EP0563554B1 - Method and installation for elimination of mercury from contaminated pipes and parts of installation, especially of mercury which comes from natural gas - Google Patents
Method and installation for elimination of mercury from contaminated pipes and parts of installation, especially of mercury which comes from natural gas Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0563554B1 EP0563554B1 EP93102309A EP93102309A EP0563554B1 EP 0563554 B1 EP0563554 B1 EP 0563554B1 EP 93102309 A EP93102309 A EP 93102309A EP 93102309 A EP93102309 A EP 93102309A EP 0563554 B1 EP0563554 B1 EP 0563554B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- pipe
- inert gas
- mercury
- cleaned
- line
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 72
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 63
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims abstract description 58
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 36
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 31
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 title claims abstract 12
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 title 1
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 title 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 86
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000011049 filling Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 150000002731 mercury compounds Chemical class 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000005336 cracking Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 9
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000010079 rubber tapping Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000002244 precipitate Substances 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002920 hazardous waste Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910000497 Amalgam Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 241001156002 Anthonomus pomorum Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010426 asphalt Substances 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004821 distillation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003912 environmental pollution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011010 flushing procedure Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002574 poison Substances 0.000 description 1
- 231100000614 poison Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002994 raw material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
- B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
- B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
- B08B9/032—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B7/00—Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B43/00—Obtaining mercury
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B2230/00—Other cleaning aspects applicable to all B08B range
- B08B2230/01—Cleaning with steam
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/0318—Processes
- Y10T137/0402—Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
- Y10T137/0419—Fluid cleaning or flushing
Definitions
- the invention relates to methods and plants for the removal of mercury from natural gas pipes and natural gas transport system parts for the processing and transportation of natural gas.
- mercury vapors are also discharged with the extracted natural gas from natural gas deposits, which are reflected in the pipes and system parts as mercury.
- Mercury vapors as a contaminant in natural gas occur only to a very small extent, with years of use of the natural gas pipelines there are mercury and mercury compounds in such quantities that the pipes must not be melted down due to environmental, occupational and consumer protection reasons because the pipes are scrapped that mercury, rising in vapor form in the ambient air, would sustainably poison the atmosphere.
- DE-C-36 09 517 has disclosed a system consisting of an oven space and a condenser in which materials contaminated with mercury in an oven space Heating can be freed of mercury to form mercury vapor, which is discharged from the furnace chamber while flushing the material to be cleaned with air and fed to a condenser in which the mercury is condensed at low temperature.
- the invention consists in a first embodiment in that the line is broken down into pipe sections by cold cuts, that after each cut the pipe section is lifted into an inclined or vertical position and the contents of the pipe section of solids and liquids can flow out into a vessel placed under the lower pipe end, that then both ends of the pipe section are closed by stoppers and the pipe section is transported to an evaporation station, in which the pipe section is filled with inert gas in the stopper, the pipe section filled with inert gas is heated, thereby splitting existing mercury compounds and evaporating the existing mercury, and transferring the heated inert gas containing mercury vapor to a condenser in which the inert gas containing mercury vapor is cooled until the mercury precipitates out of the inert gas.
- the procedure is carried out in such a way that the pipe section is previously evacuated for the inert gas filling in order to remove oxygen from the pipe section as far as possible.
- Nitrogen is advantageously used as the inert gas.
- the inert gas filling is kept under negative pressure, at least while the tube is being heated.
- the tube piece is heated by heat brought in from outside to above the vaporization temperature of the mercury and then the inert gas filling of the tube is preferably changed several times to mercury-free inert gas in a cycle and fed to the condenser.
- the pipe section is heated to above the evaporation temperature by introduced hot inert gas, that is, it supplies the heat with the inert gas from the inside to the pipe, which has the advantage that the inner wall of the pipe on which the mercury to be discharged is located , more heated is called the outer tube wall.
- the inert gas is moved through the tube many times in a circuit and is heated outside the tube to be cleaned before it is sucked out of the circuit and fed to the condenser.
- An essentially U-shaped or C-shaped pipe arrangement is used for this purpose, between the ends of which the pipe to be cleaned is clamped and which has heating devices for the inert gas in its interior.
- Such a heating device could also be accommodated inside the pipe to be cleaned.
- a cleaning device is evacuated and replaced by inert gas, that the tube is heated in sections and flushed with the inert gas, preferably under reduced pressure, after which the mercury vapor present in the inert gas withdrawn by condensation.
- the heating device is expediently mounted on a trolley which is moved along the natural gas line to be cleaned.
- the procedure is expediently such that the inert gas is allowed to migrate in the pipe to be cleaned in the direction in which the heating device is moved. In this way it is achieved that mercury cannot precipitate again in the cleaned pipe section. You only need to heat a short piece of pipe intensively in this way.
- the system according to the invention for removing mercury from contaminated pipes and system parts like the device for removing mercury from solid materials known from DE-C-36 09 517, has a heating device, a condenser, a circulation pump device and pipelines connecting these units to one another.
- the system of the present invention is essentially different in that an inert gas storage and an evacuation device are used for the removal of mercury from natural gas pipeline pipes and parts of natural gas transport systems are provided in the system, which are connected to one another and the above-mentioned units by pipelines in such a way that the pipe to be cleaned or the natural gas transport system part to be cleaned can be inserted as a line part.
- the heating device from an oven surrounding the pipe section to be cleaned, or from an inert gas heater to be inserted into the pipe section to be cleaned, or from an inert gas heater arranged outside the pipe section to be cleaned or from a burner surrounding the pipe section to be cleaned or from a burner with electric current or electromagnetic wave operated heating device. It is also possible to use superheated steam.
- an inert gas ring line in which a device for inserting the pipe to be cleaned and the heating device are arranged and to which a stub line is arranged which leads to the condenser.
- the stub line is also a ring line which is connected to the inert gas ring line at two points.
- Pipes 2 to be cleaned are stored on bearing stands 1 and are closed at their ends by plugs 3 and lead into the connecting pieces 4 to which inert gas lines are connected.
- the vacuum pump 7, via which the pipes are evacuated, is connected to the inert gas line 5 via a branch line 6.
- the inert gas source 9 is connected via a spur line 8.
- the stub lines 6, 8 can be connected to the inert gas line 5 by valves 10.
- This natural gas line 5 is guided in a ring over a condenser 11, in which the mercury vapors are precipitated into liquid mercury.
- In the ring line there is also a blower 12 with which the inert gas flow is circulated in the ring line 5. Heated the inert gas and the tubes 2 through a warm air oven 13, which is movable on rails 14 over the stand 1 packed with tubes 2.
- two storage stands are provided, one is visible on the drawing, the warm air oven is driven over the other.
- the inert gas is cooled to such a depth in the condenser 11 that the mercury precipitates.
