High-efficiency gas dehydration device and dehydration method for airborne oxygen system

Abstract

The invention discloses a high-efficiency gas dehydration device for an airborne oxygen system, comprising a gas-water separator, the gas-water separator comprising a separator housing and a dehydration filter, the air inlet of the separator housing being connected to an air inlet pipe, the air outlet being sequentially connected to an air outlet pipe and an air supply channel, the dehydration filter being installed in the separator housing, the bottom of the separator housing being provided with a small-diameter drainage hole, the bottom of the separator housing being further provided with a large-diameter drainage hole, a first solenoid valve being installed in the large-diameter drainage hole, a second solenoid valve being installed in an air outlet pipe or an air supply channel, and the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve being respectively connected to a controller. The invention can quickly and efficiently discharge liquid water in the separator housing when the first solenoid valve is opened and the second solenoid valve is closed, thereby ensuring oxygen production efficiency, increasing the service life of the equipment, reducing system maintenance costs, and improving equipment safety performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a local structure of an airborne oxygen system, and in particular to a high-efficiency gas dehydration device and a dehydration method for the airborne oxygen system. Background Art

[0002] The airborne oxygen system is an oxygen supply system dedicated to aviation equipment such as aircraft. It generally includes oxygen manufacturing equipment, oxygen regulating equipment, breathing equipment, etc. For example, an oxygen concentrator is a device that separates oxygen and nitrogen from the compressed air generated by an aircraft engine to achieve the purpose of oxygen production. Molecular sieve beds are generally used as oxygen and nitrogen separation equipment.

[0003] In actual applications, water needs to be removed from the gas in certain links to meet the requirements of equipment use. For example, the compressed air of the oxygen concentrator needs to be dehydrated before entering the molecular sieve bed, because the molecular sieve bed has the characteristic of adsorbing liquid water, and the oxygen production efficiency will drop rapidly after absorbing water until it fails. Therefore, there are very high requirements for the dehydration performance of the molecular sieve bed inlet end, which directly affects the service life, maintenance cost and flight safety of the oxygen concentrator.

[0004] The traditional dehydration device used in the airborne oxygen system is an air-water separator, which includes a separator housing, a centrifugal assembly and a dehydration filter. The upper part of the separator housing is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet. The centrifugal assembly and the dehydration filter are both placed in the separator housing. The dehydration filter is installed in the separator housing through the centrifugal assembly and can rotate. The lower end of the dehydration filter is the air inlet end and the upper end is the air outlet end. After entering from the air inlet, the air flows downward through the air inlet end of the dehydration filter and enters. After the dehydration and filtration are completed, it is sent from the air outlet end and the air outlet to the molecular sieve bed for oxygen production. The liquid water produced by the dehydration filter is collected at the bottom of the separator housing and discharged through the drainage hole at the bottom. The drainage hole has a small aperture because it is necessary to prevent too much air leakage from reducing the oxygen production efficiency.

[0005] The above-mentioned traditional water removal device has the following defects:

[0006] Because the aperture of the drain hole is small, only about 70% to 90% of the liquid water can be removed during normal operation, and a small amount of liquid water still enters the molecular sieve bed with the air because it cannot be discharged in time; in addition, after the aircraft stops the flight mission, the long front-end pipeline will produce a large amount of condensed water during the gradual cooling process. When the aircraft engine is started and the oxygen concentrator is turned on next time, a large amount of condensed water will instantly enter the separator shell through the pipeline. Because the aperture of the drain hole is small, it is not enough to quickly discharge the large amount of liquid water that instantly enters during the startup process, causing a large amount of liquid water to enter the molecular sieve bed with the air, which has a great impact on the life of the molecular sieve bed. However, it is also impossible to simply directly expand the aperture of the drain hole, which will increase the gas consumption of drainage, reduce the oxygen production pressure and flow rate during normal operation, and affect the product oxygen production efficiency. Therefore, the traditional water removal device used in the current airborne oxygen system cannot solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a high-efficiency gas dehydration device and dehydration method for an onboard oxygen system, which can efficiently remove water without reducing the oxygen production efficiency, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0008] The present invention achieves the above-mentioned purpose through the following technical solutions:

[0009] A high-efficiency gas dehydration device for an airborne oxygen system comprises a gas-water separator, the gas-water separator comprises a separator housing and a dehydration filter, an upper portion of the separator housing is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet is connected to an air inlet pipe, the air outlet is sequentially communicated with the air outlet pipe and the air supply channel, the dehydration filter is installed in the separator housing, the lower end of the dehydration filter is an air inlet end, and the upper end is an air outlet end, a small-diameter drainage hole is provided at the bottom of the separator housing, the high-efficiency gas dehydration device for the airborne oxygen system further comprises a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve and a controller, a large-diameter drainage hole is further provided at the bottom of the separator housing, the aperture of the large-diameter drainage hole is larger than the aperture of the small-diameter drainage hole, the upper end of the large-diameter drainage hole is flush with the upper end of the small-diameter drainage hole, the first solenoid valve is installed in the large-diameter drainage hole, the second solenoid valve is installed in the air outlet pipe or the air supply channel, and the control input end of the first solenoid valve and the control input end of the second solenoid valve are respectively connected to the control output end of the controller.

