Gas-liquid separation device

Abstract

This gas-liquid separation device for separating a gas and a liquid in a fluid comprises: a cylindrical container in which the fluid is swirled to separate the gas and the liquid; an inflow pipe through which the fluid flows into the container; an outflow pipe through which the liquid that has been separated from the gas flows out of the container; and a gas discharge part having a gas discharge valve which, by moving, discharges gas that has been separated in the container from a gas discharge port.

Description

Gas-liquid separator

[0001] The disclosed technology relates to a gas-liquid separator, and more particularly to a device that separates gas and liquid by utilizing a swirling flow.

[0002] A gas-liquid separator that is installed in a flow path through which a fluid flows and separates the fluid from the gas contained in the fluid has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The device in Patent Document 1 swirls the fluid that has flowed into a cylindrical tank, guides the generated gas bubbles to the upper part, breaks the bubbles with an installed swirl flow prevention plate, and discharges the gas from an outlet that is installed above the swirl flow prevention plate.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-076107

[0004] However, in the gas-liquid separation device described in Patent Document 1, when a large amount of gas in the fluid flows into the tank at a high speed, the gas cannot be discharged using only the swirl flow prevention plate and the discharge port installed at the top of the tank. The swirl flow prevention plate also breaks up bubbles by reducing the swirl flow generated in the tank. Therefore, the swirl flow prevention plate increases pressure loss, dispersing the gas collected in the center of the cylinder. Therefore, when a large amount of gas flows in at a high speed, the separation and discharge of the gas cannot keep up.

[0005] Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object is to provide a gas-liquid separator that can efficiently separate and discharge gas.

[0006] The gas-liquid separation device according to this disclosure is a gas-liquid separation device that separates gas and liquid in a fluid, and includes a cylindrical container in which the fluid swirls inside to separate the gas and liquid, an inlet pipe for introducing the fluid into the container, an outlet pipe for discharging the liquid that has been separated from the gas from inside the container, and a gas discharge section having a gas discharge valve that discharges the gas separated in the container through movement from a gas discharge port.

[0007] According to the disclosed gas-liquid separation device, a fluid containing gas and liquid is swirled in a container to separate the gas and liquid, and the gas can be discharged by moving the gas discharge valve to open the gas discharge port. Therefore, even if a large amount of gas in the fluid flows into the container at a high speed, the gas can be efficiently separated and discharged.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a gas-liquid separation device 100 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a gas discharge section 140 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a gas-liquid discharge section 150 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 4 is a diagram explaining the state of a fluid in the gas-liquid separation device 100 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a gas-liquid separation device 100 according to embodiment 2. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a hot water supply system centered on a fluid circulation system according to embodiment 3.

[0009] The gas-liquid separation device according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, components with the same reference numerals are identical or equivalent and will be common throughout the following embodiments. The dimensional relationships between components in the drawings may differ from those in reality. Furthermore, in diagrams showing the internal configuration, hatching has been omitted in some views and devices for ease of viewing. The configurations of components shown throughout the specification are merely illustrative and are not limited to those described in the specification. In particular, the combinations of components are not limited to those in each embodiment, and components described in other embodiments may be applied to other embodiments. Furthermore, the levels of pressure and temperature are not determined in relation to absolute values, but are determined relatively in terms of the state, operation, etc. of the device. Furthermore, when multiple similar devices are distinguished by subscripts, the subscripts may be omitted if there is no need to distinguish or identify them. The vertical direction in the drawings is the height direction.

[0010] Embodiment 1 Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a gas-liquid separation device 100 according to embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the gas-liquid separation device 100 includes a gas-liquid separation section 110, an inlet section 120, an outlet section 130, a gas discharge section 140, and a gas-liquid discharge section 150.

