Gas separation: apparatus – Electric field separation apparatus – Including gas flow distribution means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-08-07
Chiesa, Richard L. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation: apparatus
Electric field separation apparatus
Including gas flow distribution means
C055S282300, C055S434200, C055S459100, C055S459400, C055S463000, C055SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270558
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to an apparatus for separating fluids and/or solid matter or gases with a different specific weight from a gas flow.
For separating fluids and/or solid matter from a gas flow there already are known filters in which the gas flow to be cleaned is passing through a filter body. These known constructions, however, have the disadvantage that a substantial energy consumption is necessary to force the gas flow through the filter body. Further over the time the filter body becomes clogged and thereafter has to be cleaned or has to be replaced. This leads to high expenditure in maintenance and further such apparatus is not constantly available.
To separate gases with a different specific weight from a gas flow containing a mixture of gases, there already are known systems containing separating nozzles for demixing the gases as these for example are used for separating the uranium isotopes 235 and 238. Apparatus of this kind, however, are very complex in their construction and very expensive.
Followingly, it is an aim of the instant invention to provide an apparatus for separating fluids and/or solid matter or gases with a different specific weight from a gas flow which only needs very little energy, is simple to produce and needs very little maintenance.
According to the invention, this task is solved by the fact that the apparatus is having a tube-like cavity which conically is enlarging from the gas entrance connector to the gas outlet connector into which close to the gas entrance connector an auxiliary gas entrance opening is leading tangentially to the lateral area of the cavity.
This filter according to the invention has the advantage that it is working completely independent from the orientation thereof and further is not having a differential pressure (pressure-loss) if the size is in proper relation to the flow. With a corresponding dimensioning, the filter can suck-in the gas to be cleaned and automatically can expel the separated fluid or a separated fraction of gas with higher molecular weight.
In this connection, it is preferred that the auxiliary gas entrance opening is inclined in the direction of the gas exit connector with respect to the central axis of the cavity such that the auxiliary gas is guided in a helical path along the lateral area of the cavity in the direction of the gas exit connector.
By this, the suction at the gas entrance connector is improved and further a bleeding of the auxiliary gas from the gas entrance connector is avoided.
Further, it is especially preferred to position a filler body in the cavity having a smaller diameter and the same conicalness such that the cavity is having the shape of a hollow truncated cone with a basically constant wall thickness. By this it is avoided that close to the gas exit connector in the middle of the gas column, a low pressure is formed which could suck-back gas from the gas exit region.
In this connection, it is especially preferred that the filler body is extended almost up to the height of the auxiliary gas entrance connector. By this, the separating action further is improved.
An especially advantageous embodiment is one where the filler body is mounted in the cavity by means of a sealing element which is sealingly closing the cavity close to the gas exit connector and in which the filler body is hollow and open in the direction of the gas exit connector and is at least having one lateral opening for the gas. By this construction, it is achieved that the exhausting gas fraction is as clean as possible.
In this connection, further it is especially preferred that the opening(s) is (are) having the shape of an elongated slot extending parallel to the central axis of the filler body. By this, the flow resistance for the gas flow can be minimized.
Further, it is especially preferred to perform the sealing element as an electric insulator and to provide a source of direct current which electrostaticly is charging the filler body with respect to the wall of the cavity. This embodiment is especially suitable to separate droplets of fluids or solid matter from the gas flow. Here, namely, an additional electrostatic cleaning is achieved. This technology is especially suitable if the cleaned gas flow after the gas exit should be burned or should be fed into a waste gas catalysator. The nitrogen oxides and ozone gases formed by the electrostatic charging are advantageous in a following combustion.
For separating fluids and gases having a different specific weight, it is especially preferred to position the exit opening for the separated fluids immediately in front of the sealing element in the wall of the cavity.
If only one opening is provided in the filler body, then it is especially preferred to position the exit opening on the opposite side of the filler body with respect to the above opening.
To exclude a flowing-out of the auxiliary gas from the gas entrance connector more safely, it is especially preferred to provide a baffle or step at the gas entrance connector decreasing the cross-sectional area of the cavity.
Further, it is especially preferred to provide the auxiliary gas entrance opening with a nozzle because by a high entrance velocity of the auxiliary gas into the cavity, a good separating action with low amounts of auxiliary gas can be achieved.
A constructively, especially simple solution of the task to be solved by the invention, is achieved if the gas entrance and the gas exit connector each centrally are positioned in each one end surface of the cavity shaped like a truncated cone.
In practical tests carried out up to now, the following dimensions have proved to be especially of advantage:
The angle &agr; between the central axis of the auxiliary gas entrance opening and the central axis of the cavity pointed to the gas exit opening between 90,5 degrees to 100 degrees, preferably 90,5 degrees to 92 degrees.
The angle &bgr; of the incline of the conically shaped parts (cavity and possibly filler body) with 0,5 to 15 degrees, preferably 1 to 5 degrees.
If by means of the apparatus according to the invention, for example soot particles from fuel oil should be separated from the exhaust gases of Diesel engines, it is especially preferred to provide electrical heating resistors on the lateral area of the cavity to burn-off solid matter separated from the gas flow.
In this connection, it is especially preferred to perform the electric heating resistors as helical heater windings extending in the direction of flow of the auxiliary gas. The heating resistors in this connection are functioning additionally as “guides” for the flow of the mixture consisting of auxiliary gas and gas to be cleaned.
Further, a suck-off tube can extend into the cavity along the central axis of the cavity from the gas exit connector thereof. By this, an especially clean light fraction of the gas mixture can be sucked-off.
As far as already there is a filler body having an inner cavity, then the suck-off tube preferably is extending into the cavity of the filler body and is extended within the filler body to the proximity of the gas entry end of the filler body. By this, the cleaning action further can be improved.
Further, the cleaning action still can be improved by providing a seal between the filler body and the suck-off tube at the first third of the length on the gas entry side of the lateral opening(s).
An especially good cleaning action can be obtained if the filler body is provided with a head at its front end which is formed by a constriction with respect to the remainder of the filler body.
In this connection, it is preferred that the constriction is having a diameter which is less than one third of the diameter of the head.
A very good efficiency of the apparatus is obtained if the diameter of the head is larger than the diameter of the filler body in its conical section.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the head is formed as a flat cylinder, the lateral area of which is having the same conicalness as the filler body, wherein the head is forwardly ending in a flat cone.
REFERENCES:
pa
Chiesa Richard L.
Dominque & Waddell PLC
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