WO2016080651A1 - Storage tank nitrogen supply system and method therefor - Google Patents

Storage tank nitrogen supply system and method therefor Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2016080651A1
WO2016080651A1 PCT/KR2015/009999 KR2015009999W WO2016080651A1 WO 2016080651 A1 WO2016080651 A1 WO 2016080651A1 KR 2015009999 W KR2015009999 W KR 2015009999W WO 2016080651 A1 WO2016080651 A1 WO 2016080651A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
nitrogen
concentration
storage tank
valve
compressor
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2015/009999
Other languages
French (fr)
Korean (ko)
Inventor
양재구
오재욱
양지석
Original Assignee
플로우테크 주식회사
양재구
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 플로우테크 주식회사, 양재구 filed Critical 플로우테크 주식회사
Priority to CN201580062342.9A priority Critical patent/CN107000933A/en
Publication of WO2016080651A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016080651A1/en

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
    • B65D90/22—Safety features
    • B65D90/38—Means for reducing the vapour space or for reducing the formation of vapour within containers
    • B65D90/44—Means for reducing the vapour space or for reducing the formation of vapour within containers by use of inert gas for filling space above liquid or between contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
    • B65D90/48—Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a nitrogen supply system.
  • the present invention relates to a nitrogen supply system.
  • the present invention relates to a nitrogen supply device and a method for a large space storage tank capable of efficient sealing while reducing nitrogen consumption and recharging nitrogen.
  • heat storage tanks installed in local air-conditioning systems are filled with steam (steam) instead of air in the upper space (water-free space) inside the heat storage tank to block contact with the outside atmosphere, which is called 'steam sealing'. 'Is called.
  • steam sealing the upper space of the heat storage tank is generally high temperature (98 ° C) and high humidity, which causes corrosion of the upper steel material of the heat storage tank, and leaks occur due to shrinkage and expansion of the heat storage material, which shortens the life and increases the replacement cost
  • the power consumption is very high because the power of the electric heater and the circulation pump for steam generation is constantly required.
  • the application of a 'nitrogen sealing' method of filling nitrogen gas into the heat storage tank instead of steam sealing is required.
  • the inner upper portion is sealed with non-combustible nitrogen gas.
  • nitrogen gas is charged into the tank for the purpose of explosion prevention and corrosion prevention. In this case, a method of solving the cost increase caused by excessive consumption of nitrogen gas is required.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the installation of the nitrogen generator (a) used in the conventional nitrogen sealing and a graph (b) for explaining the concentration and the valve opening and closing operation with time of nitrogen generated in the nitrogen generator. .
  • a nitrogen generator used for nitrogen sealing receives compressed air from a compressor to produce nitrogen, and the produced nitrogen is temporarily stored in a buffer tank, and then supplied to nitrogen demand sources such as various storage tanks. do.
  • the compressed air supplied from the compressor to the nitrogen generator has a composition of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other than the composition of the atmosphere, and in the nitrogen generator, 99.0% to 99.9999% of oxygen is separated from the compressed air. It produces and supplies high concentrations of nitrogen.
  • the concentration of nitrogen in the initial compressed air is 78%
  • valve A of FIG. 1A is opened to supply compressed air to the nitrogen generator. do.
  • the exhaust valve B installed in the nitrogen generator is closed.
  • the valve C for discharging low concentration nitrogen at the outlet side of the nitrogen generator is open and the valve D connected to the buffer tank is in a closed state.
  • valve C closes and valve D opens to produce high-purity nitrogen to be used for nitrogen sealing (more than 99.9% nitrogen generation is referred to as 'nitrogen production') and transferred to the buffer tank.
  • Nitrogen production continues for a period of time and then stops, reducing the concentration of nitrogen in the nitrogen generator again, at which time valve D is closed. Then, after a certain period of time, this operation is repeated and periodic nitrogen production is performed.
  • two nitrogen generators are installed in parallel so that nitrogen is continuously produced to some extent.
  • the time at which the concentration of 98.0% of nitrogen starts to be produced arrives earlier than the time at which the concentration of 99.9% of nitrogen starts to be produced, and the concentration of 98.0%
  • the time T1 between the start and end of nitrogen production is longer than the time T2 from the start and end of 99.9% nitrogen production.
  • 98.0% of nitrogen production is more than 99.9% of production.
  • the PSA-type nitrogen generator in order to produce 99.9% of nitrogen, it is usually required to discharge about three quarters of the compressed air (that is, only one quarter of the compressed air is recovered and the rest is consumed).
  • the tank was filled with 99.9% of nitrogen from the beginning, and 99.9% of nitrogen was produced by opening and closing the front and rear valves (valve A, B, C, D) of the nitrogen generator.
  • the so-called time-fixed opening and closing method is adopted to perform a uniform alternating time with a time difference during the time interval T2, which starts from the start time.
  • the concentration is diluted. Not only does it take a lot of pressure, but the consumption of compressed air also increases the operating cost of the compressor and the operation rate of the nitrogen generator.
  • the present invention was devised to solve the problems caused during nitrogen sealing of the conventional storage tank as described above, and it is possible to effectively seal while reducing the sealing cost due to excessive consumption of nitrogen gas, produced according to the concentration of nitrogen gas It is an object of the present invention to provide a nitrogen gas supply device and a method for filling a storage tank by producing a large amount of nitrogen gas at a low production cost by adopting a time-driven operation method.
  • the present invention for achieving the above object is a system for supplying nitrogen to the storage tank, the compressor; Supplying or blocking nitrogen generating means for receiving compressed air from the compressor to generate nitrogen, a nitrogen concentration measuring instrument for measuring the concentration of nitrogen generated in the nitrogen generating means, and nitrogen generated in the nitrogen generating means to a storage tank.
  • a nitrogen generator including a supply control valve for the gas generator; A tank concentration measuring device for measuring nitrogen concentration in the storage tank; A control unit for controlling the operation of the entire system; The control unit adjusts the concentration of nitrogen supplied to the storage tank by controlling the supply control valve in accordance with the nitrogen concentration measured in the nitrogen concentration meter or tank concentration meter.
  • control unit receives the concentration of nitrogen measured by the nitrogen concentration meter, and when it is determined that the measured concentration of nitrogen reaches the initial filling concentration, the supply control valve is opened to pre-set the initial filling in the upper space inside the storage tank. Allow concentration of nitrogen to be filled; When the measured concentration of nitrogen reaches the preset standard concentration by receiving the measured concentration of nitrogen from the tank concentration meter, it controls the supply control valve until the concentration of the upper space inside the storage tank reaches the preset target concentration. Fill a nitrogen of a pre-set late fill concentration above the concentration.
  • the supply control valve is preferably a proportional control valve capable of adjusting the opening degree.
  • the lower side of the inner upper space of the storage tank nitrogen supply system characterized in that the exhaust valve for discharging the first stored air or pre-filled nitrogen to the outside when the storage tank is provided with nitrogen.
  • the lower side of the inner upper space of the storage tank is preferably provided with a recovery valve for recovering the nitrogen filled in the storage tank to supply to the compressor, one end is connected to the recovery valve and the other end of the compressor It is preferable to further include an inlet gas selection valve connected to the front end to selectively introduce atmospheric air or recovered nitrogen into the compressor.
  • the lower side of the inner upper space of the storage tank to discharge the air or pre-filled nitrogen initially stored when the nitrogen filled in the storage tank, or to recover the pre-filled nitrogen to the compressor It is preferable that an exhaust recovery selector valve is provided for supplying the gas.
  • one end is connected to the exhaust recovery selection valve and the other end is connected to the front end of the compressor, it is preferable to further include an inlet gas selection valve for selectively introducing atmospheric air or recovered nitrogen into the compressor.
  • the nitrogen gas supply method according to the present invention is filled with nitrogen to a predetermined initial filling concentration in the inner upper space of the storage tank, it is determined whether the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank reaches a predetermined reference concentration, the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank When a predetermined reference concentration is reached, nitrogen of a late filling concentration higher than the reference concentration is charged until the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank reaches a predetermined target concentration.
  • the operation method of adding and subtracting the production time according to the concentration of nitrogen gas It can reduce energy consumption and produce large amount of nitrogen gas at low production cost to fill the storage tank.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic installation diagram (a) of a nitrogen generator used in a conventional nitrogen seal and a graph (b) for explaining the concentration and the valve opening / closing operation according to the time of nitrogen generated in the nitrogen generator.
  • FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a nitrogen supply device according to the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a view for illustratively explaining a nitrogen supply method according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a nitrogen supply method according to the present invention step by step.
  • buffer tank 24 nitrogen concentration measuring instrument
  • the present invention is to supply a high concentration of nitrogen gas (90.0% ⁇ 99.9999%) inside the large space storage tank (1; heat storage tank, oil storage tank, etc.) initially filled with normal air.
  • nitrogen gas 90.0% ⁇ 99.9999%
  • the inside of the storage tank 1 is initially filled with high concentration of nitrogen gas, it is not mixed with the air that was initially filled and diluted with high concentration of nitrogen gas, as well as dead zone.
  • the production cost of nitrogen gas is high.
  • the concentration of nitrogen gas produced from the nitrogen generator 20 is increased to finally replace the inside of the storage tank 1 with the required high concentration of nitrogen gas.
  • the nitrogen gas supply apparatus as shown in Figure 2, the compressor 10, the inlet control valve 12, the nitrogen generator 20, the nitrogen supply pipe 60, the tank concentration meter 70 , Exhaust valve 80, nitrogen recovery pipe 82, inlet gas selection valve 90 and control unit 100.
  • the compressor 10 compresses gas and supplies high-pressure compressed air to a nitrogen generator 20 which will be described later.
  • the compressed air is introduced into the storage tank 1 by introducing general air in the atmosphere or described later.
  • the compressed nitrogen gas (hereinafter referred to as 'process gas') is compressed and supplied.
  • the inflow control valve 12 is provided at the rear end of the compressor 10 and is a valve for introducing compressed air generated from the compressor 10 into the nitrogen generator 20 or blocking the inflow thereof.
  • the valve is an electric valve or a solenoid valve. It is composed.
  • Nitrogen generator 20 is connected to the rear end of the inlet control valve 12, is a device for generating nitrogen by separating and removing oxygen from the compressed air supplied from the compressor 10, nitrogen generating means 21, buffer tank ( 22), nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24, exhaust valve 24, supply control valve 28.
