Homogenization apparatus for at least two fluid flows, in particular for homogeneous gas/air mixing in a gas engine

Abstract

A homogenization apparatus for at least two fluid flows for homogeneous gas/air mixing in a gas engine, in which at least two fluid feed lines conducting different fluid flows and one fluid outflow line conducting the homogenized fluid are connected to a central homogenization space as mixing region. In a connection region upstream of the homogenization space, the fluid feed lines have in each case one line section with a flow deflection in one direction with a flow deflection which follows downstream in the other direction and are connected in such a way that the fluid flows are fed tangentially to the homogenization space with a swirl movement imparted to them, in such a way that a rotating, turbulent flow which assists the homogenization process is formed in the homogenization space.

Claims

1. A homogenization apparatus for at least two fluid flows, comprising: two fluid feed lines conducting different fluid flows; a fluid outflow line; the homogenization apparatus defining a central homogenization space as a mixing region connected to said two fluid feed lines and said fluid outflow line, each of the two fluid feed lines having a connection region upstream of the homogenization space having a first flow deflection in a first direction and a second flow deflection in a second direction opposite of the first direction, and each of the two fluid feed lines are connected to the homogenization space such that the fluid flows exiting the each of the two fluid feed lines are fed tangentially to the homogenization space with a swirl movement imparted to the fluid flows, whereby a rotating turbulent flow facilitating a homogenization process is formed in the homogenization space.

2. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two fluid feed lines and the fluid outflow line are arranged in a three-limb, Y-shaped fluid line arrangement, center lines of the fluid feed lines define a reference plane, and directly upstream of the homogenization space and upstream of a combining point of the two fluid flows, a first fluid feed line of the two fluid feed lines has an elbow comprising the first deflection and the second deflection of the first fluid feed line that bends away from the reference plane and a second fluid feed line of the two fluid feed lines has an elbow comprising the first deflection and the second deflection of the second fluid feed line that bends away from the reference plane, wherein the elbows promote the swirl movement in opposite directions which promotes the thorough mixing in the homogenization space.

3. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the center line of the fluid outflow line also defines the reference plane.

4. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the elbows is Z-shaped, such that the each of the elbows straightens out at an associated inflow opening offset approximately parallel to the reference plane and the two associated inflow openings lie offset on both sides with regard to the reference plane at the homogenization space.

5. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the elbows is S-shaped, such that the elbow straightens out in each case upstream of an associated inflow opening such that it bends away towards the reference plane.

6. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the homogenization space is configured as a mixing section, the two fluid feed lines being arranged and connected at a mixing section inlet such that they lie one on the other in a twisted arrangement with an S-shaped elbow at the connection region, and wherein the mixing section has a tubular internal screw structure in the form of an internal screw thread as a continuance of the twisted arrangement of the two fluid feed lines.

7. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an approach angle of the internal screw thread is from 15° to 20°.

8. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the internal screw thread has 2 to 6 screw turns.

9. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the internal screw thread has 3 screw turns.

10. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the homogenization space is configured as a mixing chamber with a domed internal volume that merges with a circular cross section into the fluid outflow line, each of the two fluid feed lines being connected to the mixing chamber with an elbow that is Z-shaped, so as to lie next to one another and offset vertically with respect to one another with regard to the reference plane for a tangential and vertically offset feed of the two fluid flows with additional imparting of a swirl movement in opposite directions.

11. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the vertical offset of the centers of the inflow openings of the fluid feed lines is in each case from 10 mm to 20 mm with regard to the reference plane.

12. The homogenization apparatus according to claims 10, wherein a tangential angle is from 20° to 30°.

13. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the homogenization space is configured as a mixing chamber with a domed, spherical interior with a cross section which is largely circular overall and merges into the fluid outflow line, and the two fluid feed lines are connected in an elbow shape to the mixing chamber such that tangential feeding of the two fluid flows takes place into the mixing chamber with no or only a small vertical offset with regard to the reference plane.

14. The homogenization apparatus according to claims 13, wherein a tangential angle of the tangential feeding is from 20° to 30°.

15. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the homogenization space is configured as a mixing chamber with an approximately elliptical cross section and a flattened chamber shape, the two fluid feed lines being connected to the mixing chamber by an elbow, the elbows being directed towards one another on the end side with an elbow curvature in a plan view of the mixing chamber, the elbows being connected in said plan view to the mixing chamber at inflow openings which lie opposite one another, and the elbows being connected in each case to the mixing chamber with a further elbow curvature with regard to a center plane so as to be offset vertically and lie opposite the flattened portion, with the result that a tangential vertically offset combination of the two fluid flows takes place with an imparted swirl movement in opposite directions.

16. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a tangential angle of the fluid flows is from 5° to 15°.

17. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fluid outflow line has a local constriction of an outflow area at an outlet of the homogenization space.

18. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the local constriction is smaller than a cross section of the fluid outflow line by a factor of 0.8±0.1.

19. The homogenization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the homogenization apparatus is a constituent part of an intake system of a gas engine for mixing combustion gas and air upstream of a combustion chamber of the gas engine.

