|
 |
Accessories
|
Options and
Accessories for LPG Systems
Download Datasheet
(PDF File) |
|
|
Alternate Energy
Systems, Inc. offers a wide variety of options and accessories for
virtually any LPG system, installed in commercial, industrial, or utility
applications. Accessory components which are not manufactured by AES, are
sourced from reputable manufacturers, and are modified and tested at AES
to meet our stringent quality and performance criteria. This guarantees
long lasting customer satisfaction, even for the most critical of today's
LPG applications.
If you need a particular accessory, option
or enhancement for your system and can not find it in this brochure, call
our sales department! We may already have a product design available for
immediate delivery, or we may be able to modify an existing design to meet
your needs, or we could simply design a new product specifically for you.
In any case, all options and accessories offered by AES are supported by
our total commitment to customer satisfaction.
Scroll through this page, or
click on any of the tabs below to go directly to that section:
|
|
|
|
Typical Dual Pump System |
LPG
Transfer Pumps |
|
LPG Transfer Pumps, as the
name implies, are used to transfer LPG from the storage tanks to the
vaporizer. In systems with venturi LPG/air mixing systems, they are also
responsible for maintaining the pressure needed for optimum and efficient
function of the venturi tubes.
All pumps are mounted on steel skids, and are primed
and painted. They are equipped with constant pressure regulator, strainer,
isolation valves, by-pass loops, liquid filled pressure gauges, and any
other components required for safe operation.
Smaller pumps up to 18 GPM are for single phase AC 115/230 V service.
Larger pumps are for 3-phase AC 230/460 V and require external motor
starters. Pumps up to 31 GPM are direct drive pumps (electric motor
directly coupled to pump). Larger pumps are belt driven. |
|
|
|
|
Typical Truck Unload Station |
Truck
Unload and
Cylinder Fill Stations |
|
Truck Unload Stations are used
to transfer LPG from supply trucks to the storage tank(s). AES truck
unload stations are designed to be anchored in a concrete foundation. They
come complete with liquid transfer line and vapor return line. They are
equipped with control valves, excess flow valves, vent valves, backcheck
valves, and breakaway couplings. Emergency Shutoff Valves (ESV) with pull
cable and Nitrogen-operated ESV are available as an option.
Cylinder fill stations, i.e. for filling of forklift
cylinders, can be supplied separately, or integrated with the truck unload
station. |
|
|
|
|
|
2 inch Test Flare |
Flare
Burner Heads
(Test Flares) |
|
Test Flares are used during
system setup, and for periodical system tests and maintenance. They act as
large loads, and allow the system to be tested under real life load
conditions.
AES manufactures standard test flares with 2” gas line, or with 3” gas
line. Larger flares for bigger systems are available as customer specials.
All AES test flares are equipped with automatic ignition, standing pilot,
and steel weather cap. Electronic Flame Safeguard and Flame
Arrestors are available as options. |
|
|
| |
|
POM with Valve Actuator
|
Automatic
Specific Gravity Control |
|
Automatic specific gravity
control systems are designed to work in combination with AES’ patented
POM mixers in LPG/air mixing installations, i.e. in standby plants or peak
shaving plants. They are used in in installations where the composition of
the LPG may vary over time or from shipment to shipment. The output signal
from an in-line gravitometer, calorimeter, O2 sensor, or other
device that measures the properties of the mixed gas, is routed into a
dedicated PID controller. This controller sends an adjustment signal to an
actuator, installed on top of the POM mixing valve, which changes the
rotational position of the piston until the properties of the mixed gas
are again within preset values. |
|
| |
|
Typical Tank Farm with
30,000 gallon tanks
|
LPG
Storage Tanks |
|
AES does not manufacture LPG
storage tanks. However, through many years of close cooperation with major
tank manufacturers, we are able to offer tanks at very competitive
pricing. Due to ever-ongoing changes in the industry, and the fact that
LPG storage tanks have typical useful lives of 40 years or more, we very
often can offer used tanks as a cost saving alternative. New LPG storage
tanks come with factory test certificates; used tanks are tested and
re-certified during installation.
