Warning device for a fluid storage installation

Abstract

The invention relates to an alarm device for detecting the presence of a fluid in liquid phase in a pipe, the device comprising a first receptacle, a conduit fluidically connecting the pipe to the first receptacle, a column, a second receptacle fluidically connected to the column, a float arranged in the first receptacle and configured to float on the surface of a fluid in liquid phase which has flowed into the first receptacle, a movable part attached to said float and movable in the column between two positions, an audible alarm mounted on the column, an internal channel in the movable part, the alarm device being configured so that when the movable part is in a first position the flow of the fluid in gaseous phase into the second receptacle is permitted and, when the movable part is in a second position, it exerts pressure on the audible alarm which emits a sound signal.Abbreviated figure: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Alert device for a fluid storage installation

[0001] The present invention relates to an alert device for detecting the presence of a fluid in liquid phase in a pipe of a fluid storage installation, for example a pipe of an atmospheric exchanger of a cryogenic installation.

[0002] Prior art is known to provide installations for storing cooled gas in liquid form. Application FR 3061534 A1 describes such a storage system.

[0003] In order to be used in gaseous form, the fluid must be heated. For this, a heat exchanger is used, for example an atmospheric heater. This type of heater draws the energy necessary for vaporizing the cryogenic liquid from the ambient atmosphere by means of an external exchange surface. During this heat exchange, frost can form on the coldest areas of the exchanger, particularly those located upstream of the flow of the cryogenic fluid. Frost significantly impairs the performance of the exchanger to the point of preventing the fluid from heating. Also, the fluid is no longer heated sufficiently and a liquid phase appears and liquid then flows into the pipes.

[0004] Some installations are equipped with defrosting devices, such as a scraper or a dedicated heater. EP 4083556 A1 presents such a system with a scraper. These installations are complex to implement.

[0005] Other installations are equipped with a first exchanger, a second exchanger and an automatic switching system which allows switching from one exchanger to the other in the presence of fluid. This switching allows the first exchanger to defrost, if the ambient temperature allows it, while the installation uses the second exchanger. However, the switching must be carried out at the right time otherwise there is a risk of generating frost on both exchangers.

[0006] However, not all installations are equipped with such an automatic switching system and it is then up to the operator to carry out regular monitoring of the installation and to change the exchanger.

[0007] This type of device is therefore not very effective because it requires regular monitoring of the installation.

[0008] The present invention aims to effectively remedy these drawbacks by proposing an alert device for a fluid storage installation which makes it possible to simplify the monitoring of frost formation around the exchangers while optimizing the switching of the installation from one exchanger to another.

[0009] A solution of the invention is then an alert device for detecting the presence of a fluid in liquid phase in a pipeline, the device comprising: - a first receptacle configured to contain the fluid in gaseous phase and / or liquid phase, - a conduit comprising a first end intended to be fluidly connected to the pipeline and a second end fluidly connected to the first receptacle so that the conduit is configured to allow the flow of fluid from the pipeline to the first receptacle, - a column comprising a base fluidly connected to the first receptacle, a top and a side wall, the column extending in a longitudinal direction A between the connected base and the top, and the column comprising an internal volume delimited between the base, the top and the side wall, - a second receptacle fluidly connected to the column by means of a first hole made in the side wall of the column, - a float arranged in the first receptacle and configured to float on the surface of the liquid phase fluid when the first receptacle contains liquid phase fluid, - a moving part arranged in the internal volume of the column and secured to the float, the moving part being movable in translation in the longitudinal direction A between a first position occupied when the first receptacle is empty and a second position occupied when the first receptacle contains a predetermined quantity of fluid in the liquid phase, - an audible warning device assembled on the column by means of a second hole made in the side wall or the top of the column, the second hole being positioned above the first hole in the longitudinal direction A, the audible warning device projecting at least partly into the internal volume of the column, - an internal channel arranged within the moving part and opening onto an inlet fluidly connected to the first receptacle and onto an outlet, the alert device being configured such that, when the moving part is in the first position, the first bore and the outlet of the internal channel communicate fluidically, allowing the flow of the gas-phase fluid via the channel from the inlet to the second receptacle, and such that, when the moving part is in the second position, the moving part exerts pressure on the audible warning device allowing the emission of an audible signal.

