Air-vapor separation device for separating air from refrigerant vapor and method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
In immersed liquid-cooling systems, air mixes with refrigerant vapor, reducing cooling efficiency due to incomplete air discharge during maintenance and phase change, necessitating effective separation of air from refrigerant vapor.
Innovation Solution
An air-vapor separation device comprising a microporous one-way filtration membrane in a sealed tank, with a compressor and control valves, separates air from refrigerant vapor by allowing air passage while preventing vapor passage, using a detecting device to ensure complete separation and condensation for reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid-cooling system operates with phase change, then cooling efficiency is improved, but air mixes with refrigerant vapor reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts air from the mixed gas of air and refrigerant vapor using a separation membrane that selectively allows air molecules to pass through while blocking refrigerant vapor molecules, thereby removing the harmful air component that reduces cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The separation membrane acts as an intermediary between the mixed gas components, using its microporous structure with specific pore sizes to selectively transmit air molecules while blocking larger refrigerant vapor molecules, enabling effective separation
2Ease of operation
If air is not completely discharged from system pipeline, then maintenance and replacement is easier, but cooling efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary air removal action by continuously operating the air separation device before air accumulation significantly impacts cooling efficiency, preventing the harmful effect while maintaining system operability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a detecting device to monitor the concentration of refrigerant vapor and air in the system, providing feedback control to the compressor and separation membrane operation to ensure complete air removal while maintaining optimal cooling performance
3Manufacturing precision
If compressor pressure is increased to improve separation, then separation efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a separation membrane with specifically designed microporous structure that has different pore sizes selective to the molecular sizes of air and refrigerant vapor, enabling passive separation based on molecular size differences without requiring excessive compression pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the separation membrane (pore size) to match the molecular size difference between air and refrigerant vapor, creating a size-selective barrier that achieves efficient separation at lower compression pressures
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively separates air from refrigerant vapor, improving cooling efficiency by allowing complete air discharge and refrigerant recovery, maintaining system performance during maintenance and operation.
Implementation Method 1
the separation membrane is a microporous one-way filtration membrane, which may only allow the passage of the air in one direction and prevent the passage of the refrigerant vapor according to the difference in molecular size
Implementation Method 2
the mixed gas input passage is provided with a compressor
Implementation Method 3
the air-vapor separation device further comprises a detecting device for detecting a concentration of the refrigerant vapor in the sealed cavity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an air-vapor separation device for separating air from refrigerant vapor comprising an air-vapor separation tank, a separation membrane, a mixed gas input passage, a refrigerant vapor output passage, and a control unit, wherein the mixed gas input passage is provided with a compressor and a first control valve, and the refrigerant vapor output passage is provided with a second control valve. The air-vapor separation device of the present invention has the advantages of simple structure, convenient operation, and is reliable and effective in separation of air and refrigerant vapor, with good separation effect.