[0010] Preferably, in order to achieve secondary drainage of gas to achieve better water removal effect, the air outlet pipe is an inverted "U" shaped pipe, and a secondary drainage hole is provided at the bottom position of the air supply channel located on the rear side of the second solenoid valve, and the aperture of the secondary drainage hole is not larger than the aperture of the small diameter drainage hole.

[0011] Preferably, in order to facilitate the overall installation of various equipment, an integrated base is provided under the separator shell, and a first base drainage hole and a second base drainage hole are respectively provided at positions corresponding to the small-diameter drainage hole and the large-diameter drainage hole in the integrated base. The aperture of the first base drainage hole is the same as the aperture of the small-diameter drainage hole and they are correspondingly connected, the aperture of the second base drainage hole is the same as the aperture of the large-diameter drainage hole and they are correspondingly connected, the air supply channel is arranged in the integrated base, and the secondary drainage hole is arranged in the integrated base.

[0012] Preferably, in order to meet the installation requirements of the solenoid valve, the first solenoid valve is installed at the position where the large-diameter drainage hole is connected to the second base drainage hole, and the aperture of this position is expanded to just install the first solenoid valve, and the second solenoid valve is installed at the inlet of the air supply channel and the aperture of the inlet is expanded to just install the second solenoid valve.

[0013] Preferably, in order to monitor the pressure and humidity of the gas source in real time to achieve better automatic control effects, the high-efficiency gas dehydration device of the airborne oxygen system also includes a humidity sensor and a pressure sensor, the humidity sensor and the pressure sensor are respectively installed on the air intake pipe, and the signal output end of the humidity sensor and the signal output end of the pressure sensor are respectively connected to the signal input end of the controller.

[0014] A dehydration method adopted by a high-efficiency gas dehydration device of an airborne oxygen system comprises the following steps:

[0015] Step 1: The air inlet pipeline starts to feed gas, and the controller controls the first solenoid valve to open and the second solenoid valve to close until the liquid water at the bottom of the separator housing is completely removed;

[0016] Step 2: The controller controls the first solenoid valve to close and the second solenoid valve to open, and the equipment enters a normal working state; during this period, according to a set time interval, the controller controls the first solenoid valve to open and last for a set time, and then controls the first solenoid valve to close.

[0017] Alternatively, a dehydration method used by a high-efficiency gas dehydration device of an airborne oxygen system comprises the following steps:

[0018] Step 1: When the pressure sensor detects that there is air source pressure in the air intake pipe, the controller controls the first solenoid valve to open and the second solenoid valve to close until the liquid water at the bottom of the separator housing is completely removed;

[0019] Step 2, the controller controls the first solenoid valve to close and the second solenoid valve to open, and the device enters a normal working state;

[0020] Step 3: When the humidity sensor detects that the humidity of the air source is greater than 90% and lasts for 20-40 minutes, the controller controls the first solenoid valve to open, and after maintaining for 1-3 seconds, controls the first solenoid valve to close.

[0021] Whether the liquid water at the bottom of the separator shell has been completely removed can be determined by obtaining reliable data through several tests, that is, the time required to completely remove the liquid water generated under different working conditions can be obtained.

[0022] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0023] The present invention provides a large-diameter drainage hole at the bottom of the separator shell and installs a first solenoid valve, and installs a second solenoid valve in the air outlet pipe or the air supply channel. It can quickly and efficiently discharge the liquid water in the separator shell when the first solenoid valve is opened and the second solenoid valve is closed, and then achieve normal water removal and filtration functions when the first solenoid valve is closed and the second solenoid valve is opened, thereby preventing liquid water from entering lower-level equipment such as a molecular sieve bed, ensuring oxygen production efficiency, increasing equipment service life, reducing system maintenance costs, and improving equipment safety performance; the water liquefaction rate is increased by designing an inverted "U"-shaped pipe, and the liquid water is discharged again by designing a secondary drainage hole, thereby further thoroughly discharging the residual water in the gas and further ensuring the water removal effect; by installing a humidity sensor and a pressure sensor on the air inlet pipe, the start-stop status of the gas source and the gas humidity can be monitored in real time, thereby achieving more accurate water removal control, ensuring that water can be removed in a timely, fast, and efficient manner through the large-diameter drainage hole when the equipment starts working and when the humidity is high during operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a front sectional view of the high-efficiency gas dehydration device of the airborne oxygen system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with embodiments and drawings:

