FR2872562A1 - Acetylene supplying method for user site, involves supplying acetylene to user site from acetylene cylinder and buffer reserve at corresponding flow rates, when site consumes acetylene at peak rate - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves supplying acetylene to a user site from an acetylene cylinder (1) at a flow rate and from a buffer reserve (2) at another flow rate, when the site consumes acetylene at a peak rate so that sum of flow rates is equal to the peak rate. The peak rate is greater than an average rate, and the flow rate from the cylinder is lesser than or equal to the average rate. An independent claim is also included for an installation for supplying acetylene to user site consuming acetylene.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and device for providing

  acetylene at an acetylene user site, particularly when this user site consumes

  acetylene at a peak rate higher than the average flow rate for which the source of acetylene is sized, that is to say when the acetylene demand becomes punctually and temporarily greater than the normal or usual demand of this user site.

  Currently, the most common acetylene sources are those of chemical or petrochemical origin and the acetylene generators which are themselves chemical reactors, in which calcium carbide is brought into contact with water for produce acetylene and lime; or electrochemical, in which hydrogen and / or carbon and / or a hydrocarbon are subjected to the actions of an electric arc or a plasma to produce acetylene.

  After production and before being used, acetylene is usually stored in storage containers, such as gas cylinders or bottles.

  Given the instability of this gas, the acetylene storage bottles are generally lined with a mineral porous mass developed within the bottle itself, for example reaction of lime on silica (Norris Process) for reasons of safety and to comply with the regulations in force, and most often filled with a solvent, such as acetone or dimethylformamide (DMF), in which the acetylene is kept in solution and under pressure, typically at a pressure of 15 to 20 bar (at 15 C).

  In any case, the acetylene storage and generators are capable of ensuring a medium flow (Qm) of mainly dependent gas: for the bottles: of their size and the ambient temperature, - for the chemical generators: of their dimensions, and - for electrochemical generators: their electrical power.

  In other words, these conventional sources of acetylene are always sized for a given average flow (Qm) and therefore can not, therefore, more than this, which is problematic in case of peak consumption by the or the user sites located downstream of these storages, which may need punctually a higher quantity of acetylene.

  Therefore, even if such consumption peaks are only very occasional and occasional, it is customary to size the sources of acetylene to take into account the possibility of such peak consumption, which has the disadvantage to have sources of acetylene oversized the rest of the time, that is to say in normal period (off peak).

  The problem that arises then is to allow a source of acetylene to provide a supply of acetylene including during peak flows (Qp) above the average flow (Qm) and without having to over-size this acetylene source, so as to be able to respond to any point of consumption peak of an acetylene user site.

  The solution of the invention is a process for supplying acetylene to at least one acetylene consuming acetylene user site, from a main source of acetylene for delivering acetylene to an acetylene source. given average flow (Qm), characterized in that, when the user site consumes acetylene at a peak flow rate (Qp) such that Qp> Qm, the user site is supplied with acetylene: - on the one hand, to from the main source of acetylene at a feed rate (Qa) such that: Qa Qm, and - secondly, from at least one secondary source of acetylene at a feed rate (Qb) ), such that Qa + Qb = Qp.

  Depending on the case, the method of the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics: when the user site consumes acetylene at a consumption rate (Qc) such that Qc <Qm, said at least one secondary source of acetylene with acetylene from the main source of acetylene.

  the secondary source of acetylene is arranged inside the main source of acetylene.

  the secondary source of acetylene contains a porous mass.

  the secondary source of acetylene and the main source of acetylene supply a pipe conveying acetylene to one or more acetylene user sites.

  The invention also relates to a gas container, in particular a gas bottle, comprising a main body containing a porous mass impregnated with solvent and containing acetylene, characterized in that an acetylene buffer reservoir is arranged inside said main body.

