Device for continuously preheating a mixture of burnable gas, more particularly natural gas and oxygen

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for continuously preheating a mixture of burnable gas, particularly natural gas and oxygen, prior to the catalytic combustion thereof, wherein the combustion heat thereof can be used to heat fed-out natural gas, before or after the expansion thereof and supply to consumers, in order to compensate for the Joule-Thomson effect. The device is designed as a jet pump having a propelling nozzle and a diffuser aligned therewith. The propelling nozzle is the inlet for the mixture into a mixing chamber disposed in the pump housing, a suction line for the natural gas heated by means of catalytic combustion being connected to the chamber. The diffuser is part of an outlet of the mixing chamber of the jet pump. The propelling nozzle and the diffuser are disposed such that they can be moved relative to one another in the pump housing. An adjusting mechanism is provided for adjusting the distance between the propelling nozzle and the diffuser as a function of the temperature of the gas mixture flowing out of the mixing chamber through the outlet.

1 . A device for continuously preheating a mixture of burnable gas, more particularly natural gas and oxygen prior to its catalytic combustion, wherein the combustion heat thereof can be used to heat fed-out natural gas, before or after its expansion and supply to consumers, in order to compensate for the Joule-Thomson effect,
 wherein it is designed as a jet pump with a propelling nozzle ( 3 ) and a diffuser ( 7 ) aligned therewith,   wherein the propelling nozzle ( 3 ) is the inlet for the mixture into a mixing chamber ( 5 ) disposed in the pump housing ( 4 ),   wherein a suction line ( 6 ) for the natural gas heated by means of the catalytic combustion is connected to the mixing chamber ( 5 ),   wherein the diffuser ( 7 ) is part of an outlet ( 8 ) of the mixing chamber ( 5 ) of the jet pump,   wherein the propelling nozzle ( 3 ) and the diffuser ( 7 ) are arranged in the pump housing ( 4 ) such that they can move relative to each other and   wherein an adjusting mechanism is provided for adjusting the distance between the propelling nozzle ( 3 ) and the diffuser ( 7 ) as a function of the temperature of the gas mixture flowing out the mixing chamber ( 5 ) through the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises at least one operating cylinder ( 11 ,  11 ′) supported on the pump housing ( 4 ), the piston rod of which is pivoted on the diffuser ( 7 ) which is adjustably displaced along a guide. 
     
     
         3 . The device in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein each operating cylinder ( 11 ,  11 ′) has a return spring ( 21 ,  21 ′). 
     
     
         4 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser ( 7 ) is a hollow cylindrical component which is disposed on the outlet ( 8 ) designed as guide of a pipe ( 10 ) emerging from the mixing chamber ( 5 ) and pump housing ( 4 ) for the outlet of the preheated gas mixture. 
     
     
         5 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each operating cylinder ( 11 ,  11 ′) has a connection for the supply of pressure medium controlled by a control and regulating device. 
     
     
         6 . The device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein for the supply of pressure medium a branch line ( 22 ) is provided which branches off from a main line ( 14 ) for fed-out natural gas.