JP6465355B2 - Gas-liquid separator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas-liquid separator.

  A fluid in which a liquid-phase fluid and a gas-phase fluid are mixed is called a gas-liquid mixed fluid. When such a gas-liquid mixed fluid uses a general measuring device for flow rate measurement or composition analysis, there is a concern about influence on measurement accuracy due to the presence of bubbles. Therefore, various techniques have been put into practical use so far for the purpose of separating the liquid phase component and the gas phase component of the gas-liquid mixed fluid.

  As an example of such a technique, a gas-liquid separator described in Patent Document 1 below is known. This gas-liquid separator is connected to the introduction path through which the sample gas is introduced, the above-described introduction path through the top, a conical wall surface that forms a separate chamber therein, and a drain and gas communicated with the separate chamber. And a lead-out path. Of the sample gas introduced into the separation chamber, the liquid phase component generated by condensation flows downward along the conical wall surface, and is then discharged to the outside through the drain. On the other hand, the gas phase component contained in the sample gas is discharged to the outside through the gas lead-out path. As a result, the liquid phase component and the gas phase component contained in the sample gas can be separated.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-64138

However, in the gas-liquid separator described in Patent Document 1, the liquid phase component transmitted through the conical wall surface is guided to the drain by gravity acting on itself. That is, this gas-liquid separator actively uses the action of gravity. Therefore, when this gas-liquid separator is used under zero gravity or microgravity, there is a possibility that sufficient performance cannot be obtained.
In addition, even when the apparatus is used on the ground (under a gravitational environment), the apparatus needs to be arranged in the vertical direction, so that the attitude of the apparatus and the place where the apparatus can be arranged are limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gas-liquid separation device that has sufficient separation performance and can be used in various environments.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
The gas-liquid separation device according to one embodiment of the present invention is formed of a hydrophilic material and can absorb the liquid in contact with itself, and discharges the liquid absorbed inside by an external force applied from the outside. A hydrophilic portion that can be connected, a liquid guide portion that is connected to the hydrophilic portion and guides the liquid adsorbed on the hydrophilic portion by capillary action, and contains the hydrophilic portion and the liquid guide portion inside A supply port capable of supplying a gas-liquid mixed fluid toward the hydrophilic portion, a gas discharge port for discharging gas in the gas-liquid mixed fluid to the outside, and a liquid discharge for discharging the liquid guided by the liquid guide portion to the outside and outlet are formed casing, a suction unit for sucking the liquid from inside the case through the liquid outlet, a drive unit, while being accommodated in the casing, the axial ray diffraction by the drive unit And a impeller is rotated in, the hydrophilic portion is arranged so as to face the radially outer side of said axis relative to said impeller.

According to said structure, the liquid adsorbed | sucked to the hydrophilic part is discharged | emitted from the liquid discharge port of a case outside by a suction part, after being guided by the capillary phenomenon in a liquid guide part. That is, the gas-liquid separator does not use the action of gravity when separating the gas and liquid. Therefore, for example, it can be stably operated not only in a gravity-free environment but also in a microgravity environment.
In addition, since the action due to gravity is not used, there is no restriction on the posture of the apparatus. That is, the above gas-liquid separator can be used in various environments.
Furthermore, according to said structure, after the gas-liquid mixed fluid supplied in the case is scattered toward the radial direction outer side of an axis line with the rotating impeller, it flows in into a hydrophilic part. Thus, the gas-liquid mixed fluid can be centrifuged by the impeller, and the flow rate of the liquid toward the hydrophilic portion can be increased, so that the time required for gas-liquid separation can be shortened.

  The gas-liquid separation device according to one aspect of the present invention may include a layered hydrophilic layer formed of a hydrophilic material that covers a region where the liquid touches the liquid guide portion.

  According to said structure, the wettability of a liquid guide part can be improved by providing a hydrophilic layer. Thereby, the flow resistance with respect to the liquid which flows through a liquid guide part can be reduced.