  Depending on the case, the container of the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics: the acetylene buffer reservoir is lined with a non-impregnated porous mass of solvent.

  the main body comprises a valve for controlling the passage of gas with an internal circuit making it possible to place the inside of the container body, the inside of the buffer tank and / or a withdrawal and / or filling circuit of the container in communication with one another; body.

  According to yet another aspect, the invention also relates to an acetylene supply installation to at least one acetylene consuming acetylene user site comprising: a main source of acetylene for delivering acetylene up to at a given average flow (Qm), at least one secondary source of acetylene, at least one gas channel for conveying the acetylene delivered by the main source of acetylene and at least one secondary source of acetylene; acetylene at at least one user site, and - gas passage control means cooperating with at least the secondary source of acetylene so as to feed the gas supply pipe with acetylene from the secondary source of acetylene. acetylene only when the acetylene flow rate consumed by said at least one user site is greater than the average flow rate (Qm).

  Preferably, the main source of acetylene and said at least one secondary source of acetylene are each equipped with a valve or a pressure reducer valve.

  In other words, the solution of the invention is to provide a main source of acetylene sized for a given average flow (Qm) and to constitute in the immediate vicinity of the main source, one (or more) secondary source or reserve- acetylene buffer available for consumption peaks, i.e. when the consumption rate corresponds to a peak flow rate (Qp) with Qp> Qm.

  Advantageously, the secondary source or buffer reservoir is reconstituted by the main source of acetylene during periods of low consumption during which: Qc <Qm.

  The secondary source or buffer reservoir forms a reserved volume of acetylene arranged either within the main source or near the main source.

  The secondary source may be filled with a porous mass to prevent the propagation of a decomposition, but not filled with solvent to accelerate the kinetics of the withdrawal of the gas it has accumulated and that of its filling.

  The buffer tank can be filled with porous mass or any other means to keep the gas under high pressure in good conditions of safety.

  However, subject to limiting the pressure to 1.5 bar, the buffer set may not have a porous mass.

  The present invention is detailed below with reference to the appended figures.

  1 schematically represents a first embodiment of an acetylene bottle 1 according to the invention, which is lined with a porous mass and impregnated with solvent with an integrated buffer reservoir 2 which, in this case, is also filled with a porous mass, but not impregnated with solvent.

  An internal circuit 3 makes it possible to put in communication, according to the position occupied by the valve 4, the inside of the bottle 1, the inside of the buffer reservoir 2 and the withdrawal and filling circuit 8.

  For this purpose, the valve 4 comprises a rotating axis controlled by a lever 5, and two cam-valve assemblies 6 and 7.

  When the valve 4 is in the position A 'of Figure 1, the two valves 6, 7 are open and allow the passage of acetylene for the withdrawal and for filling between the circuit 8, the bottle 1 and the buffer tank 2.

  When the withdrawal rate, that is to say the consumption rate becomes greater than the nominal average flow (Qm) of the bottle, that is to say in the case of a peak flow (Qp), the reserve -tampon 2 empties by completing the flow delivered by the bottle 1.

  The central zone of the bottle 1 is the one that undergoes the least heat exchange with the outside. It is therefore preferable for the installation of the buffer pool because the latter, filling and racking, has less need for these heat exchanges than the porous mass impregnated with the bottle 1.

  In position B, the valve 4 is closed, which implies that the bottle 1 and buffer 2 are isolated and do not feed the user site acetylene.

  In the C position, only the buffer reservoir 2 is isolated, which allows the solvent filling (re-acetonation) of the bottle 1, without polluting the buffer reservoir 2 which must remain solvent-free in order to maintain its dynamic capture and delivery of gas.

  As it is possible that the solvent of the bottle 1 migrates to the reserve 2 and negatively affects its ability to deliver peak flow Qp (and modifies the tare of the set), alternatively, illustrated by the position D, the circuit 3 makes it possible to select the passage between the interior of the buffer reservoir 2 alone and the circuit 8 for withdrawal and filling. This makes it possible to extract from the buffer reservoir 2 the product of the migrations of solvent by applying a depression for example.

