Spiral-Flow Oil Separator Structure for Low Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil separators for cooling oil from gas discharged by oil cooling type compressors face challenges in maintaining high oil separation efficiency with a simple and small structure, while also minimizing pressure loss and ensuring sufficient oil separation to prevent heat exchanger performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
The oil separator features a cylindrical container with a partition wall member and end members that create a specific gap configuration, allowing for enhanced oil separation efficiency by forming a downward spiral flow that centrifugally separates cooling oil, with the gap width not exceeding the introduction flow channel's inner diameter and the partition wall's length optimized between half and a third of the container's circumferential length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional oil separator structure is used, then oil separation can be achieved, but the structure is complex and pressure loss is high
Solution Approach 1:
The oil separator is divided into distinct functional zones: an introduction portion with a partition wall for initial separation, a separation portion with spiral flow for centrifugal separation, and a lower storage portion for collected oil. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function efficiently, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining high separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall is designed with a curved surface that follows the spiral flow pattern, and the separation portion has a cylindrical shape that promotes uniform spiral flow. These curved geometries enhance centrifugal separation effectiveness while simplifying the overall structure compared to multi-component designs.
2Reliability
If the partition wall length is increased to improve separation, then oil separation efficiency improves, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the partition wall length to a specific range (0.05 to 0.2 times the inner diameter of the introduction flow channel) to achieve the best balance between separation efficiency and compact size. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient separation performance without excessive device dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall extends only partially through the container height, just enough to create the necessary spiral flow pattern and initial separation. This partial action is sufficient to achieve high separation efficiency without requiring the partition to extend the full height, thus maintaining a compact structure.
3Loss of energy
If the gap width between partition wall and container wall is increased, then pressure loss decreases, but oil separation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gap width is precisely controlled within the range of 0.005 to 0.05 times the inner diameter of the introduction flow channel. This optimized parameter ensures the gap is narrow enough to maintain effective centrifugal separation while wide enough to minimize pressure loss and allow smooth flow transition.
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 configuration effectively reduces the cooling oil concentration to below 1,000 ppm, maintaining heat exchanger performance by ensuring efficient oil separation and minimizing pressure loss, thereby addressing the need for improved maintenance and reduced pressure loss.
Implementation Method 1
a gap between the partition wall member and the inner wall of the container main body...becomes the maximum at least at an open side end where the side end member is not provided...forming a downward spiral flow that centrifugally separates cooling oil
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Provided is an oil separator (1), including: a substantially cylindrical container main body (2); an introduction flow channel (4) that opens into an inner wall of the container main body, and is substantially vertically connected to the container main body; a partition wall member (5) facing the opening of the introduction flow channel and extending along the inner wall of the container main body; an upper end member sealing a space between an upper end of the partition wall member and the inner wall of the container main body; and a side end member sealing a space between one side end of the partition wall member and the inner wall of the container main body, wherein a gap between the partition wall member and the inner wall of the container main body has a width that is not more than an inner diameter of the introduction flow channel, and becomes the maximum at least at an open side end where the side end member is not provided, and wherein length of an outer circumference of the partition wall member in the horizontal direction from a position facing a center of the introduction flow channel to the open side end is longer than a half of the inner diameter of the introduction flow channel and shorter than a half of circumferential length of the inner wall of the container main body