  In the gas-liquid separation device according to one aspect of the present invention, a liquid level detection unit that detects a liquid level position of the liquid in the liquid guide unit and the liquid level position detected by the liquid level detection unit are determined in advance. And a control unit that drives the suction unit when the liquid level position is within the reference range.

  According to the above configuration, when the liquid surface position is within the reference range, that is, when a sufficient amount of liquid has flowed into the liquid guide unit, the control unit drives the suction unit. Thereby, even if it is a case where a fluctuation | variation arises in the flow volume of the gas-liquid mixed fluid which flows in into a liquid guide part, the drive state of a suction part can be changed according to this fluctuation | variation.

  In the gas-liquid separation device according to one aspect of the present invention, the case is formed of a transparent material capable of transmitting visible light, and the liquid level detection unit is provided outside the case, and the case is interposed through the case. The liquid level position may be detected.

  According to said structure, since a liquid level detection part is provided in the exterior of a case, a liquid level detection part does not contact with the liquid which distribute | circulates the inside of a liquid guide part. Thereby, the possibility of affecting the composition of the liquid can be reduced. In addition, since the contamination of the liquid level detection unit due to exposure to the liquid can be suppressed, the maintenance cost can be reduced.

In the gas-liquid separation device according to one aspect of the present invention, the hydrophilic portion may be formed of a vegetable fiber or a polymer of a polymer compound having a hydrophilic group.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while providing sufficient isolation | separation performance, the gas-liquid separation apparatus which can be used in various environments can be provided.

1 is an overall view of a gas-liquid separator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a plane view sectional view of the gas-liquid separation device concerning a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the gas-liquid separator which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view in the modification of the gas-liquid separator which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a general view of the gas-liquid separator which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the gas-liquid separation apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a), (b) shows the state change of the liquid level position of a gas-liquid mixed fluid, respectively. It is a general view of the gas-liquid separator which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention.

[First embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the gas-liquid separation device 1 according to this embodiment includes a shaft 21 extending along an axis O, an impeller 2 provided at an end of the shaft 21, and the shaft 21 around the axis O. A driving unit 22 that rotates, a hydrophilic unit 4 that is disposed so as to face the impeller 2 from the outside in the radial direction, and a liquid guide unit that covers the periphery of the impeller 2 and the hydrophilic unit 4 and is connected to the hydrophilic unit 4 And a case 3 that forms a frame 31. Further, the gas-liquid separator 1 includes a suction unit 5 that sucks out the fluid in the case 3 to the outside.

  As the drive unit 22, an electric motor driven by electric power is preferably used. The drive unit 22 is covered from the outside by a drive unit case 23. In addition, the aspect of the drive part 22 is not limited to the said electric motor, For example, the structure which rotates the shaft 21 manually by providing the holding part which an operator can hold | grip may be taken.

  The shaft 21 is a substantially columnar member extending along the axis O, and one end of both ends in the direction of the axis O is connected to an output shaft (not shown) of the drive unit 22. Thereby, the rotational energy of the drive part 22 is transmitted to the shaft 21 without delay, and the shaft 21 is rotationally driven around the axis O.

  An impeller 2 is provided at the other end of the shaft 21. The impeller 2 has a plurality of blade portions 24 that extend radially outward from the axis O about the axis O of the shaft 21. The end portions on the radially outer side of the blade portions 24 are the tip portions 25. An end portion opposite to the tip portion 25 (that is, an end portion on the radially inner side of the axis O) is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 21 to be a base portion 26. As the shaft 21 rotates, the impeller 2 also rotates around the axis O.

  The impeller 2 configured as described above is covered from the outside by a case 3. The case 3 includes a ring portion 30 provided at substantially the same position as the impeller 2 in the axis O direction, and a case main body 32 that covers the ring portion 30 from the outside.