[0011] The gas-liquid separation unit 110 includes a cylindrical container 111, an inlet pipe port 112, an outlet pipe port 113, a gas discharge connection 114, and a gas-liquid discharge connection 115. The container 111 is a container through which a fluid containing gas and liquid passes. The fluid flows swirlingly within the container 111. The inlet pipe port 112 is an opening in the upper part of the side of the container 111 that communicates with an inlet pipe 121 of an inlet unit 120 (described later). The outlet pipe port 113 is an opening in the lower part of the side of the container 111 that communicates with an outlet pipe 131 of an outlet unit 130 (described later). The gas discharge connection 114 is a through-hole that serves as a connecting flow path to a gas discharger 141 of a gas discharge unit 140 installed on the top surface of the container 111. The gas-liquid separation unit 110 of the first embodiment includes the gas discharge connection 114 in approximately the center of the top surface of the container 111. The gas / liquid discharge connection part 115 is a through-hole that serves as a connecting flow path to the gas / liquid discharge part 150 that is connected to the bottom surface of the container 111. The gas / liquid separation part 110 of the first embodiment has the gas / liquid discharge connection part 115 in approximately the center of the bottom surface of the container 111.

[0012] The inlet section 120 allows a gas-liquid two-phase fluid from outside the apparatus to flow into the container 111. The inlet section 120 has an inlet pipe 121 connected to the container 111 at an upper part of the side surface of the container 111. The inlet pipe 121 is connected to the container 111 so that the fluid flows in a tangential direction of a circle in the cylindrical shape of the container 111. By flowing the fluid in a tangential direction of the circle, the fluid flowing in the container 111 becomes a swirling flow. The inlet pipe 121 has an inlet port 122 at one end that is connected to an external pipe. The other end of the inlet pipe 121 is connected to the container 111 and communicates with the inside of the container 111 via the inlet pipe port 112.

[0013] The outlet 130 allows the liquid component of the gas-liquid two-phase fluid to flow out of the apparatus. The outlet 130 has an outlet pipe 131 connected to the container 111 at a lower part of the side surface of the container 111. The outlet pipe 131 has an outlet port 132 at one end that is connected to an external pipe. The other end of the outlet pipe 131 is connected to the container 111 and communicates with the inside of the container 111 via an outlet pipe port 113.

[0014] 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the gas discharge unit 140 according to the first embodiment. The gas discharge unit 140 is installed on the upper surface of the container 111, communicates with the interior of the container 111 via the gas discharge connection 114, and discharges the gas separated in the container 111. Here, the gas discharge unit 140 has a gas discharger 141 and a gas discharge port 145. As will be described later, the gas discharge port 145 is an opening through which the gas separated in the gas-liquid separator 110 is discharged by movement of the gas discharge valve 143. Furthermore, the gas discharger 141 automatically discharges the gas by pressure based on the amount of separated gas. The gas discharger 141 has a gas discharger main body 142, a gas discharge valve 143, and a float 144.

[0015] The gas discharger main body 142 has, for example, a cylindrical shape with a hollow interior. The gas discharger main body 142 also restricts the movement of the float 144 in the height direction. The interior of the gas discharger main body 142 is filled with liquid when there is no gas separated by the gas-liquid separator 110. When gas rises from the gas-liquid separator 110 via the gas discharge connection 114 and flows into the gas discharger main body 142, it accumulates in the upper part of the gas discharger main body 142.

[0016] The float 144 is housed in the gas discharger body 142 and can move vertically within the gas discharger body 142 in accordance with the boundary between the gas and liquid within the gas discharger body 142. When the gas discharger body 142 is filled with liquid, the float 144 is located at the upper part of the gas discharger body 142. When gas flows into the gas discharger body 142, the pressure of the gas exceeds the pressure of the liquid, causing the boundary surface between the gas and liquid within the gas discharger body 142 to descend, and the position of the float 144 within the gas discharger body 142 to descend. When gas within the gas discharger body 142 is discharged, the pressure of the liquid exceeds the pressure of the gas, causing the boundary surface between the gas and liquid within the gas discharger body 142 to rise, and the position of the float 144 within the gas discharger body 142 to rise.

