JP2015517896A - Aerosol separator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol separator having a collision plate arranged in a housing, wherein the foam element is arranged in a region on the collision side of the collision plate.

Description

  The present invention relates to an aerosol separator.

  Devices for the separation of droplets from aerosols (atomaceous matter) are generally known from the state of the art. For example, aerosol separators for the separation of cooling lubricants are used in machine tools.

  In the automotive industry, the separation of oil from the aerosol formed in the crank housing of the combustion motor plays an important role. This is because aerosol feedback to the suction part of the motor can lead to contamination and damage to the motor elements.

  In a passenger car, for example, a cyclone is used according to a constrained structural space. However, as long as the separation effect depends on the ideal setting of the aerosol volume flow, these are disadvantageous. If the volume flow deviates from optimal conditions, retracted droplet separation and / or increased pressure loss can be caused. Therefore, technical measurements must be made that require effort and cost to control pressure and volume flow for effective operation of the cyclone. For example, multiple cyclones and a control system are typically provided for those loads that rely on on / off switching to compensate for deviations in volume flow. Furthermore, the cyclone's ability has been found to be insufficient for droplet shrinkage and separation in the submicron region.

  Collision separators are used as an alternative to cyclones in passenger cars. However, known collision separators have a reasonable ability to separate, as well as insufficient efficiency for droplet separation in the submicron region.

  Active separators such as plate separators or electrical separators in commercial vehicles can be used depending on higher throughput and more available installation space. However, they suffer from an increased likelihood of failure depending on the presence of movable elements and require higher investment costs.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol separator that is simple and small in size, and thus has high separation efficiency and is easy to maintain.

  This object is satisfied by an aerosol separator having the features of claim 1.

  The aerosol separator according to the invention has a collision plate arranged in a housing, and a foam element is arranged in a region on the collision side of the collision plate. In this regard, the impingement side of the impingement plate is understood as the impingement side on which the aerosol flow is first incident.

  For this reason, the aerosol separator according to the invention is generally of the type of impact plate separator or impactor separator, with additional separation media in the form of foam elements in the impact side area of the impact plate. Based on the general concept of providing, the concept results in increased separation performance in response to a larger specific surface and lower pressure drop for the flow through. The foaming element further provides an efficient drainage of the separated liquid and the risk of unwanted stagnation of the already separated droplets is reduced. At the same time, the collision plate concept allows a simple, easy-to-maintain and compact design of the aerosol separator according to the invention, which makes it possible to reduce the installation space in particular, for example in passenger cars. Also suitable for use in environments that have.

  Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subordinate claims, the detailed description and the drawings.

  The foam element is preferably arranged directly on the impact side surface of the impact plate. The foam element particularly preferably covers the entire impingement side which contributes to the ideal separation efficiency.

  The foam element can generally have any foam element, for example, a resin foam (foam resin).

  However, the foam element according to a preferred embodiment comprises a foam metal. For example, the foam element can consist entirely of foam metal. Foam metal possesses high mechanical and thermal stability and therefore represents a separation medium having a particularly long lifetime. Furthermore, a series of actions can be supported in response to matching the surface properties of the foam metal to the liquid to be separated, leading to the growth of the isolated droplets and simplifying their drainage. Particularly preferably, the metal foam has a surface that can be wetted by the liquid to be separated. This further increases separation performance and droplet growth and further reduces the risk of unwanted stagnation of already separated droplets. The use of foam metal further allows simplified purification of the separation medium, for example through thermal regeneration. Through thermal regeneration means sterilization through the remaining combustion of the substance or through washing with an appropriate solution. Furthermore, the metal foam has a high stability with respect to corrosion under the influence of acids and bases and is therefore also suitable for separation from acidic or basic condensed aerosols.

  The foam metal preferably has a nickel-base alloy and / or an iron-base alloy, in particular constituted by a nickel-base alloy or an iron-base alloy. Such foam metal exhibits corrosion resistance with respect to aerosols comprising at least one material selected from the group comprising phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide.

  The foam metal is preferably formed as an open hole. The use of perforated metal foam causes an advantageous effect with respect to aerosol ventilation capacity, separation performance, and drainage effect for the separated liquid.

  Particularly high separation efficiencies can be achieved through the use of apertured foam metal with an average pore diameter of at least 400 μm. In this regard, the average pore diameter of the foamed portion can be defined as an average value of the opening size of each opening, and the opening size of each opening is defined by the length direction of the opening and the lateral direction of the opening. It can be calculated as the average diameter of the openings.

  The foam element can be formed from different foam portions. Also, the foam element can have a multilayer structure. For example, different foam metals can be bonded together. Also, for example, the foam metal can be combined with a different foam element, such as, for example, a foam resin. Foamed portions having different surface properties, for example foamed portions that differ in the wettability of each surface, can be used to match the separation performance, droplet growth and drainage effects to each other.

