EP4123215B1 - Odorizing test system and device for odorizing a gas mixture flowing within a gas line for testing - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an odorization test system for test-based odorization of a gas mixture flowing within a gas line.

As part of the energy transition, the use of hydrogen instead of natural gas to generate thermal energy, e.g. for heating households, is being discussed more and more intensively.

A switch from natural gas to hydrogen can only be carried out gradually due to the currently low availability of hydrogen. On the way to a comprehensive hydrogen supply, there will therefore be a gradual conversion of parts of the natural gas currently flowing in gas pipelines to hydrogen, so that a gas mixture of natural gas and hydrogen will flow through the gas pipelines.

Since the energy content of hydrogen is only about a third of that of natural gas, the gradual conversion will also lead to an increase in the volume flow of the gas mixture. This will also increase the need for odorants, which must be added to the gas mixture in order to reduce the risk of danger from the largely odorless gas mixture.

In this case, it must be ensured that the odorant is added to the different gas mixtures in the gas pipelines of different distribution networks in sufficient quantities and evenly. From an economic point of view, only as much odorant should be added to the gas mixture as is really necessary for safety reasons in order to keep excessive consumption of the cost-intensive resources of the odorant to a minimum. In addition, there is the difficulty that the proportions of hydrogen and natural gas in the gas mixtures flowing through the gas pipelines could fluctuate. The document DE102017128495 A1 discloses a device for odorizing a gas stream in a gas line.

The object of the invention is to provide a cost-effective, safe and reliable way of meeting the above-mentioned requirements in future gas pipelines, in particular to ensure that the gas mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas in the gas pipelines of different gas distribution networks or areas meet the safety requirements for odorization while taking economic aspects into account.

The above object is achieved by the odorization test system according to claim 1. Further advantages and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description and the drawings.

The odorization test system according to the invention for test odorization of a gas mixture flowing within a gas line has a bypass line. The bypass line is provided with two connection points for connection to the gas line of a receiving device for receiving an odorizing nozzle (often also called an inoculation nozzle or odor nozzle) and a Measuring device for measuring the odorant content in the gas mixture. In addition, the odorization test system is mobile.

Accordingly, the mobile odorization test system can be easily moved to different gas lines, especially different gas distribution networks or areas, and a bypass line can be connected to the gas lines there in order to carry out odorization tests. When using the mobile odorization test system, no complex and costly installation of measuring devices and odorizing nozzles or odorizing systems on the gas lines or gas line connections is necessary in order to test odorization with changing gas mixtures. If, for example, the gas in a gas line of a gas distribution network is to be changed, for example from 0% hydrogen content to 20% hydrogen content in the gas mixture, it is not necessary to convert the existing odorizing system without tested odorizing system configurations (for hydrogen). In order to find out what amount of odorant or which odorant or which type of odorant dosing system is required in the gas line for the specific gas composition and gas quality provided in this gas distribution network, the mobile odorization test system can be brought to this gas distribution network and the bypass line can be connected to the gas line without disrupting gas distribution operations in order to carry out the testing. For this purpose, the odorant nozzle can be accommodated in the receiving device and odorant can be added to the gas mixture flowing in the bypass line in order to change the odorant content. An analysis of the odorant proportion that has been introduced into the gas mixture using the odorant nozzle can be carried out using the measuring device in order to ensure that, given the existing conditions, such as gas mixture composition and gas quality, sufficient odorant has evaporated or been absorbed by the gas mixture to meet the necessary safety requirements for the gas mixture.

The odorization test system can comprise a trailer for a motor vehicle, a transport container or a motor vehicle. This allows the odorization test system to be designed to be mobile in a simple manner. In the trailer variant, tires and a trailer coupling for coupling to a motor vehicle can be provided on the odorization test system. In this case, the bypass line is in the Trailer. In the variant of the transport container, which can also be referred to as a container or transport frame, for example, crane connection means such as eyelets or the like for attaching a crane to the odorization test system can be provided. The transport container can be hoisted onto a truck or the like in this way and then taken to the site of use. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the transport container is designed to be picked up by a forklift or the like in order to be loaded onto a truck or another vehicle. The bypass line can be arranged in the transport container. In the variant of the motor vehicle, it can be a commercial vehicle which has a loading space in which the bypass line is arranged.

