Gas-Liquid Separator with Segmented Outlet for Refrigerant Leak Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat medium storage devices are susceptible to refrigerant leaks and lack features to prevent the spread of leaked refrigerant to user-side elements.
Innovation Solution
A gas-liquid separator with a tank, internal heat exchanger, and an outlet tube equipped with flow reduction means to separate refrigerant from the heat medium, utilizing density differences to float refrigerant to the top and prevent its ingress into user-side elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If refrigerant leaks into the heat medium tank, then heat exchange continues to function, but refrigerant spreads to user-side elements causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet tube is segmented into multiple sections with varying cross-sectional areas, creating zones of different flow velocities. The first section has a smaller cross-sectional area to reduce flow velocity and allow refrigerant separation, while the second section has a larger area to maintain adequate flow capacity. This segmentation enables the outlet tube to simultaneously protect against refrigerant leakage while maintaining heat exchange function.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet tube acts as an intermediary device between the heat medium tank and user-side elements. By incorporating flow reduction means within the outlet tube, it mediates the flow of heat medium to reduce velocity and prevent refrigerant from reaching user-side elements, while still allowing heat exchange to continue functioning.
2Reliability
If flow velocity of heat medium is reduced in the outlet tube, then refrigerant separation is improved, but heat exchange efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet tube is divided into multiple sections with different cross-sectional areas. The first section has a smaller area to reduce flow velocity and improve refrigerant separation, while the second section has a larger area to restore flow capacity. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both slow flow for separation and adequate flow for heat exchange efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet tube design dynamically adjusts flow characteristics through its varying cross-sectional area. The flow velocity is naturally reduced in the first section to enable refrigerant separation, then increases in the second section to maintain heat exchange efficiency, creating a dynamic flow profile that satisfies both requirements.
3Productivity
If the outlet tube has a large cross-sectional area, then heat medium flow capacity is maintained, but refrigerant cannot be effectively separated
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet tube is segmented into a first section with smaller cross-sectional area for refrigerant separation and a second section with larger cross-sectional area for maintaining flow capacity. This segmentation allows each section to optimize for its specific function while working together to achieve both separation and flow capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses the trade-off by transitioning from a single-dimension (uniform cross-section) to a multi-dimensional (varying cross-section along the length) outlet tube design. This dimensional change allows the tube to provide both flow reduction for separation and adequate flow capacity in different sections.
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
Effectively prevents refrigerant from reaching user-side elements by leveraging density differences and flow reduction, ensuring safe operation and efficient heat exchange.
Implementation Method 1
The outlet tube comprises flow reduction means configured for reducing the flow velocity of the heat medium through the outlet tube
Implementation Method 2
Refrigerants used in heat pumps, air-conditioning or other similar refrigerant using installations have lower densities than water or other heat mediums with which said refrigerants are expected to exchange heat... any refrigerant making its way to the inside of the tank along with the heat medium via the first outlet will naturally have the tendency to separate from the heat medium and float upwards
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The current invention relates to a gas-liquid separator for a heat medium circulation system, which device permits safe operation of the heat medium circulation system even in the event of a refrigerant leak.