JP3821791B2 - Liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container, and more particularly to a heating means for a liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a system in which liquefied petroleum gas, for example, propane is accommodated in a container, for example, a cylinder, and vaporized propane gas is supplied from the cylinder to a desired device or the like is known.
In a general gas storage / supply container, liquefied propane is naturally vaporized by ambient heat through the cylinder, but depending on the usage of the gas supplied from the cylinder, the gas that is naturally vaporized in the cylinder The amount of gas used may exceed the amount used, and sufficient heat of vaporization may not be obtained due to the decrease in ambient temperature. In some cases, the amount of gas supplied from the cylinder was insufficient.
[0003]
In order to eliminate such inconvenience, a liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container having a heating mechanism for improving or stabilizing the amount of gas that can be generated in a cylinder has been developed.
[0004]
Patent Document 1 discloses a liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container having a heating mechanism as described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the liquefied petroleum gas storage tank 1 generally has a heating mechanism indicated by reference numeral 2, and the heating mechanism 2 penetrates into the outer wall 3 of the storage tank 1 and enters the storage tank 1. It has a hollow tube 4 that extends and is welded to the outer wall 3. The hollow tube 4 is provided with a return pipe 5 branched outside the storage tank 1.
The heating mechanism 2 also has a supply pipe 6 that penetrates the hollow pipe 4 outside the storage tank 1.
The heating mechanism 2 further has a heater / pump unit 7 arranged outside the storage tank 1, which is connected to a supply pipe 6 and a return pipe 5, and heats water to pump it into the supply pipe 6. The water returned through the supply pipe 6, the hollow pipe 4, and the return pipe 5 is heated again and pumped. The heated water flowing through the hollow tube 4 serves to vaporize the liquid contained in the storage tank 1.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-320706
As a liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container equipped with a heating mechanism, a structure as shown in FIG. 2 is also known.
In this liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container, the conduit 11 penetrates the lower part of the storage tank 10 from the outside, extends upward while drawing a spiral, and then protrudes from the storage tank 10 to the outside. The liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container also has a heater / pump unit 12 provided outside the storage tank 10, which is connected to two parts of the conduit 11 extending from the storage tank to the outside to heat the water. Thus, the inside of the conduit 11 is circulated by pressure. The heated water flowing through the conduit 11 serves to vaporize the liquid contained in the reservoir 10.
[0006]
By the way, since a high pressure is applied to the liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container of this kind due to the stored material, the tube of the heating mechanism used for such a container must be designed to have a thickness that can withstand such pressure. Don't be. Therefore, when the thickness of the tube of the heating mechanism, for example, the hollow tube 4 in FIG. 1 or the conduit 11 in FIG. 2 reaches a certain dimension, it is practically difficult to form these as an integral product. become.
[0007]
In such a case, the hollow tube 4 of FIG. 1 is composed of a plurality of parts, and these parts are welded together at, for example, the joint 4A. Similarly, the conduit 11 of FIG. In general, these parts are welded together at, for example, the joint 11A.
Thus, during maintenance of the heating mechanism, the weld joint 4A of the hollow tube 4 and the weld joint 11A of the conduit 11 need to be mainly maintained and inspected.
[0008]
However, since both the hollow tube 4 in FIG. 1 and the conduit 11 in FIG. 2 are fixed to the storage tank by welding or the like, these pipes cannot be taken out of the storage tank and maintained. Therefore, in order to perform such maintenance, it is necessary to enter the container, but in order to do so, the contents in the container must be removed, and maintenance work is performed in a limited space in the container. There was a problem that had to be.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container having a heating mechanism that is easy to maintain.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container according to the present invention is a liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container for storing liquefied petroleum gas and supplying vaporized gas. A heating mechanism for vaporizing the liquid, the outer heating mechanism extending from the outside to the inside of the container, and a hollow tube extending into the hollow tube and projecting from an end of the hollow tube; 1. A heating tube having a second end, a cover for sealing the outer surface of the first and second ends of the heating tube and detachably closing the end of the hollow tube; A heat transfer medium housed in a heat transfer medium housing space formed by the hollow tube and the cover, and a first removably connected to the first and second ends of the heating tube, respectively. An external pipe having a second end, and a circulation path by the heating pipe and the external pipe The heated medium configured and accommodated in the circulation path, the heating means for heating the heated medium provided in the outer pipe, and the heated medium provided in the outer pipe And a pressure feeding means for circulating in the circulation path.
