WO2009112148A1 - Method and device for treating fluids guided in pipelines - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for treating fluids guided in pipelines. The invention further relates to the use of a pig displaceable by an electromagnetic field as a separating and/or transporting element for the fluid within the pipeline.

Description

 Method and device for treating fluids carried in pipelines

The invention relates to a method for the treatment of fluids carried in pipelines, in particular fluid mixtures of, for example, a product fluid and a cleaning fluid and / or two or more product fluids, after which at least one pig is moved in the interior of the pipeline.

In the treatment of fluids carried in pipelines, it is not restrictive to the promotion of such fluids for filling, for example, containers or bottles. Also included here is the cleaning of the pipeline with a cleaning fluid, which may be a liquid or a gas, such as water vapor. Such methods are used in a variety of ways, for which reference should be made, by way of example only, to DE 197 06 578 A1, which deals with beverage bottling and in particular with pressure surge compensation.

Similar approaches are also used in the pharmaceutical

Industry, in which also routed in pipelines fluids are provided for subsequent portioning. In particular, when changing from a product fluid to another product fluid or after a cleaning phase, fluid mixtures are often observed from the two product fluids or a product fluid and the cleaning fluid, which can not be used on the whole. Due to these previously inevitable loss amounts, there are cost disadvantages.

Quite independently, there are known methods for the treatment of pipelines, in which a pig inside the piping is at least reciprocated. Mostly, the pig is used to clean the pipeline, as described by way of example in DE 10 2006 020 079 A1 or DE 10 2006 020 079 A1. In addition, pigs can be used to test pipelines, as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,454,276 or DE 199 29 072 A1. - In addition, a pipe pig by DE 24 35 423 C2, which is used for indicating the distance between a point and one or more other points in the pipeline. Regardless, facilities are finally known to detect the position of such a pig respectively pipe pig. This is done in such a way that a change of an electromagnetic field generated in the pipeline is registered by the presence of the metallic pig (see JP 09287690 A). The same describes the US 2004/0211443 A1. A pig, which comprises a signal generator, is known from DE 10 2005 059 023 A1, this signal generator cooperating with a permeable window located in the pipe wall.

As is well known, a pig is a device which is generally used in gas, petroleum and product pipeline technology, ie in pipelines. The pig more or less fills the cross-section of the pipe and either simply travels with the product stream through the pipe or is forced through the pipe with the help of extra pressure applied. To insert the pig into the pipeline so-called locks or pig traps are used, through which the pig is inserted into the pipeline and, for example, from the back is pressurized. Through such a lock, the pig can also be taken out.

In the pigging technology is regularly a conveying method for low-viscosity liquids but also for pasty media, powders, granules etc .. In addition to the promotion of the pig but also performs service tasks and in particular the cleaning or measurement technology and detection of any pipe failure, as already described in the introduction.

Newts have proven themselves in the described fields of application, but require for their drive either a flow of fluid guided within the pipeline and / or a gas pressure flow as a propellant. Consequently, they have not been able to significantly affect the previously mentioned problems of lost fluid mixtures. This is where the invention starts.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a method for the treatment of fluids conveyed in pipelines so that unwanted fluid mixtures are reduced to a minimum in terms of their quantity and consequently the costs are minimized. To solve this technical problem is provided in a generic method that the pig is driven without contact by means of an electromagnetic field.

The design is usually made such that means for generating the said electromagnetic field are provided to ensure the non-contact drive of the pig. These means are, on the one hand, at least one switchable electromagnet and, on the other hand, at least one permanent magnet and / or one magnetisable element. Usually, the permanent magnet or the magnetizable

Element arranged in or on the pig, whereas the switchable electromagnet undergoes an arrangement in or on the pipeline. But it can also be reversed procedure, namely such that the pig has the switchable electromagnet, whereas the pipe is equipped with the permanent magnet and / or the magnetizable element.

This method or the corresponding device for the treatment of fluids conducted in pipelines is particularly suitable for fluid mixtures of a product fluid and a cleaning fluid and / or of two or more product fluids.

