Liquid Water Removal Apparatus
Liquid water removal apparatus that removes residual liquid water in a fluid conducting system by vaporizing the residual liquid water and drawing the vaporized water from the fluid conducting system. A vacuum pump (a) reduces the atmospheric pressure in the fluid conducting system to vaporize residual liquid water in the fluid conducting system, (b) draws from the fluid conducting system vaporized water, and (c) partially condenses the vaporized water drawn from the fluid conducting system. Vaporized water is conducted from the vacuum pump to a first water vapor condenser where vaporized water is condensed and residual vaporized water is conducted from the first water vapor condenser to a second water vapor condenser where the residual vaporized water received from the first water vapor condenser is condensed.
The present invention relates, in general, to the removal of residual liquid water in fluid conducting systems and, in particular, to liquid water removal apparatus that removes residual liquid water in fluid conducting systems by vaporizing the residual liquid water, drawing the vaporized water from the fluid conducting system, and condensing the vaporized water.
BACKGROUNDPre-action and dry fire suppression sprinkler manifold systems require periodic testing to verify water fill integrity. Complete draining of such systems is difficult, and often not possible, leaving water pools inside steel header pipes and pendants. Oxidation occurs within the manifold that nourishes naturally occurring microbes. Eventually, microbe colonies form at the water/dry interface that appear as rust deposits inside the steel pipe. Over time, the microbes secrete acids that accelerate oxidation rates underneath their colonies leading to through-holes. Hole formation occurs randomly and requires immediate repair adding to the complexity and expense of maintaining such systems.
Until now, treatment options have been limited. An immediate fix involves cutting out and replacing damaged manifold pipes. This strategy works when hole formation frequency is low and affected areas are not in critical locations. However, as microbe colonies mature, hole formation accelerates making this option increasingly expensive. Damage to surrounding areas associated with discolored water spray and sprinkler system service interruptions reduce the appeal of this solution.
Biocide treatments are available where the manifold is flooded with a toxic solution and drained. Application of toxic materials into building systems and disposal of toxic effluent has been objectionable. Whenever water is reintroduced, as when annual validation testing occurs, the biocide treatment must be repeated.
As a last resort, sprinkler system replacement has occurred when no other means of controlling hole formation have worked. The exceptional expense and inconvenience associated with replacement buys more time but does not fix the problem.
As a result, various forms of liquid water removal apparatus have been developed, whereby residual liquid water in the sprinkler systems and other fluid conducting systems is removed periodically in an attempt to eliminate or greatly lessen the adverse effects, described above, of oxidation of residual water in the sprinkler systems. Generally, the liquid water removal apparatus and services that are available at the present time fail to satisfy the concurrent requirements of high level effective and adequate liquid water removal and cost-effective liquid water removal.
SUMMARYLiquid water removal apparatus, constructed in accordance with the present invention, includes a vacuum pump for reducing atmospheric pressure in a fluid conducting system to vaporize residual liquid water in the fluid conducting system, drawing into the vacuum pump from the fluid conducting system vaporized water, and partially condensing vaporized water drawn into the vacuum pump. The vacuum pump has an inlet through which vaporized water is drawn into the vacuum pump from the fluid conducting system, a sump for collecting liquid water, and an outlet through which liquid water in the sump is withdrawn from the vacuum pump. The liquid water removal apparatus also has a first water vapor condenser for receiving vaporized water from the vacuum pump, condensing vaporized water received from the vacuum pump, and discharging water condensed by the first water vapor condenser. In addition, the liquid water removal apparatus has a second water vapor condenser for receiving residual water vapor from the first water vapor condenser, condensing residual water vapor received from the first water vapor condenser, and discharging water condensed by the second water vapor condenser.
Referring to the
Vacuum pump 10, which can be an oil-sealed vacuum pump such as Model HVC100A sold by HullVac Pump Corporation, has an inlet 10a through which vaporized water is drawn into the vacuum pump from the fluid conducting system, a sump 10b for collecting liquid water, and an outlet 10c through which liquid water in the sump is withdrawn from the vacuum pump, as represented by an arrow 16, and discharged into a suitable container. Vacuum pump 10 partially condenses the vaporized water drawn from the fluid conducting system and this condensate is collected in sump 10b. Sump 10b can be a specially arranged compartment in vacuum pump 10 in which liquid water is collected or simply be the lower region of the housing of the vacuum pump.
