US-12623172-B2 - Liquid separator

US12623172B2US 12623172 B2US12623172 B2US 12623172B2US-12623172-B2

Abstract

A liquid separator ( 10 ) for separating liquid from a gas-liquid mixture has a housing ( 12 ), an inlet ( 14 ), an outlet ( 16 ), a flow path ( 18 ) connecting the inlet ( 14 ) to the outlet ( 16 ), and a separation device ( 20 ), arranged in the flow path ( 18 ), for liquid separation, wherein a diverting element ( 22 ) is arranged adjacent to the separation device ( 20 ). Said diverting element separates an inlet region ( 24 ) of the housing ( 12 ), into which the inlet ( 14 ) opens, and an outlet region ( 26 ) of the housing ( 12 ), from which the outlet ( 16 ) opens, from one another, wherein the flow path ( 18 ) extends from the inlet region ( 24 ) via a low-flow region ( 46 ) into the outlet region ( 26 ).

Inventors

Stefan Heinz
Isabelle Kümmerle
Sven Bulach
Oliver Vollmer
Simon Kümmerle

Assignees

JOMA-POLYTEC GMBH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230803
Priority Date: 20220803

Claims (11)

1 . A liquid separator for separating liquid from a gas-liquid mixture, the liquid separator having a housing, an inlet, an outlet, a flow path connecting the inlet to the outlet, and a separation device, arranged in the flow path, for liquid separation, wherein a diverting element is arranged adjacent to the separation device, which diverting element separates an inlet region of the housing, into which the inlet opens, and an outlet region of the housing, out of which the outlet opens, from one another, wherein the flow path extends from the inlet region via a low-flow region into the outlet region, wherein the diverting element redirects the gas-liquid mixture through the low-flow region, thereby lengthening the flow path and reducing a flow rate of the gas-liquid mixture, wherein the liquid separator having a collar-like, self-contained insert element that is arranged in the interior of the housing and projects into the inlet region and, together with a wall of the housing, defines a first flow channel which connects the inlet region to the low-flow region arranged above a collecting region, so that liquid collected in the inlet region can flow through the first flow channel into the collecting region, wherein the first flow channel is designed as a circumferential gap between the insert element and the wall of the housing, and wherein several ribs for distancing the insert element from the wall are configured on outer sides of the insert element, wherein the insert element defines a second flow channel which connects the inlet region and the outlet region.
2 . The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the diverting element extends flatly and has a central longitudinal plane, wherein the separation device has a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the central longitudinal axis of the separation device and the central longitudinal plane of the diverting element intersect at an angle of less than 90°.
3 . The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the diverting element is fastened to the housing via a mechanical plug connection.
4 . The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the separation device has, at its end facing away from the inlet, a fastening portion, wherein the diverting element has a holding portion which corresponds to and holds the fastening portion.
5 . The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein several slots extending along a longitudinal direction of the slot are each configured on a side, facing away from the inlet region, of the insert element and/or on the sides of the insert element which extend to the inlet region from the side facing away from the inlet region, the cross-section of said slots extending in each case to the wall of the housing.
6 . The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the insert element extends with a portion into the outlet region of the housing and/or that the diverting element extends with a portion of its free end into the interior of the insert element.
7 . The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the separation device is designed as a fabric separator having at least one fabric section for liquid separation.
8 . The liquid separator according to claim 7 , wherein the separation device has two fabric sections which are arranged symmetrically, relative to the central longitudinal axis, in the separation device, wherein the fabric sections together enclose an angle of 2° to 30°.
9 . The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein a liquid reservoir and/or a fill-level sensor is arranged in the collecting region of the housing.
10 . The liquid separator according to claim 9 , wherein a cover sleeve is provided, by means of which the fill-level sensor, starting from its free end over its predominant free length, is covered.
11 . The liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein one or more surge elements extend in the collecting region of the housing.

