Bubble separator, and fluid circuit for automobile that includes bubble separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-output power motor cooling systems, such as those in electric automobiles, bubbles generated in lubricating oil or ATF reduce cooling efficiency and hydraulic responsiveness, leading to decreased performance and noise due to inefficient oil flow and hydraulic responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
A bubble separator with a swirl flow formation part, gas discharge ports, and liquid drop nozzles is used to separate bubbles from liquid using centrifugal force, enhancing deaeration efficiency and cooling performance by promoting gas column formation and efficient gas discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If bubbles are generated in oil due to gear stirring or injection, then the cooling system can operate, but the actual flow rate of oil decreases and cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes bubbles from the oil stream using a separation chamber where centrifugal force generated by swirl flow separates gas bubbles from liquid oil. The separated gas is discharged through a gas discharge port while deaerated oil continues to the cooling target, thereby maintaining high actual flow rate and cooling efficiency simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The bubble separator performs deaeration action before the oil reaches the cooling target (motor shaft, coil end, or gears). By removing bubbles in advance through the separation chamber, the oil maintains its intended flow rate and cooling performance when it reaches the cooling target
2Ease of operation
If bubbles are generated in ATF, then the transmission can operate, but hydraulic responsiveness degrades and speed change efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bubble separator extracts and removes bubbles from ATF before it enters the transmission hydraulic system. The separation chamber uses centrifugal force to separate gas bubbles from liquid ATF, discharging gas through a gas discharge port while allowing deaerated ATF to maintain high hydraulic responsiveness and speed change efficiency
3Productivity
If a bubble separator is added to remove bubbles, then deaeration efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bubble separator merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: the separation chamber serves as both the centrifugal separation space and the gas-liquid separation chamber, while the inner peripheral surface acts as both the swirl flow generation surface and the gas discharge pathway. This merging achieves high deaeration efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The separation chamber performs multiple functions simultaneously: generating swirl flow for centrifugal separation, providing space for gas column formation, enabling gas discharge through the inner peripheral surface, and allowing deaerated liquid to exit. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components
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 bubble separator effectively removes bubbles from the liquid, improving cooling efficiency, reducing noise, and enhancing hydraulic responsiveness in motor cooling systems, while being compact and easily integratable into existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
separating bubbles in liquid by a centrifugal force
Implementation Method 2
form a swirl flow on the inner peripheral surface
Implementation Method 3
formation of a gas column made of gas separated from the liquid is promoted
Implementation Method 4
efficiently cool a cooling object
Data Source
AI summary
A bubble separator used in a fluid circuit for an automobile and that separates bubbles in a refrigerant may include a swirl flow formation part extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and including an internal space having a columnar shape. The bubble separator may also include a flow inlet disposed at one end of the swirl flow formation part, and being open so as to cause the refrigerant to flow in the flow inlet in a tangential direction of an inner peripheral surface of the swirl flow formation part and so as to form a swirl flow on the inner peripheral surface. The bubble separator may also include a flow outlet disposed at another end of the swirl flow formation part, and being open so as to cause the refrigerant to flow out of the flow outlet in a tangential direction from the inner peripheral surface. The bubble separator may further include a gas discharge port to discharge gas separated from the refrigerant in the swirl flow formation part outside of the swirl flow formation part, and at least one liquid drop nozzle provided on a wall surface of the swirl flow formation part.