GB1567068A - Device for the purpose of separating drops of liquid from a flowing gaseous medium - Google Patents

Description

(54) A DEVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEPARATING DROPS OF LIQUID FROM A FLOWING GASEOUS MEDIUM (71) We, KLOCKNER H U M B O L D T - D E U T Z AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT of Deutz Mulheimer-Strasse 111, 5 Koln 80, Federal Republic of Germany, a German Body Corporate, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a device for separating drops of liquid from a flowing gaseous medium, which has at a row of parallel separating lamellae, crosswise to the flow direction in a rising flow casing, which are each provided with an impact surface and a collecting channel.

In one such device as specified above for the purpose of separating drops of liquid from a flowing gaseous medium, the separating lamellae are arranged in a flow casing running vertically and the collecting channels of the separating lamellae open downwardly substantially contrary to the direction of the gaseous flow media. The liquid from the gaseous medium accommodated by the collecting channels, is conducted away to a side wall of the flow casing and is removed towards the outside via openings in the wall of the flow casing.

In this way, a relatively good separating effect is achieved in comparison with similar known drop separators.

The invention seeks to substantially improve the degree of efficiency of separation in the flow casing.

According to the invention, there is provided a device for separating liquid drops from a gaseous medium comprising a casing for vertical upward flow of the gaseous medium, a row of parallel lamellae, each lamella being arranged transversely in the casing, and having an impact surface, a collecting channel adjacent the impact surface and an upwardly opening drainage channel adjacent the collecting channel, the drainage channels being in communication with a chamber arranged on the outer surface of a side wall of the casing through apertures in the side wall.

As a result of this construction and arrangement of the collecting and drainage channels in accordance with the invention in the flow casing, the liquid accommodated by the collecting channels from the flow of gas may flow away unhindered through the drainage channels out of the flow casing into the chamber arranged on the side wall of the casing. From this chamber the liquid may be removed to the outside via an outlet connected to the chamber. As a result, proportions of the liquid already separated from the flowing gaseous media are chiefly prevented from being taken up again by these flow media and dragged along with them. In this way, a substantial improvement of the degree of efficiency of separation can be achieved.

In further refinement of the invention, the chamber arranged on the casing outer wall of the flow casing may be constructed as a pressure equalising chamber for equalising the pressures inside and outside the casing and may be sealed off in gas tight manner with respect to the outside.

In this way, the separating device may be operated very advantageously both at increased pressures and at reduced pressures, without proportions of liquid, which have already been separated, being entrained again by the flowing gases and carried along.

In accordance with a further advantageous refinement of the invention, the drainage channels may be arranged on the faces of the separating lamellae, away from their impact surfaces. In this way, proportions of liquid which have already been separated from the flow of gas may be pre vented in a very advantageous manner from reaching the gas flow again from the collecting channels.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the schematic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows, in section, separating lamellae, in accordance with the invention, with collecting channels which are provided with drainage channels away from the flow of gas, Fig. 2 shows, in longitudinal section, a separating device with collecting channels arranged therein and a chamber, arranged on the outer wall of the flow casing, having a liquid outlet.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show further refinements of the separating lamellae with collecting channels and drainage channels in accordance with the invention in cross section.

As Fig. 1 shows, the separating lamellae comprise substantially rectangular impact plates 1, which are arranged on top of each other as shown, and are transverse to the direction 2 of the flow of gas. At the upper longitudinal edges of the impact plates 1 are located collecting channels 3 having drainage channels 4, which are located at the rear faces of the separating lamellae 1. The separating lamellae 1 are arranged, as Fig. 2 shows, in a gas flow casing 5 rising in a vertical manner, such that the collecting channels 3 with the drainage channels 4 are inclined to respect to the horizontal. The drainage channels 4 are in connection with a chamber arranged on the outer wall of the casing via openings 6 in the wall of the flow casing 5, the said chamber being constructed as a pressure equalising chamber 7 and being provided with a gas-tight liquid outlet 8. This pressure equalising chamber is provided to equalise any difference of pressure between ambient pressure and the pressure in the flow casing 5.

During operation of the device shown in the drawings in figure 2, the gaseous medium laden with liquid, flows upwardly through the casing 5 provided with separating lamellae in accordance with the invention.

The gaseous medium meets the separating lamellae 1 which latter are arranged cross-wise to the direction of flow, and in meander form, whereby the drops of liquid are separated from the gases and caught up by the collecting channels 3. The liquid collected by the collecting channels 3 reaches the drainage channels 4 where it flows away into the pressure equalising chamber 7 through the openings 6 arranged in the wall of the casing 5. Since the drainage channels 4 are located on the rear faces of the separating lamellae 1 drops of liquid are prevented, in a very advantageous manner, from being able to fall back into the flowing medium from the collecting channels 3. In addition, no liquid can be carried along out of the drainage channels 4 by the flowing medium. The liquid already separated from the gaseous medium may flow away, therefore through the drainage channels 4 outwardly into the pressure equalising chamber 7 without any distruption. The degree of efficiency of separation is substantially improved as a result of this development and arrangement of the collecting and drainage channels in the flow casing. At the same time a build-up of liquid in the pressure equalising chamber is brought about by the liquid outlet 8 arranged on the pressure equalising chamber 7, which outlet 8 is very advantageously constructed as a syphon, so that only the liquid and not the gaseous medium can escape to the outside from the pressure equalising chamber 7. The pressure equalising chamber 7 arranged on the outside of the flow casing 5 also acts favourably in operation, since the static pressure occuring in the flow casing 5 during operation of the separating device is the same as that in the pressure equalising chamber 7.

As Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show, the separating lamellae 9, 10 and 11 may be provided with collecting and drainage channels 12, 13 and 14 and 12', 13' and 14' respectively, constructed in different ways. A high degree of efficiency of separation may be achieved also with the collecting channels shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS 1. A device for separating liquid drops from a gaseous medium comprising a casing for vertical upward flow of the gaseous medium, a row of parallel lamellae, each lamella being arranged transversely in the casing, and having an impact surface, a collecting channel adjacent the impact surface and an upwardly opening drainage channel adjacent the collecting channel, the drainage channels being in communication with a chamber arranged on the outer surface of a side wall of the casing through apertures in the side wall.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber arranged on the side wall of the casing of the flow casing is constructed as a pressure equalising chamber and has a gas tight liquid outlet.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid outlet of the chamber is constructed as a syphon.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drainage channels are arranged on the faces of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. vented in a very advantageous manner from reaching the gas flow again from the collecting channels. The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the schematic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows, in section, separating lamellae, in accordance with the invention, with collecting channels which are provided with drainage channels away from the flow of gas, Fig. 2 shows, in longitudinal section, a separating device with collecting channels arranged therein and a chamber, arranged on the outer wall of the flow casing, having a liquid outlet. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show further refinements of the separating lamellae with collecting channels and drainage channels in accordance with the invention in cross section. As Fig. 1 shows, the separating lamellae comprise substantially rectangular impact plates 1, which are arranged on top of each other as shown, and are transverse to the direction 2 of the flow of gas. At the upper longitudinal edges of the impact plates 1 are located collecting channels 3 having drainage channels 4, which are located at the rear faces of the separating lamellae 1. The separating lamellae 1 are arranged, as Fig. 2 shows, in a gas flow casing 5 rising in a vertical manner, such that the collecting channels 3 with the drainage channels 4 are inclined to respect to the horizontal. The drainage channels 4 are in connection with a chamber arranged on the outer wall of the casing via openings 6 in the wall of the flow casing 5, the said chamber being constructed as a pressure equalising chamber 7 and being provided with a gas-tight liquid outlet 8. This pressure equalising chamber is provided to equalise any difference of pressure between ambient pressure and the pressure in the flow casing 5. During operation of the device shown in the drawings in figure 2, the gaseous medium laden with liquid, flows upwardly through the casing 5 provided with separating lamellae in accordance with the invention. The gaseous medium meets the separating lamellae 1 which latter are arranged cross-wise to the direction of flow, and in meander form, whereby the drops of liquid are separated from the gases and caught up by the collecting channels 3. The liquid collected by the collecting channels 3 reaches the drainage channels 4 where it flows away into the pressure equalising chamber 7 through the openings 6 arranged in the wall of the casing 5. Since the drainage channels 4 are located on the rear faces of the separating lamellae 1 drops of liquid are prevented, in a very advantageous manner, from being able to fall back into the flowing medium from the collecting channels 3. In addition, no liquid can be carried along out of the drainage channels 4 by the flowing medium. The liquid already separated from the gaseous medium may flow away, therefore through the drainage channels 4 outwardly into the pressure equalising chamber 7 without any distruption. The degree of efficiency of separation is substantially improved as a result of this development and arrangement of the collecting and drainage channels in the flow casing. At the same time a build-up of liquid in the pressure equalising chamber is brought about by the liquid outlet 8 arranged on the pressure equalising chamber 7, which outlet 8 is very advantageously constructed as a syphon, so that only the liquid and not the gaseous medium can escape to the outside from the pressure equalising chamber 7. The pressure equalising chamber 7 arranged on the outside of the flow casing 5 also acts favourably in operation, since the static pressure occuring in the flow casing 5 during operation of the separating device is the same as that in the pressure equalising chamber 7. As Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show, the separating lamellae 9, 10 and 11 may be provided with collecting and drainage channels 12, 13 and 14 and 12', 13' and 14' respectively, constructed in different ways. A high degree of efficiency of separation may be achieved also with the collecting channels shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. WHAT WE CLAIM IS

1. A device for separating liquid drops from a gaseous medium comprising a casing for vertical upward flow of the gaseous medium, a row of parallel lamellae, each lamella being arranged transversely in the casing, and having an impact surface, a collecting channel adjacent the impact surface and an upwardly opening drainage channel adjacent the collecting channel, the drainage channels being in communication with a chamber arranged on the outer surface of a side wall of the casing through apertures in the side wall.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber arranged on the side wall of the casing of the flow casing is constructed as a pressure equalising chamber and has a gas tight liquid outlet.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid outlet of the chamber is constructed as a syphon.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drainage channels are arranged on the faces of the

separating lamellae away from their impact surfaces.

5. A device for separating liquid drops from a gaseous medium substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.