  The inside of the case main body 32 is an accommodation space V. The impeller 2 rotates in the accommodation space V. The ring portion 30 is a generally annular plate-like member that covers the impeller 2 from the outside in the radial direction and extends on a plane intersecting the axis O in the accommodation space V. In addition, all the ring parts 30 may be integrally formed with the same material as the case main body 32, and may be comprised as another member, respectively.

  A detailed configuration of the ring unit 30 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ring portion 30 includes two members that are stacked with a space in the direction of the axis O. Each of these two members is a first ring portion R1 provided on one side in the axis O direction (side where the drive unit 22 is located) and a second ring portion R2 provided on the other side (side where the impeller 2 is located). It is said that.

  The radially inner region of the first ring portion R1 and the radially inner region of the second ring portion R2 are both opened in a substantially circular shape with the axis O as the center. Among these, the end surface (first inner peripheral surface 33) on the inner peripheral side of the first ring portion R1 is substantially parallel to the axis O direction. The first inner peripheral surface 33 is not necessarily parallel to the axis O direction. That is, the first inner peripheral surface 33 may be configured to extend in a direction inclined with respect to the axis O. On the other hand, the end surface (second inner peripheral surface 34) on the inner peripheral side of the second ring portion R2 is inclined with respect to the radial direction. More specifically, the second inner peripheral surface 34 is inclined so as to go from the radially outer side to the radially inner side as it goes from one side of the axis O to the other side. Thereby, the 2nd inner peripheral surface 34 has opposed a part (1st opposing surface 35 mentioned later) of 1st ring part R1 to the axis line O direction.

  Of both surfaces of the first ring portion R1 in the direction of the axis O, the surface facing the second ring portion R2 is a first facing surface 35. Similarly, of both surfaces of the second ring portion R2 in the direction of the axis O, the surface facing the first ring portion R1 is a second facing surface 36. Both the first facing surface 35 and the second facing surface 36 extend in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the axis O. That is, the first facing surface 35 and the second facing surface 36 are substantially parallel to each other.

  Further, a gap is formed between the first facing surface 35 and the second facing surface 36. The gap serves as a liquid guide 31 that guides (moves) a fluid (gas-liquid mixed fluid) described later by capillary action. That is, the size of the gap in the direction of the axis O is set to be small enough to cause capillary action on the liquid.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the radially inner region of the axis O in the extending region of the liquid guide portion 31 faces the second inner peripheral surface 34 of the second ring portion R2. Yes. Thereby, a space having a generally triangular shape is formed between a part of the first facing surface 35 and the second inner peripheral surface 34 when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the axis O. This space is an inlet 37 through which the gas-liquid mixed fluid supplied from the impeller 2 flows by facing the tip portion 25 of the impeller 2. On the other hand, in the liquid guide part 31, the area | region except this inlet 37 is made into the extension part 31E.

  That is, the first facing surface 35 in the first ring portion R1 is located on one side (the drive portion 22 side) in the axis O direction with respect to the tip portion 25 of the impeller 2 described above. On the other hand, the second inner peripheral surface 34 of the second ring portion R2 faces the tip portion 25 from the radial direction of the axis O.

  The hydrophilic portion 4 is provided inside the introduction port 37 of the liquid guide portion 31 configured as described above. The hydrophilic part 4 is formed by molding a hydrophilic material that exhibits affinity for water into a fixed shape, such as a polymer of a polymer compound having a hydrophilic group, including plant fibers such as cotton, silk and hemp. can get.

  By forming such a hydrophilic material into a shape corresponding to the shape and volume of the introduction port 37, the hydrophilic portion 4 is obtained. In the present embodiment, as described above, since the cross section viewed from the direction orthogonal to the axis of the introduction port 37 is generally triangular, the hydrophilic portion 4 has a triangular shape and an outer shape. As viewed, it has a substantially annular shape extending in the circumferential direction of the first ring portion R1 and the second ring portion R2. The hydrophilic portion 4 is cut out at a position corresponding to a cutout portion 38 to be described later in the middle of the circumferential extension. That is, when viewed from the direction of the axis O, the hydrophilic portion 4 has a C shape.

