US 2002/0157705 A1Published application

Method of draining condensate and condensate drain device

AssigneeBeko Technologies GmbH

InventorsHerbert Schlensker, Berthold Koch

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Abstract

The invention relates to a method of draining condensate from a reservoir that communicates with a trap via a drain pipe. The reservoir is subjected to a gas pressure p(reservoir) that can be below atmospheric pressure p(air) or above atmospheric pressure p(air). The method involves the following steps: a) collecting condensate in the reservoir, b) acquiring the fill level by means of a level meter, c) providing a control pressure p(control) which, in any operating conditions of the compressed gas system, is above the pressure p(reservoir) in the reservoir and above atmospheric pressure p(air), d) providing, under control, a control conduit input of an exhaust valve, which is assigned to the reservoir and is intended to drain the condensate collected in the reservoir, with a pressure p(input).

Claims13

Dependent claims

1) a method for draining off condensate from a reservoir, said reservoir being part of a compressed gas system condensate produced in the compressed gas system (4.1) being collected in said reservoir, said reservoir being connected via an exhaust valve to the the atmosphere, said reservoir (6.1) being under a gas pressure p(reservoir) which gas pressure p(reservoir) may be, depending on the operating condition of the compressed gas system, a negative pressure p(negative) below atmospheric pressure p(air), an excess pressure p(excess) above atmospheric pressure p(air) or the atmospheric pressure p(air), the method involving the following steps:

a) allowing condensate to collect in the reservoir,
b) providing a level meter and an electronics unit attached thereto and acquiring the fill level of condensate in the reservoir (6.1) by means of a said level meter (21) and an said electronics unit,
c) providing a control pressure p(control) which, in any operating conditions of the compressed gas system, is above the pressure p(reservoir) in the reservoir and above atmospheric pressure p(air),
d) providing a pressure p(input) at a control conduit input of the exhaust valve, said the pressure p(input)
i) substantially corresponding to the control pressure p(control) when the maximum fill level in the reservoir has not yet been reached or exceeded,
ii) substantially corresponding to the atmospheric pressure p(air) when the maximum fill level in the reservoir is reached or exceeded,
and wherein the valve-position of the exhaust valve being determined by the pressure p(reservoir) in the reservoir, the pressure p(input) at the control conduit input, and a threshold value P,
the exhaust valve
iii) being closed when the pressure p(input) is above the sum of the pressure p(reservoir) in the reservoir plus the threshold value P and
iv) being opened when the pressure p(input) is below the sum of the pressure p(reservoir) in the reservoir plus the threshold value P.

7 more elements

A condensate drain device for draining off condensate from a reservoir in which condensate produced in a compressed gas system is collected, said reservoir being subjected to a gas pressure p(reservoir) that, depending on the operating condition of the compressed gas system, is a negative pressure below atmospheric pressure p(air), a excess pressure p(excess) above atmospheric pressure p(air) or the atmospheric pressure p(air), the condensate drain device being provided with the following component parts:

a) a level meter for acquiring the fill level of condensate in the (6.1), reservoir,
b) a control valve for delivering a control pressure p(control) to the condensate drain device, said control pressure being above the pressure in the reservoir p(reservoir) under any operating conditions of the compressed gas system, i.e.,
p(control)>p(reservoir),
and in any case however above atmospheric pressure p(air), said control valve being arranged in a control conduit, said control valve controlling the flow of gas under the control pressure p(control) through the control conduit,
c) an exhaust valve for discharging condensate from the reservoir said exhaust valve connecting the reservoir with the atmosphere, the exhaust valve having a control conduit input, the control conduit input being connected to the control conduit, the control pressure p(control) substantially prevailing at the control conduit input when the control valve is open,
d) a venting valve arranged in the control conduit(23) between the control valve and the control conduit input said venting valve venting the control conduit between control valve(22) and the control conduit input(241),
when the control valve is closed,
e) an electronics unit for interpreting the signal of the level meter said electronics unit being connected with the control valve and closing the control valve when the maximum fill level in the reservoir has been reached or exceeded,
said exhaust valve providing two positions of control, said positions of control being:
i) a locking position for condensate when the pressure p(input) prevailing at the control conduit input is higher than the sum of the pressure prevailing in the reservoir p(reservoir) plus a preset threshold value P, and
ii) a flow through position for condensate when the pressure prevailing at the control conduit input p(input) is lower than the sum of the pressure prevailing in the reservoir p(reservoir) plus threshold value P.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/172,237Filed 14 Jun 2002
Priority: DE 199 60 937.317 Dec 1999
Published: 31 Oct 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F16T 1/00
Steam traps or like apparatus for draining-off liquids from enclosures predominantly containing
Y10T 137/0324
Processes: with control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
Y10T 137/3024
Discriminating outlet for liquid: with alternately operated inlet and outlet valves
Y10T 137/3052
With fluid responsive valve: level responsive