Swirl Generator for Turbine Dirt Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Turbines in internal combustion engines face challenges in efficiently separating dirt particles, such as lubricants, from the working medium due to limited installation space and potential for erosion and deposition, especially in systems with recurrent fluid flow through heat recovery systems.

Innovation Solution

A compact and space-saving swirl generator design with a rotationally symmetrical hollow body and a protruding pipe that reverses the speed component of the working medium, utilizing centrifugal forces to separate dirt particles by maintaining their inertia while reversing the medium's flow direction, allowing for efficient dirt particle removal through a strategically placed outlet line.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional centrifugal separator is used to separate dirt particles from the working medium, then separation effectiveness is achieved, but the installation space required is large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pipe is nested within the hollow body of the swirl generator, with the pipe protruding into the hollow body. This nested configuration allows the working medium to flow through the pipe and then through the hollow body, effectively doubling the separation path length within a compact volume, thereby reducing installation space while maintaining separation effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the radial dimension of the hollow body in addition to the axial dimension. The working medium flows axially through the pipe, then radially outward through the hollow body, creating a three-dimensional flow path that maximizes separation efficiency within minimal installation space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the working medium flows through a long distance in the swirl generator, then separation effectiveness improves, but the installation space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidlength of swirl generator

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention reverses the speed component of the working medium parallel to the principal axis by utilizing reflection surfaces within the hollow body. This reversal causes the working medium to flow back through the same distance in the opposite direction, effectively doubling the separation path length within the same physical space, thereby achieving improved separation without increasing the length of the swirl generator

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If a separate pipe and hollow body are used in the swirl generator, then flow path control is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow path controlVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the pipe and hollow body into a single integrated component, where the hollow body itself forms the flow path structure. This integration maintains precise flow path control while reducing the number of separate parts, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design effectively reduces the concentration of dirt particles in the working medium before each passage through the turbine, minimizing erosion and deposition risks, while optimizing space usage and reducing costs by reusing components.

Implementation Method 1

An effective separation can be brought about without additional measures by using the centrifugal forces or, respectively, mass inertia forces which occur anyway in the swirl generator and act on condensate that has formed.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

Due to the inertia of the dirt particles, said particles do not experience a reversal of the speed component parallel to the principal axis and are therefore separated from the working medium.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Implementation Method 3

The working medium experiences a reversal of the speed component parallel to the principal axis on at least one reflection surface, i.e. a change in direction of the spiral-shaped movement during which the sign of the speed component parallel to the principal axis changes.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9970327B2Device and method for separating dirt particles from the working medium of a turbine

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a device and a method for separating dirt particles from the working medium of a turbine (10). The turbine (10) comprises at least one rotor (11) which is arranged in a housing (17). A swirl generator (20) is provided that sets the working medium and the dirt particles in a spiral-shaped rotational movement along a principal axis (22) by means of the geometry of the swirl generator (20) and thereby separates the dirt particles from the working medium. The swirl generator (20) is designed in such a way that the working medium experiences a reversal of the speed component parallel to the principal axis (22) within the swirl generator (20).