Arrangement and method for handling a load for isostatic pressure treatment

Abstract

There is provided an arrangement and method for handling a load for isostatic pressure treatment in a high-pressure arrangement. The arrangement comprises a transportation unit arranged in a first space, wherein the transportation unit is configured for horizontal transportation of a pressure vessel comprising the load into the high-pressure arrangement before pressure treatment of the load, and out of the high-pressure arrangement after pressure treatment of the load, respectively. The arrangement further comprises an elevator unit vertically operable between the first space and a second space provided below the first space, wherein the elevator unit is configured to lift the load from the second space into the pressure vessel before pressure treatment of the load, and to lower the load from the pressure vessel to the second space after pressure treatment of the load, respectively.

Claims

1. An arrangement for handling a load for isostatic pressure treatment in a high-pressure arrangement, comprising a transportation unit arranged in a first space, wherein the transportation unit is configured for horizontal transportation of a pressure vessel comprising the load into the high-pressure arrangement before pressure treatment of the load, and out of the high-pressure arrangement after pressure treatment of the load, respectively, wherein the transportation unit comprises a pair of tracks upon which the pressure vessel is configured to be transported, a carriage unit configured for transportation of the pressure vessel on the pair of tracks, and a plurality of pair of wheels configured to roll on the pair of tracks, wherein the transportation unit is configured to lift the plurality of pair of wheels after transportation of the carriage unit into the high-pressure arrangement and to lower the plurality of pair of wheels before transportation of the carriage unit out of the high-pressure arrangement, and an elevator unit vertically operable between the first space and a second space provided below the first space, wherein the elevator unit is configured to lift the load from the second space into the pressure vessel before pressure treatment of the load, and to lower the load from the pressure vessel to the second space after pressure treatment of the load, respectively.

2. A system, comprising the arrangement according to claim 1, a load for isostatic pressure treatment, a pressure vessel for holding the load, and the high-pressure arrangement, the high-pressure arrangement configured to perform isostatic pressure treatment of the load held within the pressure vessel.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the pressure vessel comprises a removable bottom lid wherein before pressure treatment of the load, the elevator unit is configured to lift the bottom lid together with the load from the second space into the pressure vessel, and after pressure treatment of the load, the elevator unit is configured to lower the bottom lid together with the load from the pressure vessel to the second space.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising at least one second locking arrangement configured to lock the bottom lid to the pressure vessel.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the pressure vessel further comprises a top lid being fixed to the pressure vessel.

6. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a unit comprising at least one of at least one furnace element, configured to heat a pressure medium of the high-pressure arrangement, and at least one duct, configured to guide the pressure medium, wherein the unit is attached to an inside wall of the pressure vessel.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pair of wheels are resiliently mounted to the carriage unit in a vertical direction.

8. A method for handling a load for isostatic pressure treatment in a high-pressure arrangement, wherein the high-pressure arrangement comprises a transportation unit, which in turn comprises a carriage unit comprising a plurality of pair of wheels, comprising before pressure treatment of the load, lifting the load from a second space, provided below a first space, into a pressure vessel provided in the first space, horizontally transporting the pressure vessel into the high-pressure arrangement by the transportation unit, and raising the plurality of pair of wheels in a vertical direction by the high-pressure arrangement after transportation of the pressure vessel into the high-pressure arrangement, and after pressure treatment of the load, lowering the plurality of pair of wheels in the vertical direction by the high-pressure arrangement before transportation of the pressure vessel out of the high-pressure arrangement, horizontally transporting the pressure vessel out of the high-pressure arrangement by the transportation unit, and lowering the load from the pressure vessel to the second space after pressure treatment of the load.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, before pressure treatment of the load, lifting a bottom lid together with the load from the second space into the pressure vessel, and fastening the bottom lid to the pressure vessel, and after pressure treatment of the load, unfastening the bottom lid from the pressure vessel, and lowering the bottom lid together with the load from the pressure vessel to the second space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing a currently preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1a-b are schematic illustrations of an arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an operation of an elevator unit for handling a load for isostatic pressure treatment in a high-pressure arrangement, according to an embodiment of the present invention,

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an insertion of a load for isostatic pressure treatment in a high-pressure arrangement, according to an embodiment of the present invention,

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a cross section of a high-pressure arrangement, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

(6) FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) In the following description, the present invention is described with reference to an arrangement for handling a load for isostatic pressure treatment in a high-pressure arrangement.

(8) FIG. 1a schematically shows an arrangement 100 for handling a load 120 for isostatic pressure treatment in a high-pressure arrangement 300. The load 120, which is shown in FIG. 1a as a cylinder, may comprise one or more elements, articles, compositions, etc., which is (are) to be subjected to high-pressure treatment in the high-pressure arrangement 300. The load 120 is enclosed by a cylinder-shaped pressure vessel 400, i.e. the pressure vessel 400 holds the load 120. The pressure vessel 400 may have diameter of up to 4.5 m, and the diameter of the zone in which the load 120 may be provided may be up to 4 m. The weight of the pressure vessel 400 may be approximately 300 000 kilograms. The pressure vessel 400 of the high-pressure arrangement 300 may comprise means (not shown) such as one or more ports, inlets and outlets, for supplying and discharging a pressure medium. The pressure medium may be a liquid or gaseous medium with low chemical affinity in relation to the articles to be treated.

