Pipe structure

Abstract

A pipe structure according to the present disclosure is for extracting part of a first fluid (F1) flowing through a pipe (1) or for introducing a second fluid (F2) into the pipe (1). An outer circumferential path (6) that extends along a pipe wall (8) of the pipe (1) is formed by the pipe wall (8) and an outer shell member (10) that is on the outer side of the pipe wall (8) in the radial direction. A first opening (12) that penetrates an upper half portion of the pipe wall (8) is formed and is in communication with the outer circumferential path (6). A second opening (14) that penetrates a lower half portion of the outer shell member (10) is formed and opens to the exterior of the pipe (1).

Description

Piping structure Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-083992, filed May 23, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a piping structure for extracting a part of a fluid from a piping or for introducing a fluid into a piping.

[0003] Generally, in a pipe through which steam flows, drain flows to the lower part of the pipe, so when only steam is extracted from the pipe, it is extracted from the upper end of the pipe (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-029416

[0005] As shown in Figure 8, after gas G is taken up from the main pipe 100, a sub-pipe 102 is often installed facing downward. In this case, the gas is usually taken up using a tee 104 and then piped downward using a pipe elbow 106. Furthermore, the sub-pipe 102 must be installed to avoid the main pipe 100, either in front of the main pipe 100 (in front of the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of Figure 8) or at the rear of the main pipe 100 (in front of the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of Figure 8). This not only complicates the structure of the sub-pipe 102, but also requires horizontal piping space to be secured.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a piping structure that is simple in structure and can achieve space saving.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the piping structure of the present invention is a piping structure for extracting a portion of a first fluid flowing through a piping or introducing a second fluid into the piping, and is provided with: an outer peripheral passage formed by a pipe wall of the piping and an outer casing member radially outside the pipe wall and extending along the pipe wall; a first opening penetrating the upper half of the pipe wall and communicating with the outer peripheral passage; and a second opening penetrating the upper half of the outer casing member and opening to the outside of the piping.

[0008] With this configuration, the first fluid flows from the first opening through the outer peripheral passage and is discharged to the outside through the second opening. Alternatively, the second fluid flows from the second opening through the outer peripheral passage and is introduced into the piping through the first opening. This eliminates the need to install a sub-pipe connected to the second opening so that it straddles the piping in the vertical direction. As a result, the piping structure is simplified and the installation space for the piping structure is reduced.

[0009] In the present invention, the angle θ1 formed between the axis of the first opening and the horizontal line may be set to 45° to 90°. In this case, the angle θ2 formed between the axis of the first opening and the axis of the second opening may be set to 90° to 180°. In this case, the first opening may be provided at an upper end of the piping, and the second opening may be provided at a lower end. With this configuration, when gas is extracted from the first opening, it is possible to prevent drainage from being extracted together with the gas.

[0010] In the present invention, the outer peripheral passage may be formed around the entire circumference of the pipe wall, and with this configuration, the first fluid or the second fluid flows efficiently through the outer peripheral passage.

[0011] In the present invention, the second opening may be provided with a guide for controlling the flow of the first fluid or the second fluid. With this configuration, the first fluid is smoothly discharged from the second opening, or the second fluid is smoothly introduced from the second opening.

[0012] In the present invention, the first fluid may be steam. With this configuration, when steam is extracted from the first opening, drainage can be prevented from being extracted together with the steam.

[0013] The joint of the present invention is equipped with the piping structure of the present invention. With this configuration, it is not necessary to install a sub-pipe connected to the second opening so as to straddle the piping in the vertical direction, which simplifies the piping structure and reduces the installation space required for the piping structure.

[0014] Any combination of at least two features disclosed in the claims and / or the specification and / or the drawings is included in the present invention. In particular, any combination of two or more of the claims is included in the present invention.

[0015] The present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments and drawings are merely for illustration and explanation purposes and should not be used to define the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, the same part numbers in multiple drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0023] Fig. 1 is a side view showing a piping structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1.

[0025] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified joint of the piping structure.

[0026] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified joint of the piping structure.

[0027] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing yet another modified joint of the piping structure.

