GB1420807A - Gas-liquid separator - Google Patents

Abstract

1420807 Vortex separators GENERAL ELECTRIC CO 17 July 1973 [21 July 1972 26 Oct 1972] 33997/73 Heading B2P A multi-stage, gas-liquid separator, e.g. for use as a steam-water separator in the pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor steam generator, comprises three elongate vortex tubes 32, 33, 34 arranged coaxially in series; a vortex generator 31 for receiving a gas-liquid mixture for establishing in the first tube 32 a gas vortex surrounded by a liquid vortex; and pick-off rings 42, 52, 62 coaxially disposed adjacent the outlet ends of the tubes 32, 33, 34 respectively and forming therewith passages 43, 53, 63 for receiving a portion of the liquid vortex. The vortex generator 31 comprises curved vanes 37 surrounding a hub 36. The vortex tubes are surrounded by outer tubes 38, 48, 58 which define therewith annular liquid discharge channels 39, 49, 59 in which are disposed vertical baffles 44, 54, 64 to arrest the rotary motion of the liquid. The pick-off rings 42, 52, 62 depend from apertured covers 41, 51, 61 which are supported on the outer tubes 38, 48, 58 respectively and which serve to turn down into the respective annular channels the liquid discharging through the passages 43, 53, 63. Liquid from the channel 39 is discharged through the open bottom end thereof whereas that from the channels 49 and 59 is discharged through apertures 55 and 65 formed in the lower ends of the tubes 48 and 58 respectively. A ring 46 is mounted in the channel 39 to define a restricted discharge passage 47 which provides the feed pressure necessary to prevent gas being entrained in the discharged liquid. Other constructions of vortex tubes and pickup rings are described.