초록 ▼

A vacuum purge system is provided to protect the vacuum pump from becoming flooded with liquid that on occasion is purged with vapors from process equipment. The liquid is trapped in a vessel and then evaporated and exhausted through the vacuum pump as vapor. Evaporation of trapped liquid is effecte

A vacuum purge system is provided to protect the vacuum pump from becoming flooded with liquid that on occasion is purged with vapors from process equipment. The liquid is trapped in a vessel and then evaporated and exhausted through the vacuum pump as vapor. Evaporation of trapped liquid is effected by reducing or stopping the purge stream to the trapping vessel while continuing to operate the vacuum pump, thereby reducing the absolute pressure within the vessel. Evaporation of liquid can also be effected by supplying heat to the trapped vessel, either in cooperation with or instead of the pressure reduction. Use of a programmable logic controller enables a cyclic operation that traps liquid from entering the pump, removes the trapped liquid as vapor, and then resumes normal purge operation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a vacuum purge fluid flow system in which vapors are withdrawn from a purged volume through a vacuum pump, the method of protecting the vacuum pump from being flooded by liquid accompanying said vapors which comprises:(a) collecting in a trap reservoir positioned in said system between said pu

1. In a vacuum purge fluid flow system in which vapors are withdrawn from a purged volume through a vacuum pump, the method of protecting the vacuum pump from being flooded by liquid accompanying said vapors which comprises:(a) collecting in a trap reservoir positioned in said system between said purged volume and said pump any liquid which would otherwise enter said pump, (b) detecting in said trap the presence of liquid which might be drawn into said pump, and (c) changing the conditions of pressure or temperature or both pressure and temperature within said trap reservoir so that liquid present is vaporized and passed through said pump as vapor.