JPS645198Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Technical field The present invention is a detection system that detects and confirms the operating status of a steam trap, that is, whether condensate is being discharged normally, whether steam is leaking, etc. Concerning vessels.

Technical Background Steam traps are installed on steam lines and steam-using equipment to automatically discharge only condensate without leaking steam, and if they do not operate properly, they can seriously impede steam transportation and production activities. . For example, if the condensate discharge function deteriorates or is lost, condensate will accumulate in the inlet piping of the steam trap, causing water hammer, reducing the efficiency of steam-using equipment, or destroying the equipment. Furthermore, if the valve closing function deteriorates and steam leaks, expensive energy is wasted.

Prior Art and its Problems Therefore, the operating state of steam traps has been checked for a long time, and various detectors for this purpose have been developed and put into practical use.

One of them is to provide a see-through window in the casing of the steam trap or in the passage on the outlet side of the trap to visually observe the state of the liquid inside. This may cause the glass that makes up the see-through window to break and steam or hot water to blow out, potentially resulting in personal injury.

In addition, thermometers and vibration meters are used to measure the surface temperature of steam traps, as well as the operating sounds of internal parts and the sounds of fluid flowing. However, these methods do not allow you to determine the operating status of a steam trap at a glance, unlike using a see-through window, and require time and effort to measure each trap one by one. .

Technical Problem The technical problem of the present invention is to make it possible to safely and at a glance determine the operating status of the steam trap.

(Technical Means) The technical means of the present invention taken to solve the above-mentioned technical problems are as follows. The heat of the fluid flowing inside the steam trap is used to generate an electromotive force in the thermoelectric element, and the electromotive force is used to drive devices that generate light, radio waves, and sound.

Here, the thermoelectric generating element is an element in which a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor are joined, and an electromotive force is generated if the temperatures at both ends of the element are different.

Light can be generated by light bulbs or light emitting diodes, radio waves can be generated by electrical transmission circuits, and sound can be generated by mechanically vibrating speakers.

Action of technical means The operation of the above technical means is as follows.

There are several types of steam traps based on the operating principle, but all of them automatically discharge only condensate without leaking steam, so the temperature of the steam trap casing and outlet piping is the key to operating the steam trap. It changes depending on. For example, if the trap loses its drainage function, the inside of the trap will be filled with condensate, and the temperature of the casing will gradually decrease due to heat radiation. The temperature of the outlet piping of the trap changes in a pattern that corresponds to the discharge of condensate when the trap is operating normally, and remains at a constant, slightly higher temperature when steam is leaking.

One end of the thermoelectric generator is in contact with the surface of the steam trap casing and outlet piping, and the other end is in contact with the outside air at a nearly constant temperature. The temperature difference changes, and the electromotive force of the thermoelectric generator changes accordingly.

In response to changes in the electromotive force of the thermoelectric generating element, a light, radio wave, or sound generator is driven, causing the light, radio waves, or sound to flicker or change in intensity. Therefore, temperature changes in the steam trap and outlet piping are expressed as flashing lights, radio waves, and sounds, or as the strength or weakness of the lights, radio waves, and sounds.

Unique effects The present invention produces the following specific effects.

Conventional detectors, whether transparent windows, thermometers, or vibrometers, require an external driving source, such as a light source or power source, to detect and display steam trap operation. Since the present invention utilizes the thermal energy of steam or condensate, no separate driving source is required. This is extremely advantageous in terms of centralized management. In other words, steam traps are generally arranged in a distributed manner, but since the driving source is located at the steam trap, a signal, that is, light, radio waves, or sound, is sent from there, and the signal is transmitted to a few specific locations. can be received.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An example illustrating a specific example of the above technical means will be described.

Example 1 (see FIG. 1) Reference number 10 is a steam trap (not shown).
The main body of the piping member forming the outlet side passage of has an inlet 11 and an outlet 12 opened on the same axis, with a window 13 opened at a right angle to them. A wall 14 separating the inlet 11 and the outlet 12 is provided in the center, on the opposite side of the window 13, so that the fluid entering from the inlet 11 is guided by the partition wall 14 toward the window 13, and then flows out from the window 13 to the outlet 12. This is to ensure that the window plate 15 described below is always in contact with the flow of the fluid.

The window hole 13 is made of a thin and strong window plate 15 with good thermal conductivity, an annular gasket 16 with good heat insulation,
It is attached to the main body 10 via a cap nut 18 with an open end surface and closed. gasket 1
The reason why materials with good heat insulation properties are used for 6 and 17 is to reduce the amount of heat transmitted from the main body 10 and the cap nut 18 to the window plate 15, so that the temperature of the window plate 15 changes as faithfully as possible in accordance with the temperature change of the fluid. This is to ensure that.

The thermoelectric generating element 19 is arranged with one surface thereof in contact with the outer surface of the window plate 15. A heat dissipation fin 20 is attached to the other surface of the thermoelectric generator 19 to enhance heat radiation and prevent heat from being trapped in the thermoelectric generator. Thermoelectric power generation element 1
A terminal 9 is connected to a light, radio wave, or sound generating device 21 by an electric wire 22.

Embodiment 2 (See Figure 2) In this embodiment, a thermoelectric generating element 33 is attached to the surface of a casing 32 of a steam trap 31.
4. Light, radio wave, and sound generator 36, and electric wire 3
5 is the same as in the case of Example 1 in FIG.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment. 10...Main body of piping member forming outlet side passage of steam trap, 15...Window plate, 19, 33
...Thermal power generation element, 21, 36...Light, radio wave, and sound generator, 32...Steam trap casing.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A thermoelectric generating element is attached to the outer surface of the steam trap casing or the member forming the exit side passage of the steam trap, and the thermoelectric generating element generates an electromotive force using the heat of the fluid flowing inside the steam trap. A steam trap activation detector that uses electricity to drive a device that generates light, radio waves, and sound.