- the inert gas thus leaves the condenser 11 at a low temperature.
- a heat exchanger 15, 16 now serves this purpose, in the part 15 of which the temperature of the inert gas entering the condenser 11 is cooled down, while in the heat exchanger part 16 the heat released in the heat exchanger part 15 is added to the inert gas leaving the condenser when it is cooled. Since this is only possible to a limited extent, the heat exchanger part 16 is followed by a heating device 17.
- valves can be operated 18,19,20,21 provided.
- the right workplace is connected to the inert gas ring line 5 connected.
- the valves 18 and 19 are closed so that inert gas can no longer flow through the pipes at the other work station.
- valves 18, 19 are closed, the pipes are allowed to cool first, the plugs 3 are then removed on both sides, the treated pipes are removed and replaced by pipes to be treated, these are closed by the plugs 3 and thus prepared the next operation, which is initiated by closing the valves 20, 21, opening the valves 18, 19 and pushing the warm air oven 13 over the work station with the valves 18, 19 open.
- the tubes 2 are not heated from the outside with a warm air oven, but from the inside by means of a strongly heated inert gas.
- two stacks I, II are provided, which are mutually subjected to the treatment. If batch I is treated with hot inert gas, the tubes of batch II cool down and are exchanged for tubes to be treated. Valves 18, 19, 20, 21 are also provided here in order to introduce only one tube stack into the treatment process at a time.
- This treatment method of heating from the inside by the inert gas has the advantage that all mercury has already evaporated when the outer wall of tube 2 exceeds the vaporization temperature of mercury.
- This method can be carried out in an energetically favorable manner if the pipeline system is in two circles is divided: a circle with the pipe 41 leading to the stack, the pipe 42 coming from the stack and a pipe 40 connecting these two pipes, in which a heating device 38 and a fan 22 are provided.
- a second pipe circuit 23 runs parallel to the pipe 20 and can be connected to the two ends of the line 40 via valves 24.
- the condenser 11, the blower 12 and the heat exchanger 15, 16 are located in this second pipe circuit 23.
- an inert gas source 9 and a vacuum pump 7 are connected to the pipe network.
- a valve 25 is used to shut off line 40.
- the lines 40, 23 are operated alternately, ie when the line 40 is closed by the valve 25, the valves 24 are open, while the valve 25 is open when the valves 24 are closed.
- This device works as follows: When the valve 25 is open and the valves 24 are closed, the system is preferably emptied of air by the vacuum pump 7 with the valve 10 open, preferably via cleaning devices. At the same time, when the valve 10 is open, inert gas is introduced into the line from the inert gas source 9 until all air has been replaced by inert gas. Then the inert gas heating 38 is switched on. The blower 22 presses the hot inert gas into the pipes 2 to be cleaned. The inert gas emerges from the pipes via line 19 and arrives again through the opened valve 25 Heating device 38. This process is continued until the outside temperature of the tubes 2 has exceeded the vaporization temperature of mercury.
- the inert gas is thus pumped in constant circulation through the pipes and through the heating device in a constant cycle. If the vaporization temperature of mercury is exceeded on the outside of the tubes, the heating device 38 is stopped and the valve 25 is closed, but the valves 24 are opened. Now, in a circuit, pressed by the blower 12, the hot inert gas flows through the heat exchanger part 15 into the condenser 11. There the vaporous mercury condenses as a liquid. The cooled inert gas is sucked in by the blower 12 and pressed through the heat exchanger part 16. Here, the inert gas is heated again and returns in the circuit through line 41 to the pipes 2 to be cleaned. This process can be carried out repeatedly.
- the pipe 2 to be treated is also closed with a plug 3.
- These plugs carry connecting pieces 26 for the inert gas line 5.
- the blower 12, the heat exchanger 15, 16 and a heating device 17 are arranged.
- the vacuum pump 7 and the inert gas source 9 are also connected to this line.
- the heating device 17 is of low power. This is because the main part of the heating is supplied by a pipe 3 installed in the plug 3 protruding heating device 27.
- the tube 2 is placed on foundations 28.
- FIG. 4 shows an example in which an underground gas line 29 treats becomes.
- an assembly pit 30 has been excavated from the ground, the natural gas line 29 is drilled at two points and provided with tapping clips 31.
- Shut-off devices for example shut-off bubbles, have been installed in the interior of the natural gas line 29 through these tapping clamps 31.
- These tapping saddles 31 have connecting pieces 32 for a hose line 33 which leads to the inert gas treatment chamber 34 on the vehicle 35.
- the condenser, blower, heat exchanger, heating device, vacuum pump and inert gas source are accommodated.
- the natural gas line 29 is heated by a heat source mounted on a vehicle 36.
- the direction of flow of the inert gas indicated by an arrow on the natural gas line is the same as the direction of travel of the vehicle 36 with the heat source 37.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Treating Waste Gases (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
- Solid-Sorbent Or Filter-Aiding Compositions (AREA)
- Vaporization, Distillation, Condensation, Sublimation, And Cold Traps (AREA)
- Gas Separation By Absorption (AREA)
- Cleaning In General (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Die Erfindung betrifft Verfahren und Anlagen zur Entfernung von Quecksilber aus Erdgasleitungsrohren und Erdgastransportanlagenteilen für die Aufbereitung und den Transport von Erdgas.The invention relates to methods and plants for the removal of mercury from natural gas pipes and natural gas transport system parts for the processing and transportation of natural gas.
Es hat sich gezeigt, daß mit dem geförderten Erdgas aus Erdgaslagerstätten auch Quecksilberdämpfe ausgetragen werden, welche sich in den Rohren und Anlagenteilen als Quecksilber niederschlagen. Quecksilberdämpfe als Verunreinigung im Erdgas treten nur in äußerst geringem Umfang auf, bei einer jahrelangen Benutzung der Erdgasleitungen finden sich Quecksilber und Quecksilberverbindungen in solchen Mengen, daß bei einer Verschrottung der Leitungen die Rohre aus Umwelt- und Arbeits- und Verbraucherschutzgründen nicht eingeschmolzen werden dürfen, weil das beim Einschmelzen in die Umgebungsluft dampfförmig aufsteigende Quecksilber die Atmosphäre nachhaltig vergiften würde.It has been shown that mercury vapors are also discharged with the extracted natural gas from natural gas deposits, which are reflected in the pipes and system parts as mercury. Mercury vapors as a contaminant in natural gas occur only to a very small extent, with years of use of the natural gas pipelines there are mercury and mercury compounds in such quantities that the pipes must not be melted down due to environmental, occupational and consumer protection reasons because the pipes are scrapped that mercury, rising in vapor form in the ambient air, would sustainably poison the atmosphere.
