EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR CONDENSATION INDUCED HYDRAULIC SHOCK

Abstract

An apparatus for early warning against condensation induced hydraulic shock in a pipe, conveying a fluid present at least in a first part in the vapor phase and, in the case of condensate formation, in a second part in the form of a condensate, comprising at least two temperature sensors, which are arranged in the pipe and, thus, are fluid contacting, and at least one electronics unit, wherein the first temperature sensor is so arranged that it measures the temperature of the vapor, wherein the second temperature sensor is so arranged that it measures the temperature of the condensate, wherein the at least one electronics unit is so embodied that it ascertains the temperature difference between the temperature of the vapor and the temperature of the condensate, and, upon reaching a predetermined limit value for the temperature difference, generates a report.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. An apparatus for early warning against condensation induced hydraulic shock in a component, especially a pipe, conveying a fluid present at least in a first part in the vapor phase and, in the case of condensate formation, in a second part in the form of a condensate, comprising: at least two temperature sensors, which are arranged in the pipe and, thus, are fluid contacting; and at least one electronics unit, wherein: a first temperature sensor of said at least two temperature sensors is so arranged that it measures the temperature of the vapor: wherein the a second temperature sensor of said at least two temperature sensors is so arranged that it measures the temperature of the condensate; and said at least one electronics unit is so embodied that it ascertains the temperature difference (ΔT) between the temperature of the vapor and the temperature of the condensate, and, upon reaching a predetermined limit value for the temperature difference (ΔT), generates a report.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are subcomponents of a first temperature detector with a first housing; a second temperature detector with a second housing; said first temperature detector and said second temperature detector are mounted to the wall of said pipe and protrude into the interior of said pipe; and said first temperature detector and said second temperature detector are so arranged in the pipe that said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor do not contact the wall of said pipe.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein; said first temperature detector is mounted in the upper region of said pipe, such that said first temperature sensor is located in the upper third along a vertical, diametral, connecting line through said pipe; and said second temperature detector is mounted in the lower region of said pipe, such that said second temperature sensor is located in the direct vicinity of the wall of said pipe on its lower side.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said first temperature detector is mounted in the lower region of said pipe, such that said first sensor element is located in the upper third along a vertical, diametral, connecting line through said pipe; and said second temperature detector is mounted in the upper region of said pipe, such that said second sensor element is located in the direct vicinity of the wall of said pipe on its lower side.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said first temperature detector and said second temperature detector are both mounted in the upper region of said pipe or in the lower region of said pipe; and said two housings have different lengths.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are arranged in one temperature detector with one housing; said temperature detector is mounted to the wall of said pipe and protrudes inwardly into the interior of said pipe; and said temperature detector is so arranged in said pipe that said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor do not contact the wall of said pipe.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said temperature detector is mounted in the upper region of said pipe or in the lower region of said pipe; said housing is essentially rod-shaped; and said two temperature sensors are arranged in different regions of said housing, such that said first temperature sensor is located in the region of said condensed part of the fluid, and said second temperature sensor is located in the region, in which the fluid is present in the vapor phase.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: a pressure sensor integrated into the wall of said pipe and embodied to register the static pressure in said pipe; a vapor pressure curve of the fluid is furnished in said electronics unit, and a report is generated only when, supplementally to exceeding the limit value for the temperature difference, the temperature of the vapor is greater than a reference temperature corresponding to the measured static pressure according to the vapor pressure curve.

20. A method for early warning against condensation induced hydraulic shock and/or steam hammers in a component, especially a pipe conveying a fluid, which is present in at least a first part in the vapor phase and, in the case of condensate formation, in a second part in the form of a condensate, comprising the steps of: measuring the temperature of the vapor; measuring the temperature of the condensate; and ascertaining the temperature difference (ΔT) between the temperature of the vapor and the temperature of the condensate, wherein: a report is generated upon reaching a predetermined limit value for the temperature difference (ΔT).

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising the steps of: measuring the static pressure in said pipe; comparing the temperature of the vapor with the reference temperature belonging to the static pressure according to a vapor pressure curve; and generating a report only when the temperature of the vapor is greater than the reference temperature.

22. The use of the apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in process and/or automation technology.

23. The use of the method as claimed in claim 20, in process and/or automation technology.

Description

[0033] The invention as well as its advantages will now be explained in greater detail based on the appended drawing, the figures of which show as follows:

[0034] FIG. 1 a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the apparatus of claim 3,

[0035] FIG. 2 a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the apparatus of claim 4,

[0036] FIG. 3 a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the apparatus of claim 5, and

[0037] FIG. 4 a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the apparatus of claim 6 and/or 7, and with an additional pressure sensor.

[0038] In the figures, equal features are provided with equal reference characters. The apparatus of the invention in its totality bears the reference character 1. One or more primes on a reference character refer to respectively different examples of embodiments.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a first example of an embodiment of an apparatus 1 of the invention as defined in claim 3. Shown is a pipe 2, through which is flowing a fluid present in a first part in the vapor phase, thus vapor 3, and in a second part as condensate 4. Mounted on the wall of the pipe 2 are two temperature detectors 5, 6 having respective temperature sensors 7, 8 and respective housings 9, 10. Temperature detectors 5, 6 protrude into the interior of the pipe 2. Temperature detectors 5, 6 are not in contact with the wall of the pipe 2, so that the temperature of the wall does not influence the measurements of the respective temperatures (T.sub.V), (T.sub.K) of the vapor 3 and condensate 4. In this example, the first temperature detector 5 measures the temperature (T.sub.V) of the vapor 3 and the second temperature detector 6 the temperature (T.sub.K) of the condensate 4. Within the electronics unit 11, finally, at determinable points in time, in each case, the temperature difference ΔT=T.sub.V−T.sub.K is ascertained and, upon the exceeding of a certain determinable limit value, a report is generated.