Regardless of the specific design of the mobility of the odorization test system, the odorization test system therefore has a type of housing or container in and/or on which it is located with its technical systems, in particular the bypass line. The odorization test system or the housing or the container can in particular have lockable access means for entry, such as a door or a roller shutter. In this respect, it can therefore be a walk-in odorization test system. The housing or container of the odorization test system can also be provided with flaps, doors, windows or the like, which allow direct access to the connection points of the bypass line and possibly other system parts or components of the odorization test system, such as an odorization system. A control cabinet with electronics of the odorization test system can be located inside or outside the housing or container.

It can be provided that an exchangeable odorizing nozzle is accommodated in the receiving device. The exchangeability of the odorizing nozzles on the receiving device enables different odorizing nozzles to be tested for the distribution of the liquid odorant that emerges from the odorizing nozzles and evaporates in the gas mixture. The odorizing nozzles can differ, for example, in their materials, diameter, etc. and deliver different evaporation performance. Different odorizing nozzles can be kept in the odorizing test system. The provision of different odorizing nozzles in the odorizing test system enables these to be tested for the given conditions of the gas mixture, i.e. in particular the gas composition and the gas quality. When carrying out test odorization using the odorization test system, the optimal odorizing nozzles can be found that provide a high evaporation performance for the existing gas composition and gas quality. These odorizing nozzles can then be used in the gas line to keep the evaporation performance high and thus waste as little odorant as possible or to provide the necessary odorization and the associated safety with as little odorant as possible.

In addition, a fitting with a sight glass can be connected to the bypass line. The sight glass allows the technicians on site to visually check the gas mixture flowing in the bypass line.

It can be provided that the sight glass is arranged relative to the receiving device in such a way that the odorizing nozzle can be visually inspected using the sight glass. This enables the technicians on site to optically or visually inspect the odorizing nozzle. On the one hand, the evaporation of the odorant can be monitored and, on the other hand, the wear of the odorizing nozzle with the given gas mixture can be inspected without removing the odorizing nozzle or interrupting the test odorizing operation.

It can also be provided that the measuring device comprises at least one gas chromatograph. Other quantitative and qualitative measuring methods can also be used. For example, measuring methods that work on an electrochemical, photo-optical or calorimetric basis are mentioned here. The gas chromatograph can not only be set up to determine the odorant content in the gas mixture, but also to determine the gas composition itself, i.e. the proportions of hydrogen and natural gas and possibly other gases.

It can be provided that the measuring device comprises a gas chromatograph (or a measuring device for carrying out a qualitative or quantitative measuring method) in front of the receiving device or the odorizing nozzle accommodated therein and a gas chromatograph (or a measuring device for carrying out a qualitative or quantitative measuring method) behind the receiving device or the odorizing nozzle accommodated therein. accommodated odorizing nozzle. Accordingly, the odorizing test system can be used to determine the odorant content already present in the gas mixture before the test odorization and the odorant content added to the gas mixture by the test odorization. For example, it is also possible for the measuring device to use additional or different measuring methods than gas chromatography. The (other) measuring methods of the measuring device can be based on electrochemical, photo-optical and/or calorimetric principles, for example. The measuring device can therefore in particular comprise electrochemical, photo-optical and/or calorimetric sensors.

In addition, the bypass line can have a mixer element for mixing a gas into the gas mixture flowing in the bypass line. The mixer element is preferably arranged in front of the odorizing nozzle or its receiving device. The mixed gas can in particular be hydrogen, which is mixed into the gas mixture, which can consist of natural gas or a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen. The mixer element in the bypass line allows the gas mixture to be changed for future changes to the gas mixture in the gas line. If, for example, the hydrogen content of the gas mixture flowing in the gas line in a gas distribution network is to be increased in the future, this gas mixture with the increased hydrogen content can be tested beforehand on the odorizing test system by appropriate hydrogen mixing using the mixer element. In particular, a test odorization can then take place using the odorizing nozzle in the bypass line in order to be able to determine, as already explained above, the optimal amount of odorant and/or the odorizing nozzle with the least wear and/or the highest evaporation performance for the future operation of the gas line.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the odorization test system has an odorization system with an odorant dosing pump and an odorant storage container. The odorant dosing pump can be connected accordingly to the odorizing nozzle in order to spray dosed odorant from the odorant storage container into the bypass line by means of the odorant dosing pump.