[0028] Fig. 6 is a side view showing a piping structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 6.

[0030] Fig. 8 is a side view showing a conventional piping structure.

[0031] Fig. 9 is a side view showing another conventional piping structure.

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the upstream and downstream directions of a fluid flow, respectively.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a piping structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The piping structure of this embodiment is a piping structure that extracts a portion of a first fluid F1 flowing through a main pipe 1. In this embodiment, the first fluid F1 is steam. However, the first fluid F1 is not limited to steam and may be, for example, air. In the following description, the terms "axial direction," "radial direction," and "circumferential direction" refer to the "axial direction," "radial direction," and "circumferential direction" of the main pipe 1, respectively.

[0018] A sub-pipe 2 is connected to a main pipe 1. A first fluid F1 extracted from the main pipe 1 flows through the sub-pipe 2. The sub-pipe 2 is connected to the main pipe 1 via a joint 4. Specifically, the joint 4 has first and second connection ports 4a, 4b to which the main pipe 1 is connected, and a third connection port 4c to which the sub-pipe 2 is connected.

[0019] The first connection port 4a and the second connection port 4b are formed coaxially and have the same diameter, and are each connected to the main pipe 1. That is, the first fluid F1 flows from one main pipe 1 to the other main pipe 1 via the joint 4. In other words, in this embodiment, the joint 4 constitutes a part of the main pipe 1.

[0020] In this embodiment, the main pipe 1 and the fitting 4 are connected by screwing, but the connection between the main pipe 1 and the fitting 4 is not limited to this and may be a flange connection, a welding connection, a mechanical connection, etc. Furthermore, the connection structure between one main pipe 1 and the fitting 4 may be different from the connection structure between the other main pipe 1 and the fitting 4.

[0021] In this embodiment, the sub-pipe 2 and the fitting 4 are connected by screwing, but the connection between the sub-pipe 2 and the fitting 4 is not limited to this and may be a flange connection, a welding joint, a mechanical connection, etc. Furthermore, the connection structure between the main pipe 1 and the fitting 4 and the connection structure between the sub-pipe 2 and the fitting 4 may be different. In this embodiment, a heat insulating material 5 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the sub-pipe 2. However, the heat insulating material 5 is not necessary.

[0022] In this embodiment, the joint 4 is made of stainless steel. However, the material of the joint 4 is not limited to this and may be, for example, a steel material other than stainless steel, a non-ferrous material, a resin, etc. Furthermore, the joint 4 may be manufactured by any method such as casting, forging, or injection molding.

[0023] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 1. As shown in the figure, an outer peripheral passage 6 is formed radially outward of a joint 4, which is part of the main pipe 1. In detail, the outer peripheral passage 6 is formed by a pipe wall 8 of the main pipe 1 (joint 4) and an outer casing member 10 radially outward of the pipe wall 8, and extends circumferentially along the pipe wall 8.

[0024] Here, the pipe wall 8 is an outer wall that forms a passage in the main pipe 1 (joint 4) through which the first fluid F1 flows. The outer casing member 10 is provided radially outside at least a region R ( FIG. 1 ) in the pipe wall 8 where the outer peripheral passage 6 is formed, and forms part of the outer casing of the main pipe 1 (joint 4). In other words, the main pipe 1 (joint 4) has a double-wall structure in the region R where the outer peripheral passage 6 is formed. The outer peripheral passage 6 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the pipe wall 8 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer casing member 10.

[0025] Here, the cross-sectional area (passage area) of the passage through which the first fluid F1 flows in the main pipe 1 (joint 4) is denoted by S1, and the cross-sectional area (passage area) of the outer peripheral passage 6 is denoted by S2. In this case, the cross-sectional area ratio (S2 / S1) of each passage is set to, for example, 0.15 to 1.00. Here, when there are multiple outer peripheral passages 6, the cross-sectional area (passage area) S2 of the outer peripheral passage 6 refers to the total cross-sectional area of ​​the multiple outer peripheral passages 6. In the example of FIG. 2 , the outer peripheral passages 6 are provided on the right and left sides of a center line extending vertically through the center O, and the cross-sectional area (passage area) S2 of the outer peripheral passage 6 is the total cross-sectional area of ​​the two outer peripheral passages 6, 6.