  Alternatively, the buffer can be external to the bottle 1 as shown schematically in Figure 2 which shows a second embodiment of the invention.

  In this case, an upstream gas pipe 13 puts the bottle 11 equipped with a valve or a pressure reducer valve 12 into communication with the acetylene buffer reservoir 20 also provided with a tap or a valve. a pressure reducing valve 14 so as to deliver the acetylene at the desired flow rate, for example at the peak flow rate Qp, from the two sources 11, 20, to a downstream pipeline of gas supplying one or more acetylene user sites.

  For example, the valve 14 may be provided with a rotary wheel 31 controlling the rotation of a plug 32 which simultaneously communicates or isolates its input circuit 33, its output circuit 35 and its reserve circuit 34. Optionally, the input circuit 33 may be equipped with a flow limiter 36 whose function is to favor the withdrawal of the reserve with respect to the withdrawal of the bottle particularly in case of very large flow. This latter option prevents solvent extraction from the bottle.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (diagrammatic view from above), an acetylene bottle 11, a buffer reservoir 20 and an oxygen bottle 16 can be grouped in a wall housing or in a carriage 17, closed by a chain 18 or other similar closure means, without the buffer reservoir 20 increasing the envelope volume of the assembly, since the buffer reservoir 20 is simply housed in the space left free by the cylindrical shape of the bottles 11, 16 One or the other of the bottles 11, 16 can be easily changed, when empty, while the buffer reservoir 20 remains permanently at home on the housing or the carriage 17.

Claims (10)

claims   A method for supplying acetylene to at least one acetylene consuming acetylene user site from a main acetylene source for delivering acetylene up to a given average flow rate (Qm) characterized in that, when the user site consumes acetylene at a peak rate (Qp) such that Qp> Qm, the user site is supplied with acetylene: - on the one hand, from the main source of acetylene at a feed rate (Qa) such that: Qa Qm, and - secondly, from at least one secondary source of acetylene at a feed rate (Qb), such that: Qa + Qb = Qp.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the user site consumes acetylene at a consumption rate (Qc) such that Qc <Qm, said at least one secondary source of acetylene is supplied with water. acetylene from the main source of acetylene.   3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the secondary source of acetylene is arranged inside the main source of acetylene.   4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the secondary source of acetylene contains a porous mass.   5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the secondary source of acetylene and the main source of acetylene supply a pipe carrying acetylene to one or more acetylene user sites.   A gas container, in particular a gas cylinder, comprising a main body (1) containing a porous mass impregnated with solvent and containing acetylene, characterized in that a buffer reservoir (2) of acetylene is arranged inside said main body (1).   7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the acetylene pad (2) is lined with a non-impregnated porous mass of solvent.   8. Container according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the main body (1) comprises a valve (4) for controlling the passage of gas with an internal circuit (3) for communicating the interior of the container body (1), the interior of the buffer tank (2) and / or a circuit (8) for withdrawing and / or filling the body (1).   9. Acetylene supply plant to at least one acetylene consuming acetylene user site comprising: - a main source of acetylene (1; 11) for delivering acetylene up to a medium flow (Qm) ) - at least one secondary source of acetylene (2; 20), at least one gas channel (13, 15) for conveying the acetylene delivered from the main source of acetylene (1; 11) and at least one secondary source of acetylene (2; 20) at at least one user site, and - means for controlling the passage of gas (5 to 8; 14) cooperating with at least the secondary source of acetylene ( 2; 20) so as to feed the gas supply pipe (13, 15) with acetylene from the secondary source of acetylene (2; 20) only when the acetylene flow rate consumed by said at least one acetylene a user site is greater than the average rate (Qm).   10. Installation according to claim 9, characterized in that the main source of acetylene (1; 11) and said at least one secondary source of acetylene (2; 20) are each equipped with a tap or a tap expander (12, 14).