  The hydrophilic part 4 can quickly absorb (adsorb) the liquid in contact with itself, and can release the liquid absorbed inside by a negative pressure applied from the outside or an external force such as squeezing. It is possible.

  As described above, the introduction port 37 (liquid guide portion 31) and the hydrophilic portion 4 are formed on the radially inner side of the ring portion 30, while the liquid guide is disposed on the radially outer region of the ring portion 30. A guide channel 39 communicating with the portion 31 is formed. The guide flow path 39 is formed by a pair of concave grooves respectively provided on the first facing surface 35 of the first ring portion R1 and the second facing surface 36 of the second ring portion R2. Specifically, the first facing surface 35 is formed with a groove that is recessed toward one side in the direction of the axis O, and the second facing surface 36 is provided with another groove facing the groove. Grooves are formed.

  The pair of concave grooves face each other from both sides in the direction of the axis O, so that a guide channel 39 having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape is formed. Such a guide channel 39 is formed over the entire circumferential direction of the ring portion 30. Further, the guide channel 39 communicates with the introduction port 37 of the liquid guide part 31 through the hydrophilic part 4.

  Note that a part of the guide channel 39 in the circumferential direction is open toward the other side in the direction of the axis O as shown in FIG. Further, another opening having an equivalent size and shape is formed at a position corresponding to this opening in the case main body 32. These two openings formed in the second ring portion R2 and the case main body 32 are in communication with each other, thereby forming a liquid discharge port 61 for discharging the liquid to the outside by the suction portion 5 described later.

  The suction unit 5 includes a suction pump 51 and a suction pipe 52 connected to the suction pump 51. That is, by driving the suction pump 51, the inside of the suction pipe 52 becomes negative pressure. The suction pipe 52 is exposed in the guide channel 39 by being inserted into the liquid discharge port 61 described above. That is, the fluid flowing through the guide channel 39 is sucked to the outside through the suction pipe 52.

  Further, in the second ring portion R2, a notch 38 is formed at a position corresponding to the liquid discharge port 61 in the circumferential direction. The notch 38 is formed by denting a region on the radially inner side of the liquid discharge port 61 toward the radially inner side. Thereby, when the area | region containing the notch part 38 is seen from the one side of the axis line O direction, it will be in the state which a part of 1st ring part R1 exposed outside. More specifically, a part of the first facing surface 35 in the first ring portion R1 is exposed to the outside through the notch 38.

  The first ring portion R1 and the second ring portion R2 configured as described above are covered from the outside by the case body 32 described above. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, two openings are formed in the case main body 32. Of these two openings, the opening formed on the extension line of the axis O of the shaft 21 (impeller 2) is a supply port 62 for guiding the gas-liquid mixed fluid from the outside.

  A tubular supply pipe 63 extending outside the case body 32 along the axis O is attached to the supply port 62. A gas-liquid mixed fluid is introduced from the outside through the supply pipe 63. The supply port 62 and the supply pipe 63 are not necessarily provided on the extension line of the axis O, and may be provided at any position as long as the region faces the impeller 2 as described above.

  Further, a gas discharge port 64 for discharging the gas staying in the accommodation space V toward the outside is formed at a position spaced from the supply port 62 to the outside in the radial direction of the axis O. Specifically, the gas discharge port 64 communicates the inside and outside of the case main body 32 in a region that does not interfere with the impeller 2 and the ring portion 30 (the first ring portion R1 and the second ring portion R2). Similar to the supply port 62 and the supply pipe 63, a tubular gas discharge pipe 65 is attached to the gas discharge port 64. A pump different from the suction unit 5 may be provided on the extension of the gas discharge pipe 65.

  The operation of the gas-liquid separator 1 configured as described above will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. 2 and 3. First, the impeller 2 is rotationally driven around the axis O by driving the drive unit 22 described above. Further, the suction unit 5 (suction pump 51) is driven. Thereby, the gas-liquid separator 1 will be in an operating state.

