Valve arrangement for shutting off a stream of bulk material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve arrangement (1) for shutting off a stream (2) of bulk material, comprising a valve housing (4) with a through-opening (5), a valve body (10) which is located centrally in the through-opening (5), a fluid-operated first closing element (20) located on the valve body (10), a fluid-operated second closing element (30) located on the valve body (10), and a control line (11) which connects an outer side of the valve housing (4) to the valve body (10) and is fluidically connected to the first closing element (20) and to the second closing element (30), wherein the second closing element (30) is located downstream of the first closing element (20), wherein, in the case of a common actuation via the control line (11), the first closing element (20) is configured to close the through-opening (5) upstream of the second closing element (30).

Description

[0001] R.416830

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] Description

[0004] title

[0005] Valve arrangement for shutting off a bulk material flow

[0006] State of the art

[0007] The present invention relates to a valve arrangement for shutting off a bulk material flow and a gas separation system with a desorption section comprising the valve arrangement.

[0008] In many process plants, a granular working fluid is conveyed as a bulk material. This bulk material is often supplied to and discharged from various process steps as a single unit using valve technology. Depending on the process step, different absolute pressures and gas compositions can prevail in or between the respective process chambers. Due to the driving pressure differential between the process chambers, the valve assemblies must therefore meet corresponding tightness requirements to ensure that no or minimal gas exchange occurs between the process chambers, so that the work processes are not negatively affected. Common technologies for such valve assemblies include slide valves, roller valves, butterfly valves, pinch valves, and rotary valves. The valve should fulfill two main requirements.Firstly, the flow of bulk material should be reliably shut off by the valve arrangement, and secondly, the valve arrangement should seal the flow as gas-tight as possible so that no or minimal gas exchange can take place between the process chambers. Ideally, a valve arrangement would be desirable that can reliably meet these two main requirements with a simple and cost-effective design.

[0009] Disclosure of the invention R.416830

[0010] - 2 -

[0011] The valve arrangement according to the invention with the features of claim 1, as well as the desorption section with the features of claim 12 and the gas separation system with the features of claim 13, have the advantage that a bulk material flow can be reliably shut off and sealed by means of the valve arrangement, whereby a gas can be reliably separated in the desorption section of the gas separation system.

[0012] According to the invention, this is achieved by the valve arrangement comprising a valve housing with a through-opening and a valve body, which is preferably arranged centrally in the through-opening. A fluid-operated first closing element and a fluid-operated second closing element are arranged on the valve body. Furthermore, the valve arrangement has a control line that connects an outer surface of the valve housing to the valve body and is in fluid communication with the first closing element and the second closing element. The second closing element is arranged downstream of the first closing element, and when actuated together via the control line, the first closing element is configured to close the through-opening in front of the second closing element.The first closing element closes faster than the second. This allows the first closing element to shut off the bulk material flow, while the second closing element seals the valve assembly undisturbed by the flow. The earlier or faster closing of the first closing element thus prevents parts of the bulk material flow from obstructing the second closing element and preventing a reliable seal.

[0013] The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0014] Preferably, the first closing element comprises a closing piston arranged on the inlet side of the valve body. The through-hole has a constriction upstream of the valve body, and the closing piston is configured to contact this constriction to close the through-hole. The closing piston and the constriction allow for particularly simple and reliable shut-off of the bulk material flow at the first closing element. R.416830

[0015] - 3 -

[0016] Preferably, the closing piston has a conical tip. This conical tip prevents the bulk material flow from accumulating on the closing piston and guides the bulk material flow through the valve assembly in an optimized manner. Thus, the conical tip improves the reliability and sealing performance of the first closing element.

[0017] The closing piston is preferably arranged in a cylinder, with the control line configured to introduce a fluid into the cylinder to move the closing piston towards the constriction. By introducing the fluid into the cylinder, a force can be efficiently exerted on the closing piston to move the first closing element towards the constriction earlier, quickly, and reliably, thus shutting off the flow of bulk material.

