JP2011094796A - Steam trap - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steam trap used for separating condensation from a gas flow mixture and collecting the same. <P>SOLUTION: The steam trap 1 includes a condensation collector 3 and a condensation outlet 8. The condensation collector 3 is connected to an element leading the gas flow mixture through an opening. A fluid stopper 9 actively operable for leading the condensation out from the steam trap 1 is used. The fluid stopper can be moved to an opening position 11 from a stop position 10 by an armature 15 which has not a mechanical relation with a condensation level C in the condensation collector 3. Automation and power operation can be performed by the use of a fluid sensor 25 and a pulse generator 19 including a means 20 for associated position detection. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steam trap for separating and collecting condensate from a gas stream mixture.

  Under normal operating conditions, the gas contains water as steam. As a result of the pressure increase or as a result of the cooling of the gas, the water vapor condenses and a fluid condensate appears. In conduits for guiding gas, for example exhaust gas conduits from combustion furnaces and combustion chambers, this accumulation in the region where the condensate is located in a low position leads to a narrower pipe cross-sectional area, which Impairs efficiency. Furthermore, the condensate droplets are carried by the gas stream, and as a result subsequent components are damaged by the adverse effects of the droplets. In addition, the condensing combustion gas forms a favored soot, which may be mixed with particles containing sulfur or carbon (kohlenstoffhaltig). As a result of the preferred electrolyte (Elektrolythen), this causes corrosion, especially in metal conduits.

  In this case, the region formed by the condensate near the gas outflow location is particularly relevant. This is related to the temperature drop that occurs, in which case the conduit that leads to the part of the exhaust gas brought to a high temperature shows little possibility of condensing, leaving This is because the relatively cooled member first falls below the dew point. Only then will the water dissolved in the gas appear as condensate and collect, for example, in the bent part of the tube or in the muffler. Particularly in the warming-up or cooling phase of the internal combustion engine, the dew point between the rectifier and the pipe opening of the conduit guiding the exhaust gas changes, and condensate is generated.

  Methods are known for entraining condensate generated in a gas guiding conduit. Attempts have been made to allow condensate to be discharged through the opening, while at the same time preventing the gas from leaking through the opening without being controlled.

  Patent document 1 is disclosing the condensate removal apparatus which performs automatic condensate removal for internal combustion engines. The condensate that is generated here accumulates in a housing, which is provided with a discharge pipe in the lowest position. The opening of the discharge tube is here just above the bottom of the housing and is closed by a hollow plastic ball guided on the inner wall of the housing. When the condensate level rises, it rises, opens the opening of the discharge pipe, and the condensate can flow out through this opening. When the condensate water level drops, the plastic ball operating in parallel with this closes the discharge pipe, so that the remaining condensate remains between the gas flow mixture and the opening as a blocking layer.

  Patent document 2 discloses a gas condensate deriving device for gas wading. In that case, the float guided in the condensate outlet is provided in the center of the notch for the rising pipe (Steigrohr). Condensate that rises between the rising pipe outer wall and the notch portion of the float together with the rising condensate is entrained from a higher pipe opening of the rising pipe. In this device, when the condensate water level rises, the float under buoyancy sometimes succumbs to a reaction force in the form of gas pressure, so that the functioning mechanism of the float as an element that opens and closes the pure water is There is a practical problem that is not guaranteed in all operating states.

  U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,057,089 and 3) also disclose solutions using floats, in which they are structurally limited and complex, and from the side of the built-in mechanism, as filigran and high maintenance It is considered to be associated with cost.

  Patent document 5 discloses the exhaust apparatus of a motor vehicle. This automotive exhaust system has at least one gas conduit component provided with a steam trap. Here, the airtight action of the float on the side condensate outlet is achieved by a revolving seal between the float outer periphery and the housing inner wall. In practice, however, the float body's lift to the condensate discharge cannot be guaranteed under the full operating pressure of the gas guiding conduit.

  U.S. Patent Nos. 5,637,086 and 5,956 describe a steam trap that separates and collects condensate from a gas stream mixture. This steam trap has for this purpose a condensate collector and a fluid stopper and a condensate outlet. In order to guide the condensate, the fluid stopper can be moved from the stop position to the open position by an armature that is not mechanically dependent on the condensate level in the condensate collector.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,049 shows a condensate collector and a steam trap having a fluid stopper and a gas stopper. The fluid stopper is movable from the stop position to the opening position. At this time, the fluid stopper is firmly connected to the gas stopper.

