Leached caverns in salt formations are used to store large volumes flammable liquids and gases. It is found that a fire or deflagration in a product pipeline of a highly flammable gas or reactive product could enter a storage cavern. By introduction of a detonation arrestor in the product line at the wellhead, the flame front or deflagration will be broken up so that the flame, deflagration or explosion does not enter the cavern.
A hydrogen pipeline detonation arrestor is provided. The detonation arrestor includes a pipeline spool, having a segment length, an inner volume, an outer surface. The detonation arrester also includes a detonation barrier having a plurality of axially aligned quench pipes located within the inner volume. The detonation arrester is located within a hydrogen pipeline upstream or downstream of a hydrogen salt cavern storage facility.
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.
Under certain conditions a fire, deflagration, or explosion can exist in a pipeline carrying highly flammable or reactive products. The velocity of the fire or deflagration, which approaches the speed of sound, carries the fire forward through the open cross section of the pipeline and can carry this fire into the cavern. The introduction of a pipe spool containing numerous tubes breaks up the flame front and reduces the flame velocity such that the flame is extinguished in situ.
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The pipeline spool 101 is designed to contain the operating pressure of the pipeline. The quench pipes 105 may be constructed of steel tubes, and may have nominal sizes of ½ inch, ⅝ inch, ¾ inch or 1 inch in diameter.
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The detonation arrester 101 may be used for storing hydrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, or propylene.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (a) and (b) to US Provisional Patent Application No. 62/081,284 filed Nov. 18, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62081284 | Nov 2014 | US |