ES2321999A1 - Split-chamber pressure exchangers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to split-chamber pressure exchangers. Split-chamber pressure exchangers are characterized in that the pressure exchange chambers and the pistons thereof are split in two. Each fluid passes through the corresponding chamber thereof, such that said fluids cannot be mixed. The cross sections of the chambers can be varied in order to vary the transmitted pressure. The reverse line operation can be established and synchronized using a U-shaped tube with telescopic sides and a fixed base filled with fluid or diametrically opposed curved lines, and multiple arrangements can be used. Split-chamber pressure exchangers can be used as surface or well pumping systems and the pumping fluid used can differ from the fluid to be pumped. Different levels of any material can be exploited at any storage site using a chamber with elastic walls filled with fluid and attached to the bottom. Electric power can be generated by centrifuging the pre-pumped fluid.

Description

Chamber pressure exchangers unfolded multistage.

Sector of the technique to which the invention relates

The invention falls within the framework of the pressure exchangers, which constitute a method for transmit the dynamic pressure from one fluid to another.

State of the art Pressure exchangers

Pressure exchangers are an invention done more than twenty five years ago and basically consist in pressurizing a fluid (fluid 1 in figure 1) from the pressure from another that is depressurized after the process (fluid 2). There are several models, but basically all are governed by the scheme of figure 1. By means of a system of shut-off valves and of retention, represented with the drawers in gray, the 1 fluid in the interconnection chambers. Once full, it is allowed the passage through the other end to the fluid 2, which displaces it by pushing a disc or piston that is between them separating them. In this way, the fluid is pressurized 1. Then the inlet of the fluid 2 and a drain valve opens. Again, through the valve system, the passage of fluid 1 that displaces the fluid 2 (now without pressure), pouring it down the drain.

The system is mounted with two lines of parallel interconnection, and is electronically controlled in such so that at each moment the disk or piston of each tube is is in the opposite position with respect to the center (operation of the lines in reverse), to achieve a pressure at the outlet of fluid 1 as constant as possible, and also an advantage of the fluid pressure 2 the greatest possible.

In the graph of figure 1 tones have been given clearer to fluids 1 and 2 when they are without pressure and more dark when they are pressurized. This tone game is will keep throughout all the figures that accompany this Description.

Pressure exchangers of unfolded chambers

They are the subject of patent application no. P200601694 / 6, presented by this same author, and are characterized because the cameras in which the exchange of pressures unfold in two, one for each of the fluids, such as shown in figure 2. Thus, each of the fluids only circulates through its corresponding chamber, making Impossible to mix them.

The exchange of pressures occurs replacing the discs or pistons of the exchangers traditional by two rigidly attached discs or pistons, such as shown in figure 2. In this way, the pressurized fluid will also push and displace the other fluid through its corresponding camera.

Current applications of pressure exchangers

Pressure exchangers have been used traditionally in mining, to displace wastewater from process with clean water, and the system is used without discs or pistons, since it does not matter that both fluids are mixed.

They are currently being used in water desalination plants by reverse osmosis.

As for the pressure exchangers of unfolded cameras, they are currently in the phase of experimentation.

An exhaustive search has been carried out in the Espacenet database of patent documents relating to pressure exchangers, and it has been proven that, although At present there is an important development of them, none of them brings the innovations that are going to be present.

Explanation of the invention. Technical problems raised by the exchangers of split chamber pressure

The replacement of each of the discs or pistons of traditional pressure exchangers by two discs or pistons rigidly attached to each other provides many advantages, as stated in the application document for Patent No. P200601694 / 6, but nevertheless brings as an inconvenience the bending efforts to which they are subjected, which in many cases may be negligible or insignificant but in others cases may be relevant, primarily when cameras They are very long and are arranged horizontally.

In addition, the space that cameras need is twice as much as traditional pressure exchangers.

Technical problems posed by pumping systems traditional

It is well known that electric pump groups Traditional have an H-Q curve (height-flow) that characterizes them. That is, to different heights to overcome are capable of giving different flows, defined by the H-Q curve, and at a single point of the  Curve is in which they exhibit maximum performance. Refering to fluid pressure at the inlet, any variation thereof it implies an equal variation in the height that the group gives electric pump

A great advantage of the exchangers of split chamber pressure is that at different pressurized fluid inlet flows the fluid flows to pressurize vary proportionally, but the pressure it adopts It remains unchanged, without loss of performance. But nevertheless, they remain sensitive to fluid pressure at the inlet, and that any variation thereof results in a variation proportional to the pressure adopted by the fluid to be pressurized.