Daher besteht dort, wo nicht von vornherein beim Eintritt der Rohgase in die Anlagen Quecksilberdämpfe ausgefiltert wurden, die Notwendigkeit, Rohrleitungen und Anlagenteile zu reinigen. Diese Notwendigkeit tritt nicht nur dort auf, wo alte Erdgasleitungen zu entsorgen sind, sondern auch dort, wo noch brauchbare Erdgasleitungen weiterverwendet werden sollen. Denn überall dort, wo an diesen Leitungen gearbeitet wird, sei es daß Abgangsstutzen eingeschweißt werden sollen, sei es, daß sonstige Reparaturarbeiten ausgeführt werden müssen, immer besteht die Gefahr von Gesundheitsschädigungen für die Personen vor Ort und die Gefahr von Umweltverschmutzungen.Therefore, where mercury vapors were not filtered out from the start when the raw gases entered the plants, there is a need to clean the pipes and plant parts. This need arises not only where old natural gas lines have to be disposed of, but also where useful natural gas lines are to continue to be used. Because wherever work is being done on these lines, whether it is to weld in outlet connections or to carry out other repair work, there is always the risk of health damage to the people on site and the risk of environmental pollution.
Seit alters her gewinnt man Quecksilber durch Verdampfen und anschließende Destillation aus dem Quecksilberdämpfe enthaltenden Gas. Dieses Verfahren wendet man auch zur Reinigung von quecksilberhaltigem Müll an, weil man wegen ihres Quecksilbergehaltes, wie z.B. Leuchtstofflampen, Batterien, zerbrochene Thermometer oder in der zahnärztlichen Praxis anfallende Amalgamreste sonst nur auf Sondermülldeponien ablagern kann. Um die Konzentration des Quecksilbers bei diesen Abfällen zu verringern und eine Ablagerung auf Sondermülldeponien zu vermeiden, ist durch die DE-C-36 09 517 eine aus einem Ofenraum und einem Kondensator bestehende Anlage bekannt geworden, in der in einem Ofenraum mit Quecksilber kontaminierte Materialien durch Erhitzung vom Quecksilber unter Bildung von Quecksilberdampf befreit werden, welcher unter Durchspülung des zu reinigenden Materiales mit Luft aus dem Ofenraum ausgetragen wird und einem Kondensator zugeführt wird, in welchem bei niedriger Temperatur das Quecksilber kondensiert wird. Das auf diese Weise vom Quecksilber wieder befreite Gas wird im Kreislauf erneut dem Ofenraum zugeführt. In den Ofenraum wird das zu reinigende Material in zerkleinertem Zustand aufgegeben, die Leuchtstofflampen werden zerbrochen, die Batterien ebenso wie die Thermometer mechanisch zerkleinert. Dieses Verfahren kann man überall dort anwenden, wo dem Ofenraum solche Materialien zugeführt werden, die bei ihrer Erhitzung lediglich Quecksilber, nicht aber andere Stoffe verdampfen und vergasen lassen.Since ancient times, mercury has been obtained by vaporization and subsequent distillation from the gas containing mercury vapors. This process is also used for cleaning mercury-containing waste, because due to its mercury content, such as fluorescent lamps, batteries, broken thermometers or amalgam residues generated in dental practice, it is otherwise only possible to deposit it in hazardous waste disposal sites. In order to reduce the concentration of mercury in these wastes and to avoid deposition on hazardous waste landfills, DE-C-36 09 517 has disclosed a system consisting of an oven space and a condenser in which materials contaminated with mercury in an oven space Heating can be freed of mercury to form mercury vapor, which is discharged from the furnace chamber while flushing the material to be cleaned with air and fed to a condenser in which the mercury is condensed at low temperature. That way from mercury again Released gas is returned to the furnace chamber in the circuit. The material to be cleaned is placed in the furnace chamber in a shredded state, the fluorescent lamps are broken, the batteries and the thermometer are mechanically shredded. This method can be used wherever materials are supplied to the furnace chamber which, when heated, only vaporize mercury, but not other substances, and allow them to gasify.
Aus diesem Grunde kann man Rohre aus Erdgasleitungen in dieser Weise nicht reinigen, denn die Rohre von Erdgasleitungen weisen außen korrosionshindernde Beschichtungen auf, die auf der Basis von Kunststoffen, Asphalt und ähnlichen Materialien aufgebaut sind. Diese Materialien würden unter dem Einfluß der Hitze verdampfen und sich zersetzen und würden dann bei ihrer Ablagerung im Kondensator diesen nach kurzer Betriebsdauer unbrauchbar machen.For this reason, pipes from natural gas pipes cannot be cleaned in this way, because the pipes of natural gas pipes have corrosion-preventing coatings on the outside, which are based on plastics, asphalt and similar materials. These materials would evaporate and decompose under the influence of heat and would then render them unusable after a short period of operation when they were deposited in the condenser.
Es ist daher die Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung, Möglichkeiten zur Entfernung von Quecksilber und Quecksilberverbindungen aus kontaminierten Rohren und Anlagenteilen zu schaffen, die mit möglichst geringem Aufwand und einfachen Mitteln durchgeführt werden können.It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide possibilities for removing mercury and mercury compounds from contaminated pipes and plant parts, which can be carried out with as little effort and simple means as possible.
Die Erfindung besteht in einer ersten Ausführungsform darin, daß man die Leitung durch kalt ausgeführte Schnitte in Rohrstücke zerlegt, daß man nach jedem Schnitt das abgeschnittene Rohrstück in eine Schräg- oder Vertikallage anhebt und den Inhalt des Rohrstückes an Fest- und Flüssigstoffen in ein unter das niedrigere Rohrende gestelltes Gefäß auslaufen läßt, daß man dann beide Enden des Rohrstückes durch Stopfen verschließt und das Rohrstück zu einer Ausdampfstation transportiert, in der man durch Leitungsstutzen in den Stopfen das Rohrstück mit Inertgas füllt, das mit Inertgas gefüllte Rohrstück erhitzt und dabei vorhandene Quecksilberverbindungen spaltet und das vorhandene Quecksilber verdampft, und daß man das erhitzte, Quecksilberdampf enthaltende Inertgas in einen Kondensator überführt, in dem man das quecksilberdampfhaltige Inertgas so weit abkühlt, bis das Quecksilber aus dem Inertgas ausfällt.The invention consists in a first embodiment in that the line is broken down into pipe sections by cold cuts, that after each cut the pipe section is lifted into an inclined or vertical position and the contents of the pipe section of solids and liquids can flow out into a vessel placed under the lower pipe end, that then both ends of the pipe section are closed by stoppers and the pipe section is transported to an evaporation station, in which the pipe section is filled with inert gas in the stopper, the pipe section filled with inert gas is heated, thereby splitting existing mercury compounds and evaporating the existing mercury, and transferring the heated inert gas containing mercury vapor to a condenser in which the inert gas containing mercury vapor is cooled until the mercury precipitates out of the inert gas.
