Liquid heaters and vaporizers – Flasher
Patent
1988-10-11
1990-07-03
Favors, Edward G.
Liquid heaters and vaporizers
Flasher
137118, 1375651, 122448B, 1224511, 1224512, F22B 2700
Patent
active
049381733
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a fluid system and more particularly, but not exclusively to a fluid system for steam raising. In a steam raising system conventionally there is a flash boiler to which water is fed by a pump. The flash boiler provides steam under pressure to a steam accumulator from where steam may be drawn off for use. The capacity of the pump needs to be matched to the capacity of the flash boiler for efficient production of steam.
In such a system where a single flash boiler is provided, the pressure of steam achieved in the steam accumulator is sensed, and when an upper steam pressure is sensed, the flash boiler is shut down and the pump deactivated. When the pressure of steam in the steam accumulator falls to a second threshold pressure, the flash boiler and pump are reactivated. Necessarily the warm up time is long where there are frequent such shut downs. Furthermore, the life of the pump can be shortened by frequently switching the pump on and off.
If it is desired to increase the capacity of the system, for example to double the capacity of the system, it is necessary to provide an additional pump and flash boiler which can provide steam to the steam accumulator, or an enlarged steam accumulator if required. In such a multiple flash boiler arrangement, when a first upper threshold pressure is sensed in the steam accumulator, only one of the boilers and associated pumps are shut down. If the pressure in the system continues to rise to a second upper threshold pressure, the second flash boiler and pump are deactivated, and so on in systems having more than two boilers and pumps.
Switching on or off of the boilers and associated pumps may be achieved automatically via a control means, or manually in response to warning signals provided to an operator.
An object of the present invention is to provide a new or improved fluid system.
According to one aspect of the invention we provide a fluid system comprising a flow control device, means to supply a head of fluid to the flow control device, and at least one fluid using means, the flow control device comprising a chamber, an inlet to the chamber from the fluid supply means, and an outlet from the chamber, a valve means associated with the outlet operable to direct fluid from the outlet either to the fluid using means or to a relief means.
Thus in a system embodying the invention where a head of fluid is provided by a pump there is no need to match the capacity of the pump to the capacity of the system but provided that the pump can deliver more fluid to the fluid control device than required by the or each of the fluid using means, any capacity of pump may be used. However, the outlet needs to be sized to ensure that the amount of fluid fed to the fluid using means, when the valve means permits this, is that required by the fluid using means.
Preferably the outlet from the chamber is sized so that the pressure in the chamber is always greater than the pressure downstream of the flow control device so that changes in pressure in the system, e.g. in the fluid using means do not have any significant effect on the pressure in the chamber and hence on the performance of the pump. Preferably the pressure in the chamber is arranged to be at least twice the maximum pressure downstream of the flow control device e.g. in the fluid using means, but more preferably the pressure in the chamber is even greater than this.
Operation of the valve means may be controlled by a control means responsive to a sensor means which senses a parameter of the system so that when a threshold value of the parameter is sensed, the fluid using means is deactivated so that there is no further fluid required, and the valve means is operated to cause fluid from the outlet of the chamber to be directed to the relief means so there is no need to deactivate the pump.
In a greater capacity system, the chamber may have a plurality of outlets each having an associated valve means operable to direct fluid to an associated fluid using means or to a relief mean
REFERENCES:
patent: 2703073 (1955-03-01), Klein et al.
patent: 2780206 (1957-02-01), LaRocque et al.
patent: 4014577 (1977-03-01), Clancy et al.
patent: 4057073 (1977-11-01), Adams
patent: 4061271 (1977-12-01), Kimbrough
patent: 4182354 (1980-01-01), Bergstedt
patent: 4421068 (1983-12-01), Aral
patent: 4576124 (1986-03-01), Martens et al.
Cubit Limited
Favors Edward G.
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