Hydrocyclone Degassing for Compact Heating Circuit Air Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing degassing devices for liquids in heating or cooling circuits have low efficiency, requiring large construction means to achieve adequate degassing, which is inefficient and often leads to circulation disorders and corrosion.

Innovation Solution

A degassing device that uses a combination of a hydrocyclone and a degassing unit with a pump to alternately generate negative and positive pressure, along with a pressure reduction device, to efficiently separate and expel gases from the liquid, utilizing a hydrocyclone to bundle and enlarge gas bubbles for effective separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional vacuum degassing methods are used, then gases can be removed from the liquid, but the degassing efficiency is low and large construction means are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedegassing efficiencyVSAvoidsize of degassing device
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies pneumatic pressure cycles to the liquid in the degassing vessel. A pump introduces air or inert gas into the liquid, creating pressure fluctuations that force dissolved gases out of solution. This pneumatic approach replaces conventional vacuum degassing, achieving higher efficiency in a more compact device by using pressure-driven bubble formation and coalescence rather than vacuum extraction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The degassing process uses periodic pressure cycling - alternating between pressurization (gas injection) and depressurization (gas release) phases. This periodic action enhances degassing efficiency by repeatedly forcing gases out of solution and providing opportunities for bubble coalescence, achieving thorough degassing in a compact vessel that would be insufficient for continuous vacuum methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If large degassing devices are used to achieve adequate degassing, then degassing efficiency improves, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedegassing efficiencyVSAvoidconstruction means
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple degassing functions into a single integrated vessel: gas injection, bubble formation, bubble coalescence, and gas discharge all occur within the same compact degassing vessel. This merging of functions achieves adequate degassing in a small device, avoiding the need for large separate components required by conventional systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating parameters from continuous vacuum to periodic pressure cycling with gas injection. This parameter change enables effective degassing in a compact vessel by creating controlled bubble formation and coalescence conditions that enhance gas removal efficiency without requiring large device dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If pressure is reduced to release dissolved gas, then gas bubbles form and rise, but the degassing process is slow and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedegassing rateVSAvoiddegassing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by injecting gas into the liquid before the main degassing phase. This pre-introduced gas serves as nucleation sites that accelerate bubble formation when pressure is reduced, significantly speeding up the degassing rate compared to waiting for spontaneous bubble formation in conventional vacuum systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses introduced gas bubbles as intermediaries to facilitate the degassing process. These injected bubbles act as nucleation centers that promote rapid gas release from the liquid, serving as a mediator between the pressure reduction process and the actual gas separation, thereby accelerating the overall degassing rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution significantly enhances degassing efficiency, allowing for the use of smaller construction means and reducing noise, while effectively preventing corrosion and circulation disorders by efficiently removing gases from the liquid.

Implementation Method 1

a hydrocyclone for generating a turbulent flow of the liquid which is to be degassed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulent flow: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

a hydrocyclone for generating a turbulent flow of the liquid which is to be degassed, the hydrocyclone being connected on the one hand to the degassing device and on the other hand to a feed line for supplying the liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

the solubility of gases in a liquid increases with increasing pressure and by reducing the pressure, gas dissolved in the liquid is desorbed from the liquid in the form of bubbles of different sizes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure reduction: Depressurisation

Implementation Method 4

by reducing the pressure, gas dissolved in the liquid is desorbed from the liquid in the form of bubbles of different sizes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas desorption: Desorption

Implementation Method 5

By means of a continuously running circulating pump, a negative pressure is generated in the deaeration tank when the shut-off valve is closed, so that the air dissolved in the liquid is released

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3265199B1Device for degassing a liquid
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 IMI HYDRONIC ENG INT SA
  • EP3265199B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3265199B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3265199B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device for degassing a liquid from a liquid-conveying heating or coolant circuit, or from a make-up line to the heating or coolant circuit, comprises a degassing unit (1) for removing gas from a liquid by means of the alternating generation of negative pressure and overpressure. The degassing unit (1) comprises a degassing vessel (11), a supply line (12) for supplying the liquid to the degassing vessel (11), a discharge line (4) for discharging the liquid from the the degassing vessel (11), which discharge line (4) comprises a pump (41) and can be connected with the heating or coolant circuit, and a degassing valve unit (13). The degassing valve unit (13) enables the withdrawal of gas from the degassing vessel (11), while preventing any flowthrough of liquid out of the degassing vessel (11) and preventing the back-flow of gas when there is a negative pressure in the degassing vessel (11). The device also comprises a hydrocyclone (2) for generating a vortex flow of the liquid to be degassed, said hydrocyclone (2) being connected on one side to the degassing unit (1) and on the other side with a feed line (21) for supplying the liquid. The feed line (21) can be connected to the heating or coolant circuit or to the makeup line (8).