A pneumatic system installed on a vehicle and method of using the system to preheat compressor oil and/or components of the system to promote operation in cold weather conditions. The pneumatic system includes a compressor that generates compressed air in which oil is entrained, a separation tank that separates the oil from the air prior to the oil being returned to the compressor, and a heating element located within the separation tank and contacting the oil within the separation tank. Engine coolant of an engine cooling system of the vehicle flows through the heating element and the heating element transferring heat from the engine coolant to the oil within the separation tank to increase the temperature of the oil.

The present solution provides a cyclone for separation of gas-liquid mixtures, particularly suitable for a refrigerant accumulator or an accumulator with an internal heat exchanger in a vehicle air conditioning system using carbon dioxide as refrigerant, including an inlet of the gas-liquid mixture and a body of the cyclone with an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and at least one stationary vane in the form of a helix to ensure rotation of the mixture in the cyclone outlet chamber, where the gas-liquid mixture inlet is arranged substantially coaxially with the axis of the cyclone and opens directly into the inlet chamber of the cyclone body. The solution further provides a refrigerant accumulator and an accumulator with an integrated internal heat exchanger which includes the cyclone according to the invention.

A swirling flow generator for gas-liquid separation includes a swirling flow generating ribbon for swirling a gas-liquid two-phase fluid flowing through a pipe to guide a liquid toward an inner surface of the pipe by centrifugal force. A terminal end of the swirling flow generating ribbon where the gas-liquid two-phase fluid is to flow out includes a first terminal edge and a second terminal edge. The first and second terminal edges connect a first terminal end point, a second terminal end point, and a middle terminal end point. The first terminal end point is in a first of radially outward ends and the second terminal end point is in a second of the radially outward ends. The middle terminal end point is closer to a side where the gas-liquid two-phase fluid is to flow in than the first and second terminal end points and is on an axial line.

A swirling flow generator for gas-liquid separation includes a swirling flow generating ribbon for swirling a gas-liquid two-phase fluid flowing through a pipe to guide a liquid toward an inner surface of the pipe by centrifugal force. A terminal end of the swirling flow generating ribbon where the gas-liquid two-phase fluid is to flow out includes a first terminal edge and a second terminal edge. The first and second terminal edges connect a first terminal end point, a second terminal end point, and a middle terminal end point. The first terminal end point is in a first of radially outward ends and the second terminal end point is in a second of the radially outward ends. The middle terminal end point is closer to a side where the gas-liquid two-phase fluid is to flow in than the first and second terminal end points and is on an axial line.

A gas-liquid separator includes an inlet pipe through which a gas-liquid two-phase fluid flows and a swirling flow generating ribbon disposed within the inlet pipe to swirl the gas-liquid two-phase fluid along an inner surface of the inlet pipe, wherein the inner surface of the inlet pipe includes a first step surface at a location downstream of a flow direction of the gas-liquid two-phase fluid from the swirling flow generating ribbon, the first step surface increasing an inner diameter of the inlet pipe downward thereof.

A gas-liquid separator includes an inlet pipe and an inner pipe. The inlet pipe receives a swirling flow generating ribbon, and includes an exhaust port through which a separated gas flows out and a drain port through which a separated liquid flows out. The outer diameter of the inner pipe is smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet pipe. An end of the inner pipe is inserted into the exhaust port and is open at a location downstream of the swirling flow generating ribbon. A terminal end of the swirling flow generating ribbon includes a first terminal edge and a second terminal edge. The first and second terminal edges connect a first terminal end point, a second terminal end point, and a middle terminal end point.

A gas-liquid separator includes an inlet pipe and an inner pipe. The inlet pipe receives a swirling flow generating ribbon, and includes an exhaust port through which a separated gas flows out and a drain port through which a separated liquid flows out. The outer diameter of the inner pipe is smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet pipe. An end of the inner pipe is inserted into the exhaust port and is open at a location downstream of the swirling flow generating ribbon. A terminal end of the swirling flow generating ribbon includes a first terminal edge and a second terminal edge. The first and second terminal edges connect a first terminal end point, a second terminal end point, and a middle terminal end point.

A process for producing fly ash in a fluidized bed boiler includes combusting a fuel in a fluidized bed combustor in the presence of limestone particles, recovering fly ash, and recovering bottom ash. The fuel contains hydrocarbons and sulfur. A majority of the sulfur from the fuel is recovered from the bottom ash. The fly ash may contain less than 5% by weight of sulfur oxides. This may be achieved by using limestone particles having certain properties and/or narrowing an inlet from the boiler into a cyclone.

The present solution provides a cyclone for separation of gas-liquid mixtures, particularly suitable for a refrigerant accumulator or an accumulator with an internal heat exchanger in a vehicle air conditioning system using carbon dioxide as refrigerant, including an inlet of the gas-liquid mixture and a body of the cyclone with an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and at least one stationary vane in the form of a helix to ensure rotation of the mixture in the cyclone outlet chamber, where the gas-liquid mixture inlet is arranged substantially coaxially with the axis of the cyclone and opens directly into the inlet chamber of the cyclone body. The solution further provides a refrigerant accumulator and an accumulator with an integrated internal heat exchanger which includes the cyclone according to the invention.

A method of separating a fluid includes adding a fluid to a canister of a fluid separator. The canister includes first and second barriers disposed concentrically within the canister that define a first and second annulus within the canister, and a canister rotor having a first magnet associated therewith. The method includes rotating an induction base rotor disposed within an induction base. The induction base rotor includes a second magnet. The canister rotor and the induction base rotor are magnetically coupled and rotating the induction base rotor causes the canister rotor to rotate. The method further includes forming a vortex in the fluid via the rotation of the canister rotor, and the vortex causes the fluid to separate into a first component and a second component.