Natural gas purge burner and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for purging air and/or one or more inert gases from a flammable gas system, such as a natural gas pipeline, are described. In particular, this application discusses systems and methods for making and using a gas purge burner to purge air/inert gases from a flammable gas system. The gas purge burner includes a burner having a gas inlet and a gas escape vent. The burner also has a continuous ignition mechanism that includes an igniter (such as a pilot light and/or an electric igniter) that is disposed near the gas escape valve. The burner also has a gas outlet that can be disposed between the gas inlet and the gas escape vent and which is also configured to direct gases from the burner to a gas measurement device. The burner can be used to monitor the amount of flammable gas flowing into the burner and to continually ignite and burn off such gas until the stream of gas passing through the burner is substantially pure. Thus, the gas burner can allow a user to perform such tasks while being removed a safe distance from the actual burner, increasing the safety of the user during the pursing process. Other implementations are described.

1 . A gas purge burner, comprising:
 a gas inlet;   a gas escape vent;   an air inlet located between the gas inlet and the gas escape vent;   a gas outlet located between the gas inlet and the air inlet; and   a substantially continuous ignition mechanism having an igniter disposed near the gas escape vent.   
     
     
         2 . The gas purge burner of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter comprises a pilot light and the ignition mechanism further comprises a portable container having flammable gas. 
     
     
         3 . The gas purge burner of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter comprises an electric igniter. 
     
     
         4 . The gas purge burner of  claim 1 , wherein the gas outlet directs gases from the burner to a gas measurement device. 
     
     
         5 . A gas purge burner, comprising:
 a burner comprising a gas inlet and a gas escape vent;   a substantially continuous ignition mechanism having an igniter disposed near the gas escape vent;   a gas line extending from the gas inlet to an adjustable gas inlet valve;   a gas outlet disposed between the gas inlet and the adjustable inlet valve; and   a conduit extending from the gas outlet to direct gases from the burner to a gas measurement device.   
     
     
         6 . The burner of  claim 5 , wherein the igniter comprises an electric igniter. 
     
     
         7 . The burner of  claim 5 , wherein the igniter comprises a pilot light. 
     
     
         8 . The burner of  claim 7 , wherein the ignition mechanism comprises a portable container with a flammable gas. 
     
     
         9 . The burner of  claim 5 , wherein the burner comprises a plurality of gas escape vents. 
     
     
         10 . The burner of  claim 5 , wherein the gas outlet is disposed between an air inlet defined in the burner and the gas inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The burner of  claim 5 , wherein the gas measurement device detects the presence of natural gas in the gases that flow from the burner. 
     
     
         12 . The burner of  claim 5 , wherein the conduit is attached to the gas measurement device and the gas measurement device detects a pressure of gas flowing into the burner. 
     
     
         13 . The burner of  claim 5 , wherein the conduit directs the gases from the burner to both a gas pressure indicator measuring a pressure of gases flowing into the burner as well as a gas measurement device detecting a concentration of natural gas in the gases that flow into the burner. 
     
     
         14 . A gas purge burning system, comprising:
 a burner comprising:
 a gas inlet and a gas escape vent; 
 an ignition mechanism having an igniter disposed near the gas escape vent; 
 a gas line extending from the gas inlet to an adjustable gas inlet valve; 
 a gas outlet disposed between the gas inlet and the adjustable inlet valve; and 
 a conduit extending from the gas outlet to direct gases from the burner to a gas measurement device; and 
   a control apparatus holding the adjustable inlet valve and a connector to attach the conduit to a gas measurement device valve.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control apparatus further comprises a portable container containing a flammable gas. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control apparatus comprises a first coupling to connect the adjustable inlet valve to the gas line. 
     
     
         17 . A method for purging gas from a system, comprising:
 attaching a burner having a substantially continuous ignition mechanism to a gas system;   igniting the ignition mechanism;   monitoring a concentration of a flammable gas flowing from the gas system into the burner; and   allowing gases from the gas system to pass through the burner until a desired amount of a flammable gas is detected as exiting from the gas system.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the burner comprises:
 a gas inlet;   a gas escape vent;   an igniter for the ignition mechanism, the igniter disposed near the gas escape vent;   a gas line extending from the gas inlet to an adjustable gas inlet valve; and   a gas outlet disposed between the gas inlet and the adjustable inlet valve.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a conduit extends from the gas outlet to direct gases from the burner to a gas measurement device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the gas measurement device measures a pressure of the gases that flow into the burner. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the gas measurement device determines a concentration of a flammable gas that flows to the burner. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the ignition mechanism comprises an electric igniter and a pilot light that is fed by a container containing a flammable gas. 
     
     
         23 . A control apparatus for a gas purge burner, the control apparatus comprising:
 a support structure;   an adjustable gas inlet valve attached to the support structure; wherein the inlet valve is attached to a first coupling that connects a pressure valve to a gas line that extends to a gas purge burner and wherein the inlet valve is attached to a second coupling that connects the inlet valve to a gas system; and   a gas measurement valve regulating the flow of gases from the gas purge burner to a gas measurement device, wherein the gas measurement valve is attached to a third coupling connecting a connector to a conduit that extends from a gas outlet disposed between a gas escape vent of the burner and the adjustable inlet valve.   
     
     
         24 . The control apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a fourth coupling that is attached to the support structure, wherein the fourth coupling connects a container of a flammable gas to a pilot light disposed near the gas escape vent of the burner. 
     
     
         25 . The control apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a fourth coupling for connecting an electric igniter of the burner to a power sourced disposed at the control apparatus.