APPARATUS FOR REGULATION OF GAS FEED FOR GAS CONSUMPTION

Abstract: An apparatus for regulation feed for gas consumption from a source with a variable gas production. The apparatus is characterized by two chambers (1, 2). These communicate in their lower parts with each other. At least the first chamber (1) is closed in its upper end. The lower part of the chambers (1, 2) is provided with a gas inlet (3) from said source for gas production and a gas outlet (5) to said consumer. In the second chamber (2) there is provided a means (15) regulated by the liquid level for starting and shutting off the gas consumer.

Description: Apparatus for regulation of σas feed for σas consumption. This invention relates to an apparatus for regu¬ lation of gas feed for gas consumption from a source with a variable production. The object of the invention is to make optimal uti- lization of gas for consumption in such cases, where the supply of gas varies, for instance in anaerobic fermentation of manure in farms, methane gas being formed. This gas can for instance be combusted in a combustion engine for production of electrical c * ur- rent either directly or via an accumulator tank,which then serves as a gas buffer. According to the inven¬ tion there is also provided an overpressure protec¬ tion for the gas buffer and a preset regulation of the gas pressure to the consumer. These objects are met, according to the invention, by the aid of an appa¬ ratus, characterized by two chambers communicating in the lower ends, at least one of the chambers being closed in the upper end, the lower part of the cham¬ bers being filled with a liquid when in operation, the first chamber being provided with a gas inlet from said gas production source and with a gas outlet to said gas production source and with a gas outlet to said gas consumer, means regulated by the liquid level being provided in the second chamber, for star¬ ting and shutting of the gas consumer, which can be a motor, a gas combustion boiler or a gas pipe. OMPI When the produced gas contains condensable or pre- cipitable liquid, as is the case when producing me¬ thane by fermentation of manure, the liquid volume will increase in said chambers, by water being sepa- rated from the gas. This excess of water must be dis¬ charged, which can be done by providing the apparatus with a weit outlet, located outside the chambers, com¬ municating with their lower part, the weir outlet being located on the same level as the starting level of said means. If the gas production would occasionally be larger than the consumption, a gas overpressure discharge outlet may be arranged, extending from the upper part of the second chamber above the level of starting of the said means. Such a gas overpressure discharge out¬ let, which preferably leads out into the free air or to a torch, has an object, when for instance methane to prevent too high gas pressures from being built up in the system and dangerous gas concentrations from being formed indoors. In some gas production, as the production of methane gas by fermentation of manure, the gas is not only followed by water vapour but also by solid particles. These two products are separated from the gas by pro- viding said gas inlet opening a substantial way down in said first chamber, whilst the gas outlet to the consumer extends from the upper part of this chamber above the opening of the inlet. In this way water vapour is condensed from the gas- phase and is com- bined with the water in the chamber. The solid partic¬ les are also separated and are captured by the water, whilst the gas is discharged through said gas outlet. OMPI The invention shall be described more in detail in the following, reference being made to the enclosed drawing, which shows, by way of example, an embodi¬ ment of the present apparatus. To be more exact, figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the chambers, that are included in the apparatus and figure 2 a cross sectional view, seen from above, methane gas supposed to be produced by anaerobic fermentation of manure. In figure 1, 1 denotes a first vertical pipe and 2 a second vertical pipe, constituting the chambers, which are included in the apparatus. Gas, containing water vapour and solid particles, enters through a line 3, which opens a substantial way down in the pipe 1. Water condensate drips from the opening of the line 3 down in an amount of water 4,,which is present in the pipe, and which also captures se¬ parated, solid particles. Gas freed from water va¬ pour and solid particles, is discharged through a line 5 to the consumer from the top of the pipe 1. The consumer can be a gas combustion boiler or a combustion engine, driving an electric generator. In the line 5 there can be provided a buffer tank for equalizing varying gas production. The two pi- pes 1 and 2 are closed at the ends by plates 6 and 7, and in the lower of these there is provided a dis¬ charge valve 8, through which water containing too much sludge can be .removed. The pipes 1 and 2 com¬ municate with each other through a hole 9. As is obvious from figure 2, one of the pipes, in this case the pipe 2, can have a substantially less cross sectional area than the other one. If the pipe 2 has a cross sectional area, which is half of that of the pipe 1, this means that a lowering of the water level in the pipe 1 corresponds to a double rise of the water level in the pipe 2, which circum¬ stance increases the precision of the function of the apparatus. As is obvious from figure 2, the cross sec- tional form of the chambers or pipes can be optional, and in the embodiment shown, a compact design has been achieved by providing a common, convex wall 10. From the bottom of the pipe 2 there extends -* via the bottom plate 6 - a line 11, which leads to a weir out- let 12. Through this weir outlet the water is dis¬ charged, that is -condensed out from the gas in the pipe 1. Via a hopper 13 the water flows on to an outlet. In the pipe 2 there is provided another pipe 14, containing an upper and a lower contact means, corresponding to a position for starting and shutting for a means 15, regulated by the liquid le¬ vel consisting of a floating body. When there pre¬ vails atmospheric pressure in the- pipes 1 and 2 (P=0) , the liquid level is the same in both the pipes. The floating body 15 then resides in its lower position (starting position) . Furthermore the floating body is arranged, in a way known per se, to act upon the contact means, when in operation it rea¬ ches said starting or shutting positions. Electrical wires 16, connected to said contact means forward the impulses from the contact means for starting and shutting of the consumer. A scale 17 makes it pos¬ sible to get an idea about the position of the floa¬ ting body 15, if at least the pipe 2 is made from a transparent material. From the top of the pipe 2 there extends a line 18 with an-object to discharge any excess of produced gas to the free atmosphere or to a torch. Otherwise the apparatus is equipped with conventional instruments. The apparatus operates in the following way: Before the start of the apparatus the liquid level in the two pipes 1 and 2 is at P=0 on the scale 17. hen the gas flows into the pipe 1, the water level is pressed downwards in this pipe and rises at the same time in the pipe 2. The actual gas pressure can be read from the position of the floating body 15 in relationship to the scale. When the floating body has risen to the upper position, indicated by dotted lines (P=300) the contact means located there acts, and the consumer starts and continues its consumption until the floating body has sunken, for instance to position P=50, provided that the gas consumption is greater than the gas production. In this latter po- sition the floating body acts upon a contact means, situated in the place, which shuts the consumer or shuts the gas connection to the consumer, whereupon the gas pressure is allowed to rise to P = 300. If there is an occasional excess production of gas, the liquid level in the pipe 1 will sink down to the po¬ sition of the hole 9. If the excess production of gas continues, gas will flow through the hole 9 and up through the liquid column in the pipe 2 and rea¬ ches the space above this, finally to be discharged through the line 18.

