Automatic handling system for high-purity gas cylinders

Abstract

This utility model discloses an automatic processing system for high-purity gas cylinders, belonging to the field of rare gas preparation technology. It includes an oven, a nitrogen pipe, an instrument air pipe, a vent pipe, a vacuum pump, and a control system. The oven has a built-in manifold and an electric heater. The nitrogen pipe is connected to the manifold and is equipped with a first pneumatic diaphragm valve, which is connected to the instrument air pipe via a first solenoid valve. The vent pipe is connected to the nitrogen pipe via a second pneumatic diaphragm valve, which is connected to the instrument air pipe via a second solenoid valve. The vacuum pump is connected to the nitrogen pipe via a third pneumatic diaphragm valve, which is connected to the instrument air pipe via a third solenoid valve. The electric heater, vacuum pump, first solenoid valve, second solenoid valve, and third solenoid valve are all connected to the control system. This utility model solves the problems of high labor intensity and high cost associated with manual operation in the processing of high-purity gas cylinders in existing technologies.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of rare gas preparation technology and relates to an automatic processing system for high-purity gas cylinders. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, high-purity gases are generally packaged in gas cylinders. Pre-filling cylinder treatment is crucial for ensuring product gas purity, aiming to remove as much residual oxygen and water as possible. The most effective method currently is to place the cylinder in an oven, fill it with dry, anhydrous nitrogen, and heat it. Heating increases the activity of impurity molecules, causing oxygen, water, and other impurities adhering to the cylinder's inner wall to detach. A vacuum pump then extracts these impurities along with the nitrogen. However, the nitrogen filling, heating, and vacuuming steps often need to be repeated several times. Current procedures involve manually opening and closing multiple valves, requiring operators to memorize the valve opening and closing sequence, increasing labor intensity. Incorrect valve opening or closing during operation can lead to contamination of the cylinder's internal and external components or damage to the vacuum pump, causing property damage and increasing processing costs. Utility Model Content

[0003] This invention provides an automatic processing system for high-purity gas cylinders to solve the problems of high labor intensity and high cost caused by manual operation in the existing technology for processing high-purity gas cylinders.

[0004] To solve the above problems, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows: It includes an oven and a nitrogen pipe. The oven has a built-in manifold and an electric heater. The manifold is connected to the gas cylinder to be processed. The nitrogen pipe is connected to the manifold. The electric heater is used to heat the gas cylinder inside the oven. Nitrogen is introduced into the gas cylinder through the nitrogen pipe. It also includes an instrument air pipe, a vent pipe, a vacuum pump, and a control system. The vent pipe is used to vent the nitrogen from the gas cylinder. The vacuum pump is used to evacuate the gas cylinder. The nitrogen pipe is equipped with a first pneumatic diaphragm valve. The drive air interface of the first pneumatic diaphragm valve is connected to the instrument air pipe through a first solenoid valve. The vent pipe and the vacuum pump... The pump is located between the oven and the first solenoid valve. The vent pipe and the nitrogen pipe are connected via a second pneumatic diaphragm valve. The drive gas port of the second pneumatic diaphragm valve is connected to the instrument air pipe via a second solenoid valve. The vacuum pump and the nitrogen pipe are connected via a third pneumatic diaphragm valve. The drive gas port of the third pneumatic diaphragm valve is connected to the instrument air pipe via a third solenoid valve. The electric heater, the vacuum pump, the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, and the third solenoid valve are all connected to the control system. The control system is used to control the start and stop of the electric heater and to control the opening and closing of the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, and the third solenoid valve.

[0005] A more specific technical solution than the above-mentioned technical solution may be: a pressure transmitter is further provided between the oven and the first solenoid valve, the pressure transmitter is connected to the control system, and the pressure transmitter is used to measure the pressure and upload the pressure value to the control system.

[0006] Furthermore, the electric heater is connected to the control system via a temperature controller, which controls the heating temperature.

