Separating device for an insulating gas-liquid two phase fluid

• US 4,472,278 A
• Filed: 09/27/1982
• Issued: 09/18/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science & Technology (Government of Japan), Ministry of International Trade & Industry (Government of Malaysia)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Sever, Frank
• Application Number:
  US06/424,455
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 361/212, 210/243, 210/222, 210/223, 204/193, 204/242, 204/302, 55/36, 55/159
• US Class Current: 210/243
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0084 using an electric current
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 9/00 Electrostatic separation not provided for in any single one of the other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A gas-liquid separating device wherein electrodes of suitable configuration, such as straight-like, ring-like or wire net-like cylindrical configurations, are disposed along a flow passage of an insulating gas-liquid two-phase fluid to form a high electric field region and a low electric field region within said flow passage to collect the gas phase of the gas-liquid two-phase fluid in said low electric field region.

Claims

1. A device for separating an insulating gas-liquid two-phase fluid into a gas phase and a liquid phase comprising:

means defining a flow passage for an insulating gas-liquid two-phase fluid;

a high-voltage electrode and a ground electrode provided along said flow passage for said gas-liquid two-phase fluid;

a high voltage power source;

said high voltage electrode being connected to said high voltage power source, and said ground electrode being grounded, so as to thereby form a high electric field region and a low electric field region within said flow passage for separating said two-phase fluid into said gas and liquid phases;

means for introducing said insulating gas-liquid two-phase fluid into said flow passage;

a liquid phase discharge means provided within said high electric field region for collection of only said liquid phase from said flow passage; and

a gas phase discharge means provided within said low electric field region for collection of only said gas phase from said flow passage,

whereby once said gas and liquid phases have been separated within said flow passage, only separated gas and liquid phases are removed from said flow passage.

2. The separating device according to claim 1, wherein the gas-liquid two-phase fluid is formed in a cylinder made of a conductive material, and said cylinder is used as the ground electrode.

3. The separating device according to claim 1, wherein the ground electrode comprises two cylindrical wire net electrodes of different diametrical sizes disposed coaxially along the flow passage, the high voltage electrode is disposed internally of the smaller cylindrical wire net electrode, the high electric field region is formed between the high voltage electrode and the smaller cylindrical wire net electrode, and the low electric field region is formed in the neighborhood of said large cylindrical wire net electrode.

4. The separating device according to claim 1, wherein the ground electrode comprises a plurality of rods arranged in an equally spaced relation circumferentially about the flow passage, the high voltage electrode is disposed internally of said ground electrode, the high electric field region and the low electric field region are formed internally and externally, respectively, of said ground electrode.

5. The separating device according to claim 1, wherein the ground electrode comprises a cylindrical electrode disposed along the flow passage, the high voltage electrode is disposed internally of said ground electrode, and the low electric field region and the high electric field region are formed internally and externally, respectively, of said high voltage electrode.

6. The separating device according to claim 5, wherein the high voltage electrode comprises a plurality of rods arranged in an equally spaced relation circumferentially about said flow passage and the low electric field region is formed internally of said plurality of rod-like electrodes.

7. The separating device according to claim 5, wherein the high voltage electrode comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged rings, and the low electric field region is formed internally of said plurality of ring-like electrodes.

8. The separating device according to any one of claims 1 and 3-7, wherein a voltage of 2 to 15 kV is applied to the high voltage electrode from said high voltage power source.

9. The separating device as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said concentrically arranged rings are axially spaced along said flow passage.

10. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said means for introducing said two-phase fluid into said flow passage is fluidically connected to the lower region of said flow passage.

11. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said liquid phase discharge means and said gas phase discharge means are fluidically connected to the upper region of said flow passage.

12. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said flow passage is inclined with respect to a vertical plane so as to enhance said separation of said liquid and gas phases.

13. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said means for introducing said two-phase fluid into said flow passage is connected to one end of said flow passage; and

said gas phase discharge means and said liquid phase discharge means are connected to the opposite end of said flow passage.

14. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said liquid phase discharge means comprises a discharge pipe having its end submerged beneath the surface of said liquid phase of said two-phase fluid.

15. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said flow passage is disposed vertically.

16. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said means defining said flow passage comprises an insulative cylinder.

17. The separating device as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said high voltage electrode is disposed internally within said ground electrode; and

said ground electrode is interposed between said high volatge electrode and said insulative cylinder.

18. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said high voltage electrode is disposed internally within said ground electrode.

19. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said high voltage electrode comprises a rod disposed coaxially within said flow passage; and

said ground electrode comprises a cylindrical net.

20. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said high voltage electrode comprises a rod disposed coaxially within said flow passage; and

said ground electrode comprises a cylindrical net disposed within the peripheral area of said flow passage, and a pluralty of rods circumferentially disposed about said high voltage electrode rod.

21. The separating device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said high voltage electrode comprises a rod disposed coaxially within said flow passage; and

said ground electrode comprises a plurality of rods circumferentially disposed about said high voltage electrode rod.