[0017] The gas discharge valve 143 is connected to the float 144, and the valve element moves as the float 144 moves, opening or closing the gas discharge port 145. As described above, the float 144 moves within the gas discharger body 142 according to the boundary between the gas and the liquid. When gas flows into the gas discharger body 142, the float 144 moves downward within the gas discharger body 142 based on the gas pressure within the gas discharger body 142. The gas discharge valve 143 moves to open the gas discharge port 145 based on the position to which the float 144 moves. The movement of the gas discharge valve 143 connects the upper part of the gas discharger body 142 with the gas discharge port 145, allowing the gas within the gas discharger body 142 to be discharged. On the other hand, when the amount of gas inside the gas discharger body 142 decreases due to the discharge of gas and the pressure of the gas drops, the position of the float 144 rises and the gas discharge valve 143 moves to close the gas discharge port 145 .

[0018] 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the gas / liquid discharge unit 150 according to the first embodiment. The gas / liquid discharge unit 150 is installed on the underside of the container 111, communicates with the interior of the container 111 via the gas / liquid discharge connection 115, and discharges fluid in response to the pressure inside the container 111. The gas / liquid discharge unit 150 has a gas / liquid discharger 151 and a gas / liquid discharge port 155. The gas / liquid discharger 151 automatically discharges the fluid when the pressure of the fluid inside the container 111 reaches or exceeds a set pressure. The gas / liquid discharger 151 has a gas / liquid discharger main body 152, a gas / liquid discharge valve 153, and a spring 154.

[0019] The gas / liquid discharger main body 152 houses the gas / liquid discharge valve 153 and the spring 154. The gas / liquid discharger main body 152 also restricts the gas / liquid discharge valve 153 and the spring 154 from moving in the height direction on the lower surface of the container 111. The spring 154, which is an elastic body, supports the gas / liquid discharge valve 153 and also exerts a force to return the gas / liquid discharge valve 153 to its original position based on the downward movement of the gas / liquid discharge valve 153.

[0020] The gas-liquid discharge valve 153 is a valve that opens or closes the gas-liquid discharge port 155 in accordance with the movement of the valve body. When the pressure applied by the fluid as it swirls and moves downward within the container 111 exceeds a set pressure, the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 moves downward, which is a direction that opens the gas-liquid discharge port 155. As the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 moves downward, the gas-liquid discharger main body 152 and the gas-liquid discharge port 155 communicate with each other, the gas-liquid discharge port 155 is opened, and the fluid is discharged from the gas-liquid discharger main body 152. On the other hand, when the pressure applied by the fluid to the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 weakens and the force applied to the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 by the spring 154 exceeds the pressure, the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 moves upward, which is a direction that closes the gas-liquid discharge port 155, and the gas-liquid discharge port 155 is closed.

[0021] Here, the set pressure is set to, for example, a pressure that will not be exceeded by the amount of fluid passing through the gas-liquid separation device 100 under normal circumstances. Then, when the amount of gas in the fluid increases and the pressure inside the container 111 exceeds the set pressure, the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 is set to move downward. The set pressure at which the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 moves downward is set to a pressure higher than the pressure at which the gas discharge valve 143 in the gas discharge unit 140 opens the gas discharge port 145, so that discharge from the gas discharge unit 140 occurs first.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the state of a fluid in the gas-liquid separation device 100 according to the first embodiment. When a fluid flows in a two-phase gas-liquid state, the gas, which is lighter than the liquid, flows through the upper portion of the inlet pipe 121 and enters the container 111 through the inlet pipe port 112. Within the container 111, the fluid forms a swirling flow. Due to the centrifugal force generated by the swirling flow, the gas, which is lighter than liquid water, gathers at the center of the cylindrical container 111 and moves to the lower portion where the outlet pipe port 113 is located. The gas that has gathered at the center rises while defoaming and is discharged by the gas discharge unit 140, or is discharged together with the liquid by the gas-liquid discharge unit 150. The liquid then flows out of the container 111 through the outlet pipe port 113, passes through the outlet pipe 131, and flows out of the outlet port 132.

