Dual purpose cushioning system
By designing a dual-purpose buffer system, the problem that buffer tanks in the chemical industry cannot simultaneously meet the needs of normal processes and emergency situations has been solved, achieving safe and efficient treatment of reaction waste and improving equipment utilization.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- LAIR LIQUIDE SA POUR LETUDE & LEXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing buffer tanks cannot simultaneously meet the requirements of normal processes and the safety needs in emergency situations in the chemical industry, resulting in low equipment utilization and high costs.
Design a dual-purpose buffer system including a main reactor, a first buffer tank and a pressure safety valve. The system achieves safe storage and discharge of reactants through a flow regulating valve and a discharge pipeline. Combined with pressure and flow control, it ensures effective operation under both normal process conditions and emergency situations.
It enables the safe and efficient collection and treatment of reaction waste under both normal process conditions and emergency situations, preventing spills and reducing the number of devices and costs.
Smart Images

Figure CN224470082U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of industrial gas applications and to a dual-purpose buffer system. Background Technology
[0002] Gas buffer systems are widely used in the chemical industry. These systems typically consist of buffer tanks that store high-pressure gases. Common applications include supplying gas to the appropriate pipelines when pipeline pressure drops, compensating for the pressure drop in process gases. Another example is the use of autoclaves in certain reaction systems; when an autoclave overpressures or boils, reaction waste must be safely collected and disposed of to prevent harm to the environment and personnel.
[0003] Buffer tanks are generally large in size and need to withstand high pressure, resulting in high manufacturing costs. Extensive use of buffer tanks can also impose a significant economic burden on businesses. For cost reasons, some companies use single-function buffer tanks as reaction waste collection devices or as safety measures. However, these solutions often fail to simultaneously meet normal process requirements and emergency safety needs. For example, the buffer tank's capacity may be insufficient to hold all discharged materials in an emergency; the lack of an effective discharge mechanism may prevent rapid response under excessive pressure; and a lack of comprehensive consideration of normal process flows and safety measures may lead to low equipment utilization.
[0004] Therefore, the rational use of buffer tanks and the reduction of their number are urgent issues that need to be addressed. Utility Model Content
[0005] The general objective of this disclosure is to provide a dual-purpose buffer system that can collect waste gases from preceding processes and safely collect and treat reaction wastes in emergency situations, such as when overpressure and boiling occur in the autoclave of a reaction system.
[0006] The first aspect of this application provides a buffer system comprising a main reactor, wherein reactants discharged from the main reactor enter a first buffer tank through a first channel to store the reactants; and a second channel leading out from the main reactor is connected to the first buffer tank through a pressure relief valve (PSV).
[0007] The outlet of the first buffer tank is connected to the first discharge pipeline and the second discharge pipeline through the first outlet pipe and the second outlet pipe, respectively, for discharging the reactants from the first buffer tank.
[0008] Furthermore, a flow regulating valve (e.g., a needle valve) or a pressure reducing valve is installed on the first channel. This flow regulating valve or pressure reducing valve reduces the pressure of the reactants flowing through it, making the pressure inside the first buffer tank close to atmospheric pressure.
[0009] Furthermore, the first exhaust line remains open for exhaust purposes.
[0010] Furthermore, the second discharge line is opened periodically.
[0011] Furthermore, a second discharge line extends to the bottom of the first buffer tank. In this application, the second discharge line is connected to a pumping unit to extract, collect, and treat waste and wastewater.
[0012] Furthermore, a pressure relief valve (PSV, such as a pressure relief valve) is installed in the second channel. A pressure relief valve is a safety device that protects pressure vessels and piping systems. When the pressure in the second channel exceeds a predetermined safety limit, it automatically releases fluid (such as gas or liquid) to relieve excess pressure, thereby preventing equipment damage and accidents.
[0013] Furthermore, throttling valves are installed at the inlet and outlet of the main reactor and the first buffer tank, respectively. The opening and closing of these throttling valves allows for the flow and blockage of the stream in the first and second channels. The opening degree of the throttling valve determines the flow rate in these channels. Maximum opening refers to the throttling valve being fully open. Zero opening refers to the throttling valve being fully closed.
