A vacuum storage tank condensate drainage system

Abstract

This utility model discloses a condensate drainage system for a vacuum storage tank, relating to the field of condensate drainage under vacuum conditions. It includes a vacuum storage tank, with a condensate collector installed at the bottom of the tank via a pipe. A drain pipe is installed at the bottom of the condensate collector, and both the pipe connecting the vacuum storage tank and the condensate collector and the drain pipe are equipped with on / off valves. This utility model not only eliminates the need to stop vacuum preparation during use, but also has low operating costs and low maintenance expenses, and high automatic drainage efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of condensate discharge under vacuum conditions, and more specifically, to a condensate discharge system for a vacuum storage tank. Background Technology

[0002] In the extraction process of traditional Chinese medicine, vacuum plays a crucial role. It reduces the gas pressure inside the concentrator, accelerating the boiling and evaporation of the medicinal liquid for concentration, and its application is widespread. However, vacuum processes carry a large amount of water vapor, which condenses and accumulates inside the vacuum storage tank as the temperature drops. As the amount of condensate inside the vacuum storage tank increases, the space inside is occupied, reducing vacuum energy and decreasing vacuum storage capacity, thus affecting production efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to drain the condensate from the vacuum storage tank.

[0003] Currently, there are two methods for discharging condensate from vacuum tanks: First, a high-pressure sealing water pump is installed at the bottom of the vacuum tank. An electrically controlled valve and a check valve are installed on the pipe between the pump's inlet and the tank. A level sensor is installed at the bottom of the tank. When the liquid level reaches the preset level, the valve and check valve are opened, activating the pump to discharge the condensate. While this method doesn't require stopping vacuum production, it incurs higher initial costs and maintenance expenses. Second, a discharge pipe is installed directly at the bottom of the tank, with a manual valve on it. During operation, vacuum production is periodically stopped, and the tank is no longer in use. The manual valve at the bottom is then opened, and once the pressure inside the tank balances with atmospheric pressure, the condensate automatically flows out. After the condensate is completely discharged, the manual valve is closed, allowing the tank to re-establish a vacuum and resume production. Although this emission method is simple and effective, and has virtually no investment or subsequent maintenance costs, it requires intermittent vacuum supply and manual operation, which affects continuous production. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a vacuum tank condensate drainage system that not only eliminates the need to stop vacuum preparation during use, but also has low operating costs and low maintenance expenses, and high automatic drainage efficiency.

[0005] To achieve the purpose of this utility model, the technical solution adopted is as follows: a vacuum storage tank condensate discharge system, including a vacuum storage tank, a condensate collector installed at the bottom of the vacuum storage tank through a pipe, a drain pipe installed at the bottom of the condensate collector, and a switch valve installed on both the pipe connecting the vacuum storage tank and the condensate collector and the drain pipe.

[0006] Furthermore, the switching valve is a diaphragm valve or a ball valve.

[0007] Furthermore, a sight glass is also installed on the condensate collector.

[0008] Furthermore, the switching valve is an electrically controlled valve, and a liquid level sensor is also installed on the condensate collector; it also includes a control module, and the output terminal of the liquid level sensor is connected to the input terminal of the control module, and the output terminal of the control module is connected to the relay of the electrically controlled valve.

[0009] Furthermore, the top of the vacuum tank is equipped with a connecting pipe for communicating with the concentrator.

[0010] Furthermore, the upper part of the vacuum tank is also connected to a vacuum pipeline, and a vacuum pump and an on / off valve are installed on the vacuum pipeline.

[0011] Furthermore, pressure gauges are installed on the top of the vacuum tank and at the inlet end of the vacuum pipeline.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: This invention features a condensate collector installed at the bottom of a vacuum tank via a pipe. Switch valves are installed at both the inlet and outlet of the condensate collector. During operation, the two valves are opened and closed intermittently. When the inlet valve is closed and the outlet valve is open, the condensate in the vacuum tank is discharged into the condensate collector for collection. When the inlet valve is closed and the outlet valve is closed, the condensate in the collector is discharged. This ensures that the vacuum tank remains isolated from the outside environment during condensate discharge, eliminating the need to pump the condensate out. Consequently, the vacuum tank operates without interrupting vacuum generation, has low operating and maintenance costs, high automatic drainage efficiency, and a simple structure. Attached Figure Description

[0013] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. These drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a system diagram of the vacuum tank condensate drainage system provided in Example 1; Figure 2 This is a system diagram of the vacuum tank condensate discharge system provided in Example 2.