  Next, a gas-liquid mixed fluid as a sample to be separated is introduced into the gas-liquid separator 1 in the operating state. Specifically, the sample is introduced from the outside through the supply pipe 63 described above. The gas-liquid mixed fluid refers to a fluid in which a gas phase fluid and a liquid phase fluid are mixed. The gas-liquid separation device 1 according to the present embodiment is used for the purpose of separating such a gas-liquid mixed fluid into a liquid (liquid phase component) and a gas (gas phase component).

  The sample introduced from the supply pipe 63 reaches one surface of the impeller 2. The sample that has reached the impeller 2 moves from the base portion 26 (inside in the radial direction) of the impeller 2 toward the tip portion 25 (outside in the radial direction) by a centrifugal force generated as the impeller 2 rotates. At this time, the sample is gas-liquid separated by the difference in specific gravity between the liquid and the gas in the sample. That is, the liquid phase component contained in the sample aggregates toward the outer side in the radial direction of the impeller 2 by pushing away the gas phase component. At this time, the gas phase component pushed away by the liquid phase component moves relatively inward in the radial direction. As a result, gas phase components (bubbles) mixed in the fluid are aggregated in the radially inner region of the impeller 2.

  The gas phase component (gas) aggregated radially inward is discharged from the gas discharge pipe 65 to the outside through the gas discharge port 64 described above. As described above, when a pump is provided on the extension of the gas discharge pipe 65, the gas is sucked to the outside by the negative pressure generated by the pump. In addition, when the inflow pressure of the sample in the supply pipe 63 (supply port 62) is sufficiently high, the pressure in the storage space V is also increased, so that the gas is naturally discharged from the gas discharge pipe 65 by this pressure. That is, in this case, it is not necessary to provide a pump on the gas exhaust pipe 65.

On the other hand, of the sample that has reached the tip portion 25 of the impeller 2, the liquid phase component (liquid) is scattered toward the inlet 37 of the liquid guide portion 31 by further centrifugal force. Since the introduction port 37 is formed over substantially the entire circumferential direction of the impeller 2, almost all of the liquid scattered from the tip portion 25 of the impeller 2 is collected by the introduction port 37.
As described above, this liquid has already undergone gas-liquid separation due to the centrifugal force on the impeller 2, but it is conceivable that the liquid contains a slight amount of a gas phase component. Therefore, in the gas-liquid separation device 1 according to the present embodiment, in addition to the centrifugal separation by the impeller 2, as described below, a configuration for further gas-liquid separation based on the capillary phenomenon in the liquid guide portion 31 is adopted. .

  First, the liquid splashed from the impeller 2 reaches the hydrophilic portion 4 provided inside the introduction port 37. The hydrophilic portion 4 is formed of a hydrophilic material capable of quickly adsorbing (absorbing) a liquid as described above. As a result, the sample that has contacted one surface (the radially inner surface) of the hydrophilic portion 4 via the inlet 37 is absorbed into the hydrophilic portion 4 and then substantially uniformly over the circumferential direction of the hydrophilic portion 4. To penetrate.

  Negative pressure by the suction unit 5 is applied to the liquid absorbed by the hydrophilic unit 4. This negative pressure propagates to the hydrophilic part 4 through the following sequence. First, the suction part 5 places the inside of the guide channel 39 in a negative pressure state through the suction pipe 52 exposed in the guide channel 39. Here, as described above, the guide channel 39 communicates with the introduction port 37 of the liquid guide portion 31 and the hydrophilic portion 4. As a result, the hydrophilic portion 4 is also exposed to the negative pressure generated by the suction portion 5.

