Title of Invention

A SWITCHING DEVICE ADAPTABLE IN PARTICULAR TO INSTALLATIONS FOR CHANGING FLUID PATHS.

Abstract The invention relates to a fitting (1) for switching fluid paths. especially for installations comprising pressure exchangers provided with tubular chambers through which the fluid flows through alternately. According to the XXXX a rotatable closing elements is arranged inside a housing (2). the housing (2) comprising a plurality of connections XXXXX connecting lines and being connected in a first pipeline system and respectively to an end side of at least one pressure exchanger. The other end side of a pressure exchanger is connected to a second pipeline system, with oyher fittings inserted in between and the closing element is provided with a motor operated drive size (14) A surface provided with a plurality of overflow rules XXXXX is anansee inside the tuusing (2) mouths of the overflow paths are located on two asial from sides(10) 11) and on the circumference of the spliner(7), and a rotating disk-shaped control element (12,13) is arranged on each from side of the spliner (7) in a scaled manner.
Full Text FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a fitting for controlling and changing
fluid paths of the brine in osmosis installations. More particularly, the invention
relates to a switching device adaptable to installations for changing fluid paths.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
For the purpose of treating water, the reverse osmesis process is often used. In
this case a fluid stream to be purified is forced at high pressure through a
membrane system which, in the case of large quantities of fluid, comprises a
plurality of membrane modules. In such membrane modules, separation into
pure water and an enriched concentrate is carried out through a membrane,
since only some of a fluid to be purified can flow through a membrane. The
proportion flowing through emerges as a usable proportion, as pure water or
else permeate, on the other side of the membrane. The part which does not flow
through leaves a membrane module as brine, a concentrate of the fluid enriched,
with salts and minerals, as a proportion which cannot be used and is under high
pressure. This pressure is around 2 bar with a module inlet pressure of about 65
bar.
US 5 306 428 discloses a reverse osmosis insolation in which pressure
exchangers in the form of tubular chambers are used to recover energy. By using
these, the still high pressure of the high energy brine flowing out of the
membrane module is transferred to a fluid still to be purified. Thus, a pump drive
output which is lower by the amount of this pressure increase is required for the
fluid to be fed in order to generate the high pressure needed for the reverse
osmosis process.
For the purpose of controlling and/or changing over the fluid paths of the brine
into and out of the pressure exchangers, a fitting with a rotating closing element
is used, in addition to other fittings. With the aid of said fitting, the tubular
chambers of the pressure exchangers have brine emerging from the membrane
modules applied to them alternatively. The rotating closing element is
constructed as a roll, in which connecting ducts are arranged in the manner of a
3-way valve. During the changeover operations, all the flow paths are shut off
completely. In order to avoid pressure surges during such changeover
operations pressure equalizing ducts are arranged within the roll.
Depending on the operating period of a membrane, its separation capability
decreases and a fluid to be purified has to remain for a correspondingly longer
time within a membrane module. For this reason, in the prior art, the changeover
times of the roll are influenced with the aid of an actuating motor. However, this
fitting is suitable only for small reverse osmosis installations, since the flow cross
sections within the fitting are approximately the same size as the flow cross
sections of the ducts to be filled. In the case of large installations and the fluid
columns to be displaced therein, and as a result of the forces necessitated
thereby, a considerable problem of dimensioning the fitting arises.
GB patent 761690 discloses an apparatus for distributing fluid. The invention
provides a valve apparatus for the distribution of a fluid, particularly compressed
air, to a plurality of fluid-operated devices such as jacks, which comprises
a fluid-tight stack of fixed plates, each of which has at least two conduits for
connection to jacks or like devices and an exhaust conduit, such plates defining
between them chambers, which communicate with each other and with a source
of fluid by connection of the latter to one of the chambers, and co-operating with
a plurality of distributing discs carried by a rotatable shaft, each of which discs is
applied plastically against one of the fixed plates and co-operates with it to
ensure an adjustable connection between the source of fluid and the conduits in
such plate.
US patent 3752167 describes a rotary valve having a stationary member formed
therein with a plurality of fluid passages and a rotary member formed therein
with at least one channel adapted to communicate one of said fluid passages to
another therethrough upon rotation of said rotary member. To facilitate a