[0010] The invention also relates to a cryogenic fluid storage installation comprising at least one tank intended to contain a cryogenic fluid, the tank being fluidically connected to at least one pipe provided with a device alert according to the invention.

[0011] The invention will now be better understood thanks to the description which follows, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended figures among which:

[0012] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention;

[0013] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention;

[0014] With reference to [Fig.l], the alert device 1 is shown according to a first embodiment of the invention. The alert device 1 is intended to be fixed to the pipe of a heat exchanger of an installation for storing fluid and to be fluidically connected with the pipe. The fluid is for example a cryogenic fluid, such as carbon dioxide. The alert device comprises a conduit 12, it is by this conduit that the alert device 1 is fixed to the pipe of the exchanger. This fixing is carried out for example by means of a clamp, at least one drilling or at least one tapping. The conduit 12 has a first end 121 intended to be fluidically connected to the pipe of the heat exchanger. The conduit 12 has a second end 122 fluidically connected to a first receptacle 11. The first receptacle 11 can thus contain both a gaseous phase and a liquid phase of the fluid.

[0015] The fluid passes through the heat exchanger in order to be supplied in the gaseous state to the user. If there is frost around the exchanger, the fluid may not be heated enough. Thus, the fluid may not be in the gaseous state but in liquid form. Thus, when the conduit 12 is attached to the pipe, the conduit 12 is configured so that the fluid in liquid form flows towards the first receptacle 11.

[0016] The warning device 1 also comprises a column 14 which extends in a longitudinal direction A between a base fluidly connected to the first receptacle 11 and a top. The column 14 comprises an internal volume delimited by the base, the top and a side wall. A second receptacle 142 is fluidly connected to the column 14 by means of a first bore made in the side wall of the column 14. This second receptacle 142 is intended to receive the flow of said fluid in the gas phase.

[0017] A float 13 is arranged in the first receptacle 11. This float is configured to float on the surface of said fluid in liquid phase. When fluid in liquid phase flows into the receptacle 11, the float rises with the increase in the level of the liquid in the receptacle. A movable part 143 is arranged in the internal volume of the column 14. This movable part 143 is integral with float 13. For example, float 13 can be screwed into the body of movable part 143. This movable part 143 is movable in translation along the longitudinal direction A. Thus, when the fluid flows into the receptacle 11, the float 13 and the movable part 143 move together, or even simultaneously, along the longitudinal direction A. The float 13 and the movable part 143 each move between two positions. A first position is occupied by the float 13 and the movable part 143 when the first receptacle 11 is empty. A second position is occupied when the first receptacle 11 contains fluid in the liquid phase. This second position is defined when the level of the fluid reaches a predetermined quantity of fluid in the liquid phase in the first receptacle 11, for example one liter.

[0018] The warning device 1 also contains an audible warning device 141 assembled on the column 14, for example by means of a second bore made in the side wall or the top of the column. The audible warning device 141 is for example assembled to the column 14 by means of a clamp, or by means of at least one thread. The second bore is positioned above the first bore 145 in the longitudinal direction A. The audible warning device 141 projects at least partly into the internal volume of the column 14.

[0019] In one embodiment, the moving part 143 may comprise an internal channel 144 which opens at one end onto an inlet 146 fluidly connected to the first receptacle 11 and at the other end onto an outlet 145.

[0020] Thus, the warning device 1 is configured so that when the moving part 13 is in the first position, that is to say when the first receptacle 11 does not contain fluid in the liquid state, then the first bore and the outlet 145 of the internal channel communicate fluidically. This communication allows the flow of the fluid in the gas phase via the internal channel 144 from the inlet 146 to the second receptacle 142. When fluid in the liquid state enters the first receptacle 11, the float 13 and the moving part 143 move in the longitudinal direction A. The first bore and the outlet 145 of the internal channel 144 are then no longer aligned and no longer communicate fluidically. Also, the moving part 143 moves to a second position, so that it exerts pressure on said audible warning device allowing the emission of an audible signal.The user thus receives this alert signal and this signal allows him to implement the necessary defrosting solutions, for example either switching the installation to another exchanger or carrying out manual mechanical defrosting.

