Condensate storage tube

Abstract

To provide a condensed water accumulation pipe capable of automatically discharging condensed water by the temperature difference between a temperature of the condensed water and a temperature of steam even when the condensed water is rapidly increased.SOLUTION: A condensed water accumulation pipe includes an inlet into which steam or condensed water flows, a connection port to a nozzle type steam trap, a discharge port for discharging the condensed water to the outside, and a thermo-sensitive extendable part which is provided between the inlet and the discharge port and is extendable and contractible by the temperature difference between a temperature of the steam and a temperature of the condensed water. When the temperature between the inlet and the discharge port is raised by the high-temperature steam, the thermo-sensitive extendable part extends to close the discharge port, and the steam and the condensed water flow into the connection port, and when the condensed water is collected between the inlet and the discharge port and the temperature decreases, the thermo-sensitive extendable part contracts to open the discharge port, and thereby, the condensed water collected is discharged from the discharge port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a condensed water storage pipe, and more particularly to a condensed water storage pipe that has a heat-sensitive expandable and contractible movable part made of a heat-sensitive member, has a large amount of expansion and contraction, and is small in size, and can effectively discharge condensed water. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, steam traps are used to discharge condensed water that occurs in steam pipes. There are two types of steam traps: intermittent types that use a float, and continuous types that convert condensed water into steam from a nozzle hole and discharge it.

[0003] The present applicant proposed a nozzle-type condensate drain device in Patent Document 1. The nozzle has a length of 20 to 40 mm and a hole diameter of 0.2 to 18 mm, and can convert condensate generated in a steam pipe through the nozzle into steam and continuously discharge it to the outside. However, the generation of condensate in steam piping equipment can vary greatly, so a condensate storage pipe is provided in the condensate drain device in case the amount of condensate increases.

[0004] The condensate storage pipe of Patent Document 1 is provided with a mechanical water level adjustment mechanism in which, when condensate accumulates and the water level rises, a float rises and the valve of the weight moves away from the drain outlet, allowing the condensate to be discharged, and when the water level of the condensate drops, the float descends and the valve of the weight closes the drain outlet. When the steam pressure is high, a float-based water level adjustment mechanism requires a large float because the force of the water pressure closing the valve is large. A heat-sensitive condensate storage pipe that opens and closes the valve using the temperature difference of the steam is desirable for condensate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-137745 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a condensate storage tube which can automatically discharge condensate by the temperature difference between the condensate and steam even if the condensate increases suddenly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The condensate storage pipe according to the present invention comprises an inlet into which steam or condensed water flows, a connection port to a nozzle-type steam trap, a discharge port for discharging condensed water to the outside, and a heat-sensitive expandable movable part provided between the inlet and the discharge port and expanding and contracting due to the temperature difference between the steam and the condensed water, wherein when the temperature between the inlet and the discharge port rises due to high-temperature steam, the heat-sensitive expandable movable part expands to close the discharge port, and the steam and the condensed water flow into the connection port, and when the condensed water accumulates between the inlet and the discharge port and the temperature drops, the heat-sensitive expandable movable part contracts to open the discharge port, and the accumulated condensed water is discharged from the discharge port.

[0008] The heat-sensitive expandable movable part is characterized by being made of any one of a bimetal, a bellows, a diaphragm, and a membrane. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the condensate accumulation tube of the present invention, (1) When the amount of condensed water increases suddenly and fills the inside of the condensed water storage tube, the temperature of the condensed water is lower than that of steam, so the heat-sensitive expandable movable part contracts and opens the drain port, allowing the accumulated condensed water to be automatically discharged. It can be made smaller than the float method. Also, compared to methods that have a sensor or solenoid valve to detect the water level, it does not require a power source. (2) Even if the heat-sensitive expandable movable part shrinks and the drain valve separates from the discharge port, and the condensed water is discharged to the outside, the condensed water remains inside the steam trap, so operation can continue without steam leakage from the nozzle. (3) The sudden increase in condensed water in the condensed water storage tube is temporary and does not occur frequently, so the heat-sensitive expandable movable part can have a long life.

[0010] The heat-sensitive expandable / contractible movable part consists of one of the following components: bimetal, bellows, diaphragm, or membrane. All of the heat-sensitive expandable / contractible movable parts expand and contract using the temperature difference between the steam and condensed water, thereby opening and closing the exhaust port using the exhaust valve, so that it can be opened and closed automatically without the need for a power source. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of a condensate accumulation tube and steam trap according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 10 is an explanatory diagram of a case where the heat-sensitive expandable and contractible movable part is made of a bimetal made by bonding materials having different thermal expansion coefficients. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a case where the heat-sensitive expandable and contractible movable part is a bellows. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram in the case where the heat-sensitive expandable and contractible movable part is a diaphragm. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram in the case where the heat-sensitive expandable and contractible movable part is a membrane. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The condensate accumulation pipe of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. EXAMPLES

[0013] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of a condensate accumulation pipe 100 and a steam trap 13 according to the present invention. The condensate accumulation pipe 100 has a tubular main body 4, with an inlet 1 at the top into which steam or condensed water flows from the main steam pipe of the piping equipment. At the bottom of the side is a connection port 5 to a steam trap 13 for discharging condensed water, and at the bottom is a condensed water discharge port 11. Fig. 1 shows the case where the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 is made of a bimetal 2a formed by bonding two materials with different thermal expansion coefficients together.