  • Types of the nitrogen generator 20 generally include a PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) method and a membrane method.
  • PSA Pressure Swing Adsorption
  • membrane method a membrane method.
  • the nitrogen generator 20 of the PSA method is an embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to the nitrogen generator 20 of the PSA method.
  • the PSA-type nitrogen generator 20 is configured in a form in which a particulate adsorbent called CMS (Carbon Molecular Sieve) is filled inside the nitrogen generating means 21 in a chamber form. It is an adsorbent having uniformly adjusted pores, and oxygen molecules (molecular diameter 3.9) are adsorbed more quickly than nitrogen molecules (molecular diameter 4.3) due to the difference in diffusion rate into the pores. Although the difference in equilibrium adsorption is hardly seen, the adsorption rate shows a difference of 30 times or more. By using the difference in adsorption rate, oxygen is separated and removed from the compressed air to generate high purity nitrogen.
  • CMS Carbon Molecular Sieve
  • the nitrogen generating means 21 is already known, and further detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • the nitrogen generating means 21 is preferably configured in a chamber manner, but if the nitrogen can be efficiently generated, there is no limitation in the manner.
  • the inlet side exhaust valve 14 is a valve commonly connected to the rear end of the inlet control valve 12 and the front side of the nitrogen generator 20, and discharges some of the compressed air generated from the compressor 10 to the outside atmosphere. It is a valve for discharging the low concentration of nitrogen (nitrogen below a predetermined concentration) produced by the nitrogen generator 20, or purging the oxygen adsorbed on the CMS to discharge to the outside.
  • the buffer tank 22 inside the nitrogen generator is connected to a rear end of the nitrogen generator 21 to receive and temporarily store nitrogen generated from the nitrogen generator 21.
  • the nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24 is a device for measuring the concentration of nitrogen gas generated in the nitrogen generating means 21.
  • the nitrogen concentration is measured by measuring the concentration of nitrogen directly or after indirectly calculating the concentration of oxygen. Instrument can be used.
  • the exhaust valve 26 is a valve which opens when the concentration of nitrogen gas measured by the nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24 is less than a predetermined concentration and discharges the nitrogen gas to the outside.
  • the supply control valve 28 is a valve for discharging nitrogen gas produced by the nitrogen generating means 21 and temporarily stored in the buffer tank 22 to supply to the storage tank 1 or to block supply. As described below, the opening degree may be adjusted according to the nitrogen concentration measured by the nitrogen concentration meter 24. The operation of the supply control valve 28 will be described later.
  • the nitrogen gas discharged through the supply control valve 28 is filled into the upper space inside the storage tank 1 through the nitrogen supply pipe 60.
  • the storage tank 1 is provided with a tank concentration meter 70 for measuring the concentration of the filled nitrogen gas.
  • the exhaust recovery selector valve 80 ′ discharges the first stored air or the filled nitrogen gas when the nitrogen is filled in the upper space inside the storage tank 1 to the outside, or the filled nitrogen gas (hereinafter referred to as “process gas”). And a valve for supplying the compressor 10 to the compressor 10 to be described later.
  • the inflow gas selection valve 90 is connected at one end to the exhaust valve 84 or the exhaust recovery selection valve 80 'and the other end is connected to the front end of the compressor 10 to selectively select atmospheric air or recovered process gas.
  • Valve for inflow The inlet gas selection valve 90 may be configured as a 3-way valve by changing a flow path in order to change the type of gas flowing into the compressor 10.
  • the overall operation of the nitrogen supply apparatus according to the present invention described above is automatically controlled by the controller 100.
  • the operation and nitrogen supply method of the nitrogen supply apparatus according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
  • the final target concentration (hereinafter, 'target concentration') of nitrogen filled in the storage tank 1 depends on the use of the storage tank 1, etc., but is usually set at a high purity of 99.0% to 99.9%.
  • the concentration of nitrogen gas generated by the nitrogen generating means 21 is less than the target concentration, the exhaust gas is discharged to the outside, and the nitrogen gas is initially filled in the upper space inside the storage tank 1 only when the target concentration is reached. It was. However, as already mentioned, it takes a long time to produce nitrogen having a target concentration of 99.9%, not only increases the operation rate of the compressor 10 and the nitrogen generating means 21, but also the amount of nitrogen produced by the compressed air. Very little about a quarter. In the case of the large space storage tank (1), even though it is filled with the target concentration from the beginning, it is diluted while mixing with the air in the storage tank (1), and thus the filling time is very long and is not filled with nitrogen gas.
  • the present invention does not fill the target concentration from the beginning, and as shown in FIG. 3, the set concentration is initially lower than the target concentration (for example, 98.0%). (Hereinafter, referred to as 'initial filling concentration') and the nitrogen concentration of the storage tank 1 increases as time passes and reaches a predetermined concentration (hereinafter referred to as 'reference concentration') higher than the reference concentration. Nitrogen gas having a set concentration (preferably above the target concentration) (hereinafter, referred to as 'postfill concentration') is filled until the target concentration is reached.
  • this filling method will be described step by step with reference to FIG. 4.
  • the nitrogen is filled with a predetermined initial filling concentration while exhausting the air in the storage tank 1. do.
  • the upper upper space of the first storage tank 1 is filled with air, and this air contains a large amount of other gases generated from moisture or stored liquids, so that the air quality is lower than that of general air, so it is not reused. It is preferable to discharge.
  • the control unit 100 opens the exhaust valve 80 connected to the storage tank 1 and drives the compressor 10.
  • the exhaust recovery selector valve 80 ' is provided instead of the exhaust valve 80
  • the exhaust side of the exhaust recovery selector valve 80' is opened to exhaust the air filled therein.
  • the control unit 100 switches the inlet gas selection valve 90 to the air inlet side and drives the compressor 10.
  • Compressed air is generated according to the operation of the compressor 10, and the generated compressed air is supplied to the nitrogen generator 20 through the inflow control valve 12 opened by the controller 100.
  • the nitrogen generating means 21 of the nitrogen generator 20 oxygen in the compressed air is adsorbed and separated to generate nitrogen.
  • the concentration of nitrogen initially generated in the nitrogen generating means 21 is very low, and gradually increases with the adsorptive separation of oxygen starting from 78% of the concentration of nitrogen in the composition of the general atmosphere.
  • the nitrogen gas generated by the nitrogen generating means 21 is temporarily stored in the buffer tank 22, and the nitrogen concentration is measured by the nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24.
  • the concentration of nitrogen measured by the nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24 is transmitted to the control unit 100, and the control unit 100 opens the exhaust valve 26 when the measured nitrogen concentration is less than the preset initial filling concentration to lower the nitrogen concentration.
  • the exhaust valve 26 is closed and the supply control valve 28 is opened to open the upper space inside the storage tank 1 through the nitrogen supply pipe 60. Is filled with nitrogen gas having an initial fill concentration.
  • the concentration of nitrogen gas in the storage tank 1 continuously rises from the initial concentration (about 78%), and the tank concentration meter 70 installed in the storage tank 1 stores the storage tank.
  • the nitrogen concentration measured by the tank concentration meter 70 is transmitted to the controller 100, and the controller 100 supplies the control valve when the measured nitrogen concentration reaches a preset reference concentration (eg, 97%, see FIG. 3).
  • (28) is controlled (preferably adjusting the opening degree) to fill the storage tank 1 with a late filling concentration (eg, 99.9%) higher than the reference concentration (eg, 97%).
  • the supply control valve 28 is preferably composed of a proportional control valve capable of adjusting the opening degree, which is different in the concentration of nitrogen gas produced by the nitrogen generating means 21 according to the opening and closing degree of the supply control valve 28.
  • the nitrogen generating means 21 includes an adsorption powder called CMS therein, and when the compressed air passes through the CMS, oxygen is adsorbed and nitrogen is not adsorbed, so nitrogen gas is produced. Will be.
  • the supply control valve 28 does not necessarily have to be configured as a proportional control valve, and the switching of the filling concentration through the opening / closing switching and opening time adjustment and the opening / closing adjustment of the exhaust valve 24 is performed even with a simple on / off valve. It may be possible.
  • the concentration of the nitrogen gas in the storage tank 1 measured by the tank concentration measuring instrument 70 reaches a preset reference concentration.
  • the control unit 100 reduces the opening degree of the supply control valve 28 so that the concentration of the nitrogen gas produced from the nitrogen generating means 21 is increased to a preset late filling concentration so that the inside of the storage tank 1 has a late filling concentration. Fill with nitrogen gas.
  • the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank 1 filled with the nitrogen gas of the late filling concentration through the adjustment of the opening degree of the supply control valve 28 continues to increase from the reference concentration.
  • the tank concentration meter 70 measures the nitrogen concentration of the storage tank 1, and when the measured nitrogen concentration reaches a predetermined target concentration, the controller 100 closes the supply control valve 28 and exhaust valve. (80), the recovery valve 84 or the exhaust recovery selector valve 80 'is also closed and the operation of the compressor 10 is stopped to complete the nitrogen gas replacement operation in the storage tank 1. By the repetition of this operation, the replacement of the nitrogen gas in the storage tank 1 can be performed repeatedly.
  • the exhaust valve 80 may be opened to exhaust the prefilled nitrogen to the outside, and the recovery valve 84 is opened.
  • the recovered process gas can be recovered to the nitrogen recovery pipe.
  • the flow path of the inlet gas selection valve 90 installed at the front end of the compressor 10 is switched to the nitrogen recovery pipe 82 so that the recovered process gas is introduced into the compressor 10 instead of the atmospheric air. can do.
  • the exhaust recovery selector valve 80 ' is provided instead of the exhaust valve 80 and the recovery valve 84, the exhaust side of the exhaust recovery selector valve 80' is opened to exhaust the process gas to the outside and the recovery side By opening the can be recovered to the recovered process gas to the nitrogen recovery pipe (82).
  • the recovered process gas may contain a large amount of moisture, it is preferable to install a dehumidifier in front of the compressor (10) for the humidity. In this way, not only can the nitrogen consumption be reduced through the recycling of nitrogen gas, but also the operating rate of the nitrogen generator can be reduced, thereby saving energy and reducing operating costs.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Separation Of Gases By Adsorption (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nitrogen supply device of a large storage tank which enables a reduction in nitrogen consumption and effective sealing of the large storage tank when nitrogen is filled in, and discharged out of, the inside upper portion of the large space storage tank to block contact with external air, and a method therefor. The present invention employs an operation manner which decreases or increases production time according to the density of nitrogen gas, whereby it is possible to reduce energy consumption and fill the storage tank by producing a large amount of nitrogen gas at low production cost.