[0026] A first opening 12 is provided at the upper end of the pipe wall 8. The first opening 12 passes through the pipe wall 8 and communicates with the outer peripheral passage 6. In this embodiment, the first opening 12 faces vertically upward.

[0027] A second opening 14 is provided at the lower end of the main pipe 1 (joint 4) in the outer peripheral passage 6. The second opening 14 opens to the outside at the lower end of the main pipe 1 (joint 4) in the outer peripheral passage 6. In this embodiment, the second opening 14 faces vertically downward. The sub-pipe 2 is connected to the second opening 14. That is, in this embodiment, the third connection port 4c of the joint 4 constitutes the second opening 14 of the outer peripheral passage 6.

[0028] In this embodiment, the outer peripheral passage 6 is formed around the entire circumference of the pipe wall 8. That is, the first fluid F1 introduced into the outer peripheral passage 6 from the first opening 12 passes through the entire circumference of the main pipe 1, i.e., passes through the outer peripheral passages 6 on both the left and right sides in FIG.

[0029] However, the outer peripheral passage 6 does not have to be formed around the entire circumference of the pipe wall 8. Specifically, as shown in a modified example in Fig. 3, the outer peripheral passage 6 may be formed around a part of the outer circumference of the pipe wall 8. In Fig. 3, the outer peripheral passage 6 is formed only in half the area of ​​the outer circumference of the pipe wall 8 (left side in Fig. 2). The example in Fig. 3 is preferably used when there is no space on one side of the main pipe 1 (right side in Fig. 2), for example.

[0030] As shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 2 , a guide 16 may be provided in the second opening 14. The guide 16 controls the flow of the first fluid F1. Specifically, the guide 16 has functions such as preventing the first fluid F1 flowing from both sides in the circumferential direction from colliding with each other and guiding the first fluid F1 so that it is smoothly discharged from the second opening 14. In this embodiment, the guide 16 is made of a plate-shaped member and is formed integrally with the joint 4. However, the shape and manufacturing method of the guide 16 are not limited to this. Furthermore, the guide 16 may be omitted.

[0031] As described above, in this embodiment, the first opening 12 faces vertically upward. That is, the angle θ1 between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the horizontal line H is set to 90°. However, the first opening 12 need not face vertically upward as long as it is formed in the upper half of the pipe wall 8. Here, the "upper half of the pipe wall 8" refers to the portion of the pipe wall 8 above the horizontal line H that passes through the center point O of the main pipe 1 (joint 4).

[0032] As a modified example, Fig. 4 shows a structure in which the first opening 12 is formed in the upper half of the pipe wall 8. In the example of Fig. 4, the angle θ1 formed between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the horizontal line H is set to 60°. The angle θ1 formed between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the horizontal line H is preferably set to 45° to 90°. The example of Fig. 4 is preferably used when, for example, there is no space above the main pipe 1.

[0033] As shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 4, an additional first opening 12 may be provided in the upper half of the pipe wall 8, so that a plurality of first openings 12 are formed in the upper half of the pipe wall 8. Fig. 4 shows an example in which two first openings 12 are provided, with the first opening 12 shown in solid line and the first opening 12 shown in two-dot chain line. In this case, it is preferable that the angle θ1 formed between the axis 12a of at least one first opening 12 and the horizontal line H is set to 45° to 90°.

[0034] As described above, in this embodiment, the second opening 14 faces vertically downward. However, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 4 , the first opening 14 need only open to the outside in the lower half of the main pipe 1 (joint 4), and does not have to face vertically downward. Here, the "lower half of the main pipe 1 (joint 4)" refers to the portion below the horizontal line H passing through the center point O of the main pipe 1 (joint 4).

[0035] 2, in this embodiment, the first opening 12 faces vertically upward, and the second opening 14 faces vertically downward. That is, the angle θ2 formed between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the axis 14a of the second opening 14 is set to 180°.

