Radial nozzle assembly for a pressure vessel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9459006-B2
Application number	US-201213477168-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2012
Priority date	May 22, 2012
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A radial nozzle assembly for use in a pressure vessel to enable fluid flow through the vessel wall is provided. The radial nozzle assembly has a nozzle and a cup-shaped flange extending from one end of the nozzle. The nozzle has a bore disposed therethrough along its length to permit fluid flow through the wall of the pressure vessel. The flange is defined by a generally cup or dome-shaped wall having an open end. The nozzle assembly is secured to the wall of the vessel such that the nozzle is disposed in a radial orientation to the flange and possibly in a horizontal orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nozzle assembly for use in a pressure vessel defined by a vessel wall having an inner surface of which defines an interior area and an aperture that extends through an arcuate portion of the vessel wall, the nozzle assembly comprising:
a nozzle having an inner and outer end with a bore disposed therein along its length to provide for fluid flow therethrough; and
a flange extending from the inner end of the nozzle, the flange being defined by a rounded wall having a generally dome-like shape with a concave inner surface and an open end;
wherein the nozzle extends radially relative to both a vertical curvature and horizontal curvature of the rounded wall of the flange from an exterior of the rounded wall of the flange at a connection portion of the exterior that is curved at the entire interface of the nozzle and the exterior;
wherein the open end of the flange is attachable to the arcuate portion of the vessel wall to provide fluid communication between the nozzle and the interior area of the pressure vessel through the aperture of the arcuate portion of the vessel wall;
wherein the curvature of the arcuate portion of the vessel wall is different than the curvature of the rounded wall of the flange; and
wherein the arcuate portion of the vessel wall and the flange provides a clear direct, unblocked line of sight path from the interior area of the pressure vessel, through the flange and through the bore of the nozzle.

2. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle extends substantially horizontally.

3. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle extends radially from the arcuate portion of the vessel wall.

4. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flange is spherical in shape.

5. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flange is hemispherical in shape.

6. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stress range at the intersection of the wall of the vessel and the flange of the nozzle is less than 600 MP for a cold start.

7. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a level indicator in fluid communication with the outer end of the nozzle.

8. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flange includes a second flange disposed about an outer edge of the open end of the flange for securing the nozzle assembly to the arcuate portion of the vessel wall, wherein the second flange has a curvature matching the curvature of the arcuate portion of the vessel wall about the aperture therein.

9. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flange is attached to the arcuate portion of the vessel wall via at least one weld.

10. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flange is integral to the arcuate portion of the vessel wall.

11. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is attached to the flange via at least one weld.

12. The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is integral to the wall of the flange.

13. A pressure vessel comprising:
a vessel wall having an arcuate portion, an inner surface of which defines an interior area and an aperture that extends through the arcuate portion of the vessel wall; and
a nozzle assembly including:
a nozzle having an inner and outer end with a bore disposed therein along its length to provide for fluid flow therethrough; and
a flange extending from the inner end of the nozzle, the flange being defined by a rounded wall having a generally dome-like shape with a concave inner surface and an open end;

wherein the nozzle extends radially relative to both a vertical curvature and horizontal curvature of the rounded wall of the flange from an exterior of the rounded wall of the flange at a connection portion of the exterior that is curved at the entire interface of the nozzle and the exterior;
wherein the open end of the flange engages the arcuate portion of the vessel wall to provide fluid communication between the nozzle and the interior area of the pressure vessel through the aperture of the arcuate portion of the vessel wall; and
wherein the curvature of the arcuate portion of the vessel wall is different than the curvature of the rounded wall of the flange; and
wherein the arcuate portion of the vessel wall and the flange provide a clear direct, unblocked line of sight path from the interior area of the pressure vessel, through the flange and through the bore of the nozzle.

14. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the nozzle extends substantially horizontal.

15. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the flange is spherical in shape.

16. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the flange is hemispherical in shape.

17. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the stress range at the intersection of the rounded wall of the pressure vessel and the flange of the nozzle is less than 600 MPa when a heated fluid is initially provided to the pressure vessel.

18. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , further comprising a level indicator is in fluid communication with the outer end of the nozzle.

19. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the flange includes a second flange disposed about an outer edge of the open end of the flange for securing the nozzle assembly to the rounded wall of the arcuate portion of the vessel wall, wherein the second flange has a curvature matching the curvature of the arcuate portion of the vessel wall about the aperture therein.

20. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , further comprising a second nozzle assembly provided at a different vertical location on arcuate portion of the vessel wall than the first nozzle assembly, wherein the second nozzle assembly is similar to the first nozzle assembly.

21. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the nozzle extends from the arcuate portion of the vessel disposed between a top portion and a bottom portion of the pressure vessel.

22. A pressure vessel comprising:
a vessel wall having an arcuate portion, an inner surface of which defines an interior area and an aperture that extends through the arcuate portion of the vessel wall; and a nozzle assembly including:
a nozzle having an inner and outer end with a bore disposed therein along its length to provide for fluid flow therethrough, wherein the nozzle extends substantially horizontal; and
a flange extending from the inner end of the nozzle, the flange being defined by a rounded wall having a generally dome-like shaped with a concave inner surface and an open end;
wherein the nozzle extends radially relative to both a vertical curvature and horizontal curvature of the rounded wall of the flange from the rounded wall of the flange;
wherein the open end of the flange engages the arcuate portion of the vessel wall to provide fluid communication between the nozzle and the interior area of the pressure vessel through the aperture of the arcuate portion of the vessel wall;
wherein the arcuate portion of the vessel wall and the flange provide a clear direct, unblocked horizontal line of sight path from the interior area of the pressure vessel, through the flange and through the bore of the nozzle; and
wherein the curvature of the arcuate portion of the vessel wall is different than the curvature of the rounded wall of the flange.

Assignees

• Bauver Ii Wesley P
• Ortman Edward M
• Sambor Thomas W
• Perrin Ian J
• Alstom Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Bauver Ii Wesley P
• Ortman Edward M
• Sambor Thomas W
• Perrin Ian J

Classifications

• F22B37/78

  Adaptations or mounting of level indicators · CPC title

• F22B37/225 Primary

  Arrangements on drums or collectors for fixing tubes or for connecting collectors to each other · CPC title

• F22B37/00

  Component parts or details of steam boilers · CPC title

• F17C13/00 Primary

  Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels · CPC title

• B61D5/08

  Covers or access openings; Arrangements thereof · CPC title