Patent ID: 6564820
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: F02C,F05D,F16K,F16T,F23N,Y10T

Abstract:
A safety device forming part of a power plant liquid disposal system, the device for interposition in a flow passage in flow communication with the atmosphere and with an enclosure, the device for draining liquids having a predetermined specific gravity into the enclosure, the device comprising:a valve housing having a chamber, said valve housing having an upper end and a lower end and a longitudinal axis; an inlet at said upper end, said inlet in flow communication with the flow passage and receives either liquids or gases from the flow passage; an outlet at said lower end, said outlet in flow communication with the enclosure, the liquids flow through said outlet into the enclosure; a reducer in flow communication and converging into said outlet, said reducer having a section, said section decreases in diameter concentrically inward about said longitudinal axis and in the direction of said outlet, said section having an inner surface area forming a valve seat; a selective flow control means, said means selectively permits gas or liquid to flow into the flow passage and enter said inlet; and a float member within said valve housing and arranged to engage said valve seat to open and close said outlet, said float member with a specific gravity less than the liquids, said float member moves unrestrained within said chamber and about the longitudinal axis and when only liquids are selectively flowing within the flow passage and enter the valve housing, said float member being configured to cause the liquids to flow into said valve housing at a predetermined flow rate thereby urging said float member to float off said valve seat to drain the liquids through an annulus and into said outlet into the enclosure and when only gases are selectively flowing within the flow passage and enter the valve housing, said float member being configured to engage said valve seat to prevent the gases from entering the enclosure thereby allowing the gases to continue to flow in the flow passage and vent to the atmosphere.