US2669847A - Method and apparatus for vaporizing and distributing hydrocarbon fuels - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1954 W. w. DICK 2,669,847

METHOD AND APPARATUSFDR vAP ZING AND I DISTRIBUTING HYDROCARBO UELS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Deo. 29, 195o INVENTOR. Wad@ BY Feb. 23, 1954 W. w. DICK 2,669,847

METHOD AND APPARATUS FDR vAPoRIzING AND DISTRIBUTING HYDROCARBON FUELS Filed Deo. 29, 195o .1 ,0 w w 5 m) W O M H o 67 w. .m W f W A w @A f 5 o. Y o D o ,a W M w WWW D 43D/ QW D@ 9 D @D E wf E all 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FOR VAPORIZING A amaai-.5

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W. W. DICK PARATUS DISTRIBUTING HYDROCARBON FUELS 7 INVENTOR.

BY www, d fR/VFY 7 Wad@ Patented Feb. 23, 1954 2,669,847 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZ- ING FUELS AND DISTRIBUTING HYDRDCARBON Wade W. Dick, Shreveport, La. Application December 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,275

13 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to gas distributing systems and more particularly to.an improved method and apparatus for reliably distributing such gases as butane and propane for industrial purposes.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a gas distribution system which will reliably distribute such gases as butano, propane, etc., without the use of float mechanisms conventionally employed for operation of valves 111-' tended for cutting off the flow of liquid if and when the main burner fails.

Another object ci my invention is to provide a gas distribution system having a reliable arrangement of cut off valve which becomes instantly effective to cut ofi the flow of the liquid hydrocarbon externally of the vaporizer if and when the main burner of the vaporizer iails for eliminating danger of explosion due to continuous now of the hydrocarbon after a cut off temperature has been reached.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a method oi vaporizing such hydrocarbons as butano or propane which comprises passing the liquid hydrocarbon through a confined path subject to a temperature of approximately 200 F. for vaporizing the liquid hydrocarbon and distributing the vapor to the consuming system.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved method of vaporizing liquidJ hydrocarbon which involves passing the liquid hydrocarbon from a storage position through a tank subject to transfer of heat from a liquid having an extremely high boiling point for rapidly the temperature of liquid hy-` drocarbon to a condition of vaporization and facilitating distribution of the vapor, the entire process ci vaporization being carried out through control means which does not involve any form of control valve subject to all of the inherent`- conditions of operation of such valves often leading to operation failure with resulting damage :from and explosion.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of vaporizing unit for hydrocarbon such lontane and propane in which the unit includes a gaseous fuel burner operative for heating a boiler unit containing liquid oi' rela tively high boiling point within which there is submerged a chamber through which the liquid hydrocarbon is passed for elevating the temperature thereof and generating vapor for distribution to the consuming system.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a system for vaporizing lontane, propane and other similar hydrocarbons and distributing the same including temperature controlled safety means by which excess vaporizcd gas may be recovered for reuse in the system for insuring the economic operation of the gaseous distribution system and minimum loss of the hydrocarbon.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in an arrangement of improved valve mechanism for automatically insuring a high condition of safety to a hydrocarbon gaseous distributing system as set forth more fully in the specification by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the vaporizer and gaseous distributing system of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View` taken through the vaporizer of my invention and illustrating particularly the manner in which the liquid hydrocarbon is passed through a submerged tank Within the boiler which contains the liquid oi high temperature boiling point; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view of the automatic control valve by which the now of hydrocarbon to the submerged tank is controlled in accordance with conditions oi temperature adjacent the submerged tank; Fig. 5 is a iragmen tary cross sectional view oi the valve mechanism by which the system is economically operated by permitting recovery of excess hydrocarbon for reuse in the vaporizer system; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on line 6--6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through a modined form of vaporizer embodying the principles of my invention and illustrating the method of passing hydrocarbon therethrough without the employment of any form of float valve which has proven so dangerous in operation in vaporizer systems Where hydrocarbon has continued to flow after a condition of essential cut oil has been reached; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line ii-B of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the submerged vaporizer tank; Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken through the safety valve that controls the flow of liquid hydrocarbon to the submerged tank in accordance `with temperature conditions adjacent the submerged tank; and Fig 11 shows ne principle ci my invention as applied to a variable temperature system oi any kind and i utilized to control a supply of liquid hydrocarbon.

