Natural gas hydrogen-doped discharge intelligent torch system

Abstract

A natural gas hydrogen-doped discharge intelligent torch system comprises a remote monitoring system and a local control system, the local control system comprises a control box, an ultraviolet flame detector, a methane concentration monitor, a hydrogen concentration monitor and a safety discharge system, and the methane concentration monitor and the hydrogen concentration monitor are installed on a waste gas pipe. The ultraviolet flame detector is installed on the ground, the safety relief system comprises an igniter, a combustor, a torch head and a torch barrel, an air inlet is formed in the side wall of the lower section of the torch head, the igniter and the combustor are arranged in the torch head, and the combustor is connected with the torch barrel through a branch pipe. The remote monitoring system, the ultraviolet flame detector, the methane concentration monitor, the hydrogen concentration monitor and the igniter are all connected with the control box through signal cables. The system can automatically start the ignition device when the concentration of combustible gas in waste gas reaches a set value, and can monitor the combustion process in real time to prevent gas leakage caused by extinguishing of a torch.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of hydrogen-blended natural gas combustion processing, and in particular relates to an intelligent flare system for releasing hydrogen-blended natural gas. Background Art

[0002] Natural gas hydrogen blending technology can not only increase the calorific value of natural gas and improve combustion characteristics, but also significantly improve thermal efficiency by utilizing existing natural gas infrastructure for transportation and distribution. At the same time, hydrogen blending technology can also effectively reduce dependence on fossil energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, due to the characteristics of hydrogen such as low ignition energy, wide explosion limit and fast combustion speed, the risks of transporting and using hydrogen-blended natural gas increase, especially in emergency leakage accidents, where safety hazards are particularly prominent.

[0003] At present, the flare system of natural gas stations is mainly used to deal with large-scale leakage combustion in emergency situations, and is not suitable for natural gas replacement conditions. In addition, the existing venting flares usually adopt manual remote ignition and are started by manually controlling the ignition disk. This method may miss the best ignition time and increase the risk of hydrogen-blended natural gas leakage. Conventional flare systems also have problems such as incomplete combustion and flare flameout when dealing with natural gas leaks, which not only affects combustion efficiency but also threatens safety. Under natural gas replacement conditions, since the concentration of combustible gas in hydrogen-blended natural gas may be low, the flare may not be successfully ignited, causing the flare to go out. If real-time intelligent ignition cannot be achieved, hydrogen-blended natural gas may overflow and spread, causing environmental pollution and even endangering life and health. Therefore, the intelligent venting flare system of natural gas stations is a key link in the station safety assurance system. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides an intelligent flare system for the release of hydrogen-blended natural gas. When the concentration of combustible gas in the exhaust gas reaches a set value, the system can automatically start the ignition device and monitor the combustion process in real time to prevent the flare from being extinguished and causing gas leakage, thereby improving the safety and stability of the combustion of hydrogen-blended natural gas, eliminating the energy waste problem of long-lasting flames in traditional flare systems, and achieving the effect of energy saving and emission reduction.

[0005] As conceived above, the technical solution of the present invention is: a natural gas hydrogen-blended intelligent flare system, including a remote monitoring system and a local control system, characterized in that: the local control system includes a control box, an ultraviolet flame detector, a methane concentration monitor, a hydrogen concentration monitor and a safety release system, the methane concentration monitor and the hydrogen concentration monitor are installed on the exhaust pipe, the ultraviolet flame detector is installed on the ground, the safety release system includes an igniter, a burner, a flare head and a flare barrel, an air inlet is provided on the lower side wall of the flare head, an igniter and a burner are arranged inside the flare head, the burner is connected to the flare barrel through a branch pipe, and the remote monitoring system, ultraviolet flame detector, methane concentration monitor, hydrogen concentration monitor and igniter are all connected to the control box through a signal cable.

[0006] Preferably, a wind shield is provided on the top of the torch head.

[0007] Preferably, a flame arrester is provided at the exhaust gas pipe near the end of the flare barrel of the venting flare.

[0008] Preferably, a heat insulation layer is provided inside the upper section of the flare tip.

[0009] Preferably, a plurality of air inlets are provided on the lower side wall of the flare barrel.

[0010] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0011] 1. The ultraviolet flame detector provided in the present invention can monitor the burning state of the torch in real time and accurately judge the burning state of the torch.

[0012] 2. The present invention has certain explosion-proof performance and high sensitivity, and can test the concentration of methane and hydrogen combustible gases in the exhaust gas in real time, providing hardware support for the system of the present invention to collect the concentration signal of combustible gases in the exhaust gas in real time and identify the critical value of the exhaust gas combustion concentration. It can achieve the safe discharge of exhaust gas, eliminate the long-lasting flame of the venting torch, save energy, and achieve the purpose of improving quality and efficiency.

