EP2933015A1 - Device and method for odorising a gas flowing in a gas network - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for odorization of a gas stream in a gas network, wherein the device means for storing and dosing a liquid odorant depending on the size of a gas through a gas line (2) of the gas network funded gas flow, means for injecting the odorant in the Gas line (2) and at least one feed device (4), which is arranged in the gas line (2). The device further comprises a vaporizable and wettable with odoriferous vaporizing body which extends within the gas line (2) and which fills at least 50% of the free cross section of the gas line (2), wherein the at least one feed device (4) arranged relative to the vaporizing body so in that the odorant leaving the feed device (4) wets the evaporation body.

Description

The invention relates to a device comprising means for storing and metering a liquid odorant as a function of the size of a conveyed through a gas line of the gas network gas flow, means for injecting the odorant in the gas line and at least one Impfdüse.

The invention further relates to a method for the odorization of a gas stream comprising the metering and injection of a liquid odorant into a gas stream as a function of the size of the gas volume flow conveyed through the gas line.

For the general supply of natural gas to natural gas, which is substantially odorless in the prepared state, it is required for safety reasons that the natural gas has a sufficient odor, so that any leaks in the pipe network are subjectively perceivable by humans.

If the treated natural gas does not have a sufficient warning smell, it must be odorized according to legal regulations. For this reason, it is known and customary to add odorant to the natural gas. As odorants are usually malodorous substances into consideration, which give the natural gas a sulfur-like odor. A widely used odorant is, for example, tetrahydrotiophene (THT). Furthermore, low-sulfur and sulfur-free odorants have also been used for several years.

Usually, natural gas is provided odoriermittelfrei in the gas transport networks (long distance transport lines), an odorization then takes place by the gas network operator of the relevant gas distribution network in the removal of the gas from the gas transport network and its pressure reduction to the pressure prevailing in the gas distribution network pressure. For this purpose, a liquid odorant is added via an odorizer in a local gas pressure regulating and measuring system (GDRM system). The addition takes place in dependence of the size of a standardized gas volume flow calculated from the data of the Gas meter and the gas temperature and the gas pressure. A corresponding amount of odorant is fed by means of a pulse-controlled metering pump a Impfdüse, which is designed as inserted into the gas pipe dip tube. The odorant is supplied to the gas stream, for example, in Germany with a value of at least 10 mg / m ^{3 of} gas volume. It is important to ensure that a predetermined limit, for example, 10 mg / m ³ , is not exceeded during the entire transport of the gas. The odorant is intermittently supplied to the dip tube inserted into the gas line, wherein the dip tube is flowed around by the gas flowing through the gas line. The liquid odorant evaporates and is absorbed by the natural gas.

Since the odorant is not atomized during injection into the dip tube and the odorant is fed intermittently in the gravitational direction of the dip tube, it is not excluded that the odorant does not evaporate on or in the dip tube and that significant amounts of liquid odorant through the gas stream be entrained and distributed uncontrollably in the gas line. So it has already occurred in practice that accumulate significant amounts of liquid odorant below the Impfdüse in the gas line.

Since the dosage is discontinuous due to the use of pulse-controlled metering, the known Odoriereinrichtungen have the disadvantage that even before the evaporation of the odorant in the region of the injection point in the gas line can be followed by a re-dosing, so with the known odorizers the Mindestodiermittelkonzentration in the gas stream only can be ensured by systematic overdose. This is neither sensible nor desirable from an environmental and cost point of view.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide an apparatus and a method for odorizing a gas stream in a gas network, with which the aforementioned disadvantages are eliminated.

The invention is in particular the object of providing a device for odorization of a gas stream in a gas network and a corresponding method, with which a more effective metering of the liquid odorant in the gas stream in dependence on the size of a funded by the gas line of the gas network gas flow is possible.