My invention provides a vaporizer for butano or propane and the like in which a flame is di- -rested upon receptacle or submerged tank conune vaporizing van muiddrops below-1l00 @F iva-ive automatically :snaps shut and fa im taining a high boiling point liquid or chemical such as Prestone, as a heat transfer liquid raism ing the temperature of same to approximately 200 F. By the term high boiling point l mean any temperature that is substantially aoove 212 F., the boiling point of Water. submerged in this bath of hot liquid there are a number of high pressuretuhes `carrying vthe liquid outaneor propaneand 4the like to be vaporized by the absorption of heat from the hot liquid bath. After the liquid butane or propane and the like has absorbed enough heat from `the hot bath-to become a vapor it then passes on 'through antad- `iulstable high pressure regulator to Whatever device or burners that is to consume the vapo" l rized gas.

The main burner naine and-,safety cutoff YiS- of the conventional approved type used on liquied petroleum gas devices. VA pipe line is -provided carrying vapor from a storage tank. This Vapor isalso ldirected into the high pressure ivaporizing tubes through 4a metering .aperturerfin the pipe llinewhich ley-passes a highvpressurerswingcheck valve. This metering aperture-is provided :for

the purpose of initially feeding vapor to supply the vaporizing burner oi the 4device `when `first putting the vaporizerinto operation. Later after the operation cycle is initiated and should the Avaporizing capacity exceed the requirements yof the-burners at the dry kilnfor cotton dryer,.the-

excess vaporized gas will `ovv backto the butane storageztank through `the previously `mentioned swing check valve; thus permitting a large volumevof gas to .now Aback to said tank-but only .asmallfamountoi gas .todlow from the tank tc-'f mathe lvaporizer fthrough the metering aperture.

The jacket which surrounds the heater is Ainsulated and the burned gases travel around and upward and exhaust themselves through small stacks extending through the bath. The stacks may be provided with dampers controlled by a bi-lmetal strip thermostat so that when the .burner cuts off the dampers will automatically close, ythereby conserving the heat Y within v the `vaporizer 4jacket :and vaporizing liquid and increasing theefliciency of the system.

Ireretofore conventional industrial vaporizers have required a iioat and vali/'e arrangement `inside of a pressure -vessel containing liquid ,hutane toybe vaporized. rThis iloat and .valve lis for the purpose of shutting off or prohibiting `the entry-of liquidbutane in the ca seof -a Ibinner vfailure inthe vaporizer,-Which would lresult in `a liquid'butane passing on through the--vaporizing Chamber and on into the vapor .line going to the various industrial driers. ASuch accidentalexcess supply offuel ,could cause a serious reor explosion. -flhe system of my inventionemploys a special vvalve which automatically cuts orf the v'liquidabuteme outside the vaporizerifand :when

:there isaburner failurein,thavaporizen In my system, .should a vaporizer 'burner fail. the liquid y.invthe rvaporizer vat vloeiiris ,OICOOl-,Off du@ '130 ,the

absorption of -heat by Vthe liquid butanepassing throughqthe heating medium. When thispcoursA -ithe special precalibrated autQinatiocutofi valve -closes by automatic spring action, vthus v prohibit ing any more outa-ne liquid from entering the .vaporizeruntil lthe f vaporizer `burr-1er `trouble is corrected. This valve is so designed ,thatany temperature from 100?. upward will'hold the valve in an A open positiongduetoqa temperature .bulbarrangement. Butfwhen ihetemperature f the through pipe 8 leading vence character I designates the storage tank for liquid hydrocarbon such as butane or propane which tank is suitably erected on standards 2 extending upwardly from foundation 3. The

