Centrifugal Gas-Liquid Separator With Adjustable Inlet Nozzle
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing centrifugal gas-liquid separators in electrochemical batteries for underwater vehicles face inefficiencies due to variations in electrolyte flow rates, leading to inconsistent centrifugal force and separation performance, as they are designed for nominal flow rates and struggle to maintain optimal efficiency with varying power requirements.
Innovation Solution
A centrifugal gas-liquid separator with a regulator mechanism that adjusts the nozzle section and annular gap dimensions in response to flow rate variations, ensuring a constant rate of entry and maintaining optimal centrifugal force for efficient liquid-gas separation, using a movable deflector and actuator system to modify the inlet nozzle and gap dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the separator is designed for a nominal flow rate, then the separation performance is optimal at that specific flow rate, but the separation performance deteriorates when the flow rate varies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the nozzle section adjustable through a deflector mechanism. The deflector can be positioned at different angles to change the effective nozzle opening area, allowing the system to adapt to varying flow rates while maintaining optimal separation performance. This transforms a static system into a dynamic one that can respond to changing operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the nozzle section area as a controllable parameter. By adjusting the deflector position, the nozzle section area changes, which in turn adjusts the velocity of the two-phase electrolyte entering the separation chamber. This allows the system to maintain optimal centrifugal force and separation performance across different flow rate conditions.
2Power
If the electrolyte flow rate increases to meet higher power requirements, then the power generation capacity improves, but the centrifugal force becomes insufficient leading to poor separation
Solution Approach 1:
When power requirements increase and electrolyte flow rate increases, the deflector mechanism dynamically adjusts to change the nozzle section area. This maintains the velocity of the electrolyte entering the separation chamber, ensuring that centrifugal force remains sufficient for effective liquid-gas separation even at higher flow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the nozzle section area parameter in response to varying flow rates. By reducing the nozzle area when flow rate increases, the velocity is maintained constant, which preserves the centrifugal force necessary for reliable separation efficiency while allowing higher overall power generation.
3Loss of energy
If the electrolyte flow rate decreases to meet lower power requirements, then energy consumption reduces, but the velocity becomes too high causing instability in separation
Solution Approach 1:
When power requirements decrease and electrolyte flow rate decreases, the deflector mechanism adjusts to increase the nozzle section area. This prevents the velocity from becoming excessively high, maintaining stable and reliable separation performance while allowing the system to operate at lower energy consumption levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts the nozzle section area parameter upward when flow rate decreases. This modification ensures that the velocity of electrolyte entering the separation chamber remains within the optimal range, preventing instability and maintaining reliable separation even at reduced power levels.
4Device complexity
If a static separator design is used, then the device complexity is low, but the system cannot adapt to variable power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a deflector mechanism that can be positioned at different angles to adjust the nozzle section area. This adds dynamic capability to the separator, enabling it to adapt to variable power requirements and flow rates while maintaining relatively simple overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector mechanism serves multiple functions: it adjusts the nozzle section area, controls the velocity of electrolyte entry, and enables the separator to operate effectively across a range of flow rates. This multi-functionality allows the system to handle variable power requirements without requiring entirely separate systems for different operating conditions.
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 adjustable nozzle and gap dimensions ensure consistent separation performance across varying flow rates, maintaining optimal energy efficiency and preventing liquid-gas mixing issues, even when power requirements change, by ensuring a constant centrifugal force is applied to the fluid.
Implementation Method 1
as a result of the centrifugal force, the liquid phase, which has a higher density, moves close to the inner wall of the cylindrical casing, while the gas, which has lower density, remains innermost
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A centrifugal gas-liquid separator (1) wherein a tubular casing (2) houses a central tubular duct (5), which is provided with a first free end (5-a) and with a second end (5-b) that communicates with a gas-outlet duct (8) and carries a transversal annulus-shaped plate (11) having a perimetral edge (11-p) that faces the inner wall of the tubular body (2) to define an annular gap (12). The plate (11) divides the space inside the tubular casing (2) into a first chamber (A) and into a second chamber (B) that communicate with each other through the annular gap (12). A liquid-outlet duct (13) communicates with the second chamber (B) and a liquid-phase/gas-phase inlet duct (15) extends tangentially from the tubular casing (2) and discharges into the first chamber (A) through an inlet nozzle (16). A regulation device (17) is provided, which is designed to modify the section of the inlet nozzle (16) in order to modify the rate of entry of the liquid phase and gas phase into the first chamber (A) and to adapt the operation of the centrifugal gas-liquid separator following variations of flow rate. (Figure 1)