  According to an embodiment, the acceleration zone and the deceleration zone are provided so as to continue to each other in the housing of the aerosol separator when viewed in the flow direction, one impact plate or a plurality of impact plates Are arranged in the deceleration zone.

  The acceleration zone preferably has a nozzle element, in particular formed by a nozzle plate. Said nozzle element allows alignment of the aerosol flow towards the impingement plate and hence the foam element arranged in the impingement region of the impingement plate, whereby the separation efficiency is optimized.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the plurality of impingement plates are arranged consecutively immediately after the acceleration zone, and the foam element is at least on the impingement side of the first impingement plate when viewed in the flow direction. It is provided in the area. Furthermore, the foam elements can be provided in the area of the collision side of further collision plates, for example in the area of the collision side of all collision plates.

  The spacing between adjacent impingement plates is preferably greater than the spacing between the acceleration zone and the first impingement plate when viewed in the flow direction. Advantageously, the distance between adjacent collision plates increases with increasing distance from the acceleration zone. Through the supply of multiple impingement plates, the separation efficiency at the aerosol separator can be further increased, especially when foam elements are provided in the impingement region of the multiple impingement plates.

  A further preferred embodiment likewise has a plurality of impingement plates, which are arranged downstream of the acceleration zone, and the foam element is at least on the impingement side of the first impingement plate when viewed in the flow direction. It is provided in the area. Furthermore, the foam elements can be provided in the area of the collision side of further collision plates, for example in the area of the collision side of all collision plates. Preferably, adjacent collision plates are alternately connected to opposing housing walls to form a labyrinth flow path. Through the configuration of the labyrinth-like channel, even higher separation efficiencies occur, so that multiple deviations of the aerosol flow occur in the deceleration zone. Preferably, the spacing between the impact plate and the housing wall located away from the impact plate increases as the distance of the impact plate from the acceleration zone increases.

  The aerosol separator of the present invention can be used in an advantageous manner for the separation of liquid, eg oil, from the aerosol. For example, oil formed in the crank housing of a passenger car combustion motor can be separated from the aerosol with the aid of an aerosol separator according to the invention. Furthermore, the use of the aerosol separator according to the invention in a compressor also makes possible the application of compressed air. Use in the chemical industry is also conceivable, for example the separation of droplets in colons.

In the following, the invention will be fully described by way of example in accordance with possible embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an aerosol separator according to the present invention.

10: Aerosol separator 12: Housing 14: Inlet 16a, 16b: End face 18: Aerosol outlet 20: Nozzle plate 22: Introduction area 24: Deceleration area 26: Nozzle 28: Foaming elements 30a, 30b: Impact plates 32a, 32b : Housing walls 34a, 34b: Collision side 36: Overlap region 38: Separated liquid discharge ports A, B, C, D: Distance

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an aerosol separator 10 according to the present invention for the separation of oil clouds from gas exiting the combustion motor crank housing. The aerosol separator 10 includes a longitudinally extending housing 12 whose interior space has a substantially rectangular, square, oval or circular cross section.

  An inlet 14 for the gas containing oil clouds flowing from the crank housing is provided in the front end face 16a of the housing 12, and an outlet 18 for the purified gas is opposite the front end face 16a. Is provided on the rear end surface 16b of the housing 12 placed on the housing. Therefore, the gas is passed through the housing 12 from left to right in the drawing.

  The internal space of the housing 12 is divided into an introduction area 22 and a deceleration area 24 by a nozzle plate 20 that is arranged in parallel to the end faces 16 a and 16 b and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing 12. A nozzle 26 is provided at the top of the nozzle plate 20 for the acceleration of the gas containing oil clouds entering the introduction zone 22. The nozzle plate 20 thus defines an acceleration zone.

  The first collision plate 30 a is disposed in the deceleration area 24 away from the nozzle plate 20 and parallel to the nozzle plate 20, and is further disposed orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 12. The collision plate 30a is connected to the upper housing wall portion 32a and is disposed away from the lower housing wall portion 32 disposed to face the upper housing wall portion 32a. The surface facing the nozzle plate 20a defines the collision side 34a of the first collision plate 30a. The nozzles 26 of the nozzle plate 20 are aligned and divert gas, including oil clouds, toward the collision side 34a of the first collision plate 34.

  A foam element 28 is arranged on the collision side 34 a of the first collision plate 34. In this embodiment, the foam element 28 is formed of a foam metal having an aperture.

  The second collision plate 30b is disposed between the first collision plate 30a and the rear end face 16b in the deceleration zone 24 in a state parallel to the nozzle plate 20 and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing 12. It is arranged downstream of the collision plate 30a. The second collision plate 30b is connected to the lower housing wall 32b and is spaced from the upper housing wall 32a. In this regard, the minimum distance A between the first collision plate 30 a and the second collision plate 30 b is larger than the minimum distance B between the first collision plate 30 a and the nozzle plate 20. Further, the minimum distance C between the first collision plate 30a and the lower housing wall 32b is smaller than the minimum distance D between the second collision plate 30b and the upper housing wall 32a. The dimensions of the impact plates 30a, 30b that traverse the longitudinal direction of the housing 12 are selected such that the impact plates 30a, 30b overlap in the overlap region 36 when viewed in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, the collision plates 30a and 30b form a labyrinth flow path in the deceleration zone 24 where the cross-sectional area increases when viewed in the flow direction.

