Purging system for use with a gas sampling system
AssigneePGI International, Ltd.
InventorSpencer M. Nimberger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A combination purging system and sampling system is provided for sampling gas from a pipeline. A flow path 40 provides fluid communication between a sample bottle 45 and the pipeline. The sample bottle 45 is initially filled with an inert gas for purging air from the flow path 40 and venting to atmosphere. A supply valve 24 controls flow between the pipeline and the flow path 40, and a bleed valve 35 controls venting from the flow path 40 to atmosphere. The relationship and positioning between the valves and the flow path prevents condensation from entering the sampled gas while purging and sampling.
Claims15
A purging system used in conjunction with a sampling system along a gas pipeline, the sampling system including a sample bottle for storing samples of gas from the pipeline, the purging system comprising:
- a purge block defining a flow path for fluid communication between the pipeline, the sample bottle, and atmosphere, the purge block being a unitarian homogeneous material block;
- a supply valve supported on the purge block and positioned along the flow path for controlling flow between the gas pipeline, the sample bottle and a bleed valve;
- a bottle valve for controlling flow between the purge block and the sample bottle;
- the bleed valve supported on the purge block and positioned along the flow path for venting to atmosphere;
- the bleed valve and a bleed portion of the flow path are positioned below the supply valve, such that fluid condensation about the supply valve flows through the bleed portion toward the bleed valve;
- and;
- the sample bottle containing a selected inert gas for purging air from the purge block and subsequently receiving the samples of gas from the pipeline.
A method of purging air from a sampling system prior to sampling gas from a gas pipeline, the sampling system including a sample bottle with a bottle valve the sample bottle for storing gas from the pipeline, the method comprising:
- providing a flow path for fluid communication between the pipeline, the sample bottle, and atmosphere;
- positioning a supply valve along the flow path for controlling flow between the gas pipeline, the sample bottle and a bleed valve;
- positioning the bleed valve along the flow path for venting gas from the flow path;
- positioning the bleed valve and a bleed portion of the flow path below the supply valve, such that fluid condensation about the supply valve flows through the bleed portion toward the bleed valve;
- filling the sample bottle with a selected inert gas;
- attaching the sample bottle along the flow path;
- closing the supply valve, opening the bottle valve, and opening the bleed valve to purge air from the sampling system;
- and
- closing the bleed valve and opening the supply valve to pass sampling gas from the pipeline to the sample bottle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.