Angled-Rib Gas-Liquid Separator for Low Droplet Entrainment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas-liquid separators suffer from high droplet entrainment due to gravitational separation methods, leading to inefficient separation of gas and liquid.
Innovation Solution
A gas-liquid separator design featuring angled ribs on the inner and outer walls of the housing assembly, along with an additional gas-liquid separation apparatus, which includes bent channels to enhance fluid flow direction changes and promote liquid-gas separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If gravity-based separation method is used, then the structure is simple, but the separation efficiency is low with large droplet entrainment
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is divided into multiple functional zones: an upper separation chamber with coalescing elements for droplet coalescence, a lower separation chamber with angled ribs for further separation, and a drainage system. This segmentation allows each zone to perform a specific separation function, progressively reducing droplet size and improving overall separation efficiency while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces angled ribs that extend diagonally from the wall into the separation chamber, adding a third-dimensional element to the separation process. These ribs create additional flow path variations and separation surfaces beyond the simple horizontal and vertical planes, enhancing droplet separation efficiency without significantly increasing overall device complexity
2Object-generated harmful factors
If gravitational separation is used, then the device structure is simple, but the droplet entrainment amount is large
Solution Approach 1:
Coalescing elements are introduced as intermediary structures between the inlet and the outlet. These elements act as mediators that capture and coalesce small droplets that would otherwise be entrained in the gas stream. The coalescing elements provide additional surface area for droplet collection and coalescence, significantly reducing droplet entrainment while adding only moderate structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved or angled rib structures rather than straight vertical walls. The curved surfaces of the angled ribs create more effective flow patterns that enhance droplet separation by utilizing surface tension and flow adhesion effects. This curvature-based design improves separation performance while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of continuous curved surfaces
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 design achieves a compact structure with high separation efficiency, effectively separating liquid droplets of various sizes from gas, resulting in improved separation rates.
Implementation Method 1
After the mixed fluid enters the gas-liquid separator from the inlet, due to different gravity of the liquid and the gas, the gas moves upwards and flows out of the gas-liquid separator through the gas outlet, while the liquid moves downwards
Implementation Method 2
the additional gas-liquid separation apparatus, which includes bent channels to enhance fluid flow direction changes and promote liquid-gas separation
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a gas-liquid separator, including a housing assembly and a plurality of first ribs. The housing assembly has an inner side wall defining a housing accommodation cavity. The housing assembly includes an inlet, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet, the inlet. The gas outlet, and the liquid outlet are communicated with the housing accommodation cavity. The inlet is provided on the inner side wall of the housing accommodation cavity, the gas outlet is provided above the inlet, and the liquid outlet is provided below the inlet. The plurality of first ribs are arranged on the inner side wall of the housing assembly. Each of the plurality of first ribs is arranged at an angle with respect to a height direction of the housing assembly, and each of the plurality of first ribs includes a first rib windward end and a first rib leeward end. In a flow direction of a fluid entering the housing accommodation cavity from the inlet, the first rib windward end is located upstream of the first rib leeward end. In the height direction of the housing assembly, the first rib windward end is higher than the first rib leeward end. The gas-liquid separator has a compact structure, a small overall volume, and high separation efficiency.