Gas/liquid separating devices

Details Gas/liquid separating devices Gas/liquid separating devices

2003-02-06

2004-08-17

Chiesa, Richard L. (Department: 1724)

Gas separation: apparatus

Degasifying means for liquid

With control means responsive to sensed condition

C055S459100, C096S171000, C096S209000, C096S216000, C096S406000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06776823

ABSTRACT:

This application claims priority to Japanese patent application serial number 2002-032816, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to gas/liquid separating devices that include a gas/liquid separator and a liquid drain. More preferably, the present invention relates to gas/liquid separating devices that include a bypass path for reducing pressure within the liquid drain.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
A vertical cross sectional view of a known gas/liquid separating device is shown in FIG.
3
. The gas/liquid separating device includes a gas/liquid separator
101
and a liquid drain
102
. The gas/liquid separator
101
includes a substantially cylindrical cyclone generator
110
, in which a cyclone chamber
112
is defined. A gas/liquid inlet port
113
is formed on an upper lateral side of the cyclone generator
110
and is oriented in a substantially tangential direction of the cyclone generator
110
. A liquid outlet port
114
is formed on the bottom of the cyclone generator
110
and extends downward therefrom. A gas channel
118
extends from the top of the cyclone generator
110
and extends upward therefrom.
A mixed gas/liquid flow M that will be separated by the gas/liquid separator
101
may be supplied into the cyclone chamber
112
via the inlet port
113
under relatively high pressure in the tangential direction of the cyclone generator
110
. The mixed gas/liquid flow M may contain a gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) and relatively small liquid particles (e.g., water particles). The mixed flow M may circulate or swirl, so that the mixed flow M may be separated into the liquid and the gas due to centrifugal force. The separated liquid may flow downwardly into a float chamber
130
defined within the liquid drain
102
via the liquid outlet port
114
of the cyclone generator
110
and then may be discharged to the outside. On the other hand, the separated gas may be discharged from the cyclone generator
110
into the gas discharge channel
118
.
The liquid drain
102
includes a drain body
120
, a valve seat
134
, a float valve
136
and a float
140
. The float chamber
130
is defined within the drain body
120
. A liquid inlet port
131
is formed on the drain body
120
. One end of the liquid inlet port
131
opens within the upper space of the float chamber
130
and the other end of the liquid inlet port
131
communicates with the liquid outlet port
114
of the separator
101
. Therefore, the separated liquid may flow downward from the liquid outlet port
114
through the liquid inlet port
131
and then may be stored in the float chamber
130
.
The valve seat
134
defines a drain hole
135
and the liquid stored in the float chamber
130
can be discharged through the drain hole
135
. In addition, a liquid discharge channel
133
extends from the drain body
120
. One end of the liquid discharge channel
133
communicates with the drain hole
135
and the other end of the discharge liquid channel
133
communicates with the atmosphere. A check valve
132
is disposed within the discharge liquid channel
133
in order to prevent liquid counter flow. The float valve
136
may be designed as a needle valve and may be vertically movably disposed within the valve sheet
134
. The float valve
136
may open and close the drain hole
135
as the float valve
36
respectively moves upward and downward.
A float
140
may include a float lever
141
that can move together with a float body
142
. The float
140
may float on the surface of the liquid stored within the float chamber
130
. The float lever
141
is pivotally mounted on an inner wall of the drain body
120
by means of a pin
145
, so that the float body
142
can vertically pivot about the pin
145
. The float lever
141
is coupled to the float valve
136
, so the float valve
136
will move vertically as the float lever
141
pivots.
When the level of the liquid stored in the float chamber
130
becomes higher than a predetermined level, the. float body
142
moves upward. Then, the float valve
136
moves upward in response to the movement of the float lever
141
, so that the float valve
136
opens the drain hole
135
. Therefore, the liquid within the float chamber
130
is discharged to the outside through the liquid discharge channel
133
via the drain hole
135
, so that the water level is lowered. As the liquid level in the float chamber
130
is lowered, the float body
142
moves downward. Then, the float valve
136
moves downward in response to the movement of the float lever
141
. When the water level reaches the predetermined level, the float valve
136
closes the drain hole
135
. Therefore, further discharge of the liquid within the float chamber
130
is stopped.
As a result, the liquid drain
102
serves to discharge the liquid within the float chamber
130
when the liquid level exceeds the predetermined level, so that the amount of water within the float chamber
130
may be maintained at a predetermined amount.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, when the gas and liquid are separated using this known gas/liquid separating device, a possibility exists that liquid particles may be entrained by the gas that flows from the cyclone chamber
112
of the separator
101
into the gas discharge channel
118
. As a result, the liquid particles may be carried into the gas discharge channel
118
. For example, this phenomenon may occur when the float valve
136
of the liquid drain
102
closes the drain hole
135
, and when (1) a relatively large amount of liquid flows from the upstream side to block the liquid inlet port
131
and to thereby prevent the liquid from easily flowing into the float chamber
130
via the liquid inlet port
131
or (2) the mixed gas/liquid flow M is circulating within the cyclone
112
at a relatively high speed.
When the float valve
136
of the liquid drain
102
opens the drain hole
135
, the liquid and the gas within the cyclone chamber
112
may smoothly flow into the float chamber
130
. Therefore, in this occasion, there is a reduced possibility that water will be carried into the gas discharge channel
118
. However, if the float valve
136
is closed, the space within the float chamber
130
may be blocked in a manner like a blind alley. Therefore, the gas within the float chamber
130
may not be easily exchanged with the liquid that may fall into the float chamber
130
from the upper side of the float chamber
130
. As a result, the liquid within the cyclone chamber
112
may stagnate within the liquid outlet port
114
. When this stagnation occurs, the liquid will likely be entrained by the gas that flows into the gas discharge channel
118
.
Therefore, the known gas/liquid separating device has a problem that the liquid particles may enter into the gas discharge channel
118
due to entrainment by the gas that flows from the cyclone chamber
112
of the gas/liquid separator
101
into the gas discharge channel
118
. As a result, liquid can not be effectively separated from the gas. In addition, when the liquid enters the gas discharge channel
118
, the liquid may be unfavorably retained in the gas discharge channel
118
.
It is, accordingly, one object of the present invention to teach improved techniques for preventing or substantially minimizing liquid from being carried into a gas discharge channel.
According to one aspect of the present teachings, gas/liquid separating devices are taught that may include a separator for separating a mixed gas/liquid flow, e.g. a mixed flow of hydrogen gas and water. A liquid drain may be coupled to the separator and may define a liquid storage chamber. In this case, liquid separated by the separator may flow into the liquid storage chamber, e.g., due to gravity. The liquid may be temporarily stored within the liquid storage chamber and may be discharged from the liquid drain at an appropriate time before the liquid fully occupies or completely fills the liquid storage chamber. Therefore, a space that is not occupied by the liquid is ensured w

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