Diffusion device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a diffusion device for diffusing a deposit or a residue on a bottom surface of a liquid storage tank. [Solution] A diffusion device 1 includes: a supply port 31 provided at a bottom part of a housing 30; a predetermined power transmission mechanism part 10 provided inside the housing 30; and a nozzle mechanism part 20 including a discharge port 21 for discharging base-material oil supplied from the supply port 31. The power transmission mechanism part 10 includes: a rotary blade 12 which is rotated by the inflow of a liquid supplied from the supply port 31; a rotary shaft 13 which pivotally supports the rotary blade 12; and a large number of planetary gear units 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 which operate due to the rotation of the rotary shaft 13.

Description

Diffusion device

[0001] The present invention relates to a diffusion device for diffusing sediments that have flocculated and settled or accumulated on the bottom surface of a liquid storage tank (crude oil tank).

[0002] Due to factors such as a drop in the internal temperature of a crude oil tank, crude oil may aggregate and settle on the bottom of the tank, forming sediment (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The deposits described above reduce the storage capacity of the tank, and therefore must be dispersed or removed in some way (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-170282

[0005] One method of removing the deposits mentioned above is to remove them manually using shovels, but it is preferable to avoid working inside crude oil tanks as there is a risk of oxygen deficiency and explosion.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a diffusion device that can diffuse sediments that have aggregated and settled or accumulated on the bottom of a tank without relying on human hands.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a diffusion device that is installed submerged in a liquid storage tank, and that includes at least a supply port provided at the bottom of a housing, a predetermined power transmission mechanism provided inside the housing, and a nozzle mechanism including an outlet port that discharges the liquid supplied from the supply port to the outside of the housing, and that supplies the liquid in the liquid storage tank from the supply port and discharges it from the outlet port, thereby providing a diffusion device that diffuses deposits that have coagulated and settled or that have accumulated on the bottom surface of the liquid storage tank.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention further provides a diffusion device in which the power transmission mechanism is composed of rotating blades that rotate due to the inflow of liquid supplied from the supply port, a rotating shaft that supports the rotating blades, and a plurality of planetary gear units that operate in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating blades and the rotating shaft.

[0009] The diffusion device of the present invention is a diffusion device that is installed submerged in a liquid storage tank, and comprises at least a supply port provided at the bottom of a housing, a predetermined power transmission mechanism provided inside the housing, and a nozzle mechanism including an outlet that discharges the liquid supplied from the supply port to the outside of the housing. By supplying the liquid in the liquid storage tank from the supply port and discharging it from the outlet, sediments that have coagulated and settled or accumulated on the bottom surface of the liquid storage tank are diffused, making it possible to diffuse sediments that have coagulated and settled or accumulated on the bottom surface of the tank without the need for human hands.

[0010] The agitator of the present invention further comprises a power transmission mechanism that is composed of a rotating blade that rotates due to the inflow of liquid supplied from the supply port, a rotating shaft that supports the rotating blade, and a plurality of planetary gear units that operate in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating blade and the rotating shaft, thereby enabling the discharged liquid to be dispersed over a wider area.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a diffusion device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a diffusion device. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a diffusion device. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a first-stage planetary gear unit. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a second-stage planetary gear unit. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a third-stage planetary gear unit. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a fourth-stage planetary gear unit. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a fifth-stage planetary gear unit. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a sixth-stage planetary gear unit. FIG. 10 is a diagram of an example of a diffusion device installed submerged in liquid. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the diffusion device (liquid diffusion operation). FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view showing the operation (initial stage) of the power transmission mechanism. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the first-stage planetary gear unit. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the second-stage planetary gear unit. FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view showing the operation of the power transmission mechanism (middle stage 1). FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the third-stage planetary gear unit. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the fourth-stage planetary gear unit. Figure 18 is a partially enlarged view showing the operation of the power transmission mechanism (middle stage 2). Figure 19 is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of the fifth-stage planetary gear unit. Figure 20 is a partially enlarged view showing the operation of the power transmission mechanism (late stage). Figure 21 is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of the sixth-stage planetary gear unit. Figure 22 is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of the diffusion device (nozzle mechanism rotation operation). Figure 23 is a conceptual diagram showing the direction when the nozzle mechanism is rotated.

[0012] It is implemented as a diffusion device that is submerged and operated inside a crude oil tank.

[0013] First, the configuration of the diffusion device will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] The diffusion device (1) comprises a housing (30) that covers the outside of the device, a supply port (31) that opens to the bottom of the housing, a predetermined power transmission mechanism (10) that is provided inside the housing, and a nozzle mechanism (20) that includes an outlet (21) for discharging the liquid supplied from the supply port to the outside of the housing (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0015] The power transmission mechanism (10) includes a rotor blade (12) disposed at the bottom, a rotary shaft (13) supporting the rotor blade, a first-stage planetary gear unit (14) that operates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotary shaft, a second-stage planetary gear unit (15) that is disposed above the first-stage planetary gear unit (14), and a third-stage planetary gear (16) that is disposed above the second-stage planetary gear unit and operates in conjunction with the operation of the second-stage planetary gear unit. The planetary gear system is composed of a fourth-stage planetary gear unit (16), a fourth-stage planetary gear unit (17) that is placed above the third-stage planetary gear unit, a fifth-stage planetary gear unit (18) that is placed above the fourth-stage planetary gear unit and operates in conjunction with the operation of the fourth-stage planetary gear unit, and a sixth-stage planetary gear unit (19) that is placed above the fifth-stage planetary gear unit and operates in conjunction with the operation of the fifth-stage planetary gear unit (Figure 3).

[0016] The rotating blades (12) rotate in a certain direction when liquid (crude oil) is introduced from the supply port (31).

