RU235090U1 - Railway tank with a device for heating the lower drain device - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to railway transport, in particular to means of transporting light petroleum products at sub-zero temperatures. The utility model includes a tank boiler with an upper filling hatch, a lower drain device, a U-shaped heating casing rigidly fixed to the bottom of the boiler at the location of the transition pipe. A tubular heat exchanger with a diameter of 3-5 cm is installed inside the heating casing at an angle of 5 degrees. The heating casing and the tubular heat exchanger are equipped with inlet and outlet pipes. The technical result is achieved by preheating the lower part of the tank boiler at the location of the transition pipe using a tubular heat exchanger to positive temperatures in order to prevent temperature stresses of welded seams and boiler metal, with further heating and melting of ice and unblocking of the lower drain device with hot exhaust gases in the heating casing. The utility model ensures trouble-free opening of the lower drain device with a special key on top of the tank, the use of exhaust gases from any truck as a coolant, and a reduction in the time it takes to unload petroleum products at sub-zero temperatures.

Description

The utility model relates to railway transport, in particular to the means of transporting light petroleum products at sub-zero temperatures. Light petroleum products include motor gasolines, aviation kerosene and diesel fuels. The utility model ensures the discharge of petroleum products at sub-zero temperatures in conditions of water freezing, reduces the time of its pumping out and reduces the cost of thermal energy for unloading. Railway tank cars for the transportation of petroleum products with technical solutions for capturing gasoline vapors and for the device for draining petroleum products are known (Matveev Yu.A. et al. Patent for utility model No. 137527 dated 20.02.2014, Matveev Yu.A. et al. Patent for utility model No. 92637 dated 27.03.2010).

The disadvantages of these useful models are the lack of thermal devices for heating petroleum products both inside and outside the tank.

There are known tanks for viscous petroleum products that contain means for heating them, ensuring the restoration of the fluidity of the petroleum product before unloading (Morchiladze I.G. Railway tank cars: design, maintenance and repair. Moscow, IVS-Holding, 2006, - 512 p.).

The disadvantages of tanks are:

- high labor costs and thermal energy consumption for heating the oil product to restore its fluidity during unloading, carried out as a gravity discharge;

- the need for organizing the unloading of petroleum products from discharge sites that include complex engineering and construction structures equipped with expensive equipment;

- intended only for the transportation of viscous petroleum products.

A tank car with a heating system is also known (Shpak S.A. et al. Patent for invention No. 2697492 dated 08/14/2019).

The tank car includes a boiler equipped with a heating system in the form of heat exchangers separately located parallel to each other in its lower part, consisting of three sections - extreme and middle. The extreme sections of the heat exchangers are made in the form of an outer pipe, plugged on one side and located inside it a pipe of smaller diameter with centering spacers. The middle section is made in the form of a shell from a pipe with a diameter equal to the diameter of the outer pipe, divided by a partition into two chambers E and G. Chamber E is closed by a partition and walls in the form of sectors with openings I made in them, connected to the shell. Openings K are made in the shell of chambers E and G, through which the middle section is connected through channels to the collectors for supplying and removing the coolant. The heat exchangers are fixedly connected to the boiler by brackets located in the middle part, and movably in brackets fixedly connected to the boiler.

Considering that the length of the extreme sections of the heat exchanger depends on the location of the neck in the boiler and its diameter, the length of the middle section is determined as the difference between the length of the heat exchanger and the lengths of the two extreme sections. In order to ensure more complete removal of condensate from the upper chamber E, the partition is installed at an angle to the horizontal plane.

When the transported product is heated in the boiler, the heat carrier is fed through the nozzle into the collector, then through the channel into the chamber E of the middle section and diverges through the openings I and pipes of smaller diameter into the outer pipes. The resulting condensate flows into the chamber G of the middle section and through the opening K in the shell, the channel, the collector, the nozzle gets into the intended receivers.

