Electrolysis Downstream Stratifying Pipe for Gas-Liquid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrolysis systems suffer from inefficient gas-liquid separation in separators, leading to contamination and the risk of explosive gas mixtures due to crossover of hydrogen and oxygen bubbles between the cathode and anode sides.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a stratified flow regime in pipes connected to separators, ensuring a clear spatial separation of gas and liquid phases by adjusting the pipe-to-separator flow area ratio and minimizing turbulence, thereby enhancing separation efficiency and preventing explosive mixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional gravity separator is used with high recycle rate, then the separator can handle large flow volumes, but gas bubbles are not effectively separated and carry over to the other electrode side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from turbulent to stratified flow by controlling the pipe-to-separator flow area ratio (0.002 to 0.6) and pipe orientation (horizontal or inclined), enabling effective gas-liquid separation while maintaining high recycle rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional parameter - the flow area ratio between pipe and separator - to control the flow regime and achieve stratified flow, which adds a degree of freedom for optimizing separation efficiency independent of separator size
2Reliability
If the separator size is increased to improve separation, then separation efficiency increases, but the system complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from turbulent to stratified flow by controlling the pipe-to-separator flow area ratio (0.002 to 0.6) and pipe orientation (horizontal or inclined), enabling effective gas-liquid separation while maintaining high recycle rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional parameter - the flow area ratio between pipe and separator - to control the flow regime and achieve stratified flow, which adds a degree of freedom for optimizing separation efficiency independent of separator size
3Ease of operation
If turbulence is present in the separator inlet, then mixing is enhanced, but gas and liquid phases are not effectively separated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from turbulent to stratified flow by controlling the pipe-to-separator flow area ratio (0.002 to 0.6) and pipe orientation (horizontal or inclined), enabling effective gas-liquid separation while maintaining high recycle rates
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 stratified flow regime effectively separates gas and liquid phases, increasing separation efficiency and preventing explosive gas mixtures, ensuring safety and efficiency in electrolysis processes.
Implementation Method 1
the first gas flow and the first liquid electrolyte flow can be separated by an undisturbed flat interface
Implementation Method 2
a stratified flow regime of the first biphasic flow of the first liquid electrolyte flow and the first gas flow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Arrangement (1) for electrolysis comprising: - an electrolysis stack (2) having an anode side (4) and a cathode side (3), - a first separator (6.1) for separating a first gas flow (8.1) and a first liquid electrolyte flow (9.1), - a first pipe (5.1), which is oriented along a first horizontal axis (12.1), and which has a first pipe end opening (10.1) and a second pipe end opening (11.1), wherein the first pipe end opening (10.1) of the first pipe (5.1) is fluidly connected to the electrolysis stack (2), wherein the second pipe end opening (11.1) of the first pipe (5.1) is fluidly connected to an inlet (13.1) of the first separator (6.1), and wherein a first ratio defined as a free flow area (AP1) of the first pipe (5.1) divided by a free flow area (AS1) of the first separator (6.1) is in the range of 0.002 to 0.6.