Mit diesem Verfahren gelingt es, Quecksilber aus den Erdgasleitungsrohren und Anlagenteilen bis auf nicht mehr nachweisbare Reste zu entfernen und das Quecksilber als Rohstoff wieder zu gewinnen.With this process it is possible to remove mercury from the natural gas pipes and plant parts, down to undetectable residues, and to recover the mercury as a raw material.
Bei diesem Vorgehen kommen die Quecksilberdämpfe aus dem Inneren der Rohre heraustragende Gase nicht mit solchen Gasen in Berührung, die die Außenseite der Rohre umspülen. Daher enthalten die aus dem Inneren der Rohre austretenden und dem Kondensator zugeführten Gase lediglich Quecksilberdämpfe, nicht aber Abbrandprodukte, Dämpfe und Gase von Korrosionsschutzummantelungen der Rohre. Hierdurch wird bei Verwendung eines Inertgases zum Durchspülen der zu reinigenden Rohre erreicht, daß im Kondensator Quecksilber eines guten Reinheitsgrades erhalten wird.In this procedure, the gases that carry mercury vapors out of the interior of the tubes do not come into contact with gases that wash around the outside of the tubes. For this reason, the gases emerging from the interior of the tubes and supplied to the condenser only contain mercury vapors, but not combustion products, vapors and gases from corrosion protection jackets of the tubes. When using an inert gas to flush the pipes to be cleaned, this results in mercury of a good purity being obtained in the condenser.
Bei der Ausführung dieses Verfahrens ist es zweckmäßig, wenn man die Inertgasfüllung des Rohres mehrmals wechselt, vorzugsweise im Kreislaufbetrieb. Dann geht man sicher, daß auch der letzte Rest von Quecksilberdampf aus dem Rohr ausgetragen wird.When carrying out this method, it is expedient if the inert gas filling of the tube is changed several times, preferably in a cycle. Then you make sure that the last remaining mercury vapor is also discharged from the pipe.
Vorteilhaft ist es, wenn man bei der Durchführung des Verfahrens so vorgeht, daß man für die Inertgasfüllung das Rohrstück zuvor evakuiert, um so weit wie möglich Sauerstoff aus dem Rohrstück zu entfernen. Als Inertgas benutzt man zweckmäßigerweise Stickstoff. Energetisch ist es vorteilhaft für die Durchführung des Verfahrens, daß man zumindest während der Erhitzung des Rohres die Inertgasfüllung unter Unterdruck hält.It is advantageous if the procedure is carried out in such a way that the pipe section is previously evacuated for the inert gas filling in order to remove oxygen from the pipe section as far as possible. Nitrogen is advantageously used as the inert gas. In terms of energy, it is advantageous for the implementation of the method that the inert gas filling is kept under negative pressure, at least while the tube is being heated.
Zur Durchführung des Verfahrens gibt es die Möglichkeit, daß man das Rohrstück durch von außen herangetragene Wärme bis über die Verdampfungstemperatur des Quecksilbers erhitzt und dann die Inertgasfüllung des Rohres vorzugsweise mehrmals gegen quecksilberdampffreies Inertgas im Kreislaufbetrieb wechselt und dem Kondensator zuführt.To carry out the method, there is the possibility that the tube piece is heated by heat brought in from outside to above the vaporization temperature of the mercury and then the inert gas filling of the tube is preferably changed several times to mercury-free inert gas in a cycle and fed to the condenser.
Es besteht aber auch die Möglichkeit, daß man das Rohrstück durch eingebrachtes heißes Inertgas bis über die Verdampfungstemperatur erhitzt, also die Wärme mit dem Inertgas von innnen her dem Rohr zuführt, was den Vorteil hat, daß die Rohrinnenwandung, an der das auszutragende Quecksilber befindlich ist, stärker erhitzt wird als die Rohraußenwandung.However, there is also the possibility that the pipe section is heated to above the evaporation temperature by introduced hot inert gas, that is, it supplies the heat with the inert gas from the inside to the pipe, which has the advantage that the inner wall of the pipe on which the mercury to be discharged is located , more heated is called the outer tube wall.
Bei dieser Ausführungsform des Verfahrens ist es zweckmäßig, wenn man das Inertgas in einem Kreislauf viele Male durch das Rohr bewegt und es dabei außerhalb des zu reinigenden Rohres erhitzt, bevor man es aus dem Kreislauf absaugt und dem Kondensator zuführt. Hierzu dient eine im wesentlichen U- oder C-förmige Rohrleitungsanordnung, zwischen deren Enden das zu reinigende Rohr eingespannt wird und die in ihrem Inneren Erhitzungsvorrichtungen für das Inertgas aufweist.In this embodiment of the method, it is expedient if the inert gas is moved through the tube many times in a circuit and is heated outside the tube to be cleaned before it is sucked out of the circuit and fed to the condenser. An essentially U-shaped or C-shaped pipe arrangement is used for this purpose, between the ends of which the pipe to be cleaned is clamped and which has heating devices for the inert gas in its interior.
Eine solche Erhitzungsvorrichtung könnte auch im Inneren des zu reinigenden Rohres untergebracht werden.Such a heating device could also be accommodated inside the pipe to be cleaned.
Die auf diese Weise gereinigten Rohrstücke können je nach ihrem Erhaltungszustand entweder wiederverwendet werden oder problemlos als Schrott eingeschmolzen werden.Depending on their condition, the pipe sections cleaned in this way can either be reused or easily melted down as scrap.
Will man vorhandene Erdgasleitungen für eine Weiterbenutzung reinigen ohne daß man die Leitung auseinanderschneidet, geht man zweckmäßigerweise nach einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung so vor, daß man die Rohrleitung zu beiden Seiten der zu reinigenden Rohrstrecke absperrt, daß man die Gase aus der abgesperrten Rohrstrecke vorzugsweise über eine Reinigungsvorrichtung evakuiert und durch Inertgas ersetzt, daß man das Rohr abschnittweise erhitzt und dabei mit dem Inertgas vorzugsweise unter Unterdruck spült, wonach man dem Inertgas den in ihm vorhandenen Quecksilberdampf durch Kondensation entzieht. Zweckmäßigerweise wird hierbei die Erhitzungsvorrichtung auf einem Wagen montiert, der entlang der zu reinigenden Erdgasleitung bewegt wird.If you want to clean existing natural gas lines for further use without cutting the line apart, you expediently proceed according to a second embodiment of the invention in such a way that the pipe is shut off on both sides of the pipe section to be cleaned, that the gases from the blocked pipe section are preferably transferred a cleaning device is evacuated and replaced by inert gas, that the tube is heated in sections and flushed with the inert gas, preferably under reduced pressure, after which the mercury vapor present in the inert gas withdrawn by condensation. In this case, the heating device is expediently mounted on a trolley which is moved along the natural gas line to be cleaned.