The solution to the specified problem is achieved by the fact that each heat exchanger is made in three sections, the outer sections of which are made in the form of an outer pipe plugged at one end with a movable pipe of smaller diameter installed in it, connected by a middle section made in the form of a shell, divided lengthwise by a partition into two chambers, one of which is closed on both sides by walls with openings and which are connected to pipes of smaller diameter with the creation of a common space of the chamber and pipes, in the shell of each chamber there are openings through which the heat exchangers are connected by channels to the collectors of the supply and discharge of the coolant. In this case, the partition in the chamber of the middle section is installed inclined, and the shell of the middle section is made of two parts with their connection by a partition and between themselves.

The disadvantages of a tank car with a heating system are:

1. The possibility of damage to the quality of petroleum products when condensate or water gets inside a tank with fuels and lubricants.

2. Complexity and high cost of the proposed technical solution.

3. Intended only for the transportation of viscous petroleum products.

A tank for transporting viscous petroleum products is also known (Moiseev V.I., Komarova T.A., patent for invention No. 2666018 dated September 5, 2018).

A tank for transporting viscous petroleum products contains a horizontally mounted cylindrical boiler on transport trolleys, which has an upper filling hatch, a lower drain device with upper control. A steam heating jacket is rigidly fixed to the lower half of the tank boiler. The steam heating jacket is a chamber formed by the boiler wall and a steel sheet rigidly fixed to it with the formation of an air gap. The steam heating jacket has an inlet pipe, which ensures the supply of steam to the chamber of the jacket, and an outlet pipe for draining the resulting condensate.

The top half of the boiler, above the steam heating jacket, is covered with a layer of heat-insulating material, such as rigid polyurethane foam.

When the tanker moves, the oil product cools down, and in conditions of negative (minus) temperatures, oils and fuel oils may solidify and become highly viscous.

The layer of solidified fraction is easily washed away when steam is supplied through the inlet pipe, under the steam heating jacket and condensate is discharged through the pipe using standard technology. When heating and washing away the layer of solidified fraction, which has thermal contact with the hot oil product, the area of the walls of the tank boiler, where the formation of highly viscous residues of the transported oil product remains possible, is significantly reduced.

The discharged oil product has a high temperature and fluidity and can be transferred to tanks via ground communications.

The disadvantages of a tank for transporting viscous petroleum products are:

1. Lack of preheating of the tank boiler to positive temperatures, which can lead to thermal stresses in the welded seams and metal of the boiler.

2. Complexity and high cost of the proposed technical solution.

3. Intended only for transportation and discharge of viscous petroleum products.

The closest in technical essence to the specified problem is a tank for transporting oils, fuel oils and other viscous petroleum products at low temperatures (Bogdanov A.Yu., Matveev Yu.A., patent for invention No. 2749164 dated 06/07/2021).

The invention comprises a horizontally mounted cylindrical boiler on transport trolleys, having an upper filling hatch, a lower drain device with upper control. A steam heating jacket is rigidly fixed to the lower half of the tank boiler. Upper control of the lower drain device is provided by a rod having a crank, which in the non-working position is placed in the upper filling hatch. The lower drain device is mounted on a transition pipe, rigidly attached with one of its ends to the lower sheet of the tank boiler shell and having an opening on the second end, covered by the valve seat of the lower drain device. A rubber sealing cuff is fixed on the lower side of the valve seat.

The steam heating jacket is a chamber formed by the boiler wall and a steel sheet rigidly fixed to it with the formation of an air gap five centimeters thick. The steam heating jacket has an inlet pipe that supplies steam to the jacket chamber, and an outlet pipe for draining the resulting condensate and water.

The top half of the boiler, above the steam heating jacket, is covered with a layer of heat-insulating material, such as rigid polyurethane foam.

