Method and apparatus for dividing the flow of a gas stream
An apparatus for dividing the flow of a gas stream and a method for controlling the flow division of a gas stream are disclosed, the apparatus including an inlet conduit for receiving the gas stream, outlet conduits in fluid communication with the inlet conduit for delivering the gas stream, a balancing gas feed conduit in fluid communication with an outlet conduit, a balancing gas feeder in fluid communication with the balancing gas feed conduit, and a balancing gas controller; and the method including the steps of dividing the process gas stream into process gas stream fractions and injecting a balancing gas stream into a process gas stream fraction in an amount sufficient to displace a portion of gas flow from the process gas stream fraction into one or more remaining process gas stream fractions.
1. A method for controlling the flow division of a gas stream, comprising the steps of:
dividing a process gas stream into process gas stream fractions; and
injecting a balancing gas stream into a process gas stream fraction in an amount sufficient to displace a portion of gas flow from said process gas stream fraction into one or more remaining process gas stream fractions.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said process gas comprises a corrosive gas.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said process gas is substantially free of particulate matter.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said balancing gas is substantially inert.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said balancing gas is substantially free of particulate matter.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said process gas comprises sulfur trioxide and said balancing gas comprises air.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of heating said balancing gas stream.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said process gas comprises ammonia and said balancing gas comprises air.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of dividing said process gas stream into process gas stream fractions is performed with apparatus comprising an inlet conduit for receiving said process gas stream in fluid communication with outlet conduits.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said step of injecting a balancing gas stream into a process gas stream fraction is performed with apparatus comprising a balancing gas feed conduit in fluid communication with an outlet conduit and a blower.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a balancing gas controller.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of dividing said balancing gas stream into balancing gas stream fractions and selectively injecting a balancing gas stream fraction into a process gas stream fraction in an amount sufficient to displace a portion of process gas flow from said process gas stream fraction into one or more remaining process gas stream fractions.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of maintaining sufficient balancing gas flow in said balancing gas stream fractions to prevent backflow and/or stagnation of said processing gas.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said step of dividing said balancing gas stream into balancing gas stream fractions is performed with apparatus comprising a common balancing gas feed conduit in fluid communication with balancing gas stream fraction conduits.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said step of selectively injecting a balancing gas stream fraction into a process gas stream fraction is performed with apparatus comprising a balancing gas stream fraction conduit in fluid communication with a blower and a valve.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a heater in thermal communication with said balancing gas stream fraction conduit and a flow sensor disposed upstream of said heater and said valve.