WO2018038692A1

WO2018038692A1 - Steam cycle unit closed to the external environment and having no steam trap

Info

Publication number: WO2018038692A1
Application number: PCT/TR2017/050254
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mahmut CONE
Original assignee: Metan Teknoloji Muhendislik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-08-26
Filing date: 2017-06-07
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Also published as: TR201612097A2

Abstract

The object of the invention is to eliminate the cost of the steam traps and remove the energy losses. The condensate returning from the machine enters the industrial separator and the flash steam that forms by the separation of the superheated water and steam is reused in the system owing to the thermocompressor (3). In this way, an amount of steam, which is less by the amount of flash steam than the amount of steam required to be used under normal circumstances, is consumed. With the associated unit, it is possible to perform the steam cycle without using a steam trap.

Description

STEAM CYCLE UNIT CLOSED TO THE EXTERNAL

ENVIRONMENT AND HAVING NO STEAM TRAP

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a construct that eliminates the steam trap costs and energy losses.

The invention concerns in particle the ability to perform the steam cycle without using a steam trap in all the fields of the industrial sector that meet their thermal requirement with the steam power. STATE OF THE ART

Today, the steam traps are commonly used in many manufacturing processes for the purpose of obtaining thermal energy and performing heating, vaporization and drying. The steam traps are the valves, which automatically expel from a system the steam (condensate) that has completed its function and released its energy, while retaining the live steam within the system. The steam traps also expel the air and uncondensed gases from the steam system and are mainly employed in the steam-heating systems and process lines.

Such a system may be said to have the disadvantage of the irregularity of the local heat conductions, besides the expulsion of the steam into the atmosphere while discharging the condensate. The energy required in such a process is provided by the superheated steam, which is heated in a boiler and delivered with the aid of pipes to the places of use.

The superheated steam used to meet the process requirements undergoes condensation while transferring its heat to the process via the heat exchangers. As it is pressurized, it retains the energy present thereon. The superheated water, which is released into the atmosphere by means of the steam traps, releases all the energy on the same into the atmosphere. Since the steam traps are present in many fields in the current practices of the art, the losses of energy are encountered. In the fields of use, especially the leakage steam from the steam traps leads to considerable financial loss for the enterprises. However, the steam traps are frequently overlooked and are paid no attention by the enterprises. The reasons for this are that the leakages from the steam traps are usually not visible and that the troubleshooting for the steam traps is a difficult work demanding experience and consuming time. Further, the failures resulting from such troubleshooting also bring about considerable financial burden on the enterprises. Some documents were found during the search conducted in the state of the art. The abstract of the Utility Model application no. TR2006/06495 includes the following phrase: "The invention relates to a steam trap with electronic control able to be used in all the steam -operated machines (for the textile, leather, dairy products, etc.), tools and equipment characterized in that it comprises the computer to which the short and long plug transmit signals on the condensate tube, solenoid controlled valve to which the computer transmits signals, condensate outlet located at the outlet of the solenoid controlled valve". However, the implementation of this technique brings about extra costs and drawbacks. Consequently, some improvements are resorted to for the purpose of eliminating the cost and energy losses of the steam traps, and thus, new embodiments are needed that would eliminate the aforesaid disadvantages and provide solution for the existing systems.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a construct for eliminating the cost and energy losses of the steam traps which meets the requirements mentioned above, eliminates all the disadvantages and provides some additional advantages. An object of the invention is to eliminate the cost of the steam traps and remove the energy losses.

Another object of the invention is to provide the ability to perform the steam cycle without the use of a steam trap. Another object of the invention is to make it possible to operate with different pressure and temperature values in a single machine. This enables the control over the process in the machine to be rendered much more precise. Separation of the flash steam and the superheated water by means of the industrial separators to form a self-enclosed cycle underlies the savings achieved.

Another object of the invention is to enable the use in all the fields of the industrial sector that meet their thermal requirements with the steam power. The steam systems have a quite wide field of use in the sectors such as paper, textile, food, etc. The invention particularly zeroes the cost for a steam trap to provide financial saving as well as eliminating the machine stops caused by the leakages from the steam traps and the time lost as a result of maintenance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construct designed to avoid the waste steam power and eliminate the cost of a steam trap. Still another object of the invention is to increase the extent of savings by way of introducing the returned flash steam within the structure according to the invention back into the system as opposed to the existing structures that only collect the condensate of the system.

Still another object of the invention is to keep under control the leakages from the steam traps, which is the primary cause for the steam power loss in the operations, thereby providing an effective energy saving for the enterprises.

The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood with the help of the figures provided below and the detailed description written with reference to these figures. Thus, the evaluation should also be made taking these figures and detailed description into consideration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In order to best understand the present invention along with the embodiment and the additional components thereof, it should be considered along with the figures for which the descriptions are given below.

Figure 1 : A perspective view of the construct according to the invention REFERENCE NUMERALS 1. Industrial separator

2. Level scale

3. Thermocompressor

4. Superheated water pump

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the system according to the invention are explained only for the purpose of enabling a better understanding of the subject matter, without leading to any limiting effect.

The industrial separator (1 ) present on the system according to the invention is comprised by the tanks, to which the condensate line where the return of the steam occurs is connected.

The condensate returning from the machine enters the industrial separator (1 ) and the flash steam that forms by the separation of the superheated water and steam is reused in the system owing to the thermocompressor (3). In this way, an amount of steam, which is less by the amount of flash steam than the amount of steam required to be used under normal circumstances, is consumed. On the other hand, the condensed water collects in the industrial separator (1 ) wherein the instructions are given, owing to the level scales (2), to the superheated water pump (4) to enable the superheated water to be pumped into the steam boiler. Here, the operation is based on the principle of the suction of the return steam (flash steam), which has not been able to leave all of its energy, and the injection of the same into the main steam when the thermocompressor (3) conveys the steam, which it takes from the main steam line, into the system to enable the use of the same. The main steam enters the thermocompressor (3), and as a result of the compression carried out by the thermocompressor (3), it is delivered to the process where the steam performs the necessary heating function in the heat exchangers, and then, it is introduced to the industrial separator (1 ) as the condensed superheated water and steam during the return. In the industrial separator (1 ), the water and the steam are separated and the superheated water is sent via the level control, automation panel and superheated water pump (4) into the steam boiler or from this system into another system with lower pressure for the processes where the multiple use is involved. The steam in the industrial separator (1 ) is subjected to the suction again with the help of the thermocompressor (3).

Claims

1. Steam cycle unit closed to the external environment and having no steam trap, said unit eliminating the cost and energy losses of a steam trap characterized in that it comprises

- the industrial separator (1 ), which enables the separation of the superheated water and steam and to which the condensate line is connected,

- the level scale (2), which enables an instruction to be sent to the superheated water pump (4) when said superheated water has reached a certain level as a result of its accumulation in the separator (1 ),

- the thermocom pressor (3), which enables the flash steam, formed by the separation of said superheated water and steam, to be reused in the system,

- the superheated water pump (4), which enables said superheated water to be pumped into the steam boiler.

2. Steam cycle unit closed to the external environment and having no steam trap according to Claim 1 characterized in that it is capable of performing the steam cycle without using a steam trap.