(9) The arrangement 100 comprises a transportation unit 110. Here, the transportation unit 110 comprises a pair of parallel tracks 115 leading into the high-pressure arrangement 300 upon which tracks 115 the pressure vessel is configured to be transported. The transportation unit 110 further comprises a carriage unit 130 configured for transportation of the pressure vessel 400 and the load 120 on the pair of tracks 115. The carriage unit 130 comprises two pairs of wheels 160 configured to roll on the pair of tracks 115. It will be appreciated that the carriage unit 130 may comprise numerous pairs of wheels 160 for a safer and/or more stable transportation of the (relatively heavy) pressure vessel 400 and/or load 120. The wheels 160 may be resiliently mounted to the carriage unit 130 in a vertical direction. For example, the wheels 160 may be mounted to the carriage unit 130 via one or more coils. Hence, a force applied onto the wheels 160 from below may push the wheels 160, e.g. into a wheel housing or a cavity, of the carriage unit 130.

(10) In FIG. 1b, the pressure vessel 400 holding the load 120 on the carriage unit 130 has been horizontally transported (to the right in FIG. 1b) by the transportation unit into the high-pressure arrangement 300 before pressure treatment of the load 120. Hence, in the position of the pressure vessel 400 and the load 120 in FIG. 1b, the load 120 is subjected to pressure treatment. After pressure treatment of the load 120, the pressure vessel 400 holding the load 120 is horizontally transported (to the left in FIG. 1b) out of the high-pressure arrangement 300 by the transportation unit 110.

(11) FIG. 2 schematically shows a side view of the arrangement 100 for handling a load 120 for isostatic pressure treatment in a high-pressure arrangement 300. More specifically, the load 120 is arranged on an insulating element (block) 125, which in its turn is arranged on a bottom lid 210. Furthermore, the bottom lid 210 is arranged on a base plate 190 of the elevator unit 150. In this exemplifying embodiment, a schematically indicated elevator unit 150 of the pressure arrangement 100 is vertically operable between a first space 170 and a second space 180 provided below the first space 170. The elevator unit 150 is configured to lift the load 120 from the second space 180 into the pressure vessel 400 (not shown for an increased understanding) before pressure treatment of the load 120. More specifically, before pressure treatment of the load 120, the elevator unit 150 may be configured to simultaneously lift the load 120, the insulating element 125 and the bottom lid 210, wherein these elements or components may be arranged as a stack. Analogously, the elevator unit 150 is configured to lower the load 120, the insulating element 125 and/or the bottom lid 210 from the pressure vessel 400 to the second space 180 after pressure treatment of the load.

(12) FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross section of pressure vessel 400 and the carriage unit 130 during a lifting of the load 120 into the pressure vessel 400 by means of the elevator unit 150. The elevator unit 150 comprises a motor 220 which is operably coupled to the base plate 190 of the elevator unit 150 for lifting and lowering the base plate 190. More specifically, the motor 220 is operably coupled to threaded rods 230a,b which are configured to lift and/or lower the base plate 190. It will be appreciated that there may be more rods (e.g. four rods, arranged at edges of a rectangular (e.g. quadratic) base plate), and that the two rods 230a,b are disclosed as an example for an increased understanding.

(13) The transportation unit comprises a pair of tracks 115a,b and the carriage unit 130 comprises a pair of wheels 160a,b configured to roll on the pair of tracks 115a,b. The carriage unit 130 may furthermore comprise a first locking arrangement 140 configured to lock a movement of the pair of wheels 160 in a vertical direction. During transportation of the pressure vessel 400 on the carriage unit 130 into the high-pressure arrangement 300 and out of the high-pressure arrangement 300, respectively, the wheels 160 are able to be locked by the first locking arrangement 140 such that any vertical movement of the wheels 160 is impeded.

(14) The pressure vessel 400 comprises a top lid 205 which is fixed to the pressure vessel 400. The top lid 205 may comprise a cooling arrangement (not shown) arranged to cool the pressure vessel. The cooling arrangement may comprise channels or tubes in which a coolant for cooling may be provided. The coolant is preferably water, but other coolants may also be contemplated.

(15) The pressure vessel 400 further comprises a bottom lid 210 which is removable. In this exemplifying embodiment, the bottom lid 210 is provided between the base plate 190 and the load 120, i.e. the elevator unit 150 is configured to lift and/or lower the load 120 together with the bottom lid 210. Furthermore, and as exemplified in FIG. 3, there may be provided an insulating element (block) 125 between the bottom lid 210 and the load 120.