[0040] A further example of an embodiment for an apparatus 1′ of the invention is shown in FIG. 2. Again, the pipe 2 is present, through which is flowing a fluid present in a first part as a vapor 3, and in a second part as a condensate 4. The first temperature detector 5′ is mounted in the lower region of the pipe 2, such that the first temperature sensor 7′ is arranged in the upper third along a vertical, diametral, connecting line (not shown) through the pipe 2. The second temperature detector 6′, in contrast, is mounted in the upper region of the pipe 2, such that the second temperature sensor 8′ is located in the direct vicinity of the wall of the pipe 2 on its lower side. In this case, again, the first temperature detector 5′ measures the temperature (T.sub.V) of the vapor 3 and the second temperature detector 6′ the temperature (T.sub.K) of the condensate 4. The installation of the second temperature detector 5′ in the lower region of the pipe 2 has the advantage that condensate depositing on this temperature detector 5′ does not influence the measuring of the temperature (T.sub.V) of the vapor 3.

[0041] The two temperature detectors are positioned in such a manner that they approach the oppositely lying wall of the pipe 2 but do not contact it.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 1″ of the invention according to claim 5. The first 5″ and second 6″ temperature detectors are both mounted in the upper region of the pipe 2. This assures that one of the two temperature detectors 5″, 6″ registers the temperature of the vapor 3 and the other that of the condensate 4. The two housings 9″, 10″ of the two temperature detectors 5″, 6″ have different lengths, and each of the temperature sensors 7″, 8″ is arranged in the end region of the respective housing 9″, 10″. Of course, the two temperature detectors 5″, 6″ can also be mounted in the lower region of the pipe 2 to its wall.

[0043] Another alternative for an apparatus 1′″ of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. The two temperature sensors 7′″, 8′″ are arranged in one temperature detector 5′ having a housing 9′″. Temperature detector 5′″ is mounted to the wall of the pipe 2 and protrudes into its interior. While the temperature detector 5′″ in this view is mounted in the upper region of the pipe, it can, of course, in another variant also be secured in the lower region of the pipe 2. Housing 9′″ is essentially rod-shaped and the two temperature sensors 7′″, 8′″ are arranged in different regions of the housing 9′″. In each case, it must be assured that one of the two temperature sensors 7′″, in the view shown here the first, reliably measures the temperature of the vapor 3 and the other of the two temperature sensors 8′″, in the view shown here the second, reliably measures the temperature (T.sub.K) of the condensate 4.

[0044] FIG. 4 also shows a pressure sensor 12 of claim 8. This is optional and, thus, does not have to be present in an embodiment according to FIG. 4. Pressure sensor 12 serves to register the static pressure in the pipeline. This, in turn, in given cases, increases the reliability of prediction of possible condensation induced, hydraulic shock within the pipeline.

[0045] The following are possible operating states of an apparatus 1, 1′, 1″, 1′″ of the invention and explain possible scenarios of the method of the invention: [0046] a) The pipe 2 is flowed through exclusively by vapor 3 and is free of condensate 4. In this case, the two temperature sensors 7, 8 show, to within a few degrees, the same temperature. Correspondingly, the ascertained temperature difference ΔT=T.sub.V−T.sub.K is small and no report is generated. [0047] b) The pipe 2 is completely filled with condensate 4 and carries no vapor 3. Also in this case, the temperature difference ΔT=T.sub.V−T.sub.K amounts, at most, to a few degree Kelvin and no report is generated. [0048] c) When the pipe 2 is flowed through partially by vapor 3 and partially by condensate 4, the temperature difference ΔT=T.sub.V−T.sub.K amounts in the normal case likewise to only a few degrees Kelvin. Also, in such case, no report is generated. [0049] d) If the pipe 2 is flowed through in the case c) partially by condensate 4 and partially by vapor 3, and the temperature difference ΔT=T.sub.V−T.sub.K between both phases exceeds a determinable limit value, for example, 20K, a report is generated. In the case, in which, supplementally, a pressure sensor 11 is present, the report is only generated when the measured temperature (T.sub.V) of the vapor 4 equals or is greater than the reference temperature (T.sub.R) belonging to the measured static pressure and determined based on a vapor pressure curve.

[0050] Of course, numerous other arrangements of the two temperature detectors 5, 6 may be applied, which likewise fall within the scope of the invention. Likewise, more than two temperature sensors 7, 8 can be used. Furthermore, the most varied of options for contacting the temperature sensors 7, 8 with one another and for connecting with, as well as the arrangement of, an electronics unit 11 can be provided. The exact implementing of an evaluation of the temperature measurement depends on these features. The same is true for the temperature detectors 5, 6, the arrangement of at least one temperature sensor 7, 8 in a temperature detector 5, 6 and the embodiment of the respective housings 9, 10. Finally, also various options for securing the temperature sensors 7, 8 in the temperature detector 5, 6, respectively for securing the temperature detectors 5,6 to the wall of the pipe 2, as well as their sealed integration right into the pipe interior, are available, and have not been described in detail here.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0051] 1 apparatus of the invention [0052] 2 pipe [0053] 3 vapor [0054] 4 condensate [0055] 5 temperature detector 1 [0056] 6 temperature detector 2 [0057] 7 temperature sensor 1 [0058] 8 temperature sensor 2 [0059] 9 housing 1 [0060] 10 housing 2 [0061] 11 electronics unit [0062] 12 pressure sensor