satisfactory smooth rotation of said rotary member in contact with the stationary
member, both the stationary member and the rotary member are made of
materials of dissimilar quality having relatively higher and lower hardness,
respectively, and, in addition thereto, the contact surfaces there of are polished
very accurately.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a switching device adaptable
to installations for changing fluid paths, in particular for large osmosis
installations.
Another object of the invention is to propose a switching device which is capable
of distributing large flow of fluid between different pressure exchangers in a
simple and fault-free manner.
A further object of the invention is to propose a switching device which is
accurately dimensioned to generate the forces required to displace large fluid
columns in larger installations,
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Accordingly, there is provided a switching device adaptable, in particular to
installations for changing fluid paths, the installation comprising pressure
exchangers with tubular chambers having at least a first and a second tubular
network system, through which fluid flow takes place alternately, the device
comprising a rotatable closing and distributing element arranged inside a
housing, the housing having a plurality of connections for connecting the lines of
the tubular network systems, and the closing and distributing element being
provided with a motor-operated drive shaft, a flow splitter provided with a
plurality of transfer paths is arranged within the housing, in that openings of the
transfer paths are configured at two axial ends including the circumference of
the flow splitter, and in that a rotating, disk-like control element is arranged in a
sealing manner at each end of the flow splitter as a closing element.
The solution to this program provides for a flow splitter provided with a plurality
of transfer paths to be arranged within the housing, far openings of the transfer
paths to be arranged within the housing, for openings of the transfer paths to be
arranged at two axial ends and on the circumference of the flow splitter, and for
a rotating, disk-like control element to be arranged in a sealing manner at each
end of the flow splitter. Thus, in the case of such fluid flows which are to be
controlled and which change direction periodically, a changeover with few
pressure surges can be achieved.
Refinements of the invention provide for the end regions of the flow splitter
inside the housing to be connected to the tubular chambers in which a pressure
exchange is carried out with the aid of the changing fluid flows. In each case a
connection for a supply of high pressure fluid and a discharge of low pressure
fluid are arranged on the housing of the fitting, in the circumferential region of
the flow splitter and on the housing. What is known as brine under high
pressure, HPB, for example, flows to the fitting through the connection for a high
pressure fluid. Following pressure transmission, the brine then flows in
depressurized form, as what is known as LPB, out of the housing through the
discharge for low pressure fluid.
In the fiow splitter there are arranged flow paths with the aid of which the flows
having different pressures are distributed. In this case, within the flow splitter,
two outer flow paths are connected to a high pressure side and a central flow
path, arranged between the former, is connected to a low pressure side. In order
to ensure long-term operating reliability under the continuously changing
pressure loadings, one or more reinforcing elements can additional be arranged
in one or more of the flow paths. This depends on the physical configuration of
the flow splitter and the materials used.
The flow splitter can be an integral constituent part of the housing; it has been
shown to be advantageous if the flow splitter is constructed as a housing insert.
In this way, housing fabrication is simplified and the number of sealing points
located on the housing can be reduced. It has likewise proven to be
advantageous wit regard to the closing behavior if the flow splitter is constructed
as a ceramic or a (ceramic-) coated component.
The control elements are advantageously constructed in the manner of rotating
rotary slide, which means that secure management of the sealing functions is
possible, in addition to simple production. Therefore, a previously known closing
elements is replaced by control elements which act as temporary closing
elements only during their rotation movement. The control elements alternately
control the flow through the overflow paths of the flow splitter, which means
that secure and efficient flow changeover is ensured. Furthermore, the control
elements are provided with control openings located opposite one another in
pairs, which means that a flow of a large amount is achieved in a small space.
With the aid of the refinement in which the control openings of a control element
are arranged to be offset by at most 90° from one another in each case in
relation to the control openings of the other control element, alternating
changeover of the flow direction to the tubular chambers connected to the
housing is carried out in an extremely simple way during a rotational movement
of the control elements.
