Abstract:
A gas sampling separator  29  for the separation of liquid or other contaminants from gas received from a pipeline may be easily inspected visually and cleaned. A cylindrical body  62  forming a separation chamber  64  is threaded onto a base  40.  A tube  68  within the separation chamber receives gas from a port in the base and directs the gas into the separation chamber for separation of the gas from the contaminants. The separated contaminants collect in a sump  58  formed by the base and may be vented upon actuation of a manually actuated valve  76.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of application Serial No. 60/234,003 filed Sep. 20, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to gas sampling separators and, more particularly, to a gas sampling separator that may be easily inspected and cleaned between uses to minimize or prevent contamination of the sampled gas.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Gas sampling separators remove liquids, solids and other contaminants from gas received from a gas supply, such as a gas pipeline. Separators are typically fabricated from a unitary sample bottle which has a port welded into the side of the bottle about a third down from the bottle top. The contaminated gas stream from the pipeline passes through the side port, and the liquid or other contaminant is allowed to drop out into the separator lower cavity while the gas exits the top port of the separator. A lower port from the bottle is valved and used to periodically drain the separator of liquid or other contaminants.  
           [0004]    A significant problem with conventionally designed separators is that they cannot be inspected for contamination and/or easily cleaned between uses to minimize or prevent contamination of the sampled gas, and to prevent cross contamination of gas samples. Furthermore, the conventional design of a gas sampling separator lends itself only to relatively inefficient heating with electric or water trace lines.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is directed to a gas sampling separator for the removal of liquid and other contaminant from gas received from a gas pipeline. The gas sampling separator is conveniently mounted on a probe extending into the pipeline and may be easily inspected to determine the amount of liquid and/or foreign matter removed from the gas and then easily cleaned. The separator has a lower removable base with a bore to receive gas from a pipeline and an upper generally cylindrical body forming a separation chamber. A tube communicating with the bore may be mounted in the separation chamber within a cylindrical body, and has lateral openings for gas exiting the tube into the separation chamber in a swirling action. The cylindrical body of the separator is removably connected to the base. The upper end of the base forms a sump for the separated liquid and may be easily inspected visually upon removal of the cylindrical body from the base.  
           [0006]    It is frequently desirable to heat the separator so that the surfaces contacting the gas are not at a temperature below the hydrocarbon dew point of the gas being sampled. For this purpose, an outer water jacket or sleeve may be mounted about the cylindrical body to form an annular heating chamber for receiving hot water or hot gas for heating of the separator. The water jacket is easily removed with the cylindrical body and the integrity of the water jacket is not affected by disassembly of the cylindrical body.  
           [0007]    It is an object of this invention to provide a gas sampling separator which permits an easy inspection to determine the amount of liquid and/or foreign matter being separated from the gas.  
           [0008]    A further object of the invention is the provision of a gas suppling separator which may be easily cleaned between uses of the separator.  
           [0009]    It is a feature of the invention to provide such a gas sampling separator having fluid contacting surfaces for heating to a temperature above the hydrocarbon dew point of the gas being sampled. The separator preferably includes an annular jacket to receive a heated fluid for heating the gas within the separation chamber.  
           [0010]    These and further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, wherein reference is made to the figures in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a generally schematic view of a gas sampling system to obtain gas samples from gas passing through a pipeline with the gas sampling separator mounted on a probe extending within the pipeline.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the gas sampling separator shown in  15 ; FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, a gas sampling system is illustrated in which the gas sampling separator of the present invention is utilized. The gas pipeline  10  contains fluid gas which is to be sampled. The sampled gas conventionally includes various grades of hydrocarbons, and the BTU content of the sampled gas is used to determine the value of the gas passing through the pipeline. A weld flange has internally threaded opening  14  therein and a probe  16  is mounted within internally threaded opening  14 . Probe  16  has a bore  18  to receive gas from pipeline  10  and has an upper section  20  which is externally threaded at  22 . A manually operated shutoff valve  19  is mounted on probe  16  to control the gas flow from pipeline  10 .  
         [0016]    The gas sampling separator comprising the present invention is shown generally at  24  and is mounted on upper section  20  of probe  16  to receive gas to be sampled, as will be explained further. Clean gas from gas sampling separator  24  is supplied by line  26  to a gas chromatograph GC or to a sample bottle  28  for the collection of clean gas. Inlet valve  29  is closed off to permit removal of the sample bottle from the system. A valve  30  may be manually operated for obtaining a gas sample of clean gas from bottle  28 .  
