Gas-liquid separator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018375123-A1
Application number	US-201816012844-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 20, 2018
Priority date	Jun 22, 2017
Publication date	Dec 27, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A gas-liquid separator includes a casing in which a first inlet port, a second inlet port, and an outlet port are formed. Inside the casing, a first gas-liquid separation chamber and a second gas-liquid separation chamber are formed by a partition wall. A gas-liquid two-phase flow that flows in from the first inlet port passes through the first gas-liquid separation chamber and is subjected to gas-liquid separation. On the other hand, a gas-liquid two-phase flow that flows in from the second inlet port passes through the second gas-liquid separation chamber and is subjected to gas-liquid separation. The gas flows after having undergone gas-liquid separation are collected together in a collection chamber, and are further discharged from the outlet port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A gas-liquid separator configured to separate a gas-liquid two-phase flow into a gas phase and a liquid phase inside a casing, wherein the casing comprises:
a first inlet port and a second inlet port to which the gas-liquid two-phase flow is separately supplied; a first gas-liquid separation chamber configured to separate the gas-liquid two-phase flow introduced from the first inlet port into a liquid phase and a first gas flow; a second gas-liquid separation chamber separated from the first gas-liquid separation chamber by a partition wall, and configured to separate the gas-liquid two-phase flow introduced from the second inlet port into a liquid phase and a second gas flow; a collection chamber configured to collect the first gas flow obtained in the first gas-liquid separation chamber and the second gas flow obtained in the second gas-liquid separation chamber, and thereby produce a merged flow; and an outlet port through which the merged flow is discharged.

2 . The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the first inlet port is provided above the second inlet port, and the gas-liquid two-phase flow introduced from the first inlet port is guided downward, and thereafter, is raised and directed toward the collection chamber.

3 . The gas-liquid separator according to claim 2 , wherein the gas-liquid two-phase flow introduced from the second inlet port is raised, and thereafter, is made to descend and is directed toward the collection chamber.

4 . The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein a breathing hole is formed in the partition wall and configured to enable the first gas-liquid separation chamber and the second gas-liquid separation chamber to communicate with each other.

5 . The gas-liquid separator according to claim 4 , further comprising a reservoir configured to communicate with both the first gas-liquid separation chamber and the second gas-liquid separation chamber, and to store the liquid phase separated from the gas-liquid two-phase flow in the first gas-liquid separation chamber and the second gas-liquid separation chamber,
wherein the breathing hole is formed at a position above a liquid surface level of the liquid phase, which has moved from the reservoir into the first gas-liquid separation chamber and the second gas-liquid separation chamber when the gas-liquid separator is placed in an inclined posture.

6 . The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide path configured to guide the liquid phase that is adhered to an inner wall of the collection chamber toward a liquid discharge member.

7 . The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the first inlet port, the second inlet port, and the outlet port are formed on a same end surface of the casing, and the second inlet port opens on a surface of the partition wall in the second gas-liquid separation chamber.

8 . The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein a first guide member and a second guide member, which are configured to guide the first gas flow and the second gas flow in a manner so that the flow directions thereof change, are disposed respectively in the first gas-liquid separation chamber and the second gas-liquid separation chamber.

9 . The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1 , wherein the gas-liquid separator is attached to a fuel cell and constitutes a fuel cell system, wherein a fuel exhaust gas discharged from an anode of the fuel cell is supplied as the gas-liquid two-phase flow.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Okamura Yuji
• Fukuda Tetsuya
• Saito Yoichiro

Classifications

• B01D45/08

  by impingement against baffle separators · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M8/04164 Primary

  by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• Y02T90/40

  Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells · CPC title