Description

저장탱크 질소 공급 시스템 및 그 방법Storage tank nitrogen supply system and method
본 발명은 질소 공급 시스템에 관한 것으로, 냉난방 시스템에서의 축열조나 공장·플랜트에서 사용되는 각종 탱크, 원유 등 석유화학 제품 저장탱크와 같은 대공간 저장탱크에서 외부 대기와의 접촉 차단을 위해 내측 상부에 질소를 충진하고 다시 배출하는 경우, 질소의 소비량을 줄이면서 효율적인 실링이 가능한 대공간 저장탱크의 질소 공급 장치 및 그 방법에 관한 것이다. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a nitrogen supply system. The present invention relates to a nitrogen supply system. The present invention relates to a nitrogen supply device and a method for a large space storage tank capable of efficient sealing while reducing nitrogen consumption and recharging nitrogen.
일반적으로 지역 냉난방 시스템에 설치되는 축열조에서는 외부 대기와의 접촉을 차단하기 위해 축열조 내측 상부 공간(물이 차지 않은 공간)을 공기 대신 수증기(스팀)를 충진하는데, 이를 소위 '스팀 실링(steam sealing)'이라 한다. 이러한 스팀 실링의 경우 축열조 내측 상부 공간이 대체로 고온(98℃) 다습하기 때문에 축열조 상부 철자재의 부식을 유발하고, 보온재의 수축 팽창에 따라 리크(leak)가 발생하여 수명이 단축되고 교체 비용이 증가하는 단점이 존재한다. 또한, 스팀 발생을 위한 전기 히터와 순환펌프의 동력이 지속적으로 요구되기 때문에 전력 소모가 매우 높다는 단점이 존재한다. 이러한 단점을 해소하기 위해 스팀 실링 대신에 질소가스를 축열조 내부에 충진하는 '질소 실링' 방식의 적용이 요구된다.In general, heat storage tanks installed in local air-conditioning systems are filled with steam (steam) instead of air in the upper space (water-free space) inside the heat storage tank to block contact with the outside atmosphere, which is called 'steam sealing'. 'Is called. In the case of such steam sealing, the upper space of the heat storage tank is generally high temperature (98 ° C) and high humidity, which causes corrosion of the upper steel material of the heat storage tank, and leaks occur due to shrinkage and expansion of the heat storage material, which shortens the life and increases the replacement cost There are disadvantages. In addition, there is a disadvantage that the power consumption is very high because the power of the electric heater and the circulation pump for steam generation is constantly required. In order to solve this drawback, the application of a 'nitrogen sealing' method of filling nitrogen gas into the heat storage tank instead of steam sealing is required.
그리고, 공장·플랜트 등에서 공정수를 수처리(순수처리 등) 후 사용 직전 저장탱크에서 일반 대기와 접촉 차단을 위해 질소 실링을 하게 되는데, 저장탱크 내 수위가 변함에 따라 질소가스의 충진 및 배기를 반복적으로 수행해야 한다. 이 경우 질소가스의 1회적인 사용 및 방출로 인한 손실이 커서 실링 비용이 증가하는 단점이 존재한다. 이에, 배기되는 질소가스를 재활용하여 실링 비용을 감소시키는 방안이 요구된다. In addition, after the process water is treated in a plant or plant (pure water treatment), nitrogen is sealed in order to block contact with the general atmosphere in the storage tank immediately before use, and the filling and exhausting of nitrogen gas is repeatedly performed as the water level in the storage tank changes. Should be done as In this case, there is a disadvantage in that the sealing cost is increased due to a large loss due to one-time use and release of nitrogen gas. Therefore, a method of reducing the sealing cost by recycling the exhaust nitrogen gas is required.
또한, 액체 상태의 연료용 가스 및 원유 등 석유화학 제품의 저장탱크에서는 내측 상부를 불연성 질소가스로 실링하는데, 이 경우에도 마찬가지로 질소가스의 과다 배출로 인한 비용이 상승하는 문제가 발생한다. 기타, 많은 경우 폭발방지 및 부식방지 등의 목적으로 탱크 내부에 질소가스를 충진하는데, 이러한 경우 질소가스의 과다 소모로 인한 비용 상승 문제를 해소하는 방안이 요구된다. In addition, in the storage tanks of petrochemical products such as fuel gas and crude oil in the liquid state, the inner upper portion is sealed with non-combustible nitrogen gas. In this case, a problem arises in that the cost due to excessive discharge of nitrogen gas increases. In addition, in many cases, nitrogen gas is charged into the tank for the purpose of explosion prevention and corrosion prevention. In this case, a method of solving the cost increase caused by excessive consumption of nitrogen gas is required.
한편, 도 1 에는 통상적인 질소 실링에 사용되는 질소발생기의 개략적인 설치 구성도(a) 및 질소발생기에서 발생되는 질소의 시간에 따른 농도와 밸브 개폐 작동을 설명하기 위한 그래프(b)가 도시된다. On the other hand, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the installation of the nitrogen generator (a) used in the conventional nitrogen sealing and a graph (b) for explaining the concentration and the valve opening and closing operation with time of nitrogen generated in the nitrogen generator. .
도 1 의 (a)에 도시된 바와 같이, 질소 실링에 사용되는 질소발생기는 압축기로부터 압축공기를 공급받아 질소를 생산하고 생산된 질소는 버퍼탱크에 일시 저장되었다가 각종 저장탱크 등 질소 수요처로 공급된다. As shown in (a) of FIG. 1, a nitrogen generator used for nitrogen sealing receives compressed air from a compressor to produce nitrogen, and the produced nitrogen is temporarily stored in a buffer tank, and then supplied to nitrogen demand sources such as various storage tanks. do.
여기서, 압축기로부터 질소발생기로 공급되는 압축공기는 대기의 성분 조성과 같이 질소 78%, 산소 21%, 기타 1% 의 조성을 가지며, 질소발생기에서는 압축공기에서 산소를 분리하여 99.0% ~ 99.9999% 정도의 고농도 질소를 생산하여 공급하게 된다. Here, the compressed air supplied from the compressor to the nitrogen generator has a composition of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other than the composition of the atmosphere, and in the nitrogen generator, 99.0% to 99.9999% of oxygen is separated from the compressed air. It produces and supplies high concentrations of nitrogen.
보다 구체적으로, 도 1 의 (b)에 도시된 바와 같이, 예컨대, 최초 압축공기내 질소의 농도는 78%이고, 압축공기를 질소발생기로 공급하기 위해 도 1 의 (a)의 밸브 A가 개방된다. 그리고, 압축공기의 누출을 막기 위해 질소발생기에 설치된 배기용 밸브 B는 폐쇄된다. 이 때, 질소발생기의 출구측에서 저농도 질소의 배출을 위한 밸브 C는 개방되고 버퍼탱크와 연결된 밸브 D는 폐쇄된 상태에 있다. 이 상태에서 질소발생기가 작동되면, 시간의 경과에 따라 질소의 농도가 증가하여 최초 78%에서 99.9%까지 도달하게 된다. 질소의 농도가 99.9%에 도달하면 밸브 C는 폐쇄하고 밸브 D는 개방하여 질소 실링에 사용될 고순도의 질소를 생산(99.9% 이상의 질소 발생을 '질소 생산'이라 표현함)하여 버퍼탱크로 이송한다. 질소 생산은 일정 시간 동안 지속된 후 중단되어 질소발생기에서 발생되는 질소의 농도는 다시 감소하게 되며 이 때 밸브 D는 폐쇄된다. 그 다음 일정 시간 경과 후 이러한 작동의 반복으로 주기적인 질소 생산이 이루어지게 되며, 통상 질소발생기 2개를 병렬로 설치하여 질소가 어느 정도 지속적으로 생산되도록 한다.More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1B, for example, the concentration of nitrogen in the initial compressed air is 78%, and valve A of FIG. 1A is opened to supply compressed air to the nitrogen generator. do. In order to prevent leakage of compressed air, the exhaust valve B installed in the nitrogen generator is closed. At this time, the valve C for discharging low concentration nitrogen at the outlet side of the nitrogen generator is open and the valve D connected to the buffer tank is in a closed state. When the nitrogen generator is operated in this state, the concentration of nitrogen increases over time, reaching the initial 78% to 99.9%. When the concentration of nitrogen reaches 99.9%, valve C closes and valve D opens to produce high-purity nitrogen to be used for nitrogen sealing (more than 99.9% nitrogen generation is referred to as 'nitrogen production') and transferred to the buffer tank. Nitrogen production continues for a period of time and then stops, reducing the concentration of nitrogen in the nitrogen generator again, at which time valve D is closed. Then, after a certain period of time, this operation is repeated and periodic nitrogen production is performed. Usually, two nitrogen generators are installed in parallel so that nitrogen is continuously produced to some extent.
한편, 도 1 의 (b)에 도시된 바와 같이, 농도가 98.0%인 질소가 생산되기 시작하는 시간은 농도가 99.9%인 질소가 생산되기 시작하는 시간보다 더 빨리 도래하고, 농도가 98.0%인 질소가 생산되기 시작하는 시점과 끝나는 시점까지의 시간 T1은 99.9% 질소가 생산되기 시작하는 시점과 끝나는 시점까지의 시간 T2 보다 더 길다. 따라서, 98.0%의 질소 생산량이 99.9%의 생산량 보다 더 많음을 알 수 있다. 그리고, PSA 방식의 질소발생기의 경우 99.9%의 질소를 생산하기 위해서는 통상 압축공기의 4분의 3 정도를 배출해야 하는데(즉, 압축공기의 4분의 1만 회수되고 나머지는 배출되어 소모됨), 이에 반하여, 98.0%의 질소를 생산하기 위해서는 압축공기의 2분의 1 정도를 배출하고 나머지 2분의 1은 회수된다. 즉, 질소발생기로의 질소 생산 농도가 높을수록 질소발생기로 유입되는 압축공기량 대비 질소발생량이 감소하며, 반대로, 질소 생산 농도가 높을수록 압축공기량 대비 질소발생량이 증가하게 된다. 따라서, 99.9% 농도의 질소를 생산하는 경우 보다 98.0%의 질소를 생산하는 경우 압축공기의 소모량이 적어 압축기 가동율이 적을 뿐만 아니라 질소 생산량이 많아 적은 비용으로 다량의 질소 생산이 가능함을 알 수 있다. On the other hand, as shown in (b) of FIG. 1, the time at which the concentration of 98.0% of nitrogen starts to be produced arrives earlier than the time at which the concentration of 99.9% of nitrogen starts to be produced, and the concentration of 98.0% The time T1 between the start and end of nitrogen production is longer than the time T2 from the start and end of 99.9% nitrogen production. Thus, it can be seen that 98.0% of nitrogen production is more than 99.9% of production. In the case of the PSA-type nitrogen generator, in order to produce 99.9% of nitrogen, it is usually required to discharge about three quarters of the compressed air (that is, only one quarter of the compressed air is recovered and the rest is consumed). On the other hand, in order to produce 98.0% of nitrogen, about one half of the compressed air is discharged, and the other half is recovered. That is, the higher the nitrogen production concentration to the nitrogen generator, the lower the amount of nitrogen generated compared to the amount of compressed air flowing into the nitrogen generator. On the contrary, the higher the nitrogen production concentration, the higher the amount of nitrogen generated than the compressed air. Therefore, when 98.0% of nitrogen is produced than when producing 99.9% of nitrogen, the consumption of compressed air is small, and thus the compressor operation rate is low, and the nitrogen production is large, and thus it can be seen that a large amount of nitrogen can be produced at a low cost.
이러한 상황에서 종래에는 저장탱크에 처음부터 99.9%의 질소를 충진하는 방식을 채택하였는 바, 질소발생기의 전단과 후단 밸브(밸브 A,B 및 C,D)의 개폐를 99.9%의 질소가 생산되기 시작하는 시간부터 끝나는 시간 간격인 T2 시간 동안 시간차를 두고 일정하게 교호적으로 수행되도록 하는 소위 시간 고정형 개폐 방식을 채택하였다. 그런데, 대용량 저장탱크의 경우, 최초 내측 상부가 일반 공기로 채워진 상태에서 질소를 충진하게 되면, 99.9%의 질소를 충진한다 하더라도 농도가 희석되며, 99.9%의 압축공기 대비 질소 생산량이 적기 때문에 시간도 많이 걸릴 뿐만 아니라 압축공기 소모량도 많아 압축기 가동율과 질소발생기 가동율이 증가하는 등 생산 비용이 증가하는 단점이 존재한다. In this situation, in the past, the tank was filled with 99.9% of nitrogen from the beginning, and 99.9% of nitrogen was produced by opening and closing the front and rear valves (valve A, B, C, D) of the nitrogen generator. The so-called time-fixed opening and closing method is adopted to perform a uniform alternating time with a time difference during the time interval T2, which starts from the start time. However, in the case of a large-capacity storage tank, when nitrogen is charged in the state where the first inner upper part is filled with general air, even if it is filled with 99.9% of nitrogen, the concentration is diluted. Not only does it take a lot of pressure, but the consumption of compressed air also increases the operating cost of the compressor and the operation rate of the nitrogen generator.
본 발명은 상기한 바와 같은 종래 저장탱크의 질소 실링시 발생되는 문제점을 해결하기 위해 창안된 것으로, 질소가스의 과다 소모로 인한 실링 비용을 줄이면서 효과적인 실링이 가능하고, 질소가스의 농도에 따라 생산 시간을 가감하는 운전 방식을 채택하여 에너지 소모를 줄이고 저가의 생산비로 다량의 질소가스를 생산하여 저장탱크를 충진할 수 있도록 하는 질소가스 공급 장치 및 그 방법을 제공하는 것을 목적으로 한다.The present invention was devised to solve the problems caused during nitrogen sealing of the conventional storage tank as described above, and it is possible to effectively seal while reducing the sealing cost due to excessive consumption of nitrogen gas, produced according to the concentration of nitrogen gas It is an object of the present invention to provide a nitrogen gas supply device and a method for filling a storage tank by producing a large amount of nitrogen gas at a low production cost by adopting a time-driven operation method.