In any case, the pig is moved by means of non-contact electromagnetic forces inside the pipeline. Magnetic attraction and repulsion forces are mostly used here. Since the electromagnetic field usually with the help of or the switchable

Electromagnet is defined, can be changed in this way its strength and / or duration. It has proven to be altogether good if the pig is moved by a trained as a traveling field electromagnetic field. This can be realized, for example, in such a way that a plurality of switchable electromagnets are arranged one behind the other along the pipeline and energized in succession. As a result, the pig, which is usually equipped with the permanent magnet, can be gradually attracted to the individual magnetic fields generated by the electromagnets and thus follows the traveling electromagnetic field along the electromagnets.

In general, the electromagnet generates a magnetic field with substantially in the interior of the pipeline extending in its longitudinal extent Field lines. The permanent magnet or the magnetizable element (for example, an iron core) of the pig is largely arranged in its longitudinal extent and in the longitudinal direction of the pipeline. This results in the longitudinal extent of the pipeline and when the electromagnet is turned on to form a north and south pole or a sequence of such magnetic poles. Depending on the polarity of this temporary magnetic field generated by means of the electromagnet, for example, the north pole belonging to the permanent magnet is attracted or repelled.

In any case, the permanent magnet (the magnetizable element) and the one or more electromagnets taken together form a linear motor in which the pipeline regularly contains the stator, whereas the permanent magnet (the magnetizable element) represents the rotor. The operation is similar to the "Transrapid". Here as well as there the speed of the pig depends on the frequency of the electromagnetic traveling field. This can be made available as a whole the electrical power supply for the electromagnet as a whole by a control unit with or without an integrated voltage source. The permanent magnet or the iron core can be embedded in the pig, z. B. bring in plastic.

In addition to a linear reciprocating motion in the longitudinal extension of the pipeline, the pig can, for example, in a querschnittserweiterten (holding) area of the pipeline moved transversely to the longitudinal extent and held here. This procedure is recommended in the event that the entire cross-section of the pipeline is needed to guide the fluid. In this case, the determination of the pig in this cross-sectional extended (holding) area is basically possible both mechanically and electromagnetically.

In addition, the pig is regularly designed so that it closes the pipe fluid-tight. In this way, the pig can not only separate different areas of the pipe from each other, but also be used to convey the fluid. The separation is usually made between two fluids.

In addition, however, two or more pigs can be found within the pipeline use. These can be moved against each other. This defines a preferably sealed space of any expansion between the pigs. This gap can be evacuated, for example, which requires at least a lateral discharge in the gap.

The invention also provides a device for the treatment of fluids carried in pipelines, as described in claim 8. Furthermore, the use of a drivable by an electromagnetic field pig as a separating and / or conveying element for pipelined fluids according to claim 10.

In any case, a completely newly conceived possibility is provided to treat fluids within pipelines and in particular to reduce unwanted fluid mixtures from their amount to a minimum or to adjust the fluid mixture in a targeted manner. This applies in particular to fluid mixtures of different product fluids as well as those of a product fluid and a cleaning fluid. Because such fluid mixtures usually can not be used (more) in a pipeline designed as a product guide line. Such losses can now be reduced to a minimum with the invention.

This is achieved in the core by the fact that at least one non-contact reciprocating pig is in the pipeline, which can separate individual areas of the pipe, for example, from each other. Thus, the pig can be driven directly into the area of a supply line of a product fluid and blocks this supply line from the pipeline. As a result, the pipe located beyond the pig can be flushed, for example, via a scavenging line, or other product fluid previously present in this pipeline can be easily withdrawn without the risk of mixing with the product fluid to be subsequently conveyed. Such is not possible with a valve located, for example, in the supply line of the product fluid. Because this valve can be attached only in the free area of the supply, so that still remain residual volumes in which cleaning liquid, another product fluid, etc. may be located.

Of these, the invention has deliberately solved because the leads can be shut off immediately and seen over their entire length. The also manages with one or more pigs, thus requires no expensive and structurally complex valve technology. Incidentally, this can be Vorfüll- or mixing stages represent, for example, by the pig opens the supply line with the product fluid slightly. In addition, the one or more cross-sectional widened holding areas also ensure that the overall product guidance is not influenced.

It is understood that the pipe is equipped if necessary with one or more locks to bring the pig according to the invention, respectively pig in the pipeline can. In addition, the pig according to the invention can, of course, additionally be supplemented or alternatively flown through and driven by the fluid flowing in the pipeline. In this process, it is of course conceivable that there are different fluids on both sides of the pig, wherein a fluid is used to drive the pig and the other fluid is displaced by him. The fluids are not limitative liquids, in principle, gases or even flowing solids, such as granules which can be promoted in this way. Here are the main benefits.

