Condensed water discharge system having multiple discharge paths

Abstract

To provide a condensed water discharge system having multiple discharge paths which can discharge condensed water without fail.SOLUTION: Cold air 91 applied to an air heater facility 10 exchanges heat with steam in heat pipes 11K, 12K, 13K of units 11, 12, 13 to be sent out as warm air 92. Drainage generated by steam being condensed by heat exchange flows out to each discharge pipe 51, 52, 53 and is consolidated in a communication pipe 54 and discharged through a steam trap 15 provided at the communication pipe 54. A heat transmission device 2 attached to the discharge pipes 51, 52, 53 is filled with a medium, such as water, and the medium is constantly stirred by a fan. Temperatures of steam or drainage flowing in the discharge pipes 51, 52, 53 are equalized, and the temperatures are lowered to facilitate condensation even if high temperature steam flows in the discharge pipes. Steam locking is avoided to enable the drainage to be discharged without fail.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The condensate drainage system having multiple drain paths of the present application relates to a technology for a condensate drainage system having multiple drain paths that each independently discharge steam condensate, and in which these multiple drain paths are collectively connected to a single collective path equipped with an automatic valve. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a condensate drainage system having multiple drain paths is the drainage mechanism of a steam heating facility disclosed in Patent Document 1. This steam heating facility includes multiple steam heating facilities A and B, each of which is supplied with steam and heat-treats an object.

[0003] The steam supplied to steam heating equipment A and B condenses as heat is released during the heating process, producing drain (condensed water), but if this drain remains inside steam heating equipment A and B it will interfere with the heating operation, so it is necessary to properly discharge the drain to the outside. For this reason, drain discharge pipes a and b are installed hanging down from steam heating equipment A and B, so that the generated drain flows out into drain discharge pipes a and b, respectively.

[0004] Generally, condensate discharge pipes are equipped with steam traps that automatically open and close according to the amount of condensate. That is, when condensate flows into the valve chamber of the steam trap through the condensate discharge pipe, a float in the valve chamber rises according to the amount of condensate accumulated in the valve chamber, opening the valve port, and automatically discharging the condensate based on the pressure in the pipe. After discharging the condensate, the float descends, closing the valve port and preventing steam leakage.

[0005] In order to simplify the configuration and reduce costs when installing such steam traps, a configuration (group trapping) is known in which multiple drain discharge pipes are aggregated and connected to a single discharge pipe, and a single steam trap is installed in this discharge pipe to share the drain discharge. The steam heating equipment disclosed in Patent Document 1 below also uses group trapping, connecting the lower parts of drain discharge pipes a and b to a communicating pipe g, and installing a single steam trap 1 in drain discharge pipe b. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-316791 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the condensate discharge mechanism disclosed in the aforementioned Patent Document 1, steam locking is likely to occur in the steam trap (steam trap) 1, making it impossible to discharge the condensate. Steam locking refers to a phenomenon in which the valve chamber of the steam trap becomes filled with steam, preventing the inflow of condensate, and the float in the valve chamber remains blocking the valve orifice and cannot rise, preventing the condensate from being properly discharged.

[0008] In other words, because steam heating equipment A and B heat the objects separately, the load conditions of the equipment are different, and equipment that releases more latent heat from the steam generates a lot of condensate, while equipment that releases less latent heat generates less condensate. For this reason, equipment that generates an extremely small amount of condensate may cause steam to flow directly into the condensate discharge pipe instead of condensate, and in such cases, the valve chest of steam trap 1 will fill with steam all at once.

[0009] As a result, the condensate flowing out from other equipment cannot flow into the steam trap 1 due to the steam filling the valve chest, resulting in steam locking and preventing the condensate from being discharged properly.