상기한 바와 같은 목적을 달성하기 위한 본 발명은 저장탱크에 질소를 공급하는 시스템으로서, 압축기와; 상기 압축기로부터 압축공기를 공급받아 질소를 생성하는 질소발생수단, 상기 질소발생수단에서 생성된 질소의 농도를 측정하는 질소농도계측기, 및 상기 질소발생수단에서 생성된 질소를 저장탱크로 공급 또는 차단하기 위한 공급제어밸브를 포함하는 질소발생기와; 상기 저장탱크 내부의 질소 농도를 측정하는 탱크농도계측기와; 전체 시스템의 작동을 제어하는 제어부를 포함하되; 상기 제어부는 질소농도계측기 또는 탱크농도계측기에서 측정된 질소 농도에 따라 상기 공급제어밸브를 제어하여 저장탱크로 공급되는 질소의 농도를 조절한다.The present invention for achieving the above object is a system for supplying nitrogen to the storage tank, the compressor; Supplying or blocking nitrogen generating means for receiving compressed air from the compressor to generate nitrogen, a nitrogen concentration measuring instrument for measuring the concentration of nitrogen generated in the nitrogen generating means, and nitrogen generated in the nitrogen generating means to a storage tank. A nitrogen generator including a supply control valve for the gas generator; A tank concentration measuring device for measuring nitrogen concentration in the storage tank; A control unit for controlling the operation of the entire system; The control unit adjusts the concentration of nitrogen supplied to the storage tank by controlling the supply control valve in accordance with the nitrogen concentration measured in the nitrogen concentration meter or tank concentration meter.
여기서, 상기 제어부는, 질소농도계측기에서 측정된 질소의 농도를 전달받아, 측정된 질소의 농도가 초기충진농도에 도달한 것으로 판정되면 공급제어밸브를 개방하여 저장탱크 내측 상부 공간에 미리 설정된 초기충진농도의 질소가 충진되도록 하고; 탱크농도계측기에서 측정된 질소의 농도를 전달받아, 측정된 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 기준농도에 도달하면, 공급제어밸브를 제어하여 저장탱크 내측 상부 공간의 농도가 미리 설정된 목표농도에 도달할때까지 기준농도 보다 높은 미리 설정된 후기충진농도의 질소를 충진한다.Here, the control unit receives the concentration of nitrogen measured by the nitrogen concentration meter, and when it is determined that the measured concentration of nitrogen reaches the initial filling concentration, the supply control valve is opened to pre-set the initial filling in the upper space inside the storage tank. Allow concentration of nitrogen to be filled; When the measured concentration of nitrogen reaches the preset standard concentration by receiving the measured concentration of nitrogen from the tank concentration meter, it controls the supply control valve until the concentration of the upper space inside the storage tank reaches the preset target concentration. Fill a nitrogen of a pre-set late fill concentration above the concentration.
여기서, 상기 공급제어밸브는 개도 조정이 가능한 비례제어밸브인 것이 바람직하다. Here, the supply control valve is preferably a proportional control valve capable of adjusting the opening degree.
그리고, 상기 저장탱크의 내측 상부 공간 중 하부측에는 저장탱크에 질소 충진시 최초 저장되어 있던 공기 또는 기 충진된 질소를 외부로 배출하기 위한 배기밸브가 구비되는 것을 특징으로 하는 질소 공급 시스템.And, the lower side of the inner upper space of the storage tank nitrogen supply system, characterized in that the exhaust valve for discharging the first stored air or pre-filled nitrogen to the outside when the storage tank is provided with nitrogen.
그리고, 상기 저장탱크의 내측 상부 공간 중 하부측에는 저장탱크에 기 충진된 질소를 회수하여 상기 압축기로 공급하기 위한 회수밸브가 구비되는 것이 바람직하며, 일단이 상기 회수밸브와 연결되고 타단은 상기 압축기의 전단에 연결되어 대기 공기 또는 회수된 질소를 압축기로 선택적으로 유입시키기 위한 유입가스선택밸브를 더 포함하는 것이 바람직하다.And, the lower side of the inner upper space of the storage tank is preferably provided with a recovery valve for recovering the nitrogen filled in the storage tank to supply to the compressor, one end is connected to the recovery valve and the other end of the compressor It is preferable to further include an inlet gas selection valve connected to the front end to selectively introduce atmospheric air or recovered nitrogen into the compressor.
한편, 또 다른 실시예에 따르면, 상기 저장탱크의 내측 상부 공간 중 하부측에는 저장탱크에 질소 충진시 최초 저장되어 있던 공기 또는 기 충진된 질소를 외부로 배출하거나, 기 충진된 질소를 회수하여 상기 압축기로 공급하기 위한 배기회수선택밸브가 구비되는 것이 바람직하다.On the other hand, according to another embodiment, the lower side of the inner upper space of the storage tank to discharge the air or pre-filled nitrogen initially stored when the nitrogen filled in the storage tank, or to recover the pre-filled nitrogen to the compressor It is preferable that an exhaust recovery selector valve is provided for supplying the gas.
그리고, 일단이 상기 배기회수선택밸브와 연결되고 타단은 상기 압축기의 전단에 연결되어, 대기 공기 또는 회수된 질소를 압축기로 선택적으로 유입시키기 위한 유입가스선택밸브를 더 포함하는 것이 바람직하다.And, one end is connected to the exhaust recovery selection valve and the other end is connected to the front end of the compressor, it is preferable to further include an inlet gas selection valve for selectively introducing atmospheric air or recovered nitrogen into the compressor.
또한, 본 발명에 따른 질소 가스 공급 방법은 저장탱크의 내측 상부 공간에 미리 정해진 초기충진농도로 질소를 충진하고, 저장탱크 내 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 기준농도에 도달하는지를 판정하여, 저장탱크 내 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 기준농도에 도달하는 경우 상기 기준농도 보다 높은 후기충진농도의 질소를 저장탱크 내 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 목표농도에 도달할때까지 충진한다. In addition, the nitrogen gas supply method according to the present invention is filled with nitrogen to a predetermined initial filling concentration in the inner upper space of the storage tank, it is determined whether the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank reaches a predetermined reference concentration, the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank When a predetermined reference concentration is reached, nitrogen of a late filling concentration higher than the reference concentration is charged until the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank reaches a predetermined target concentration.
상기한 바와 같은 본 발명에 따르면, 저장탱크의 내측 상부를 질소로 실링시 질소가스의 과다 소모로 인한 실링 비용을 줄이면서 효과적인 실링이 가능하고, 질소가스의 농도에 따라 생산 시간을 가감하는 운전 방식을 채택하여 에너지 소모를 줄이고 저가의 생산비로 다량의 질소가스를 생산하여 저장탱크를 충진할 수 있다.According to the present invention as described above, when sealing the inner upper portion of the storage tank with nitrogen, it is possible to effectively seal while reducing the sealing cost due to the excessive consumption of nitrogen gas, the operation method of adding and subtracting the production time according to the concentration of nitrogen gas It can reduce energy consumption and produce large amount of nitrogen gas at low production cost to fill the storage tank.
도 1 은 종래 통상적인 질소 실링에 사용되는 질소발생기의 개략적인 설치 구성도(a) 및 질소발생기에서 발생되는 질소의 시간에 따른 농도와 밸브 개폐 작동을 설명하기 위한 그래프(b)이며,FIG. 1 is a schematic installation diagram (a) of a nitrogen generator used in a conventional nitrogen seal and a graph (b) for explaining the concentration and the valve opening / closing operation according to the time of nitrogen generated in the nitrogen generator.
도 2 는 본 발명에 따른 질소 공급 장치의 구성도,2 is a configuration diagram of a nitrogen supply device according to the present invention,
도 3 은 본 발명에 따른 질소 공급 방법을 예시적으로 설명하기 위한 도면,3 is a view for illustratively explaining a nitrogen supply method according to the present invention;
도 4 는 본 발명에 따른 질소 공급 방법을 단계별로 순서대로 도시한 흐름도이다.4 is a flowchart showing a nitrogen supply method according to the present invention step by step.
[부호의 설명][Description of the code]
1 : 저장탱크 10 : 압축기1: storage tank 10: compressor
12 : 유입제어밸브 14 : 유입측 배기밸브12: inlet control valve 14: inlet exhaust valve
20 : 질소발생기 21 : 질소발생수단20: nitrogen generator 21: nitrogen generating means
22 : 버퍼탱크 24 : 질소농도계측기22: buffer tank 24: nitrogen concentration measuring instrument
26 : 배기밸브 28 : 공급제어밸브26: exhaust valve 28: supply control valve
60 : 질소공급관 70 : 탱크농도계측기60: nitrogen supply pipe 70: tank concentration meter
80 : 배기밸브 80' : 배기회수선택밸브80: exhaust valve 80 ': exhaust recovery selector valve
82 : 질소회수관 84 : 회수밸브82: nitrogen recovery pipe 84: recovery valve
90 : 유입가스선택밸브 100 : 제어부90: inlet gas selection valve 100: control unit
이하, 본 발명에 따른 질소 가스 공급 장치 및 그 방법을 첨부된 도면과 바람직한 실시예를 참조로 상세히 설명한다.Hereinafter, a nitrogen gas supply apparatus and a method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.
본 발명은 초기에 일반 공기로 채워져 있는 대공간 저장탱크(1; 축열조, 유류 저장탱크 등) 내부에 고농도(90.0% ~ 99.9999%)의 질소 가스를 공급하고자 하는 것이다. 그런데, 위에서 이미 언급한 바와 같이, 저장탱크(1) 내부를 처음부터 고농도의 질소 가스로 충진한다 하더라도 최초 채워져 있던 공기와 혼합되면서 희석되어 고농도의 질소 가스로 충만되지 않을 뿐만 아니라 데드존(dead zone)이 발생할 우려도 있으며, 질소 가스의 생산비가 많이 드는 단점이 존재하는 바, 이러한 단점을 해결하기 위하여, 초기 충진되는 질소 가스의 농도를 낮게 유지하면서 생산량을 늘려 저가의 생산비로 충진한 후, 저장탱크(1)내 질소 농도가 적정 농도에 도달하면 질소발생기(20)로부터 생산되는 질소 가스의 농도를 높여 최종적으로 요구되는 고농도의 질소 가스로 저장탱크(1) 내부를 치환하는 방식을 채택한다.The present invention is to supply a high concentration of nitrogen gas (90.0% ~ 99.9999%) inside the large space storage tank (1; heat storage tank, oil storage tank, etc.) initially filled with normal air. However, as mentioned above, even if the inside of the storage tank 1 is initially filled with high concentration of nitrogen gas, it is not mixed with the air that was initially filled and diluted with high concentration of nitrogen gas, as well as dead zone. ), And there is a drawback that the production cost of nitrogen gas is high. To solve this disadvantage, increase the production while keeping the concentration of nitrogen gas initially charged and fill it with low production cost and store it. When the nitrogen concentration in the tank 1 reaches an appropriate concentration, the concentration of nitrogen gas produced from the nitrogen generator 20 is increased to finally replace the inside of the storage tank 1 with the required high concentration of nitrogen gas.
이를 위해 본 발명에 따른 질소 가스 공급 장치는, 도 2 에 도시된 바와 같이, 압축기(10), 유입제어밸브(12), 질소발생기(20), 질소공급관(60), 탱크농도계측기(70), 배기밸브(80), 질소회수관(82), 유입가스선택밸브(90) 및 제어부(100)를 포함한다. To this end, the nitrogen gas supply apparatus according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, the compressor 10, the inlet control valve 12, the nitrogen generator 20, the nitrogen supply pipe 60, the tank concentration meter 70 , Exhaust valve 80, nitrogen recovery pipe 82, inlet gas selection valve 90 and control unit 100.
압축기(10)는 기체를 압축하여 고압의 압축공기를 후술하는 질소발생기(20)로 공급하는 것으로, 대기중의 일반 공기를 유입시켜 압축공기를 형성하거나, 후술하는 바와 같이 저장탱크(1)에 충진된 질소가스(이하, '공정가스'라 칭함)를 압축하여 공급한다.The compressor 10 compresses gas and supplies high-pressure compressed air to a nitrogen generator 20 which will be described later. The compressed air is introduced into the storage tank 1 by introducing general air in the atmosphere or described later. The compressed nitrogen gas (hereinafter referred to as 'process gas') is compressed and supplied.
유입제어밸브(12)는 상기 압축기(10)의 후단에 구비되어 압축기(10)로부터 발생된 압축공기를 질소발생기(20)로 유입시키거나 유입을 차단하기 위한 밸브로서, 전동밸브 또는 솔레노이드밸브로 구성된다.The inflow control valve 12 is provided at the rear end of the compressor 10 and is a valve for introducing compressed air generated from the compressor 10 into the nitrogen generator 20 or blocking the inflow thereof. The valve is an electric valve or a solenoid valve. It is composed.