Since the control elements are subjected to alternating loading in operation, they
are provided with reinforcements on the side facing away from the flow splitter.
It is likewise possible to provide the control elements with reinforcements on
their circumference. These may be additional material masses, built-in
components, supporting elements, tensioning elements and the like. This
depends on the materials used.
In order to reduce the forces between flow splitter and control element, one or
more depression are arranged on the ends of the flow splitter in order to form
narrow bearing surfaces. This measure avoids contact over the entire area, by
which higher frictional forces are caused. Instead, the formation of narrow
contact surfaces is thus possible, which also permit improved sealing at the same
time.
In order to separate different pressure regions in the chambers located in the
housing, seals bear on the control elements on the side facing away from the
flow splitter. These can be of a sliding ring seal design. Apart from the ability to
be produced easily, the advantage of the known secure sealing action is
therefore provided. In addition, the shaft is arranged in a region of the housing
which is shielded by the seals and is connected to the low pressure side LPB. As
a result, the passage of the shaft through the housing wall to the outside
advantageously only has to be sealed by a conventional shaft seal designed for
low pressure. This entails less effort than sealing off such a shaft leadthrough
with respect to the high pressure side HPB. And, within the fitting, as a result no
additional seals are required for the passage of a shaft.
Further refinements provide for a shaft driving the control elements to pass
through the flow splitter and for the control elements to be connected in a force-
transmitting manner to the shaft. This simplifies the mounting and the driving of
the control elements. The control elements are constructed as ceramic or coated
components, which provide high resistance to wear and attack by the fluid flows
to be controlled.
Mounting and maintenance are made considerably easier if flow splitter, shaft
and control elements are all constructed as a housing insert. Thus, serviceability
can be ensured in an extremely short time. And, as a result of the arrangement
of sealing zones arranged on the circumference of the flow splitter between inlet
and outlet, overflow between these two zones is avoided.
For a gentle changeover, provision is made for the tubular chambers of the
pressure converter to be connected to one another briefly by the position and
the size of the control openings during a movement of the rotary slide. The
position and the size of the control openings on the control elements constructed
as rotary slides permits a flow changeover which is free of pressure surges, since
a simultaneous connection to a supply of high pressure fluid is thereby always
ensured. Closing a control opening of a connected tubular chamber is at the
same time connected with opening of another previously closed control opening
of a further tubular chamber and vice versa. Because of the enlarged control
openings and because of their position on the control element, an overlap with
the flow openings arranged fixedly in the flow splitter is achieved. Such an
overlap in this case has a beneficial effect on the changeover and the behavior of
the flowing fluid columns affected thereby.
Depending on the flow rate of the pressure converter, the position of the control
openings is changed at a continuous and/or discontinuous speed. The decree to
which the tubular chambers are filled can therefore be influenced. The use of a
discontinuous speed permits a longer residence time of the flow openings over
the control openings, utilizing the full opening cross section. The discontinuous
movement achieves greater channel filling in a shorter time and thus a maximum
possible flow rate. This can be done with the aid of an appropriately designed
drive motor. When a conventional rotary drive with continuous movement of the
control elements is used, the same device can also be used for small
installations, since a smaller flow rate is switched therewith. Conversely, with a
discontinuous movement of the control elements, at a given flow rate the overall
volume of the device can be reduced. With the aid of adjustable switching times
of the control elements, the volume throughput can be influenced as a function
of the pressure differences present.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Refinements of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In
the drawings.
Figures 1a and 1b show two sectional views of the fitting, offset through 90°, in
a first operating state, in each case in the plane of the inlets
and outlets,
Figures 2a and 2b shew two sectional views of the fitting, offset through 90°, in
a second operating state, the control elements in each case
being illustrated rotated through 90° with respect to figures
1a and 1b,
Figure 3a shows a perspective view of the flow splitter,
Figure 3b shows a perspective view of the flow splitter, in which one
quarter of the flow splitter has been cut away in order to
make the flow paths visible,
Figure 4a shows a perspective view of the flow splitter in the assembly
with the two control elements in a first operating state, the