[0018] Preferably, the valve arrangement includes a connecting line that links the cylinder to the second locking element, wherein the control line has a lower flow resistance than the connecting line. Due to the lower flow resistance of the control line compared to the connecting line, pressure is built up first at the cylinder of the first locking element, causing the first locking element to close before the second locking element. By carefully selecting the flow resistance of the control line and the connecting line, the closing sequence of the first and second locking elements can thus be easily and reliably controlled.

[0019] The second closing element preferably comprises a first diaphragm, the first diaphragm being arranged on the valve body and surrounding the valve body. The first diaphragm is configured to close the through-opening between the valve body and the valve housing. The first diaphragm can reliably contact the valve housing to create a gas-tight seal for the valve assembly. The first diaphragm is, in particular, an elastic component, preferably made of an elastomer.

[0020] Preferably, a cavity is arranged on the first diaphragm, wherein the valve arrangement is configured to introduce a fluid into the cavity in order to move the first diaphragm towards the valve housing. By means of R.416830

[0021] - 4 -

[0022] The diaphragm can be easily and reliably moved into the cavity towards the valve housing to create a gas-tight seal for the valve assembly.

[0023] In particular, the first diaphragm is tubular, with a first end and a second end of the first diaphragm attached to the valve body to form the cavity between the first and second ends. Thus, the valve assembly can be reliably sealed with a simple and cost-effective first diaphragm.

[0024] The valve arrangement preferably comprises a first fluid line and a second fluid line connecting the first closing element to the control line. Furthermore, the valve arrangement preferably comprises a third fluid line and a fourth fluid line connecting the second closing element to the control line. The second fluid line includes a first check valve that allows flow from the control line to the first closing element. The fourth fluid line also includes a second check valve that allows flow from the second closing element to the control line. This enables an opening and closing behavior in which the first closing element always closes first but opens second. This ensures that the bulk material flow always bypasses the second closing element but is not blocked by it.

[0025] Preferably, the first fluid line has a lower flow resistance than the third fluid line. This allows the time interval between the closing of the first closing element and the closing of the second closing element to be further increased.

[0026] The first closing element preferably comprises a second diaphragm arranged in the valve body and circumferentially surrounding the valve body. The second diaphragm is configured to close the through-opening between the valve body and the valve housing. Designing the first closing element using the second diaphragm instead of the closing piston represents a simple and reliable alternative for shutting off the bulk material flow in the valve assembly. The second diaphragm can be designed analogously to the first diaphragm and have the same features. In particular, the second diaphragm is also tubular, with a connection between the two diaphragms.

[0027] -5 -

[0028] A cavity is formed at the ends. This cavity can preferably be controlled via the control line to close the first closing element.

[0029] Furthermore, the invention relates to a desorption section comprising a previously described valve arrangement and a process chamber for the desorption of a gas adsorbed on an adsorbent at a defined temperature and pressure. The valve arrangement ensures that the adsorbent can be reliably introduced into the process chamber as a bulk material stream and that the process chamber can be sealed gas-tight by means of the valve arrangement in order to desorb a gas adsorbed on the adsorbent.

[0030] Furthermore, the invention relates to a gas separation system, in particular a CCh separation system, comprising the previously described desorption section and an adsorption section, wherein the adsorption section is configured to adsorb a gas onto an adsorbent. Adsorption preferably takes place from an air stream. By means of the valve arrangement, the adsorbent can be reliably transported as a bulk material stream from the adsorption section to the desorption section, wherein the valve arrangement can seal the desorption section gas-tight from the adsorption section.

[0031] Brief description of the drawings

[0032] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing shows:

[0033] Figure 1a shows a schematic sectional view of a valve arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention in the open state.

[0034] Figure 1b shows a schematic sectional view of the valve arrangement according to the first embodiment of the invention in the closing state, R.416830

[0035] - 6 -

[0036] Figure 1c shows a schematic sectional view of the valve arrangement according to the first embodiment of the invention in the closed state.

[0037] Figure 1d shows a schematic sectional view of the valve arrangement according to the first embodiment of the invention in the opening state.

[0038] Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a valve arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention in the open state, and

[0039] Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a valve arrangement according to a third embodiment of the invention in the open state.

