Intelligent gas-liquid separation valve
By employing a dynamic priority dual-float sealing structure and a spiral flow channel internal cavity design, the leakage and safety hazards of traditional gas-liquid separation valves are solved, achieving efficient and reliable gas-liquid separation and self-fault handling, thus improving the system's intelligence and safety.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-07
AI Technical Summary
Traditional single-float gas-liquid separators are complex in structure, have large leakage, insufficient sealing reliability, and lack emergency backup, resulting in degraded system performance and safety hazards.
It adopts a dynamic priority dual-float sealing structure, combined with a spiral flow channel and internal cavity design, and utilizes the difference in mass and buoyancy between the upper and lower floats to achieve active sealing and passive emergency sealing, and has the ability to self-diagnose and self-handle faults.
It achieves 24-hour uninterrupted fault self-diagnosis and self-processing, improves the service life and safety of the gas-liquid separator, ensures the dynamic priority sealing mechanism accurately captures and responds to minute fault signals, reduces noise and improves separation efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure CN121803702A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application belongs to the field of gas-liquid separation valve technology, and more specifically, relates to an intelligent gas-liquid separation valve. Background Technology
[0002] In the coolant circulation system of new energy vehicles, ensuring that no gas enters the coolant is crucial for guaranteeing heat dissipation efficiency and operational safety. Current technologies commonly employ gas-liquid separators to remove gas from the coolant. The function of a gas-liquid separator is to efficiently separate the mixed gas and liquid in the fluid system. When the gas-liquid mixture passes through the separator, the gas in the liquid is impacted and separated, exiting through the upper vent. The liquid, after the gas is discharged, flows into the downstream system through the lower channel. When the upstream liquid flow is too high, the float inside the valve rises rapidly, sealing the valve body and preventing liquid from flowing out of the vent.
[0003] However, traditional single-float separation valves have the following drawbacks: First, they are usually complex in structure, have large leakage, incomplete liquid-gas separation, and high manufacturing costs; second, their sealing reliability is insufficient, and when the float leaks a small amount due to wear, impurities, or aging of the seals, the valve cannot effectively respond, resulting in continuous chronic leakage that affects system performance and is difficult to detect; finally, their response mechanism to sudden increases in flow is simplistic, lacks emergency backup measures, and poses safety hazards.
[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an intelligent gas-liquid separation valve that is simple in structure, reliable in sealing, and has the ability to handle faults. Summary of the Invention
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is: an intelligent gas-liquid separation valve with a simple and reasonable structure and dual sealing and fault self-handling capabilities.
[0006] An intelligent gas-liquid separation valve includes a valve body comprising an upper valve body, a middle valve body, and a lower valve body connected sequentially. The lower valve body contains a lower float with a main sealing gasket at its upper end. The middle valve body has a main sealing hole at its upper end, with the main sealing gasket of the lower float engaging with the main sealing hole. The upper valve body contains an upper float located above the main sealing hole of the middle valve body. The upper float is lighter than the lower float, and the buoyancy generated per unit volume by the upper float is greater than that of the lower float. A first sealing diaphragm is provided at the upper end of the upper float. An exhaust hole is opened at the top of the upper valve body, and the first sealing diaphragm can be raised to seal the exhaust hole.
[0007] Preferably, the upper float is provided with a first snap-fit boss, the first sealing diaphragm is provided with a first connecting hole, the first connecting hole and the first snap-fit boss cooperate, the upper valve body is provided with a pressure block at the upper end, and the vent hole passes through the pressure block.
[0008] Preferably, the upper valve body is provided with a second sealing diaphragm and a second snap-fit boss, the exhaust port passes through the second snap-fit boss, the second sealing diaphragm is provided with a second connecting hole, the second connecting hole and the second snap-fit boss cooperate, and the second sealing diaphragm covers the exhaust port.
[0009] Preferably, the lower valve body has a lower valve body cavity, the lower float sidewall has an involute spiral flow channel, and the bottom of the lower valve body cavity has multiple holes.
[0010] Preferably, the lower valve body cavity is provided with a plurality of first positioning bosses, the lower valve body cavity wall is provided with a plurality of second positioning bosses, and the lower float is installed on the plurality of first positioning bosses and in contact with the plurality of second positioning bosses.