[0013] 3. The present invention provides remote monitoring and local control functions, so that personnel can view the real-time data of the system through a control center or a mobile device and remotely operate the system.

[0014] 4. The upper section of the flare head of the present invention is made of ANSI 310S or the same material to ensure that the design temperature is not lower than 1200°C, and the lower section is made of 304 stainless steel or the same material to ensure that the design temperature is not lower than 800°C. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 This is the control flow chart of the control box.

[0017] Markings in the figure: 1 is the upper machine position, 2 is the control box, 3 is the ultraviolet flame detector, 4 is the methane concentration monitor, 5 is the hydrogen concentration monitor, 6 is the exhaust pipe, 7 is the wind shield, 8 is the thermal insulation layer, 9 is the igniter, 10 is the air inlet, 11 is the burner, 12 is the flare head, 13 is the flare barrel, and 14 is the flame arrester. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0019] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed for protection, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0021] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, further definition and explanation thereof is not required in subsequent drawings.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides an intelligent flare system for natural gas hydrogen-blended discharge, which is set up to ensure that the best ignition time is missed in an emergency situation of a natural gas station, resulting in a large amount of hydrogen-blended natural gas leakage and combustion. The automatic flare ignition function is realized by setting up online detection of the combustible gas concentration of the exhaust gas, online monitoring of the flare combustion state (combustion and extinguishment) and program design. By setting up combustion monitoring and safety protection, the normal and safe combustion of the exhaust gas is ensured.

[0023] The system includes a remote monitoring system, namely a host computer 1 and a local control system. The local control system includes a control box 2, an ultraviolet flame detector 3, a methane concentration monitor 4, a hydrogen concentration monitor 5 and a safety release system. The methane concentration monitor and the hydrogen concentration monitor are installed on the exhaust pipe 6, and the ultraviolet flame detector 3 is installed on the ground. The safety release system includes an igniter 9, a burner 11, a flare head 12 and a flare barrel 13. The lower side wall of the flare head 12 is provided with an air inlet 10. The burner is connected to the flare barrel 13 through a branch pipe. The upper machine position, ultraviolet flame detector, methane concentration monitor, hydrogen concentration monitor and igniter are all connected to the control box through a signal cable.

[0024] Preferably, the upper section of the flare head 12 is made of ANSI 310S or the same material to ensure that the design temperature is not lower than 1200°C, and the lower section is made of 304 stainless steel or the same material to ensure that the design temperature is not lower than 800°C.

[0025] Preferably, a flame arrester 14 is installed at the end of the exhaust pipe 6 close to the flare barrel 13 of the venting torch to prevent the flame from flashing back and causing a safety accident.

[0026] Preferably, a wind shield 7 is provided on the top of the torch head 12 to prevent the flame from being blown away by the wind and improve the reliability of combustion.

[0027] Preferably, a heat insulating layer 8 is provided inside the upper section of the flare head 12 to mitigate the intensity of flare radiation or solar radiation.

[0028] Preferably, a plurality of air inlets are circumferentially provided on the side wall of the lower section of the flare barrel body 13 to ensure sufficient air circulation during the combustion process.

[0029] Preferably, the exhaust pipe 6 and the branch pipe are both made of stainless steel, and the exhaust pipe 6 is buried underground to the venting torch.

[0030] The present invention is based on the critical value of combustion concentration and the combustion state (combustion and extinguishing) of the flare, and detects the concentration of gas components and monitors the combustion state of the flare online through a methane concentration monitor, a hydrogen concentration monitor and an ultraviolet flame detector, and can realize intelligent ignition or extinguishing of the venting flare system according to the concentration change of hydrogen-blended natural gas components and the combustion state of the flare, which is of great significance for preventing environmental pollution and personal injury caused by the emission of hydrogen-blended natural gas and realizing the safety of hydrogen-blended natural gas station operations. At the same time, the long-open flame of the existing flare system used to ensure that the flare is not extinguished is eliminated, achieving energy conservation and emission reduction.

[0031] In case of emergency discharge, the exhaust gas enters the exhaust pipe 6, and the methane concentration monitor 4 and hydrogen concentration monitor 5 on the exhaust pipe 6 detect that the concentration of the combustible gas reaches the critical value of the combustion concentration, and convert the concentration signal into an electrical signal and transmit it to the control box 2. The control box 2 issues an ignition command, and the ignition electrode in the igniter 9 generates a high-voltage arc, igniting the exhaust gas ejected by the burner 11 in the torch. The ultraviolet flame detector 3 detects the flame of the venting torch, and the system automatically stops discharging. The torch burns normally and the system enters the continuous monitoring mode. The ultraviolet flame detector 3, the methane concentration monitor 4 and the hydrogen concentration monitor 5 detect the combustion state of the torch and the concentration of the gas components online, and can realize the intelligent ignition or extinguishing of the venting torch system according to the changes in the concentration of the hydrogen-blended natural gas components and the combustion state of the torch.