  Patent Document 9 discloses a steam trap having a discharge valve that can be driven by a sensor and can be electromagnetically driven. The steam trap housing is here protected from freezing by overheating elements.

  The structure of the steam trap described above is not always satisfactory because the pressure, temperature or contamination conditions (eg tar, soot, lacquer) inside the exhaust system are not always guaranteed. . Sometimes it is also considered that the required mounting size, eg when it can be used in an automobile exhaust system, is not “suitable for the vehicle”.

German Patent Application Publication No. 35159593 German utility model registration No.7232692 specification U.S. Patent No. 2,115,228 U.S. Pat.No. 3,126,877 German Patent No. 102006020292 Specification German Patent Application Publication No. 19645815 JP 2001-173890A UK Patent Application Publication No. 1409023 U.S. Pat.No. 4,336,821

  The object of the present invention is a further improvement of a steam trap for separating and collecting condensate from a gas stream mixture that originated from the prior art and was collected under all operating pressures in the steam trap. It is to carry the condensate automatically and not to exchange gas with the surroundings.

  This problem is solved by the invention of the steam trap according to the features of claim 1.

  The present invention completes a steam trap for separating and collecting condensate from a gas stream mixture having a condensate collector and a condensate outlet. The condensate collector connected to the element that directs the gas stream mixture through one opening has a fluid stopper, which stops the condensate from the steam trap in order to guide it from the steam trap. To the opening position. The fluid stopper can be moved from the stop position to the open position by an armature that is mechanically unrelated to the condensate level in the condensate collector. In accordance with the present invention, a sluice chamber is provided, which can be closed by a fluid stopper and a gas stopper. In that case, the fluid stopper is connected with the gas stopper by a spring element. As a result, the operating position (Schaltstellung), i.e. the stop position and the opening position, is transmitted indirectly between the fluid stopper and the gas stopper. The condensate obtained in this case is completely discharged or reused, for example, in the combustion air from an internal combustion engine.

  Advantageous refinements are the subject of dependent claims 2 to 11.

  Within the scope of the present invention, it is particularly advantageous that the armature is formed from an actuator. The actuator is moved, for example electromechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically. As a result, the fluid stopper is moved by active power operation.

  In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one fluid sensor is arranged in the condensate collector, which fluid sensor is used for the detection of the level of the condensate level in the condensate collector. And thereby allow an automated condensate separation process.

  In order to prevent unintended gas flow mixture outflow through the condensate outlet, in another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the condensate collector is connected to the sluice chamber via the condensate inlet. In this case, it is intended that the condensate inlet can be closed using a gas stopper.

  In the sense of the present invention, it is particularly advantageous if the gas stopper seals against the sealing seat in the sluice chamber towards the condensate collector. In this way, a possible negative pressure (Unterdruck) in the element leading the gas flow mixture and / or a possible overpressure in the sluice chamber does not lead to an undesired gas stopper opening, This is because they support the sealing seat which structurally limits the stroke of the gas stopper.

  Another advantageous embodiment variation contemplates that the gas stopper seals a seal seat in the condensate collector to close the condensate inlet toward the sluice chamber. This allows the sluice chamber, and all the steam traps together, to maintain a small size because the gas stopper in the condensate collector does not reduce the capacity of the sluice chamber.

  In accordance with the invention, the sluice chamber is connected to the condensate inlet, wherein a fluid stopper separates the sluice chamber from the condensate outlet. With this arrangement, condensate discharge is actively performed through the condensate outlet from the sluice chamber through the opening and closing of a fluid stopper powered by the armature.

  This ensures that the collected condensate does not pass through the fluid stopper in an uncontrolled manner in the sluice chamber and emerges from the steam trap via the condensate outlet, the fluid stopper having a seal around its outer periphery, This seal seals against the inner wall formed by a portion of the steam trap housing. The steam trap basically consists of one or more housing parts.

  Means are provided for detecting the armature operating position in or near the steam trap. This means for position detection can be, for example, optical or mechanical means. It is considered to be particularly advantageous if the position detection is performed without contact, in particular by magnetism. The means for position detection can be formed as an encapsulated unit for protection from obstacles, eg sediment.

  The steam trap has at least one pulse generator (Impulsgeber), which is used for the operation of the means for position detection. The pulse generator is here connected to one operating element, in which case the fluid stopper is connected to the armature via the operating element. This makes it possible to query the operating position transmitted to the fluid stopper via the operating element, which is used for monitoring and possibly outputting trouble reports.