[0011] Preferably, the lower end of the upper float is provided with no fewer than two positioning blocks.
[0012] Preferably, the upper valve body, middle valve body, and lower valve body are connected by a snap-fit mechanism.
[0013] Preferably, a first sealing ring is provided on the outer side of the middle valve body, and a second sealing ring is provided on the outer side of the upper valve body.
[0014] Preferably, the valve body is fitted with a housing, which has an inlet for the gas-liquid mixture to enter and an outlet for the liquid to flow out.
[0015] Preferably, the outer casing is provided with a plurality of hot-melt copper pillars, and the upper valve body is provided with an upper cover, the upper cover and the outer casing being snapped together.
[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are:
[0017] (1) This invention provides an intelligent gas-liquid separation valve with a dynamic priority dual-float sealing structure. The upper and lower floats, due to their inherent differences in mass and buoyancy, exhibit different sensitivities to changes in liquid level. Under normal operating conditions, the lower float dominates, performing conventional liquid level control and main sealing functions. Under fault conditions, i.e., when the main seal is chronically leaking, the liquid level rises slowly. At this time, the upper float, with higher sensitivity, automatically acquires the action priority and completes the emergency sealing first. This invention features a compact and efficient structure, employing a dual-sealing structure of "active sealing + passive emergency sealing," enabling 24-hour uninterrupted fault self-diagnosis and self-handling, significantly improving the service life and safety of the entire gas-liquid separation valve.
[0018] (2) This invention provides an intelligent gas-liquid separation valve that integrates a "spiral flow channel," an "internal cavity," and a "dynamic priority dual float sealing structure" into a single design, enabling the three components to cooperate, enhance, and coordinate with each other. The spiral flow channel and the internal cavity provide a low-noise, high-fidelity "fluid working environment" for the dual floats. In this environment, based on the differences in their physical characteristics, the lower float acts as the primary seal, responsible for responding to rapid and significant increases in liquid level. The upper float acts as the secondary seal, with its high sensitivity, specifically detecting slow and minor abnormal increases in liquid level. The coordinated operation of these three components allows the separation valve to allocate different execution priorities according to different operating conditions, ensuring that the dynamic priority sealing mechanism accurately captures and responds to minute fault signals, thereby improving the intelligence and reliability of the gas-liquid separation valve from the source. Attached Figure Description
[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the valve body in this invention;
[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the present invention;
[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the upper float structure in this invention;
[0024] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the upper valve body in this invention;
[0025] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the lower valve body in this invention;
[0026] Figure 7 This is a top view of the lower valve body in this invention.
[0027] Explanation of symbols in the diagram:
[0028] 1. Valve body; 2. Upper valve body; 3. Middle valve body; 4. Lower valve body; 5. Upper float; 6. Lower float; 7. Main sealing gasket; 8. Main sealing hole; 9. First sealing diaphragm; 10. First snap-fit boss; 11. Pressure block; 12. Second snap-fit boss; 13. Lower valve body cavity; 14. Spiral flow channel; 15. Hole; 16. First sealing groove; 17. First sealing ring; 18. Second sealing groove; 19. Second sealing ring; 20. Outer shell; 21. Inlet; 22. Outlet; 23. Hot-melt copper pillar; 24. Top cover; 25. First positioning boss; 26. Second positioning boss; 27. Exhaust hole; 28. Second sealing diaphragm; 29. Positioning block. Detailed Implementation
[0029] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.
[0030] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.
[0031] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0032] Please refer to the following: Figures 1-7 As shown, an intelligent gas-liquid separation valve provided in an embodiment of this application will now be described. Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the intelligent gas-liquid separation valve includes a valve body 1, which includes an upper valve body 2, a middle valve body 3, and a lower valve body 4 connected in sequence. The lower valve body 4 is provided with a lower float 6, and the upper end of the lower float 6 is provided with a main sealing gasket 7. The upper end of the middle valve body 3 is provided with a main sealing hole 8, and the main sealing gasket 7 of the lower float 6 cooperates with the main sealing hole 8. The upper valve body 2 is provided with an upper float 5, and the upper float 5 is located above the main sealing hole 8 of the middle valve body 3. The upper float 5 is lighter than the lower float 6, and the buoyancy generated per unit volume of the upper float 5 is greater than that of the lower float 6. The upper end of the upper float 5 is provided with a first sealing diaphragm 9. The top of the interior of the upper valve body 2 is provided with an exhaust hole 27. The first sealing diaphragm 9 can rise to seal the exhaust hole 27.
