DOSING MODULE HAVING A TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLABLE DOSING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF A DOSING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering module (10), in particular for a process plant having a modular construction, having a metering system (24) for metering a fluid, a housing (32) which at least partly accommodates the metering system (24) and also a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of the interior of the housing (32), wherein the temperature control device has a plate heat exchanger (34) and at least a part of the housing (32) is formed by at least one plate structure (36) of this plate heat exchanger (34), in particular by at least one so-called heat exchanger plate. The invention also relates to a process plant having a modular construction for the production of a chemical and/or pharmaceutical product having such a metering module (10) and to a method for controlling the temperature of a metering device (24) for metering liquids.

Claims

1. Metering module, optionally for a process plant having a modular construction, having a metering system for metering a fluid, a housing which at least partly accommodates the metering system and also a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of the interior of the housing, wherein the temperature control device has a plate heat exchanger and at least part of the housing is formed by at least one plate structure of this plate heat exchanger, optionally by at least one heat exchanger plate.

2. Module according to claim 1, wherein the metering system has a plurality of system components which are fluidically connected to one another via a piping system.

3. Module according to claim 2, wherein at least one system components of the metering system is fastened directly to the or to at least one of the plate structures of the plate heat exchanger which form the part of the housing.

4. Module according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the pipes of the piping system is configured as media-temperature-controllable pipes and/or at least one of the system components is media-temperature-controllable.

5. Module according to claim 2, wherein the system components of the metering system comprise at least one of the following components: a pump, a filter, a shutoff valve, a pressure measuring device, a temperature measuring device, a flow meter and a relief valve.

6. Module according to claim 1, wherein the metering module has the following further components for forming the housing in addition to the plate structure of the plate heat exchanger: a frame, housing parts and elements for thermal insulation.

7. Module according to claim 1, wherein the module further comprises a pressure vessel.

8. Module according to claim 1, wherein the module further comprises an electronics unit, optionally an electronics unit referred to as remote I/O controller.

9. Process plant having a modular construction for the production of a chemical and/or pharmaceutical product having a plurality of modules, wherein at least one of the modules is configured as metering module according to claim 1.

10. Method for controlling the temperature of a metering system for metering fluids within a metering module, comprising: a) providing a metering module comprising a metering system which is at least partly accommodated by a housing, where at least part of the housing is formed by at least one plate structure of a plate heat exchanger which controls the temperature of the interior of the housing; b) providing a temperature control medium for controlling the temperature of the plate heat exchanger, which medium is present in a circuit with the mete ring system; c) heating/cooling of the temperature control medium.

Description

[0028] The invention will be illustrated by way of example below with reference to the accompanying figures and with the aid of preferred working examples, with the features presented below being able, both in themselves and also in combination with one another, to represent an aspect of the invention. The figures show

[0029] FIG. 1: a schematic depiction of components of a metering module of the invention according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

[0030] FIG. 2: the components of a housing for the metering module shown in FIG. 1,

[0031] FIG. 3: the complete metering module in front view and

[0032] FIG. 4: the complete metering module in rear view.

[0033] FIG. 5: the flow diagram for the metering module

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a working example of a metering module 10 for a process plant having a modular construction. The metering module comprises a frame 12 on or in which the further components of the module 10 are mounted. The frame 12 itself is arranged on a pallet 14. The further components of the metering module can be classified as follows: an electronics unit 16 which is configured as remote I/O controller and is arranged in the upper region of the frame 12, a pressure vessel unit 18 having a pressure vessel 20 and corresponding periphery 22, where the pressure vessel 20 is arranged below and the periphery is arranged next to the electronics unit 16, and a metering system (a metering assembly) 24 in a lower region of the module 10. The metering system 24 comprises a piping system 26 with various pipes, a pump 28 connected in the piping system 26 and other system components 30 of the metering system 24, for instance filters, shutoff valves, pressure measuring devices, a temperature measuring device, a flow meter and a relief valve to a waste conduit, but this will not be discussed in detail here and is therefore summarized under the reference numeral 30.

[0035] The metering module 10 additionally has a housing 32 which at least partly accommodates the metering system 24 and also a temperature control device configured as plate heat exchanger 34 for controlling the temperature of the interior of the housing 32. The electronics unit 16 configured as remote I/O controller is an instrument for remote access and for switching over distances via a network connection (e.g. Ethernet or Internet connection). The temperature control device is, inter alia, controlled or regulated via this electronics unit 16. The heating/cooling of the temperature control device configured as plate heat exchanger 34 is preferably effected by a separate, external temperature control apparatus (not depicted in the figure). The electronics unit 16 can preferably also control or regulate this separate, external temperature control apparatus.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows the individual components of the housing 32 and also a central component of the plate heat exchanger 34 configured as HEP system, namely a heat exchanger plate 36 of this HEP system. The heat exchanger plate 36 is arranged so that it forms or partly forms a wall of the housing 32. In addition to this heat exchanger plate 36, the housing 32 further comprises housing parts 38 and elements 40 for thermal insulation (also referred to as heat insulation).