[0021] The volume of the first receptacle 11 is dimensioned so that the alert signal is emitted when a predetermined quantity of fluid has flowed into the pipes of the exchanger, for example more than one liter.

[0022] In another embodiment shown in [Fig.2], the moving part 143 comprises an internal channel 144 whose inlet 146 opens into the side wall of the column 14. When the moving part 143 is in the first position, the inlet 146 is fluidically connected to an external conduit 1144 to the column 14. This external conduit 1144 therefore comprises a first end intended to be connected to the inlet 146. This external conduit 1144 comprises a second end intended to be fluidically connected to the first receptacle 11 or to the base of the column 14. This conduit 1144 makes it possible, for example, to have a buffer volume for the fluid in the gaseous state. Thus when the float 13 and the moving part 143 move in the longitudinal direction A, the inlet 146 is no longer aligned with the external conduit 1144, no longer allowing the gas to flow into the receptacle 142. On the other hand, fluid in gaseous form can still flow via the pipe 12. Thus this external conduit 1144 makes it possible to avoid having too much pressure in the alert device 1.For example, this conduit becomes a buffer volume while the user reacts to the alert signal or while the fluid flows into the first receptacle 11 until the moving part 143 reaches the second position.

[0023] In one embodiment, sealing systems are positioned at the ends 121 and 122 of the pipe 12. In one embodiment, a sealing system is positioned at the outlet 145 and / or the inlet 146. In one embodiment, a sealing system is positioned at the connection between the audible warning device 141 and the column 14. In one embodiment, a sealing system is positioned at the connection between the receptacle 11 and the column 14. A sealing system is for example a seal.

[0024] The invention also relates to a storage installation for cryogenic fluid which comprises at least one tank intended to contain a cryogenic fluid. This tank is fluidically connected to at least one pipe provided with the alert device of the invention.

Claims

1. Claims Warning device (1) for detecting the presence of a fluid in liquid phase in a pipeline, said device comprising: - a first receptacle (11) configured to contain said fluid in liquid phase and / or in gaseous phase, - a conduit (12) comprising a first end (121) intended to be fluidically connected to said pipe and a second end (122) fluidically connected to the first receptacle (11) so that said conduit (12) is configured to allow the flow of said fluid from the pipe to said first receptacle (11), - a column (14) comprising a base fluidly connected to said first receptacle (11), a top and a side wall, said column (14) extending in a longitudinal direction A between said base and said top and comprising an internal volume delimited between said base, said top and said side wall, - a second receptacle (142) fluidly connected to the column (14) by means of a first drilling provided in said side wall of said column (14), - a float (13) arranged in the first receptacle (11) and configured to float on the surface of the fluid in liquid phase when the first receptacle (11) contains fluid in liquid phase, - a movable part (143) arranged in the internal volume of the column (14) and secured to said float (13), said movable part (143) being movable in translation in the longitudinal direction A between a first position occupied when the first receptacle (11) is empty and a second position occupied when the first receptacle (11) contains a predetermined quantity of fluid in liquid phase, - an audible warning device (141) assembled on the column (14) by means of a second drilling made in said side wall or said top of the column (14), said second drilling being positioned above said first drilling in the longitudinal direction A, said audible warning device (141) projecting at least partly into the internal volume

2. of column (14), - an internal channel (144) arranged within said moving part (143) and opening onto an inlet (146) fluidly connected to the first receptacle (11) and onto an outlet (145), said alert device (1) being configured so that, when said moving part (143) is located in said first position, said first bore and the outlet (145) of the internal channel (144) communicate fluidically, allowing the flow of said fluid in gas phase via said internal channel (144) from said inlet (146) to said second receptacle (142), and so that, when the moving part (143) is located in the second position, said moving part (143) exerts pressure on said audible warning device (141) allowing the emission of an audible signal. Cryogenic fluid storage installation comprising at least one tank intended to contain a cryogenic fluid, said tank being fluidically connected to at least one pipe provided with an alert device (1) according to claim 1.

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