The object is achieved with the features of claim 1 and with the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

An apparatus for odorizing a gas stream in a gas network according to the invention comprises means for storing and metering a liquid odorant depending on the size of a gas flow through a gas line of the gas network, means for injecting the odorant in the gas line, at least one feed device, in the Gas line is arranged and at least one gas-permeable and wettable with odoriferous vaporizing body which extends within the gas line and which fills at least 50% of the free cross-section of the gas line, wherein the at least one feed device is arranged relative to the vaporizing body so that the emerging from the Impfdüse Odorant wetted the vaporizer body. The feed device is preferably designed as a vaccine.

The device according to the invention differs in particular from the prior art that a gas-flowable and wettable with odoriferous vaporizing body is provided which extends over a substantial part of the free cross-section of the gas line and this cross-section fills so that it completely from that through the Gas-flow guided gas volume flow is positively flowed through, wherein the evaporation body has an increased surface wettable with the liquid odorant, so that ultimately ensures that the exiting from the injection nozzle odorant is not entrained in the form of drops with the gas stream, so that a quasi-continuous evaporation of the Odorizer can be achieved, although the odorant is applied in liquid form discontinuously on the evaporation body.

The advantage of this device is obvious, despite intermittent supply of liquid odorant, an approximately continuous vaporization mass flow is generated by providing an increased evaporation area and an increased wetting capacity for the odorant, directly in the area of the injection site in the area of injection of the odorant into the gas line.

For the purposes of the present invention, an odorizing agent may be, for example, a sulfur-containing compound such as tetrahydrothiophene or ethylmercaptan or butyl mercaptan or also low-sulfur and sulfur-free organic compounds based on acrylate.

As a means for metering and injecting the odorant within the meaning of the invention, for example, a pulse-controlled metering pump, for example as a piston pump, which is controlled by a pulse generator, wherein the pulse generator can receive a control pulse from a gas meter or a Mengenmengenumwerter, via a pulse converter is processed.

As a feed device in the context of the present invention is for example a simple hole nozzle into consideration, which may for example have a hole diameter between 0.05 mm and 2 mm.

The evaporation body according to the invention is not part of the feed device or of a dip tube connected to the feed device, as is known in the prior art.

In the simplest case, the evaporation body may be an impact surface arranged in the gas flow, for example in the form of a perforated plate. Alternatively, as the evaporation body, a metal mesh or a fine-meshed metal mesh be provided. A feed device may be arranged upstream of the evaporation body in front of this. Furthermore, internals can be arranged in front of or behind the evaporation body in the gas line, so that the sprayed from the feeder odorant is vortexed in front of and behind the evaporation surface or the evaporation body.

In an advantageous and expedient variant of the device according to the invention it is provided that the evaporation body extends over the entire clear width and preferably over the entire clear cross section of the gas line.

For example, an open-pored foam body may be provided as the evaporation body, preferably one which has a certain intrinsic stability, for example a hard foam body.

Suitable and useful as an evaporation body in the context of the present invention are foam bodies having a flow-through macroporous structure.

Under a macroporous structure in the context of the invention is open pore structure with a pore diameter in the order of millimeters to understand, for example, the pores of the evaporation body have a diameter between 1 mm to 10 mm, preferably between 4 mm and 5 mm.

The pore diameter of the macroporous structure of the foam body according to the invention is preferably of the order of hundredths of the inner diameter of the gas pipe.

The gas line may for example have an inner diameter of 1000 mm to 3000 mm, in this case, the pore diameter of the Schaumköpers be between 3 mm and 6 mm, so that no significant pressure losses are generated by the evaporation body within the gas line.

It is expedient if the foam body is designed as a metal foam, for example as aluminum foam. Alternatively, metal foams based on iron or nickel come into consideration. For example, such metal foams can be used, which were prepared in Schlicker reaction foam sintering process of iron-based and nickel-based powder.

In the context of the invention, however, foam bodies may also be provided as foam bodies.

Finally, a flow-through housing which comprises a fiber filling or a lamellar structure can also be provided as the evaporation body.