It can be provided that the odorizing system has an electrical preheating unit for the odorant. This can increase the evaporation rate of the odorant in the gas mixture flowing through the bypass line. In particular, it can be provided that the electrical preheating unit is set up in such a way that different preheating temperatures of the odorant, which is metered or pumped from the odorant metering pump, can be set. In this way, test odorization can be expanded to include the goal of determining an optimal preheating temperature of the odorant to increase the evaporation rate.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the odorization test system has a control unit for controlling an odorization test process. The control unit can be designed for fully automated execution of an odorization test process. For example, it can be provided that the control unit operates according to a control program which regulates the amount of odorant added to the flowing gas mixture by controlling the odorization system. To this end, the control program can provide that the amount of odorant contained in the gas mixture is recorded by means of the gas chromatograph (or qualitative or quantitative measuring method), in particular the evaporation rate of the odorant is calculated, and this is used by the control unit as a feedback value for regulating the dosage of the amount of odorant.

It can also be provided that the odorization test system has a remote data transmission unit. The remote data transmission unit can be set up to monitor and control the odorization test system, in particular its control unit. Using the remote data transmission unit, the test odorization can also be carried out from outside the odorization test system or in particular at a physically remote location, such as a control center. In addition, the data obtained from the test odorization or the odorization tests can be transmitted using the remote data transmission unit to a decentralized data storage device in which the test or operating data of this and possibly other mobile odorization test systems can be stored and evaluated if necessary. In addition, conventional local storage of the data is of course also possible, for which a data storage device can be provided in the odorization test system.

Furthermore, the odorization test system can be equipped with a GPS transmitter. The GPS transmitter can be set up for location and theft monitoring. This makes it possible to leave the odorization test system at the gas distribution network site for longer periods of time. The GPS transmitter can also be used to support the deployment planning of the mobile odorization test system.

It can also be provided that the odorization test system has its own power supply source. In principle, the primary power supply of the odorization test system can be via a power connection to a local electrical network. However, the odorization test system's own power supply source makes it self-sufficient, so it can also be used when there is no access to an electrical network or to bridge power outages. For example, the power supply source can be a photovoltaic system that can be installed on the roof of the odorization test system, in particular on a trailer, container or vehicle. It would also be possible to generate the power requirement using a fuel cell or a commercially available combustion engine-driven power generator that can be operated with gasoline, diesel or natural gas or hydrogen-containing gas, for example. In such an application, the company's own power supply source is in particular a (commercially available) combustion engine-driven power generator.

It is also possible to provide gas storage or gas tanks containing a gas mixture, in particular natural gas and/or hydrogen, in the odorization test system. This not only allows the gas mixture flowing in the bypass line to be changed in order to enable the testing of a changed gas mixture, as described above. The mixer element mentioned above can be used for this purpose, by means of which the gas from the gas storage or gas tank can be introduced into the bypass line. It is also possible to use it to provide an emergency gas supply if there are planned or unplanned interruptions in the gas supply.

Finally, it can be provided that the bypass line is connected to the gas line in such a way that the gas mixture flowing in the gas line can flow through the gas line and past the bypass line on the one hand and through the bypass line and back into the gas line. This means that the previously mentioned test operation of the mobile odorization test system can be ensured without affecting the gas supply to households via the gas line.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine mobile Odorierungstestanlage gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung; und

Fig. 2

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die mobile Odorierungstestanlage, welche an eine Gasleitung angeschlossen ist.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawing. All features arising from the claims, the description or the figure, including structural details, can be essential to the invention both individually and in any of the various combinations. They show:

Fig.1

a schematic plan view of a mobile odorization test system according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig.2

a schematic plan view of the mobile odorization test system connected to a gas pipeline.