[0014] The main body 4 includes a heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 made of a bimetal 2a, a drain valve 3 for opening and closing a drain port 11, a rod 9 for connecting the drain valve 3 and the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2, and a spring 10 that contracts when the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 expands. The spring 10 receives the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 with a substantially U-shaped metal fitting at the upper end, and its lower end is supported by a spring base 8 of the main body 4. The spring 10 contracts when the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 expands upon receiving high-temperature steam. When the spring 10 contracts, the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 pushes the rod 9 downward, so that the drain valve 3 at the lower end of the rod 9 closes the drain port 11. The spring 10 adjusts the opening amount of the drain valve 3. The spring 10 expands when the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 contracts due to the temperature of the condensed water. When the spring 10 expands, the substantially U-shaped metal fitting lifts the rod 9 upward. When the rod 9 moves upward, the drain valve 3 moves away from the drain port 11, and the drain port 11 opens. Since the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 is located at the top of the main body part 4, it is affected by the temperature of the condensed water 12 when the water level 7 of the condensed water rises.

[0015] The condensate storage pipe 100 has a connection port 5 connected to the steam trap 13 via a connection pipe 6. The steam trap 13 is composed of an inlet 14, a main body 15, and an outlet 16. The condensate discharge nozzle 17 of the steam trap 13 has a length of 20 to 40 mm and a hole diameter of 0.2 to 18 mm, and continuously discharges the condensate 12 generated in the steam pipe to the outside. Since the condensate 12 is stored inside the steam trap 13, the hole of the condensate discharge nozzle 17 does not discharge the condensate 12 together with the steam. In other words, the condensate can be allowed to pass through but the steam cannot pass through the condensate discharge nozzle 17. To store the condensate 12, the main body 15 is usually closed with a maintenance plug 18.

[0016] When the steam supply system starts operating, there is no high-temperature steam around the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 and the temperature is low. Therefore, the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 contracts, the rod 9 is pulled upward, the drain valve 3 moves away from the discharge port 11, the discharge port 11 is open, and the condensed water 12 is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 11. Therefore, the condensed water 12 is not in the condensed water accumulation pipe 100. The main body 15 inside the steam trap 13 is closed by the maintenance plug 18, so the condensed water remains. When high-temperature steam arrives, the condensed water and cold air inside the steam trap 13 are discharged to the outside from the condensed water discharge nozzle 17. The condensed water 12 generated in the steam main pipe flows into the main body 15 of the steam trap 13 from the inlet 1, and the condensed water 12 fills the main body 15, preventing high-temperature steam from passing through the hole of the condensed water discharge nozzle 17. In the condensed water accumulation pipe 100 , high-temperature steam flowing into the main body 4 from the inlet 1 expands the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 , so that the rod 9 moves downward and the drain valve 3 closes the discharge port 11 .

[0017] During operation of the steam supply system, condensed water 12 from the steam main enters through the inlet 1 and accumulates at the bottom of the condensed water accumulation pipe 100, but flows into the steam trap 13 from the connection port 5 on the lower side. The condensed water 12 that flows in is discharged through the condensed water discharge nozzle 17. If the amount of condensed water 12 in the steam main increases temporarily due to a sudden change in the outside air temperature, it flows into the condensed water accumulation pipe 100 and the condensed water level 7 rises. In that case, the temperature near the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 drops, the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 contracts, the drain valve 3 opens, and the condensed water is discharged from the discharge port 11. This response takes about one second, so the main body part 4 needs to have a capacity large enough to absorb the rise in the water level during that time. In this way, even if the amount of condensed water increases suddenly and exceeds the condensed water drainage capacity of the steam trap 13, it can be discharged, and the condensed water does not stagnate or flow back into the steam main.

[0018] By appropriately selecting the hole diameter of the condensate discharge nozzle 17 based on the steam pressure, the boundary between the steam and the condensate (water surface) can be kept within the range shown by the diagonal lines in Figure 1. In other words, the space in front of the condensate discharge nozzle 17 where the condensate accumulates can always be filled with condensate, and steam leakage from the steam trap 13 can be eliminated.

[0019] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the case where the heat-sensitive expandable and contractible movable part 2 is made of a bimetal 2a made by bonding materials with different thermal expansion coefficients. The bimetal 2a is made of bonded materials (metal, metal). For example, one of the materials is an alloy of 37% Ni and iron, and the thermal expansion coefficient is 1.1 (×10 -6 / ℃) and the other material is copper, the thermal expansion coefficient is 16.5(×10 -6 / ℃), and when it receives heat it bends due to the difference in temperature. Figure 2 shows a disk-shaped bimetal 2a, with the left side showing it when contracted and the right side showing it when expanded. The heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 has multiple bimetals 2a arranged so that their expansion directions face outward. When the temperature of the bimetal 2a rises due to heat, the central part expands towards the outside, and when the temperature drops it contracts.