[0023] As described above, the gas-liquid separation device 100 of the first embodiment swirls the fluid containing gas and liquid that flows into the container 111 from the inlet pipe 121 of the inlet section 120, separating the fluid into gas and liquid. The separated gas is discharged from the gas discharge port 145 by moving the gas discharge valve 143 of the gas discharge section 140 installed at the top of the container 111 to open the gas discharge port 145. At this time, the gas discharge valve 143 moves based on the pressure of the gas separated in the container 111. Therefore, even if a large amount of gas in the fluid flows into the container 111 at a high speed, the gas can be efficiently separated and discharged. Furthermore, the gas-liquid separation device 100 of the first embodiment includes the gas-liquid discharge section 150 having the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 at the bottom of the container 111. This allows gas that could not be discharged by the gas discharge section 140 to be discharged. At this time, by setting the set pressure at which the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 moves to a pressure higher than the pressure at which the gas discharge valve 143 in the gas discharge section 140 opens the gas discharge port 145, gas can be discharged from the gas discharge section 140 with priority.

[0024] Embodiment 2 Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a gas-liquid separation device 100 according to embodiment 2. In Fig. 5, devices and the like denoted by the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 perform the same operations as those described in embodiment 1.

[0025] The gas-liquid separation device 100 in the first embodiment is a device having a gas-liquid discharge unit 150 on its underside. In the gas-liquid separation device 100 in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 , the gas discharge unit 140 and the gas-liquid discharge unit 150 are installed on the upper side of the container 111 via a discharge pipe 160 connected to the gas discharge connection unit 114. The gas-liquid separation device 100 in the second embodiment does not have the gas-liquid discharge connection unit 115. In the first embodiment, the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 moves in the height direction (up and down) to open and close the gas-liquid discharge port 155. In the second embodiment, on the other hand, the gas-liquid discharge unit 150 is installed in the left-right direction in FIG. 5 , which is different from the installation direction in the first embodiment. Therefore, the direction in which the gas-liquid discharge valve 153 opens and closes the gas-liquid discharge port 155 also differs.

[0026] In the gas-liquid separation device 100 of embodiment 2, the gas discharge section 140 and the gas-liquid discharge section 150 are installed at the top of the container 111, so that gas can be discharged at the top even when gas cannot be discharged using the gas discharge section 140 alone.

[0027] Third Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a hot water supply system centered on a fluid circulation system according to a third embodiment. Here, a fluid circulation system equipped with the gas-liquid separation device 100 described in the first and second embodiments will be described. As an example of a fluid circulation system, a hot water supply system that supplies hot water by heating water will be described. Here, the heat medium for heating is also assumed to be water, and the heat medium water circulates as a fluid. The heat medium water also serves as a heat load that receives heat. Here, unless otherwise specified, the heat medium water includes hot water. The hot water supply system according to the first embodiment has a refrigerant circuit 10 and a heat medium circuit 20, which are formed by connecting a heat source unit 200 and a load unit 210 via piping 230. The hot water supply system according to the third embodiment also has a radiator 240 and sanitary equipment 250.

[0028] The heat source unit 200 is a unit installed outdoors. The heat source unit 200 supplies heat to a load unit 210. The heat source unit 200 in the first embodiment includes devices that constitute the refrigerant circuit 10 and some devices that constitute the heat medium circuit 20. The heat source unit 200 also includes a heat source side control device 201 that controls the devices within the unit.

[0029] The refrigerant circuit 10 of the heat source unit 200 performs heating operation and heats water flowing through the heat medium circuit 20 by heat exchange with the refrigerant in a heat medium heat exchanger 13 (described later). The heat source unit 200 connects a compressor 11, a four-way valve 12, a heat medium heat exchanger 13, a first expansion valve 14, a receiver 15, a second expansion valve 16, and an air heat exchanger 17 with refrigerant piping to form the refrigerant circuit 10 in which the refrigerant circulates.