[0040] Embodiments of the invention

[0041] Preferably, all identical components, elements and / or units in all figures are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0042] Below, with reference to Figures 1a to 3, a valve arrangement 1 for a gas separation plant with a desorption section is described in detail.

[0043] Figure 1a shows the valve assembly 1 in the open state. The valve assembly 1 has a valve housing 4 with a through-opening 5 in which a valve body 10 is arranged centrally. A fluid-operated first closing element 20 and a fluid-operated second closing element 30 are arranged on the valve body 10, which are configured to close the valve assembly 1.

[0044] Furthermore, the valve assembly 1 has a control line 11 that connects an outer surface of the valve housing 4 to the valve body 10 and is in fluid communication with the first closing element 20 and the second closing element 30. The valve assembly 1 is configured to shut off a bulk material flow 2 in a gas-tight manner. The bulk material flow 2 can flow along a flow direction R through the through-opening 5 of the R.416830

[0045] - 7 -

[0046] Flow passes through the valve body 10 of the open valve assembly 1. The second closing element 30 is arranged downstream of the first closing element 20. The first closing element 20 and the second closing element 30 can be jointly controlled via the control line 11 to close the valve assembly 1.

[0047] The first closing element 20 has a closing piston 21, which is arranged on the inlet side of the valve body 10. Furthermore, the through-opening 5 upstream of the valve body 10 has a constriction 6, which has a smaller cross-section than the through-opening 5 in other areas of the valve housing 4. The closing piston 21 is configured to contact the constriction 6 and thus close the through-opening 5. Additionally, the closing piston 21 has a conical tip 15 in the direction of the constriction 6, which can establish flush contact with the constriction 6 around its circumference to close the through-opening 5 and, in the open state of the valve assembly 1, to guide the bulk material flow 1 in a flow-optimized manner. The closing piston 21 is arranged in a cylinder 22, wherein the control line 11 can introduce a fluid into the cylinder 22 to move the closing piston 21 in the direction of the narrowing 6.The cylinder 22 is therefore preferably a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder.

[0048] The second closing element 30 has a first diaphragm 31, which is arranged on the valve body 10 and surrounds the valve body 10 circumferentially. Furthermore, a cavity 33 is arranged on the first diaphragm 31, into which a fluid can be introduced to move the first diaphragm 31 towards the valve housing 4 and to seal the valve assembly 1 gas-tight. For this purpose, the first diaphragm is tubular, with a first end 34 and a second end 35 of the first diaphragm 31 attached to the valve body 10 to form the cavity 33 between the first end 34 and the second end 35.

[0049] A fluid can be introduced into the cavity 33 via a connecting line 12, which connects the cylinder 22 to the second locking element 30. Thus, a fluid can flow from the control line 11 into the cylinder 22 and then through the connecting line 12 into the cavity 33 of the first diaphragm 31 to actuate the first locking element.

[0050] - 8 -

[0051] The first closing element 20 and the second closing element 30 are closed, thus shutting off the valve assembly 1. The control line 11 has a lower flow resistance than the connecting line 12, so that when the valve assembly 1 is controlled jointly via the control line 11, the first closing element 20 closes earlier or faster than the second closing element 30.

[0052] Figure 1b shows the valve arrangement 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention in the closing state. To close the valve arrangement 1, a fluid is introduced into the valve body 10 through the control line 11. The fluid flows into the cylinder 22, increasing the pressure in the cylinder 22 and moving the closing piston 21 towards the constriction 6. The fluid also flows through the connecting line 12 into the cavity 33 of the second closing element 30, increasing the pressure within the cavity 33 as well. Due to the lower flow resistance of the control line 11 compared to the connecting line 12, the connecting line 12 has a higher pressure drop, so the pressure rises first in the cylinder 22 and closes the first closing element 20.

[0053] Closing the first closing element 20 shuts off the bulk material flow 2, preventing it from flowing through the opening 5. However, it is possible that some of the bulk material flow 2 may become trapped in the first closing element 20, preventing a gas-tight seal of the first closing element 20 from being guaranteed.

