Gas-Liquid Separator Penetration Pipe Design to Reduce Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas-liquid separators in heat supply apparatuses suffer from increased size, vibration noise, and pressure loss due to multiple components like screen members, anti-vibration plates, and liquid refrigerant inflow prevention plates, which impede refrigerant flow and reduce operating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A gas-liquid separator design featuring a single penetration pipe that combines the inlet and outlet pipes, reducing the need for additional components and configurations, thereby minimizing vibration, noise, and pressure loss, and improving separation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple components (screen member, anti-vibration plate, liquid refrigerant inflow prevention plate) are disposed inside the case, then separation function and vibration reduction are improved, but device size increases and pressure loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the inlet pipe and outlet pipe into a single penetration pipe that passes through the housing. This merging of functions reduces the number of components needed inside the case, thereby reducing device size while maintaining separation functionality through the integrated pipe design.
Solution Approach 2:
The penetration pipe serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the inlet pipe for mixed refrigerant and the outlet pipe for separated gaseous refrigerant. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate inlet and outlet pipes, reducing overall device complexity and size.
2Reliability
If multiple components (screen member, anti-vibration plate, liquid refrigerant inflow prevention plate) are disposed inside the case, then separation function and vibration reduction are improved, but pressure loss increases due to impeded refrigerant flow
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the inlet and outlet pipes into a single penetration pipe, the patent reduces the number of internal components that impede refrigerant flow. This streamlined design minimizes flow resistance and pressure loss while maintaining effective gas-liquid separation.
3Ease of operation
If separate inlet pipe and outlet pipe are used, then functional clarity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the inlet pipe and outlet pipe into a single penetration pipe structure. While this reduces functional clarity compared to separate pipes, it significantly simplifies the device structure and reduces manufacturing complexity, achieving a better overall balance for this application.
Solution Approach 2:
The penetration pipe is designed to perform multiple functions: serving as both inlet and outlet passage, providing structural support, and enabling gas-liquid separation. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining operational effectiveness.
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 proposed design enhances the separation efficiency of refrigerants, reduces pressure loss, and minimizes the size of the gas-liquid separator, leading to improved operating efficiency and reduced manufacturing costs of the heat supply apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
separate a mixed-state refrigerant into a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
separate a mixed-state refrigerant into gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A heat supply apparatus comprises: a compressor compressing refrigerant; a first heat exchanger connected to the compressor and exchanging heat between refrigerant and water; a second heat exchanger connected to the compressor and exchanging heat between refrigerant and air; and a gas-liquid separator separating refrigerant into gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, the gas-liquid separator including: a housing; and a penetration pipe passing through sides of the housing and including an inlet flow path through which mixed refrigerant flows in and an outlet flow path through which gaseous refrigerant flows out, and the penetration pipe including: a first connecting hole formed on a surface and connecting the inlet flow path and the inside of the housing; a second connecting hole formed on a surface and connecting the outlet flow path and the inside of the housing; and a separation plate partitioning the inlet flow path and the outlet flow path.