  Since the steam trap is usually in contact with the surrounding ambient temperature, it is considered particularly advantageous if the steam trap housing is at least partially temperature adjustable. In this way, freezing of the collected condensate at a suitable ambient temperature, which can, for example, affect or completely interfere with the functional manner of the steam trap, can be avoided. Preferably, the heat of the exhaust gas can be used for temperature adjustment.

  In order to release the gas stream mixture from the condensate, one or more flow rectifiers and / or condensers can be provided in or beside the elements guiding the gas stream mixture. . At this time, the condenser can take all form variations. This includes, for example, form tubes, corrugated tubes (Wellrohr), helical tubes (Wellenrohr) or smooth surface tubes (Glattrohr), and housing parts, as well as tube bundle heat exchangers (Rohrbuendel-Waermetauscher) or plate heat As an exchanger (Plantten- Waermetauscher).

  The steam traps shown are suitable for ensuring that the challenges are met even in harsh environments by mechanical separation of the condensate level in the condensate collector (Entkopplung) For example, in use in automotive exhaust systems.

  An automatic working scheme is achieved by an actively powered functional scheme combining a fluid sensor and a means for position detection.

  Thanks to its compact dimensions, this can be integrated into existing equipment.

  For this reason, in particular, for the manufacturers around the (exhaust) gas device, the (exhaust) gas circulation device and the automobile engine, there is an increase in the degree of structural and shape freedom.

  In particular, in addition to improving the (exhaust) gas quality for subsequent (exhaust) gas treatment, this reduces the emission of harmful substances.

  It is also possible to guide the fluid obtained as condensate back to the combustion air, which results in cooling of the combustion, especially in internal combustion engines, which leads to a reduction in nitrogen oxides. And a contribution to avoiding the fact that fuel is not controlled and ignites (knocking) during full load operation.

  In particular, the reduction or complete avoidance of damage in the gas guiding element is either incapacitated or impaired, and comfort in the form of noise generation (eg Lochfrass). Prevent it from being lost. This also reduces repair costs or expenses, which leads to higher value overall.

The figure which represented the steam trap which concerns on the part of the element which guides the gas flow mixture as a side view with the expression method of a cut figure Figure of the steam trap shown in Figure 1 as a variation of the internal component layout

  The invention will be described in detail below on the basis of an embodiment represented schematically in the drawing.

  The steam traps of FIGS. 1 and 2 have basically the same structure. In FIG. 2, a modified arrangement of internal elements is shown.

  The steam trap 1 is basically rotationally symmetric and has a vertically long housing 2 which is formed at one end with respect to a funnel-shaped condensate collector 3. The spherical sluice chamber 4 disposed in the center of the housing 2 is connected to the condensate collector 3 via the condensate inlet 5, and at this time, the condensate inlet 5 is disposed in the sluice chamber 4. It is closed by a gas stopper 6. At this time, the gas stopper 6 is sealed in the sluice chamber 4 with respect to the seal seat 7.

  Following the sluice chamber 4, the part of the housing 3 facing the condensate collector 3 has a condensate outlet 8 to the side. The sluice chamber 4 is blocked by a cylindrical fluid stopper 9 on the opposite side of the condensate outlet 8.

  Like a piston in the liner, the fluid stopper 9 is arranged so that it can move linearly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing 2. With regard to the spatial connection between the sluice chamber 4 and the condensate outlet 8, the fluid stopper 9 can therefore be moved to the stop position 10 or the open position 11. At this time, the outer periphery 12 of the fluid stopper 9 seals against the inner wall 13 of the housing 2, so that the stop position 10 extends over the entire operating range of the fluid stopper 9, and in this range, the inner wall 13 of the housing 2. Extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 2. The fluid stopper 9 passes through the sluice chamber 4 and is connected to the gas stopper 6 via a spring element 14.

  An armature 15 as an actuator 16 is attached to the end of the housing 2 on the side facing the condensate collector 3. This is connected to the fluid stopper 9 via a rod-like operating element 17 protruding from the actuator 16 into the housing 2. The operating element 17 is arranged between the actuator 16 and the fluid stopper 9 in an annular guide 18 arranged in the housing 2 with the longitudinal axis of the housing 2 as the center. Furthermore, the operation element 17 is provided with a pulse generator 19 between the actuator 16 and the guide 18. At this time, the housing 2 has a non-contact position detection means 20 parallel to the axis of the operation element 17. Is arranged.