Bei der Ausführung dieses Verfahrens geht man zweckmäßigerweise so vor, daß man das Inertgas in derjenigen Richtung im zu reinigenden Rohr wandern läßt, in der man die Erwärmungsvorrichtung bewegt. Auf diese Weise wird erreicht, daß im gereinigten Rohrstück sich nicht Quecksilber erneut niederschlagen kann. Man braucht auf diese Weise auch immer nur ein kurzes Rohrstück intensiv zu erwärmen.When carrying out this method, the procedure is expediently such that the inert gas is allowed to migrate in the pipe to be cleaned in the direction in which the heating device is moved. In this way it is achieved that mercury cannot precipitate again in the cleaned pipe section. You only need to heat a short piece of pipe intensively in this way.
In allen Fällen ist es zweckmäßig, wenn man vor der Wärmebehandlung die Rohrisolierung entfernt und eine neue nach der Behandlung wieder aufbringt, wenn das Rohr bzw. die Rohrstücke erdverlegt weiterverwendet werden sollen.In all cases, it is advisable to remove the pipe insulation before the heat treatment and to re-apply a new one after the treatment if the pipe or the pipe sections are to be used underground.
Die erfindungsgemäße Anlage zur Entfernung von Quecksilber aus kontaminierten Rohren und Anlagenteilen weist ebenso wie die aus der DE-C-36 09 517 bekannte Einrichtung zur Entfernung von Quecksilber von festen Materialien eine Erhitzungsvorrichtung, einen Kondensator, eine Umwälzpumpvorrichtung und diese Aggregate miteinander verbindende Rohrleitungen auf. Wesentlich anders ist die Anlage der vorliegenden Erfindung dadurch, daß für die Entfernung von Quecksilber aus Erdgasleitungsrohren und Erdgastransportanlagenteilen ein Inertgaslager und eine Evakuierungsvorrichtung in der Anlage vorgesehen sind, die derart miteinander und den oben genannten Aggregaten durch Rohrleitungen verbunden sind, daß das zu reinigende Rohr oder der zu reinigende Erdgastransportanlagenteil als Leitungsteil eingefügt werden kann.The system according to the invention for removing mercury from contaminated pipes and system parts, like the device for removing mercury from solid materials known from DE-C-36 09 517, has a heating device, a condenser, a circulation pump device and pipelines connecting these units to one another. The system of the present invention is essentially different in that an inert gas storage and an evacuation device are used for the removal of mercury from natural gas pipeline pipes and parts of natural gas transport systems are provided in the system, which are connected to one another and the above-mentioned units by pipelines in such a way that the pipe to be cleaned or the natural gas transport system part to be cleaned can be inserted as a line part.
Wesentlich ist hier, daß das zu reinigende Rohr nicht zerkleinert zu werden braucht, sondern daß das Rohr als Ganzes in die Inertgas führende Ringleitung der Anlage eingebaut wird, also einen Bestandteil dieser Ringleitung bildet. Hierdurch wird erreicht, daß zum Kondensator lediglich solche Inertgase und von diesen mitgenommene Dämpfe in den Kondensator eintreten, die aus dem Inneren des zu reinigenden Rohres stammen, wo allein sich das Quecksilber befindet.It is essential here that the pipe to be cleaned does not need to be crushed, but that the pipe as a whole is installed in the ring line of the system carrying inert gas, that is to say it forms part of this ring line. This ensures that only those inert gases and vapors carried by them enter the condenser, which originate from the interior of the pipe to be cleaned, where the mercury is alone.
Zweckmäßig ist es, wenn die Erhitzungsvorrichtung aus einem das zu reinigende Rohrstück umgebenden Ofen, oder aus einem in das zu reinigende Rohrstück einzubringenden Inertgaserhitzer, oder aus einem außerhalb des zu reinigenden Rohrstückes angeordneten Inertgaserhitzer oder aus einem das zu reinigende Rohrstück umgebenden Brenner oder aus einer mit elektrischem Strom oder elektromagnetischen Wellen betriebenen Erhitzungsvorrichtung besteht. Möglich ist auch die Verwendung von überhitztem Dampf.It is useful if the heating device from an oven surrounding the pipe section to be cleaned, or from an inert gas heater to be inserted into the pipe section to be cleaned, or from an inert gas heater arranged outside the pipe section to be cleaned or from a burner surrounding the pipe section to be cleaned or from a burner with electric current or electromagnetic wave operated heating device. It is also possible to use superheated steam.
Zweckmäßig ist die Verwendung einer Inertgasringleitung, in welcher eine Vorrichtung zum Einfügen des zu reinigenden Rohres und die Erhitzungsvorrichtung angeordnet sind und an die eine Stichleitung angeordnet ist, die zum Kondensator führt.It is expedient to use an inert gas ring line in which a device for inserting the pipe to be cleaned and the heating device are arranged and to which a stub line is arranged which leads to the condenser.
Hierbei ist es zweckmäßig, wenn die Stichleitung ebenfalls eine Ringleitung ist, welche an zwei Stellen an die Inertgasringleitung angeschlossen ist.It is expedient here if the stub line is also a ring line which is connected to the inert gas ring line at two points.
Das Wesen der vorliegenden Erfindung ist nachstehend anhand von in der Zeichnung schematisch dargestellten Ausführungsbeispielen näher erläutert. Es zeigen:
- Fig. 1
- eine Reinigungsanlage mit einem verschiebbaren Ofen für aus der Leitung herausgeschnittene Rohrstücke,
- Fig. 2
- eine Reinigungsanlage, in der die Rohrstücke von innen her durch erwärmtes Inertmedium geheizt werden,
- Fig. 3
- eine Reinigungsanlage, bei der das zu reinigende Rohrstück mit einem Brenner von innen her geheizt wird,
- Fig. 4
- eine Anlage zur Reinigung von verlegten Erdgasleitungen.
- Fig. 1
- a cleaning system with a sliding oven for pipe sections cut out of the line,
- Fig. 2
- a cleaning system in which the pipe sections are heated from the inside by heated inert medium,
- Fig. 3
- a cleaning system in which the pipe section to be cleaned is heated from the inside with a burner,
- Fig. 4
- a system for cleaning installed natural gas pipelines.
