Rotating Coalescer Filter for Crankcase Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engine crankcase ventilation systems face inefficiencies in separating air from oil in blowby gas, leading to clogging and increased pressure drop across coalescing filters, which reduces their coalescing capacity and requires frequent replacement.
Innovation Solution
An annular rotating coalescing filter element is used, driven by centrifugal force to separate oil from air, with inside-out flow direction and variable rotational speed to enhance particle capture and coalescence, reducing pressure drop and extending filter life through intermittent operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coalescing filter is used to remove oil particles from crankcase blowby gas, then oil separation efficiency is improved, but the filter becomes clogged and pressure drop increases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the coalescing filter element rotate intermittently between stationary and rotating states. During rotation, centrifugal force prevents oil saturation and clearing occurs; during stationary periods, normal coalescing operation occurs. This dynamic operation resolves the contradiction by periodically eliminating the harmful oil saturation that causes clogging and pressure drop, while maintaining continuous oil separation capability.
2Reliability
If the coalescing filter operates continuously to maintain separation efficiency, then oil removal performance is improved, but energy consumption and parasitic losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by operating the coalescing filter intermittently in alternating stationary and rotating modes. The controller activates rotation only when oil saturation reaches a threshold level, rather than maintaining continuous rotation. This periodic operation maintains effective oil removal performance by ensuring the filter is cleared before saturation becomes critical, while significantly reducing parasitic energy losses compared to continuous rotation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the coalescing filter rotates at high speed to prevent oil saturation, then filter life is extended, but mechanical stress and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by rotating the coalescing filter only enough to achieve the necessary clearing effect, rather than maintaining excessive high-speed rotation continuously. The system monitors oil saturation levels and activates rotation only when needed, at sufficient but not excessive speeds. This extends filter life by preventing oil saturation without subjecting the filter to unnecessary mechanical stress and energy consumption from excessive centrifugal force.
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 separates submicron oil particles, reduces crankcase pressure, and extends the life of the coalescing filter by minimizing oil saturation and parasitic energy loss, while maintaining high efficiency and low restriction.
Implementation Method 1
An annular rotating coalescing filter element separates air from oil in a blowby gas stream from an internal combustion engine crankcase by applying centrifugal force to the coalescing filter element
Implementation Method 2
Another type of separator uses coalescence in a coalescing filter for removing oil droplets
Implementation Method 3
The direction of blowby gas flow is inside-out, namely radially outwardly from hollow interior to exterior, to enhance particle capture and coalescence
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system is provided for regenerating and cleaning an air-oil coalescer of a crankcase ventilation system of an internal combustion engine generating blowby gas in a crankcase. The coalescer coalesces oil from the blowby gas. The method and system includes regenerating and cleaning the coalescer by intermittent rotation thereof.