A steam jacket consisting of three rows of 2 cm diameter pipes placed parallel to each other along the tank boiler is installed inside the steam heating jacket. The pipes are rigidly attached to the holders, which in turn are welded to the boiler. The steam jacket is made in the form of a U-shape and is installed at an angle of 10 degrees to drain water and condensate. The steam jacket is equipped with valves at the steam inlet and outlet. The steam pipes of the jacket are equipped with inlet and outlet pipes (flanges) for connecting the hoses. At the end of the steam outlet of the steam jacket, a section of the steam pipe with a valve is installed, which is connected to the inlet pipe of the steam heating jacket. The section of the steam pipe is located outside the steam heating jacket.

The steam jacket, inlet and outlet pipes are equipped with taps for draining water and condensate. The steam jacket pipes are rigidly connected to each other by vertical metal plates.

The invention works as follows.

In winter, at sub-zero temperatures, a railway tank car with a viscous petroleum product arrives at the unloading point (oil depot). Using special hoses, a mobile or stationary steam source is connected to the inlet pipe of the tank's steam jacket. Steam enters the pipes of the steam jacket and exits as a steam-water mixture through the outlet pipe, to which the hose is also connected. At the same time, the chamber of the steam-heating jacket and the boiler of the railway tank car with the petroleum product are heated. After the boiler walls are preheated, the corresponding valve of the outlet pipe of the steam jacket is closed, then the valve on the pipeline section is opened and the steam-water mixture enters the chamber of the steam-heating jacket through the inlet pipe. At the same time, the steam-water mixture exits through the outlet pipe into the drain.

After this, a two-stage heating of the oil product occurs using heat from the steam jacket and the steam-water mixture passing through the steam heating jacket.

When the tank boiler is heated, the layer of solidified fraction that has thermal contact with the hot boiler is washed away and the area of the tank boiler walls, where the formation of highly viscous residues of the transported petroleum product remains possible, is significantly reduced. Also, with the help of heat transfer, the overall heating of the petroleum product occurs.

The drained oil product has a high temperature and fluidity and can be pumped (drained) into tanks and storage facilities via ground communications. After draining the oil product, the operator opens the drain valves of the steam jacket and the steam heating jacket to drain water and condensate.

The disadvantages of a tank for transporting oils, fuel oils and other viscous petroleum products at low temperatures are:

1. Complexity and high cost of the proposed technical solution.

2. Intended only for transportation and discharge of viscous petroleum products.

3. Using only steam as a heat carrier.

The objective of the utility model is to simplify the operator's work when draining light petroleum products from tanks in winter, using the most accessible automotive means and heat carriers to heat petroleum products and ice before unloading.

The solution to this problem is achieved by the fact that the U-shaped heating casing is rigidly fixed in the lower part of the tank at the location of the transition pipe with the possibility of connecting a drain device, while the upper part of the casing is the lower part of the tank boiler, and also by the fact that a U-shaped tubular heat exchanger is equipped inside the casing, and the exhaust gases of the car are used as a coolant.

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section and a front view of a tank boiler filled with petroleum products. Fig. 2 shows a section of the middle part of the tank boiler with an upper filling hatch and a lower drain device. Fig. 3 shows a section of a top view of the heating jacket and tubular heat exchanger. Fig. 4 shows a side view of the heating jacket.

The tank contains a horizontally mounted cylindrical boiler 1 on transport trolleys, having an upper filling hatch 2, a lower drain device 3 with upper control. In the lower part of the tank boiler 1, at the location of the transition pipe 4, a heating casing 5 is rigidly fixed, which has a U-shaped form.

The lower drain device 3 is mounted on the transition pipe 4, rigidly attached with one of its ends to the lower sheet of the shell of the tank boiler 1. In this case, the transition pipe has an opening on the second end, which is covered by the valve seat 6 with the sealing rubber 7 of the lower drain device 3.