The
A solenoid valve of conventional construction and operation, controlled by a vacuum gage 25 of conventional construction and operation, can be substituted for check valve 24. Vacuum gage 25 serves as an inlet sensing means that senses the pressure of the vaporized water drawn from the fluid conducting system and when this pressure exceeds a predetermined level, the solenoid valve, substituted for check valve 24, closes to prevent an undesirable flow of a water/oil mixture from vacuum pump 10 to first water vapor condenser 18.
The
The
The
Uncontrolled entry of liquid water into vacuum pump 10 (i.e., “flooding” of the vacuum pump) can cause severe damage. Consequently, the
The inlet sensing means may be a fluid flow sensor 42, such as Part # LVU-152-R sold by Omega Engineering. For the embodiment of the invention illustrated in
Valve 50 serves to isolate the entire liquid water removal apparatus from the fluid conducting system. With both valve 44 and valve 50 closed and valve 46 open, liquid water that has already left the fluid conducting system before the closing of valve 50 is blocked by closed valve 44 from entering vacuum pump 10 and is drained through open valve 46 to a suitable container. Valve 48 serves to vent the atmosphere when valve 44 is closed and valve 46 is open.
After the liquid water has been drained and fluid flow sensor 42 no longer senses a flow of liquid water that exceeds the predetermined level that caused isolation of vacuum pump 10, valves 44 and 50 are opened by the fluid flow sensor. Valves 46 and 48, opened by fluid flow sensor 42, remain open for a predetermined time period that is based on the anticipated time required to drain the expected accumulation of liquid water prior to the closing of valve 50. Upon expiration of this predetermined time period, valves 46 and 48 close. With valves 44 and 50 opened and valves 46 and 48 closed, the liquid water removal apparatus resumes normal operation.
The
In the
The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the present invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the present invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the present invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.
Claims
1. Liquid water removal apparatus, adapted for connection to a fluid conducting system, said apparatus comprising:
- a vacuum pump: (a) for: (1) reducing atmospheric pressure in a fluid conducting system to vaporize residual liquid water in the fluid conducting system, (2) drawing into said vacuum pump from the fluid conducting system vaporized water, and (3) partially condensing vaporized water drawn into said vacuum pump from the fluid conducting system, and (b) having: (1) an inlet through which vaporized water is drawn into said vacuum pump from the fluid conducting system, (2) a sump for collecting liquid water, and (3) an outlet through which liquid water in said sump is withdrawn from said vacuum pump;
- a first water vapor condenser for: (a) receiving vaporized water from said vacuum pump, (b) condensing vaporized water received from said vacuum pump, and (c) discharging water condensed by said first water vapor condenser; and
- a second water vapor condenser for: (a) receiving residual water vapor from said first water vapor condenser, (b) condensing residual water vapor received from said first water vapor condenser, and (c) discharging water condensed by said second water vapor condenser.
2. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 1 further including:
- (a) sump liquid water level sensing means for sensing the level of the liquid water in said sump of said vacuum pump; and
- (b) sump control means, responsive to said sump liquid water level sensing means, for selectively controlling the flow of liquid water from said outlet of said vacuum pump to permit withdrawal of the liquid water in said sump of said vacuum pump.
3. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 1 further including:
- (a) inlet sensing means for sensing the passage of liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said vacuum pump, and
- (b) inlet control means, responsive to said inlet sensing means, for selectively controlling the flow of liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said inlet of said vacuum pump.
4. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 2 further including:
- (a) inlet sensing means for sensing the passage of liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said vacuum pump, and
- (b) inlet control means, responsive to said inlet sensing means, for selectively controlling the flow of liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said inlet of said vacuum pump.
5. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:
- (a) said vacuum pump is an oil-sealed vacuum pump, and
- (b) said first water vapor condenser is a coalescing filter.
6. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 5 further including:
- (a) sump liquid water level sensing means for sensing the level of the liquid water in said sump of said vacuum pump, and
- (b) sump control means, responsive to said sump liquid water level sensing means, for selectively controlling the flow of liquid water from said outlet of said vacuum pump to permit withdrawal of the liquid water in said sump of said vacuum pump.
7. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 5 further including:
- (a) inlet sensing means for sensing the passage of liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said vacuum pump, and
- (b) inlet control means, responsive to said inlet sensing means, for selectively controlling the flow of liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said inlet of said vacuum pump.
8. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 6 further including:
- (a) inlet sensing means for sensing the passage of liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said vacuum pump, and
- (b) inlet control means, responsive to said inlet sensing means, for selectively controlling the flow of liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said inlet of said vacuum pump.
9. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 1 further including:
- (a) inlet sensing means for sensing the passage of liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said vacuum pump, and
- (b) vacuum pump speed control means, responsive to said inlet sensing means, for selectively controlling the speed of said vacuum pump in accordance with the flow of the liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said vacuum pump.
10. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 5 further including:
- (a) inlet sensing means for sensing the passage of liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said vacuum pump, and
- (b) vacuum pump speed control means, responsive to said inlet sensing means, for selectively controlling the speed of said vacuum pump in accordance with the flow of the liquid water from the fluid conducting system to said vacuum pump.
11. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 4 further including heat exchanging means:
- (a) for maintaining the temperature of said second water vapor condenser in a predetermined temperature range, and
- (b) including: (1) a fluid reservoir in thermal contact with said second water vapor condenser and containing a coolant fluid, (2) a coolant fluid pump for drawing the coolant fluid from said fluid reservoir, (3) a radiator to which coolant fluid is conducted from said coolant fluid pump for radiating heat in said coolant fluid to the atmosphere and returning the coolant fluid to said fluid reservoir, and (4) a fan for cooling said radiator.
12. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 9 further including heat exchanging means:
- (a) for maintaining the temperature of said second water vapor condenser in a predetermined temperature range, and
- (b) including: (1) a fluid reservoir in thermal contact with said second water vapor condenser and containing a coolant fluid, (2) a coolant fluid pump for drawing the coolant fluid from said fluid reservoir, (3) a radiator to which coolant fluid is conducted from said coolant fluid pump for radiating heat in said coolant fluid to the atmosphere and returning the coolant fluid to said fluid reservoir, and (4) a fan for cooling said radiator.
13. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 10 further including heat exchanging means:
- (a) for maintaining the temperature of said second water vapor condenser in a predetermined temperature range and
- (b) including: (1) a fluid reservoir in thermal contact with said second water vapor condenser and containing a coolant fluid, (2) a coolant fluid pump for drawing the coolant fluid from said fluid reservoir, (3) a radiator to which coolant fluid is conducted from said coolant fluid pump for radiating heat in said coolant fluid to the atmosphere and returning the coolant fluid to said fluid reservoir, and (4) a fan for cooling said radiator.
14. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 2 further including heat exchanging means:
- (a) for maintaining the temperature of said second water vapor condenser in a predetermined temperature range, and
- (b) including: (1) a fluid reservoir in thermal contact with said second water vapor condenser and containing a coolant fluid, (2) a coolant fluid pump for drawing the coolant fluid from said fluid reservoir, (3) a radiator to which coolant fluid is conducted from said coolant fluid pump for radiating heat in said coolant fluid to the atmosphere and returning the coolant fluid to said fluid reservoir, and (4) a fan for cooling said radiator.
15. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for supplying water condensed by said first water vapor condenser to said sump of said vacuum pump.
16. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 15 further including means for supplying water condensed by said second water vapor condenser to said sump of said vacuum pump.
17. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 4 further including means for supplying water condensed by said first water vapor condenser to said sump of said vacuum pump.
18. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 17 further including means for supplying water condensed by said second water vapor condenser to said sump of said vacuum pump.
19. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 8 further including means for supplying water condensed by said first water vapor condenser to said sump of said vacuum pump.
20. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 19 further including means for supplying water condensed by said second water vapor condenser to said sump of said vacuum pump.
21. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 14 further including means for supplying water condensed by said first water vapor condenser to said sump of said vacuum pump.
22. Liquid water removal apparatus according to claim 21 further including means for supplying water condensed by said second water vapor condenser to said sump of said vacuum pump.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 14, 2011
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2012
Inventor: Paul Finestone (Glenside, PA)
Application Number: 13/026,630
International Classification: F04F 3/00 (20060101);