[0036] However, the angle θ2 formed between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the axis 14a of the second opening 14 does not have to be set to 180°. For example, in the modified example of Fig. 4, the angle θ2 formed between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the axis 14a of the second opening 14 is set to 150°. It is preferable that the angle θ2 formed between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the axis 14a of the second opening 14 be set to a value between 90 and 180°.

[0037] As shown in a modified example of Fig. 5, a second opening 14 may be provided in the lower half of the main pipe 1 (joint 4). In the example of Fig. 5, the angle θ2 formed between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the axis 14a of the second opening 14 is set to 150°.

[0038] As shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 5, a second opening 14 may be added to the lower half of the main pipe 1 (joint 4), thereby providing multiple second openings 14. Figure 5 shows an example in which two second openings 14 are provided, one shown by a solid line and the other by a two-dot chain line, and each second opening 14 is connected to a sub-pipe 2. In this case, it is preferable that the angle θ2 between the axis 12a of at least one first opening 12 and the axis 14a of the second opening 14 be set to 90 to 180 degrees. The example of Figure 5 is preferably used, for example, when supplying the first fluid F1 to multiple sub-pipes 2.

[0039] When multiple second openings 14 are provided as in FIG. 5 , guides 16 (FIG. 1) may be provided in all second openings 14, or only in specific second openings 14, or may not be provided in all second openings 14.

[0040] 5, multiple first openings 12 may be formed in the upper half of the pipe wall 8, as indicated by the two-dot chain lines added to the example of FIG. 4. In this case, two first openings 12 and two second openings 14 are provided. In this case, the angle θ2 formed between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the axis 14a of the second opening 14 is preferably set to 90 to 180°.

[0041] 2, an external device 18 may be attached to the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe 1 (joint 4). In detail, a through hole 20 is provided in the outer casing member 10, and the external device 18 communicates with the outer peripheral passage 6. In this embodiment, the external device 18 is attached to the upper end surface of the main pipe 1 (joint 4), but the attachment position of the external device 18 is not limited thereto.

[0042] The external device 18 may be, for example, a measuring instrument such as a pressure gauge that measures the pressure of the fluid F1 flowing through the outer peripheral passage 6, a thermometer that measures the temperature, or a flow meter that measures the flow rate, or may also be a control instrument such as a control valve that controls the flow rate of the fluid F1 flowing through the outer peripheral passage 6, an on-off valve, or an air vent valve that bleeds air from the fluid F1.

[0043] In this embodiment, the piping structure of the present invention is realized by the joint 4. However, the piping structure of the present invention can also be realized by means other than the joint 4, for example, by providing a first opening 12 and an outer casing member 10 in the main pipe 1 to form the outer peripheral passage 6.

[0044] According to the above configuration, the first fluid F1 flows from the first opening 12 through the outer peripheral passage 6 and is discharged from the second opening 14 to the sub-pipe 2. This eliminates the need to install the sub-pipe 2 so that it straddles the main pipe 1 in the vertical direction. As a result, the piping structure is simplified and the installation space for the piping structure can be reduced. Furthermore, the simplified piping structure requires less insulation material 5 to be laid in the sub-pipe 2 and improves moisture retention performance.

[0045] In this embodiment, the first fluid F1 is steam. With this configuration, when the steam F1 is extracted from the first opening 12, drainage can be prevented from being extracted together with the steam F1.

[0046] In this embodiment, the angle θ1 formed between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the horizontal line H is set to 45° to 90°. Furthermore, the angle θ2 formed between the axis 12a of the first opening 12 and the axis 14a of the second opening 14 is set to 90° to 180°. In the illustrated example, the first opening 12 is provided at the upper end of the main pipe 1, and the second opening 14 is provided at the lower end. With this configuration, when the first fluid F1 is extracted from the first opening 12, it is possible to prevent drainage from being extracted along with the first fluid (steam) F1.

[0047] In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral passage 6 is formed around the entire periphery of the pipe wall 8. With this configuration, the first fluid F1 that flows in through the first opening 12 flows efficiently through the outer peripheral passage 6 and is discharged from the second opening 14 to the sub-pipe 2.