Claims: Claims 1. An apparatus for regulation of gas feed for gas- consumption from a " source with a variable gas produc¬ tion, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y two chambers (1,2) communicating in the lower ends, at least one of the chambers being closed in the upper end, the lower part of the chambers being filled with a liquid when in ope¬ ration, the first chamber being provided with a gas in¬ let (3) from said gas production source and with a gas- outlet (5) to said gas consumer, means (15) regulated by the liquid level being provided in the second cham¬ ber (2) , for starting and shutting off the gas consumer. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, c h a r a c te ¬ r i z e d b y a weir outlet (12) located outside the chambers (1., 2) communicating with their lower part, the weir outlet being -located on the same level as the star¬ ting level of said means. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d b y a gas overpressure discharge outlet (18) , extending from the upper part of the se¬ cond chamber (2) above the level of starting of said means (15) 4. An apparatus according to any of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said gas inlet (3) opens a substantial way down in ' said first chamber (1) whilst the gas outlet (5) to the consumer, extending from the upper part of this chamber above the opening of the inlet .

Inventors: CARLSSON TORSTEN LENNART TEODO, OESTER AKE RAFAEL, WIKHOLM BERT STEFAN, CARLSSON TORSTEN LENNART TEODOR
Applicants: ALFA LAVAL AB, CARLSSON TORSTEN LENNART TEODO, OESTER AKE RAFAEL, WIKHOLM BERT STEFAN, CARLSSON TORSTEN LENNART TEODOR
Application year: 1982
Main classification: G05D16
IPC codes: G05D16