Communicating Vessel Liquid-Gas Separator for Vacuum Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-gas separation systems in vacuum pumps and compressors face issues with large footprint, unpredictable fluid behavior, inability to maintain filtration across different fluid phases, and poor liquid quality due to temperature fluctuations and impurity deposition, leading to inefficiencies and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising two communicating vessels with a common section and bucket-shaped vessels that split the fluid flow into two equal paths, ensuring consistent temperature and continuous liquid movement, preventing impurity deposition and allowing for accurate calculation of system parameters and reduced footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If parallel mounted cyclones are used for liquid-gas separation, then separation capability is improved, but the system footprint becomes too large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate cyclone systems into a single integrated device with a common inlet and shared housing. The two cyclone chambers are positioned adjacent to each other and share common structural elements including the inlet opening, housing walls, and liquid collection reservoir, thereby achieving parallel separation capability while reducing overall footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The common inlet structure serves both cyclone chambers simultaneously, and the shared liquid collection reservoir collects liquid from both cyclones. This multi-functional design allows a single structure to perform multiple separation functions, improving separation capability without proportionally increasing system size.
2Device complexity
If a common inlet is used for parallel cyclones, then system complexity is reduced, but fluid flow behavior becomes unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The internal structure is segmented into two distinct cyclone chambers with separate flow paths, each chamber having its own outlet. This segmentation allows predictable flow distribution while maintaining a common inlet, as each chamber operates independently with defined flow characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclone chambers are positioned asymmetrically within the housing with respect to the common inlet, creating balanced flow distribution. The asymmetric arrangement ensures that fluid flow is evenly divided between the two chambers, making the flow behavior predictable despite the common inlet configuration.
3Reliability
If liquid is allowed to collect in the cyclone bottom, then liquid-gas separation is improved, but temperature zones form and impurities deposit
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is positioned at the bottom of the liquid collection reservoir to pre-heat the liquid before it accumulates in large quantities. This preliminary heating action prevents temperature stratification and maintains uniform temperature throughout the liquid, preventing impurity deposition and maintaining continuous flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system actively controls the temperature parameter of the collected liquid using a heating element. By maintaining the liquid temperature above a threshold value, the system changes the physical state and flow characteristics of the liquid, preventing it from cooling and depositing impurities, thus maintaining continuous flow and separation efficiency.
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 solution achieves efficient liquid-gas separation with consistent liquid quality, reduced system size, and improved maintenance by maintaining constant temperature and equalizing pressure within the vessels, enhancing the overall efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
Devices for separating solid or liquid impurities from a fluid flow are commonly used within vacuum systems. Some examples can be found in the field of vacuum cleaners such as in US 2010/000,185 A1 in the name of LG Electronics INC, or U.S. Pat. No. 2,546,246 A in the name of Prat Daniel Corp
Implementation Method 2
the flow is directed through the parallel mounted cyclones, which remove the impurities due to the circularly induced flow
Implementation Method 3
The impurities are typically allowed to fall under the gravitational force and are collected at the bottom of each cyclone
Data Source
AI summary
A device for separating liquid from a gas stream within a liquid injected vacuum pump or compressor, said device comprising: two communicating vessels having a common section extending over at least a part of the height; an inlet opening positioned on the opposite side of the common section; at least two bucket shaped vessels, each provided within one of the two communicating vessels; a lid comprising an outlet opening; wherein at least one of the two bucket shaped vessels forms a fluid passage between the wall of the communicating vessel and the wall of the bucket shaped vessel for allowing a fluid to pass there through.