[0014] Furthermore, the second channel is used to transport reactants discharged from the pressure relief valve PSV in case of an emergency.
[0015] Furthermore, when the first buffer tank is under vacuum, the first channel is opened, the reactants enter the first buffer tank, and the first discharge pipeline is opened to discharge the reactants.
[0016] Furthermore, a pressure element and / or a flow acquisition element are provided on the first channel to acquire pressure signals and / or flow signals, and to control the opening degree of the throttle valve according to the pressure signals and / or flow signals.
[0017] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution provided in this application has the following advantages:
[0018] 1. Compared with the prior art, the main innovation of this application lies in the dual-purpose buffer system design, which can function in both normal discharge of reactants and emergency situations, while ensuring sufficient capacity to prevent spillage.
[0019] 2. This dual-purpose buffer system design has a large volume, sufficient to accommodate all reactants that may be discharged from the reactor. Attached Figure Description
[0020] The advantages and spirit of this application can be further understood through the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the dual-purpose buffer system of this application.
[0022] In the diagram: 101 represents the main reactor, 102 represents the first channel, 103 represents the first buffer tank, 104 represents the second channel, 105 represents the first outlet pipe, 106 represents the second outlet pipe, 107 represents the first discharge pipe, and 108 represents the second discharge pipe. Detailed Implementation
[0023] The specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this application should be understood as not being limited to the embodiments described below, and the technical concept of this application can be implemented in combination with other known technologies or other technologies with the same function as those known technologies.
[0024] In the following description of specific embodiments, in order to clearly illustrate the structure and working method, a number of directional terms will be used for description. However, terms such as "front", "rear", "left", "right", "outer", "inner", "outward", "inward", "axial", and "radial" should be understood as convenient terms and not as limiting terms.
[0025] In the following description of specific embodiments, it should be understood that the terms "length," "width," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the purpose of simplifying the description. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting this application. Furthermore, when the first structure is described as being positioned "above" or "below" the second structure, this should be understood to mean that the first structure is positioned further away from or closer to the horizontal plane.
[0026] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and do not refer to a limitation on time sequence, quantity, or importance. They should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated, but are merely used to distinguish one technical feature from another in this technical solution. Therefore, a feature specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified. Similarly, qualifiers such as "a" appearing herein do not refer to a limitation on quantity, but describe technical features not mentioned above. Likewise, unless a noun is modified by a specific quantifier, it should be considered herein to include both singular and plural forms; the technical solution may include either a singular or plural number of that technical feature. Similarly, modifiers such as "approximately" or "approximately" appearing before numerals generally include the number itself, and their specific meaning should be understood in conjunction with the context.
[0027] It should be understood that in this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.
[0028] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium; or a connection within two components or an interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. "Fixed connection," "fixed connection," or "non-moving connection" is understood to refer to a connection between two or more structural members that is not constructed to provide relative movement. An embodiment of a fixed connection is a welded connection or a bolted connection, and in some cases, a weld and bolted connection. "Moving connection," "active," or "sliding connection" is understood to refer to a connection between two or more structural members that allows horizontal and / or vertical relative movement between the members under extreme dynamic loads. Such connections typically do not allow movement under static loads or general dynamic loads (e.g., those imposed by light / moderate wind forces).
[0029] Terminology Explanation
[0030] The terms “unit,” “item,” “object,” and “module” described in this specification refer to a unit for performing at least one function and operation, and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.
[0031] The terms "high pressure" and "medium pressure" mean that high pressure is higher than medium pressure, so the difference between the two may be relatively small.
[0032] Unless otherwise clearly indicated, each aspect or embodiment defined herein may be combined with any other aspect or embodiment. In particular, any feature indicated as preferred or advantageous may be combined with any other feature indicated as preferred or advantageous.