Auf Lagerständern 1 sind zu reinigende Rohre 2 gelagert, welche an ihren Enden durch Stopfen 3 verschlossen sind, in die Anschlußstutzen 4 führen, an welche Inertgasleitungen angeschlossen sind. An die Inertgasleitung 5 ist über eine Stichleitung 6 die Vakuumpumpe 7 angeschlossen, über welche die Rohre evakuiert werden. Über eine Stichleitung 8 ist die Inertgasquelle 9 angeschlossen. Durch Ventile 10 sind die Stichleitungen 6,8 mit der Inertgasleitung 5 verbindbar. Diese Erdgasleitung 5 ist ringförmig über einen Kondensator 11 geführt, in welchem die Quecksilberdämpfe zu flüssigem Quecksilber niedergeschlagen werden. In der Ringleitung befindet sich weiter ein Gebläse 12, mit dem der Inertgasstrom in der Ringleitung 5 zirkuliert wird. Erhitzt werden das Inertgas und die Rohre 2 durch einen Warmluftofen 13, der auf Gleisen 14 über die mit Rohren 2 bepackten Ständer 1 fahrbar ist. Im gezeichneten Ausführungsbeispiel sind zwei Lagerständer vorgesehen, einer ist auf der Zeichnung sichtbar, über den anderen wird der Warmluftofen gefahren.
Im Kondensator 11 wird das Inertgas so tief abgekühlt, daß das Quecksilber ausfällt. Das Inertgas verläßt somit den Kondensator 11 mit einer niedrigen Temperatur. Es ist zweckmäßig, hinter den Kondensator 11 das Inertgas wieder zu erhitzen, damit es mit einer Temperatur, die höher als die Verdampfungstemperatur von Quecksilber ist, wieder in das Rohr 2 eintrtt. Hierzu dient nun ein Wärmetauscher 15, 16, in dessen Teil 15 die Temperatur des in den Kondensator 11 eintretenden Inertgases heruntergekühlt wird, während im Wärmetauscherteil 16 die im Wärmertauscherteil 15 freigewordene Wärme dem den Kondensator gekühlt verlassenden Inertgas wieder zuge-fügt wird. Da dieses nur in einem begrenzten Maße möglich ist, ist dem Wärmetauscherteil 16 eine Erhitzungsvorrichtung 17 nachgeschaltet. Um die beiden mit Ständern 1 und Anschlußstutzen 4 ausgestatteten Arbeitsplätze, auf denen jeweils mehrere Rohre 2 gleichzeitig behandelt werden, wechselseitig benutzen zu können, indem man entweder über den einen Arbeitsplatz oder über den anderen Arbeitsplatz den Warmluftofen 13 schiebt, betreiben zu können, sind Ventile 18,19,20,21 vorgesehen. Durch Öffnen der Ventile 20, 21 wird der rechte Arbeitsplatz an die Inertgasringleitung 5 angeschlossen. Gleichzeitig mit dem Öffnen der Ventile 20 und 21 werden die Ventile 18 und 19 geschlossen, damit durch die Rohre auf dem anderen Arbeitsplatz kein Inertgas mehr fließen kann. Dort, wo die Ventile 18,19 geschlossen sind, läßt man die Rohre erst einmal abkühlen, entfernt dann zu beiden Seiten die Stopfen 3, trägt die behandelten Rohre aus und ersetzt sie durch zu behandelnde Rohre, verschließt diese durch die Stopfen 3 und bereitet so den nächsten Arbeitsgang vor, der dadurch eingeleitet wird, daß die Ventile 20,21 geschlossen, die Ventile 18,19 geöffnet und der Warmluftofen 13 über den Arbeitsplatz mit den geöffneten Ventilen 18,19 geschoben wird.The inert gas is cooled to such a depth in the
Im Ausführungsbeispiel der Fig. 2 werden die Rohre 2 nicht von außen mit einem Warmluftofen erhitzt, sondern von innen durch stark erhitztes Inertgas. Auch hier sind zwei Stapel I, II vorgesehen, die wechselseitig der Behandlung unterworfen werden. Wird Stapel I mit heißem Inertgas behandelt, kühlen die Rohre des Stapels II aus und werden gegen zu behandelnde Rohre ausgetauscht. Auch hier sind Ventile 18,19,20,21 vorgesehen, um jeweils nur einen Rohrstapel in den Behandlungsprozeß einzubringen. Dieses Behandlungsverfahren der Beheizung von innen her durch das Inertgas hat den Vorteil, daß sämtliches Quecksilber bereits verdampft ist, wenn die Außenwandung des Rohres 2 die Verdampfungstemperatur von Quecksilber überschreitet. Energetisch günstig läßt sich dieses Verfahren dann ausführen, wenn das Rohrleitungssystem in zwei Kreise unterteilt ist: einen Kreis mit dem zum Stapel führenden Rohr 41, dem vom Stapel kommenden Rohr 42 und einem diese beiden Rohre verbindenden Rohr 40, in welchem eine Heizvorrichtung 38 und ein Gebläse 22 vorgesehen sind. Ein zweiter Rohrkreis 23 verläuft parallel zum Rohr 20 und ist über Ventile 24 an die beiden Enden der Leitung 40 anschließbar. In diesem zweiten Rohrkreis 23 befindet sich der Kondensator 11, das Gebläse 12 und der Wärmetauscher 15, 16. Auch hier sind eine Inertgasquelle 9 und eine Vakuumpumpe 7 an das Rohrleitungsnetz angeschlossen. Ein Ventil 25 wird für die Absperrung der Leitung 40 benutzt. Die Leitungen 40,23 werden wechselseitig betrieben, d.h. wenn die Leitung 40 durch das Ventil 25 verschlossen ist, sind die Ventile 24 geöffnet, während das Ventil 25 geöffnet ist, wenn die Ventile 24 geschlossen sind.In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, the
Diese Vorrichtung arbeitet folgendermaßen:
Bei geöffnetem Ventil 25 und geschlossenen Ventilen 24 wird die Anlage durch die Vakuumpumpe 7 bei geöffnetem Ventil 10 von Luft vorzugsweise über Reinigungsvorrichtungen entleert, gleichzeitig wird bei geöffnetem Ventil 10 aus der Inertgasquelle 9 Inertgas in die Leitung eingeführt, bis alle Luft durch Inertgas ersetzt ist. Sodann wird die Inertgasbeheizung 38 eingeschaltet. Das Gebläse 22 drückt das heiße Inertgas in die zu reinigenden Rohre 2. Über die Leitung 19 tritt das Inertgas aus den Rohren wieder aus und gelangt wieder durch das geöffnete Ventil 25 zur Beheizungsvorrichtung 38. Dieser Vorgang wird solange fortgesetzt, bis die Außentemperatur der Rohre 2 die Verdampfungstemperatur von Quecksilber überschritten hat. Das Inertgas wird somit in ständigem Umlauf durch die Rohre und durch die Beheizungsvorrichtung im ständigen Kreislauf gepumpt. Ist an der Außenseite der Rohre die Verdampfungstemperatur von Quecksilber überschritten, wird die Beheizungsvorrichtung 38 stillgesetzt und das Ventil 25 geschlossen, hingegen die Ventile 24 geöffnet. Nunmehr strömt in einem Kreislauf, gedrückt von dem Gebläse 12, das heiße Inertgas durch den Wärmetauscherteil 15 in den Kondensator 11. Dort schlägt sich das dampfförmige Quecksilber als Flüssigkeit nieder. Das gekühlte Inertgas wird vom Gebläse 12 angesaugt und durch den Wärmetauscherteil 16 gedrückt. Hier wird das Inertgas erneut erwärmt und gelangt im Kreislauf durch die Leitung 41 wieder in die zu reinigenden Rohre 2. Dieser Vorgang kann wiederholt ausgeführt werden.This device works as follows:
