DEVICE FOR INCORPORATION OF PULVERULENT MATERIALS, ESPECIALLY DUST-EXPLOSIVE PULVERULENT MATERIALS, INTO A LIQUID, ESPECIALLY AN INFLAMMABLE LIQUID

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for incorporation of dust-explosive pulverulent materials into readily inflammable liquids, wherein the device includes the following: at least one liquid circuit (10), wherein the liquid circuit comprises at least one liquid vessel (11), a pipeline system (12), and at least one pump (13), and wherein the liquid circuit is designed to accommodate a combustible liquid; at least one powder vessel (30) designed to accommodate at least one pulverulent material (31) to be incorporated into the liquid, and wherein the powder vessel is connected to the liquid circuit, especially to the pipeline system, in a fluid-conducting manner via a powder feed conduit (32).

Claims

1. A device for the incorporation of pulverulent materials, especially of dust-explosive pulverulent materials, into an, especially readily inflammable, liquid, wherein the device comprises the following: at least one liquid circuit, wherein the liquid circuit comprises at least one liquid vessel, a pipeline system, and at least one pump, and wherein the liquid circuit is designed to accommodate an, especially combustible, liquid; at least one powder vessel which is designed to accommodate at least one pulverulent material to be incorporated into the liquid, and wherein the powder vessel is connected to the liquid circuit, especially to the pipeline system, in a fluid-conducting manner via a powder feed conduit.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the powder feed conduit is arranged at a pump inlet side and is connected via a connection, in a fluid-conducting manner, to the pipeline system of the liquid circuit, wherein a distance of the connection of the powder feed conduit from a pump inlet of the pump is at most 70 cm, more preferably less than 50 cm.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the pipeline system of the liquid circuit to a diameter of the powder feed conduit is 2.5:1.5.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the pump, especially a rotary piston pump, is designed to allow a liquid to circulate in the liquid circuit such that a negative pressure at the pump inlet side suctions the pulverulent material out of the powder vessel, through the powder feed conduit, into the liquid circuit by means of a gas stream.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid circuit further comprises at least one homogenizer, especially a chopper, which is designed to homogenize a mixture of the pulverulent material and the liquid, wherein the homogenizer is preferably arranged at a pump outlet side, and wherein the homogenizer is preferably at a maximum of 30 cm, more preferably less than 25 cm, distant from a pump outlet of the pump at a pump outlet side.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid circuit further comprises at least one pressure measuring device, especially comprising a differential pressure measuring device, which is designed to detect a pressure at the pump inlet side and/or the pump outlet side in the liquid circuit, and wherein a pressure difference of a pressure at the pump inlet side and a pressure at the pump outlet side is in a range of −10-−600 mbar, preferably −100-−400 mbar.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the powder feed conduit comprises at least one control valve that is configured to continuously regulate a powder flow and/or a change in powder flow in the liquid circuit.

8. Device according to claim 6, wherein the pressure measuring device comprises a computing unit, and the control valve is communicatively connected to the computing unit, and wherein the computing unit is designed to continuously control the control valve.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the control valve continuously regulates the powder flow and/or the change in powder flow by means of the computing unit, based on a programmed function and/or a pressure difference of a pressure at the pump inlet side and a pressure at the pump outlet side.

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the powder vessel comprises a delivery conduit which is designed to convey the pulverulent material to be incorporated, by means of a delivery pump, especially a diaphragm pump, from a powder feed station into the powder vessel.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the powder vessel and/or the powder feed station comprises at least one gas feed conduit that is configured to supply a gas, especially inert gas, to the pulverulent material such that the pulverulent material is fluidized.

