Vertical Particle Separator With Scupper Flow for Low Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current particle separators in aircraft condenser heat exchangers face high pressure losses due to high air velocities in inlet ducts, which hinder effective separation of water droplets from airflow, leading to moisture and humidity issues in occupied cabins.
Innovation Solution
A vertically configured particle separator with a scupper arrangement on its cylindrical vessel imparts centrifugal force to separate water droplets from air, minimizing pressure losses by recovering energy from swirling air and preventing re-entrainment of droplets without the need for swirl vanes, thus optimizing the device's volume and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high air velocities are used in inlet ducts of swirlers, then particle separation can be achieved, but pressure losses increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic flow control through adjustable guide vanes that can change the swirl intensity and flow distribution in real-time. This allows the system to optimize separation efficiency while minimizing pressure losses by adapting to different operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between high velocity separation and energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes key flow parameters by using guide vanes to control the angle and distribution of incoming airflow. By adjusting the swirl angle and flow velocity distribution, the system achieves effective particle separation at lower overall pressure losses, directly addressing the technical contradiction.
2Productivity
If swirl vanes are used to impart centrifugal force, then water droplet separation is effective, but device volume and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of swirl vanes (imparting centrifugal force) and implements it through a simplified guide vane arrangement at the inlet. This extraction eliminates the need for complex internal swirl vanes while maintaining separation effectiveness, reducing both device volume and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention shifts the centrifugal force generation from internal radial swirl vanes to inlet guide vanes that create tangential flow components. This dimensional change in how centrifugal force is generated allows for a more compact design with fewer internal components.
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 collects water droplets along the outer wall, minimizing pressure losses and maintaining a compact design, ensuring dry airflow to the cabin while reducing energy re-entrainment and maintaining low operational pressure.
Implementation Method 1
A vertically configured particle separator with a scupper arrangement on its cylindrical vessel imparts centrifugal force to separate water droplets from air
Implementation Method 2
The entrained fluid can be collected along the outer wall due to centrifugal force
Data Source
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AI summary
A particle separator (10) comprises a vessel (12), a fluid inlet (14), a fluid swirl passage (16), a scupper cavity (50), a first fluid outlet (20), and a second fluid outlet (22). The vessel (12) includes a vessel sidewall (24) extending between a vessel top side (18) and a vessel bottom side (26). The fluid swirl passage (16) includes a first passage end (32A) in communication with a fluid inlet (14) disposed on the vessel top side (18). A second passage end (32B) is in communication with a vessel swirl cavity (30). The first fluid outlet (20) is in communication with the scupper cavity (50) and disposed on the vessel bottom side (26). The second fluid outlet (22) is disposed above the first fluid outlet (20) in communication with the vessel swirl cavity (30).