[0011]
According to the liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container having the above-described configuration, the medium to be heated accommodated in the circulation path constituted by the heating pipe and the external pipe is heated by the heating means 40, and this is pumped by the pressure feeding means. The heat transfer medium can be warmed by the heated medium to be heated, and the liquid in the container can be warmed and vaporized by the heated heat transfer medium. The vaporized gas is supplied to a device outside the container via a known device (not shown).
[0012]
For maintenance of the heating tube of the heating mechanism, the heating tube can be taken out from the hollow tube by separating the end of the heating tube and the end of the external tube and removing the cover from the end of the heating tube. Accordingly, maintenance of the heating tube can be easily performed.
[0013]
In the present invention, the hollow tube extends through the container and has two end portions, and the first and second end portions of the heating tube are respectively the hollow tube. Preferably, the cover is provided at each of the first and second ends of the heating tube.
Furthermore, it is preferable that at least a part of the heating tube is spirally formed.
Furthermore, it is preferable that fins are provided on at least a part of the heating tube.
[0014]
Further, it is preferable that the hollow tube is bent in order to prevent the joint portion between the container and the hollow tube from being damaged by expansion and contraction of the container due to temperature and pressure.
Furthermore, there is one end of the hollow tube penetrating the container, and the first and second ends of the heating tube protrude from the one end of the hollow tube, Preferably, the one cover that closes the one end of the empty tube seals the outer surface of both the first and second ends of the heated tube.
Furthermore, in order to prevent the joint between the container and the hollow tube from being damaged when the container expands or contracts due to a change in pressure or temperature, the hollow tube expands the container, It is preferably bent so that it can be bent when contracted.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a propane storage tank.
Referring to FIG. 3, a first embodiment of a propane storage tank according to the present invention is shown. In addition, about the element for supplying propane gas to an external apparatus which is not directly related to this invention, for example, a valve | bulb etc., the description and illustration are abbreviate | omitted for simplification.
[0016]
The propane storage tank generally indicated by reference numeral 20 has a heating mechanism 21, and the heating mechanism 21 has a hollow tube 22 extending from the outside to the inside of the storage tank 20. In this embodiment, the hollow tube 22 extends through the outer wall 23 of the storage tank 20 and has two end portions 22A and 22B, which are respectively provided with flanges 22F. The hollow tube 22 is fixed to the outer wall 23 of the storage tank 20 by welding.
The heating mechanism 21 also has a heating tube 24 that extends into the hollow tube 22, which in this embodiment is a first and second projecting from the ends 22 </ b> A, 22 </ b> B of the hollow tube 22. End portions 24A and 24B.
[0017]
In order to improve the heat transfer efficiency, the central portion of the heating tube 24 is formed in a spiral shape or a coil shape in this embodiment. This coiled portion of the heating tube 24 may consist of a plurality of parts joined by welding as in the prior art, or may be formed as an integral part.
[0018]
The heating mechanism 21 further attaches and detaches the end portions 22A and 22B of the hollow tube 22 that can move the outer surfaces while sealing the outer surfaces of the first and second ends 24A and 24B of the heating tube 24. Covers 25A and 25B for freely closing are provided. These covers 25 are attached to flanges 22F formed at the end portions 22A and 22B of the hollow tube 22 by bolts and nuts (not shown), respectively.
A heat transfer medium accommodation space S is constituted by the hollow tube 22 and the covers 25A and 25B. The heat transfer medium accommodation space S accommodates a fluid as a heat transfer medium, in this embodiment, water.