질소발생기(20)는 유입제어밸브(12)의 후단에 연결되고, 압축기(10)로부터 공급되는 압축공기 중 산소를 분리 제거하여 질소를 발생시키는 장치로서, 질소발생수단(21), 버퍼탱크(22), 질소농도계측기(24), 배기밸브(24), 공급제어밸브(28)를 포함한다. 이러한 질소발생기(20)의 종류는 통상 PSA(Pressure Swing Adsorption) 방식과 멤브레인(membrane) 방식 등이 있는데, 여기서는 주로 PSA 방식에 대해 설명한다. 그러나, PSA 방식의 질소발생기(20)는 하나의 실시예로서 본 발명은 이러한 PSA 방식의 질소발생기(20)에만 한정되는 것은 아니다. Nitrogen generator 20 is connected to the rear end of the inlet control valve 12, is a device for generating nitrogen by separating and removing oxygen from the compressed air supplied from the compressor 10, nitrogen generating means 21, buffer tank ( 22), nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24, exhaust valve 24, supply control valve 28. Types of the nitrogen generator 20 generally include a PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) method and a membrane method. Here, the PSA method will be mainly described. However, the nitrogen generator 20 of the PSA method is an embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to the nitrogen generator 20 of the PSA method.
PSA 방식의 질소발생기(20)는, 도 2 에 도시된 바와 같이, 챔버 형태의 질소발생수단(21) 내부에 CMS(Carbon Molecular Sieve)라는 입자상 흡착제가 충진되어 있는 형태로 구성되는데, 이 CMS는 균일하게 조정된 세공을 갖는 흡착제이며, 세공으로의 확산 속도 차이에 의해 질소 분자(분자 경 4.3)와 비교하여 산소분자(분자 경3.9)가 보다 빨리 흡착된다. 평형 흡착량에는 양자의 차이가 거의 보이지 않으나 흡착 속도는 30배 이상의 차이를 나타내며, 이러한 흡착 속도의 차이를 이용하여 압축공기로부터 산소를 분리 제거하여 순도 높은 질소를 발생시키는 것이다. 이러한 질소발생수단(21)의 구성 및 작동 원리는 이미 공지된 것으로 더 이상의 상세한 설명은 생략한다. 한편, 상기 질소발생수단(21)은 챔버 방식으로 구성되는 것이 바람직하나 질소를 효율적으로 발생시킬 수 있다면 그 방식에는 제한이 없다.As shown in FIG. 2, the PSA-type nitrogen generator 20 is configured in a form in which a particulate adsorbent called CMS (Carbon Molecular Sieve) is filled inside the nitrogen generating means 21 in a chamber form. It is an adsorbent having uniformly adjusted pores, and oxygen molecules (molecular diameter 3.9) are adsorbed more quickly than nitrogen molecules (molecular diameter 4.3) due to the difference in diffusion rate into the pores. Although the difference in equilibrium adsorption is hardly seen, the adsorption rate shows a difference of 30 times or more. By using the difference in adsorption rate, oxygen is separated and removed from the compressed air to generate high purity nitrogen. The construction and operating principle of the nitrogen generating means 21 is already known, and further detailed description thereof will be omitted. On the other hand, the nitrogen generating means 21 is preferably configured in a chamber manner, but if the nitrogen can be efficiently generated, there is no limitation in the manner.
유입측 배기밸브(14)는 유입제어밸브(12)의 후단 및 질소발생기(20)의 전단 측에 공통으로 연결되는 밸브로서, 압축기(10)로부터 발생된 압축공기 중의 일부를 외부 대기로 배출하거나 질소발생기(20)에서 생산된 저농도의 질소(미리 설정된 농도 미만의 질소)를 배출하거나, 또는 CMS에 흡착된 산소를 퍼징(furging)하여 외부로 배출하기 위한 밸브이다.The inlet side exhaust valve 14 is a valve commonly connected to the rear end of the inlet control valve 12 and the front side of the nitrogen generator 20, and discharges some of the compressed air generated from the compressor 10 to the outside atmosphere. It is a valve for discharging the low concentration of nitrogen (nitrogen below a predetermined concentration) produced by the nitrogen generator 20, or purging the oxygen adsorbed on the CMS to discharge to the outside.
질소발생기 내부의 버퍼탱크(22)는 질소발생수단(21)의 후단에 연결되어 질소발생수단(21)로부터 발생된 질소를 공급받아 일시 저장하는 탱크이다. The buffer tank 22 inside the nitrogen generator is connected to a rear end of the nitrogen generator 21 to receive and temporarily store nitrogen generated from the nitrogen generator 21.
질소농도계측기(24)는 질소발생수단(21)에서 발생된 질소 가스의 농도를 측정하는 장치로서, 질소의 농도를 직접적으로 측정하거나, 산소의 농도를 측정한후 질소 농도를 간접적으로 계산하여 산출하는 방식의 계측기가 사용될 수 있다.The nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24 is a device for measuring the concentration of nitrogen gas generated in the nitrogen generating means 21. The nitrogen concentration is measured by measuring the concentration of nitrogen directly or after indirectly calculating the concentration of oxygen. Instrument can be used.
배기밸브(26)는 상기 질소농도계측기(24)에 의해 측정된 질소가스의 농도가 미리 설정된 농도 미만인 경우 개방되어 해당 질소가스를 외부로 배출하는 밸브이다.The exhaust valve 26 is a valve which opens when the concentration of nitrogen gas measured by the nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24 is less than a predetermined concentration and discharges the nitrogen gas to the outside.
공급제어밸브(28)는 질소발생수단(21)에서 생산되고 버퍼탱크(22)에 일시 저장된 질소 가스를 토출하여 저장탱크(1)에 공급하거나 공급을 차단하기 위한 밸브로서 단순 온오프 밸브로 구성될 수도 있고, 후술하는 바와 같이 질소농도계측기(24)에서 측정된 질소 농도에 따라 개도가 조절되도록 구성되는 것이 바람직하다. 이러한 공급제어밸브(28)의 작동 방법에 대해서는 후술하기로 한다.The supply control valve 28 is a valve for discharging nitrogen gas produced by the nitrogen generating means 21 and temporarily stored in the buffer tank 22 to supply to the storage tank 1 or to block supply. As described below, the opening degree may be adjusted according to the nitrogen concentration measured by the nitrogen concentration meter 24. The operation of the supply control valve 28 will be described later.
상기 공급제어밸브(28)를 통해 토출되는 질소 가스는 질소공급관(60)을 통하여 저장탱크(1)의 내측 상부 공간으로 충진된다. 그리고, 저장탱크(1)에는 충진된 질소 가스의 농도를 측정하기 위한 탱크농도계측기(70)가 구비된다.The nitrogen gas discharged through the supply control valve 28 is filled into the upper space inside the storage tank 1 through the nitrogen supply pipe 60. In addition, the storage tank 1 is provided with a tank concentration meter 70 for measuring the concentration of the filled nitrogen gas.
한편, 상기 저장탱크(1)의 내측 상부 공간 중 하부측에는 도 2의 (a)에 도시된 바와 같이 저장탱크(1) 내부에 기 충진되어 있던 공기 또는 질소를 외부로 배출시키기 위한 배기밸브(80)와 저장탱크(1) 내측 상부 공간에 질소 충진시 최초 저장되어 있던 공기 또는 충진된 질소 가스를 회수하여 후술하는 압축기(10)로 공급하기 위한 회수밸브(84)가 구비되는 것이 바람직하다. 또한, 더욱 바람직하게는 도2의 (b)에 도시된 바와 같이 배기밸브(80) 및 회수밸브(84) 대신에 기 충진된 질소의 배기와 회수를 선택적으로 수행할 수 있는 배기회수선택밸브(80')가 구비되는 것이 바람직하다. 상기 배기회수선택밸브(80')는 저장탱크(1) 내측 상부 공간에 질소 충진시 최초 저장되어 있던 공기 또는 충진된 질소 가스를 외부로 배출하거나, 충진된 질소가스(이하, '공정가스'라 칭함)를 회수하여 후술하는 압축기(10)로 공급하기 위한 밸브로서, 삼방밸브로 구성되는 것이 바람직하다. On the other hand, the lower side of the inner upper space of the storage tank (1) as shown in Figure 2 (a) exhaust valve 80 for discharging the air or nitrogen that was previously filled in the storage tank (1) to the outside ) And a recovery valve 84 for recovering the air or nitrogen gas that was initially stored when the nitrogen is filled in the upper space inside the storage tank 1 and supplying it to the compressor 10 to be described later. More preferably, as shown in FIG. 2B, instead of the exhaust valve 80 and the recovery valve 84, an exhaust recovery selector valve capable of selectively performing exhaust and recovery of pre-filled nitrogen ( 80 ') is preferably provided. The exhaust recovery selector valve 80 ′ discharges the first stored air or the filled nitrogen gas when the nitrogen is filled in the upper space inside the storage tank 1 to the outside, or the filled nitrogen gas (hereinafter referred to as “process gas”). And a valve for supplying the compressor 10 to the compressor 10 to be described later.
유입가스선택밸브(90)는 일단은 상기 배기밸브(84) 또는 배기회수선택밸브(80')와 연결되고 타단은 상기 압축기(10)의 전단에 연결되어, 대기 공기 또는 회수된 공정가스를 선택적으로 유입시키기 위한 밸브이다. 상기 유입가스선택밸브(90)는 압축기(10)로 유입되는 기체의 종류를 변경하기 위하여 유로를 변경시키는 것으로 3-way 밸브 등으로 구성될 수 있다. The inflow gas selection valve 90 is connected at one end to the exhaust valve 84 or the exhaust recovery selection valve 80 'and the other end is connected to the front end of the compressor 10 to selectively select atmospheric air or recovered process gas. Valve for inflow The inlet gas selection valve 90 may be configured as a 3-way valve by changing a flow path in order to change the type of gas flowing into the compressor 10.
이상에서 설명한 본 발명에 따른 질소 공급 장치의 전체 작동은 제어부(100)에 의해 자동 제어된다. 이하, 상기한 바와 같은 구성을 갖는 본 발명에 따른 질소 공급 장치의 작동 및 질소 공급 방법을 도 2 내지 도 4를 참조로 상세히 설명한다. The overall operation of the nitrogen supply apparatus according to the present invention described above is automatically controlled by the controller 100. Hereinafter, the operation and nitrogen supply method of the nitrogen supply apparatus according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
저장탱크(1)에 충진되는 질소의 최종 목표농도(이하, '목표농도')는 저장탱크(1)의 용도 등에 따라 다르나 통상 99.0% ~ 99.9%의 고순도로 설정된다. 종래에는 질소발생수단(21)에서 발생되는 질소 가스의 농도가 목표농도에 미달시에는 이를 외부로 배기하고, 목표농도에 도달하는 경우에만 질소 가스를 처음부터 저장탱크(1) 내부 상측 공간에 충진하였다. 그러나, 이미 언급한 바와 같이, 통상 99.9%의 목표농도를 갖는 질소를 생산하는데는 시간도 오래 걸려 압축기(10)와 질소발생수단(21)의 가동율이 증가할 뿐만 아니라, 질소의 생산량 또한 압축공기의 4분의 1 정도로 매우 적다. 그리고, 대공간 저장탱크(1)의 경우 처음부터 목표농도로 충진하여도 저장탱크(1) 내부의 공기와 혼합되면서 희석되므로 고농도의 질소가스로 충만되지 못하고 충진 시간도 매우 오래 소요된다. The final target concentration (hereinafter, 'target concentration') of nitrogen filled in the storage tank 1 depends on the use of the storage tank 1, etc., but is usually set at a high purity of 99.0% to 99.9%. Conventionally, when the concentration of nitrogen gas generated by the nitrogen generating means 21 is less than the target concentration, the exhaust gas is discharged to the outside, and the nitrogen gas is initially filled in the upper space inside the storage tank 1 only when the target concentration is reached. It was. However, as already mentioned, it takes a long time to produce nitrogen having a target concentration of 99.9%, not only increases the operation rate of the compressor 10 and the nitrogen generating means 21, but also the amount of nitrogen produced by the compressed air. Very little about a quarter. In the case of the large space storage tank (1), even though it is filled with the target concentration from the beginning, it is diluted while mixing with the air in the storage tank (1), and thus the filling time is very long and is not filled with nitrogen gas.
이에, 본 발명은 저장탱크(1)에 질소를 충진하는 경우에 있어서, 처음부터 목표농도로 충진하지 않고, 도 3 에 도시된 바와 같이, 초기에는 목표농도 보다 낮은(예컨대, 98.0%) 설정 농도(이하, '초기충진농도')의 질소를 충진하고, 시간의 경과에 따라 저장탱크(1)의 질소 농도가 상승하여 미리 설정된 일정 농도(이하, '기준농도')에 도달하면 기준농도보다 높은(바람직하게는 목표농도 이상의) 설정 농도(이하, '후기충진농도')를 갖는 질소 가스를 목표농도에 도달할때까지 충진한다. 이하, 도 4 를 참조로 이러한 충진 방법을 단계별로 설명한다. Thus, in the case of filling the storage tank 1 with nitrogen, the present invention does not fill the target concentration from the beginning, and as shown in FIG. 3, the set concentration is initially lower than the target concentration (for example, 98.0%). (Hereinafter, referred to as 'initial filling concentration') and the nitrogen concentration of the storage tank 1 increases as time passes and reaches a predetermined concentration (hereinafter referred to as 'reference concentration') higher than the reference concentration. Nitrogen gas having a set concentration (preferably above the target concentration) (hereinafter, referred to as 'postfill concentration') is filled until the target concentration is reached. Hereinafter, this filling method will be described step by step with reference to FIG. 4.