[0020] The bimetal 2a is not limited to a metal-metal bonded bimetal, but may be made of resin such as PI or PEEK for a material with a large thermal expansion coefficient, and metal such as SUS304, Hastelloy C22, SS400, S45C, or tungsten for a material with a small linear thermal expansion coefficient. The materials to be bonded are (resin, metal). For example, if one of the materials has a thermal expansion coefficient of 56 (×10 -6 / ℃), and the other material has a thermal expansion coefficient of 17.3 (× 10 -6 / ℃) for SUS304, the difference is 38.7 (× 10 -6 / ℃). In another example, if one material has a thermal expansion coefficient of 47 (×10 -6 / ℃), and the other material has a thermal expansion coefficient of 17.3 (×10 -6 / ℃) for SUS304, the difference is 29.7 (× 10 -6 / ℃). One material has a thermal expansion coefficient of 120 (×10 -6 / ℃), and the other material is made of PFA with a thermal expansion coefficient of 17.3 (× 10 -6 / ℃) for SUS304, the difference is 102.7 (× 10 -6 / °C). In this way, a heat-sensitive member made of resin and metal can achieve a larger warp than a bimetal made of metal and metal.

[0021] The bonding material can also be (resin, resin). heat One material with a large thermal expansion coefficient can be made of resin PTFE or PFA, and the other material with a small thermal expansion coefficient can be made of resin PI or PEEK. For example, if one material has a thermal expansion coefficient of 120 (× 10 -6 / ℃), and the other material has a thermal expansion coefficient of 47 (×10 -6 / ℃), the difference is 73(×10 -6 / ℃). Heat-sensitive components made by bonding resins together have excellent chemical resistance and are lightweight. PEEK, PFA, PTFE, and PI can be used continuously at high temperatures of 240 to 280℃.

[0022] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram when the heat-sensitive expandable movable part is bellows 2b. The inside of bellows 2b is filled with liquid. In response to the surrounding temperature, the liquid inside expands, allowing it to extend and contract in the length direction. For example, the bellows part of bellows 2b is made of metal, such as phosphor bronze. The operation of the drain valve connected to bellows 2b is the same as in Figure 1, so it is omitted here.

[0023] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram when the heat-sensitive expandable movable part 2 is a diaphragm 2c. The inside of the diaphragm 2c is filled with liquid. In response to the surrounding temperature, the liquid inside expands, allowing it to stretch in the length direction and then contract. As an example, the diaphragm 2c is a circular plate made of phosphor bronze with concentric projections and recesses. The operation of the drain valve in this case is the same as in Figure 1, so it is omitted here.

[0024] Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram when the heat-sensitive, expandable, and retractable movable part 2 is a membrane 2d. The membrane 2d is filled with liquid. In response to the surrounding temperature, the liquid inside expands and can extend in the length direction and then contract. The operation of the membrane 2d and the drain valve is the same as in Fig. 1, so it is omitted here. The heat-sensitive, expandable, and retractable movable part 2 can also be constituted by using a wafer (not shown) as the heat-sensitive member. [Industrial Applicability]

[0025] The condensed water storage pipe of the present invention has a drain valve that is opened and closed by a heat-sensitive expandable movable part, and is therefore suitable as a condensed water storage pipe that can respond to a sudden increase in condensed water. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 1 entrance 2 Heat-sensitive elastic movable parts 2a Bimetal 2b Bellows 2c Diaphragm 2d membrane 3. Drain valve 4. Main Unit 5 Connection port 6 Connecting pipe 7 Condensate water level 8 Spring base 9. Rod 10 Spring 11 Outlet 12 Condensate 13 Steam trap 14 Entrance 15 Main body 16 Exit section 17 Condensate discharge nozzle 18 Maintenance plug 100 Condensate storage tube

Claims

1. an inlet for receiving steam or condensate; a connection port to a nozzle-type steam trap having a condensate discharge nozzle; a discharge port provided below the connecting port and configured to discharge condensed water to the outside; a heat-sensitive expandable movable part provided between the inlet and the outlet, the heat-sensitive expandable movable part expanding and contracting in response to a temperature difference between the steam and the condensed water; When the temperature between the inlet and the exhaust port rises due to high-temperature steam, the heat-sensitive expandable movable part expands to close the exhaust port, and the steam and the condensed water flow into the connecting port, and when the condensed water accumulates between the inlet and the exhaust port and the temperature drops, the heat-sensitive expandable movable part contracts to open the exhaust port, discharging the accumulated condensed water from the exhaust port, and the heat-sensitive expandable movable part expands and contracts so that the condensed water flowing into the condensed water drain nozzle accumulates in the connecting port.

2. 2. The condensate storage tube according to claim 1, wherein the heat-sensitive expandable movable part is made of any one of a bimetal, a bellows, a diaphragm, and a membrane.

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