[0030] The compressor 11 compresses and discharges the drawn refrigerant. The compressor 11 in the first embodiment includes an inverter device or the like, and can finely change the capacity of the compressor 11 (the amount of refrigerant delivered per unit time) by arbitrarily changing the drive frequency based on instructions from the heat source side control device 201. The four-way valve 12 serves as a flow path switching valve that switches the flow of the flow paths in the refrigerant circuit 10. For this reason, although not specifically described here, the hot water supply system can perform not only a heating operation, but also a cooling operation that cools water flowing through the heat medium circuit 20 and a defrosting operation that defrosts the refrigerant circuit 10.

[0031] The heat medium heat exchanger 13 exchanges heat between the water flowing through the heat medium circuit 20 and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 10. Therefore, the heat medium heat exchanger 13 is a component of the heat medium circuit 20 and also a component of the refrigerant circuit 10. The heat medium heat exchanger 13 is, for example, a plate heat exchanger. The water flowing through the heat medium circuit 20 and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 10 pass through flow paths that are isolated from each other. The heat medium heat exchanger 13 serves as a condenser or a radiator in the refrigerant circuit 10 and heats the water flowing through the heat medium circuit 20. Here, the heat source unit 200 is described as having the heat medium heat exchanger 13, but the heat medium heat exchanger 13 may be included in a unit independent of the heat source unit 200 and the load unit 210, for example.

[0032] The first expansion valve 14, which serves as the first throttling device, adjusts the flow rate and pressure of the refrigerant flowing through the heat medium heat exchanger 13, for example. The receiver 15 is located between the first expansion valve 14 and the second expansion valve 16 in the refrigerant circuit 10 and is a container that stores excess refrigerant. The second expansion valve 16, which serves as the second throttling device, adjusts the flow rate and pressure of the refrigerant. Here, the first expansion valve 14 and the second expansion valve 16 in the first embodiment are assumed to be electronic expansion valves that can change their opening degrees based on instructions from the heat source-side control device 201.

[0033] The air heat exchanger 17 exchanges heat between the refrigerant and outside air, which is, for example, air from outdoors. The air heat exchanger 17 functions as an evaporator or a heat absorber, and evaporates the refrigerant.

[0034] Although not particularly limited, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 10 of the heat source unit 200 in Embodiment 1 is a flammable refrigerant such as a hydrofluoroolefin-based refrigerant or a HC (hydrocarbon)-based refrigerant. Flammable refrigerants generally have a low global warming potential.

[0035] Next, with reference to Fig. 6 , the heating operation of the refrigerant circuit 10 will be described based on the flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10. Actuators such as the compressor 11 in the refrigerant circuit 10 are controlled by a control device (not shown) that controls devices in the heat source unit 200. During the heating operation, the refrigerant circulates through the compressor 11, four-way valve 12, heat medium heat exchanger 13, first expansion valve 14, receiver 15, second expansion valve 16, air heat exchanger 17, four-way valve 12, and compressor 11 in this order.

[0036] The high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant (hereinafter referred to as gas refrigerant) discharged from the compressor 11 flows into the heat medium heat exchanger 13 via the four-way valve 12. The gas refrigerant that has flowed into the heat medium heat exchanger 13 is condensed and liquefied while releasing heat in the heat medium heat exchanger 13, which functions as a condenser, to become a high-pressure, low-temperature liquid-phase refrigerant (hereinafter referred to as liquid refrigerant). As the refrigerant passing through the heat medium heat exchanger 13 releases heat, the water flowing through the heat medium circuit 20 that passes through the heat medium heat exchanger 13 is heated.

[0037] The liquid refrigerant that flows out of the heat medium heat exchanger 13 is decompressed by the first expansion valve 14 and flows into the receiver 15, where a portion of the liquid refrigerant is accumulated. The refrigerant that flows out of the receiver 15 is decompressed by the second expansion valve 16 and becomes two-phase refrigerant, which flows into the air heat exchanger 17. The refrigerant that flows into the air heat exchanger 17 exchanges heat with outside air and evaporates to become gas refrigerant. The gas refrigerant that flows out of the air heat exchanger 17 passes through the four-way valve 12 and is drawn into the compressor 11.