         [0017]    A discharge line  32  from gas sampling separator  24  permits the discharge of separated liquid or foreign matter to the atmosphere or into a collecting chamber. To provide heat for heating of gas sampling separator  24 , a hot fluid source shown at HFS for hot water is provided for the supply of hot water through line  37  to gas sampling separator  24 . The spent water from separator  24  may be returned by line  38  to hot fluid source HFC, or may be discharged to a dump site. The hot fluid source HFC may comprise hot water obtained from a vehicle, such as a truck.  
         [0018]    Referring now also to FIGS. 2 and 3, gas sampling separator  24  has a lower base  40  threaded onto a connector  39  between base  40  and probe  16 . Connector  39  has a lower annular end  41  abutting a shoulder  42  on probe  16 . Internally threaded nut  43  engages an outer shoulder  44  and threads  22  for tightly connecting connector  39  onto probe  16 . Probe  16  has an upper rounded end  45  received within an enlarged lower bore portion  47  of connector  39  for facilitating mounting of connector  39  thereon in axial relation with bore  46  in connector  39  aligned with bore  18  in probe  16 .  
         [0019]    Base  40  has an axial bore  54  in fluid communication with bore  18  of probe  16 . Base  40  has an upwardly extending externally threaded end portion  56  defining a pocket or sump  58  and an annular shoulder  60 . An upper cylindrical body  62  has a central bore defining a separation chamber  64 . Cylindrical body  62  has an internally threaded end opening  66  for threading of cylindrical body  62  onto upper end portion  56 . A set screw  68  rotationally secures cylindrical body  62  onto upper portion  56 . A gas discharge tube  68  is mounted within bore  54  on base  40  and extends upwardly within separation chamber  64 . The upper end of tube  68  is closed and lateral openings  69  in tube  68  permit the discharge of gas laterally within separation chamber  64  to provide a swirling action or vortex for the gas entering separation chamber  64 . Liquid and foreign matter drop downwardly into sump  58  and the gas moves upwardly for discharge from line  26 .  
         [0020]    Base  40  has a port  70  at the bottom of sump  58  in fluid communication with port  72  which is blocked by plug  74  at an end of manually actuated valve  76 . Upon opening of valve  76  and unseating of plug  74 , liquid in sump  58  is passed by port  78  to port  80  and then to discharge line  32  for venting or flow to a collection chamber. Actuation of valve  76  permits the venting of the liquid and any foreign matter to atmosphere or to a suitable collection member.  
         [0021]    It is desirable that separator  24  be heated under ambient conditions in which separator  24  has a temperature below the hydrocarbon dew point of the gas being sampled. For this purpose, an outer fluid jacket  80  is mounted about cylindrical body  62  and forms an annulus  82  therebetween. Hot fluid such as water from hot fluid source HFC is provided through port  84  to annulus  82 . The spent water is discharged through port  86  and discharge line  38  for return to the heat source. The heat source may comprise heated water or heated gas. In many instances, hot water from a vehicle such as a truck may be utilized with suitable hoses connected to separator  24 . Water jacket  80  is particularly effective for heating separation chamber  64 .  
         [0022]    The separator  24  is particularly adapted for inspection and subsequent cleaning.  
         [0023]    For inspection, body  62  including water jacket  80  may be unthreaded from externally threaded end portion  56  of base  40  upon a release of set screw  68 . With body  62  removed, sump  58  and bore  70  may be easily viewed for determining the amount of liquid and/or foreign matter therein. Pressurized air may be utilized for cleaning. Likewise, bore  46  in connector  39  may be cleaned by removal of separator  24  from connector  39 . Upon removal of cylindrical body  62 , water jacket  80  remains in position on cylindrical body  62  and the integrity of the water jacket  80  is maintained. After cleaning, cylindrical body  62  may be easily threaded onto base  40  for assembly.  
         [0024]    From the above, it is apparent that gas sampling separator  24  is designed for inspection and cleaning by a simple removal of cylindrical body  62  from base  40 . Further, water jacket  80  provided for heating of separator  24  is connected to cylindrical body  62  and removable with cylindrical body  62 . Separator  62  may be easily disassembled after each use for inspection and/or cleaning.  
         [0025]    In an alternative embodiment, cylindrical body  62  could have external grooves or fins on the OD for better heat transfer from the heated fluid. Tube  68  could be bent in an inverted J-shape, or could have inverted L-shape configuration so that fluid would impact a side wall at the body  62 , either directly or at an angle. Cavity  82  could be formed in the body of the separator, so that fluid was channeled through drilled ports in the body.  
         [0026]    While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of the preferred embodiment will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.