[0026] Embodiment 1:

[0027] like Figure 1As shown, a high-efficiency gas dehydration device for an airborne oxygen system includes a gas-water separator, a first solenoid valve 15, a second solenoid valve 4 and a controller (not marked in the figure, a conventional controller can be used), the gas-water separator includes a separator housing 12 and a dehydration filter 7, the upper portion of the separator housing 12 is provided with an air inlet (not marked in the figure) and an air outlet (not marked in the figure), the air inlet is connected to an air inlet pipe 9, the air outlet is connected to the air outlet pipe 5 and the air supply channel 3 in sequence, the dehydration filter 7 is installed in the separator housing 12, and the lower end of the dehydration filter 7 is the air inlet end (not marked in the figure The separator housing 12 has a small-diameter drainage hole 13 at the bottom, and a large-diameter drainage hole 14 at the bottom. The large-diameter drainage hole 14 has a larger diameter than the small-diameter drainage hole 13. The upper end of the large-diameter drainage hole 14 is flush with the upper end of the small-diameter drainage hole 13. The first solenoid valve 15 is installed in the large-diameter drainage hole 14, and the second solenoid valve 4 is installed in the air supply channel 3 (or the air outlet pipe 5). The control input end of the first solenoid valve 15 and the control input end of the second solenoid valve 4 are respectively connected to the control output end of the controller. Preferably, the air outlet pipe 5 is an inverted "U"-shaped pipe, and a secondary drain hole 2 is provided at the bottom position of the air supply channel 3 located behind the second solenoid valve 4, and the aperture of the secondary drain hole 2 is not larger than the aperture of the small-diameter drain hole 13; an integrated base 8 is provided below the separator shell 12, and a first base drain hole 16 and a second base drain hole 17 are respectively provided at positions corresponding to the small-diameter drain hole 13 and the large-diameter drain hole 14 in the integrated base 8, the aperture of the first base drain hole 16 is the same as the aperture of the small-diameter drain hole 13 and is correspondingly connected, the aperture of the second base drain hole 17 is the same as the aperture of the large-diameter drain hole 14 and is correspondingly connected, the air supply channel 3 is arranged in the integrated base 8, and the secondary drain hole 2 is arranged in the integrated base 8; the first solenoid valve 15 is installed at the position where the large-diameter drain hole 14 and the second base drain hole 17 are connected, and the aperture of the position is expanded to just install the first solenoid valve 15, and the second solenoid valve 4 is installed at the inlet of the air supply channel 3, and the aperture of the inlet is expanded to just install the second solenoid valve 4.

[0028] Figure 1 Also shown is a molecular sieve bed 1 as a lower-level device. The air inlet of the molecular sieve bed 1 is connected to the outlet of the air supply channel 3. The air after dehydration passes through the molecular sieve bed 1 to separate oxygen and nitrogen to obtain oxygen; the dehydration filter 7 is installed in the separator housing 12 through the centrifugal component 6. The centrifugal component 6 can drive the dehydration filter 7 to rotate to achieve the centrifugal separation and dehydration effect. The liquid water flows down along the inner wall of the dehydration filter 7 and is concentrated at the bottom of the separator housing 12, and is discharged through the small-diameter drainage hole 13 or the large-diameter drainage hole 14; these structures are conventional structures.

[0029] like Figure 1As shown, the dehydration method adopted by the high-efficiency gas dehydration device of the airborne oxygen system includes the following steps:

[0030] Step 1: The gas is fed into the air inlet pipe 9, and the controller controls the first solenoid valve 15 to open and the second solenoid valve 4 to close, and the water is drained through the large-diameter drain hole 14 until the liquid water at the bottom of the separator housing 12 is completely drained;

[0031] Step 2, the controller controls the first solenoid valve 15 to close, the second solenoid valve 4 to open, the large-diameter drainage hole 14 to close, and the equipment enters a normal working state. At this time, water is drained through the small-diameter drainage hole 13; during this period, according to the set time interval, the controller controls the first solenoid valve 15 to open and continue for a set time, that is, when there is a lot of liquid water in the separator shell 12, the large-diameter drainage hole 14 is opened again to drain water and continue for a certain drainage time, and then the first solenoid valve 15 is controlled to close, that is, after draining a lot of liquid water, the water removal and filtration work continues normally.