  By applying the negative pressure as described above, the liquid contained in the hydrophilic portion 4 flows out from the hydrophilic portion 4 after flowing further from the hydrophilic portion 4 toward the radially outer side. The liquid that has exuded from the hydrophilic part 4 toward the outer side in the radial direction reaches the extending part 31 </ b> E of the liquid guide part 31. The liquid that has reached the extending portion 31E further flows outward in the radial direction by capillary action. At this time, the remaining gas phase component (gas) slightly contained in the liquid aggregates on the radially inner side of the liquid guide portion 31 (that is, the hydrophilic portion 4 side) as the liquid flows. That is, further gas-liquid separation is performed in the liquid guide portion 31.

Thereafter, the liquid passes through the guide channel 39, and the liquid in the guide channel 39 is discharged to the outside by the suction pipe 52 (liquid discharge port 61). On the other hand, a very small amount of gas phase component separated in the liquid guide portion 31 is discharged into the accommodation space V through the hydrophilic portion 4 and then discharged to the outside from the gas discharge port 64.
Thus, the separation of the gas-liquid mixed fluid by the gas-liquid separator 1 is completed.

  Subsequently, the behavior of the liquid surface of the notch 38 will be particularly described. The liquid absorbed in the hydrophilic part 4 flows in the circumferential direction toward the notch part 38 due to the negative pressure applied by the suction part 5. More specifically, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2, the fluid continues to flow in the hydrophilic portion 4 from the circumferential position on the opposite side of the notch 38 across the axis O in two directions away from each other. .

  The liquid that has flowed through the hydrophilic portion 4 oozes out from the end surface in the circumferential direction of the hydrophilic portion 4 into the cutout portion 38. Here, as described above, the negative pressure of the suction part 5 propagated through the guide channel 39 and the liquid guide part 31 is applied to the notch part 38. Due to this negative pressure, the liquid level in the notch 38 is gently curved from the radially inner side to the radially outer side. (Note that the outermost position in the radial direction of the curved liquid surface is defined as a liquid surface position L.)

  As described above, in the gas-liquid separation device 1 according to the present embodiment, after the liquid adsorbed on the hydrophilic portion 4 is guided by the capillary phenomenon in the liquid guide portion 31, the liquid discharge of the case 3 is performed by the suction portion 5. It is discharged from the outlet 61 to the outside. That is, the gas-liquid separator 1 does not use the action of gravity when separating the gas and liquid. Therefore, for example, it can be stably operated in a microgravity environment as well as a zero-gravity environment, and restrictions on the posture of the apparatus can be eliminated. In other words, the degree of freedom of arrangement and posture of the device can be increased.

  Further, in the gas-liquid separation device 1 described above, the gas-liquid mixed fluid supplied into the case 3 (within the accommodation space V) is scattered toward the radially outer side of the axis O by the rotating impeller 2, and then introduced into the inlet. It flows into the extension part 31 </ b> E of the liquid guide part 31 through 37. At this time, centrifugal force accompanying rotation of the impeller 2 is added to the gas-liquid mixed fluid. Thereby, since the flow velocity of the gas-liquid mixed fluid heading to the inlet 37 is increased, the time required for gas-liquid separation can be shortened.

  In addition, the liquid splashed from the impeller 2 is quickly absorbed and held by the hydrophilic portion 4. That is, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the liquid once absorbed will exude again to the impeller 2 side. Therefore, for example, even when the gas-liquid separator 1 is operated in an environment of weightlessness or microgravity, the liquid that has reached the inlet 37 does not diffuse again. Thereby, the freedom degree of arrangement | positioning and attitude | position of the gas-liquid separation apparatus 1 can further be raised.

  Furthermore, in the gas-liquid separation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the sample is continuously subjected to the centrifugal separation accompanying the rotation of the impeller 2 and the separation based on the capillary phenomenon in the liquid guide unit 31. Thereby, for example, sufficient separation performance can be obtained as compared with the case where only centrifugation is used.

The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings. Various modifications to the above-described configuration can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the gas-liquid separation device 1 described above, the first facing surface 35 of the first ring portion R1 and the second facing surface 36 of the second ring portion R2 are configured to be substantially parallel to each other. That is, the liquid guide portion 31 formed between the first facing surface 35 and the second facing surface 36 is configured to have a substantially uniform flow area in the radial direction of the axis O.