jtank is provided with a filling aperture Il normally closed byfa vsuitable cap. The liquid hydrocarbon is returned to tank l through pipe 5 conneo-ted `with safety hand valve f5 connected through'pipea with the special out oli valve l of my invention. The cut off valve 'l connects to the bottom of the submerged tank 9 in the vaporizer shown generally atjl'l). Thesubmerged tank V9 .is vmaintained on .a level above the normal hydrocarbon .level in Storage tank l sothat excess hydrocarbonniay drain ythrough pipe 3 and cut ofi valve 1 )and the open manually controlled valve y5 to the storage tank i, when conditions oftemperature Aas determined by thermostat li so requires.

The submerged tank 9 isof speciallconstructionfor obtaining Vmaximum surface area for rimparting heat to the hydrocarbonand effecting rapid vaporization thereof. The submergedftank 9 consists of a cylindrical body structure shown .more clearly in Fig., 3 with recessed .centrally disposed pockets i2 and it in eachendthereof.

Thesepockets l2 and i4 are ,in the nature of reentrant portionsin-the cylindrical submerged tank forming pockets Afor'lleving the thermostats il and l5. The submerged tank 4il is mounted in spaced relation to the opposite side walls I6 and Hof thevaporizer lfand adjacent the angularly inclined bottornyvalls t8 and i9 ,which extend downwardly into-the burnersection 2li `oi' the vaporizer. The side Walls i6 and l1 and thebottom vWalls i8 and i9 comprise a vat closed at opposite ends by end vWalls 2i and 22 A which contains the liquid of high boilingpoint vin which the tank is submerged as represented `at .2 3. The vat is provided With-upwardly extendingfliuesll and ZE-interrnediate the exterior Vsurface vof thesubmerged tank 9 and the side walls .iB and VIl' rofthe vaporizer. These dues 26 and 25 extend Aupwardly in the centralportionof the vaporizer I@ and terminate interiorly of sleevamembers 26 and 2l that depend down- Wardly Ifrom the removable top it of the .passiuefthroush the .111185-24 and 12%.

The vat is heated bybu-rners represented at 30 .and 3|'.10catedywithin .the pase `0f the-varorizer and distributed symmetricallyv'on opposite sides of thecentral apex portion 32 Aof the vat and in :positions where V.the gaseous .flame strikes the 4outwardly'directed surfaces I8 and I9 enabling theynainegto travel upwardly and throughlihe -fluesi2f and 25. Thus, the maximum amount of heat is transferred to the body of fluid `inthe vat. The inside Walls of the vaporizer are proyteoted by heat resisting material which I have represented atv. Airis admitted to the burner section through ports 34 ,provided inthe side ,w 11s-:andenes of tneramrizer- .access tothe @rior -of :the vapcrizer ffor ,maintenance and a een The burners 30 and 3| are supplied with gas through pipe line 35 connected in series with the 100% out off valve 56 having a pilot connection through pipe line 31 to the pilot light t8 arranged adjacent the burners 3l! and 3i. Gas is supplied to the pilot burner passage line 31 and the valve 35 through pipe til which extends into a valve housing l0 in which there is located a snap action thermostatic valve controlled by thermostat i5. The valve housing d connects through the reducing regulator represented at li! which reduces the gas pressure from pounds to ounces and is supplied with gas from the gas distribution line 42.