[0007] Furthermore, the manifold is connected to multiple gas cylinders to be processed via multiple connecting branch pipes.

[0008] Furthermore: the control system is a DCS controller or a PLC controller.

[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, this utility model has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art: By controlling the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve and the third solenoid valve through the control system, the first pneumatic diaphragm valve, the second pneumatic diaphragm valve and the third pneumatic diaphragm valve are indirectly controlled respectively, realizing the automatic nitrogen filling, heating and vacuuming steps of the gas cylinder during the oven treatment. There is no need for the operator to manually open and close the valve according to the time. It is only necessary to set the oven heating time and the opening and closing time of the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve and the third solenoid valve on the control system operation interface, which simplifies the operation, improves the gas cylinder processing efficiency and reduces the processing cost. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model.

[0011] In the diagram: 1. Oven; 2. Manifold; 3. Gas cylinder; 4. Instrument air pipe; 5. Nitrogen pipe; 6. Vent pipe; 7. Vacuum pump; 8. Temperature controller; 9. Electric heater; 10. Pressure transmitter; 11. First solenoid valve; 12. Second solenoid valve; 13. Third solenoid valve; 14. First pneumatic diaphragm valve; 15. Second pneumatic diaphragm valve; 16. Third pneumatic diaphragm valve; 17. Control system. Detailed Implementation

[0012] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples: like Figure 1The high-purity gas cylinder automatic processing system shown includes an oven 1 and a nitrogen pipe 5. The oven 1 contains a manifold 2 and an electric heater 9. The manifold 2 is connected to three gas cylinders 3 to be processed via three connecting branches. The nitrogen pipe 5 is connected to the manifold 2. The electric heater 9 is used to heat the gas cylinders 3 in the oven 1. Nitrogen is supplied to the gas cylinders 3 through the nitrogen pipe 5. The system also includes an instrument air pipe 4, a vent pipe 6, a vacuum pump 7, and a control system 17. The vent pipe 6 is used to vent the gas cylinders. Nitrogen gas is stored in cylinder 3. Vacuum pump 7 is used to evacuate cylinder 3. Nitrogen pipe 5 is equipped with a first pneumatic diaphragm valve 14. The drive gas interface of the first pneumatic diaphragm valve 14 is connected to the instrument air pipe 4 through a first solenoid valve 11. Vent pipe 6, vacuum pump 7, and pressure transmitter 10 are located between oven 1 and the first solenoid valve 11. The pressure transmitter 10 is located between oven 1 and vent pipe 6, and vent pipe 6 is located between pressure transmitter 10 and vacuum pump 7. The nitrogen pipes 5 are connected to each other via a second pneumatic diaphragm valve 15. The drive gas interface of the second pneumatic diaphragm valve 15 is connected to the instrument air pipe 4 via a second solenoid valve 12. The vacuum pump 7 is connected to the nitrogen pipes 5 via a third pneumatic diaphragm valve 16. The drive gas interface of the third pneumatic diaphragm valve 16 is connected to the instrument air pipe 4 via a third solenoid valve 13. The electric heater 9, vacuum pump 7, pressure transmitter 10, first solenoid valve 11, second solenoid valve 12, and third solenoid valve 13 are all connected to the control system 17. The pressure transmitter 10 is used to measure the pressure and upload the pressure value to the control system 17. The control system 17 is used to control the start and stop of the electric heater 9 and to control the opening and closing of the first solenoid valve 11, second solenoid valve 12, and third solenoid valve 13. The electric heater 9 is connected to the control system 17 via a temperature controller 8. The heating temperature can be controlled by the temperature controller 8. In this example, the control system 17 is a PLC controller.