[0032] When the ignition fails or the combustible concentration of the gas in the exhaust gas is low and the torch goes out, the ultraviolet flame detector 3 sends a signal to the control box 2, the system re-issues the ignition signal, and the igniter 9 performs re-ignition. If the flame is not detected after three ignition cycles, the system immediately sends an alarm signal.

[0033] The working process of the present invention is as follows: the upper machine position 1 is connected to the control box 2 through the communication system to realize the remote monitoring and local control functions, and realize the remote data collection and command transmission. The control box 2 receives the remote command from the upper machine position 1, and performs specific operations and controls on the system to form a data closed-loop processing.

[0034] The control system of the upper station 1 is set to manual and automatic modes, wherein:

[0035] In the automatic mode, first determine whether the torch is ignited. If no fire is detected, start the igniter 9 for 30 seconds, the ignition electrode generates a high-voltage arc, ignites the venting torch, and the ultraviolet flame detector 3 detects the flame of the venting torch, and the system automatically stops discharging; the venting torch enters the normal operating state. All operations are automatically performed by the control box 2 according to the preset program to ensure the continuous and stable operation of the system.

[0036] In manual mode, the operator can start and shut down the ignition system through the control panel, which is convenient for the operator to manually intervene in special circumstances, which may refer to torch maintenance, troubleshooting, etc.

[0037] Specifically, in an emergency, hydrogen-blended natural gas needs to be burned in large quantities, and to prevent the waste gas from entering the waste pipe when the optimal ignition time is missed and a large amount of hydrogen-blended natural gas leaks. The methane concentration monitor 4 and the hydrogen concentration monitor 5 monitor the gas concentrations of methane and hydrogen in the waste pipe 6. When the concentration reaches the set combustible concentration critical value, the concentration signal collected by the sensor in the monitor is converted into an electrical signal of 4 to 20 mA and transmitted to the control box 2. The control box 2 sends an ignition electrical signal to the igniter 9, and the igniter 9 instantly releases a high-voltage arc, thereby igniting the waste gas ejected from the burner 11, and realizing automatic ignition of the system.

[0038] Specifically, the ultraviolet flame detector 3 is installed on the ground and connected to the control box 2. The ultraviolet flame detector monitors the burning state of the torch online. When a flame is detected, the igniter 9 stops igniting and enters a normal operating state. If the ignition fails or the torch goes out accidentally, the ultraviolet flame detector 3 sends a signal to the control box 2, the system re-issues an ignition signal, and the igniter 9 performs another ignition. If the flame is still not detected after three ignition cycles, the system immediately sends an alarm signal.

[0039] Specifically, under the condition of stable combustion of waste gas, the system enters the continuous monitoring mode, and the ultraviolet flame detector 3, methane concentration monitor 4 and hydrogen concentration monitor 5 detect the combustion state of the torch and the concentration of gas components online, and can realize intelligent ignition or extinguishing of the venting torch system according to the combustion state of the torch and the change of the concentration of hydrogen-blended natural gas components. When the combustible concentration of the gas in the waste gas is low and causes the torch to be extinguished, intelligent ignition is realized through the monitoring system, solving prominent problems such as leakage of hydrogen-blended natural gas, ensuring the stability and reliability of the safe venting performance of the torch, and eliminating the long-lasting flame of the venting torch, saving energy, and achieving the purpose of improving quality and efficiency.

[0040] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A natural gas hydrogen-blended intelligent flare system, comprising a remote monitoring system and a local control system, characterized in that: The local control system includes a control box, an ultraviolet flame detector, a methane concentration monitor, a hydrogen concentration monitor and a safety release system. The methane concentration monitor and the hydrogen concentration monitor are installed on the exhaust pipe, and the ultraviolet flame detector is installed on the ground. The safety release system includes an igniter, a burner, a flare head and a flare barrel. An air inlet is provided on the lower side wall of the flare head. An igniter and a burner are arranged inside the flare head. The burner is connected to the flare barrel through a branch pipe. The remote monitoring system, ultraviolet flame detector, methane concentration monitor, hydrogen concentration monitor and igniter are all connected to the control box through a signal cable.

2. According to claim 1, a natural gas hydrogen-blended intelligent flare system is characterized by: A wind shield is arranged on the top of the torch head.

3. The intelligent flare system for releasing hydrogen from natural gas according to claim 1, characterized in that: The exhaust pipe is provided with a flame arrester near the end of the flare barrel of the venting flare.

4. The intelligent flare system for releasing hydrogen from natural gas according to claim 1, characterized in that: A heat insulation layer is arranged inside the upper section of the flare head.

5. The intelligent flare system for releasing hydrogen from natural gas according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of air inlets are provided on the side wall of the lower section of the flare barrel.

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