[0054] Figure 1c shows the valve assembly 1 in the closed state. By introducing more fluid into the control line 11, the pressure in the cylinder 22 and in the cavity 33 can be further increased, causing the first diaphragm 31 to move towards the valve housing 4 and make flush contact with it. When the second closing element 30 closes, the bulk material flow 2 is already blocked by the first closing element 20, so that the second closing element 30 can use the first diaphragm 31 to seal the valve assembly 1 gas-tight.

[0055] Figure 1d shows the valve assembly 1 in the open state. In this state, the fluid can escape from the valve body 10 through the control line 11. This causes the pressure inside the cylinder 22 and the cavity 33 to drop, so that the closing piston 21 and the first diaphragm 31 close the first closing element 20.

[0056] - 9 -

[0057] The second locking element 30 opens. Due to the lower flow resistance of the control line 11 compared to the connecting line 12, the pressure in the first locking element 20 drops earlier or faster than in the second locking element 30, so that the first locking element 20 opens before the second locking element 30.

[0058] Figure 2 shows the valve arrangement 1 according to a second embodiment. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and differs essentially in the control of the first closing element 20 and the second closing element 30.

[0059] The valve arrangement 1 has a first fluid line 13 and a second fluid line 14 in the valve body 10, which connect the first closing element 20 to the control line 11. The first fluid line 13 and the second fluid line 14 are arranged parallel to each other. Furthermore, the second fluid line 14 has a first check valve 17, which allows flow from the control line 11 to the first closing element 20, but blocks flow in the opposite direction.

[0060] Furthermore, the valve arrangement 1 in the valve body 10 has a third fluid line 15 and a fourth fluid line 16, which are arranged parallel to each other and connect the second closing element 30 to the control line 11. The fourth fluid line 16 has a second check valve 18, which allows flow from the second closing element 30 to the control line. However, the second check valve does not allow flow in the fourth fluid line 16 from the control line 11 to the closing element 30.

[0061] The first fluid line 13 preferably has a lower flow resistance than the third fluid line 15. This can be achieved in particular by arranging a first restrictor 19a in the first fluid line 13 and a second restrictor 19b in the third fluid line 15. A defined flow resistance can then be set in the first fluid line 13 and the third fluid line 15 by means of the first restrictor 19a and the second restrictor 19b.

[0062] By allowing the second check valve 18 to allow flow from the second closing element 30 to the control line 11, the first check valve 17R.416830

[0063] - 10 -

[0064] However, if the flow from the first closing element 20 to the control line 11 is blocked, the pressure in the second closing element 30 can be reduced earlier or faster than in the first closing element 20. This allows the second closing element 30 to open before the first closing element 20, so that the bulk material flow 2 is not backed up at the second closing valve 30 even when the valve arrangement 1 opens.

[0065] Figure 3 shows a valve arrangement 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention. The third embodiment is similar to the second embodiment and differs from the second embodiment in particular in the design of the first closing element 20.

[0066] The first closing element 20 in the third embodiment has a second diaphragm 32, which is arranged on the valve body 10 and surrounds the valve body 10 circumferentially. The second diaphragm 32 is constructed equivalently to the first diaphragm 31, with the second diaphragm 32 also being tubular and attached to the valve body 10 at its two opposite ends to form the cavity 33 between the ends. Thus, the second diaphragm 32 is also configured to close the through-opening 5 between the valve body 10 and the valve housing 4. For this purpose, a fluid can flow into the cavity 33 of the second diaphragm 32 via the control line 11 and the first fluid line 13 as well as the second fluid line 14, so that the second diaphragm 32 bulges towards the valve housing 4 until it contacts it and closes the first closing element 20.

[0067] The valve housing 4 is still shown with the tapered section 6. However, by using the second diaphragm 32 to design the first closing element 20, the tapered section 6 can be omitted, making the valve housing 4 simpler and more cost-effective to manufacture.

[0068] In summary, by providing the first closing element 20 and the second closing element 30, wherein the first closing element 20 closes earlier or faster than the second closing element 30, a valve arrangement 1 can be provided which, with simple and cost-effective manufacturing, enables reliable shut-off of the bulk material flow 2 and gas-tight sealing of the valve arrangement 1. Thus, the valve arrangement 1 can be used, in particular, in a desorption section of a gas separation plant R.416830.

