초록 ▼

This invention relates to a method and system for increasing the utilization of the supply of acetylene from two acetylene sources. The flow is provided at a substantially constant delivery pressure to a point of use, such as a customer point of use. A portable apparatus is configured to operably co

This invention relates to a method and system for increasing the utilization of the supply of acetylene from two acetylene sources. The flow is provided at a substantially constant delivery pressure to a point of use, such as a customer point of use. A portable apparatus is configured to operably connect to each of the two acetylene sources simultaneously and during operation automatically provide flow from one of the acetylene sources through various valving and piping assembled onto the portable apparatus followed by supply to a customer point of use.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for maximizing utilization of supply of acetylene at a substantially constant delivery pressure to a point of use, comprising: a first acetylene source and a second acetylene source;the first acetylene source characterized by an initial source pressure comprising a first set of cylinders

1. A system for maximizing utilization of supply of acetylene at a substantially constant delivery pressure to a point of use, comprising: a first acetylene source and a second acetylene source;the first acetylene source characterized by an initial source pressure comprising a first set of cylinders manifolded together to provide the supply of acetylene at the substantially constant delivery pressure;the second acetylene source comprising a second set of cylinders manifolded together to provide the supply of acetylene at the substantially constant pressure;each of the first set and the second set of cylinders comprising a porous filler with solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylformaldehyde (DMF), acetone and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) into which pressurized acetylene is absorbed;the first acetylene source and the second acetylene source operably connected to a portable apparatus, said portable apparatus, comprising:a discharge manifold in fluid communication to the first acetylene source and the second acetylene source; anda controller to maximize the supply of acetylene from the first acetylene source, the controller having as an input, the delivery pressure of the acetylene, and the controller configured to switch supply to the second acetylene source when the controller determines the initial source pressure from the first acetylene source decreases by no more than 80% of the initial source pressure, and further wherein the controller is configured to divert from the second acetylene source back to the first acetylene source to resume supply of acetylene from the first acetylene source when determining the pressure of the first acetylene source is greater than the delivery pressure. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first acetylene source resumes supply of acetylene from the first acetylene source when the pressure of the first acetylene source is about 24-26% of the initial source pressure of the first acetylene source. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery pressure is from about 10 to about 25 psig. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the discharge manifold is situated between the first and the second acetylene sources and the point of use. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the discharge manifold and the controller are operably connected onto the portable apparatus. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable apparatus further comprises a pressure regulating device to down regulate from a source pressure of the first acetylene source to the substantially constant delivery pressure. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically notify a remote user(s) when the first acetylene source has attained a permanently or temporarily depleted status, thereby prompting replacement of said first acetylene source with a new acetylene source. 8. A portable on-site apparatus configured for automatically controlling supply of acetylene from multiple acetylene trailers, said portable-onsite apparatus comprising: a discharge manifold, said manifold adapted to interconnect to at least a first acetylene source and a second acetylene source to allow the supply of acetylene at a substantially constant delivery pressure to a point of use from either the first acetylene source or the second acetylene source;a controller to maximize the supply of the acetylene from the first acetylene source, the controller having as an input, the delivery pressure of the acetylene, and the controller configured to switch supply from the first acetylene source to the second acetylene source when the controller determines a pressure of the first acetylene source decreases by no greater than 80% of an initial source pressure of the first acetylene source, and further wherein the controller is configured to divert from the second acetylene source to the first acetylene source to resume supply of acetylene from the first acetylene source when determining the pressure of the first acetylene source is sufficient to supply the acetylene at the substantially constant delivery pressure;a modular platform characterized by a footprint having an area of no more than about 50 ft2, said modular platform configured to receive said controller and said discharge manifold. 9. The portable on-site apparatus of claim 8, wherein the manifold further comprises a control valve to direct the flow from one of the first and the second acetylene sources to the manifold. 10. The portable on-site apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first acetylene source resumes supply of acetylene from the first acetylene source when the pressure of the first acetylene source increases to about 24-26% of the initial source pressure of the first acetylene source. 11. The portable on site apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a first status indicator for displaying a status of said first acetylene source, and a second status indicator for displaying a status of said second acetylene source. 12. The portable on site apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a first control valve for activating supply of acetylene from the first acetylene source, and a second control valve for activating supply of acetylene from the second acetylene source. 13. The portable on-site apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a first pressure regulating device positioned along a first flow leg operably connected to a first acetylene source, said first pressure regulating device regulating the pressure of acetylene supplied from the first acetylene source from a source pressure in the first acetylene source to a delivery pressure, anda second pressure regulating device positioned along a second flow leg operably connected to a second acetylene source; said second pressure regulating device regulating the pressure of acetylene supplied from the second acetylene source from a source pressure in the second acetylene source to the delivery pressure. 14. The portable on-site apparatus of claim 10, further defined by a flow network, said flow network comprising: a first flow leg extending between the first acetylene source and the discharge manifold;a second flow leg extending between the second acetylene source and the discharge manifold;an outlet leg extending between the discharge manifold and the point of use. 15. The portable on-site apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a pressure gauge and control valve positioned on the outlet leg. 16. The portable on-site apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second acetylene source is a reserve bank permanently deployed at a customer site.