In the following, the invention is based on a merely one

Embodiment illustrative drawing explained in more detail; show it:

Fig. 1 shows the device according to the invention schematically

Fig. 2 shows a modified embodiment in the region of a cross-sectional widening of the pipeline in two different embodiments a) and b) and

Fig. 3 shows the pipeline in a typical conveying process for a fluid.

In the figures, a device for the treatment of guided in pipes 1 fluids is shown. The fluids are, for example, beverages but also pharmaceutical liquids or generally product liquids which are conveyed via the pipeline 1 to a filling location or the like. In the present case, in particular, the treatment of fluid mixtures of, for example, a product fluid and a cleaning fluid, as it can be introduced into the pipeline 1 via a flushing line 2 connected to the pipeline 1 according to FIG. 3. Furthermore, recognizes one another supply line 3 and a discharge line 4, which are used for the admission of the pipeline 1 with a gas and its deduction in the embodiment of FIG.

The device shown essentially accesses at least one movable inside the pipe 1 pig 5 and is additionally equipped according to the invention with means 6, 7, which generate an electromagnetic field for non-contact drive of the pig 5.

The means 6, 7 are on the one hand to one or more switchable electromagnets 7 and on the other hand one or two permanent magnets 6. The permanent magnet 6 is supported in or on the pig 5 or by this. In contrast, there is the switchable solenoid 7 in an arrangement in or on the pipe 1. In fact, a plurality of electromagnets 7 are provided, which are acted upon by a combined control unit and voltage source 8 and arranged in longitudinal extension on the outer wall of the pipe 1. In this way, the electromagnets 7 generate a magnetic field, merely indicated in FIG. 1, against which the pig 5 aligns with its permanent magnet or its two permanent magnets 6 and is moved. The same applies to the case that instead of the

Permanent magnets 6 is simply a metallic core for the pig 5 is realized. In principle, the procedure can also be reversed, namely that the pig 5 is equipped with a switchable electromagnet 7, whereas the pipeline 1 has the metallic core or permanent magnet 6.

A continuous movement of the pig 5 can be represented by the fact that with the aid of a plurality of electromagnets 7 in the longitudinal extension of the pipeline 1, an electromagnetic traveling field is generated. This can be represented in the simplest case so that the electromagnets 7 are connected in series and then turned off, the pig 5 follows with its metallic core and the permanent magnet 6 this advancing electromagnetic field along the pipe 1 in its longitudinal extent. As a result, the pig 5 long ago the pipe 1 are moved back and forth. It can be seen that the electromagnet 7 generates a magnetic field with substantially in the interior of the pipeline 1 extending in their longitudinal field lines, as shown in FIG. 1 makes clear. In addition, the design is usually made such that the permanent magnet 6 or the magnetizable material is largely arranged in the longitudinal extension of the pipe 1 and the pig 5.

In the case of both variants a) and b), cross-sectional widened regions 9 of the pipeline 1 can be seen in the context of FIG. 2. In this case, the cross-sectional widened region 9 in the illustration according to FIG. 2 a) acts in such a way that the pig 5 is moved back and forth only within this cross-sectional widened region 9 and has correspondingly differently configured sliding elements 10. These sliding or supporting elements 10 are configured circumferentially, so that the pig 5, the pipe 1 as a whole closes fluid-tight. In this way, the pig 5 is able to separate and possibly different fluids located in the pipeline 1 from each other. It is also possible, with the aid of the non-contact driven pig 5 to promote a befindliches in the pipeline 1 fluid. So this does not need to be under pressure.

In the variant according to FIG. 2b), the cross-sectional widened region 9 acts as a holding region for the pig 5, which can assume a kind of rest position in this connection. In fact, the pig 5 can be moved in the cross-sectional widened (holding) area 9 of the pipeline 1 transversely to the longitudinal extent of the pipeline 1 and held in place. This in turn is done by appropriate magnetic attraction forces with the help of a local special electromagnet 7 and two-sided electromagnet 7 are applied. Since there are electromagnets 7 on both sides of the pig 5 in the cross-sectional widened region 9, both magnetically attractive and repulsive forces can be built up, so that the pig 5 can be easily moved transversely to the longitudinal extension of the pipeline 1. Its definition can be done magnetically and / or mechanically on the wall of the pipe 1.