General description of the invention and solutions provided

The invention provides several provisions. aimed at solving the problems outlined above. These provisions are as follows:

Pressure exchangers of unfolded chambers telescopic

They are chamber pressure exchangers unfolded in which to effect pressure transmission the cameras are telescopic and push each other, instead of the double disc or piston system rigidly attached. In the figure 3 a schematic representation of them is attached.

Pressure exchangers of split-type chambers bellows

They are chamber pressure exchangers unfolded in which to effect pressure transmission the cameras are bellows type and push each other, instead of double disc system or rigidly bonded piston. In figure 4 A schematic representation of them is attached.

The pressure exchangers of unfolded chambers of membrane

They are chamber pressure exchangers unfolded in which the cameras in each line are arranged such that those corresponding to the fluid to be pressurized are of rigid walls, and those of the fluid that yields its pressure are of the type membrane, these being included within the walls rigid. A schematic representation is attached in figure 5 thereof.

Pressure exchangers of unfolded chambers mixed

Obviously you can combine any of Possible arrangements (piston type, telescopic, bellows type or membrane type) so that the chambers corresponding to one of the fluids adopt one and those corresponding to the other fluid Adopt a different one.

Two of the combinations have been represented possible in figures 6 (piston type chambers / chambers telescopic) and 7 (telescopic cameras / bellows type cameras).

It has been called piston-type chambers which they appear in patent application document No. P200601694 / 6, with double discs or pistons rigidly attached.

Pressure exchangers of unfolded chambers multistage

Chamber pressure exchangers unfolded multistage consist of the fluid chambers whose pressure is given unfold into several, which are used or not depending on the available fluid pressure, through a system of valves, thus transmitting the most pressure Homogeneous possible to the fluid to pressurize, as it appears in the figure 8.

They can also be arranged so that chambers that unfold are those of the fluid to be pressurized, thus pressurizing it at different pressures depending on the needs in every moment.

Through the help of an auxiliary tank, you can get the filling of all the cameras in continuous to allow auxiliary cameras to be opened halfway if the feed pressure, maximizing the energy of the pressurized fluid, as shown in figure 9.

In both figures, 8 and 9, have Deployed chamber pressure exchangers represented multi-stage with the system of double disks or united pistons rigidly with each other, but obviously you can also have telescopic cameras, bellows type, membrane type or mixed. In addition, they have been represented with the different cameras at concentric and overlapping cylinder mode, but obviously can be arranged with any possible geometry, as long as the pressurized fluid push through all the chambers in it sense.

In figure 10 a multi-stage split chamber pressure exchanger with circular arrangement, which allows operation to the assisted reverse, as explained in the application document for Patent No. P200601694 / 6. For those applications where well the pressure to which the fluid whose pressure is transferred must be returned once it has been depressurized it is variable, either the pressure of The fluid to be pressurized is variable, or both, with multistage split chamber pressure exchangers with circular layout, or with other provisions and the system of "U" tube also described in said document of patent application, you can make the control system adjust the stages that must also work according to of these pressures.

Finally, it is also possible to complement the system with an auxiliary pump and a speed variator, for manage to maintain the pressure of the fluid to fully pressurize constant, controlling everything from the electronic control system. If the pressurized fluid comes from pumping, the speed variator in said pumping.

Exchanger batteries

Any of the new types of Exchanged split chamber pressure exchangers admit of course in turn be arranged in series or in parallel. Likewise, when the pressure jumps are they are intended to be very high, mixed systems with pumps to increase the pressure of the pressurized fluid and / or that of the fluid to be pressurized at the inlet and / or outlet of the exchanger pressure, notwithstanding that they may also be available in series or in parallel.

Control electronics

As for the control electronics of the valves, a card with an on-site processor can be mounted, or signals can be sent to a central computer that governs them. In the case of multi-stage split chamber pressure exchangers, the control system will be more complex as it will have to regulate the valves according to the inlet and / or outlet pressures of the two intervening fluids.

