JPH07280188A - Filling device of liquefied gas and gas station using the filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smoothly and efficiently fill the liquefied gas in a storing container by using a pump. CONSTITUTION:An ejector tube 6 and a gas-liquid separating tube 15 are provided between a storing container 1 and a liquid transfer pump 2, and the pressurized liquid on the discharge side of the pump 2 is introduced to the ejector tube 6, and the liquefied gas in the container 1 is sucked by the ejector effect generated in the tube. The sucked liquefied gas is gas-liquid separated by the gas-liquid separating tube 15, and then, forcibly fed to a filling device by the pump 2, and the quantity is measured, and filled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filling device for filling a vehicle or the like with liquefied gas, and a simple gas station using the filling device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a liquefied autogas stored in a storage container is continuously delivered to a filling device such as a dispenser or a flow meter using a liquid delivery pump, a flow rate of a predetermined amount or more is required. However, the liquefied autogas in the container is
Since it is in a compressed gas state at room temperature, it cannot be forcibly drawn in by a pump at a high pressure for pressure feeding.

In order to deal with this, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 8, a pressurized gas such as propane gas is introduced into a storage container 61 via an external pipe 62, and the liquefied auto gas 63 is generated by the pressure of the gas. Is pumped to the pump 64 to obtain a differential pressure for sending out gas at a predetermined flow rate.

However, the above method has a problem that pure autogas cannot be obtained because gases having different components may mix inside the storage container 61.

Further, vapor is mixed in the pump 64,
There were cases where dangerous conditions such as noise generation and gas leakage occurred.

On the other hand, conventionally, a gas station for filling a vehicle with liquefied propane gas (LP gas) has a storage container 71 and a pump 72 installed underground as shown in FIG. Filler 73 provided on the side
It is designed to send gas to.

However, in the gas station having the above structure, there is a problem in that the equipment is fixed and the installation space and the construction scale are large. Further, although the storage container 71 installed in the basement can have a large capacity, it is legally treated as a storage tank. Therefore, there is a problem that the regulation is strict and the handling is difficult.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a first object thereof is a liquefied gas that can be efficiently taken out from a storage container and filled with the liquefied gas with a simple structure. It is to provide a filling device.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a simple gas station in which a storage container can be moved and installed and then gas can be easily filled.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a liquefied gas filling device of the present invention is configured so that a liquid is pressurized between a liquefied gas storage container and a pump connected to a gas filling device. The ejector pipe that sucks the liquefied gas from the storage container by the pulling action of the storage container is provided, and between the ejector pipe and the pump, a vertical gas-liquid separation pipe whose upper end communicates with the vapor line of the storage container is provided. The liquefied gas was sent out to the suction part of the pump via.

In the above structure, liquefied gas discharged from the pump can be used as the pressurizing fluid introduced into the ejector pipe.

Further, the above-mentioned pump may be a non-seal type pump having no mechanical seal inside, and a reverse return circuit may be provided between the pump and the gas-liquid separation pipe.

On the other hand, in the gas station of the present invention, the storage container of the above-mentioned filling device can be transported by a vehicle, and the storage container can be connected to the pump and the ejector pipe installed in the station.

[0014]

In the filling device having the above structure, the liquefied gas in the storage container can be sucked and efficiently extracted due to the ejector effect generated in the ejector pipe, and the extracted liquefied gas is then separated by the gas-liquid separation pipe. By separating the liquid, only the liquefied gas can be sent to the pump.

Further, by forcibly sucking the liquefied gas by the ejector effect, the liquefied gas in the storage container can be taken out to the end, and in addition, by providing the gas-liquid separation pipe, the release gas is diffused. The height can be set arbitrarily, and the installation height of the storage container can be set low.

On the other hand, in the gas station of the present invention,
Since the storage container can be freely transported by the vehicle, the station can be installed at an arbitrary position.
Further, by replacing the storage container to reduce the capacity of the container as a single unit, the storage container is removed from the legal frame as a storage tank, and the legal regulation can be relaxed.