upper part having been cut away in order to clarify the flow
direction,
Figure 4b shows a perspective view of the flow splitter in the assembly
with the two control elements in a second operating state,
the control elements being illustrated rotated through 90° in
each case with respect to figure 4a.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF
INVENTION
A fitting 1 is shown in section in figure la. The housing 2 has two connections 3,
4 with the aid of which a connection to the tube chambers, not illustrated, from
a pressure exchanger system is made. By means of the connections 3, 4, an
exchange of a fluid which flows through under high pressure and flows back at
lower pressure is made alternately. Arrows 5, 6 show the respectively prevailing
flow directions. The distance between the connections 3, 4 is chosen in
accordance with the distance between tubular chambers to be connected
thereto. This integration of the connections 3, 4 into the housing 2 avoids
unnecessary additional sealing points.
Arranged inside the housing 2 is a flow splitter 7 which, in the exemplary
embodiment shown, is configured as a separate insert. It can equally well be
configured as a single-piece component with the housing 2. The flow splitter 7,
formed as an insert here, is sealed off respect to the housing 2 with the aid of
seals 8. In the region of the circumference of the flow splitter 7 there is arranged
a chamber 9, which is used to discharge a depressurized fluid. In each case a
control element 12, 13 bears in a sealing manner on the ends 10, 11 and is set
rotating with the aid of a shaft 14 driven by a motor, not illustrated. The force is
transmitted between shaft 14 and the control elements 12, 13 by means of
bearing elements 15. These can be configured as polygons or force-fitting and
form-fitting in another way. The shaft 14 is mounted in the interior of the
housing 2 at one end and, on the opposite side, is mounted and sealed off in a
cover 16 which doses the housing 2.
The rotating control elements 12, 13, which are configured in the manner of
rotary sides here, have reinforcements 12.1 to 13.2. These reinforcements
improve the alternating bending loading of the control elements 12,1 3 during
the changeover operation. Depending on the materials used, that is to say metal
or ceramic or combinations thereof, these reinforcements can be formed as
accumulations of material, plates, rings, struts or the like.
In the illustrated of figure 1, a fluid under high pressure, for example a high
pressure brine HPB, flows from two T-shaped flow paths 17, 18 through control
openings 19, 20 arranged opposite one another in pairs and belonging to the
control element 13 into an end region 21 of the housing 2 and from there, via
the connection 4, to a tubular chamber. At the same instant, a fluid under low
pressure, for example a low pressure brine LPB, flows through the connection 3
from a tubular chamber into the end region 22 of the housing 2.
Seals 23 bearing on each control element 12, 13 prevent fluid exchange with
other housing regions. The seals 23 are constructed in the manner of a sliding
ring seal, held in the housing 2 so as to be secured against rotation, and bear in
a sealing manner on the control elements 12, 13 under the pressure of springs
24.
Figure 1b corresponds to the exemplary embodiment of figure la in terms of the
instantaneous position of the control elements in relation to the flow splitter.
However, a section rotated through 90° is shown in figure lb. It reveals that, of
the control element 12, the control openings 25, 26 arranged in pairs are
connected in a fluid-carrying manner to a flow path 27 which is arranged in the
center of the flow splitter 7. The central flow path 27, designed for an outward
flow of a low pressure fluid identified by LPB, is arranged between the two flow
paths 17, 18 designed for a high pressure fluid HPB. In order to manage the
altematingly occurring forces securely, a reinforcing element 29 of a transverse
rib type is arranged in the flow path 27. This ensures a beneficial flow of force
within the flow splitter 7.
A low pressure fluid led through the connection 3 into the housing 2 flows via the
control opening 25, 26 into the flow path 27 and from there flows out of the
housing as low pressure fluid via an opening 28 in the flow splitter 7 and an
outlet 30. Arranged opposite the outlet 30 on the housing 2 is a connection 31
for the supply of high pressure fluid HPB to the housing 2, With the aid of he
chamber 32 arranged on the circumference of the flow splitter 7, the high
pressure fluid is led to the two T-shaped flow paths 17 and 18. With the aid of
the low pressure chamber 9 arranged opposite, the low pressure fluid is
discharged from the housing 2 via the outlet 30.
Figures 2a and 2b show the same sections through the fitting as figures la and
1b in a second operating state. In this case, the control elements 12 and 13 have
been rotated onward through 90° in each case via the shaft 14 and the bearing
elements 15. The fluid HPB flowing into the flow paths 17, 18 through the high
pressure connection 31 and the chamber 32 is deflected via the control openings
25, 26 into the chamber 22, from where it passes via the connection 3 to a
tubular chamber (not illustrated). At the same time, low pressure fluid LPB flows
