An automatic odorization device for liquefied petroleum gas

Abstract

This utility model discloses an automatic odorization device for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), belonging to the field of LPG technology, aiming to solve the problems of inaccurate metering, poor safety, and instability in existing odorization devices. The device includes a storage tank, an odorization pipeline, and a return pipeline. A metering pump, a damper with a pressure gauge, and a back pressure valve are sequentially installed on the odorization pipeline, and it is connected to a one-way valve on the LPG pipeline. The core feature is that the device also includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the metering pump and pressure gauge, and can receive pressure data to control the start, stop, and pressure settings of the metering pump in a closed-loop manner. Through pressure feedback control and a unique return pipeline design, this utility model achieves accurate metering, stable operation, and flexible adjustment during the odorization process, significantly improving the safety and reliability of the equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of liquefied petroleum gas, and in particular to an automatic odorization device for liquefied petroleum gas. Background Technology

[0002] Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), as a highly efficient and clean energy source, is widely used in various fields such as civil, commercial, industrial, and transportation. However, LPG is gaseous at normal temperature and pressure, and its main components are colorless and odorless. This physical characteristic means that when leaks occur due to pipeline corrosion, valve damage, or human error, they cannot be detected by human smell. They can easily accumulate in the air and mix to form explosive gases, posing a significant threat to people's lives and property.

[0003] To address this significant safety hazard, gas safety regulations mandate the odorization of LPG, which involves adding one or more chemicals with a strong, distinctive, and unpleasant odor (commonly known as odorants, such as ethanethiol and tetrahydrothiophene). This ensures that gas leaks can be detected promptly when the concentration is well below the lower explosive limit (LEL), allowing for emergency measures to be taken and preventing accidents.

[0004] In existing technologies, there are various methods for odorizing LPG, but they generally suffer from low automation, inaccurate metering, and high safety risks. Early odorization methods mainly relied on manual pouring, where operators manually poured a measured amount of odorant directly into the LPG storage tank based on an estimated gas delivery volume. This method has significant drawbacks.

[0005] To improve upon the above methods, some simple differential pressure or Venturi-type odorization devices have emerged. While these devices achieve automatic dosing, their odorization rate is closely related to the pressure and flow rate of the LPG main pipeline. When LPG flow fluctuates significantly, the device cannot perform precise proportional adjustment, making it difficult to guarantee a constant odorization concentration. Furthermore, these simple mechanical devices also suffer from problems such as easy clogging and difficult maintenance.

[0006] In conclusion, neither traditional manual operation nor simple mechanical odorization can accurately and stably control the proportion of odorant added. Therefore, developing an automatic odorization device for liquefied petroleum gas that can achieve automatic control, precise metering, safety and reliability, and adaptability to different operating conditions has become a pressing technical challenge for the gas industry. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and provide an automatic odorizing device for liquefied petroleum gas that is simple in structure, accurate in odorization, and safe and reliable.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model adopts the following technical solution: a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) odorization device, comprising a storage tank, an odorization pipeline and a return pipeline connected to the storage tank. The outlets of the odorization pipeline and the return pipeline converge and are connected to the LPG pipeline via a one-way valve installed on the LPG pipeline.

[0009] Crucially, before connecting to the check valve, the odorization pipeline is sequentially equipped with a metering pump, a damper, and a back pressure valve, and an odorization pipeline gate valve is provided for flow control. Similarly, before connecting to the check valve, the return pipeline is equipped with a return pipeline gate valve.

[0010] This equipment also includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the metering pump and the pressure gauge mounted on the damper. The core function of the controller is to receive pressure data from the pressure gauge in real time and, according to a preset logic program, precisely set and control the operating level and start / stop status of the metering pump, forming a closed-loop feedback control to ensure the stability and accuracy of the odorization process.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution of this utility model, the specific structure may further include:

[0012] The storage tank is preferably made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, and a magnetic level gauge is installed on the tank body to intuitively and in real time monitor the remaining amount of odorant inside.

[0013] To ensure safe use in explosive hazardous environments, the controller is encapsulated in a separate explosion-proof control box.

[0014] To protect core components and facilitate integrated management, the controller, metering pump, damper, and back pressure valve are all installed inside a stainless steel protective box.

[0015] The odorization pipeline is connected to the bottom of the storage tank to ensure that the odorant can flow out smoothly. A control ball valve is installed at the connection point to facilitate the shut-off of the odorant source during maintenance.

[0016] The return pipeline is connected to the top of the storage tank, and a control gate valve is installed at the connection point. This return pipeline design enables the equipment to have an internal circulation debugging function, allowing for equipment operation testing and pipeline venting without adding odor to the LPG pipeline, greatly improving operational flexibility and safety.

[0017] Beneficial effects:

[0018] Precise and stable control: Through the linkage between the pressure gauge and the controller, closed-loop feedback control of the odorization process is realized. The metering pump can be dynamically adjusted according to the actual pipeline pressure, ensuring the stability and metering accuracy of the odorant injection.

[0019] Flexible and versatile functions: The innovative reflux pipeline design enables the equipment to have two working modes: "odorization" and "overpressure protection", which are highly practical and safe.

[0020] High safety: The controller is placed in an explosion-proof box, and the core components are protected by a stainless steel enclosure. Combined with the backflow prevention function of the one-way valve, multiple safety guarantees are provided.

[0021] The structure is clear and easy to maintain: each pipeline is equipped with an independent control valve, making it simple and convenient to inspect, repair and replace parts. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the automatic odorization device for liquefied petroleum gas of this utility model.