The gas distribution line #it extends from onev end or the top of the submerged tank i as represented at 45S. The other end of the top of the submerged tanh Q is prov ided with a connection it which extends through the by-pass hydrof carbon supply line :l5 and through the check valve it to the pipe line t1 and valve til and to the hydrocarbon fuel storage tank i. The check valve it the hyepass hydrocarbon supply line 45 are shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6 as including connections for pipes it and d1 between which the by-pass hydrocarbon supply line 45 extends. The valve it includes an interiorly arranged. cylindrical valve seat 4t adiacent the top of which thecheck valve plate 5@ is pivotally mounted so that passage line bl is normally sealed by gravitation of plate titi against seat 49 at approximately 45, but wherein excessive pressure in pipe line ill may raise plate Eil allowing excessive quantities or fuel to be returned to the storage tank i. The interior of check valve 46 may be inspected through removable plug 5! in the top of the check valve housing. by-pass supply line l5 includes the manually controlled shut off valve dit, the coupling 53 and the connection 5d to the pipe line lil which allows a selected size oriiice plate te to be inserted in or removed from the oyepess supply line 45. For the most enicient functioning of different sys- I have found that diferent sized orice plates 55 may be utilised.

The control valve is shawn in association with the teinperatare ccntrolled valve in Figs. 4 and lo. The thermostat i l is ci the bulb type which is charged with an expandable contractable solution. confined within a flexible pipe which is protected hy the iievible sheathing represented a`VL it .and which. to the Sylphon bellows housing mounted on the housing 58. The r housing encioses th lve operating linkage which includes the sp biased rocher arm 59 pivotally n'iouuted and ccnnected at one end with the pl Fei leading to the Sylphon bellows mechanism in the Sylphon bellows housing iii. The rocher arm te is integrally connected with downwardly extending latching member 62 which is hooi: shaped in contour for engaging a transverse pin 53 carried by the slotted head (i4 cn. the upwardiy projecting stem t5 of a diaphragm valve et located interiorly of the housoi out off vali/e l. The slotted head dit also provides connection means for the lever t1 which is pivotally connected at with the head til and is journalled at Sh in housing 58. Lever 61 is connected at one end through coil spring 59 with nection point lil inside the housing t8. The lever projects at its other end through a slot 'il in housing 5S so that the protruding end 'I2 Y of the lever 61 may be engaged by a pull chain or link 13 for enabling the valve to be .manually actuated in the event that automatic operation should fail. The diaphragm valve 6B includes spring means 14 normally operating to urge valve 't into engagement with the annular valve seat mounted interiorly of the housing of the cutoli valve 1 for controlling the passage of hydrocarbon between pipes 6a and 8, It will be noted that packing may be eliminated around the valve stem 65 by reason of the diaphragm construction represented at 16 which is flexible enough to permit up and down travel of the valve but which prevents leakage from the interior of the valve housing around the stem 65. i

Heretofore I have described my invention as directed to a horizontally arranged installation. My invention is accordingly applicable to a system employing a vertically arranged installation as illustrated in Figs. 7-9.

In this arrangement I provide a vertical extending vaporizer designated generally at 11 having a lower fuel burner compartment 181 and an upper tank compartment 19 containing the liquid of high boiling point such as Prestone" shown at 861. The compartment 13 is provided with a. multiplicity of spaced vertically extending ilues shown at 8l, B2, 33 and 84 which extend from the fuel burner compartment 18 and through the liquid of high boiling point 8B and project in stacks at the top of compartment 19 as represented in Fig. 7 as indicated at 8|a, 82a and 83a. Suitable stack covers are provided at the upper extremities of the stacks as represented at 8| a', 32a and 83a.

submerged within the liquid of high boiling point shown at 80, I provide an interiorly disposed liquid hydrocarbon tank represented at having a bottom reentrant portion 86 and a transverse flue portion 81. The lower end of the tank 85 is connected with the hydrocarbon fuel supply pipe 88 corresponding to the pipe 8 in the arrangement of my invention shown in Figs. 1-6. The control for 'this hydrocarbon fuel supply line is identical with the control previously described including the thermostat l I, the expandable and contractable liquid line 56, the Sylphon bellows mechanism in Sylphon bellows housing 51, the valve control mechanism in housing 58 and the cut-off valve 1 which connects to pipe line 6a. The end of thermostat l l extends into the transverse passage 81 in the tank 85. The oppositely arranged thermostat l5 corresponding to the similarly numbered thermostat in the previously described form of my invention is also arranged in the transverse passage 81 and extends outwardly beyond compartment 19 for controlling the snap thermostat valve in housing 40 as previously explained. The balance of the gaseous heating burner mechanism is the same as previously explained; that is, a main burner path 9 is supplied with gas through pipe line 35 which connects to the 109% cut-ohc valve in housing 36 which also provides a connection to the pilot light 38 through pipe line 31. Pipe line 39 which connects to loof/*5 cut-olii valve 3% extends through the snap thermostat housing dil and through the reducing regulator il to the gaseous fuel distribution line l2 which connects to the top of the l hydrocarbon tank 85 as represented at 90. The

