Patent Application
20200056850
In a steam system, a boiler or steam generating unit is supplied feed water. The feed water is heated to the saturated liquid state, vaporized to the saturated vapor state (steam), and then superheated. The steam produced may be used to transfer heat to a process or a device. The steam typically leaves the boiler via the main steam line and enters the main steam header. From the main header, piping directs the steam to the process or device. As the steam performs its work in manufacturing processes, turbines, building heat, etc., the steam transfers its heat. As the steam releases this heat, it is cooled and reverts back to a liquid phase called condensate.
If condensate backs up in the steam system, inefficiency will occur. Condensate backed up inside of the steam system piping cools the tubes that carry the steam to the process or device. When this sub-cooled condensate is suddenly replaced by hot steam, the expansion and contraction of the tubes stress the tube joints. Constantly repeating this cycle may cause premature system failure. Finally, water hammer may result. Water hammer can occur where an accumulation of condensate is trapped in a portion of horizontal steam piping. The velocity of the steam flowing over the condensate causes ripples in the water. Turbulence builds up until the water forms a solid mass, or slug filling the pipe. This slug of condensate can travel at the speed of the steam and will strike the first elbow in its path with a force comparable to a hammer blow. This force may be strong enough to break the pipe.
To solve these problems, steam traps have been long used in steam piping and in steam operated equipment to prevent the build-up of condensate formed by the condensation of steam in lines from the boiler. The goal of these steam traps is to drain the condensate as well as discharge air and non-condensable gases without permitting the steam to escape. If steam is allowed to escape, heat that should have been transferred to the system will be lost. Steam traps are commonly located after the main steam header throughout the system. Multiple pipes conducting steam to the system may connect to a single manifold which conducts condensate to the steam trap. The condensate passes through the condensate return line and is collected and directed back to the boiler to repeat the water to steam process. Removing the condensate prevents damage to steam lines, steam turbines, steam pistons and other equipment that is operated and/or powered by the energy contained within the steam. Additionally, condensate removal, in some cases, may prevent water damage to any goods being manufactured.
However, if the steam system has been out of operation for an extended period of time, the piping will be much cooler than the entering steam. During the startup phase of a steam system, as the entire piping system is being heated, far more condensate is generated than can typically be removed by a steam trap. This condensate will tend to accumulate at transitions between a long horizontal length of piping and a substantially vertical section. At this elbow, enough condensate may accumulate to effectively block the pipe and cause downstream problems.
Therefore, a need exists within the industry for a system for removing large amounts of condensate from an underground vault steam system during startup.
An apparatus for removing condensate from a steam line during a cold startup is provided, comprising a steam line with a first substantially horizontal section, a substantially vertical section, and a second substantially horizontal section, the first substantially horizontal section, the substantially vertical section comprising a first centerline, the second substantially horizontal section comprising, a first elbow, and a second elbow, the first elbow fluidically connected to the first substantially horizontal section and the substantially vertical section, and comprising an interior surface, the second elbow fluidically connected to the substantially vertical section and the second substantially horizontal section, and comprising an exterior surface, a permanent flange on the exterior surface of the second elbow, penetrating the exterior surface, and substantially aligned with the first centerline, and a dip tube with an distil end, an proximal end, and a temporary flange configured to mate with the permanent flange, wherein the distil end of the dip tube is inserted into the permanent flange and positioned substantially parallel to the first centerline.
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As used herein, the term “substantially vertical” is defined as having an angle between the piping segment centerline and a freely articulating plumb bob line of less than 15 degrees, preferably less than 10 degrees, and more preferably less than 5 degrees.
As used herein, the term “substantially horizontal” is defined as having an angle between the piping segment centerline and a freely articulating spirit level of less than 15 degrees, preferably less than 10 degrees, and more preferably less than 5 degrees.
During startup, the steam 101 flowing through steam pipeline 102 initially may not yet be fully superheated. And, if the system has been non-operational for very long, the steam pipeline 102 may be close to ambient temperature. Either of these conditions can lead to at least a portion of the steam to lose sufficient heat to change phase and become liquid condensate 103. As condensate 103 forms, it will typically be carried along the substantially horizontal section 104 with steam 101, and may not become dislodged from the moving steam until it encounters an obstacle, such as a substantially vertical piping section 105. At such a transition point, the condensate 103 will tend to accumulate. This condensate 103 must be removed from the interior of steam pipeline 102.
As discussed above, condensate pool 103 will tend to accumulate at locations where a first substantially horizontal piping section 104 experiences a first transition into a substantially vertical piping section 105. This first transition will typically comprise a first piping elbow 108, with a major internal radius 109. Such an arrangement will typically then experience a second transition, into a second substantially horizontal piping section 106. This second transition may comprise a piping elbow 110, with a major external radius 111.
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As illustrated in
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First predetermined distance 402 or second predetermined distance 403 may be greater than 2 inches. And, depending on the internal diameter of substantially vertical piping section 105, may be greater than 5 inches. First predetermined distance 402 may be less than (or equal to) ¼ of the internal diameter of substantially vertical piping section 105. Second predetermined distance 403 may be greater than (or equal to) ¼ of the internal diameter of substantially vertical piping section 105.
Returning to
Presuming that the distil end 404 of dip tube 203 is fashioned as being approximately 90 degrees from the sides of dip tube 203 (i.e. “cut flat”), then posterior side 407 is also defined as the side of the distill end 404 that is closest to major internal radius 109. As illustrated in
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It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments in the examples given above.