As fiber filling, for example, a metal wool or a steel wool can be provided. Alternatively, chemically resistant plastic fibers may be disposed in a housing provided with flow openings.

In an expedient and advantageous variant of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the at least one feed device is arranged in the flow direction in front of the evaporation body. In this case, the feed device can be arranged in front of the evaporation body, that the liquid emitted by the feed device or the odorant emerging from the feed device in droplet or droplet form precipitates on the evaporation body and wets it. The gas passing through the evaporation body then causes the odorant to evaporate, so that the evaporated odorant is carried along with the gas stream.

Even if the above is at least one feed device is mentioned, can be provided within the scope of the invention, an arrangement of a plurality of feed devices, which may be arranged distributed over the cross section of the gas line, for example.

Alternatively, the at least one feed device can open into the gas line at the circumference of the gas line, wherein in this case several feed devices can be distributed over a circular arc segment of the gas line.

In an expedient variant according to the device according to the invention it is provided that the at least one feed device is arranged in the direction of gravity above the evaporation body and is preferably connected directly to this, so that the exiting from the feed odorant directly wets the evaporation body. Of course, the feed device can also be arranged within the evaporation body.

Finally, it can be provided in a variant of the device according to the invention that the evaporation body is arranged in a flow-through and preferably exchangeable cassette. Such a variant of the arrangement of the evaporation body can also be provided when the evaporation body is designed to be self-supporting stable in the form of a rigid foam. Alternatively, however, the evaporation body can also be formed as an open-pored soft foam body, which is held in a cassette. Then, for example, the cassette as a whole can be exchangeable, if necessary, the evaporation body can also be removed from the cassette in the sense of interchangeability.

In an advantageous and expedient embodiment of the device according to the invention it is provided that the at least one feed device is arranged at the leading end of a radially extending into the gas pipe dip tube and an orifice of the feed device approximately co-axial to the longitudinal center axis and preferably in the longitudinal central axis of the gas line is aligned.

In a further advantageous variant of the device according to the invention can be provided that the at least one feed device on Scope of the gas line is inserted into a connection sleeve provided for this purpose.

The connection sleeve can be designed, for example, as a removal lock for the at least one feed device or for a dip tube provided with the at least one feed device.

Under a removal lock in the context of the present invention, a pipe section is to be understood, which is sealingly connected to the connection sleeve and which is hermetically shut off with respect to the gas line, so that the feed device during operation of the gas line, d. H. without having to shunt the gas line is interchangeable. An exchange in the depressurized state is of course also possible.

For this purpose, it may then be provided to spend the feed device in the removal lock, shut off the removal lock against the gas line and then remove the feed device from the removal lock.

The object underlying the invention is further achieved by a method for odorizing a gas stream comprising metering and injecting a liquid odorant into a gas stream as a function of the size of the gas volume flow conveyed through the gas line, the method comprising wetting at least one within the gas stream, porous, gas-flowed evaporation body comprising the odorant, wherein at least the majority of the gas flow rate is passed through the evaporation body and the evaporation body is intermittently wetted with a metered in dependence on the height of the gas flow rate amount of the odorant.

Preferably, the odorant is trickled in the direction of gravity on the evaporation body.

Alternatively, the odorant may be injected into the gas stream upstream of the evaporation body, preferably atomized therein.

Nebulization in the sense of the present invention is understood to mean atomization by means of a known single-substance pressure nozzle, which causes a division of the liquid into fine droplets with a relatively narrow droplet size distribution. For example, turbulence and jet-forming or lamella-forming nozzles can be used for this purpose.

Injection in the sense of the present invention is understood to mean the introduction of the liquid through a nozzle opening, for example with a hole diameter of between 0.05 and 0.2 mm, the injection taking place without additional kinetic measures for the drop separation.

The method described above can be carried out using the device with the features described above.