12. A method for the incorporation of pulverulent materials, especially of dust-explosive pulverulent materials, into an, especially readily inflammable, liquid, wherein the method comprises the following steps: circulating a liquid in a liquid circuit by means of a pump, especially such that a purely fluid aggregate state of the liquid is present; suctioning a pulverulent material by means of a gas flow, due to a negative pressure of the pump, out of a powder vessel via a powder feed conduit; controlled introduction of the pulverulent material into the liquid in the liquid circuit via a powder feed conduit; mixing the liquid and the pulverulent material in the liquid circuit.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the pulverulent material, before being suctioned, is fluidized by feeding in a gas, preferably an inert gas.

14. Method according to claim 12, wherein the mixing of the liquid and the pulverulent material in the liquid circuit is actively carried out by a homogenizer, especially a chopper, and wherein a mixture is produced by the mixing.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the proportion of introduced pulverulent material in the mixture is 0.1-1.5% by weight, more preferably 0.3-0.8% by weight, and/or 5-45% by volume, preferably 20 to 35% by volume.

16. Method according to claim 1, wherein the controlled introduction of the pulverulent material into the liquid in the liquid circuit takes place via a continuously regulable control valve, wherein the control valve, via a computing unit, regulates a powder flow and/or a change in powder flow based on a programmed function and/or on a pressure difference of a pressure at the pump inlet side and a pressure at the pump outlet side such that a proportion of pulverulent material to be incorporated can be optimized.

17. Method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is formed by a combustible liquid, especially liquid having an ATEX classification, especially according to guideline 2014/34/EU, wherein the liquid preferably has a viscosity of 500 mPas-3000 mPas, preferably 1000 mPas-1800 mPas, at 50° C.

18. Method according to claim 1, wherein the pulverulent material comprises hollow spheres, especially closed-pore hollow spheres, made of plastic, wherein the hollow spheres preferably have a particle size of 20 μm-140 μm, more preferably 25 μm-55 μm.

Description

[0048] The invention is also described in the following with respect to further features and advantages using exemplary embodiments which are explained in more detail using the illustration.

[0049] Shown are:

[0050] FIG. 1 a schematic depiction of the device for the incorporation of pulverulent materials, especially dust-explosive pulverulent materials, into a liquid, especially a readily inflammable liquid

[0051] Shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of the device for the incorporation of pulverulent materials, especially dust-explosive pulverulent materials, into a liquid, especially a readily inflammable liquid.

[0052] In one exemplary embodiment, the pulverulent material 31 may comprise hollow spheres made of plastic. These hollow spheres have a particle size of, for example, 20 μm-140 μm, preferably 25 μm-55 μm.

[0053] Hollow spheres within the meaning of the present invention are preferably microspheres having a cavity volume of at least 30%, especially at least 50%, especially at least 75% of the total volume of the individual microspheres, which contain at least one gas in this cavity.

[0054] The expression “at least one gas” encompasses pure gases and gas mixtures of two or more gases.

[0055] The at least one gas is preferably selected from air, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, or xenon, any organic compounds which are gaseous at room temperature, such as hydrocarbons, or also halogenated hydrocarbons.

[0056] Hydrocarbons that are gaseous at room temperature are preferably C1-C5 hydrocarbons which are present in branched or unbranched form (methane to pentane). Especially preferred are air, isobutane, and isopentane, most preferably isopentane.

[0057] Microspheres which internally have a single central cavity filled with gas/gases are preferred.

[0058] They are preferably closed-pore microspheres.

[0059] They are preferably expanded microspheres.

[0060] Preferred materials of the microspheres are natural and synthetic, especially synthetic, polymers or copolymers, particularly preferably synthetic copolymers, most preferably cyanoacrylates and polylactides.

[0061] The density of the microspheres is preferably less than 100 kg/cm3. The density of the microspheres is particularly preferably between 20 and 100 kg/cm3, most preferably between 20 and 50 kg/cm3.

[0062] In one exemplary embodiment, the pulverulent material 31 is introduced into a powder feed station 40. A gas, preferably an inert gas, may be introduced into the powder feed station 40 via a gas feed conduit 50 into the powder feed station 40. This has the result that the pulverulent material 31 is fluidized in the powder feed station 40.