[0024] The components are as follows: 1: Storage tank; 2: Natural gas pipeline; 3: Check valve; 4: Odor-adding pipeline gate valve; 5: Return pipeline gate valve; 6: Metering pump; 7: Damper; 8: Back pressure valve; 9: Controller; 10: Pressure gauge; 11: Magnetic level gauge; 12: Stainless steel protective box; 13: Control ball valve; 14: Control gate valve; 100: Odor-adding pipeline; 200: Return pipeline. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0026] The technical solution of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited to this embodiment.

[0027] This embodiment provides an automatic odorization device for liquefied petroleum gas, the overall structure of which is shown in the figure. It mainly includes a storage tank 1 and an odorization core component installed in a stainless steel protective box 12, and is connected to an external liquefied petroleum gas pipeline 2 through an odorization pipeline 100 and a return pipeline 200.

[0028] Connection between storage tank and pipeline

[0029] Storage tank 1 is a pressure vessel made of stainless steel for storing liquid odorant. A magnetic level gauge 11 is installed on the side wall of the tank, allowing operators to monitor the remaining odorant level at any time without opening the tank.

[0030] Odor addition line 100 is connected to the bottom of storage tank 1 via a control ball valve 13 for discharging odorant. Return line 200 is connected to the top of storage tank 1 via a control gate valve 14 for returning odorant to the tank.

[0031] Odor-adding core components and processes

[0032] The odorant from odorization pipeline 100 flows sequentially through the following core components:

[0033] Metering pump 6: As the actuator, it is responsible for metering the odorant. This pump has multiple adjustable levels, each corresponding to a precise odor dosing rate, for example: level 1 80 g / hour to level 10 260 g / hour.

[0034] Damper 7: Installed at the outlet of metering pump 6, it buffers and absorbs pressure pulsations generated during pump operation, making the flow of odorant smoother. A pressure gauge 10 is mounted on damper 7 for real-time monitoring of the current pipeline pressure.

[0035] Back pressure valve 8: Provides a stable operating back pressure for metering pump 6, ensuring accurate metering under various operating conditions and further improving odorization accuracy.

[0036] After passing through the aforementioned components, the odorization pipeline 100, via the odorization pipeline gate valve 4 and check valve 3, ultimately injects the odorant into the liquefied petroleum gas pipeline 2. The check valve 3 plays a crucial role in preventing backflow, strictly preventing high-pressure LPG gas from entering the odorization equipment.

[0037] Control system and working mode

[0038] The brain of this device is the controller 9, which is safely housed in an explosion-proof control box and is electrically connected to the metering pump 6 and the pressure gauge 10.

[0039] Working mode 1: Normal odor addition mode

[0040] During operation, open the control ball valve 13 at the bottom of the storage tank and the gate valve 4 on the odorization pipeline, while simultaneously closing the two valves 5 and 14 on the return pipeline. The operator sets the operating level of the metering pump 6 via the controller 9. After the equipment starts, the controller 9 reads the data from the pressure gauge 10 in real time. If the pressure is stable within the preset range, the current operating level is maintained; if abnormal pressure fluctuations occur, the controller 9 can automatically adjust or stop the metering pump 6, thereby achieving intelligent, precise, and stable odorization.

[0041] The operating frequency of the metering pump can be manually adjusted according to the weight of the liquefied petroleum gas and the standard odorization concentration to ensure uniform and stable addition of odorant. The hourly odorization amounts at different settings are as follows: Setting 1: 80g, Setting 2: 100g, Setting 3: 120g, Setting 4: 140g, Setting 5: 160g, Setting 6: 180g, Setting 7: 200g, Setting 8: 220g, Setting 9: 240g, Setting 10: 260g. Currently, setting 7 is used, and the concentration range at different remaining levels in the cylinder, measured by a detector, is 22-35 mg / m³, which basically meets the odorization specifications.

[0042] Operating Mode 2: Overpressure Protection

[0043] The automatic odorizer for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has an overpressure shutdown function. It uses an electrical contact pressure gauge to preset the pressure and shut down when overpressure occurs, preventing odorant leakage. A one-way valve is installed in the pipeline to prevent LPG from flowing back into the odorizer line. In case of overpressure, valve 13 at the bottom of the storage tank and two valves 5 and 14 on the return line are opened, allowing the odorant to flow back to the top of the storage tank 1 through the return line 200.

[0044] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An automatic odorizing device for liquefied petroleum gas, characterized in that, include: The storage tank (1) and the odorization pipeline (100) and return pipeline (200) connected to the storage tank (1) are respectively connected to the one-way valve (3) installed on the natural gas pipeline (2). An odorization pipeline gate valve (4) is installed between the odorization pipeline (100) and the one-way valve (3). A return pipeline gate valve (5) is installed between the return pipeline (200) and the one-way valve (3). A metering pump (6), a damper (7) and a back pressure valve (8) are installed on the odorization pipeline (100) in sequence. The system also includes a controller (9). The controller (9) is electrically connected to the pressure gauge (10) on the metering pump (6) and the damper (7). The controller is configured to receive the pressure data from the pressure gauge (10) and set and control the gear and start / stop of the metering pump.

2. The automatic odorizing equipment for liquefied petroleum gas according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage tank (1) is used to store odorant. The storage tank is made of stainless steel and is equipped with a magnetic float level gauge (11).

3. The automatic LPG odorizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The controller (9) is located inside an explosion-proof control box.

4. The automatic LPG odorizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The controller (9), metering pump (6), damper (7) and back pressure valve (8) are housed in a stainless steel protective box (12).

5. The automatic LPG odorizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The odorization pipeline (100) is connected to the bottom of the storage tank (1), and a control ball valve (13) is also provided at the connection between the odorization pipeline (100) and the storage tank (1).

6. The automatic odorization device for liquefied petroleum gas according to claim 1, characterized in that: The return line (200) is connected to the top of the storage tank (1), and a control gate valve (14) is also provided at the connection between the return line (200) and the storage tank (1).

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