[0033] This invention constructs a dynamic priority dual-float sealing structure. Through this structure, when the liquid flow rate is too high, the liquid level rises rapidly, overflowing the lower float 6. The lower float 6 rises under buoyancy, and the main sealing gasket 7 seals the upper main sealing hole 8, activating the main sealing mode and preventing liquid outflow, thus quickly shutting off the valve. When the main sealing hole 8, which is matched with the main sealing gasket 7, leaks due to a malfunction, causing an abnormally slow rise in the liquid level within the lower valve body 4, the upper float 5, with its smaller mass and greater buoyancy, is lifted by the liquid surface and moves to the sealing position to close the vent hole 27 of the upper valve body 2, thus forming an emergency secondary seal. This structure is compact and efficient, featuring an "active sealing + passive emergency sealing" dual-sealing structure. It enables 24-hour uninterrupted fault self-diagnosis and self-handling, significantly improving the service life and safety of the entire gas-liquid separation valve.
[0034] Furthermore, such as Figure 3-4 As shown, the upper float 5 is provided with a first snap-fit boss 10, and the first sealing diaphragm 9 is provided with a first connecting hole. The first connecting hole and the first snap-fit boss 10 cooperate to assemble the first sealing diaphragm 9 onto the upper float 5. A pressure block 11 is provided at the top inside the upper valve body, and the vent hole 27 passes through the pressure block 11. When the upper float 5 rises, the first sealing diaphragm 9 is pressed against the pressure block 11. The pressure block 11 provides a flat and rigid support surface, so that the clamping force on the first sealing diaphragm 9 can be evenly distributed to the entire sealing contact area, forming a surface contact seal. This avoids excessive or insufficient local stress. This uniform surface contact ensures that under the thrust of the upper float 5, a higher and more stable sealing specific pressure can be generated between the first sealing diaphragm 9 and the edge of the vent hole 27, thereby achieving an absolute seal with zero leakage.
[0035] Furthermore, such as Figure 5As shown, the upper valve body 2 is provided with a second sealing diaphragm 28. Specifically, the upper valve body 2 is provided with a second snap-fit boss 12, and an exhaust port 27 passes through the second snap-fit boss 12. The second sealing diaphragm 28 is provided with a second connecting hole, which cooperates with the second snap-fit boss 12 to assemble the second sealing diaphragm 28 onto the upper valve body 2, and the second sealing diaphragm 28 covers the exhaust port 27. The second sealing diaphragm 28 is designed to be opened to release air when the internal pressure of the valve body 1 is slightly higher than the external pressure, i.e., the valve body 1 is in a normal air release state. However, when the external pressure is greater than the internal pressure of the valve body 1, the second sealing diaphragm 28 is tightly sealed against the exhaust port 27, forming a one-way valve structure that allows gas to be discharged from the valve body 1 but prevents gas from reversing into the valve body 1.
[0036] In one embodiment, such as Figure 6-7 As shown, the lower valve body 4 has a lower valve body cavity 13, the lower float 6 is located in the lower valve body cavity 13, the side wall of the lower valve body 4 is provided with an involute spiral flow channel 14, and the bottom of the lower valve body cavity 13 is provided with multiple holes 15.
[0037] The synergistic structural design of the spiral flow channel 14 and the orifice 15 serves several purposes. First, when the gas-liquid mixture enters the spiral flow channel 14 tangentially, under centrifugal force, the denser liquid is thrown towards the outer wall, while the less dense gas gathers at the center, achieving efficient gas-liquid pre-separation. The spiral flow channel 14 guides the fluid in an orderly rotational motion, greatly suppressing turbulence and eddies, and promoting gas-liquid separation. The orifice 15 at the bottom of the lower valve body cavity 13 acts as a pressure balancer and damper, releasing some eddy current energy and further stabilizing the flow field to achieve dynamic pressure balance. This stable flow field ensures smooth liquid flow acting on the lower float 6, allowing the lower float 6 to accurately reflect the true liquid level, thereby significantly improving the accuracy and reliability of the main seal's opening and closing actions.