[0038] On the other hand, the heat medium circuit 20 has a water tank 21, a coil 22, an immersion heater 23, a booster heater 24, a three-way valve 25, a strainer 26, a flow switch 27, a pump 28, an expansion tank 29, a gas-liquid separation device 100, and a heat medium heat exchanger 13. Of the devices in the heat medium circuit 20, the heat medium heat exchanger 13, the expansion tank 29, the pump 28, and the gas-liquid separation device 100 are included in the heat source unit 200. The other devices are included in the load unit 210. The load unit 210 in the first embodiment has a load-side control device 211 that controls the devices in the load unit 210 in cooperation with the heat source-side control device 201.

[0039] The load unit 210 is installed indoors, for example. The load unit 210 has a water tank 21, which is a container that stores water. The water tank 21 contains a coil 22 connected to the heat medium circuit 20. The coil 22 is a load heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the water serving as a heat medium circulating through the heat medium circuit 20 and the water stored in the water tank 21, thereby heating the water stored in the water tank 21. The water tank 21 also contains an immersion heater 23. The immersion heater 23 is a heating device that further heats the water stored in the water tank 21. The water stored in the water tank 21 is supplied to sanitary equipment 250, which is connected to a bath, shower, or the like, for example.

[0040] The booster heater 24 is a device that further heats the water in the heat medium circuit 20 when, for example, the heating capacity of the heat source unit 200 is insufficient. The three-way valve 25 is a device that branches the water in the heat medium circuit 20. For example, the three-way valve 25 is a valve that switches the water in the heat medium circuit 20 to a flow path that flows to the water tank 21 side or a flow path to which a radiator 240 such as a floor heater is connected. The strainer 26 is a device that removes scale (deposits) in the heat medium circuit 20. The flow switch 27 is a device that detects whether the flow rate circulating in the heat medium circuit 20 is equal to or greater than a certain amount.

[0041] The pump 28 of the heat source unit 200 pressurizes the water in the heat medium circuit 20 and circulates it within the heat medium circuit 20. The expansion tank 29 adjusts the pressure in the piping of the heat medium circuit 20, which changes due to changes in the volume of water caused by heating, within a certain range. In the heat medium circuit 20, the expansion tank 29 is located upstream of the gas-liquid separation device 100 with respect to the flow of water, which serves as the heat medium. For example, when gas refrigerant flows into the heat medium circuit 20 and the pressure in the heat medium circuit 20 exceeds the pressure control range of the expansion tank 29, the gas refrigerant flows into the gas-liquid separation device 100. The gas-liquid separation device 100 then separates the gas refrigerant from the water, which serves as the heat medium, and discharges the gas refrigerant to the outside, thereby removing the gas from the heat medium circuit 20. This reduces the pressure in the heat medium circuit 20. Furthermore, by discharging the gas refrigerant to the outside, if the refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant, it is possible to prevent flammable gas from entering the room via the heat medium circuit 20. However, this does not preclude a circuit configuration in which the gas-liquid separation device 100 is installed upstream of the expansion tank 29. The gas-liquid separation device 100 may suppress the pressure in the heat medium circuit 20 before the expansion tank 29 suppresses the pressure.

[0042] As described above, in the fluid circulation system according to the third embodiment, the expansion tank 29 is installed upstream of the gas-liquid separation device 100 with respect to the flow of water, which is the heat medium. Therefore, even when gas refrigerant flows into the heat medium circuit 20, the gas refrigerant that cannot be regulated by the expansion tank 29 can be separated and discharged to the outside. When the refrigerant flows into the heat medium circuit 20, the gas refrigerant can be efficiently separated by the swirling flow in the gas-liquid separation device 100. In particular, when the refrigerant is flammable, the flammable gas refrigerant can be separated and discharged outdoors, thereby preventing the flammable refrigerant from flowing indoors. In addition, air generated by heating the water can be separated, and the pump 28 can be protected from idling.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the fluid circulation system is described as being used in a hot water supply system, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the fluid circulation system can be used in an air conditioner or chiller system that uses a fluid such as a heat medium.