[0017] The rotating shaft (13) is configured to rotate in the same direction as the rotating blades (12) when the rotating blades (12) rotate (FIG. 3).

[0018] The first stage planetary gear unit (14) includes at least a sun gear (141) located in the center, three planetary gears (142) that mesh with the sun gear, and an internal gear (143) that meshes with the planetary gears (FIG. 4).

[0019] The second stage planetary gear unit (15) includes at least a sun gear (151) located in the center, three planetary gears (152) that mesh with the sun gear, and an internal gear (153) that meshes with the planetary gears (FIG. 5).

[0020] The third stage planetary gear unit (16) includes at least a sun gear (161) located in the center, three planetary gears (162) that mesh with the sun gear, and an internal gear (163) that meshes with the planetary gears (FIG. 6).

[0021] The fourth stage planetary gear unit (17) includes at least a sun gear (171) located in the center, three planetary gears (172) that mesh with the sun gear, and an internal gear (173) that meshes with the planetary gears (FIG. 7).

[0022] The fifth stage planetary gear unit (18) includes at least a sun gear (181) located in the center, three planetary gears (182) that mesh with the sun gear, and an internal gear (183) that meshes with the planetary gears (FIG. 8).

[0023] The sixth stage planetary gear unit (19) includes at least a sun gear (191) located in the center, three planetary gears (192) that mesh with the sun gear, and an internal gear (193) that meshes with the planetary gears (FIG. 9).

[0024] The nozzle mechanism (20) has a discharge port (21) at its tip (the right end shown in Figs. 1 and 2).

[0025] The nozzle mechanism (20) is also in communication with the power transmission mechanism (10) (FIG. 2).

[0026] Next, the operation of the diffusion device will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0027] A diffusion device (1) is installed submerged inside a large crude oil tank (T) (diameter 94 m, storing approximately 100,000 tons) at a position approximately 2 to 3 m from the bottom (Figure 10).

[0028] A pipe (A) for supplying crude oil (O) from the crude oil tank is connected to a supply port (31) provided at the bottom of the housing of the diffusion device, and the valve (on the right side near the bottom in Figure 10) is opened and the pump (P) is started (Figure 10).

[0029] When the crude oil (O) flows in through the supply port (31), the crude oil is discharged through the discharge port (21) and dispersed in the crude oil tank (T) (FIG. 11).

[0030] Furthermore, as the crude oil (O) flows in through the supply port (31), the rotary vanes (12) and the rotary shaft (13) start to rotate clockwise (FIG. 12).

[0031] As the rotating shaft (13) rotates, the sun gear (141) constituting the first-stage planetary gear unit (14) and the sun gear (151) constituting the second-stage planetary gear unit (15) rotate, and the planetary gears (142, 152) meshing with each sun gear operate along their respective internal gears (143, 153) (Figures 12 to 14).

[0032] As the second-stage planetary gear unit (15) operates, the sun gear (161) constituting the third-stage planetary gear unit (16) and the sun gear (171) constituting the fourth-stage planetary gear unit (17) rotate, and the planetary gears (162, 172) meshing with the respective sun gears operate along their respective internal gears (163, 173) (Figures 15 to 17).

[0033] As the fourth-stage planetary gear unit (17) operates, the sun gear (181) constituting the fifth-stage planetary gear unit (18) rotates, and the planet gear (182) meshing with the sun gear operates along the internal gear (183) (Figures 18 and 19).

[0034] As the fifth-stage planetary gear unit (18) operates, the sun gear (191) constituting the sixth-stage planetary gear unit (19) rotates, and the planet gear (192) meshing with the sun gear operates along the internal gear (193) (Figures 20 and 21).

[0035] The power is transmitted as described above, and the nozzle mechanism (20) rotates counterclockwise to discharge and diffuse the crude oil (O) (FIGS. 22 and 23).

[0036] The present invention is an excellent diffusion device that makes it possible to diffuse sediments that have flocculated and settled or accumulated on the bottom of a liquid storage tank without manual intervention, and therefore has industrial applicability.

[0037] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Diffuser 10 Power transmission mechanism 11 Supply port 12 Rotating blade 13 Rotating shaft 14 First-stage planetary gear unit 141 Sun gear 142 Planet gear 143 Internal gear 15 Second-stage planetary gear unit 151 Sun gear 152 Planet gear 153 Internal gear 16 Third-stage planetary gear unit 161 Sun gear 162 Planet gear 163 Internal gear 17 Fourth-stage planetary gear unit 171 Sun gear 172 Planet gear 173 Internal gear 18 Fifth-stage planetary gear unit 181 Sun gear 182 Planet gear 183 Internal gear 19 Sixth-stage planetary gear unit 191 Sun gear 192 Planet gear 193 Internal gear 20 Nozzle mechanism 21 Discharge port 30 Housing A Crude oil supply piping T Liquid storage tank (crude oil tank) O Crude oil P Pump

Claims

1. A diffusing device installed by being immersed in a liquid storage tank, comprising at least a supply port (31) provided at the bottom of a housing (30), a predetermined power transmission mechanism section (10) provided inside the housing, and a nozzle mechanism section (20) including a discharge port (21) for discharging the liquid supplied from the supply port. By supplying the liquid in the liquid storage tank from the supply port and discharging it from the discharge port, the diffusing device diffuses deposits deposited or staying on the bottom surface in the liquid storage tank.

2. The diffusing device according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission mechanism section (10) is composed of a rotating blade (12) that rotates by the inflow of the liquid supplied from the supply port, a rotating shaft (13) that pivotally supports the rotating blade, and a plurality of planetary gear units (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) that operate in association with the rotation of the rotating blade and the rotating shaft.

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