[0038] On the other hand, the holes 15 can be designed as a micro-perforated plate sound-absorbing structure. When the airflow passes through multiple holes 15, the sound waves are disturbed and rubbed, converting sound energy into heat energy, which plays a significant role in sound absorption. This integrated design of "flow channel speed reduction + acoustic sound absorption" enables the lower valve body 4 to maintain efficient gas-liquid separation while significantly reducing operating noise.
[0039] Simultaneously, the spiral flow channel 14, the orifice 15, and the dual floats work together, with the spiral flow channel 14 and the orifice 15 providing a low-noise, high-fidelity "fluid working environment" for the dual floats. In this environment, based on their different physical characteristics, the lower float 6 acts as the primary seal, responsible for responding to rapid and significant increases in liquid level. The upper float 5 serves as the secondary seal, with its high sensitivity specifically detecting slow and minute abnormal increases in liquid level. The coordinated operation of these three components allows the gas-liquid separation valve to allocate different execution priorities according to different operating conditions, ensuring the dynamic priority sealing mechanism accurately captures and responds to minute fault signals, thereby improving the intelligence and reliability of the gas-liquid separation valve from the source.
[0040] Furthermore, such as Figure 6 As shown, the lower valve body cavity 13 is provided with multiple first positioning bosses 25, and the lower valve body cavity 13 wall is provided with multiple second positioning bosses 26. The lower float 5 is installed on multiple first positioning bosses 25 and contacts multiple second positioning bosses 26. Due to the presence of the first positioning bosses 25 and the second positioning bosses 26, the lower float 6 and the bottom and inner wall of the lower valve body cavity 13 form a first exhaust channel.
[0041] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, the lower end of the upper float 5 is provided with no less than two positioning blocks 29. Due to the presence of the positioning blocks 29, the gap between the upper float 5 and the middle valve body 3 and the gap between the upper float 5 and the inner wall of the upper valve body 2 constitute the second exhaust channel.
[0042] In one embodiment, the upper valve body 2, the middle valve body 3, and the lower valve body 4 are connected by a snap-fit mechanism. Specifically, the lower valve body 4 has a first snap-fit groove, and the lower end of the middle valve body 3 has a first snap-fit. The middle valve body 3 and the lower valve body 4 are assembled and connected by the engagement of the first snap-fit and the first snap-fit groove. Similarly, the upper end of the middle valve body 3 has a second snap-fit groove, and the lower end of the upper valve body 2 has a second snap-fit. The upper valve body 2 and the middle valve body 3 are assembled and connected by the engagement of the second snap-fit and the second snap-fit groove, thus completing the assembly of the upper valve body 2, the middle valve body 3, and the lower valve body 4.
[0043] Furthermore, the outer side of the middle valve body 3 is provided with a first sealing groove 16, and the first sealing groove 16 is provided with a first sealing ring 17. The outer side of the upper valve body 2 is provided with a second sealing groove 18, and the second sealing groove 18 is provided with a second sealing ring 19.
[0044] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, a housing 20 is fitted over the valve body 1. The housing 20 has an inlet 21 for the gas-liquid mixture to enter and an outlet 22 for the liquid to exit. The inlet 21 communicates with the inlet of the spiral channel 14, allowing the gas-liquid mixture to enter the spiral channel 14. The spiral channel 14 is connected to the inner cavity of the housing 20. The gas-liquid mixture flows in from the inlet 21, passes through the spiral channel 14, and enters the inner cavity of the housing 20. After gas-liquid separation, the liquid flows out from the outlet 22.
[0045] Furthermore, the outer casing 20 is provided with multiple hot-melt copper pillars 23. The upper valve body 2 is provided with an upper cover 24, which is snapped into the outer casing 20 to prevent external dust, oil, and impurities from entering the valve body 1 and to ensure the long-term reliable operation of the gas-liquid separation valve.
[0046] The working principle of this invention is as follows:
[0047] In the initial state, there is no liquid in the valve body 1 of the intelligent gas-liquid separation valve, and the entire valve body 1 is in a sealed state under the action of the second sealing diaphragm 28.