  The steam trap 1 is connected by its housing 2 via a releasable connection element 21 to an exhaust pipe device 22 not shown in detail here, in particular an open tube section 22 of an automobile, so that the gas flow The air-fuel mixture A is introduced. The tube portion 22 is here formed as a condenser 23 and has an inward flow rectifier 24. The condensate K condensed from the gas flow mixture A has a condensate water level C confined in the condensate collector 3, in which case the gas flow mixture A passes through the flow rectifier 24. Then, it further flows as a gas stream B from which condensate has been removed. In the condensate collector 3, the fluid sensor 25 is disposed so as to be in contact with the condensate water level C.

  In FIG. 2, as a variation, the gas stopper 6 shown in FIG. 1 is not disposed in the sluice chamber 4 but is disposed in the condensate collector 3. Here, the gas stopper 6 a is sealed against the seal seat 7 a in the condensate collector 3. Similarly, the gas stopper 6a is indirectly connected to the fluid stopper 9a via the spring element 14a. The fluid stopper 9a moves from the stop position 10a to the opening position 11a via the operation element 17. It is possible to make it.

  In operation, a gas stream mixture A flowing from an exhaust gas device not shown in detail here passes through the open tube section 22 and contacts the flow rectifier 24 present in the condenser 23. To. The water dissolved in the gas stream mixture A as steam is then represented as condensate K in the flow rectifier 24 in the condenser 23, at which time the gas stream largely removed from the condensate K The mixture A further flows as a gas stream B from which condensate has been removed.

  The condensate K itself flows to the steam trap 1 connected thereto through the pipe portion 22 opened according to the gravity, and accumulates in the condensate collector 3. Here, the condensate inlet 5 is closed from the side of the sluice chamber 4 by the gas stopper 6. The condensate water level C of the blocked condensate K rises in the condensate collector 3 until it can be detected by the fluid sensor 25. The signal caused by this triggers an armature 15 in the form of an active actuator 16 to pull on the operating element 17 and subsequently the fluid stopper 9 connected thereto is likewise moved towards the actuator 16.

  Due to the movement of the fluid stopper 9 away from the gas stopper 6, the spring element 14 arranged between the fluid stopper 9 and the gas stopper 6 is first relieved, and in the course of the following, the gas stopper 6 is moved into the sluice chamber. Is pulled from its sealing seat 7 in 4 and thereby frees the condensate inlet 5. Condensate K flowing through the condensate inlet 5 through the condensate collector 3 and flowing into the sluice chamber 4 accumulates in the sluice chamber 4 because the fluid stopper 9 in the range of the stop position 10 This is because the water outlet 8 is held closed. Preferably, here too much condensate K is placed in the sluice chamber 4 so that the gas therein is pushed back into the open tube section 22.

  As soon as the condensate level C, which is lowered by the incoming condensate K, falls below the level detected by the fluid sensor 25, a further signal is generated, which causes the actuator 16 to connect the operating element 17 to the sluice chamber 14 and so on. It is a chance to push in the opposite direction. As a result, the gas stopper 6 is first moved to its sealing seat 7 in the sluice chamber 4 via an indirect connection with the operating element 17 and the condensate inlet 5 is closed again.

  The fluid stopper 9 that moves together is still in its stop position 10 at this time.

  Furthermore, the sealing seat 7 means the structural stroke limit of the gas stopper 6, whereby further linear movement of the operating element 17 leads to the striking of the spring element 14. Since the operating element 17 does not experience a stroke limit thereby, the fluid stopper 9 is moved into the sluice chamber 4 with a larger cross section and the sealing action between the outer periphery 12 of the fluid stopper 9 and the inner wall 13 of the housing 2 is discarded. Until it is moved, and a slit opening around it appears. As a result, the condensate K remaining in the sluice chamber 4 passes through the outer periphery 12 of the fluid stopper 9 and flows out from the sluice chamber 4 through the condensate outlet 8. At that time, only the amount of condensate K transferred into the sluice chamber 4 by the operation of the fluid stopper 9 is discharged without air or gas entering from the outside via the condensate outlet.

  Subsequently, the actuator 16 pulls back the fluid stopper 9 via the operating element 17 to the area of the stop position 10 which seals the condensate outlet 8, in which the gas stopper 6 is still sealed by its spring element 14 with its sealing seat. 7 and remains in the condensate inlet 5 closed.

