Oil separator and compressed air drying system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil separators require frequent liquid withdrawal due to limited storage capacity, leading to inefficiencies in managing separated oil and water from compressed air drying systems.
Innovation Solution
An oil separator with a housing, impingement member, and a liquid storage portion connected to an external device, featuring a determination device to control the delivery of stored liquid, reducing the need for frequent withdrawals by heating and vaporizing water, and utilizing the oil in an engine's combustion unit or exhaust purification device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the liquid storage portion capacity is increased, then the number of times liquid withdrawal is reduced, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of water in the separated liquid from liquid to vapor through heating. By applying heat to the liquid storage portion, water evaporates and is discharged separately, leaving oil to be reused. This parameter change (temperature increase) allows continuous operation without increasing storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts water from the separated liquid mixture by heating and vaporization. The water component is separated from oil through phase change, with water vapor being discharged and oil being retained for reuse. This extraction process eliminates the need for frequent complete liquid withdrawal.
2Productivity
If the liquid storage portion capacity is increased, then the number of times liquid withdrawal is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically heating and vaporizing water from the separated liquid. The heating device integrated with the liquid storage portion enables automatic water removal without manual intervention, reducing operational complexity while improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heating device with the liquid storage portion, combining multiple functions (storage, heating, vaporization, and separation) into an integrated system. This reduces overall device complexity compared to separate systems while improving operational efficiency.
3Volume of stationary object
If separated liquid is frequently withdrawn, then the storage portion capacity can be small, but operational inefficiency and environmental burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter change by heating the separated liquid to cause water vaporization. This temperature parameter change enables continuous water removal, allowing small storage capacity while maintaining high operational efficiency and reducing the frequency of liquid withdrawal operations.
4Device complexity
If water and oil are stored together, then the separation process is simple, but oil cannot be reused and environmental impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter change (temperature increase through heating) to separate water from oil based on their different vaporization characteristics. Water vaporizes and is discharged, while oil remains in liquid form for reuse. This simple heating process achieves both separation and oil recovery without complex equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of stored water (which prevents oil reuse) into a benefit by using heating to vaporize and remove water. The heating process that could be seen as an added complexity actually enables oil recovery and reuse, turning a problem into a solution.
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 reduces the frequency of liquid withdrawal by heating and vaporizing water, allowing the oil to be efficiently reused in engine systems, thereby minimizing environmental impact and operational inefficiencies.
Implementation Method 1
cause the air to strike the impingement member to separate liquid containing the oil from the introduced air
Implementation Method 2
a heating device that heats the stored liquid
Implementation Method 3
heating and vaporizing water
Data Source
AI summary
An oil separator includes a heating device that heats liquid stored in a liquid storage portion, a connecting pipe that connects the liquid storage portion to an external device that utilizes oil, an opening/closing device that selectively opens and closes the flow path of the connecting pipe, and a determination device that determines whether the liquid stored in the liquid storage portion should be delivered to the external device. The opening/closing device is configured to open the flow path of the connecting pipe when the determination device determines that the liquid accumulated in the liquid storage portion should be delivered to the external device.