[0017]

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 shows a liquefied gas filling apparatus according to an example. In the figure, 1 is a storage container for storing a liquefied gas, 2 is a liquid feed pump, 3 is a filler consisting of a dispenser or a flow meter, and this filler 3 is connected to a gas container of a vehicle 5. 4 are connected.

An ejector pipe 6 is provided in a passage between the storage container 1 and the liquid feed pump 2, and a pipe 10 connected to the storage container 1 is connected to a suction port 7 of the ejector pipe 6. The outlet 11 of the ejector pipe 6 is connected to a pipe 11 that goes to the suction portion of the pump 2. Further, a branch pipe 13 branched from a discharge side pipe 12 of the pump 2 is connected to an inlet 9 of the ejector pipe 6 facing the outlet 8, and a flow control valve 14 is provided in the branch pipe 13.

Further, a gas-liquid separation pipe 15 is provided upright in the middle of the pipe 11 connecting the ejector 6 and the pump 2. The gas-liquid separation pipe 15 has an open upper end, and a safety valve discharge pipe 16 is connected to the upper end.

Further, at the upper end of the gas-liquid separation tube 15,
A pipe 17 leading to the vapor line of the storage container 1 and a pipe 18 leading to the filling device 3 are connected.
It is designed to carry out the returning action of gas through.

This embodiment has the structure as described above, and a part of the pressurized liquid on the discharge side of the pump 2 is taken into the branch pipe 13 and the flow rate is controlled by the flow rate control valve 14 so that the ejector pipe 6 is operated. The liquid is introduced into the ejector tube 6 through the inlet 9 and the ejecting effect is produced inside the ejector pipe 6.

Due to this ejector effect, the liquefied gas B is discharged from the inside of the storage container 1 connected to the suction port 7 of the ejector pipe 6.
Is sucked in and drawn into the ejector tube 6. The liquid discharged from the outlet 8 of the ejector pipe 6 is gas-liquid separated in the gas-liquid separation pipe 15, and then enters the suction part of the pump 2.

Next, by the pump 2, the pipe 12 on the discharge side
The liquefied gas pumped to the
The gas container of the vehicle 5 is appropriately filled.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment. In this example, a non-seal type pump 2a having no mechanical seal is used as the liquid feed pump, and the pump 2a and the gas-liquid separation pipe 15 are connected by a return pipe 21 to perform reverse return. There is.

In the non-seal type pump 2a, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotor chamber 22 and the liquid chamber 2 are closed.
3, a rotor shaft 24 having an impeller 25 is provided, and a cup 27 connected to the drive shaft 26 is fitted on the outer side of the rotor chamber 22 of the rotor shaft 24.
The magnets 28 and 29 are attached so as to face each other, and the attraction of the magnets 28 and 29 causes the rotor shaft 24 inside the sealed rotor chamber 22 to be remotely driven from the outside. It is designed to completely prevent leaks.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment. In this example,
A positive displacement pump 2b such as an air pump is used as the liquid feed pump, and a return pipe 3 provided with a bypass relief valve 32 between the pipe 12 on the discharge side of the pump 2b and the gas-liquid separation pipe 15.
1 is provided.

As described above, by connecting the reverse line or the bypass release line to the gas-liquid separation pipe 15 or returning the gas to the storage container 1 depending on the type and type of the pump, it is possible to perform various operations. It can accommodate any type of pump.

Further, the gas-liquid separation pipe 15 functions as a stanchion for obtaining the diffusion height of the safety valve discharge gas in addition to the above-described use of the reverse return, the bypass release return, the gas return from the filling device 3 and the like. However, many functions can be exhibited in efficiently and safely filling the liquefied gas.

On the other hand, FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of a gas station using the liquefied gas filling device described above.

In this station, a base 41 is provided with a container installation section 43 for detachably installing the bulk container 1a conveyed by the bulk lorry 42, and the installation section 43 thereof is provided.
To the side of the filling device 3 such as a dispenser or a transfer pump,
A filling device A equipped with an ejector tube, a gas-liquid separation tube, etc. is installed.