[0019]
The heating mechanism 21 further includes an outer tube 26 having first and second ends 26A and 26B that are detachably connected to the first and second ends 24A and 24B of the heating tube 24, respectively. The heating pipe 24 and the outer pipe 26 constitute a circulation path. In this circulation path, a fluid which is a medium to be heated, water in this embodiment, is accommodated.
[0020]
As means for detachably connecting the end portions 24A, 24B of the heating tube 24 and the end portions 26A, 26B of the outer tube 26, for example, a known union joint means 30 can be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the union joint means 30 is formed at a first sleeve-like nut 31 to be screwed into a male screw formed at an end 24 </ b> A of the heating tube 24 and an end 26 </ b> A of the outer tube 26. A second sleeve-like nut 32 screwed into the male screw, an annular seal member 33 interposed between an end surface of the end portion 24A of the heating tube 24 and an end surface of the end portion 26A of the outer tube 26, a cap nut 34, Have The cap nut 34 is screwed into a male screw formed on the second sleeve-like nut 32 until the flange 34A comes into contact with the flange 31A of the first sleeve-like nut 31 to thereby end the end 24A (, 24B) and the end portion 26A (26B) of the outer tube 26 can be detachably connected.
[0021]
The heating mechanism 21 is also provided with a heating means 40 for heating the medium to be heated provided in the outer pipe 26 and a pressure feed so that the medium to be heated provided in the outer pipe 26 is circulated in the circulation path. Sumitomo Pump 41. The heating means 40 and the pump 41 may be of any known structure.
[0022]
Hereinafter, the operation of the propane storage tank 20 having the above-described structure, in particular, the heating mechanism 21 will be described.
Water that is a medium to be heated accommodated in a circulation path constituted by the heating pipe 24 and the external pipe 26 is heated to, for example, about 60 ° C. by the heating means 40 provided in the external pipe 26, and then pumped. 41, in this embodiment, it is pumped in the direction of the arrow indicated by R in FIG. The heated medium to be heated flows into the heating pipe 24 from the external pipe 26, warms the water that is the heat transfer medium accommodated in the heat transfer medium accommodation space S to, for example, 30 ° C. to 40 ° C. And is heated again by the heating means 40, and this process is repeated thereafter. On the other hand, the heat transfer medium heated by the medium to be heated warms and vaporizes the liquefied propane in the storage tank 20. The vaporized propane gas is supplied to a device outside the storage tank 20 via a known device (not shown).
[0023]
In carrying out the maintenance of the heating mechanism 21, particularly the heating tube 24, first, the union joint means 30 is removed. First, each cap nut 34 is removed from the second sleeve-shaped nut 32, the flange 31 A of the first sleeve-shaped nut 31 from the ends 24 A and 24 B of the heating tube 24, and the ends 26 A and 26 B of the outer tube 26. This is achieved by removing the second sleeve-like nuts 32 and removing the annular seal member 33, respectively.
[0024]
Next, the end portions 24 </ b> A and 24 </ b> B of the heating tube 24 and the end portions 26 </ b> A and 26 </ b> B of the outer tube 26 are separated from each other, and each cover 25 is removed from the end portions 24 </ b> A and 24 </ b> B of the heating tube 24. Thus, the heating tube 24 can be removed from the hollow tube 22.
[0025]
In the propane storage tank 20 of the present invention, as described above, since the heating tube 24 can be taken out from the hollow tube 22, that is, from the storage tank 20, the contents in the storage tank 20 for maintenance of the hollow tube 22. Further, it is possible to easily perform maintenance of the hollow tube, such as checking the welded portion between the hollow tube 22 and the storage tank 20 and measuring the thickness of the hollow tube.