The invention will be explained below with reference to two embodiments shown in the drawings.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer in einer Gasdruckregel- und Messstation,

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Rohrleitungsabschnitts einer Gasleitung mit einer Impfdüse gemäß der Erfindung,

Figur 3

eine Stirnansicht des in Figur 2 dargestellten Rohrleitungsabschnitts,

Figur 4

einen Längsschnitt entlang der Linien IV-IV des in Figur 3 dargestellten Rohrleitungsabschnitts, wobei die Darstellung ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß der Erfindung zeigt, und

Figur 5

eine der Figur 4 entsprechende Ansicht, wobei die Darstellung ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß der Erfindung zeigt.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a in a gas pressure regulating and measuring station,

FIG. 2

a perspective view of a pipe section of a gas line with a Impfdüse according to the invention,

FIG. 3

an end view of the in FIG. 2 illustrated pipeline section,

FIG. 4

a longitudinal section along the lines IV-IV of in FIG. 3 shown pipe section, wherein the illustration shows a first embodiment according to the invention, and

FIG. 5

one of the FIG. 4 corresponding view, the illustration shows a second embodiment according to the invention.

It is first referred to the FIG. 1 , which illustrates the basic structure of a device for odorization of a gas stream according to the invention. 1 with a pipe section of the gas line 2 is referred to, which is connected downstream of a gas meter 3 in the flow direction of the gas. The device for odorizing is arranged for example in a GDRM system of a local gas distribution network. In the gas line 2, natural gas for the gas pressure distribution network is provided at a reduced pressure from a high-pressure transport network.

In the flow direction behind the gas meter 3, a liquid odorant, for example in the form of THT, is introduced into the gas line 2 via a feed device 4 designed as a seed nozzle 4. The odorant can be injected via the injection nozzle 4 in the gas stream, dripped and atomized, depending on the design of the Impfdüse. 4

The odorant is removed from an odorant package 5 and fed to the seed nozzle 4 via a metering pump 6. The metering pump 6 is connected via a control unit 7 to the gas meter 3. The gas meter 3 supplies information about a pulse generator (not shown in the figure) via a quantity corrector 8, which in turn conveys control pulses to the control unit 7. Via the control unit 7, the metering pump 6 receives corresponding control signals, which are respectively implemented in injection strokes of the metering pump 6 designed, for example, as piston pumps. The pulse generator may be formed, for example, as a gate counter or the like.

The gas meter downstream pipe section 1 is in perspective in FIG. 2 shown. This can for example have a circumferentially provided connection sleeve 10 in the form of a weld-on, in which the Impfdüse 4 is inserted.

In the case of the embodiment according to the FIGS. 3 and 4 For example, the seed nozzle 4 includes a nozzle body inserted in or provided to the leading end of a dip tube. The dip tube 11 and the nozzle body may be integrally formed, but these may also be formed in several parts. For the sake of simplicity, the entire arrangement consisting of immersion tube 11 and nozzle body will be referred to as vaccination nozzle 4 below.

The dip tube 11 extends approximately into the longitudinal central axis of the pipe section 1 and the mouth of the injection nozzle 4 is aligned coaxially to the longitudinal center axis of the pipe section 1. This may, but need not, extend in the longitudinal center axis of the pipe section.

In the flow direction behind the Impfdüse 4 a the entire free cross section of the pipe section 1 filling cassette 12 is arranged, which encloses an evaporation body or forms an evaporation body. In the illustrated embodiment, the evaporation body is not shown, only the enclosure of the evaporation body in the form of the cassette 12 is shown, which can accommodate, for example, an evaporation body in the form of a metal foam / rigid foam. In this case, only a marginal enclosure of the disc-shaped Verdunstungskörpers is required. The cassette 12 forms only a peripheral and peripheral enclosure.

However, the cassette 12 can also be designed as a can closed on all sides and be provided with a filling, for example in the form of steel wool or the like, thus forming a total of an evaporation body according to the present invention. In this case, the front and rear boundaries of the cassette 12 (disc-shaped) are formed as perforated plates or sieves.

