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

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