Patent Application
20130228074
The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatuses for inhibiting backflow of liquid into engine ducts on a ship, and more particularly relates to methods and apparatuses that provide a secondary basin to hold liquid below entrances to engine ducts.
As is well known, the combustion of hydrocarbon-containing fuels, such as diesel, results in exhaust gases. Before emitting the exhaust gases, they must be processed to remove or reduce levels of pollutants therein. Typically such processing may include particulate removal, scrubbing, or other operations.
Because land-based combustion plants are stationary, they need not be designed for tilting or rocking of their components. However, shipboard plants must accommodate for tidal movements, tilting, and rocking As a result precautions not normally taken on land much be made. For instance, shipboard plants must provide for containment of liquids that would otherwise slosh around or move to inappropriate locations in the plants. Further, unwanted motion of liquids within a shipboard plant may result in the backflow of liquid into gas exhaust ducts and even into the plant engine.
In light of the above, the present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for inhibiting the backflow of liquid into engine ducts on a ship. Further, the present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for collecting liquids used in a gas processing vessel in a secondary basin positioned below the processing vessel. Alternative or additional features and characteristics of the methods and apparatuses will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.
Methods and apparatuses for inhibiting backflow of liquid into an engine duct on a ship are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a gas processing apparatus includes an engine producing exhaust gases. The apparatus also includes a processing vessel having a bottom end. The processing vessel is formed with an inlet, a riser having a riser opening, and a liquid outlet positioned between the bottom end and the riser opening. Further, a duct connects the engine to the processing vessel to flow the exhaust gases into the processing vessel. A secondary basin is positioned below the bottom end of the processing vessel. Also, a pipe connects the liquid outlet of the processing vessel to the secondary basin and is configured to flow liquid from the bottom end of the processing vessel into the secondary basin under force of gravity to prevent liquid from entering the riser opening.
In another embodiment, a shipboard apparatus for processing gas with liquid includes a processing vessel for processing exhaust gases with the liquid. The processing vessel is formed with an inlet configured to receive the exhaust gases, a riser having a riser opening, and a liquid outlet positioned below the riser opening. Also, the shipboard apparatus includes a secondary basin positioned below the processing vessel and connected to the liquid outlet. In the apparatus, liquid flows out of the processing vessel through the liquid outlet and into the secondary basin under force of gravity to prevent liquid from entering the riser opening.
In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for inhibiting backflow of liquid into an engine duct on a ship. The method includes providing a processing vessel having a vessel wall and a bottom end and formed with an inlet, a riser having a riser opening, and a liquid outlet positioned between the bottom end and the riser opening. Further, the method includes providing a secondary basin positioned below the bottom end of the processing vessel. In the method, liquid is collected in the bottom end of the vessel. The collected liquid is flowed out of the vessel through the liquid outlet and into the second basin under force of gravity and liquid is inhibited from entering the riser opening.
Exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the methods and apparatuses for inhibiting backflow of liquid into engine ducts on a ship as claimed herein. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.
As detailed below, the methods and apparatuses for inhibiting backflow of liquid into engine ducts on a ship utilize a secondary basin positioned below a processing vessel to receive and hold liquid below riser openings in communication with engine ducts. As a result, there is not liquid build up inside the processing vessel and little to no risk of liquid entering riser openings within the processing vessel.
In
Referring now to
The vessel 16 can be of any shape, such as cylindrical, rectangular, or other. The processing vessel 16 shown in
Risers 58 pass through the barrier 54 and extend to openings 60 that are positioned in the processing zone 62. While two risers 58 are illustrated, the vessel 16 can be provided with six, eight, or more risers 58 as desired. Further, in certain embodiments, the vessel 16 will include a riser 58 along the central axis 40 and the peak 55 of the barrier 54 will surround that central riser. As shown, the processing zone 62 is bounded by the barrier 54 and by a second processing mechanism 64, such as a vapor-liquid contact mechanism or other gas processing device. The exemplary processing zone 62 may include splash or diffusion plates 66. Each plate 66 is positioned at a riser opening 60 to provide a selected flow path to diffuse the flow of exhaust gases 22 into the processing zone 62. Further, the plates 66 block or inhibit falling water drops 68 from entering the risers 58. Typically, any water droplets 68 that enter the risers 58 are atomized and carried back into the quench zone 62 by the flow of exhaust gases 22. The exemplary vessel 16 is further provided with baffles 72 that inhibit movement of any water collected on the barrier 54. As shown, the baffles 72 do not contact the barrier 54, leaving a pathway 73 for liquid to flow along the barrier 54 to the vessel wall 51.
As shown, the vessel 16 is formed with a plurality of water outlets 74 in the vessel wall 51 adjacent the barrier 54. As shown, the water outlets 74 are formed below the level of the riser openings 60, i.e., between the riser openings 60 and the bottom end 44 of the vessel 16. Water 32 landing on the barrier 54 flows toward the vessel wall 51 and out of the vessel 16 through the outlets 74 to the secondary basin 18 under the force of gravity. As a result, water does not rise to the level of the riser openings 60 and cannot backflow into the risers 58 toward the engine 14. Such backflow is prevented even in rocking conditions experienced by the ship 12 on rough seas. As noted in
While the particular methods and apparatuses for inhibiting backflow of liquid into engine ducts on a ship as herein shown and disclosed in detail are fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of exemplary embodiments and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.