[0033] Specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are present throughout multiple views of the drawings. The same reference numerals in the embodiments generally denote the same or corresponding elements. Therefore, the description of the embodiments is incorporated herein by reference, and descriptions of common subject matter across embodiments are generally not repeated herein.
[0034] The dual-purpose buffer system provided in this application includes a main reactor 101. The reactants discharged from the main reactor 101 enter the first buffer tank 103 through the first channel 102, and the reactants are stored in the first buffer tank 103.
[0035] Meanwhile, the second channel 104 leading out from the main reactor 101 is connected to the first buffer tank 103 through a pressure relief valve (PSV). The outlet of the first buffer tank 103 is connected to the first discharge pipeline 107 and the second discharge pipeline 108 through the first outlet pipe 105 and the second outlet pipe 106, respectively, for discharging the reactants from the first buffer tank 103.
[0036] The first channel 102 may be equipped with a flow regulating valve (e.g., a needle valve) or a pressure reducing valve to reduce the pressure of the reactants flowing through it, so that the pressure inside the first buffer tank 103 is approximately atmospheric pressure.
[0037] The first discharge line 107 can be kept open for venting. The second discharge line 108 is opened periodically. The second discharge line 108 extends to the bottom of the first buffer tank 103 and can be connected to additional pumping equipment to suck out, collect, and treat the waste and waste liquid generated in the reaction.
[0038] A pressure relief valve (PSV, such as a pressure relief valve) is a safety device that protects pressure vessels and piping systems. When the pressure exceeds a predetermined safety limit, it automatically releases fluid (such as gas or liquid), relieving excess pressure and preventing equipment damage and accidents.
[0039] Throttling valves are installed at the inlet and outlet of the main reactor 101 and the first buffer tank 103, respectively. The opening and closing of the throttling valves allows for the flow and blockage of the stream in the first channel 102 and the second channel 104. The opening degree of the throttling valve determines the flow rate in these channels. Maximum opening means the throttling valve is fully open. Zero opening means the throttling valve is fully closed.
[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the first channel 102 carries reactants discharged from the main reactor 101. The second channel 104 carries reactants intended for discharge from a pressure relief valve in case of emergency.
[0041] When the first buffer tank 103 is in a vacuum state, the first channel 102 is opened, the reactants enter the first buffer tank 103, and the first discharge pipeline 107 is opened to discharge the reactants.
[0042] In the example of this application, a pressure element and / or a flow acquisition element are provided on the first channel 102 to acquire pressure signals and / or flow signals, and to control the opening degree of the throttle valve according to the pressure signals and / or flow signals.
[0043] The embodiments described in this specification are merely preferred embodiments of this application. These embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Any technical solutions that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the concept of this application through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation should be within the scope of this application.
Claims
1. A dual-purpose buffer system, characterized in that, It includes a main reactor, the reactants discharged from the main reactor enter a first buffer tank through a first channel to store the reactants; a second channel leading out from the main reactor is connected to the first buffer tank through a pressure safety valve; The outlet of the first buffer tank is connected to the first discharge pipeline and the second discharge pipeline through the first outlet pipe and the second outlet pipe, respectively, for discharging the reactants from the first buffer tank.
2. The buffer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A flow regulating valve or a pressure reducing valve is installed on the first channel.
3. The buffer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first discharge line is kept open for exhaust purposes.
4. The buffer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second discharge line is opened periodically.
5. The buffer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second discharge line extends to the bottom of the first buffer tank.
6. The buffer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure safety valve is installed in the second channel.
7. The buffer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Throttling valves are installed at the inlet and outlet of the main reactor and the first buffer tank, respectively.
8. The buffer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second channel is used to transport reactants discharged from the pressure relief valve in case of an emergency.
9. The buffer system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, When the first buffer tank is under vacuum, the first channel is opened, the reactants enter the first buffer tank, and the first discharge pipeline is opened to discharge the reactants.
10. The buffer system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The first channel is equipped with a pressure element and / or a flow acquisition element to acquire pressure signals and / or flow signals, and to control the opening degree of the throttle valve according to the pressure signals and / or flow signals.