[0013] In use, firstly, place the gas cylinder 3 to be processed in the oven 1 and connect it to the manifold 2. The PLC controller starts the control program, controlling the first solenoid valve 11 to open the first pneumatic diaphragm valve 14 to fill the gas cylinder 3 with nitrogen. After the pressure reaches the set value as measured by the pressure transmitter 10, the PLC controller controls the first solenoid valve 11 to close the first pneumatic diaphragm valve 14. The PLC controller then controls the oven 1 temperature controller 8 to start the electric heater 9 to heat the gas cylinder 3. After the heating reaches the set time, the PLC controller controls the oven 1 temperature controller 8 to close the electric heater 9. Subsequently, the PLC controller controls the third solenoid valve 13 to open the third pneumatic diaphragm valve 16 to release the nitrogen from the gas cylinder 3. The PLC controller monitors the pressure measured by the pressure transmitter 10. Once the pressure reaches near-normal, the third solenoid valve 13 is controlled to close the third pneumatic diaphragm valve 16; then the second solenoid valve 12 is controlled to open the second pneumatic diaphragm valve 15, while the vacuum pump 7 remains on. After the second pneumatic diaphragm valve 15 is opened, the vacuum pump 7 evacuates the gas cylinder 3 to be processed. After the vacuuming reaches the set time, the PLC controller controls the second solenoid valve 12 to close the second pneumatic diaphragm valve 15; then the first solenoid valve 11 is controlled to open the first pneumatic diaphragm valve 14 to fill the gas cylinder 3 with nitrogen. After the pressure transmitter 10 measures the system pressure and it reaches the set value, the PLC controller controls the first solenoid valve 11 to close the first pneumatic diaphragm valve 14, completing one gas cylinder 3 processing cycle; repeating the above process four to five times completes the gas cylinder 3 processing, ready for filling and use.

[0014] It should be noted that the DCS controller or PLC controller provided in this utility model are common devices in the prior art. They only need to be connected according to the connection relationship given in the embodiments of this utility model. The technical solution of this utility model can be obtained by conventionally setting up the DCS controller or PLC controller, without involving any improvement in control methods or software. As for the parameter settings of the DCS controller or PLC controller (the set values ​​of the pressure value measured by the pressure transmitter 10 and the heating temperature of the electric heater 9, etc., are set as needed) and the usage method, those skilled in the art can purchase the DCS controller or PLC controller and refer to the accompanying instruction manual to realize the corresponding control settings, and will not be described in detail here.

Claims

1. An automatic processing system for high-purity gas cylinders, comprising an oven and a nitrogen pipe, wherein the oven has a built-in manifold and an electric heater, the manifold is used to connect to the gas cylinder to be processed, and the nitrogen pipe is connected to the manifold, characterized in that: It also includes an instrument air pipe, a vent pipe, a vacuum pump, and a control system. The nitrogen pipe is equipped with a first pneumatic diaphragm valve, the drive gas interface of which is connected to the instrument air pipe via a first solenoid valve. The vent pipe and the vacuum pump are located between the oven and the first solenoid valve. The vent pipe and the nitrogen pipe are connected via a second pneumatic diaphragm valve, the drive gas interface of which is connected to the instrument air pipe via a second solenoid valve. The vacuum pump and the nitrogen pipe are connected via a third pneumatic diaphragm valve, the drive gas interface of which is connected to the instrument air pipe via a third solenoid valve. The electric heater, the vacuum pump, the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, and the third solenoid valve are all connected to the control system.

2. The automatic processing system for high-purity gas cylinders according to claim 1, characterized in that: A pressure transmitter is also provided between the oven and the first solenoid valve, and the pressure transmitter is connected to the control system.

3. The automatic processing system for high-purity gas cylinders according to claim 2, characterized in that: The electric heater is connected to the control system via a temperature controller.

4. The automatic processing system for high-purity gas cylinders according to claim 3, characterized in that: The manifold is connected to multiple gas cylinders to be processed via multiple connecting branch pipes.

5. The automatic processing system for high-purity gas cylinders according to claim 4, characterized in that: The control system is a DCS controller or a PLC controller.

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