When the
Im Ausführungsbeispiel der Fig. 3 ist das zu behandelnde Rohr 2 ebenfalls mit Stopfen 3 verschlossen. Diese Stopfen tragen Anschlußstutzen 26 für die Inertgasleitung 5. In dieser sind wiederum der Kondensator 11, das Gebläse 12, der Wärmetauscher 15, 16 und eine Erhitzungsvorrichtung 17 angeordnet. Ebenfalls ist die Vakuumpumpe 7 und die Inertgasquelle 9 an diese Leitung angeschlossen. Die Erhitzungsvorrichtung 17 ist von nur geringer Leistung. Denn den Hauptteil der Erhitzung liefert eine in dem Stopfen 3 montierte, in das Rohr 2 hineinragende Erwärmungsvorrichtung 27. Für die Behandlung ist das Rohr 2 auf Fundamente 28 gesetzt.In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the
Während für die Behandlung der Rohre 2 in den Ausführungsbeispielen der Fig. 1, 2 und 3 die Erdgasleitung in Stücke zerschnitten werden muß, wobei die Rohrstücke dann der Reinigung zugeführt werden können, zeigt Fig. 4 ein Beispiel, bei dem eine erdverlegte Erdgasleitung 29 behandelt wird. Hierzu ist eine Montagegrube 30 aus dem Erdboden ausgehoben worden, die Erdgasleitung 29 ist an zwei Stellen angebohrt und mit Anbohrschellen 31 versehen. Durch diese Anbohrschellen 31 sind Absperrgeräte, z.B. Absperrblasen, in das Innere der Erdgasleitung 29 eingebaut worden. Diese Anbohrschellen 31 weisen Anschlußstutzen 32 für eine Schlauchleitung 33 auf, welche zur Inertgasbehandlungskammer 34 auf dem Fahrzeug 35 geführt ist. In dieser Behandlungskammer 34 sind Kondensator, Gebläse, Wärmetauscher, Erhitzungsvorrichtung, Vakuumpumpe und Inertgasquelle untergebracht. Erhitzt wird die Erdgasleitung 29 durch einen auf einem Fahrzeug 36 montierten Wärmequelle. Die durch einen Pfeil auf der Erdgasleitung angegebene Strömungsrichtung des Inertgases ist die gleiche wie die Fahrrichtung des Fahrzeuges 36 mit der Wärmequelle 37.While for the treatment of the
- 11
- LagerständerStorage rack
- 22nd
- Rohrpipe
- 33rd
- StopfenPlug
- 44th
- AnschlußstutzenConnecting piece
- 55
- InertgasleitungInert gas line
- 66
- StichleitungBranch line
- 77
- VakuumpumpeVacuum pump
- 88th
- StichleitungBranch line
- 99
- InertgasquelleInert gas source
- 1010th
- VentilValve
- 1111
- Kondensatorcapacitor
- 1212th
- Gebläsefan
- 1313
- WarmluftofenHot air oven
- 1414
- GleiseTracks
- 1515
- WärmetauscherteilHeat exchanger part
- 1616
- WärmetauscherteilHeat exchanger part
- 1717th
- ErhitzerHeater
- 1818th
- VentilValve
- 1919th
- VentilValve
- 2020th
- VentilValve
- 2121
- VentilValve
- 2222
- Gebläsefan
- 2323
- RohrkreisPipe circle
- 2424th
- VentilValve
- 2525th
- VentilValve
- 2626
- AnschlußstutzenConnecting piece
- 2727
- ErwärmungsvorrichtungHeating device
- 2828
- Fundamentfoundation
- 2929
- ErdgasleitungNatural gas pipeline
- 3030th
- MontagegrubeAssembly pit
- 3131
- AnbohrschelleTapping clamp
- 3232
- AnschlußstutzenConnecting piece
- 3333
- Schlauchtube
- 3434
- InertgasbehandlungskammerInert gas treatment chamber
- 3535
- Fahrzeugvehicle
- 3636
- Fahrzeugvehicle
- 3737
- RingbrunnenRing fountain
- 3838
- HeizvorrichtungHeater
- 3939
- Gebläsefan
- 4040
- RohrkreisPipe circle
- 4141
- Rohrpipe
- 4242
- Rohrpipe
Claims (14)
- Process for removal of mercury from natural gas line pipes and natural gas transportation installation parts for preparation and transportation of natural gas, characterised in that the line is broken into pipes by cuts made when cold, in that after each cut the cut pipe is raised into an oblique or vertical position and the solid and liquid substances contained in the pipe are allowed to run out into a vessel placed under the lower end of the pipe, in that both ends of the pipe are closed with plugs and the pipe is transported to a vapour removal station in which the pipe is filled with inert gas through line connectors in the plugs, the pipe filled with inert gas is heated and the mercury present is vaporised and in that the heated inert gas containing mercury vapour is passed to a condenser in which the inert gas containing the mercury vapour is cooled until the mercury is precipitated from the inert gas.
- Process according to claim 1, characterised in that the inert gas filling of the pipe is changed a plurality of times, preferably circulated in a circuit.
- Process according to claim 1, characterised in that the pipe is first evacuated for the filling of inert gas.
- Process according to claim 1, characterised in that the inert gas filling is kept under a vacuum at least during the heating of the pipe.
- Process according to claim 1, characterised in that the pipe is heated to above the vaporisation temperature of mercury at the prevailing pressure by heat applied from the outside.
- Process according to claim 1, characterised in that the pipe is heated to above the vaporisation temperature by introducing hot inert gas.
- Process according to claim 6, characterised in that the inert gas is moved through the pipe many times in a circuit and is heated outside the pipe before it is pumped away in the circuit and passed to the condenser.
- Process for removal of mercury from natural gas lines, characterised in that the pipeline is blocked off on both sides of the pipe section to be cleaned, in that the gases present in the pipeline are evacuated from the pipe section blocked off and replaced by inert gas, in that the pipe is heated in sections and in the process flushed with the inert gas, preferably under a vacuum, after which the mercury vapour present in the inert gas is extracted from it by condensation.