In the variant according to FIG. 3, two pigs 5 are placed along the pipeline 1. In this case, the left pig 5 is in a position in which it closes a supply line 11 for a first product fluid 11 ', whereas another Supply line 12 for a second product fluid 12 'is kept open. In this way, the second product fluid 12 'can be conveyed via the pipeline 1. In addition, it is possible to stock the second product vial 12 'in a space between the two pigs 5. This is not shown. After the conveyance, the pipeline 1 can be flushed via the gas supplied through the line 3 or else with the aid of a cleaning liquid via the flushing line 2.

Furthermore, it is possible to proceed in such a way that the left pig 5 is flown by the first product fluid supplied through the feed line 11 into the product line 1 and undergoes a movement through the flowing first product fluid to the right in the direction of the second feed line 12.

Of course, this movement can be assisted by the linear drive as it were formed by the electromagnets 7 in conjunction with the magnetizable elements or permanent magnets 6 of the pig 5. In this process, the right of the first pig 5 possibly existing second product fluid is displaced. In this case, the second product fluid flows past the second pig 5, which is located in a local cross-sectional widened region 9 and generally releases the cross-section of the pipeline 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the pigs 5 can not be moved past each other, but this is of course provided in a variant, not shown. The newts 5 themselves have previously been introduced into the pipeline 1 via a lock (not shown). An additional end lock may provide for its removal from the pipeline 1.

In a variant, not shown, the at least one pig 5 or ideally all newts 5 is provided with a central line which leads from one end of the pig 5 to the other side of the pig 5, in the manner of a short-circuit line. This line can be closed by means of at least one valve and can be at least partially opened. In the opened state of the valve, the fluid present in the pipeline 1 can flow through the pig 5.

The arranged in the pigs 5 valves are ideally designed as a safety valve, which depends on the fluid pressure in the pipe 1 or the pressure difference, which on both sides of the pig. 5 prevails, be opened in whole or in part. This makes it possible to drive the pig against a stagnant fluid without promoting the fluid or to prevent damage to the piping system safely. In the simplest case, one or both sides of the rupture element is provided, which must be renewed after the rupture.

Claims

claims 1. A method for the treatment of fluids in pipelines (1), after which at least one pig (5) is moved inside the pipeline (1), that the pig (5) is driven without contact by means of an electromagnetic field. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pig (5) is moved by a trained as a traveling field electromagnetic field. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pig (5) is equipped with at least one magnetizable element and / or a permanent magnet (6), which or arranged with at least one on or in the pipeline (1) Electromagnet (7) interacts, or vice versa. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the magnetizable element or the permanent magnet (6) of the pig (5) is arranged largely in its longitudinal extent and in the longitudinal direction of the pipeline (1). 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pig (5) in a cross-sectional widened region (9) of the pipeline (1) moves transversely to its longitudinal extent and is held. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pig (5), the pipe (1) closes fluid-tight, so that it can be used to convey the fluid and / or for the separation of two fluids. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least two pigs (5) in the pipeline (1) are moved against each other and define in this way a preferably sealed gap of any expansion between them. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least two pigs (5) in the pipeline (1) can be moved past each other. 9. A device for the treatment of fluids in pipelines (1), in particular fluid mixtures of, for example, a product fluid and a cleaning fluid and / or two or more product fluids, preferably for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, with at least one in the interior the pipeline (1) movable pig (5), characterized in that means (6, 7) for generating an electromagnetic field for the non-contact drive of the pig (5) are provided. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the means (6, 7) on the one hand at least switchable electromagnet (7) and on the other hand at least one magnetizable element and / or a permanent magnet (6) are formed, on the one hand in or on the Pig (5) and on the other in or on the pipeline (1) are arranged. 11. The device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one pig (5) comprises a central line which leads from one end of the pig (5) to the other side of the pig (5), which by means of at least one valve can be closed and at least partially opened so that the fluid present in the pipe (1) can flow through the pig (5) with the valve open. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the valve is a safety valve which opens depending on the fluid pressure in the pipe (1) or the pressure difference, which prevails on both sides of the pig 5, completely or partially. 13. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one pig (5) comprises a central line which leads from one end of the pig (5) to the other side of the pig (5), which contains by means of at least one bursting element, which closes the line in regular operation. 14. Use of a non-contact drivable by an electromagnetic field pig (5) as a separating and / or conveying element for by pipelines (1) guided fluids.