via the connection 4 from a second tubular chamber into the chamber 21,
through the control openings 19, 20 into the central flow path 27 in the flow
splitter 7 and from there out of the fitting via the opening 28, the chamber 9 and
the connection 30. By means of further rotation of the parts 12, 13, 14 and 15
through 90°, the first operating state, illustrated in figures la and lb, is then
reached again.
Figure 3a shows a perspective view of the flow splitter 7 with a central flow path
27, and figure 3b shows, by means of a partial section in the flow splitter 7, the
position of the outer flow paths 17 and 18 still located therein. In the central flow
path 27 there is a reinforcing element 29, in which there is an opening for the
shaft 14 to be led through. Furthermore, a plurality of depressions 33 is made in
the end 11 of the flow splitter 7, which means that narrow bearing surfaces 34
are formed on the end face 11. This reduces the frictional forces between the
parts sliding on one another and at the same time improves the sealing action.
The T-shaped course of the flow paths 17, 18 ensures in the simplest way that
an alternating outflow of a high pressure fluid into the respectively connected
tubular chamber becomes possible as a result of the control openings 19, 20; 25,
26 sliding alternately past. A fluid flows out of the central flow path 27 to the
outside via an opening 28 and via the outlet 30 from the housing 2.
Figures 4a and 4b show a perspective arrangement of the functional parts in the
form of the flow splitter 7, the control elements 12, 13, the shaft 14 and the
bearing elements 15 of the fitting 1, in each case in partial section. Here, figure
4a shows the first operating state and figure 4b the second operating state with
the parts 12, 13, 14 and 15 rotated through 90° in each case with respect to the
flow splitter 7. In figure 4a it becomes clear how, in a first operating state, the
high pressure fluid HPB flows through the flow paths 17, 18 and the contra
openings 19, 20 to the side at the front in this view. At the same time, on the
other side or, here, the rear side, the path via the central flow path 27 to the
opening 28 is free via the flow rate openings 25, 26 arranged in pairs, the latter
being hidden.
In the second operating state, shown in figure 4b, the relationships in the
converse state are illustrated. For this purpose, the control elements 12, 13 are
shown as having been rotated through 90° with respect to the fiow splitter 7 with
the aid of the shaft 14 and the bearing elements 15. In this view of the
drawings, a high pressure fluid HPB flows rearward via the flow openings 25, 26
of the control element 12. At the same time, via the flow openings 19, 20
likewise arranged in pairs (19 has been cut away by the partial sectional
illustration), a depressurized low pressure fluid LPB passes from the front side of
the view of the drawing into the central flow path 27 and flows out of the fitting
from there via the opening 28.
By means of this solution having the control elements 12, 13 arranged on both
sides of a flow splitter 7, an extremely compact changeover fitting with high
operational reliability is provided. At the same time, the number of sealing points
and pipeline connections needed for such a fitting could be reduced to a
minimum.
We Claim
1. A switching device (1) adaptable, in particular to installations for changing
fluid paths, the installation comprising pressure exchangers with tubular
chambers having at least a first and a second tubular network system,
through which fluid flow takes place alternately, the device comprising a
rotatable closing and distributing element arranged inside a housing (2),
the housing (2) having a plurality of connections (3, 4) for connecting the
lines of the tubular network systems, and the closing and distributing
element being provided with a motor-operated drive shaft (14),
characterized in that a flow splitter (7) provided with a plurality of transfer
paths (17, 18, 27) is arranged within the housing (2), in that openings of
the transfer paths (17, 18, 27) are configured at two axial ends (10, 11)
including the circumference of the flow splitter (7), and in that a rotating,
disk-like control element (12, 13) is arranged in a sealing manner at each
end of the flow splitter (7) as a closing element.
The invention relates to a switching device (1) adaptable, in particular to
installations for changing fluid paths, the installation comprising pressure
exchangers with tubular chambers having at least a first and a second tubular
network system, through which fluid flow takes place alternately, the device
comprising a rotatable closing and distributing element arranged inside a housing
(2), the housing (2) having a plurality of connections (3, 4) for connecting the
lines of the tubular network systems, and the closing and distributing element
being provided with a motor-operated drive shaft (14), a flow splitter (7)
provided with a plurality of transfer paths (17, 18, 27) is arranged within the
housing (2), in that openings of the transfer paths (17,18, 27) are configured at
two axial ends (10, 11) including the circumference of the flow splitter (7), and
in that a rotating, disk-like control element (12, 13) is arranged in a sealing
manner at each end of the flow splitter (7) as a closing element.