[0010] Therefore, the condensate drainage system having multiple drainage paths of the present application aims to solve these problems and has the objective of providing a condensate drainage system having multiple drainage paths that can reliably drain condensate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The condensate drainage system having a plurality of drain paths according to the present application comprises: A plurality of drain paths through which steam or steam condensate flows independently from the primary side to the secondary side; an aggregated path that aggregately connects secondary sides of the plurality of exhaust paths; an automatic valve provided in the collecting path, through which the condensed water flows and through which the automatic valve opens and closes automatically according to the amount of the condensed water that flows in; a temperature equalizing means for equalizing a temperature of the steam or the condensed water of the steam flowing through the plurality of exhaust paths; The present invention is characterized by comprising: Effect of the Invention

[0012] The condensate drain system having multiple drain paths according to the present application is provided with a temperature equalizing means for equalizing the temperature of the steam or the condensate of the steam flowing through the multiple drain paths. Therefore, in a situation where a drain path through which high-temperature steam flows and a drain path through which low-temperature condensate flow are mixed, the temperature of the steam or the condensate of the steam is equalized by the temperature equalizing means, so that the temperature of the steam is kept low.

[0013] This promotes condensation of the steam flowing through the exhaust path, and the steam turns into condensed water which flows into the automatic valve, preventing steam locking that occurs when the automatic valve becomes filled with steam. This makes it possible to reliably exhaust the condensed water. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an air heater facility 10 illustrating a first embodiment of a condensed water drainage system having a plurality of drainage paths according to the present application. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electric heating device 2 shown in FIG. 1, seen from above. [Diagram 3] 2 is an enlarged front view of the vicinity of the electric heating device 2 shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] [Terminology used in the embodiments] The main terms shown in the embodiments correspond to the following elements of the condensate drainage system having multiple drain paths according to the present application:

[0016] Heat transfer device 2: Temperature equalization means Fan 4: Stirring means Air Heater Equipment 10...Condensate Drainage System Steam trap 15...automatic valve First exhaust pipe 51, second exhaust pipe 52, and third exhaust pipe 53... exhaust path Connecting pipe 54... Collecting route Water or oil, etc. Heat transfer medium

[0017] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of a condensate drainage system having multiple drain paths according to the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an air heater facility 10 in this embodiment, Fig. 2 is a plan view of an electric heating device 2 as viewed from above, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of the vicinity of the electric heating device 2.

[0018] (Explanation of the overall configuration of the air heater equipment 10) The air heater equipment 10 is configured to include a first unit 11, a second unit 12, and a third unit 13. The first unit 11, the second unit 12, and the third unit 13 each incorporate heating pipes 11K, 12K, and 13K, and the upper sides of the heating pipes 11K, 12K, and 13K are connected to a steam supply pipe 50.

[0019] In addition, a first exhaust pipe 51, a second exhaust pipe 52 and a third exhaust pipe 53 are connected to the lower side of each of the heating pipes 11K, 12K, 13K, and these first exhaust pipe 51, second exhaust pipe 52 and third exhaust pipe 53 are further connected to a communicating pipe 54. In the air heater equipment 10, the steam supply pipe 50 side is the upstream side (primary side), and the communicating pipe 54 side is the downstream side (secondary side).

[0020] Further downstream of the communicating pipe 54, a steam trap 15 is provided. In this embodiment, a ball float type steam trap 15 is used. This steam trap is an automatic valve that automatically opens and closes an orifice (valve port), which is a discharge port, in response to the vertical movement of a ball-shaped float valve body (not shown) that is built in so as to float.

[0021] A heat transfer device 2 is attached to the first discharge pipe 51, the second discharge pipe 52, and the third discharge pipe 53. Contact recesses 21, 22, and 23 are formed in three places on the back surface of the heat transfer device 2 as shown in Fig. 2, and the heat transfer device 2 is attached such that the outer circumferential surfaces of the first discharge pipe 51, the second discharge pipe 52, and the third discharge pipe 53 come into contact with these contact recesses 21, 22, and 23.