[0063] By means of a delivery pump 41, the pulverulent material 31 may be conveyed via a conveying conduit 42 into a powder vessel 30. In one exemplary embodiment, the delivery pump 41 may comprise a diaphragm pump.

[0064] In one exemplary embodiment, the powder vessel 31 has a volume of 2000 l. The powder vessel 31 may have a shape which tapers downwards.

[0065] Specifically, in one exemplary embodiment, the mold may be designed such that the powder vessel 31 tapers towards an outlet, especially a powder outlet, on the underside of the powder vessel 31.

[0066] Alternatively or additionally, the powder vessel 31 may have a breathing conduit 35. The breathing conduit 35 is preferably attached to an upper side of the powder vessel 31. The breathing conduit 35 serves to equalize the pressure in the powder vessel 31 with an ambient pressure in an environment outside the powder vessel 31. For this purpose, a filter 35b may be provided on the breathing conduit 35, which filter prevents the pulverulent material 31 from escaping through the breathing conduit 35. Alternatively or additionally, the breathing conduit 35 comprises at least one overpressure valve 35a. The overpressure valve 35a prevents an excessively high pressure from being able to build up in the powder vessel 31.

[0067] In one exemplary embodiment, the powder vessel 31 has a gas feed conduit 50. This has the result that the pulverulent material 31 in the powder vessel 31 is fluidized by supplying a gas, especially an inert gas. The fluidizing of the pulverulent material 31 in the powder vessel 30 may take place as an alternative or in addition to, especially subsequent to, the fluidizing of the pulverulent material 31 in the powder feed station 40.

[0068] In one exemplary embodiment, the powder vessel 30 has a balance for internal weighing of the pulverulent material 31.

[0069] In a further exemplary embodiment, the powder vessel 30 has an internal sensor device, wherein the sensor device serves to detect atmospheric data, especially a temperature and/or a pressure and/or a gas concentration, in the powder vessel 30.

[0070] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, a powder feed conduit 32 is attached in a fluid-conducting manner to the outlet of the powder vessel 30. The powder feed conduit 32 enables the pulverulent material 31 to be fed into the liquid circuit 10.

[0071] The liquid circuit 10 comprises a liquid vessel 11, a pipeline system 12, and at least one pump 13. The liquid circuit 10 is designed such that a liquid may circulate through the liquid circuit 10 by means of the pump 13.

[0072] In one exemplary embodiment, the flow direction of the liquid in the liquid circuit is illustrated by the arrows 17 in FIG. 1.

[0073] In one exemplary embodiment, the liquid comprises at least one alkyd resin AH.

[0074] It is preferably an alkyd resin AH as described under the term “alkyd resins” in Römpp Chemie Lexikon, online version, Georg Thieme Verlag, retrieved on 4 Nov. 2018.

[0075] The alkyd resins are preferably air-drying and oxidatively drying alkyd resins, especially linseed oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, or ricin alkyd resins.

[0076] In one exemplary embodiment, the powder feed conduit 32 is arranged on a pump inlet side 13a and is connected, in a fluid-conducting manner, via a connection 33 to the pipeline system 12 of the liquid circuit 10.

[0077] A distance between the connection 33 of the powder feed conduit 32 and a pump inlet of the pump 13 is at most 70 cm, more preferably less than 50 cm. This distance can vary depending on the pump type and/or the pump capacity of the pump 13. It is essential that the introduction of the solid takes place substantially immediately upstream of the pump 13, on a pump inlet side 13a of the liquid circuit.

[0078] Located downstream of the pump 13, on a pump outlet side 13b, is a homogenizer 14 that is designed to actively mix the liquid with the—especially dust-explosive—pulverulent material 31 and/or to actively wet the pulverulent material 31.

[0079] In one exemplary embodiment, the homogenizer 14 is designed as a chopper with at least one rotatable impeller.