최초, 공기로 채워져 있는 저장탱크(1) 내부 상측 공간을 질소로 치환하기 위하여, 도 4 에 도시된 바와 같이, 먼저, 저장탱크(1) 내 공기를 배기하면서 미리 정해진 초기충진농도로 질소를 충진한다. 질소 가스 충진 전에는 최초 저장탱크(1)의 내부 상측 공간이 공기로 채워져 있고, 이 공기에는 습기나 저장된 액체로부터 발생하는 기타 가스가 다량 포함되어 있어 일반 대기 공기보다 질이 떨어지므로 재사용하지 않고 외부로 배출하는 것이 바람직하다. First, in order to replace the upper space inside the storage tank 1 filled with air with nitrogen, as shown in FIG. 4, first, the nitrogen is filled with a predetermined initial filling concentration while exhausting the air in the storage tank 1. do. Before filling the nitrogen gas, the upper upper space of the first storage tank 1 is filled with air, and this air contains a large amount of other gases generated from moisture or stored liquids, so that the air quality is lower than that of general air, so it is not reused. It is preferable to discharge.
이를 위해, 최초 질소 충진 작업이 개시되면, 제어부(100)는 저장탱크(1)에 연결된 배기밸브(80)를 개방하고 압축기(10)를 구동한다. 배기밸브(80) 대신 배기회수선택밸브(80')가 구비된 경우, 배기회수선택밸브(80')의 배기측을 개방하여 내부에 채워져 있던 공기를 배기시킨다. 이와 동시에 제어부(100)는 유입가스선택밸브(90)를 대기유입측으로 절환하고 압축기(10)를 구동한다. 압축기(10) 구동에 따라 압축공기가 발생되며, 발생된 압축공기는 제어부(100)에 의해 개방된 유입제어밸브(12)를 통과하여 질소발생기(20)로 공급된다. 질소발생기(20)의 질소발생수단(21)에서는 압축공기 중의 산소가 흡착 분리되어 질소가 발생된다. 질소발생수단(21)에서 초기 발생되는 질소의 농도는 매우 낮으며, 일반 대기의 조성 중 질소의 농도인 78%로부터 시작하여 산소의 흡착 분리에 따라 점차 증가하게 된다. To this end, when the initial nitrogen filling operation is started, the control unit 100 opens the exhaust valve 80 connected to the storage tank 1 and drives the compressor 10. When the exhaust recovery selector valve 80 'is provided instead of the exhaust valve 80, the exhaust side of the exhaust recovery selector valve 80' is opened to exhaust the air filled therein. At the same time, the control unit 100 switches the inlet gas selection valve 90 to the air inlet side and drives the compressor 10. Compressed air is generated according to the operation of the compressor 10, and the generated compressed air is supplied to the nitrogen generator 20 through the inflow control valve 12 opened by the controller 100. In the nitrogen generating means 21 of the nitrogen generator 20, oxygen in the compressed air is adsorbed and separated to generate nitrogen. The concentration of nitrogen initially generated in the nitrogen generating means 21 is very low, and gradually increases with the adsorptive separation of oxygen starting from 78% of the concentration of nitrogen in the composition of the general atmosphere.
다시 도 2 를 참조하면, 질소발생수단(21)에서 발생된 질소 가스는 버퍼탱크(22)에 일시 저장되며, 질소농도계측기(24)에서 질소 농도가 측정된다. 상기 질소농도계측기(24)에서 측정된 질소의 농도는 제어부(100)로 전달되고, 제어부(100)는 측정된 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 초기충진농도 미만이면 배기밸브(26)를 개방하여 저농도의 질소를 외부로 배출하고, 측정된 질소의 농도가 초기충진농도에 도달하면 배기밸브(26)를 폐쇄하고 공급제어밸브(28)를 개방하여 질소공급관(60)을 통해 저장탱크(1) 내측 상부 공간에 초기충진농도를 갖는 질소 가스가 충진된다. Referring back to FIG. 2, the nitrogen gas generated by the nitrogen generating means 21 is temporarily stored in the buffer tank 22, and the nitrogen concentration is measured by the nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24. The concentration of nitrogen measured by the nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24 is transmitted to the control unit 100, and the control unit 100 opens the exhaust valve 26 when the measured nitrogen concentration is less than the preset initial filling concentration to lower the nitrogen concentration. To the outside, and when the measured concentration of nitrogen reaches the initial filling concentration, the exhaust valve 26 is closed and the supply control valve 28 is opened to open the upper space inside the storage tank 1 through the nitrogen supply pipe 60. Is filled with nitrogen gas having an initial fill concentration.
초기충진농도로의 충진이 계속되면 저장탱크(1) 내 질소 가스의 농도는 초기농도(약 78%)로부터 지속적으로 상승하게 되며, 저장탱크(1)에 설치된 탱크농도계측기(70)는 저장탱크(1) 내부의 질소 농도를 측정한다. 탱크농도계측기(70)에서 측정된 질소 농도는 제어부(100)로 전송되며, 제어부(100)는 측정된 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 기준농도(예컨대 97%, 도 3 참조)에 도달하면, 공급제어밸브(28)를 제어(바람직하게는 개도를 조정)하여 기준농도(예컨대, 97%) 보다 높은 후기충진농도(예컨대, 99.9%)로 저장탱크(1)에 충진한다. When the filling with the initial filling concentration continues, the concentration of nitrogen gas in the storage tank 1 continuously rises from the initial concentration (about 78%), and the tank concentration meter 70 installed in the storage tank 1 stores the storage tank. (1) Measure the nitrogen concentration inside. The nitrogen concentration measured by the tank concentration meter 70 is transmitted to the controller 100, and the controller 100 supplies the control valve when the measured nitrogen concentration reaches a preset reference concentration (eg, 97%, see FIG. 3). (28) is controlled (preferably adjusting the opening degree) to fill the storage tank 1 with a late filling concentration (eg, 99.9%) higher than the reference concentration (eg, 97%).
이와 같이, 질소 가스의 농도가 기준농도에 도달하는 경우, 충진 농도를 초기충진농도로부터 후기충진농도로 전환하는 작업은 공급제어밸브(28)의 작동에 의해 수행된다. 여기서 상기 공급제어밸브(28)는 개도 조정이 가능한 비례제어밸브로 구성되는 것이 바람직한데, 이는 공급제어밸브(28)의 개폐 정도에 따라 질소발생수단(21)에서 생산되는 질소 가스의 농도가 달라지기 때문이다. 위에서 이미 언급한 바와 같이, 질소발생수단(21)는 내부에 CMS 라는 흡착 분말을 포함하고 있고, 이 CMS 를 압축공기가 통과할때 산소는 흡착되고 질소는 흡착되지 않고 배출됨에 따라 질소 가스가 생산되는 것이다. 이 때, 공급제어밸브(28)가 완전 폐쇄되어 있거나 조금 열려있으면 압축공기가 질소발생수단(21) 내에서 체류하는 시간이 길기 때문에 산소가 많이 흡착되어 질소 가스의 농도는 높아지는 반면, 공급제어밸브(28)가 많이 열려있으면 압축공기가 질소발생수단(21) 내에서 체류하는 시간이 짧기 때문에 산소의 흡착량이 적어 질소 가스의 농도가 낮아지게 된다. 다만, 상기 공급제어밸브(28)가 반드시 비례제어밸브로 구성되어야만 하는 것은 아니고, 단순 온오프 밸브로도 개폐 절환 및 개방 시간 조절, 배기밸브(24)의 개폐 조절 등을 통하여 충진농도의 전환이 가능할 수 있다. As such, when the concentration of the nitrogen gas reaches the reference concentration, the operation of switching the filling concentration from the initial filling concentration to the late filling concentration is performed by the operation of the supply control valve 28. Here, the supply control valve 28 is preferably composed of a proportional control valve capable of adjusting the opening degree, which is different in the concentration of nitrogen gas produced by the nitrogen generating means 21 according to the opening and closing degree of the supply control valve 28. For losing. As already mentioned above, the nitrogen generating means 21 includes an adsorption powder called CMS therein, and when the compressed air passes through the CMS, oxygen is adsorbed and nitrogen is not adsorbed, so nitrogen gas is produced. Will be. At this time, if the supply control valve 28 is completely closed or slightly open, since the compressed air stays in the nitrogen generating means 21 for a long time, oxygen is adsorbed and the concentration of nitrogen gas is increased, whereas the supply control valve is If 28 is largely open, the time for which the compressed air stays in the nitrogen generating means 21 is short, so that the adsorption amount of oxygen is small and the concentration of nitrogen gas is lowered. However, the supply control valve 28 does not necessarily have to be configured as a proportional control valve, and the switching of the filling concentration through the opening / closing switching and opening time adjustment and the opening / closing adjustment of the exhaust valve 24 is performed even with a simple on / off valve. It may be possible.
이러한 이유로, 본 발명에서 저장탱크(1) 내부를 초기충진농도의 질소 가스로 충진하다가 탱크농도계측기(70)에서 측정된 저장탱크(1) 내 질소 가스의 농도가 미리 설정된 기준농도에 도달하는 경우, 제어부(100)는 공급제어밸브(28)의 개도를 감소시켜 질소발생수단(21)로부터 생산되는 질소 가스의 농도가 미리 설정된 후기충진농도로 증가되도록 하여 저장탱크(1) 내부를 후기충진농도의 질소 가스로 충진한다. For this reason, in the present invention, when the inside of the storage tank 1 is filled with nitrogen gas of the initial filling concentration, the concentration of the nitrogen gas in the storage tank 1 measured by the tank concentration measuring instrument 70 reaches a preset reference concentration. The control unit 100 reduces the opening degree of the supply control valve 28 so that the concentration of the nitrogen gas produced from the nitrogen generating means 21 is increased to a preset late filling concentration so that the inside of the storage tank 1 has a late filling concentration. Fill with nitrogen gas.
이와 같이 공급제어밸브(28)의 개도 조정을 통하여 후기충진농도의 질소 가스로 충진되는 저장탱크(1) 내부의 질소 농도는 기준농도로부터 계속 증가한다. 탱크농도계측기(70)는 저장탱크(1)의 질소 농도를 측정하며, 측정된 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 목표농도에 도달하는 경우 제어부(100)는 공급제어밸브(28)를 전폐함과 아울러 배기밸브(80), 회수밸브(84) 또는 배기회수선택밸브(80')도 폐쇄하고 압축기(10) 구동을 중지함으로서 저장탱크(1) 내 질소 가스 치환 작업을 완료한다. 이러한 작업의 반복에 의해 저장탱크(1) 내 질소 가스의 치환이 반복적으로 수행될 수 있다.As such, the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank 1 filled with the nitrogen gas of the late filling concentration through the adjustment of the opening degree of the supply control valve 28 continues to increase from the reference concentration. The tank concentration meter 70 measures the nitrogen concentration of the storage tank 1, and when the measured nitrogen concentration reaches a predetermined target concentration, the controller 100 closes the supply control valve 28 and exhaust valve. (80), the recovery valve 84 or the exhaust recovery selector valve 80 'is also closed and the operation of the compressor 10 is stopped to complete the nitrogen gas replacement operation in the storage tank 1. By the repetition of this operation, the replacement of the nitrogen gas in the storage tank 1 can be performed repeatedly.
한편, 저장탱크(1) 내 질소 가스를 공급한 후 재차 새로운 질소 가스로 치환하는 경우, 배기밸브(80)를 개방하여 기 충진된 질소를 외부로 배기할 수도 있고, 회수밸브(84)를 개방하여 회수된 공정가스가 질소회수관으로 회수될 수 있다. 이와 같이 공정가스가 회수되는 경우 압축기(10) 전단에 설치된 유입가스선택밸브(90)의 유로를 질소회수관(82) 측으로 절환하여 대기 공기 대신에 회수된 공정가스가 압축기(10)로 유입되도록 할 수 있다. 그리고, 배기밸브(80) 및 회수밸브(84) 대신 배기회수선택밸브(80')가 구비되는 경우에는 배기회수선택밸브(80')의 배기측을 개방하여 공정가스를 외부로 배기하고 회수측을 개방하여 회수된 공정가스가 질소회수관(82)으로 회수되도록 할 수 있다. 이 때, 회수된 공정가스에는 습기가 다량 함유되어 있을 수 있으므로 감습을 위하여 압축기(10) 전단에 습기제거기를 설치하는 것이 바람직하다. 이와 같은 방식으로 질소 가스의 재활용을 통한 질소 소비량을 줄일 수 있을 뿐만 아니라 질소발생기의 가동율을 감소시킬 수 있으므로 에너지 절약 및 운전비 감소 효과를 얻을 수 있다. On the other hand, when the nitrogen gas in the storage tank 1 is replaced with new nitrogen gas again, the exhaust valve 80 may be opened to exhaust the prefilled nitrogen to the outside, and the recovery valve 84 is opened. The recovered process gas can be recovered to the nitrogen recovery pipe. When the process gas is recovered as described above, the flow path of the inlet gas selection valve 90 installed at the front end of the compressor 10 is switched to the nitrogen recovery pipe 82 so that the recovered process gas is introduced into the compressor 10 instead of the atmospheric air. can do. When the exhaust recovery selector valve 80 'is provided instead of the exhaust valve 80 and the recovery valve 84, the exhaust side of the exhaust recovery selector valve 80' is opened to exhaust the process gas to the outside and the recovery side By opening the can be recovered to the recovered process gas to the nitrogen recovery pipe (82). At this time, the recovered process gas may contain a large amount of moisture, it is preferable to install a dehumidifier in front of the compressor (10) for the humidity. In this way, not only can the nitrogen consumption be reduced through the recycling of nitrogen gas, but also the operating rate of the nitrogen generator can be reduced, thereby saving energy and reducing operating costs.