Description

FIELD This disclosure relates to a liquid separator for separating liquid from a gas-liquid mixture. BACKGROUND Liquid separators are known from the prior art. These can operate according to different functional principles—for example, via condensation, centrifugal force (cyclone), sorption (use of a sorbent), or via baffles. Liquid separators can be used, for example, in fuel cells, where, to increase efficiency, on the cathode side, water is separated from oxygen (O2) using a liquid separator, and, on the anode side, water is separated from hydrogen (H2) using a (further) liquid separator. Liquid separators can also be used in compressed air systems or air conditioning systems. DE 10 2014 013 372 A1 shows a centrifugal water separator for a fuel-cell system, in which a gas-liquid mixture is introduced tangentially into the separator via an inlet line, wherein liquid collects by centrifugal force influences on the inner wall of the separator and flows downwards through a drain, wherein the gas (possibly residual moisture) is discharged upwards via an outlet line. This separator has a low pressure differential, but is capped with respect to the separation efficiency, since a high proportion of residual moisture can be “entrained” by the outlet line. WO 2021/083486 A1 discloses a liquid separator in which a gas-liquid mixture is introduced into the separator through an inlet, passes through a baffle separator equipped with several fabric sections, and is discharged via an outlet. This separator allows high separation efficiencies to be achieved with a compact design. Depending upon the liquid content in the gas-liquid mixture, increased pressure differentials may possibly occur. SUMMARY The object underlying this disclosure is that of facilitating reliable separation of liquids using simple constructive means and a compact design. It is desirable for high separation efficiencies to be able to be achieved at comparatively low pressure differentials. This disclosure achieves this object by means of a liquid separator having the features of claim 1. The liquid separator serves to separate liquid from a (flowing), and in particular vaporous or mist-like, gas-liquid mixture (liquid-loaded gas stream). The gas-liquid mixture is in particular a mixture in which gas serves as a carrier medium, and liquid is present in the form of finely-dispersed liquid drops. The liquid separator has a housing, an inlet into the housing (gas-liquid mixture inlet), an outlet from the housing (gas outlet), and a flow path that connects the inlet to the outlet (flow connection). Arranged in the flow path is a separation device, in which the actual separation of the liquid from the gas-liquid mixture takes place. The separated liquid can be a pure liquid or a liquid mixture (mixture of two or more different liquids). The liquid separator is characterized in that a diverting element for diverting the flow path is arranged adjacent to the separation device, said diverting element separating an inlet region of the housing, into which the inlet opens, and an outlet region of the housing, from which the outlet opens out (diverting element serves as a kind of barrier or partition wall). In this case, the flow path passes through a low-flow region on the way from the inlet region into the outlet region. In other words, the flow path extends from the inlet or from the inlet region via a low-flow region into the outlet region or the outlet. It has been recognized that a high liquid separation efficiency can be achieved at comparatively low pressure differentials when the flow path or the gas-liquid mixture moving along the flow path is diverted in such a way that the flow rate of the gas-liquid mixture is reduced, and thus liquid drops in the liquid separator pass downwards due to gravity—for example, into a corresponding collecting region. The reduced flow rate also leads to separated liquid droplets not being entrained again by the gas flow. The diverting element blocks the direct path (shortest connection) between inlet and outlet, so to speak. The diverting element can be designed as a partition wall. A hermetically-sealed separation of inlet region and outlet region by the diverting element is not absolutely necessary, but optionally possible. The separation of these regions by the diverting element must be at least “flow conducting,” i.e., must therefore predefine the flow direction of the gas-liquid mixture. This means that the flow path or the gas-liquid mixture moving along the flow path is forced to take a “detour” through the low-flow region. In other words, the diverting element is designed, e.g., by being embodied as a partition wall, such that the gas-liquid mixture cannot flow through the diverting element. Instead, the gas-liquid mixture must take the “detour” through the low-flow region. The flow rate in the liquid separator is at its lowest in the low-flow region. The inlet region and the outlet region are arranged directly ne