[0048] The intelligent gas-liquid separator operates under three conditions:
[0049] (1) Normal operating state: The gas-liquid mixture flows in from the inlet 21, and after passing through the spiral flow channel 14 of the lower valve body 4, the air bubbles in the gas-liquid mixture are agitated and dispersed. After entering the inner cavity of the outer shell 20, the liquid flows to the outside of the valve body 1 through the outlet 22. The gas is discharged to the outside of the valve body 1 in sequence through the hole 15 of the lower valve body 4, the first exhaust channel 25, the main sealing hole 8, the second exhaust channel 26 and the exhaust hole 27.
[0050] (2) Excessive liquid flow: The liquid level rises rapidly and overflows the lower float 6, activating the main sealing mode. The lower float 6 rises under the action of buoyancy, and the main sealing gasket 7 seals the upper main sealing hole 8, preventing the liquid from flowing out. When the liquid flow decreases, the liquid level drops, and the lower float 6 falls back under the action of gravity, opening the main sealing hole 8 and achieving normal venting.
[0051] (3) Fail-safe state: When the main sealing hole 8 leaks, liquid will continuously leak out through the main sealing hole 8 into the upper valve body 2 and accumulate. At this time, the liquid level will rise slowly. Since the upper float 5 is lighter and has greater buoyancy, it can be quickly lifted at a very low liquid level rise speed, and the first sealing diaphragm 9 covers the exhaust hole 27, immediately achieving a second seal.
[0052] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.
Claims
1. An intelligent gas-liquid separation valve, comprising a valve body, characterized in that: The valve body includes an upper valve body, a middle valve body, and a lower valve body connected in sequence. The lower valve body contains a lower float, and the upper end of the lower float has a main sealing gasket. The upper end of the middle valve body has a main sealing hole, and the main sealing gasket of the lower float mates with the main sealing hole. The upper valve body contains an upper float, which is located above the main sealing hole of the middle valve body. The upper float is lighter than the lower float, and the buoyancy generated per unit volume of the upper float is greater than that of the lower float. The upper end of the upper float has a first sealing diaphragm, and the top of the upper valve body has an exhaust hole. The first sealing diaphragm can rise to seal the exhaust hole.
2. The intelligent gas-liquid separation valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper float is provided with a first snap-fit boss, the first sealing diaphragm is provided with a first connecting hole, the first connecting hole and the first snap-fit boss cooperate, the upper valve body is provided with a pressure block, and the exhaust hole passes through the pressure block.
3. The intelligent gas-liquid separation valve according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper valve body is provided with a second sealing diaphragm and a second snap-fit boss. The exhaust hole passes through the second snap-fit boss. The second sealing diaphragm is provided with a second connecting hole. The second connecting hole and the second snap-fit boss cooperate with each other, and the second sealing diaphragm covers the exhaust hole.
4. The intelligent gas-liquid separation valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower valve body has a lower valve body cavity, the lower float sidewall has an involute spiral flow channel, and the bottom of the lower valve body cavity has multiple holes.
5. The intelligent gas-liquid separation valve according to claim 4, characterized in that: The lower valve body cavity is provided with multiple first positioning bosses, and the lower valve body cavity wall is provided with multiple second positioning bosses. The lower float is installed on multiple first positioning bosses and contacts multiple second positioning bosses.
6. The intelligent gas-liquid separation valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower end of the upper float is provided with no fewer than two positioning blocks.
7. The intelligent gas-liquid separation valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper valve body, middle valve body, and lower valve body are connected by a snap-fit mechanism.
8. The intelligent gas-liquid separation valve according to claim 7, characterized in that: The middle valve body is provided with a first sealing ring on its outer side, and the upper valve body is provided with a second sealing ring on its outer side.
9. The intelligent gas-liquid separation valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve body is covered by an outer shell, which has an inlet for the gas-liquid mixture to enter and an outlet for the liquid to flow out.
10. The intelligent gas-liquid separation valve according to claim 9, characterized in that: The outer casing is provided with multiple hot-melt copper pillars, and the upper valve body is provided with an upper cover, which is snapped into the outer casing.