[0015] The attached diagram shows the markings and corresponding component names: 1. Vacuum storage tank, 2. Condensate collector, 3. Drain pipe, 4. Switch valve, 5. Control module, 6. Liquid level sensor, 7. Sight glass, 8. Connecting pipe, 9. Vacuum pipe, 10. Vacuum pump, 11. On / off valve, 12. Pressure gauge. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0017] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0018] Example 1 like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a vacuum tank condensate drainage system, including a vacuum tank 1. The vacuum tank 1 is under negative pressure, and a condensate collector 2 is installed at the bottom of the vacuum tank 1 through a pipe, so that the vacuum tank 1 and the condensate collector 2 are connected by the pipe, thereby allowing the condensate in the vacuum tank 1 to be transported to the condensate collector 2 for collection. At the same time, a drain pipe 3 is also installed at the bottom of the condensate collector 2, which is used to drain the condensate in the condensate collector 2. Both the pipe connecting the vacuum tank 1 and the condensate collector 2 and the drain pipe 3 are equipped with a switch valve 4, which is a diaphragm valve or a ball valve, and both the diaphragm valve and the ball valve are manual valves.

[0019] To facilitate observation of the condensate level in the condensate collector 2, a sight glass 7 is also installed on the condensate collector 2. The operator can observe the condensate level in the condensate collector 2 through the sight glass 7, and thus decide whether to open or close the two switch valves 4.

[0020] To facilitate the use of vacuum in the concentrator, a connecting pipe 8 for connecting to the concentrator is also installed on the top of the vacuum storage tank 1; to facilitate the control of the gas pressure in the concentrator, a control valve is also installed on the connecting pipe 8, which can be selected as an electric valve or a manual valve as needed.

[0021] To ensure vacuum preparation in vacuum tank 1, a vacuum pipeline 9 is connected to vacuum tank 1, and a vacuum pump 10 is installed on vacuum pipeline 9. Vacuum pump 10 is used to evacuate the vacuum tank 1, and an on / off valve 11 is installed at the inlet of vacuum pump 10. The on / off valve 11 controls the connection and disconnection of vacuum pipeline 9 to ensure vacuum preparation in vacuum tank 1 and prevent outside air from entering vacuum tank 1 through vacuum pipeline 9 after vacuum preparation is completed. In this embodiment, the on / off valve 11 can be selected as an electric valve or a manual valve as needed. To prevent condensate in vacuum tank 1 from affecting vacuum preparation, vacuum pipeline 9 is preferably connected to the upper part of vacuum tank 1.

[0022] In order to facilitate real-time monitoring of the pressure inside the vacuum tank 1 and the pressure at the inlet of the vacuum pump 10, pressure gauges 12 are installed on the top of the vacuum tank 1 and at the inlet of the vacuum pipeline 9. The pressure gauges 12 can detect and display the pressure inside the vacuum tank 1 and the pressure at the inlet of the vacuum pump 10 in real time, so that the staff can observe them in real time.

[0023] During normal use, the switch valve 4 on the pipeline connecting the vacuum tank 1 and the condensate collector 2 is in the normally open state. The condensate in the vacuum tank 1 flows into the bottom of the vacuum tank 1 by natural gravity and enters the condensate collector 2 through the pipeline. At this time, the liquid level in the condensate collector 2 is checked periodically through the sight glass 7. When it is necessary to drain the condensate in the condensate collector 2, manually close the switch valve 4 on the pipeline between the vacuum tank 1 and the condensate collector 2, and then manually open the switch valve 4 on the drain pipe 3 to allow the water in the condensate collector 2 to flow out naturally. After the condensate in the condensate collector 2 has been drained, manually close the switch valve 4 on the drain pipe 3 and manually close the switch valve 4 on the pipeline between the vacuum tank 1 and the condensate collector 2 to allow the condensate collector 2 to continue collecting condensate, and repeat this process.

[0024] The condensate drainage system for the vacuum storage tank 1 provided in this embodiment is suitable for working conditions where the condensate volume is small, frequent drainage is not required, and manual operation is convenient.

[0025] Example 2 like Figure 2 As shown, the difference between the vacuum storage tank 1 condensate discharge system provided in this embodiment and that in embodiment 1 is that the switching valve 4 is an electrically controlled valve, and a liquid level sensor 6 for detecting the liquid level in the condensate collector 2 is also installed on the condensate collector 2.