Claims (9)

  1. 저장탱크(1)에 질소를 공급하는 시스템으로서,As a system for supplying nitrogen to the storage tank (1),
    압축기(10)와;A compressor 10;
    상기 압축기(10)로부터 압축공기를 공급받아 질소를 생성하는 질소발생수단(21), 상기 질소발생수단(21)에서 생성된 질소의 농도를 측정하는 질소농도계측기(24), 및 상기 질소발생수단(21)에서 생성된 질소를 저장탱크(1)로 공급 또는 차단하기 위한 공급제어밸브(28)를 포함하는 질소발생기(20)와;Nitrogen generating means 21 for generating nitrogen by receiving compressed air from the compressor 10, a nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24 for measuring the concentration of nitrogen generated in the nitrogen generating means 21, and the nitrogen generating means A nitrogen generator (20) comprising a supply control valve (28) for supplying or blocking the nitrogen produced in the (21) to the storage tank (1);
    상기 저장탱크(1) 내부의 질소 농도를 측정하는 탱크농도계측기(70)와;A tank concentration meter (70) for measuring the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank (1);
    전체 시스템의 작동을 제어하는 제어부(100)를 포함하되;A control unit 100 for controlling the operation of the entire system;
    상기 제어부(100)는 질소농도계측기(24) 또는 탱크농도계측기(70)에서 측정된 질소 농도에 따라 상기 공급제어밸브(28)를 제어하여 저장탱크(1)로 공급되는 질소의 농도를 조절하는 것을 특징으로 하는 질소공급 시스템.The controller 100 controls the supply control valve 28 according to the nitrogen concentration measured by the nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24 or the tank concentration measuring instrument 70 to adjust the concentration of nitrogen supplied to the storage tank 1. Nitrogen supply system, characterized in that.
  2. 제 1 항에 있어서,The method of claim 1,
    상기 제어부(100)는,The control unit 100,
    질소농도계측기(24)에서 측정된 질소의 농도를 전달받아, 측정된 질소의 농도가 초기충진농도에 도달한 것으로 판정되면 공급제어밸브(28)를 개방하여 저장탱크(1) 내측 상부 공간에 미리 설정된 초기충진농도의 질소가 충진되도록 하고;When it is determined that the nitrogen concentration measured by the nitrogen concentration measuring instrument 24 reaches the initial filling concentration, the supply control valve 28 is opened to advance to the upper space inside the storage tank 1. Nitrogen is charged at a set initial fill concentration;
    탱크농도계측기(70)에서 측정된 질소의 농도를 전달받아, 측정된 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 기준농도에 도달하면, 공급제어밸브(28)를 제어하여, 저장탱크(1) 내측 상부 공간의 농도가 미리 설정된 목표농도에 도달할때까지 기준농도 보다 높은 미리 설정된 후기충진농도의 질소로 충진하는 것을 특징으로 하는 질소 공급 시스템.When the concentration of nitrogen measured by the tank concentration meter 70 is received and the measured nitrogen concentration reaches a preset reference concentration, the supply control valve 28 is controlled to increase the concentration of the upper space inside the storage tank 1. Nitrogen supply system, characterized in that the filling with a nitrogen of a predetermined late filling concentration higher than the reference concentration until a predetermined target concentration is reached.
  3. 제 1 항 또는 제 2 항에 있어서,The method according to claim 1 or 2,
    상기 공급제어밸브(28)는 개도 조정이 가능한 비례제어밸브인 것을 특징으로 하는 질소 공급 시스템.The supply control valve 28 is nitrogen supply system, characterized in that the proportional control valve capable of adjusting the opening.
  4. 제 1 항 또는 제 2 항에 있어서,The method according to claim 1 or 2,
    상기 저장탱크(1)의 내측 상부 공간 중 하부측에는 저장탱크(1)에 질소 충진시 최초 저장되어 있던 공기 또는 기 충진된 질소를 외부로 배출하기 위한 배기밸브(80)가 구비되는 것을 특징으로 하는 질소 공급 시스템.The lower side of the inner upper space of the storage tank (1) is characterized in that the exhaust valve 80 for discharging the air or pre-filled nitrogen initially stored when the nitrogen in the storage tank (1) is provided to the outside Nitrogen supply system.
  5. 제 4 항에 있어서, The method of claim 4, wherein
    상기 저장탱크(1)의 내측 상부 공간 중 하부측에는 저장탱크(1)에 기 충진된 질소를 회수하여 상기 압축기(10)로 공급하기 위한 회수밸브(84)가 구비되는 것을 특징으로 하는 질소 공급 시스템.Nitrogen supply system, characterized in that the lower side of the inner upper space of the storage tank (1) is provided with a recovery valve 84 for recovering the nitrogen filled in the storage tank (1) to supply to the compressor (10) .
  6. 제 5 항에 있어서, The method of claim 5, wherein
    일단이 상기 회수밸브(84)와 연결되고 타단은 상기 압축기(10)의 전단에 연결되어, 대기 공기 또는 회수된 질소를 압축기(10)로 선택적으로 유입시키기 위한 유입가스선택밸브(90)를 더 포함하는 것을 특징으로 하는 질소 공급 시스템.One end is connected to the recovery valve 84 and the other end is connected to the front end of the compressor 10 to further provide an inlet gas selection valve 90 for selectively introducing atmospheric air or recovered nitrogen into the compressor 10. A nitrogen supply system, characterized in that it comprises.
  7. 제 1 항 또는 제 2 항에 있어서,The method according to claim 1 or 2,
    상기 저장탱크(1)의 내측 상부 공간 중 하부측에는 저장탱크(1)에 질소 충진시 최초 저장되어 있던 공기 또는 기 충진된 질소를 외부로 배출하거나, 기 충진된 질소를 회수하여 상기 압축기(10)로 공급하기 위한 배기회수선택밸브(80')가 구비되는 것을 특징으로 하는 질소 공급 시스템.At the lower side of the inner upper space of the storage tank 1, the air or pre-filled nitrogen which was initially stored when nitrogen was charged in the storage tank 1 is discharged to the outside, or the pre-filled nitrogen is recovered to recover the compressor 10. Nitrogen supply system, characterized in that the exhaust recovery selection valve (80 ') for supplying.
  8. 제 7 항에 있어서, The method of claim 7, wherein
    일단이 상기 배기회수선택밸브(80')와 연결되고 타단은 상기 압축기(10)의 전단에 연결되어, 대기 공기 또는 회수된 질소를 압축기(10)로 선택적으로 유입시키기 위한 유입가스선택밸브(90)를 더 포함하는 것을 특징으로 하는 질소 공급 시스템. One end is connected to the exhaust recovery selector valve 80 ′ and the other end is connected to the front end of the compressor 10 so as to selectively introduce atmospheric air or recovered nitrogen into the compressor 10. Nitrogen supply system further comprises a).
  9. 저장탱크 내에 질소 가스를 공급하는 방법으로서,As a method for supplying nitrogen gas into the storage tank,
    저장탱크의 내측 상부 공간에 미리 정해진 초기충진농도로 질소를 충진하고, 저장탱크 내 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 기준농도에 도달하는지를 판정하여, 저장탱크 내 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 기준농도에 도달하는 경우 상기 기준농도 보다 높은 후기충진농도의 질소를 저장탱크 내 질소 농도가 미리 설정된 목표농도에 도달할때까지 충진하는 것을 특징으로 하는 질소 가스 공급 방법. In the upper space of the storage tank filled with nitrogen at a predetermined initial filling concentration, it is determined whether the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank reaches a preset reference concentration, and when the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank reaches the preset reference concentration, the standard Nitrogen gas supply method characterized in that the nitrogen filling of the late filling concentration higher than the concentration until the nitrogen concentration in the storage tank reaches a predetermined target concentration.
PCT/KR2015/009999 2014-11-18 2015-09-23 Storage tank nitrogen supply system and method therefor WO2016080651A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201580062342.9A CN107000933A (en) 2014-11-18 2015-09-23 The nitrogen supply (NS) system and method for storage tank

