Partitioned Liquid Separator Interrupting Direct Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid mixture separation devices face inefficiencies due to direct flow paths between inlets and outlets, leading to impaired separation effects and the need for additional separation steps, which increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A device with a partitioned container space that interrupts direct flow paths between inlets and outlets, allowing for improved separation of liquid mixtures into distinct phases by creating flow connections between subspaces, enhancing separation performance and throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous separation is implemented with inlet and outlets positioned for efficient draw-off, then productivity is improved, but the liquid mixture flows directly from inlet to outlets, worsening separation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The container chamber is divided into multiple sub-chambers using partition elements. The liquid mixture flows through a defined path across multiple sub-chambers (e.g., first sub-chamber → second sub-chamber → third sub-chamber) before reaching the outlets. This segmentation prevents direct flow from inlet to outlets, ensuring adequate residence time for phase separation while maintaining continuous operation capability.
2Device complexity
If outlets are positioned close to the inlet for easy access, then device complexity is reduced, but separation efficiency deteriorates due to direct flow paths
Solution Approach 1:
Partition elements create multiple sub-chambers that guide the liquid mixture through a controlled flow path. The outlets are positioned to draw off phases after the mixture has traversed through the segmented chambers, ensuring separation occurs before phase draw-off. This maintains relatively simple device structure while achieving effective separation.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional separation steps are added to improve separation efficiency, then separation purity is improved, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The partition elements with specific geometries (including inclined surfaces and flow guidance features) create multiple flow paths and residence zones within a single separation stage. This integrated design achieves effective phase separation in one step, eliminating the need for multiple sequential separation units while maintaining high separation purity.
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 effectively prevents direct flow between inlets and outlets, improving separation efficiency and purity, thereby reducing the need for additional separation steps and increasing process capacity.
Implementation Method 1
liquid mixtures of different densities and/or polarities can occur in a wide variety of chemical processes... the substances have different densities and/or different polarities, such that the mixture separates into a first phase and a second phase without mixing the substances
Implementation Method 2
the phases separate after a certain time, forming a phase boundary... the substance of lower density forming the upper phase and the substance of higher density forming the lower phase
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for separating a liquid mixture into a first phase (P1) and a second phase (P2), comprising a container chamber (2) for receiving a liquid mixture, a shell (30) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) that encloses the container chamber (2), at least one first base (20) extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) that delimits the container chamber (2), an inlet (17) for introducing a liquid mixture into the container chamber (2), a first outlet (18) for drawing off a first phase (P1) of the liquid mixture from the container chamber (2), and a second outlet (19) for drawing off a second phase (P2) of the liquid mixture from the container chamber (2), wherein the first outlet (18) is located at a greater distance from the first base (20) along the longitudinal axis (L) than the second outlet (19), so that the first outlet (18) can be arranged above the second outlet (19). is,wherein the device (1) has a partition (10) extending along the longitudinal axis (L) which divides the container space (2) into a first sub-space (40) and a second sub-space (50), wherein the inlet (17) opens into the first sub-space (40), and wherein the first sub-space (40) is in flow communication with the second sub-space (50), so that the liquid mixture can collect in the first sub-space (40) and the second sub-space (50) and separate into the first phase (P1) and the second phase (P2). The invention further relates to a system comprising a device (1) for separating a liquid mixture and a device (3) for desorption of halogenated hydrocarbons, as well as a method for separating a liquid mixture into a first phase (P1) and a second phase (P2).