- Process according to claim 8, characterised in that the inert gas is allowed to migrate in the pipe to be cleaned in the direction in which the heating device is moved.
- Process according to claim 1 or 8, characterised in that the pipe insulation is removed before the heat treatment and a new pipe insulation is fitted again after the treatment.
- Installation for removal of mercury with a heating device (13, 27, 38), a condenser (11), a circulating pump device (12) and pipelines (5) joining these units together, characterised in that for removal of mercury from natural gas line pipes (2) and natural gas transportation installation parts the installation includes an inert gas store (9) and an evacuating device (7) which are connected together and to the above-named units by pipelines (5, 6, 8) such that the pipe (2) to be cleaned or the natural gas transportation installation part (1) to be cleaned can be inserted as a pipe part.
- Installation according to claim 11, characterised in that the heating device consists of an oven (13) surrounding the pipe section (2) to be cleaned, or of an inert gas heater (27) to be introduced into the pipe section (2) to be cleaned, or of an inert gas heater (38) disposed outside the pipe section (2) to be cleaned, or of a heat source (37) surrounding the pipe section (29) to be cleaned.
- Installation according to claim 11, characterised by an inert gas ring line (5) in which are disposed a device (3) for insertion of the pipe (2) to be cleaned and the heating device (38) and on which is disposed a tap line (23) which leads to the condenser (11).
- Installation according to claim 13, characterised in that the tap line (23) is also a ring line which is connected to the inert gas ring line (5) at two locations.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE19924210455 DE4210455C1 (en) | 1992-03-30 | 1992-03-30 | |
DE4210455 | 1992-03-30 | ||
US08/122,924 US5529605A (en) | 1992-03-30 | 1993-09-17 | Method and apparatus for removing mercury from contaminated pipes and installation parts, in particular mercury introduced by natural gas |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0563554A1 EP0563554A1 (en) | 1993-10-06 |
EP0563554B1 true EP0563554B1 (en) | 1996-06-12 |
Family
ID=25913402
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP93102309A Expired - Lifetime EP0563554B1 (en) | 1992-03-30 | 1993-02-15 | Method and installation for elimination of mercury from contaminated pipes and parts of installation, especially of mercury which comes from natural gas |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5529605A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0563554B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE139151T1 (en) |
DE (2) | DE4210455C1 (en) |
DK (1) | DK0563554T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2090728T3 (en) |
GR (1) | GR3020945T3 (en) |
HU (1) | HUT68534A (en) |
PL (2) | PL171014B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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DE4431424C2 (en) * | 1994-08-23 | 1998-07-30 | Meyer & John Gmbh & Co | Process for removing mercury from pipes |
DE19520876C2 (en) * | 1995-06-08 | 1998-07-09 | Heiner Czwaluk | Process for removing layers deposited on the inner walls of pipes from polluting substances and device for carrying out the process |
DE19653702C1 (en) * | 1996-12-16 | 1998-08-20 | Meyer & John Gmbh & Co | Thermal cleaning method for pipes |
GB2323143B (en) * | 1997-03-13 | 2001-01-31 | British Gas Plc | Pipeline cleaning method and apparatus |
US5940920A (en) * | 1997-07-11 | 1999-08-24 | Philip Services Corp. | Pipe cleaning apparatus |
US6161558A (en) * | 1998-11-25 | 2000-12-19 | Electrol Specialties Company | Portable clean-in-place system for batch processing equipment |
US6866089B2 (en) * | 2002-07-02 | 2005-03-15 | Carrier Corporation | Leak detection with thermal imaging |
NL1024862C2 (en) * | 2003-11-25 | 2005-05-27 | Anthonius Hendricus Vermeulen | Device and method for removing mercury from residual materials. |
US10301804B2 (en) * | 2013-07-12 | 2019-05-28 | Daniel Grenier | Method and system of removing debris from piping in a high-rise building plumbing network |
AU2016235119A1 (en) * | 2015-03-25 | 2017-10-12 | Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | Process, method, and system for removing mercury from pipelines |
EP4103337A4 (en) * | 2020-02-10 | 2024-03-20 | Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | Process for removal of contaminants from offshore oil and gas pipelines |
CN113957263B (en) * | 2021-10-21 | 2022-12-09 | 宁波大地化工环保有限公司 | Sulfur dissolving device for continuously treating high-sulfur anode mud |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
SE410868B (en) * | 1978-04-12 | 1979-11-12 | Lumalampan Ab | SET AND DEVICE FOR SEPARATING MERCURY FROM SOLID MATERIAL BY DISTILLATION UNDER VACUUM |
DE3428720A1 (en) * | 1984-08-03 | 1986-02-13 | Energietechnik Steinhaus GmbH, 4354 Datteln | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CLEANING AND / OR DRYING THE INTERNAL WALL OF TELESCOPES |
DE3609517C1 (en) * | 1986-03-18 | 1987-11-19 | Marcus Matthias Elektro Ofen | Process and apparatus for removing mercury from solid mercury-containing materials |
US5354357A (en) * | 1993-03-01 | 1994-10-11 | Uop | Removal of mercury from process streams |
-
1992
- 1992-03-30 DE DE19924210455 patent/DE4210455C1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1993
- 1993-02-15 DK DK93102309T patent/DK0563554T3/en active
- 1993-02-15 ES ES93102309T patent/ES2090728T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-02-15 EP EP93102309A patent/EP0563554B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-02-15 DE DE59302869T patent/DE59302869D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-02-15 AT AT93102309T patent/ATE139151T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1993-03-05 HU HU9300604A patent/HUT68534A/en unknown
- 1993-03-29 PL PL93298297A patent/PL171014B1/en unknown
- 1993-03-29 PL PL93315247A patent/PL171702B1/en unknown
- 1993-09-17 US US08/122,924 patent/US5529605A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1996
- 1996-09-04 GR GR960402305T patent/GR3020945T3/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE4210455C1 (en) | 1993-09-23 |
ES2090728T3 (en) | 1996-10-16 |
ATE139151T1 (en) | 1996-06-15 |
HUT68534A (en) | 1995-06-28 |
DK0563554T3 (en) | 1996-07-01 |
EP0563554A1 (en) | 1993-10-06 |
DE59302869D1 (en) | 1996-07-18 |
HU9300604D0 (en) | 1993-09-28 |
PL171702B1 (en) | 1997-06-30 |
PL298297A1 (en) | 1994-01-24 |
GR3020945T3 (en) | 1996-12-31 |
PL171014B1 (en) | 1997-02-28 |
US5529605A (en) | 1996-06-25 |
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