  The operation of the operating element 17 is grasped by using a pulse generator 19 that moves together with a position detecting device 20 that accompanies this, and thereby information on the opening state of the condensate outlet 8 is generated, and this information is used for monitoring. And can be used to output a trouble report in the event of an error. Along with the fluid sensor 25, an automated monitoring functional sequence for the power operated steam trap 1 operates.

  In one variation of the steam trap 1, the condensate K accumulates in a condensate collector 3 that is closed relative to the sluice chamber 4 by a gas stopper 6a. A signal emitted by the fluid sensor 25 via the rising condensate level C indicates the actuator 16 and the operating element 17 slides towards the condensate collector 3. The fluid stopper 9a connected thereto moves in the same way toward the sluice chamber 4 so that the gas stopper 6a connected via the spring element 14a is moved into its sealing seat in the condensate collector 3. Lifted from 7a.

  The condensate inlet 5 opened thereby causes the condensate K accumulated in the condensate collector 3 to flow into the sluice chamber 4. A signal emitted by the fluid sensor 25 via the condensate level C sinking directs the actuator 16 and pulls the operating element 17. Due to the indirect connection of the gas stopper 6a with the operating element 17, the gas stopper 6a is again pulled into its seal seat 7a in the condensate collector 3 and again closes the condensate inlet 5. In a further linear movement, the sealing seat 7a acts on the structural stroke limit of the gas stopper 6a, in which the spring element 14a, which is formed as a tension element, is opened from the region of the stop position 10a of the fluid stopper 9a. Allows further action to 11a.

  Condensate K flowing out between the outer periphery 12 a of the fluid stopper 9 a and the inner wall 13 of the housing 2 leaves the steam trap 1 via the condensate outlet 8. Subsequently, the actuator 16 presses the fluid stopper 9a back to the region of the stop position 10a where the condensate outlet 8 is sealed via the operating element 17 again.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steam trap 2 1 housing 3 Condensate collector 4 Sluice chamber 5 Condensate inlet 6 Gas stopper 6a Gas stopper 7 Seal seat in 4 7a Seal seat in 3 8 Condensate outlet 9 Fluid stopper 9a Fluid stopper 10 9 position (stop position)
10a 9 position (stop position)
119 position (opening position)
11a 9 position (opening position)
12 9 Outer perimeter 12a 9a Outer perimeter 13 2 Inner wall 14 Spring element 14a Spring element 15 Armature 16 Actuator 17 Operating element 18 Guide 19 Means 21 for detecting the position of the pulse generator 20 15 Connecting element 22 Tube part 23 Condenser 24 Flow rectifier 25 Fluid sensor

K Condensate A Gas stream mixture B Gas stream with condensate removed C Condensate water level

Claims (11)

Steam trap (1) having a condensate collector (3) and a fluid stopper (9, 9a) and a condensate outlet (8) for separating and collecting the condensate (K) from the gas stream mixture (A) Wherein a fluid stopper (9, 9a) is provided by an armature (15) mechanically unrelated to the condensate level (C) in the condensate collector (3) in order to guide the condensate (K). In the steam trap (1) that can be moved from the stop position (10, 10a) to the opening position (11, 11a),
A sluice chamber (4) is provided, which can be closed by a fluid stopper (9, 9a) and a gas stopper (6, 6a), the fluid stopper (9, 9a) being a spring element ( The steam trap is connected to a gas stopper (6, 6a) by 14, 14a).   Steam trap according to claim 1, characterized in that the armature (15) has one actuator (16).   Steam trap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one fluid sensor (25) is provided in the condensate collector (3) for detection of the condensate level (C).   2. Condensate collector (3) is connected to the sluice chamber (4) by a condensate inlet (5) that can be closed using a gas stopper (6, 6a). 4. The steam trap according to any one of 3.   The steam trap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gas stopper (6, 6a) seals against the sealing seat (7) in the sluice chamber (4).   The steam trap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gas stopper (6, 6a) seals to a sealing seat (7a) in the condensate collector (3).   The steam trap according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sluice chamber (4) and the condensate outlet (8) are separated from each other by a fluid stopper (9, 9a).   The fluid stopper (9, 9a) has a gap between the outer periphery (12, 12a) and the inner wall (13) formed by the housing (2) of the steam trap (1). The steam trap according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   9. A steam trap according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that means (20) are provided for detecting the position of the operating position of the armature (15).   At least one pulse generator (19) is connected to the operating element (17), and the fluid stopper (9, 9a) is connected to the armature (15) via the operating element (17). The steam trap according to any one of claims 1 to 9.   11. A steam trap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) is at least partially temperature adjustable.