Elements with the same function and mode of operation are in the Figures 1 and 2 each provided with the same reference symbols.

Figure 1 shows a mobile odorization test system 10 in a top view, wherein a roof of the odorization test system 10 has been removed or is not shown in order to enable a view of the components within the odorization test system 10. Some elements, in particular in an odorization system 30 and in a control box 17, are only shown in a purely schematic representation.

The odorization test system 10 shown here is designed to be mobile in that it is equipped with a trailer 11 with a trailer coupling 12 in order to be pulled by a vehicle (not shown) to a location on a gas distribution network or in a gas distribution network. As an alternative to this design of the mobile odorization test system 10 with a trailer 11, it is also conceivable that the odorization test system 10 is designed to be mobile in another way, i.e. not permanently installed, but transportable from one location to another. Examples of this are containers or transport frames or commercial vehicles in which the components of the mobile odorization test system 10, in particular the bypass line 20 with its components, as explained in more detail below.

In the odorization test system 10 there is a bypass line 20. How Figure 2 shows, this bypass line 20 is connected to a gas line 60, which is only partially shown here. For this purpose, the bypass line 20 has two connection points 21, 22, which in this case are formed by flanges. These are connected to the gas line 60 by means of suitable lines 61, 62, for example in the form of pipes or hoses, with a flange connection again being shown here at the connection points on the side of the gas line 60.

On one side or side wall of the odorization test system 10, flaps 15, 16 are provided which are opposite the connection points 21, 22. These are folded up in order to guide the lines 61, 62 to the connection points 21, 22 and to connect them. In addition to these entrances to the odorization test system 10, a large flap 14 is also provided between the two small flaps 15, 16 for easy access to an odorization system 30 in the odorization test system 10. The odorization test system 10 can also be accessed via a roller shutter 13.

A gas mixture of natural gas flows through the gas line 60. It can also contain hydrogen. Since natural gas and hydrogen are largely odorless, an odorant must be added to the gas mixture in order to avoid a hazard from undetected gas. Since the amount of odorant required depends on various conditions, such as in particular the gas mixture composition and the gas quality, which can fluctuate and which may not be able to be influenced, it is typically necessary to provide a comparatively high amount of odorant.

By means of the mobile odorization test system 10, however, it is possible to carry out a test odorization in the bypass line 20 parallel to the gas operation in the gas line 60 in order to determine or check the amount of odorant in the gas mixture. Furthermore, the amount of odorant in the gas mixture can be determined by adding it using an odorizing nozzle 31, which is accommodated in a receiving device of the bypass line 20. increased and the influence on the gas composition can be measured. This is particularly advantageous when the gas composition is or is to be changed in order to determine the optimum amount of odorant required to meet safety requirements.

For metering odorant into the gas mixture branched off into the bypass line 20, the odorization test system 10 has the odorization system 30. The odorization system 30 comprises an odorant storage container 32 in which the odorant is stored, an odorant metering pump 33 and an electrical preheating unit 33 for preheating the odorant before injecting it into the gas mixture by means of the odorizing nozzle 31 connected thereto in order to increase the evaporation performance of the odorant.

In addition to varying the odorant in the flowing gas mixture, it is also possible to test different types or kinds of odorizing nozzles 31 using the odorizing test system 10. For this purpose, the receiving device is designed in such a way that different odorizing nozzles 31 can be detachably received therein. In this way, the wear behavior of the odorizing nozzles 31 can be examined or tested for different gas compositions and gas qualities and the optimal odorizing nozzle can be found for the specific conditions on the gas line 60 of this particular gas distribution network.

In addition, an optical or visual check of the wear behavior of the odorizing nozzle 31 and the evaporation behavior of the odorizing agent in the gas mixture in the bypass line 20 is provided by a sight glass 41 in a molded part 40, which is arranged on the bypass line 20. The sight glass 41 enables a view through the molded part 40 onto the odorizing nozzle 31 in the bypass line 20.