[0026] The condensate drainage system of the vacuum storage tank 1 provided in this embodiment also includes a control module 5, and the output terminal of the liquid level sensor 6 is connected to the input terminal of the control module 5, and the output terminal of the control module 5 is connected to the relay of the solenoid valve, so that the liquid level sensor 6 transmits the detected liquid level signal to the control module 5. The control module 5 converts the liquid level signal detected by the liquid level sensor 6 into a specific liquid level height value, and compares the liquid level height value with the liquid level height value preset by the control module 5, thereby sending corresponding control commands to the relays of the two switching valves 4, so that the two switching valves 4 automatically open or close after receiving the control command; at the same time, the control module 5 also presets the opening time of the switching valve 4 on the drain pipe 3.

[0027] During normal use, the switch valve 4 on the pipeline connecting the vacuum tank 1 and the condensate collector 2 is in the normally open state. Condensate in the vacuum tank 1 flows into the bottom of the vacuum tank 1 by gravity and then enters the condensate collector 2 through the pipeline. During this process, the liquid level sensor 6 detects the liquid level in the condensate collector 2 in real time and transmits the detected liquid level signal to the control module 5. The control module 5 converts the liquid level signal detected by the liquid level sensor 6 into a specific liquid level height value and compares this value with the preset liquid level height value of the control module 5. When the liquid level height value detected by the liquid level sensor 6 is greater than the preset liquid level height value of the control module 5, the control module 5 sends a signal to the switch valve 4 between the vacuum tank 1 and the condensate collector 2. When the electrical appliance sends a shutdown command, the switch valve 4 between the vacuum tank 1 and the condensate collector 2 automatically closes. At the same time, the control module 5 sends an opening command to the relay of the switch valve 4 on the drain pipe 3. The switch valve 4 on the drain pipe 3 automatically opens, allowing the water in the condensate collector 2 to flow out naturally. When the opening time of the switch valve 4 on the drain pipe 3 reaches the preset time of the control module 5, the switch valve 4 on the drain pipe 3 automatically closes. The control module 5 then sends an opening command to the relay of the switch valve 4 between the vacuum tank 1 and the condensate collector 2. Upon receiving the opening command from the control module 5, the relay of the switch valve 4 automatically opens the switch valve 4 between the vacuum tank 1 and the condensate collector 2, allowing the condensate collector 2 to continue collecting condensate. This process is repeated.

[0028] The condensate drainage system for the vacuum storage tank 1 provided in this embodiment is suitable for working conditions where the condensate volume is large, frequent drainage is required, and manual operation is inconvenient.

[0029] Those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments are merely for clearly illustrating the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make other changes or modifications based on the above disclosure, and these changes or modifications still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vacuum tank condensate water drain system characterized by, The system includes a vacuum tank (1), a condensate collector (2) is installed at the bottom of the vacuum tank (1) via a pipe, and a drain pipe (3) is installed at the bottom of the condensate collector (2). Switch valves (4) are installed on both the pipe connecting the vacuum tank (1) and the condensate collector (2) and the drain pipe (3).

2. The vacuum tank condensate drain system of claim 1, wherein, The switching valve (4) is a diaphragm valve or a ball valve.

3. The vacuum tank condensate drain system of claim 2, wherein, The condensate collector (2) is also equipped with a sight glass (7).

4. The vacuum tank condensate drain system of claim 1, wherein, The switching valve (4) is an electrically controlled valve, and a liquid level sensor (6) is also installed on the condensate collector (2); it also includes a control module (5), and the output end of the liquid level sensor (6) is connected to the input end of the control module (5), and the output end of the control module (5) is connected to the relay of the electrically controlled valve.

5. The vacuum tank condensate water drain system of claim 2 or 3 or 4, wherein, The top of the vacuum tank (1) is equipped with a connecting pipe (8) for connecting to the concentrator.

6. The vacuum storage tank condensate drainage system according to claim 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that, The upper part of the vacuum storage tank (1) is also connected to a vacuum pipeline (9), and a vacuum pump (10) and an on / off valve (11) are installed on the vacuum pipeline (9).

7. The vacuum tank condensate water drain system of claim 2 or 3 or 4, wherein, Pressure gauges (12) are installed on the top of the vacuum tank (1) and at the inlet end of the vacuum pipeline (9).

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