i'iydrocarbcn supply line #ld previously described includes the same check. valve it and by-pass system 45 as previously described and connects at 9i to the top of the hydrocarbon tank 85. The surfacing of the vertical structure installationgis below the level in said tank ior controlling the supply oi liquid hydrocarbon to said tank concurrently with the vaporization and distribution thereof to said distributing` pipe line.

l 2. A gas generating and distributing system comprising a vaporizer divided into upper and lower compartments one above the other, the upper compartment providin'-T an enclosure for enclosing a fluid, the fluid having a boiling point substantially above 212 F. the lower compartment containing a gaseous burner for directing a gas flame on said upper compartment, a container for hydrocarbon disposed within said upper compartment in a position substantially covered by the iiuid within said upper compartment, a supply tank for hydrocarbon, connectionsbetw'een said supply tank and the aforesaid container, a gas distribution pipe extending from said container, a tap connection between said gas distribution pipe and said gaseous fuel burner and thermostatic means submerged in said upper compartment for regulating the quantity of hydrocarbon supplied from said hydrocarbon supply tank to the container submerged within the huid in the upper compartment.

3. il. gas generating and distributing system as set forth in claim 2 which includes a multiplicity of heat distributing nues opening into said lower compartment and extending through the fluid in said upper compartment for transferring heat to the fluid at locations immediately adjacent the container and facilitating the vaporiaation of the hydrocarbon for delivery to said gas distribution pipe.

4. A gas generating and distributing' as set forth in claim 2 in which the container submerged in the fluid in the upper compartment is substantially cylindrical and is indented in at least one end thereof for providing a pocket for the fluid in said upper compartment and wherein the control means for controlling the supply of hydrocarbon to the submerged container extends into the indentation in the end of the container.

5. .e gas generating and distributing system set forth 2 in which the container submerged in the fluid in the upper compartment is substantially cylindrical and is indented at opposite ends for providing pockets for the fluid in the upper compartment and wherein control means extend into both of the indentations through the luid in said upper compartment, one oi said control means operating to determine the now from said gas distribution pipe to the fuel burner beneath said upper compartment while the other of said control means operates to regulate the guantity of hydrocarbon supplied to the container submerged in the iiuid in said upper compartment.

6. gas generating and distributing system as set forth in claim 2 in which said upper compartment includes fiues which extend from openings leading into said lower compartment to discharge ports above said upper compartment, the said container which is submerged in the system fluid in said upper compartment extending on a horizontal axis between said lines.

7. A gas generating and distributing system as set forth in claim 2 in which the container for hydrocarbon extends on a vertical axis within said upper compartment in which hydrocarbon iuel connections are made to the upper and lower portions of the container and in which the gas distribution line connects with the upper portion of the container.

3. A gas generating and distributing system including a vaporioer constituted by upper and lower compartments with the lower compartment housing gaseous iuel burners and the upper compartment comprising an enclosure for iiuid, in which the huid has a boiling point substantially above 212 F. of the order of 10o F., the enclosure formed by said upper compartment terminating in a bottom structure formed by plates extending downwardly at an angle to each other with the juncture of the plates meeting in an apex located above the gaseous iuel burners for spreading the name from the gaseous fuel burners and directing the same upwardly, ilues extending vertically through said upper compartment from openings in the said plates above said lower compartment and discharging through ports at the top of said upper compartment, a. container for hydrocarbon fuel disposed in said upper compartment and submerged in the fluid therein between the said flues and immediately above the apex liuncture of said plates, hydrocarbon fuel connections to the top and bottom of said submerged container adjacent one end thereof and a gaseous fuel distributing pipe line connected adjacent the other end of said subcontainer.