Another control variable that can be changed by means of the odorization test system 10 in order to test the odorization or to improve the odorization in the gas line 60 based on tests by means of the odorization test system 10 is the admixture of gases, in particular hydrogen, to the branched gas mixture in the bypass line 20. For this purpose, the bypass line 20 has a mixer element 27. Via the mixer element 27, another gas, in particular hydrogen, can be added through gas tanks or gas storage devices (not shown). This can be particularly advantageous if the gas composition in the gas line 60 fluctuates or is to be changed in the future. The odorization test system 10 or tests on it can then be used to ensure that the gas mixture is odorized optimally.

In addition to the components already mentioned on the bypass line 20, a measuring device with two gas chromatographs 25, 26 and a gas meter 29 is provided. The gas chromatographs 25, 26 are each arranged on sleeves 23, 24 of the bypass line 20. The gas chromatograph 25 is arranged at the inlet of the bypass line 20 or in front of the odorizing nozzle 31 and in front of the gas meter 29. The gas chromatograph 26 is arranged at the outlet of the bypass line 20 or behind the odorizing nozzle 31 and behind the gas meter 29. Finally, the bypass line 20 has a manual valve 28 for closing the bypass line 20.

The odorization test system 10 also has a control cabinet 17 in which a control unit 50 for controlling odorization test processes is arranged. The control cabinet 17 also has a remote data transmission unit 51 for transmitting the data obtained from the test processes and a GPS transmitter 52 for locating the odorization test system 10. Alternatively, the control unit 50, the remote data transmission unit 51 and the GPS transmitter 52 can be located outside the control cabinet 17.

List of reference symbols

10

Odorization test facility

11

Trailer

12

trailer hitch

13

Roller shutter

14, 15, 16

Succeed

17

switch cabinet

20

Bypass line

21, 22

Connection points

23, 24

Sleeves

25,26

Gas chromatographs

27

Mixer element

28

Hand valve

29

Gas meter

30

Odorization system

31

Odorizing nozzle

32

Odorant storage container

33

Odorant dosing pump

34

electric preheater

40

molded part

41

Sight glass

50

Control unit

51

Remote data transmission unit

52

GPS transmitter

60

Gas pipeline

61, 62

cables

Claims (15)

1. Odorization test system (10) for the test odorization of a gas mixture flowing within a gas line (60), the odorization test system (10) having a bypass line (20) which is equipped with two connection points (21, 22) for connection to the gas line (60), a receiving device for receiving an odorization nozzle (31) and a measuring device for measuring the odorant content in the gas mixture, and the odorization test system (10) being of mobile design.
2. Odorization test system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the odorization test system (10) comprises a trailer (11) for a motor vehicle, a transport container or a motor vehicle.
3. Odorization test system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an exchangeable odorizing nozzle (31) is accommodated in the receiving device.
4. Odorization test system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a shaped part (40) with a sight glass (41) is connected to the bypass line (20).
5. Odorization test system (10) according to claim 4, wherein the sight glass (41) is arranged relative to the receiving device in such a way that the odorizing nozzle (31) can be visually inspected by means of the sight glass (41).
6. Odorization test system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring device comprises at least one gas chromotograph (25, 26).
7. Odorization test system (10) according to claim 6, wherein the measuring device comprises a gas chromotograph (25) upstream of the measuring device and a gas chromotograph (26) downstream of the measuring device.
8. Odorization test system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bypass line (20) comprises a mixer element (27) for admixing a gas into the gas mixture flowing in the bypass line (20).
9. Odorization test system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the odorization test system (10) comprises an odorization system (30) with an odorant metering pump (32) and an odorant storage container (32).
10. Odorization test system (10) according to claim 9, wherein the odorization system (30) comprises an electrical preheating unit (33) for the odorant.
11. Odorization test system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the odorization test system (10) comprises a control unit (50) for controlling an odorization test process.
12. Odorization test system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the odorization test system (10) comprises a remote data transmission unit (51).
13. Odorization test system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the odorization test system (10) comprises a GPS transmitter (52).
14. Odorization test system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the odorization test system (10) has its own power supply source.
15. Odorization test system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bypass line (20) is connected to the gas line (60) in such a way that the gas mixture flowing in the gas line (60) can flow through the gas line (60) and past the bypass line (20) on the one hand and can flow through the bypass line (20) and back into the gas line (60) on the other hand.

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