[0048] In the present embodiment, a guide 16 for controlling the flow of the first fluid F1 is provided in the second opening 14. With this configuration, the first fluid F1 is smoothly guided from the second opening 14 to the sub-pipe 2.

[0049] In this embodiment, the piping structure of the present invention is realized by the joint 4. According to this configuration, the piping structure of the present invention can be realized by using the joint 4 of this embodiment shown in Figure 2 in the part of the tee 104 in Figure 8, and can be easily applied to existing piping structures.

[0050] A piping structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. In the description of the second embodiment, elements having the same configuration as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0051] The piping structure of the second embodiment shown in Fig. 6 is a piping structure in which a second fluid F2 flowing through a sub-pipe F2 is introduced into a main pipe 1 through which a first fluid F1 flows. In the second embodiment, condensate F1 flows through the main pipe 1. A steam trap 30 is connected to the upstream end of the sub-pipe 2, and drain water F2 discharged from the steam trap 30 flows through the sub-pipe 2. In other words, in the second embodiment, the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 are water.

[0052] 7, in the second embodiment, the second fluid F2 flows through the outer peripheral passage 6 from the second opening 14 and is introduced into the main pipe 1 from the first opening 12. In other words, the fluid F2 flows through the outer peripheral passage 6 in the opposite direction to that in the first embodiment.

[0053] In the second embodiment, a guide 16 is also provided in the second opening 14. The guide 16 in the second embodiment controls the flow of the second fluid F2. Specifically, the guide 16 guides the second fluid F2 so that it is smoothly introduced into the outer peripheral passage 6.

[0054] The structure of the outer peripheral passage 6 and the arrangement of the first and second openings 12, 14 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 can also be applied to the second embodiment.

[0055] 9 shows an example of a conventional piping structure for recovering drain water F2 from a steam trap 200. As shown in the figure, conventionally, condensate from the steam trap 200 is led to a main pipe 201 from its upper end. More specifically, the drain water F2 discharged from the steam trap 200 is supplied to the main pipe 201 via a sub-pipe 202. At this time, the sub-pipe 202 is installed so as to straddle the main pipe 201 in the vertical direction, and is turned using a pipe elbow 206 to be connected to a tee 204 connected to the main pipe 201.

[0056] 7, according to the second embodiment, the second fluid F2 flows from the second opening 14 through the outer peripheral passage 6 and is introduced into the main pipe 1 from the first opening 12. This eliminates the need to install the sub-pipe 2 connected to the second opening 14 so as to straddle the main pipe 1 in the vertical direction. As a result, the piping structure is simplified and the installation space for the piping structure can be reduced.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various additions, modifications, and omissions are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, such additions, modifications, and omissions are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0058] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Main pipe (piping) 2 Sub-piping 4 Joint 6 Peripheral passage 8 Pipe wall of piping 10 Outer casing member 12 First opening 14 Second opening 16 Guide F1 First fluid (steam) F2 Second fluid (drainage water) θ1 Angle between the axis of the first opening and the horizontal line θ2 Angle between the axis of the first opening and the axis of the second opening

Claims

1. A piping structure for extracting a portion of a first fluid flowing through a pipe or for introducing a second fluid into the pipe, comprising: an outer peripheral passage formed by a pipe wall of the pipe and an outer casing member radially outside the pipe wall and extending along the pipe wall; a first opening penetrating the upper half of the pipe wall and communicating with the outer peripheral passage; and a second opening penetrating the lower half of the outer casing member and opening to the outside of the pipe.

2. A piping structure according to claim 1, wherein the angle θ1 between the axis of the first opening and the horizontal line is set to 45° to 90°.

3. A piping structure according to claim 2, wherein the angle θ2 between the axis of the first opening and the axis of the second opening is set to 90 to 180°.

4. A piping structure according to claim 3, wherein the first opening is provided at the upper end of the piping and the second opening is provided at the lower end.

5. A piping structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outer peripheral passage is formed around the entire circumference of the pipe wall.

6. A piping structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a guide for controlling the flow of the first fluid or the second fluid is provided in the second opening.

7. A piping structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first fluid is steam.

8. A joint having a piping structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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