[0022] The shapes of the contact recesses 21, 22, 23 correspond to the shapes of the outer circumferential surfaces of the first discharge pipe 51, the second discharge pipe 52, and the third discharge pipe 53. Therefore, the contact recesses 21, 22, 23 and the outer circumferential surfaces of the first discharge pipe 51, the second discharge pipe 52, and the third discharge pipe 53 are in close contact with each other without any gaps.

[0023] The inside of the heat transfer device 2 is a space filled with a medium such as water or oil. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a fan 4 that receives external power and is driven by a motor is provided inside the heat transfer device 2. This fan 4 rotates all the time and agitates the medium such as water or oil inside the heat transfer device 2.

[0024] For example, the fan 4 has four blades and is provided on the inner surface of the front surface opposite the rear surface on which the contact recesses 21, 22, and 23 are formed. The fan 4 is also located in the center of the mounting surface of the heat transfer device 2, so that the medium in the heat transfer device 2 can be stirred evenly.

[0025] (Description of the operation of the air heater equipment 10) Next, the operation of the air heater equipment 10 will be described. Steam is supplied to the heating pipes 11K, 12K, and 13K built into the first unit 11, the second unit 12, and the third unit 13 through the steam supply pipe 50. Then, cold air 91 is given to the air heater equipment 10, and as this cold air 91 passes around the first unit 11, the second unit 12, and the third unit 13, heat exchange occurs between the cold air 91 and the steam in the heating pipes 11K, 12K, and 13K, and the cold air is sent out from the air heater equipment 10 as warm air 92.

[0026] Through this heat exchange, the steam loses latent heat and condenses to generate drainage. The drainage generated in the heating pipes 11K, 12K, and 13K flows out into the communicating pipe 54 through the first discharge pipe 51, the second discharge pipe 52, and the third discharge pipe 53, respectively. The drainage that flows out into the communicating pipe 54 flows downstream and flows into the steam trap 15. The inflow of drainage causes the float in the steam trap 15 to rise and open the orifice. With the orifice open, the drainage is automatically discharged from the steam trap 15 due to the force of the high pressure in the piping. As the drainage is discharged, the float in the steam trap 15 descends and returns to its original position, blocking the orifice.

[0027] As described above, drainage generated in the piping due to the heating operation is automatically discharged as appropriate by the steam trap 15. This prevents drainage from accumulating in the heating pipes 11K, 12K, and 13K, and allows the air heater equipment 10 to perform an appropriate heating operation.

[0028] Incidentally, the air to be heated passes through the first unit 11, the second unit 12, and the third unit 13 in sequence as cool air 91, so the load conditions of each unit are different, and about 60% of the total heating is performed in the first unit 11, which is located on the most upstream side, and a large amount of drainage flows out into the exhaust pipe 51. Then, in the second unit 12 and the third unit 13, the degree of heating decreases stepwise, so the amount of drainage flowing out into the exhaust pipes 52 and 53 gradually decreases.

[0029] For this reason, condensate may not flow into the exhaust pipe 53 of the third unit 13 located at the most downstream side, and steam may simply flow out. If the steam from the exhaust pipe 53 flows into the steam trap 15, steam locking occurs and condensate cannot be discharged from the steam trap 15. As a result, condensate gradually accumulates in the heating pipes 11K, 12K, and 13K of each unit, and the heating efficiency of the air heater equipment 10 drops significantly.

[0030] However, in this embodiment, as described above, the heat transfer device 2 is attached to the first exhaust pipe 51, the second exhaust pipe 52, and the third exhaust pipe 53. Then, the steam or drain in the first exhaust pipe 51, the second exhaust pipe 52, and the third exhaust pipe 53 exchange heat with a medium such as water or oil filled in the heat transfer device 2.

