PHASE SEPARATOR WITH SEPARATION ENHANCING BAFFLES

• US 20030190509A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (NEL ASA)
• Original Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (NEL ASA)
• Inventors: Brown, Michael, Byron, Robert H. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/249,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190509A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/129
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/08 by impingement against baffle separators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/26 Drying gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04164 by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A gas/liquid separator comprises: a vessel having a fluid inlet, a liquid outlet, a vapor outlet and a vessel cross-sectional geometry, an initial baffle and a subsequent baffle disposed within the vessel, between the fluid inlet and the vapor outlet, and having a baffle geometry substantially similar to the vessel cross-sectional geometry, and a solid plate disposed between the initial baffle and the vapor outlet, wherein the vapor outlet is in gaseous communication with a side of the solid plate opposite the vapor outlet. The initial and subsequent baffles comprise a plurality of openings providing fluid communication from a fluid inlet side to a baffle vapor outlet side of the initial baffle and the subsequent baffle.

Claims

1. A gas/liquid separator, comprising:

a vessel having a fluid inlet, a liquid outlet, a vapor outlet and a vessel cross-sectional geometry;

an initial baffle and a subsequent baffle disposed within the vessel, between the fluid inlet and the vapor outlet, and having a baffle geometry substantially similar to the vessel cross-sectional geometry;

wherein the initial and subsequent baffles comprise a plurality of openings providing fluid communication from a fluid inlet side to a baffle vapor outlet side of the initial baffle and the subsequent baffle; and

a solid plate disposed between the initial baffle and the vapor outlet, wherein the vapor outlet is in gaseous communication with a side of the solid plate opposite the vapor outlet.

2. The gas/liquid separator of claim 1, wherein the initial baffle openings have a size larger than the subsequent baffle openings.

3. The gas/liquid separator of claim 2, wherein at least one of the initial baffle and the subsequent baffle further comprises a screen.

4. The gas/liquid separator of claim 2, wherein at least one of the initial baffle and the subsequent baffle further comprises a perforated plate.

5. The gas/liquid separator of claim 4, wherein the initial baffle has an initial porosity of about 25% to about 50% and the subsequent baffle has a subsequent porosity of about 50% to about 75%.

6. The gas/liquid separator of claim 1, wherein the initial solid plate is disposed between the subsequent baffle and the vapor outlet.

7. The gas/liquid separator of claim 1, further comprising a cooling apparatus at least disposed in thermal communication with a portion of the separator between the solid plate and the vapor outlet.

8. The gas/liquid separator of claim 1, wherein the cooling apparatus is disposed within the shell.

9. A gas generating system, comprising:

an electrochemical cell; and

a gas/liquid phase separator in fluid communication with said electrochemical cell, wherein the gas/liquid separator comprises a vessel having a fluid inlet, a liquid outlet, a vapor outlet and a vessel cross-sectional geometry;

an initial baffle and a subsequent baffle disposed within the vessel, between the fluid inlet and the vapor outlet, and having a baffle geometry substantially similar to the vessel cross-sectional geometry;

wherein the initial and subsequent baffles comprise a plurality of openings providing fluid communication from a fluid inlet side to a baffle vapor outlet side of the initial baffle and the subsequent baffle; and

a solid plate disposed between the initial baffle and the vapor outlet, wherein the vapor outlet is in gaseous communication with a side of the solid plate opposite the vapor outlet.

10. The gas generating system of claim 9, further comprising a gas storage vessel in fluid communication with the vapor outlet.

11. The gas generating system of claim 10, further comprising a drier fluidly disposed between the gas/liquid separator and the gas storage vessel.

12. The gas generating system of claim 11, further comprising a liquid storage vessel in fluid communication with the liquid outlet and with the electrochemical cell.

13. The gas generating system of claim 12, wherein the electrochemical cell is an electrolysis cell, and wherein the system further comprises a fuel cell in fluid communication with the gas storage vessel.

14. A method of separating a gas phase from a liquid phase, the method comprising:

introducing a stream to a gas/liquid separator;

passing an initial portion of the stream through an initial baffle;

passing a subsequent portion of the stream through a subsequent baffle,

wherein vapor and liquid are separated from the stream; and

removing the vapor from the separator;

wherein the initial baffle and the subsequent baffle are disposed within a vessel, between a fluid inlet and a vapor outlet, and have a baffle geometry substantially similar to a vessel cross-sectional geometry;

wherein the initial and subsequent baffles comprise a plurality of openings providing fluid communication from a fluid inlet side to a baffle vapor outlet side of the initial baffle and the subsequent baffle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising cooling the vapor prior to removing the vapor from the separator.