[0044] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, a fluid circulation system in which a fluid circulates has been described, but the present invention is not limited to circulation systems and can also be applied to transient systems in which a fluid containing gas and liquid flows through pipes or the like.

[0045] REFRIGERATION SYSTEM, 10 REFRIGERATOR CIRCUIT, 11 COMPRESSOR, 12 FOUR-WAY VALVE, 13 HEAT TRANSPORT HIGH-SPEED EXPANSION VALVE, 14 FIRST EXPANSION VALVE, 15 RECEIVER, 16 SECOND EXPANSION VALVE, 17 AIR HEAT EXCHANGER, 20 HEAT TRANSPORT HIGH-SPEED EXPANSION VALVE, 21 WATER TANK, 22 COIL, 23 SUBMERGED HEATER, 24 BOOSTER HEATER, 25 THREE-WAY VALVE, 26 STRAINER, 27 FLOW SWITCH, 28 PUMP, 29 EXPANSION TANK, 100 GAS-LIQUID SEPARATOR, 110 GAS-LIQUID SEPARATOR, 111 CONTAINER, 112 INlet PIPE, 113 OUTLET PIPE, 114 GAS OUTLET CONNECTION, 115 GAS-LIQUID OUTLET CONNECTION, 120 INLEAK, 121 INLEAK PIPE, 122 INLEAK, 130 OUTLET, 131 OUTLET PIPE, 132 OUTLET, 140 GAS OUTLET, 141 GAS OUTLET, 142 Gas discharger main body, 143 gas discharge valve, 144 float, 145 gas discharge port, 150 gas / liquid discharge section, 151 gas / liquid discharger, 152 gas / liquid discharger main body, 153 gas / liquid discharge valve, 154 spring, 155 gas / liquid discharge port, 160 discharge pipe, 200 heat source unit, 201 heat source side control device, 210 load unit, 211 load side control device, 230 piping, 240 radiator, 250 sanitary equipment.

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separator for separating gas and liquid in a fluid, comprising: a cylindrical container in which the fluid swirls inside to separate the gas and liquid; an inlet pipe for introducing the fluid into the container; an outlet pipe for discharging the liquid separated from the gas from inside the container; and a gas discharge unit having a gas discharge valve for discharging the gas separated in the container by movement from a gas discharge port.

2. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1, wherein the gas discharge section is installed at the top of the container.

3. A gas-liquid separation device as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the gas exhaust valve moves in response to the pressure inside the container, connecting the inside of the container with the gas exhaust port and opening the gas exhaust port.

4. A gas-liquid separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gas discharge section has a float that moves at the boundary between the separated gas and the liquid, and the gas discharge valve moves based on the position of the float.

5. A gas-liquid separator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a gas-liquid discharge section having a gas-liquid discharge valve that, by movement, discharges the gas together with the liquid from a gas-liquid discharge port.

6. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 5, wherein the gas-liquid discharge section is installed below the position where the gas discharge section is installed.

7. The gas-liquid separator according to claim 6, wherein the gas-liquid discharge section is installed at the bottom of the container.

8. A gas-liquid separation device as described in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the gas-liquid discharge valve moves in response to the pressure inside the container, connecting the inside of the container with the gas-liquid discharge port and opening the gas-liquid discharge port.

9. A gas-liquid separator according to claim 8, wherein the pressure at which the gas-liquid discharge valve moves to open the gas-liquid discharge port is higher than the pressure at which the gas discharge valve opens the gas discharge port.

10. A gas-liquid separator according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the gas-liquid discharge section has an elastic body that moves the gas-liquid discharge valve.

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