[0026]
Further, since the hollow tube 22 is a straight tube, there is no difficulty in making it as an integral part. That is, it is possible to avoid using a plurality of parts to weld the hollow tube 22 and welding them. Accordingly, with regard to the maintenance of the hollow tube 22, the welded portion between the hollow tube 22 and the storage tank 20 may be focused on. However, since the welded part is outside the storage tank 20, the hollow tube 22 is maintained. Twenty-two maintenance is also easy.
[0027]
FIG. 5 shows a propane storage tank 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The propane storage tank 50 is different from the storage tank 20 in that the heating pipe 24 of the storage tank 20 shown in FIG. 3 is coiled, whereas the heating pipe 54 is a straight pipe but the fins 55 are formed. Since they are only different, the same reference numerals as in the storage tank 20 are used for the same components as in the storage tank 20, and the structure, operation, etc. of the same components as in the storage tank 20 will not be described repeatedly.
The reason why the heating tube 54 is provided with the fins 55 is to improve the heat transfer efficiency to the heat transfer medium accommodated in the heat transfer medium accommodation space S.
[0028]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made.
For example, the storage tanks 20 and 50 of the above-described embodiment may expand and contract due to changes in temperature and pressure. However, since the hollow tube 22 is fixed to the storage tank by welding, the storage tank 20 50, the stress is applied to the joint between the storage tank and the hollow tube 22 due to the expansion and contraction of the tank 50, and there is a possibility that a problem occurs in the joint. Therefore, the hollow tube 22 may be bent within a range not interfering with the heating tube, and the expansion and contraction of the storage tank may be absorbed by bending the hollow tube during expansion and contraction of the storage tank.
[0029]
In the above-described embodiment, the cover 25 can move the outer surfaces while sealing the outer surfaces of the end portions 24A and 24B of the heating tube 24. The outer surfaces of the end portions 24A and 24B of the heating tube 24 may not be movable. For example, the cover 25 may be divided from the center so as to be freely engageable.
[0030]
Further, sensor means for detecting the temperature of the heat transfer medium or the medium to be heated directly or indirectly may be provided.
Furthermore, when gas is used as the medium to be heated, a blower or a suction machine is used instead of the pump 41 in the above embodiment.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention can provide a liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container equipped with a heating mechanism that is easy to maintain.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container equipped with a heating mechanism.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a conventional liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container equipped with a heating mechanism.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the propane storage tank of the present invention.
4 is an enlarged schematic view of the union joint means of FIG.
FIG. 5a is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the propane storage tank of the present invention, and FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4b-4b of FIG. 5a.
[Explanation of symbols]
20, 50 Propane storage tank (liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container)
22 hollow tube 24 heating tube 25 cover S heat transfer medium accommodated in heat transfer medium accommodating space 26 outer tube 40 heating means 41 pump

Claims (3)

A liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container for containing liquefied petroleum gas and supplying the vaporized gas, the heating mechanism for vaporizing the liquid of the liquefied petroleum gas, the heating mechanism comprising:
A hollow tube extending from the outside to the inside of the container;
A heating tube having first and second ends extending into the hollow tube and projecting from an end of the hollow tube;
A cover for sealing the outer surface of the first and second ends of the heating tube and detachably closing the end of the hollow tube;
A heat transfer medium accommodated in a heat transfer medium accommodation space constituted by the hollow tube and the cover;
An external pipe having first and second ends detachably connected to the first and second ends of the heating pipe, respectively, and a circulation path is formed by the heating pipe and the external pipe. Configured,
A heated medium accommodated in the circulation path;
A heating means for heating the heated medium provided in the outer tube;
Wherein provided on the outer tube, the heated medium possess a pumping means for circulating the circulation path,
The hollow tube extends through the container and has two ends;
The first and second ends of the heating tube respectively protrude from the two ends of the hollow tube;
The cover is provided at each of the first and second ends of the heating tube;
Liquefied petroleum gas storage / supply container. The container of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the heating tube is spirally shaped. The container according to claim 1, wherein fins are provided on at least a part of the heating tube.

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