How the particular FIG. 4 can be seen, the introduced via the Impfdüse 4 in the gas stream odorant is taken from the gas stream, so that it wets the downstream in the flow direction of evaporation body.

About the evaporation body is a successive delivery of the odorant to the gas stream.

An alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention is in FIG. 5 shown. For reasons of simplification there is only a longitudinal section through the pipe section 1 according to the FIG. 4 represented, wherein the same components are provided with the same reference numerals.

At the in FIG. 5 illustrated variant of the device for odorizing according to the invention, the Impfdüse 4 is disposed above the evaporation body or above the cartridge 12, wherein the nozzle opening of the Impfdüse 4 is aligned approximately perpendicular with respect to the imaginary longitudinal central axis of the pipe section 1 and this immediately above the evaporation body opens into the pipe section 1, so that the exiting from the injection nozzle 4 odorant directly into the evaporation body or in the cassette 12 trickles.

Although in the two previously described embodiments, the evaporation body (not shown) is enclosed at least peripherally by a cassette 12, the invention is to be understood that the evaporation body can be inserted directly into the pipe section 1 at the relevant point.

Apart from the difference between the first and second embodiments that in the first embodiment, the seed nozzle 4 is disposed upstream of the evaporation body and in the second embodiment, the seed nozzle 4 is arranged with respect to the gas flow at the same level with the evaporation body and above, correspond Features of the two embodiments of the invention each other, in particular, the formation of the evaporation body can be the same.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Pipeline section

2

gas pipe

3

gas Meter

4

Infeed device, vaccine nozzle

5

Odoriermittelgebinde

6

metering

7

control unit

8th

Corrector

10

coupling bush

11

dip tube

12

cassette

Claims (14)

Apparatus for odorizing a gas stream in a gas network, comprising means for storing and metering a liquid odorant depending on the size of a gas volume flow conveyed through the gas line (2) of the gas network, means for injecting the odorant into the gas line (2), at least one feed device (4 ), which is arranged in the gas line (2) and at least one gas-permeable and wettable with odoriferous evaporation body which extends within the gas line (2) and which fills at least 50% of the free cross-section of the gas line (2), wherein the at least one feed device (4) is arranged relative to the evaporation body so that the odorant exiting the feed device (4) wets the evaporation body. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the evaporation body extends over the entire clear width and preferably over the entire clear cross-section of the gas line (2). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the evaporation body comprises an open-pore foam body or is formed as an open-pore foam body, wherein the foam body is preferably a hard foam body. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the foam body has a flow-through macroporous structure and that this is preferably formed as a metal foam. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one feed device (4) is arranged in the flow direction in front of the evaporation body or in the evaporation body. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one feed device (4) is arranged in the direction of gravity above the evaporation body, and is preferably connected directly to this Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the evaporation body is arranged in a flow-through and preferably exchangeable cassette (12). Device according to one of claims 1 to 5 or 7, characterized in that the at least one feed device (4) is arranged at the leading end of a radially extending into the gas pipe dip tube (11) and an orifice of the feed device (4) approximately co-axially is aligned to the longitudinal central axis and preferably approximately in the longitudinal central axis of the gas line (2). Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one feed device (4) on the circumference of the gas line (2) in a connection sleeve (10) is inserted. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the connecting sleeve (10) as a removal lock for the at least one feed device (4) or with the at least one feed device (4) provided with dip tube (11) is formed. A method of odorizing a gas stream comprising metering and injecting a liquid odorant in a gas stream depending on the size of the gas volume flow delivered through the gas conduit, the method comprising wetting at least one porous gas-flowed evaporative body within the gas stream with the odorant; the majority of the gas volume flow is passed through the evaporation body and the evaporation body with a metered depending on the height of the gas flow rate amount of odorant is preferably intermittently wetted. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the odorant is trickled in the direction of gravity on the evaporation body. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the odorant is injected upstream of the evaporation body in the gas stream or is atomized in this. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized by the use of the devices having the features of one of claims 1 to 10.

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