9. A gas generating and distributing system as set forth in claim 8 which includes a storage tank for hydrocarbon fuel connected with the connections leading to the first mentioned end of the container submerged in said upper compartment and means in each of said connections for regulating the flow of hydrocarbon with respect to the said tank.

l0. A gas generating and distributing system las set forth in claim 8 including a storage tank for hydrocarbon fuel, connections extending from said storage tank to each of the hydrocarbon fuel connections leading to the top and bottom of one end of said submerged container, a metering valve in one of said connections and a temperature controlled valve in the other of said connections, said temperature controlled valve being operative in accordance with the temperature of the fluid in said upper compartment.

11. A gas generating and distributing system as set forth inclaim 8 in which a storage tank for hydrocarbon fuel is provided with a pair of connections leading to the hydrocarbon fuel connections on the container submerged in the i'luid in said upper compartment, a temperature controlled valve disposed in one of said connections and operative in accordance with the temperature of the uid in the upper compartment, a pressure operated unidirectional valve located in the other of said connections, a by-pass path for gas connected around said unidirectional valve in said last mentioned connection and a metering valve in said by-pass connection.

l2. A gas generating and distributing system including a vaporiaer having upper and lower compartments, the upper compartment comprising an enclosure for iuid having a boiling point substantially above 212 F. and said lower compartment includinga gaseous fuel burner, a multiplicity o-iiues extending through said upper compartment and discharging above` the. top thereof and openingv into said lower compartment for directing heat from said gaseous fuel burner therethrough for facilitating the heatingofthe fluid in said upper compartment, a container for hydrocarbon suspended vertically within said upper compartment between said flues, a transverse ue extendingn diametrically through said container, connections for hydrocarbon adjacent both the upper and lower ends of said container on opposite sides of said transverse iiue, a connection with the upper end of said container for distributing gas therefrom and thermostatic means extending through said upper compartment and into the transverse iiue in said submerged container for controlling.' the supply of hydrocarbon to said submerged container and the by-passing of part of the gas from said hydrocarbon container to the gaseous fuel burner for heating the liquid in which said hydrocarbon container is submerged.

13. A system for converting liquid hydrocarbons into gaseous fuels for distribution to a consuming load comprising a storage tank, a vaporizer including a vat for enclosing a uid having aboiling point substantially above 212 F., a hydrocarbon container submerged in the uid in said Vat, aga-seous; fuel burner located in said l2 vaporizer beneath. said vat; a gaseous fuel` dis.- tribution pipe line connected with one end of said hydrocarbon container, connections from thev other end' of said hydrocarbonA container to said'. storage tank, one of said connections in.- cluding a. pivoted plate valve gravitationallyr disposed. against a seat extending approximately tothevertical and operative to be displaced from` its seat when pressure in, said hydrocarbon, container exceeds-the pressure in said storage:4 tank for returning the hydrocarbon to said storage tank; and in which. the connection that includes said pivoted plate: valve also contains a.l shunt pipe,A connection` around said piyoted plate valve wherein the shunt pipe connection contains ametering orice and a manually con,- trollable valve whereby a path for hydrocarbon beV maintained around said, pivoted plate valve extendingv between said storageA tankv and said, hydrocarbon; container.

WADE Wi DICK.

References Cited in the le of this patent. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,891,534 Gray Dec. 20, 1932 2,532,97O` Faucher V v Sept. 2l',V 1943 2,348,546 Kercher May 9,11944 25354932 Walker etal. 1e Aug. 1, 1944 2,506,721 1950

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