Number of lines per exchanger

As for the number of lines needed by pressure exchanger, it will normally be at least two but depending on the flow rates and pressures with which work in each case you may want to increase it to three or more lines, although it may agree that some line does not have the same length, since it would be used to achieve the most constant pressure Exchanger output possible and maximum utilization possible pressure of the pressurized starting fluid.

On the other hand, on certain occasions you can agree that only one line is available, simplifying greatly control system electronics.

Camera geometry

Finally, regarding the geometry of the camera lines, in any of the exposed provisions longitudinally they can be straight, curved and even circular, and its circular, elliptical, triangular, square cross section, rectangular, polygonal or any imaginable.

Alignment

Finally, the pressure exchangers of unfolded cameras, both in their normal layout and in any of the new provisions set forth herein may line up in any way possible (horizontally, vertically or at an angle). Exchangers are presented in Figures 11 and 12 pressure of multi-stage split chambers with alignments in vertical, with pressurized fluid pushing up (figure 11) or down (figure 12).

Improvements in the design of the unions in the exchangers of split chamber pressure

To reduce the effect of efforts flectors in chamber pressure exchangers unfolded, another possibility is to strengthen the unions of the rod, rods, sheets or solid central parts with discs or pistons, as shown in figures 13 and 14.

Advantages of the invention over the state of the art previous

The advantages that are provided over pressure exchangers of unfolded chambers object of the Patent application No. P200601694 / 6 are the following:

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the pressure exchangers for telescopic split chambers, bellows type, membrane type or mixed avoid the problem of bending forces that appear on the disks or pistons attached rigidly with each other

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the pressure exchangers for telescopic split chambers, bellows type, membrane type or mixed reduce the space they occupy the cameras in half

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other advantage of split chamber pressure exchangers telescopic, bellows type, membrane type or mixed type is that can design so that the reverse operation does not need be assisted, since you can play with the elasticity of membranes or design the telescopic or bellows cameras of such so that they always return automatically to their starting position, strong enough to drag the fluid once depressurized, inside

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the multi-stage split chamber pressure exchangers they manage to transmit the most homogeneous pressure possible to the fluid to pressurize, despite variations in fluid pressure pressurized at the entrance, or they get pressurized to different pressures depending on the needs in each moment

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for those applications where the pressure at which you have to return the fluid whose pressure is given once it has been depressurized be variable, either the starting pressure of the fluid at pressurize is variable, or both, with heat exchangers pressure of multi-stage split chambers with circular arrangement, or with other provisions and the "U" tube system, it can make the control system adjust the stages that should come into operation also based on these pressures

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in the piston-type split chamber pressure exchangers, the reinforcement of the joints of the rod, rods, plates or pieces central massifs with the discs or pistons manages to reduce the problem of bending efforts

Description of the drawings

18 figures are provided to help explain the new provisions presented here of the exchangers of pressure of unfolded chambers. All of them are referred to from different points of this document, explaining in each case the  content of them. In any case, the relationship and content of each of them:

Figure 1: Diagram of the heat exchangers traditional pressure

Figure 2: Chamber pressure exchangers unfolded

Figure 3: Chamber pressure exchangers telescopic splitters

Figure 4: Chamber pressure exchangers split bellows type

Figure 5: Chamber pressure exchangers membrane type split

Figure 6: Chamber pressure exchangers mixed split (piston type cameras / telescopic cameras)

Figure 7: Chamber pressure exchangers mixed split (telescopic cameras / bellows type cameras)

Figure 8: Chamber pressure exchangers split multi-stage

Figure 9: Chamber pressure exchangers multi-stage split with auxiliary tank

Figure 10: Pressure exchangers multi-stage split cameras with circular layout

Figure 11: Pressure exchangers multi-stage split cameras in vertical arrangement, with the pressurized fluid pushing up

Figure 12: Pressure exchangers multi-stage split cameras in vertical arrangement, with the pressurized fluid pushing down

Figure 13: Reinforcements in the joints of the rod, rods, sheets or solid central parts with discs or pistons (I)

Figure 14: Reinforcements in the joints of the rod, rods, sheets or solid central parts with discs or pistons (II)

Figure 15: Step operation of the multi-stage split chamber pressure exchanger (I)

Figure 16: Step operation of the multi-stage split chamber pressure exchanger (II)

Figure 17: Step operation of the multi-stage split chamber pressure exchanger (III)

Figure 18: Step operation of the multi-stage split chamber pressure exchanger (IV)

Detailed statement of at least one embodiment of the invention

The generic mode of realization of pressure exchangers of unfolded chambers has already been set forth in patent application document No. P200601694 / 6. The fact that the cameras are telescopic, bellows type, type membrane or mixed does not alter in anything other than in the form of transmit the pressure from one fluid to the other as it has been explained.