As important as the tank itself are the piers, the
concrete structures the tanks are installed on. AES recommends and
installs pre-cast concrete piers from reputable manufacturers. |
|
| |
|
Photo of lower portion of
typical tank trim. |
Tank
Trim and ESVs |
|
New or used, LPG storage tanks
must be fitted with “Trim”. These are valves and fittings, safety
relief valves, excess flow valves, liquid withdrawal ports, tank level
indicators and transmitters, pressure gauges, thermometers, etc. to meet
the safety requirements of NFPA, and the information and convenience
requirements of the operators. Emergency Shutoff Valves (ESVs) are
installed between truck unload stations and the storage tanks, and in the
liquid withdrawal line(s) of the tank(s). They are activated by
pull-cables, or through a Nitrogen-operated pneumatic system.
The actual configuration of tank trim and ESVs depends on
the particular requirements of the installation. Contact AES for more
information. |
|
| |
|
Typical Strainers and Check Valves |
Strainers
and Filters |
|
Strainers are installed in the
liquid LPG supply line to the vaporizer, and are designed to remove solid
contamination in the LPG, i.e. sand, rust, or other debris. AES carries
strainers for all common pipe sizes from 3/4 inch to 6 inch. Larger
strainers are available as a customer special.
In addition to solid contaminants, Coalescent Filters are
designed to remove moisture and unwanted by-products from the refining
process, so-called “heavy ends”, from the LPG. AES manufactures
coalescent filters for the liquid phase of the LPG (PLF series) and models
for the vapor phase (PVF series). All coalescent filters come complete
with 300# ANSI flange connections, and manual drain valve for accumulation
removal. |
|
| |
|
Different Style Ball Valves
and Globe Valve |
Ball
Valves and Globe Valves |
|
Valves are installed in
various places on a LPG vaporizer or LPG/air mixing system. Depending on
the job the valve is designed to do, less expensive ball valves or more
expensive, heavier globe valves are used. The main difference between both
valve types is in the design of the sealing mechanism: Ball valves are
very simple in design and rely on the smooth finish of the center ball
after a 90 degree turn to seal. Globe valves are more complex, and create
a positive seal by blocking the flow of the fluid with a solid “lid”.
At similar valve size, ball valves offers greater flow rates, while globe
valves offer the advantage of creating a positive seal. At similar flow
rates, globe valves are considerably larger and heavier.
All standard globe or ball valves used by AES are UL
listed for LPG service. |
|
| |
|
Various pressure regulators |
Service
Regulators |
|
After vaporization, LPG vapor
exits the vaporizer at the pressure of the liquid supply line. This
pressure, either tank pressure or discharge pressure from a pump, may be
too high for existing distribution pipelines and must be reduced to the
system service pressure (thus, the name Service Regulator).
Size and type of the service regulator is a function of
pressure, flow rate, ambient temperature, and line size. AES offers
service regulators from several manufacturers, i.e. Fisher and REGO, in a
wide range of sizes, matched to the vaporizer or vaporizer/mixer size. |
|
| |
|
Schematics of Xomos Valves |
3-Way-Valves |
|
The main application for 3-way
valves is with LPG/air mixing systems, used as standby systems. They are
installed in the main natural gas supply line, and allow the LPG/air
mixing system to seamlessly take over the gas supply without interrupting
the process. This is achieved through the use of a rotating piston, which
gradually opens the input side for the LPG/air mixture, while
simultaneously closing off the natural gas side.
For fully automated systems, 3-way valves can be equipped
with electric or pneumatic actuators, allowing the operator to remotely
switch from natural gas supply to the standby system. |
|
| |
|
6 inch Flow Meter |
Flow
Meters and
Flow Computers |
|
In many installations it is important to know the flow
rate of the gas produced by a vaporizer, or vaporizer/mixer system. AES
offers mechanical, electro/mechanical, and electronic units.
Flow meters with electronic output signals can be
connected to Flow Computers, where actual flow is corrected for
temperature and pressure. The output signal of the meter or the computer
can also be used to control Flow Control Valves (see below). |
|
| |
|
Flow Control Valve
with electric Actuator |
Flow
Control Valves |
|
Flow Control Valves are used to limit the flow through a
pipeline. Standard applications include the protection of LPG/Air systems
from overload conditions (which could potentially shut the system down),
and natural gas “Peak Shaving”. In Peak Shaving applications the
amount of gas that is drawn from a natural gas line is controlled to stay
within contractual agreements. If the usage would be allowed to exceed
contract amounts, the user (i.e. gas utility) will be assessed hefty
penalties by the pipeline operator.
AES carries flow control valves for various sizes and
pressures. They can be manually adjustable, fixed pre-set, or fully
automatic. |
|
| |
|