  However, the liquid guide portion 31 may be formed such that the flow path area gradually increases from the radially inner side to the outer side. According to such a configuration, gas-liquid separation by capillary action in the liquid guide portion 31 can be performed more sufficiently.

  Further, in addition to the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner wall surface of the liquid guide portion 31 (the inner wall surface of the introduction port 37 and the inner wall surface of the extending portion 31 </ b> E) is made of the same material as the hydrophilic portion 4. The formed layered hydrophilic layer 41 may be provided. More specifically, the structure which provides the hydrophilic layer 41 in the 1st opposing surface 35 of 1st ring part R1 and the 2nd opposing surface 36 of 2nd ring part R2 can be considered. Thereby, the wettability in the inlet 37 and the extension part 31E can be improved, and the flow resistance with respect to the liquid can be reduced. That is, the liquid can flow more smoothly.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the driving unit 22 and the impeller 2 are included. However, since gas-liquid separation based on capillary action is also performed in the liquid guide portion 31 as described above, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the drive portion 22 and the impeller 2 are omitted. In such a case, it is conceivable that the liquid guide portion 31 is formed by a rectangular plate-like member corresponding to the first ring portion R1 and the second ring portion R2. Thereby, it is possible to introduce the sample from one side in the extending direction of the plate-like member and discharge the liquid phase component from the other side.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the structure similar to the above-mentioned 1st embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
As shown in FIG. 5, the gas-liquid separation device 1 according to this embodiment includes a liquid level detection unit 7 that detects the liquid level L of the liquid in the notch 38 described in the first embodiment, and a liquid level. And a control unit 8 electrically connected to the detection unit 7 and the suction unit 5.

  The liquid level detector 7 is a liquid level sensor attached to a position corresponding to the notch 38 in the second ring portion R2. With this liquid level sensor, the liquid level L in the notch 38 is detected. As described above, the liquid surface position L indicates the outermost position in the radial direction of the axis O among the curved liquid surface in the notch 38. The liquid level detection unit 7 converts the position information of the liquid level position L into an electrical signal, and then sends it to the control unit 8 described later.

  The control unit 8 controls driving of the suction unit 5 (suction pump 51) based on the signal of the liquid level position L input from the liquid level detection unit 7. The control unit 8 stores a predetermined reference range of the liquid level position L. In the control unit 8, the reference range is compared with the liquid level position L described above. As a result of this comparison, when it is determined that the liquid level L is within the reference range, the control unit 8 sends an electric signal to the suction pump 51 to drive it. On the other hand, when it is determined that the liquid level L is outside the reference range, the control unit 8 sends a signal to the suction pump 51 to stop driving.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the reference range is a range that extends in the radial direction inside the introduction port 37 (notch portion 38). The radially inner position within the reference range is the maximum position L1, and the radially outer position is the minimum position L2.

  That is, when the liquid surface position L is radially inward of the maximum position L1 of the reference range (FIG. 6A), it can be considered that the notch 38 is filled with a sufficient amount of liquid. it can. On the other hand, when the liquid level position L is radially outside the minimum position L2 of the reference range (FIG. 6B), it is considered that the notch 38 can be further filled with liquid. Can do.

  According to such a configuration, when the liquid surface position L is within the reference range, that is, when the liquid guide unit 31 is filled with a sufficient amount of liquid, the control unit 8 performs the suction unit 5 (the suction pump 51). Drive). Thereby, even if it is a case where a fluctuation | variation arises in the flow volume of the gas-liquid mixed fluid (sample) which flows in into the inlet 37, the drive state of the suction part 5 can be changed according to this fluctuation | variation. In particular, when the suction pump 51 is driven in a state where the liquid is not sufficiently filled in the introduction port 37, there is a possibility that the gas in the accommodation space V will be re-engaged. However, the above configuration can reduce such a possibility.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, in the gas-liquid separation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the liquid level detection unit 7 is provided outside the case main body 32, and the case main body 32 and the first ring portion R1. The second ring portion R2 is different from the second embodiment in that it is made of a transparent material.

