System and method for removing gases from liquid transport systems

Abstract

A liquid transport system. The liquid transport system includes a gas displacement piping section fluidly coupled to a centrifugal pump or to other portions of the liquid transport system. The gas displacement piping section includes an inlet, and outlet and a gas discharge located between the inlet and outlet for enabling gases to escape or be displaced from the gas displacement piping section, the gas displacement piping section being configured to cause entrained gases in flowing liquid to migrate toward the gas discharge. In centrifugal pump embodiments, the gas displacement piping section may be fluidly coupled upstream or downstream of the centrifugal pump, and may include a vacuum pump and/or float valve coupled to the gas discharge.

1 . A liquid transport system, comprising: 
 a piping system configured to transport pressurized liquid;    a gas displacement piping section, including:    an inlet coupled to a first portion of the piping system;    an outlet coupled to a second portion of the piping system; and    an intervening region of larger cross-sectional area than the inlet, a gas discharge being located on an upper portion of the intervening region.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a centrifugal pump, where the gas displacement piping section is coupled upstream of the centrifugal pump to an input of the centrifugal pump.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a vacuum pump fluidly coupled with the gas discharge of the gas displacement piping section.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a float valve coupled between the gas discharge of the gas displacement piping section and the vacuum pump.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , where the gas displacement piping section increases in cross-sectional area from the inlet to the outlet.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , where the inlet and the outlet of the gas displacement piping section are smaller in cross-sectional area than the intervening region.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum pump fluidly coupled with the gas discharge of the gas displacement piping section and a float valve coupled between the gas discharge and the vacuum pump.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a centrifugal pump, where the gas displacement piping section is coupled downstream of the centrifugal pump to an output of the centrifugal pump  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a vacuum pump fluidly coupled with the gas discharge of the gas displacement piping section and a float valve coupled between the gas discharge and the vacuum pump.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , where the gas displacement piping section increases in cross-sectional area from the inlet to the outlet.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , where the inlet and the outlet of the gas displacement piping section are smaller in cross-sectional area than the intervening region.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , where the gas discharge includes a plurality of elongate openings oriented perpendicular to a direction of liquid flow through the gas displacement piping section.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , where the gas discharge includes a plurality of elongate openings oriented parallel to a direction of liquid flow through the gas displacement piping section.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , where the gas discharge includes a plurality of elongate openings oriented at an angle to a direction of liquid flow through the gas displacement piping section.  
   
   
       15 . A liquid transport system, comprising: 
 a centrifugal pump;    a motor configured to drive an impeller of the centrifugal pump;    a gas displacement piping section fluidly coupled to the centrifugal pump, including an inlet, an outlet and a gas discharge located between the inlet and the outlet for enabling gases to escape or be displaced from the gas displacement piping section, the gas displacement piping section being configured to cause entrained gases in flowing liquid to migrate toward the gas discharge;    a vacuum pump fluidly coupled to the gas discharge and operative to facilitate withdrawal of gas from the gas displacement piping section; and    a float valve coupled between the gas discharge of the gas displacement piping section and the vacuum pump.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , where the gas displacement piping section is fluidly coupled to an input of the centrifugal pump.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , where in a region of the gas displacement piping section containing the gas discharge, a cross-sectional area of such region is larger than a cross-sectional area of the inlet of the gas displacement piping section.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , where the gas displacement piping section increases in cross-sectional area from the inlet to the outlet.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , where the gas displacement piping section has an intervening region between the inlet and the outlet having a cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross-sectional area at the inlet and the outlet.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 16 , where the gas discharge includes a plurality of elongate slots formed in a wall of the gas displacement piping section.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , where plural elongate members are arranged across the elongate slots to create a plurality of openings, the openings being sized to permit gas displacement while inhibiting escape of debris through the gas discharge.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , where the elongate slots are oriented perpendicular to a direction of liquid flow through the gas displacement piping section.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20 , where the elongate slots are oriented parallel to a direction of liquid flow through the gas displacement piping section.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20 , where the elongate slots are oriented at an angle to a direction of liquid flow through the gas displacement piping section.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 20 , where plural elongate debris bars are disposed inside the gas displacement piping section over the elongate slots so as to create a mesh arrangement that permits gas displacement while inhibiting escape of debris through the gas discharge.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 15 , where the gas displacement piping section is fluidly coupled to an output of the centrifugal pump.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 15 , where the gas displacement piping section includes a plurality of inwardly-extending vanes configured to enhance migration of entrained gases toward the gas discharge.