Patent Application
20180156343
In industrial chemical and petrochemical processes, gaseous nitrogen is used for a number of purposes. Nitrogen is largely inert, and as such is commonly used to displace undesired gases in various processes. One common example is the use of gaseous nitrogen to displace air as an inert blanket. Nitrogen does engage in certain chemical reactions and, for example, is useful in the production of ammonia. Gaseous nitrogen is often provided to the end user as a commodity, for example by means of an “over the fence” supply from an existing nitrogen pipeline or from a tanker truck. Many processes that use nitrogen are have pressure limitations, either high, low, or both, that must be maintained.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a pressurization and evacuation system is provided, including a top 3-way valve including a first port, a second port and a third port, a bottom 3-way valve including an first port, a second outlet port and a third port, and an educator including a pressure inlet, a suction inlet, and a discharge outlet. Wherein: a first conduit fluidically connects the top 3-way valve third port with the educator pressure inlet; a second conduit fluidically connects the top 3-way valve second port with the bottom 3-way valve first port; a third conduit fluidically connects the bottom 3-way valve third port with the educator suction inlet; and a fourth conduit fluidically connects the bottom 3-way valve second port with a customer apparatus.
For a further understanding of the nature and objects for the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers and wherein:
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
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The top 3-way valve third port 120 is fluidically connected with the educator pressure inlet 124 by with a first conduit 103. The first conduit 103 may also include a second check valve 111 in fluidic connection with the top 3-way valve third port 120 and the educator pressure inlet 124. The first conduit may include a second pressure safety valve 113 in fluidic connection with the first conduit.
The top 3-way valve second port 119 is fluidically connected with the bottom 3-way valve first port 121 by a second conduit 104. The second conduit 104 may also include a first check valve 105 in fluidic connection with the top 3-way valve second port 119 and the bottom 3-way valve first port 121.
The bottom 3-way valve third port 123 is fluidically connected with the educator suction inlet 125 with a third conduit 115. The bottom 3-way valve second port 122 is connected with a customer apparatus (not shown) with a fourth conduit 108. The fourth conduit 108 may include a first pressure safety valve 110.
As indicated in
The system may include a pressure indicator 117 that is in fluidic connection with the fourth conduit 108. The pressure indicator 117 may provide a signal to the top 3-way valve 102, and/or the pressure indicator may provide a signal to the bottom 3-way valve 107.
Turning to
The pressurized gas stream from second conduit 104 is introduced into the first port 121 of the bottom 3-way valve 107, the bottom 3-way valve 107 is then actuated to direct the pressurized gas stream to exit the second port 122 of the bottom 3-way valve 107 and to enter fourth conduit 108. Downstream of the second port 122 of the bottom 3-way valve 107 may be a pressure indicator 117 and/or a first pressure safety valve 110. The pressurized gas then exits fourth conduit 108 and enters the customer apparatus (not shown).
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The pressurized gas stream from the first conduit 103 is introduced into the educator pressure inlet 124, thus producing a low pressure condition in the suction inlet. A customer gas steam 109a is then introduced into the second port 122 of the bottom 3-way valve 107. The bottom 3-way valve 107 is then actuated to direct the customer gas to exit the third port 123 of the bottom 3-way valve 107. The low pressure condition then causes the customer gas stream to be directed to the educator suction inlet 125, wherein it mixes with the pressurized gas stream 124 and exits the educator discharge outlet 126 and to a conduit to exhaust or flare 116. The pressurized gas stream may be an inert gas. The pressurized gas stream may be nitrogen.
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One embodiment of the respective valve port orientation and status for a single actuator arrangement for the pressurization phase is 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.