Documents:

01596-kolnp-2005-abstract.pdf

01596-kolnp-2005-claims.pdf

01596-kolnp-2005-description complete.pdf

01596-kolnp-2005-drawings.pdf

01596-kolnp-2005-form 1.pdf

01596-kolnp-2005-form 2.pdf

01596-kolnp-2005-form 5.pdf

01596-kolnp-2005-international publication.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-abstract.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-claims.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-correspondence.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-description (complete).pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-drawings.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-examination report.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-form 1.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-form 18.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-form 2.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-form 3.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-form 5.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-letter patent.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-pa.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-specification.pdf

1596-kolnp-2005-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf

abstract-01596-kolnp-2005.jpg


Patent Number 213804
Indian Patent Application Number 01596/KOLNP/2005
PG Journal Number 03/2008
Publication Date 18-Jan-2008
Grant Date 16-Jan-2008
Date of Filing 10-Aug-2005
Name of Patentee KSB AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Applicant Address JOHANN-KLEIN-STRASSE 9, 67227 FRANKENTHAL, GERMANY
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 BAUMGARTEN, SVEN FRANZ-LISZT STRASSE 30, 67251 FRIEINSHEIM, GERMANY
2 BROSS, STEPHAN AM ERLENGRABEN 7, 67167 ERPOLZHEIM, GERMANY
3 BRECHT, BERNHARD ROTKREUZSTRASSE 21, 67433 NEUSTADT/WEINSTRASSE, GERMANY
4 BRUHNS, UWE BUCHENWEG8, 67574 OSTHOFEN, GERMANY
5 ELLEGAARD, MOGENS MOSEDE KLINTVEJ 27, 2670 GREVE, DENMARK
6 FLAK, STEFAN SPEYERER STRASSE 20, 67227 FRANKENTHAL, GERMANY
7 JAGER, CHRISTOPH OBERGASSE 37, 67229 GEROLSHEIM, GERMANY
8 KOCHANOWSKI, WOLFGANG IM ELZERICH 2, 55452 WINDESHEIM, GERMANY
9 KNOBL, WILTRUD RABENSTEINERSTRASSE 11, 67071 LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY
PCT International Classification Number F16K 11/074
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2004/000987
PCT International Filing date 2004-02-04
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 103 10 662.6 2003-03-12 Germany