[0069] are used in an adsorption section in which a gas is adsorbed by means of an adsorbent, which can be conveyed in the form of the bulk material stream 2 through the valve arrangement 1 into a process chamber of the desorption section and can desorb the adsorbed gas there in a gas-tight manner at a defined temperature and a defined pressure.

Claims

R.416830 - 12 - Claims 1. Valve arrangement (1) for shutting off a bulk material flow (2), comprising a valve housing (4) with a through-opening (5), a valve body (10) which is arranged, in particular centrally, in the through-opening (5), a fluid-operated first closing element (20) arranged on the valve body (10), a fluid-operated second closing element (30) arranged on the valve body (10) and a control line (11) which connects an outer surface of the valve housing (4) to the valve body (10) and is in fluid communication with the first closing element (20) and the second closing element (30), wherein the second closing element (30) is arranged downstream of the first closing element (20), where, in the case of a common control via the control line (11), the first closing element (20) is set up to close the through-opening (5) in front of the second closing element (30).

2. Valve arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first closing element (20) comprises a closing piston (21) arranged on the inflow side of the valve body (10), wherein the through-opening (5) has a constriction (6) upstream of the valve body (10) and wherein the closing piston (21) is arranged to contact the constriction (6) in order to close the through-opening (5).

3. Valve arrangement (1) according to claim 2, wherein the closing piston (21) has a conical tip (15).

4. Valve arrangement (1) according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the closing piston (21) is arranged in a cylinder (22), wherein the control line (11) is configured to introduce a fluid into the cylinder (22) to move the closing piston (21) in the direction of the constriction (6). R.416830 - 13 - 5. Valve arrangement (1) according to claim 4, comprising a connecting line (12) that connects the cylinder (22) to the second closing element (30), wherein the control line (11) has a lower flow resistance than the connecting line (12).

6. Valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second closing element (30) has a first diaphragm (31), wherein the first diaphragm (31) is arranged on the valve body (10) and surrounds the valve body (10) circumferentially, and wherein the first diaphragm (31) is configured to close the through-opening (5) between the valve body (10) and the valve housing (4).

7. Valve arrangement (1) according to claim 6, wherein a cavity (33) is arranged on the first diaphragm (31), wherein the valve arrangement (1) is configured to introduce a fluid into the cavity (33) in order to move the first diaphragm (31) towards the valve housing (4).

8. Valve arrangement (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first diaphragm (31) is tubular and wherein a first end (34) and a second end (35) of the first diaphragm (31) are attached to the valve body (10) to form the cavity (33) between the first end (34) and the second end (35).

9. Valve arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4 or 6 to 8, comprising a first fluid line (13) and a second fluid line (14) connecting the first closing element (20) to the control line (11), a third fluid line (15) and a fourth fluid line (16) connecting the second closing element (30) to the control line (11), wherein the second fluid line (14) has a first check valve (17) that allows flow from the control line (11) to the first closing element (20), and wherein the fourth fluid line (16) has a second check valve (18) that allows flow from the second closing element (30) to the control line (11).

10. Valve arrangement (1) according to claim 9, wherein the first fluid line (13) has a lower flow resistance than the third fluid line (15). R.416830 - 14 - 11. Valve arrangement (1 ) according to one of claims 1 or 6 to 10, wherein the first closing element (20) comprises a second diaphragm (32) which is arranged on the valve body (10) and surrounds the valve body (10) circumferentially and wherein the second diaphragm (32) is configured to close the through-opening (5) between the valve body (10) and the valve housing (4).

12. Desorption section comprising a valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims and a process chamber for desorption of a gas adsorbed on an adsorbent at a defined temperature and a defined pressure.

13. Gas separation plant, in particular CCh separation plant, comprising a desorption section according to claim 12 and an adsorption section for adsorbing a gas onto an adsorbent.

14. Method for operating a valve arrangement (1) for shutting off a bulk material flow (2) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the fluid-operated first closing element (20) and the fluid-operated second closing element (30) are jointly controlled via the control line (11) such that the first closing element (20) closes the through-opening (5) in front of the second closing element (30).

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