Gas-Liquid Separator Swirl Path for Higher Inlet Flow Velocity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gas-liquid separators, such as those described in Patent Literature 1, face issues with insufficient swirl formation due to decreasing flow velocity of the gas-liquid mixture, leading to inadequate separation and increased manufacturing complexity due to the design of the guide plate and introduction passage.
Innovation Solution
A compact gas-liquid separator design featuring a cylindrical body with a straightening plate that narrows towards the end, increasing flow velocity, and a partition plate to enhance swirl formation, eliminating the need for a conical funnel and simplifying the introduction passage attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the guide plate is designed with gradually increasing distance from the inner wall to form a guide path, then the gas-liquid mixture can be directed into the body portion, but the flow velocity decreases and swirl formation becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing the guide plate with gradually increasing distance from the inner wall (conventional approach), the invention inverts this by making the guide plate parallel to the tangent of the outer wall, creating a guide path with relatively constant or optimized distance. This inversion maintains higher flow velocity while still achieving effective swirl formation and separation.
2Ease of operation
If the introduction passage is attached parallel to the tangent of the outer wall at a position close to the tangent, then the attachment position is optimized for flow direction, but manufacturing becomes difficult and work steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the positional parameters of the introduction passage attachment, positioning it at a specific distance from the outer wall tangent rather than directly at the tangent position. This parameter adjustment optimizes both the flow direction for swirl formation and the manufacturability by providing adequate space for attachment operations while maintaining effective gas-liquid separation performance.
3Ease of operation
If the guide plate has a curved shape with increasing distance from the inner wall, then the gas-liquid mixture is directed into the body portion, but the device size increases and compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a conventional curved guide plate design (occupying radial space) to a straight guide plate design that is parallel to the outer wall tangent. This dimensional reconfiguration achieves effective mixture direction control along the axial and circumferential directions without requiring excessive radial space, thereby reducing overall device volume and improving compactness.
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
This design effectively increases the flow velocity of the gas-liquid mixture, improving separation efficiency and reducing manufacturing complexity, allowing for a compact and efficient separation of gas and liquid without obstructing the swirl flow.
Implementation Method 1
The straightening plate has a narrow width portion configured such that a distance between the straightening plate and an inner wall of the body portion gradually decreases toward an end portion from which the gas-liquid mixture flows out
Implementation Method 2
a swirl portion in the body portion is formed by the body portion extending in an up-and-down direction and a partition plate
Data Source
AI summary
A gas-liquid separator that can suitably separate gas and liquid by increasing a flow velocity of a gas-liquid mixture that flows into a body portion includes a body portion having a cylindrical shape, an introduction passage provided in a state of communicating with the body portion, a gas-liquid mixture being introduced through the introduction passage, and a straightening plate attached to the body portion, the straightening plate straightening the gas-liquid mixture, wherein the straightening plate has a narrow width portion configured such that a distance between the straightening plate and an inner wall of the body portion gradually decreases toward an end portion from which the gas-liquid mixture flows out.