[0080] In one exemplary embodiment, the pump 13 is designed as a rotary piston pump. A negative pressure on the pump inlet side 13a suctions the pulverulent material 31 out of the powder vessel 30 via the powder feed conduit 32 by means of a gas flow, in order to incorporate the pulverulent material into the liquid in the liquid circuit 10.

[0081] In one exemplary embodiment, a differential pressure applied to the pump 13 is measured by means of a pressure measuring device 15. The differential pressure is derived from a pressure at the pump inlet side 13a and a pressure at the pump outlet side 13b.

[0082] In one exemplary embodiment, the powder feed conduit 32 has a control valve 34. The control valve 34 is designed to meter a quantity of the pulverulent material 31 which is to be introduced into the liquid. For this purpose, the control valve 34 may, for example, be controlled by a computing unit 16. In one exemplary embodiment, the control valve 34 continuously regulates by means of the computing unit 16, based on a programmed function and/or a pressure difference of a pressure at the pump inlet side 13a and a pressure at the pump outlet side 13b.

[0083] In this way, either the quantity of pulverulent material 31 to be incorporated can be controlled or regulated via a powder flow, and/or the change in powder flow can be compensated for given a change to said powder flow (caused by a change in the pressure in the liquid circuit 10). It is conceivable, for example, that an introduction of a first portion of the pulverulent material 31 into the liquid changes a viscosity of the liquid. This leads to a change in the pressure difference at the pump 13, and thus to a change in the powder flow. The control valve 34 can be controlled or regulated in order to ensure a constant powder flow of a second (or further) portion of the pulverulent material 31 despite the change in viscosity. Via the control or regulation of the control valve 34, an optimal quantity of pulverulent material 31 can thus always be introduced into the liquid.

[0084] In one exemplary embodiment, the control valve 34 can also follow a programmed function which is stored on the computing unit 16.

[0085] An optimal quantity of pulverulent material 31 can thus always be introduced via the control or regulation of the control valve 34.

[0086] Furthermore, in the event of too high a pressure (>−10 mbar) in the pipeline system of the liquid circuit, the control valve 34 prevents the liquid from penetrating into the powder feed conduit. For this purpose, the control valve 34 can close when the pressure is too high and/or open only when the differential pressure is applied to the pump 13.

[0087] In one exemplary embodiment, the powder feed conduit 32 comprises a ball valve which is designed to prevent the liquid from penetrating into the powder feed conduit in the event of too high a pressure (>−10 mbar) in the pipeline system of the liquid circuit. For this purpose, the ball valve can close when the pressure is too high and/or open only when the differential pressure is applied to the pump 13. The ball valve is controlled by the computing unit 16 in the same way as the control valve 34. Alternatively or additionally, a redundant pressure measurement at the pump 13 and/or in the pipeline system 12 may take place for the opening and closing of the ball valve.

[0088] The precautions described above always ensure that the presence of solvent vapor is avoided, so that mixing of solvent vapor and pulverulent material 31 cannot occur at any point in time.

[0089] In one exemplary embodiment, the liquid vessel 11 may comprise a device which allows a mixture of pulverulent material and liquid to be removed.

[0090] At this point it should be noted that all the parts described above, considered alone and in any combination, especially of the details shown in the drawing, are claimed as essential to the invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0091] 10 Liquid circuit [0092] 11 Liquid vessel [0093] 12 Pipeline system [0094] 13 Pump [0095] 13a Pump inlet side [0096] 13b Pump outlet side [0097] 14 Homogenizer [0098] 15 Pressure measuring device [0099] 16 Computing unit [0100] 17 Arrow (flow direction) [0101] 30 Powder vessel [0102] 31 Pulverulent material [0103] 32 Powder feed conduit [0104] 33 Connection [0105] 34 Control valve [0106] 35 Breathing conduit [0107] 35a Overpressure valve [0108] 35b Filter [0109] 40 Powder feed station [0110] 41 Delivery pump [0111] 42 Delivery conduit [0112] 50 Gas feed conduit