Further, the low voltage power source 44 is provided away from the base 41.
And a high voltage power supply 45, and a low voltage power supply 44
The charger 3, gas leak detector 46, gas leak alarm 4
7, the external buzzer 48, the sprinkler pipe 49, etc. are operated, and the high voltage power supply 45 is used as a pump power supply or a bulk power supply.

In this gas station, since the bulk container 1a can be freely conveyed by the bulk lorry 42, the station can be installed at any position, and the degree of freedom of station installation can be increased.

Further, by setting the volume of the bulk container 1a to be smaller than the standard value (for example, 6000 liters) handled as a storage tank, legal regulations can be relaxed and handling and station design can be facilitated. be able to.

Further, in the example of the gas station shown in FIG. 7, a base 41 is provided with a mounting base 51 on which a plurality of cylinder type containers 1b and 1b can be arranged in parallel, and a transport vehicle 52 such as a truck is used to supply each gas. Cylinder container 1b at the station
Is available for delivery.

When a plurality of containers 1b, 1b are used in this way, each container is connected by a header, and the header is connected to the ejector pipe of the filling device.

In the gas station shown in FIG. 5, an example in which a non-seal type pump or the like is operated by a high voltage power source 46 installed in the station is shown. However, an air pump is used as the pump and the air pump is used as a bulk lorry 42.
If operated by an air pressure generator provided in the transportation vehicle 52, the high voltage power source can be omitted, and the gas station can be operated only by the low voltage power source installed in a general home.

[0037]

As described above, in the filling device of the present invention, the liquefied gas is sucked from the storage container and sent to the pump by using the ejector pipe and the gas-liquid separation pipe, so that a sufficient differential pressure can be given to the pump. The liquefied gas can be charged smoothly and efficiently.

Further, since the liquefied gas in the storage container is sucked in by the ejector effect, it is possible to surely fill until the residual liquid amount in the container becomes extremely small, and to take out pure liquefied gas in which different component gases are not mixed. You can

On the other hand, according to the gas station of the present invention, since the storage container is transported and replaced, it is possible to easily install the station at an arbitrary position and the legal regulation can be relaxed. There is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a liquefied gas filling device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a structural example of a non-seal type pump.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram showing an embodiment of a gas station.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a gas station.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another gas station.

FIG. 8 is a structural diagram showing a conventional filling device.

FIG. 9 is a structural diagram showing a conventional gas station.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Storage container 1a Bulk container 1b Cylinder type container 2, 2a, 2b Liquid feed pump 3 Filler 6 Ejector pipe 10, 11, 12 Piping 13 Branch pipe 14 Flow control valve 15 Gas-liquid separation pipe 16 Safety release valve 17, 18 Gas Return pipe 21 Return pipe 31 Inlet pipe 32 Bypass relief valve 41 Base 43 Installation part 44 Low-voltage power supply 45 High-voltage power supply 51 Installation base A Filling device B Liquefied gas

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ejector pipe for sucking the liquefied gas from the storage container by a drawing action by pressurization of the liquid is provided between the liquefied gas storage container and a pump connected to the gas filler, and the ejector pipe and the pump. A liquefied gas filling device in which an upper and lower gas-liquid separation pipe having an upper end communicating with a vapor line of a storage container is provided between the two, and the liquefied gas is sent to the suction part of the pump through the gas-liquid separation pipe. 2. The liquefied gas filling device according to claim 1, wherein a liquefied gas discharged from a pump is used as a pressurizing fluid introduced into the ejector pipe. 3. A non-seal type pump having no mechanical seal inside, and a reverse return circuit provided between the pump and the gas-liquid separation pipe.
Or the liquefied gas filling device according to item 2. 4. A liquefaction system in which the storage container of the filling device according to claim 1 can be transported by a vehicle, and the storage container can be connected to a pump and an ejector pipe installed in a station. Gas station for gas.