[0031] At this time, as described above, the contact recesses 21, 22, and 23 formed in the heat transfer device 2 are in close contact with the outer circumferential surfaces of the first discharge pipe 51, the second discharge pipe 52, and the third discharge pipe 53, so that efficient heat exchange is performed. In addition, the fan 4 provided in the heat transfer device 2 constantly stirs the medium such as water or oil, so that unevenness in the temperature of the medium in the heat transfer device 2 is eliminated, and the temperature of the steam or drain in the first discharge pipe 51, the second discharge pipe 52, and the third discharge pipe 53 is made uniform.

[0032] As a result, for example, when high-temperature steam flows out into the discharge pipe 53 of the third unit 13, the steam is affected by the relatively low-temperature drain flowing through the first discharge pipe 51 and the second discharge pipe 52, and the temperature of the steam drops in the discharge pipe 53 as the temperature is equalized, promoting condensation of the steam. Therefore, a part or all of the steam flowing through the discharge pipe 53 of the third unit 13 turns into drain and flows into the steam trap 15, thereby preventing the occurrence of steam locking.

[0033] [Other embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, examples are given for each of the discharge paths, collection paths, automatic valves, temperature equalization means, heat medium, and stirring means of the condensate discharge system having multiple discharge paths according to the present application, but these are merely examples, and different configurations can also be adopted for each.

[0034] That is, in the above-described embodiment, an air heater equipment 10 having three exhaust pipes, a first exhaust pipe 51, a second exhaust pipe 52 and a third exhaust pipe 53, is exemplified, but the condensate drainage system having multiple exhaust paths according to the present application may also be applied to air heater equipment having two or four or more exhaust pipes.

[0035] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the air heater equipment 10 is given as an example, but as long as the condensate drainage system has multiple drainage paths connected in a centralized manner and the condensate drainage system drains condensate through an automatic valve provided in the centralized path, the condensate drainage system having multiple drainage paths of the present application can be applied to a system other than an air heater equipment.

[0036] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the heat transfer device 2 incorporating the medium and the fan 4 is exemplified as the temperature equalizing means, but other configurations can be adopted as long as they equalize the temperature of the steam or steam condensate flowing through the multiple exhaust paths (the first exhaust pipe 51, the second exhaust pipe 52, the third exhaust pipe 53, etc.). For example, a single metal with high thermal conductivity may be arranged so as to be in contact with the multiple exhaust paths.

[0037] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a fan 4 having four blades is exemplified, but a fan having three or less blades or five or more blades may be adopted. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the heat transfer device 2 has one built-in fan 4 is shown, but a configuration in which two or more fans are built-in can also be adopted. In this case, the two or more fans can be arranged at equal or unequal intervals.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the ball float type steam trap 15 is exemplified as the automatic valve, but an automatic valve of another structure can be used as long as it opens and closes automatically according to the amount of drain that flows in. For example, a lever float type steam trap or a bucket type steam trap may be used as the automatic valve. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 2: Heat transfer device 4: Fan 10: Air heater equipment 15: Steam trap 51: First discharge pipe 52: Second discharge pipe 53: Third discharge pipe 54: Communication pipe

Claims

1. A plurality of drain paths through which steam or steam condensate flows independently from the primary side to the secondary side; an aggregated path that aggregately connects the secondary sides of the plurality of exhaust paths; an automatic valve provided in the collecting path, through which the condensed water flows and through which the automatic valve opens and closes automatically according to the amount of the condensed water that flows in; a temperature equalizing means for equalizing a temperature of the steam or the condensed water of the steam flowing through the plurality of exhaust paths; A condensate drainage system having a plurality of drain paths, comprising:

2. In the condensate drainage system having a plurality of drain paths according to claim 1, The temperature equalizing means includes a heat medium for performing heat exchange with the steam or the condensed water of the steam flowing through the plurality of exhaust paths. A condensate drainage system having a plurality of drain paths.

3. In the condensate drainage system having a plurality of drain paths according to claim 2, The temperature equalizing means includes a stirring means for stirring the heat medium. A condensate drainage system having a plurality of drain paths.

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