[0037] FIGS. 3 and 4 now show the complete metering module 10. FIG. 3 shows a front view looking towards an open door 42 of the housing 32 and FIG. 4 shows a view of the rear side, in which it can be seen that parts of the pump 28, namely the pump drive 44, and parts of the flow meter 30 project from the housing 32. The corresponding housing wall has openings for this purpose. This wall is otherwise the part of the housing 32 which is (partly) formed by the heat exchanger plate 36.

[0038] The flow diagram in FIG. 5 likewise shows a working example of a metering module 10 for a process plant having a modular construction. This figure depicts, inter alia, a pressure vessel unit 18 having a pressure vessel 20, the metering system 24 consisting of piping system 26 with various pipes, a pump 28 connected in the piping system 26 and other system components 30 of the metering system 24, for instance filters, shutoff valves, pressure measuring devices, a temperature measuring device, a flow meter and a relief valve to a waste conduit.

[0039] The transition of the process fluid into the heated space of the module is depicted below the pressure vessel unit 18. The heating/cooling of the heat exchanger plate 36 is advantageously effected via an external temperature control apparatus which can be controlled or regulated via the electronics unit 16 configured as remote I/O controller.

[0040] The various aspects of the invention and also the advantages thereof will be described once more below:

[0041] The metering system 24, generally consisting of pump 28, pipes 26, filters, flow meter, valves and sensors 30, is constructed as a compact arrangement and, at least mostly, arranged in the housing 32 which can be/is delimited from the surroundings. At least one wall of the housing 32 is configured as temperature-controllable heat exchanger plate 36 which withdraws or supplies energy from or to the interior of the housing 32, which energy is introduced or removed by heat exchange with the surroundings or with attached components. The walls of the housing 32 are advantageously provided with heat insulation 40.

[0042] The temperature of the process fluid can be measured by sensors in the pipes 26 and employed for regulating the temperature of the temperature control medium for the temperature control device configured as plate heat exchanger 34.

[0043] The desired temperature in the housing 32 can also be measured and concomitantly employed for regulating the temperature of the temperature control medium for the temperature control device configured as plate heat exchanger 34.

[0044] The proposed temperature-controlled metering system 24 with housing follows the rationale of keeping the temperature of the components 26, 28, 30 to be maintained at temperature as far as possible in the enclosed region at such a level that the desired temperature of the process fluid is kept within prescribed limits and as far as possible dispensing with separate temperature control of the individual components. This allows a space-saving modular construction and effective temperature control.

[0045] For use in explosion hazard regions, making the housing parts of a conductive material (e.g. metal sheets) which can be fastened (e.g. screwed) to the frame 12 is proposed. The housing parts 38 configured as metal sheets can be coated on the inside of the housing with the elements 40 for heat insulation (e.g. by adhesive bonding), and it is likewise possible to use composite materials.

[0046] Since the pump drives 44, i.e. the drive motors, of conventional pumps 28 are generally not designed for use at high temperatures, an arrangement of the pump 28 which is such that the pump head is located in the temperature-controlled housing 32 and the motor is arranged outside is proposed. In order to assist conduction of heat from the heat exchanger plate 36 into the pump head, a particularly advantageous arrangement is attachment of the pump 28 directly to the heat exchanger plate 36 via the flange of the pump head.

[0047] Since the evaluation electronics of flow meters 30 are generally also not designed for use at high temperatures, an arrangement in which the electronics are also located outside the temperature-controlled housing 32 is proposed. In order to assist conduction of heat from the heat exchanger plate 36 into the fluid-conducting part of the flow meter 30, a particularly advantageous arrangement is installation on the outside of the heat exchanger plate 36.

[0048] As regards the sensors and actuators, preference is to be given to those which are approved for the temperature range within the region enclosed by the housing 32. If not, the liquid-conducting parts of the sensors and actuators should be arranged within the temperature-controlled housing 32 and the evaluation and control components should be arranged outside.

[0049] As plate structure 36, it can be advantageous to use a heat exchanger plate 36 of a flat-construction HEP system, e.g. from LOB GmbH, Cologne, which allows introduction of holes for fastening pump heads and other components to be heated/cooled directly to the heat exchanger plate 36.