The heating jacket 5 is a chamber formed by the lower part of the boiler 1 on top, and steel sheets on the sides and bottom, rigidly fixed to the boiler and to each other to form an air space 10-15 centimeters high in the lower part of the tank. The length of the jacket is about 2 meters. The U-shaped design of the jacket allows connecting various articulated and manual drain-fill devices (USN-150, 200, UNS-75, 100) for the lower drain of oil products. It should be noted that the jacket is located on three sides around the transition pipe 4.

The heating casing 5 has an inlet pipe (flange) 8, which provides the supply of exhaust gases to the casing chamber, and an outlet pipe (flange) 9 for the release of gases and the drainage of the resulting condensate. In this case, the pipe 9 is located in the lower part of the casing.

A tubular heat exchanger 10 with a diameter of 3-5 cm is installed inside the heating casing. The heat exchanger is rigidly attached to the holders, which in turn are welded to the bottom sheet. The heat exchanger is made in the form of a U-shape and is installed at an angle of 5 degrees to drain water and condensate. The tubular heat exchanger is equipped with inlet and outlet pipes (flanges) 11 for connecting the sleeves.

Under the influence of different night and day temperatures, a small amount of water may form in the tank boiler. Water may also enter the tank boiler when pouring oil from the tank.

When the tank moves, the oil product 12 cools down, and in conditions of negative (minus) temperatures, the water will freeze and turn into ice 13. This transition occurs at the bottom of the tank in the area where the lower drain device is located.

The thickness of ice 13 can reach several centimeters, which makes it impossible for the operator from above the tank to open the drain device with a special key. This event leads to downtime of rail transport and a rather complicated process of pumping oil products from above the tank.

The utility model works as follows.

At sub-zero temperatures, a railway tank car with light petroleum products 12 arrives at the unloading point (oil depot).

The high-temperature hose is connected to the exhaust pipe of the truck and to the inlet branch pipe 11 of the tubular heat exchanger 10 of the heating jacket 5. The exhaust gases enter the heat exchanger and exit through the outlet branch pipe 11, to which the hose is also connected. In this case, the chamber of the heating jacket 5 and the lower part of the boiler 1 of the railway tank car with petroleum product 12 are heated. After the lower part of the boiler has been preheated, the hoses are connected directly to the inlet 8 and outlet 9 branches of the heating jacket. In this case, the exhaust gases enter the chamber of the heating jacket 5 through the inlet branch pipe and exit through the outlet branch pipe.

Passing hot gases through a tubular heat exchanger ensures primary heating of the lower part of the boiler 1 tank to positive temperatures, which prevents the occurrence of thermal stresses in the welded seams and metal of the boiler at low ambient temperatures.

After this, the ice 13 is heated by the heat of the exhaust gases passing directly through the heating casing 5.

When the tank boiler and the transition pipe 4 are heated, a phase transformation of ice into water occurs.

Also, with the help of heat transfer, the overall heating of the oil product in the tank boiler occurs.

After this, the operator freely opens the lower drain device 3 with a special key from the top of the tank.

The utility model allows draining light petroleum products in low temperature conditions when the opening of the lower drain device is blocked by ice, without loss of quality of petroleum products, failure of tank equipment and a special key, and without the formation of thermal stresses in welds and boiler metal. The time of phase transformation of ice into water can be from 10 to 20 minutes.

Any truck available at the oil depot can be used for heating.

The technical device also allows using steam from a mobile steam boiler or a stationary boiler. But it should be noted that steam is usually used to heat and drain viscous petroleum products (fuel oil, oils) in winter. Supplying steam requires greater costs and additional time, compared to supplying hot exhaust gases from a regular truck.

Claims (1)

A railway tank with a device for heating the lower drain device, including a cylindrical boiler, a lower drain device with upper control, and a heating casing, characterized in that the heating casing is made in a U-shape, rigidly fixed in the lower part of the tank at the location of the transition pipe with the possibility of connecting the drain device, wherein the upper part of the casing is the lower part of the tank boiler, a U-shaped tubular heat exchanger is equipped inside the casing, and the exhaust gases of the car are used as a heat carrier.