  The outlet 38 for the separated oil is provided in front of the second collision plate 30b in the lower housing wall 32b when viewed from the nozzle plate 20. When the aerosol separator 10 is installed so that the housing 12 is slightly inclined downward in the direction of the discharge portion 38, the oil separated by the collision plates 30a and 30b and collected by the lower housing wall portion 32b is It can flow in the direction of the outlet 38 and exit through it.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the second collision plate 30b does not have a foam element 28 on its collision side 34b. In principle, however, it may also be possible to provide a foam element 28.

  Further, a further collision plate can be provided between the second collision plate 30b and the rear end face 16b of the housing 12, and alternately connected to the upper housing wall 32a and / or the lower housing wall 32b. The flow path further continues in a labyrinth-like form. In this regard, the spacing A between adjacent impingement plates can increase as the distance from the nozzle plate 20 increases. Similarly, the spacing C and / or D between the impingement plate and the remotely spaced housing walls 32a, 23b can increase as the distance from the nozzle plate 20 increases. Also, the additional collision plate is preferably dimensioned to overlap with an adjacent collision plate. Also, a further outlet for the separated oil can be provided in the lower housing wall 32b on the collision side, in front of the collision plate connected to the lower housing wall 32b. Further impact plates can also be provided with foam elements on the impact side.

  During operation, the aerosol to be treated, in this example the gas containing the oil clouds exiting the combustion motor crank housing, flows through the inlet 14 to the housing 12 of the aerosol separator 10. The aerosol is accelerated through the nozzles 26 of the nozzle plate 20 and adheres to the foam elements 28 located on the impact side 34a of the first impact plate 30a, where oil droplets are separated from the aerosol. The The aerosol flow decelerated and diverted by the foam element 28 is then further decelerated and diverted by the lower housing wall 32b and the second impingement plate 30b so that the purified gas is discharged into the outlet 18. Further separation of the oil droplets occurs before exiting the housing 12 through.

  In a series of processes, in particular, separated oil droplets undergo droplet growth at and / or within the foaming element 28. The formed droplets are deflected through the opening of the foam metal and fall to the lower housing wall 32b, and the droplets separated by the second collision plate 30b are directed toward the lower housing wall 32b, respectively. It can flow. The oil collected in the lower housing wall 32 b flows in the direction of the discharge port 38 in the installed state according to the downward spread of the aerosol separator 10, and is separated through the discharge port 38.

Claims (10)

An aerosol separator (10) having a collision plate disposed in a housing, comprising:
An aerosol separator (10), characterized in that a foam element (28) is arranged in the region of the collision side (34) of the collision plate (30). The aerosol separator (10) of claim 1, wherein the foam element (28) comprises a foam metal. The aerosol separator (10) according to claim 2, wherein the foam metal comprises a nickel-base alloy and / or an iron-base alloy. 4. The aerosol separator according to claim 1, wherein the foamed part of the foam element is formed as an aperture and / or has an average pore diameter of at least 400 μm. (10). Aerosol separator (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foam element (28) is formed from different foam parts and / or has a multilayer structure. An acceleration zone and a deceleration zone (24) are provided to follow each other in the housing (12) when viewed in the flow direction;
The aerosol separator (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a collision plate (30) or a plurality of collision plates (30) are arranged in the deceleration zone (24). ). 7. Aerosol separator (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the acceleration zone has a nozzle element (26), in particular formed by a nozzle plate (20). A plurality of impact plates (30) are arranged downstream of the acceleration zone;
The foam element (28) is provided at least in the region of the impact side (34a) of the first impact plate (30a) when viewed in the flow direction;
When viewed in the flow direction, the spacing (A) between adjacent collision plates (30) is greater than the spacing (B) between the acceleration zone and the first collision plate (30a); Aerosol separation according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the spacing (A) between adjacent collision plates (30) increases with increasing distance from the acceleration zone. Vessel (10). A plurality of impact plates (30) are arranged downstream of the acceleration zone;
The foam element (28) is provided at least in the region of the impact side (34a) of the first impact plate (30a) when viewed in the flow direction;
Adjacent impingement plates (30) are alternately connected to opposing housing walls (32) to form a labyrinth flow path. An aerosol separator (10) according to claim 1. The distance (C, D) between the collision plate (30) and the housing wall (32) located away from the collision plate (30) is the collision plate (30) from the acceleration zone. 10. The aerosol separator (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that it increases with increasing distance.

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