(16) The carriage unit 130 comprises a second locking arrangement 145 configured to lock the bottom lid 210 to the carriage unit 130 after insertion of the load 120 into the pressure vessel 400. Analogously, the second locking arrangement 145 is also configured to unlock the bottom lid 210 to the carriage unit 130 before a lowering of the load 120 from the pressure vessel 400. The second locking arrangement 145 may have the form of a cylinder arranged to fit around the bottom lid 210 when the load 120 is inserted into the pressure vessel 400. As an example, the cylinder-shaped second locking arrangement 145 may comprise a plurality of locking units (symmetrically) distributed at its periphery, configured to lock with respectively arranged locking units of the bottom lid 210.

(17) It will be appreciated that the pressure vessel 400 further defines a furnace chamber 132 for receiving and holding the load 120 to be treated. The furnace chamber 132 may be surrounded by a heat insulated casing (not shown) for energy-saving reasons during the heating phase.

(18) The pressure vessel 400 furthermore comprises ducts 170a,b arranged vertically and adjacent the vertical walls of the furnace chamber 132 of the pressure vessel 400. The ducts 170a,b, which are attached to the pressure vessel 400, serve as conduits for a pressure medium during pressure treatment of the load 120. It will be appreciated that the ducts 170a,b are merely schematically indicated, and that the configuration of the ducts may be different than that shown in FIG. 3.

(19) FIG. 4 schematically shows a cross section of a high-pressure arrangement 300 into which the pressure vessel 400 comprising the load 120 has been transported on the carriage unit 130. A fan 30 is provided for circulating pressure medium in the load compartment 135 of the high-pressure arrangement 300. It will be appreciated that some components, elements, etc., for the operation of the high-pressure arrangement 300 have been omitted, for an increased understanding.

(20) The high-pressure arrangement 300 comprises a top (upper) yoke 180a and bottom (lower) yoke 180b which each, in cross-section, have the form of a semi-circular surface. The yokes 180a,b are arranged at a respective end of the high-pressure arrangement 300 and form together with the columns 310 of the arrangement 300 an internal rectangular space in which the pressure vessel 400 is provided. The columns 310 and the yokes 180a,b are wound with wire in several layers in order to provide pre-stress in the construction of the high-pressure arrangement 300.

(21) After the transportation (insertion) of the pressure vessel 400 into the high-pressure arrangement 300 by means of the carriage unit 130, the bottom yoke 180b is configured to push on the pairs of wheels 160 of the carriage unit 130 from below. Hence, the bottom yoke 180b applies a vertical force on the pair of resiliently mounted wheels 160a,b, such that the wheels 160 are pushed into a wheel housing (or cavity) of the carriage unit 130. The wheel mounting 175 may comprise damping and/or coil elements. It will be appreciated that the high-pressure arrangement 300 of the present invention allows for an accommodation of the carriage unit 130, holding the pressure vessel 400 and the load 120, within the high-pressure arrangement 300 during pressure treatment of the load 120 by the high-pressure arrangement 300.

(22) Analogously, after the pressure treatment of the load 120, the wheels 160 of the carriage unit 130 are configured to become lowered before transportation of the pressure vessel 400 out of the high-pressure arrangement 300. More specifically, the wheels 160 which were resiliently biased by the bottom yoke 180b become unbiased before the pressure vessel 400 is transported out of the high-pressure arrangement 300. Hence, the wheels 160 of the carriage unit 130 are configured to roll on the pair of tracks 115 during transportation of the pressure vessel 400 out of the high-pressure arrangement 300.

(23) FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Before pressure treatment of the load, the method 500 comprises the steps of lifting 510 the load from a second space, provided below a first space, into a pressure vessel provided in the first space, and horizontally transporting 520 the pressure vessel into the high-pressure arrangement. It will be appreciated that the step of lifting 510 the load from the second space may comprise the step of lifting the bottom lid together with the load from the second space into the pressure vessel, and fastening the bottom lid to the pressure vessel before pressure treatment of the load.

(24) After pressure treatment of the load, the method 500 comprises the steps of horizontally transporting 530 the pressure vessel out of the high-pressure arrangement, and lowering 540 the load from the pressure vessel to the second space after pressure treatment of the load. It will be appreciated that the step of lowering 540 the load from the pressure vessel to the second space may further comprise unfastening the bottom lid from the pressure vessel, and lowering the bottom lid together with the load from the pressure vessel to the second space after pressure treatment of the load.

(25) Furthermore, the method 500 may comprise the steps of raising the plurality of pair of wheels in a vertical direction by the high-pressure arrangement after transportation of the pressure vessel into the high-pressure arrangement and before pressure treatment of the load. Analogously, after pressure treatment of the load, the method may comprise the step of lowering the plurality of pair of wheels in a vertical direction by the high-pressure arrangement before transportation of the pressure vessel out of the high-pressure arrangement.

(26) Even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. The described embodiments are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. For example, any sizes and/or number of units, devices or the like may be different than those described.