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1020140161025A KR101722080B1 (en) 2014-11-18 2014-11-18 Nitrogen gas supply system for storage tank and the method thereof
KR10-2014-0161025 2014-11-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2016080651A1 true WO2016080651A1 (en) 2016-05-26

Family

ID=56014140

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/KR2015/009999 WO2016080651A1 (en) 2014-11-18 2015-09-23 Storage tank nitrogen supply system and method therefor

Country Status (3)

Country Link
KR (1) KR101722080B1 (en)
CN (1) CN107000933A (en)
WO (1) WO2016080651A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101689275B1 (en) * 2016-07-08 2017-01-03 최길운 Apparatus for generating nitrogen oxide and system for generating nitrogen oxide ahving the same
CN109488878A (en) * 2018-12-07 2019-03-19 云南云天化石化有限公司 Nitrogen leak recovery system
CN110239852A (en) * 2019-05-08 2019-09-17 江苏科威环保技术有限公司 Oil storage tank deck is self-styled or double envelope combined systems

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR102037661B1 (en) * 2017-09-28 2019-10-29 한라아이엠에스 주식회사 Gas Concentration Precision Control System
KR102338579B1 (en) * 2019-11-13 2021-12-14 한라아이엠에스 주식회사 Method for controlling a nitrogen generator
CN113003027B (en) * 2021-03-24 2022-11-11 威特龙消防安全集团股份公司 Safety protection system and method for floating-roof storage tank floating-plate bottom falling process
KR20230173407A (en) 2022-06-17 2023-12-27 한국철도기술연구원 Container having internal and external gas input and method for controlling gas input of the same
KR20240074220A (en) 2022-11-21 2024-05-28 한국철도기술연구원 Storage container internal environment control system and method for controlling internal environment using the same
KR102655860B1 (en) * 2023-01-16 2024-04-05 표우영 High-speed high-concentration nitrogen injection device of controlled atmosphere container and method thereof

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6216387A (en) * 1985-07-05 1987-01-24 オルガノ株式会社 Nitrogen-gas encapsulated retention tank facility
KR20080107262A (en) * 2007-06-06 2008-12-10 다이요 닛산 가부시키가이샤 Method of generating low purity nitrogen gas
JP2009120204A (en) * 2007-11-12 2009-06-04 Taiheiyo Cement Corp Storing system for low flash point fuel
KR101200100B1 (en) * 2012-05-06 2012-11-12 이경우 Nitrogen generating, storage and supply system for tanker ship and control method thereof
KR20140011880A (en) * 2012-07-20 2014-01-29 주식회사 티에스엠 Nitrogen gas generation device

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN2858245Y (en) * 2005-12-29 2007-01-17 韩国海 Constant pressure gas auxiliary injection-moulding forming device
EP2687694A4 (en) * 2011-03-15 2015-04-22 Hino Motors Ltd Exhaust gas purification device
CN104001702B (en) * 2014-05-22 2016-05-18 北京石油化工学院 Gas station's sunken tankers mechanical cleaning system
CN203976403U (en) * 2014-06-24 2014-12-03 杭州天利空分设备制造有限公司 Sledge piece formula membrane separation nitrogen making machine

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6216387A (en) * 1985-07-05 1987-01-24 オルガノ株式会社 Nitrogen-gas encapsulated retention tank facility
KR20080107262A (en) * 2007-06-06 2008-12-10 다이요 닛산 가부시키가이샤 Method of generating low purity nitrogen gas
JP2009120204A (en) * 2007-11-12 2009-06-04 Taiheiyo Cement Corp Storing system for low flash point fuel
KR101200100B1 (en) * 2012-05-06 2012-11-12 이경우 Nitrogen generating, storage and supply system for tanker ship and control method thereof
KR20140011880A (en) * 2012-07-20 2014-01-29 주식회사 티에스엠 Nitrogen gas generation device

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101689275B1 (en) * 2016-07-08 2017-01-03 최길운 Apparatus for generating nitrogen oxide and system for generating nitrogen oxide ahving the same
CN109488878A (en) * 2018-12-07 2019-03-19 云南云天化石化有限公司 Nitrogen leak recovery system
CN109488878B (en) * 2018-12-07 2024-01-30 云南云天化石化有限公司 Emptying nitrogen recovery system
CN110239852A (en) * 2019-05-08 2019-09-17 江苏科威环保技术有限公司 Oil storage tank deck is self-styled or double envelope combined systems
CN110239852B (en) * 2019-05-08 2023-11-14 江苏科威环保技术有限公司 Oil storage tank top self-sealing and double-sealing combined system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR101722080B1 (en) 2017-03-31
CN107000933A (en) 2017-08-01
KR20160059309A (en) 2016-05-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2016080651A1 (en) Storage tank nitrogen supply system and method therefor
TWI500876B (en) Gas supplying apparatus, cylinder cabinet provided with the same, valve box, and substrate process apparatus
WO2020190107A1 (en) Smart dehumidification apparatus and dehumidification method of flow rate-dependent switching method
TWI455870B (en) Ozone gases supply system
WO2013125744A1 (en) Water treatment apparatus and water treatment method
CN110043999A (en) A kind of biosecurity laboratory exhaust system and negative pressure keeping method and circulation sterilization method
JPH11335102A (en) Method and apparatus for continuously generating highly concentrated ozone
CN205187863U (en) Gaseous purification treatment appearance of portable sulfur hexafluoride
CN214611527U (en) Oxygen generation equipment capable of recycling unqualified oxygen
ES2257016T3 (en) SEPARATION PROCEDURE FOR ABSORPTION WITH MODULATED PRESSURE OF A GAS MIXTURE.
JP3549949B2 (en) Low oxygen incubator
JP2010196786A (en) Operation method of gas holder and gas holder device
WO2016052926A1 (en) Water piston device and biogas compression system using same
JP2015137387A (en) Gas supply system
JP2000209812A (en) Hydrogen gas substitution apparatus for cooling rotary electric machine
CN109518125B (en) Hydrogen purification method for vacuum coating and implementation device thereof
JP2005129491A (en) Fuel cell power generating system
KR20160137622A (en) Purification method and purification device for target gas
CN215886782U (en) Oxygen supply device for processing microcrystalline glass
CN211450362U (en) Air supply device capable of reliably monitoring micro-positive pressure of isolated-phase enclosed bus
JP2006275436A (en) Seal gas or instrumentation air supply method and its device
KR100317715B1 (en) Apparatus for supplying a gas and method for detecting an airtightness of a supplying gas
JPH05346424A (en) Gas chromatograph
CN217220864U (en) Air supply maintenance device and transformer equipment for nuclear power station
CN219966717U (en) Safe fire-retardant control device for continuous flame cutting operation

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 15860480

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 15860480

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1