 and through the odorant nozzle 142 to a wired interface 144 in the form of a plug, so that the sensors 134, 136 are connected outside the gas line section 24 Electronics can be connected, which can evaluate the data from the sensors 134, 136 on site or via remote data transmission to a remote computer for evaluation.

The lines 138, 140 can, for example, each be designed in two parts with a first part from the respective sensor 134, 136 to the end 32 of the inflow body 132 facing the odorant nozzle 142 and a second part within the odorant nozzle 142 to the interface 144, the respective first and second parts are connected to each other via a respective contact point. In this way, the inflow body 132 can be replaced without having to pull lines. The two parts of a respective line can then be contacted, for example when the inflow body 132 is screwed into the odorant nozzle 142.

The Figures 11a-b show a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention. The device 150 has a feed device 152, which is, for example, like that in Fig. 2 shown feed device 22 or one of the other previously described feed devices can be formed. Furthermore, the device 150 has an insert unit 154, which has a housing 156 with a gas line section 158 through which gas can flow. The feed device 152 is inserted into an opening 160 in a wall of the housing 156, so that the inflow body 28 extends into the gas line section 158.

The insert unit 154 also has a valve body 162, which can be moved from a first open position (in Fig. 11a shown) into a second closed position (in Fig. 11b shown) can be moved, the valve body 162 closing the gas line section 158 in the second position and in the first position and the valve body 162 in the second position forms with the housing 156 a removal lock 166 for the feed device 152.

The device 150 allows the removal or replacement of the removal lock 164 to be simple and quick, since the valve body 162 simultaneously blocks the gas flow in the gas line section 158 and allows the removal or replacement of the feed device 152.

Claims (15)

1. Feeding device (4, 22, 130, 152) for feeding a liquid odorant (60) into a gas stream (46) flowing through a gas line,

   - having an odorant nozzle (26, 142) and

   - having an inflow body (28, 78, 88, 94, 132) connected with the odorant nozzle for positioning in a gas flow (46) in a gas line,

   - wherein the inflow body (28, 78, 88, 94, 132) comprises an evaporation body (42, 80, 90, 96),

   - wherein the odorant nozzle (26, 142) is designed to apply liquid odorant (60) to the evaporation body (42, 80, 90, 96), and

   - wherein the feeding device (4, 22, 130, 152) is configured to be inserted into a wall opening (44, 160) of a gas line section (1, 24, 158), so that the inflow body (28, 78, 88, 94, 132) extends into the gas line section (1, 24, 158),

   characterised

   - in that a sensor (134, 136) is arranged at the inflow body (28, 78, 88, 94, 132).
2. Feeding device according to claim 1,
   characterised in that the inflow body (28, 78, 88, 94, 132) has a, preferably cylindrical, grid body (30, 108, 118) in which the evaporation body (42, 80, 90, 96) is arranged.
3. Feeding device according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that the inflow body (28, 78, 88, 94, 132) has a length of 100 - 400 mm and/or a diameter of 0.5 - 1" (12.7 - 25.4 mm).
4. Feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that the evaporation body (42, 80, 90, 96) comprises an open-cell foam, in particular a metal or ceramic foam, or consists at least partially, preferably completely, thereof.
5. Feeding device according to claim 4,
   characterised in that the evaporation body (42, 80, 90, 96) has a plurality of sections, the individual sections having different pore densities and/or different mean pore sizes.
6. Feeding device according to claim 5,
   characterised in that the pore density and/or the pore sizes of the individual sections of the evaporation body (42, 80, 90, 96) increase or decrease on average from the end of the evaporation body (42, 80, 90, 96) remote from the odorant nozzle (26, 142) in the direction of the odorant nozzle (26, 142).
7. Feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that the evaporation body (42, 80, 90, 96) is self-supporting.
8. Feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that the grid body (30, 108, 118) has a cup-shaped base part (40) at the end of the grid body (30, 108, 118) remote from the odorant nozzle (26, 142), into which the evaporation body (42, 80, 90, 96) is preferably immersed.
9. Feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
   characterised in that the grid body (30, 108, 118) is provided with stabilising struts (114, 120), wherein a plurality of thicker longitudinal wires (114) or longitudinal tubes (120) are preferably provided as stabilising struts.
10. Feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that the sensor (134, 136) is arranged on the grid body (30, 108, 118), wherein the sensor (134, 136) or a line (138, 140) to the sensor (134, 136) is preferably arranged in a longitudinal tube (100).
11. Feeding device according to claim 10,
    characterised in that the feeding device (4, 22, 130, 152) further comprises a wired or wireless interface (144) for connecting the sensor (134, 136) to external evaluation or monitoring electronics, in particular at the odorant nozzle (26, 142).
12. Feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
    characterised in that the inflow body (28, 78, 88, 94, 132) has a semi-cylindrical shape.
13. Apparatus (70, 150) for feeding a liquid odorant (60) into a gas stream (46) flowing through a gas line,

    - having a feeding device (4, 22, 130, 152) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and

    - having an insert unit (154) which has a housing (156) with a gas line section (158), through which gas can flow, for installation in a gas line,

    - wherein the feeding device (4, 22, 130, 152) is inserted into an opening (160) in a wall of the housing (156) in such a way that the inflow body (28, 78, 88, 94, 132) extends into the gas line section (158).
14. Device according to claim 13,
    characterised in that the insert unit (154) has a valve body (162) which can be moved from a first open position into a second closed position, wherein the valve body (162) closes the gas line section (158) in the second position and opens it in the first position, and wherein, in the second position, the valve body (162) with the housing (156) forms a removal sluice (164) for the feeding device (4, 22, 130, 152).
15. Use of a feeding device (4, 22, 130, 152) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 or of a device (70, 150) according to claim 13 or 14 for odorising a gas stream (46) in a gas line.

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