  In the present embodiment, the case 3 (the case main body 32, the first ring portion R1, the second ring portion R2) is formed of a transparent material (for example, acrylic resin, polyethylene terephthalate, etc.). More specifically, these members are made of a material that can transmit visible light. Therefore, the liquid level L in the notch 38 described above can be visually recognized and detected from the outside of the case 3.

  As a result, the liquid level detector 7 can be provided outside the case 3. That is, a relatively inexpensive optical sensor can be applied as the liquid level detection unit 7. Thereby, the cost accompanying the manufacture of the device can be reduced.

  Further, since the liquid level detection unit 7 is provided outside the case 3, the liquid level detection unit 7 does not come into contact with the liquid flowing through the liquid guide unit 31. Thereby, the possibility that the liquid level detection unit 7 affects the composition and fluidity of the liquid can be reduced. In addition, since the contamination, deterioration, and the like of the liquid level detection unit 7 due to exposure to the liquid can be suppressed, the maintenance cost can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Gas-liquid separator 2 ... Impeller 3 ... Case 4 ... Hydrophilic part 5 ... Suction part 7 ... Liquid level detection part 8 ... Control part 21 ... Shaft 22 ... Drive part 23 ... Drive part case 24 ... Blade | wing part 25 ... Tip part 26 ... Base 30 ... Ring part 31 ... Liquid guide part 31E ... Extension part 32 ... Case main body 33 ... First inner peripheral surface 34 ... Second inner peripheral surface 35 ... First opposing surface 36 ... Second opposing surface 37 ... Introduction Port 38 ... Notch 39 ... Guide channel 41 ... Hydrophilic layer 51 ... Suction pump 52 ... Suction pipe 61 ... Liquid discharge port 62 ... Supply port 63 ... Supply tube 64 ... Gas discharge port 65 ... Gas discharge tube L ... Liquid surface Position L1 ... Maximum position L2 ... Minimum position O ... Axis R1 ... First ring part R2 ... Second ring part V ... Accommodating space

Claims (5)

A hydrophilic part that is formed of a hydrophilic material and that can absorb the liquid in contact with itself and that can release the liquid absorbed inside by an external force applied from the outside ;
A liquid guide part connected to the hydrophilic part for guiding the liquid adsorbed on the hydrophilic part by capillary action;
The hydrophilic part and the liquid guide part are accommodated inside, a supply port capable of supplying a gas-liquid mixed fluid toward the hydrophilic part, a gas outlet for discharging gas in the gas-liquid mixed fluid to the outside, and the liquid guide A case in which a liquid discharge port for discharging the liquid guided by the portion to the outside is formed;
A suction part for sucking out the liquid from the case through the liquid discharge port;
A drive unit;
An impeller housed in the case and driven to rotate about an axis by the drive unit;
Equipped with a,
The gas-liquid separator , wherein the hydrophilic portion is disposed so as to face the impeller from the outside in the radial direction of the axis .   The gas-liquid separation device according to claim 1, further comprising a layered hydrophilic layer formed of a hydrophilic material that covers a region where the liquid touches the liquid guide portion. A liquid level detection unit for detecting a liquid level position of the liquid in the liquid guide unit;
A control unit that compares the liquid level position detected by the liquid level detection unit with a predetermined reference range, and drives the suction unit when the liquid level position is within the reference range;
The gas-liquid separation device according to claim 1, comprising: The case is formed of a transparent material capable of transmitting visible light,
The gas-liquid separator according to claim 3, wherein the liquid level detection unit is provided outside the case and detects the liquid level position through the case. The gas-liquid separator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hydrophilic portion is formed of a vegetable fiber or a polymer of a high molecular compound having a hydrophilic group.

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