That is why the way of exposing realization of chamber pressure exchangers unfolded multistage.

In figures 15 to 18 it is represented so schematic the operation process of an exchanger multi-stage split chamber pressure, with seven cameras concentric located on the pressurized fluid side of feeding.

Figure 15 shows the first of the lines beginning to fill and the second beginning to empty. He pressure gauge at the inlet of the pressurized fluid registers a pressure raised from it, so that the valve that feeds the concentric chambers and therefore only pressurized fluid enters to the central cylinder. The valve system included in the drawer gray of the figure allows the passage of pressurized fluid to the first line and prevents its passage to the second line. Likewise said system allows the evacuation of said fluid, already depressurized, from the second line. On the other hand, the valve system that appears in the figure on the second line, when the valve that feeds the concentric chambers, allows the evacuation of the fluid from the central cylinder but not from the rest of cylinders The fluid contained in the rest of the cylinders comes out so much for the conduction that takes it to the auxiliary deposit.

Thus, the system evolves by raising the fluid of the first line and lowering that of the second line. In addition, the auxiliary tank is feeding the cylinders concentric of the first line, since the valves that give access to each of them. The level in the auxiliary tank does not come down, because in turn it is feeding the depressurized fluid from the concentric cylinders of the second line. That is why it could even be suppressed and become a overflow.

At some point along the route, the lines they have evolved halfway as represented in the Figure 16. At that time, the pressure gauge detects a drop in the pressurized feed fluid pressure, and that is why the control system immediately calculates based on said fall how many cameras should go into operation, to keep it as constant as possible the pressure transmitted to the fluid at pressurize. In the case presented, the control system would activate four of the concentric cylinders, as shown in figure 17. Obviously, when the cylinders meet concentric filled with depressurized fluid from the auxiliary tank, these are automatically pressurized with the single opening and closing of the corresponding valves, not losing by Both the fluid energy while filling the concentric cylinders If they had been empty.

As of this moment, like the cylinders concentric of the second line are still unloaded to the tank auxiliary and this one only feeds the rest of the first line, the deposit begins to fill and therefore to overflow with the spillway, discharging the fluid to the corresponding drain, such as shown in figure 18, in which the lines reaching the end of its route.

Once at the end of the tour, you must start downloading the first line and loading the second line, following a process analogous to the one shown here.

The process is repeated indefinitely.

Industrial applications of the invention

Obviously the field of industrial applications that opens for this invention first includes all the range of industrial applications described in the document Patent application No. P200601694 / 6. But also, with these new provisions, the feasibility of using these systems against Conventional pumping systems will be even greater in many cases.

Claims (5)

1. The multistage split chamber pressure exchanger, characterized in that it uses the available energy in a continuous flow of a fluid (pressurized fluid) to transmit it to a different fluid in such a way that the chambers of the fluid whose pressure is transferred they are divided into several, which are used or not depending on the available pressure of the fluid, by means of a system of electronically controlled or computer controlled valves, thus managing to transmit a pressure as homogeneous as possible to the fluid to be pressurized. 2. The multistage split chamber pressure exchanger, according to claim 1, characterized in that in it the cameras that unfold are those of the fluid to be pressurized, thus being able to pressurize it at different pressures according to the needs at each moment. 3. The multistage split chamber pressure exchanger according to claim 1, characterized by having a single line, simplifying the system control electronics. 4. The multistage split chamber pressure exchanger, according to previous claims, characterized by having an auxiliary tank or an overflow in the pressure switches of multistage split chambers, to achieve the filling of all the chambers in continuous which allows to open Halfway through auxiliary chambers if the supply pressure varies, making the most of the pressurized fluid energy. 5. The multistage split chamber pressure exchanger, according to previous claims, characterized in that it is complemented by an auxiliary pump and a speed variator, in order to keep the pressure of the fluid to be pressurized completely constant, governing everything from the electronic control system. If the pressurized fluid comes from a pump, the variable speed drive can be placed in the pump.