[0032] Embodiment 2:

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, a high-efficiency gas dehydration device for an airborne oxygen system, based on Example 1, further includes a humidity sensor 10 and a pressure sensor 11, the humidity sensor 10 and the pressure sensor 11 are respectively installed on the intake duct 9, and the signal output end of the humidity sensor 10 and the signal output end of the pressure sensor 11 are respectively connected to the signal input end of the controller.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the dehydration method adopted by the high-efficiency gas dehydration device of the airborne oxygen system includes the following steps:

[0035] Step 1: When the pressure sensor 11 detects that there is air source pressure in the air intake pipe 9, the controller controls the first solenoid valve 15 to open and the second solenoid valve 4 to close, and drains water through the large-diameter drain hole 14 until the liquid water at the bottom of the separator housing 12 is completely drained;

[0036] Step 2, the controller controls the first solenoid valve 15 to close and the second solenoid valve 4 to open, and the equipment enters a normal working state, at which time water is drained through the small-diameter drainage hole 13;

[0037] Step 3. When the humidity sensor 10 detects that the air source humidity is greater than 90% and lasts for 20-40 minutes (preferably 30 minutes), the controller controls the first solenoid valve 15 to open, drains water through the large-diameter drainage hole 14, and after maintaining for 1-3 seconds (preferably 1 second), controls the first solenoid valve 15 to close, and continues normal water removal and filtration work.

[0038] The above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not limitations of the technical solutions of the present invention. Any technical solution that can be implemented on the basis of the above embodiments without creative work should be deemed to fall within the scope of protection of the patent of the present invention.

Claims

1. An efficient gas dehydration device for an airborne oxygen system, comprising a gas-water separator, the gas-water separator comprising a separator housing and a dehydration filter, the upper portion of the separator housing being provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet being connected to an air inlet pipe, the air outlet being sequentially connected to an air outlet pipe and an air supply channel, the dehydration filter being installed in the separator housing, the lower end of the dehydration filter being an air inlet end, the upper end being an air outlet end, the bottom of the separator housing being provided with a small-diameter drainage hole, characterized in that: The high-efficiency gas dehydration device of the onboard oxygen system also includes a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve and a controller. A large-diameter drainage hole is also provided at the bottom of the separator housing. The aperture of the large-diameter drainage hole is larger than the aperture of the small-diameter drainage hole. The upper end of the large-diameter drainage hole is flush with the upper end of the small-diameter drainage hole. The first solenoid valve is installed in the large-diameter drainage hole, and the second solenoid valve is installed in the air outlet pipe or the air supply channel. The control input end of the first solenoid valve and the control input end of the second solenoid valve are respectively connected to the control output end of the controller; the air outlet pipe is an inverted "U"-shaped pipe, and the air supply pipe is an inverted "U"-shaped pipe. A secondary drainage hole is provided at the bottom position of the channel located on the rear side of the second solenoid valve, and the aperture of the secondary drainage hole is not larger than the aperture of the small-diameter drainage hole; an integrated base is provided below the separator shell, and a first base drainage hole and a second base drainage hole are respectively provided at positions corresponding to the small-diameter drainage hole and the large-diameter drainage hole in the integrated base, the aperture of the first base drainage hole is the same as the aperture of the small-diameter drainage hole and they are correspondingly connected, the aperture of the second base drainage hole is the same as the aperture of the large-diameter drainage hole and they are correspondingly connected, the air supply channel is provided in the integrated base, and the secondary drainage hole is provided in the integrated base.

2. The high-efficiency gas dehydration device for an airborne oxygen system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first solenoid valve is installed at the position where the large-diameter drainage hole is connected to the second base drainage hole, and the aperture of this position is expanded to just install the first solenoid valve. The second solenoid valve is installed at the inlet of the air supply channel, and the inlet aperture is expanded to just install the second solenoid valve.

3. The high-efficiency gas dehydration device for an airborne oxygen system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The high-efficiency gas dehydration device of the airborne oxygen system also includes a humidity sensor and a pressure sensor, which are respectively installed on the air intake pipe, and the signal output end of the humidity sensor and the signal output end of the pressure sensor are respectively connected to the signal input end of the controller.

4. A dehydration method used in the high-efficiency gas dehydration device of the airborne oxygen system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step 1: The air inlet pipeline starts to feed gas, and the controller controls the first solenoid valve to open and the second solenoid valve to close until the liquid water at the bottom of the separator housing is completely removed; Step 2: The controller controls the first solenoid valve to close and the second solenoid valve to open, and the equipment enters a normal working state; during this period, according to a set time interval, the controller controls the first solenoid valve to open and last for a set time, and then controls the first solenoid valve to close.

5. A dehydration method used in the high-efficiency gas dehydration device of the airborne oxygen system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step 1: When the pressure sensor detects that there is air source pressure in the air intake pipe, the controller controls the first solenoid valve to open and the second solenoid valve to close until the liquid water at the bottom of the separator housing is completely removed; Step 2, the controller controls the first solenoid valve to close and the second solenoid valve to open, and the device enters a normal working state; Step 3: When the humidity sensor detects that the humidity of the air source is greater than 90% and lasts for 20-40 minutes, the controller controls the first solenoid valve to open, and after maintaining for 1-3 seconds, controls the first solenoid valve to close.

Images