20. A vehicle having a homogenization apparatus according to claim 19.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in greater detail using a drawing, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1a to 1d and if show views of a first embodiment of the present invention from different directions and FIG. 1e and FIG. 1g show cross sections thereof;

(3) FIGS. 2a to 2d and 2f show views of a second embodiment of the present invention from different directions and FIG. 2e and FIG. 2g show cross sections thereof;

(4) FIGS. 3a to 3d and 3f show views of a third embodiment of the present invention from different directions and FIG. 3e and FIG. 3g show cross sections thereof; and

(5) FIGS. 4a to 4d and 4f show views of a fourth embodiment of the present invention from different directions and FIG. 4e and FIG. 4g show cross sections thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) FIGS. 1a-1g show a first embodiment of a homogenization apparatus 1. The plan view according to FIG. 1a shows a three-limb fluid line arrangement in a Y-shape with a central harmonization space as mixing section 2, to which a first fluid feed line 3 and a second fluid feed line 4 are connected on the inlet side and a fluid outflow line 5 is connected on the outlet side. It can be seen, in particular, from FIG. 1c with a view in the direction of the fluid feed lines 3, 4 that the center lines 6′, 6″, 6′″ define a reference plane 7, to which the line course which is described in the following text makes reference:

(7) Immediately upstream of the mixing section 2, the first fluid feed line 3 has an elbow in the region 8 which bends away upwards with regard to the reference plane 7 with a deflection which then follows downstream in the other direction into the mixing section 2.

(8) Correspondingly, in the region 9, the second fluid feed line 4 has an elbow which bends away downwards with regard to the reference plane 7 with a deflection which follows downstream in the other direction. These elbow courses of the fluid feed lines 3, 4 can also be seen clearly from FIG. 1b, a view in the direction of the fluid outflow line 5, and likewise from the sectional illustration according to FIG. 1g. In addition, the tangential angle is illustrated at 20°±5° in FIG. 1c.

(9) According to FIG. 1c, the two fluid feed lines 3, 4 lie above one another such that they are twisted in each case with an S-shaped elbow region, said twisting structure continuing in the mixing section 2 in a tubular internal screw structure as internal screw thread 10 with three screw turns, as can be seen from the cross section according to FIG. 1e.

(10) As a result of the elbow-shaped configuration shown of the fluid feed lines at or upstream of the inlet of the mixing section 2, a tangential combination of the two fluid flows which flow therein takes place with an additionally imparted swirl movement which promotes thorough mixing. Said swirl movement is continued in the spiral internal screw thread 10 for further intensive thorough mixing. The screw structure on the inner wall of the mixing section 2 is therefore essential. It can be seen from the views of FIGS. 1a and 1d and from the view from below according to FIG. 1f that the mixing section 2 is configured with an identical wall thickness overall and therefore also such that it is twisted from the outside. This can be configured in this way, in particular, owing to manufacturing in a casting or stamping process. However, the inner-side screw structure with the three thread turns and the approach angle of the screw thread of 20°±5° is essential for the swirl-imparting function.

(11) FIGS. 2a-2g show a second embodiment of a homogenization apparatus 11, there also being a three-limb fluid line arrangement in a Y-shape here, and a first fluid feed line 13, a second fluid feed line 14 and a fluid outflow line 15 being connected to a central homogenization space as mixing chamber 12. The center lines 16′, 16″ of the fluid feed lines 13, 14 and the center line 16′″ of the fluid outflow line 15 define a reference plane 17, to which the elbow-shaped line course in the connecting region makes reference:

(12) As can be seen from FIG. 2c, the first fluid feed line 13 bends (upwards) with regard to the reference plane 17 and runs further in an elongate Z-shape in the other direction, with the result that the center line 20 lies offset at the inflow opening of the mixing chamber 12 by the illustrated spacing 15 mm±5 mm with regard to the reference plane 17. As can likewise be seen from FIG. 2c, the second fluid feed line 14 is routed in the region 19 so as to bend away in the other direction and is correspondingly connected to the mixing chamber with a deflection in the other direction for tangential and vertically offset feeding of the two fluid flows with additional imparting of a swirl movement in opposite directions. The suitable tangential angle is illustrated with 25°±5° here. As can be seen from FIG. 2b in conjunction with the cross section according to FIG. 2g, the mixing chamber 12 has a domed, but not spherical inner contour which, however, merges with a circular cross section into the fluid outflow line 15.

(13) FIGS. 3a-3g show a third embodiment of a homogenization apparatus 21 which corresponds substantially to the second embodiment 11 according to FIGS. 2a-2g, with the result that the same reference numerals are used in FIGS. 3a-3g and the associated individual illustrations and only the differences from the second embodiment will be explained in the following text: in the third embodiment, as can be seen, in particular, from FIGS. 3b, 3c and 3g, the bent-away portion is of comparatively less steep configuration and the interior of the mixing chamber 12 is of overall more spherical configuration with a largely circular cross section. As a result, in the third embodiment in FIG. 3c, there is no eccentricity or vertical offset illustrated in FIG. 2c or only a small eccentricity or small vertical offset. This shows that an adaptation to individual conditions is possible, in particular, in a variation of the geometric features.

(14) FIGS. 4a-4g show a fourth embodiment of a homogenization apparatus 22 with a central mixing chamber 23, to which a first fluid feed line 24, a second fluid feed line 25 and a fluid outflow line 26 are connected in a three-limb line arrangement. The mixing chamber 23 is configured as a flattened can shape with an approximately elliptical cross section. The two fluid feed lines 24, 25 are connected to the mixing chamber 23 in each case by way of an elbow 27, 28. As can be seen, in particular, from FIGS. 4a and 4f, the two elbows 27, 28 are directed towards one another on the end side in a plan view of the mixing chamber 23, the elbows 27, 28 being connected to the mixing chamber 23 at inflow openings which lie approximately opposite one another in said plan view.

(15) As can be seen, in particular, from FIGS. 4b and 4c, both elbows are connected to the mixing chamber 23 in a vertically offset manner in each case by way of a further elbow curvature with regard to the center plane 29 of the flattened portion or the elliptical cross section. The elbow curvature bends upwards or downwards in each case with regard to the center plane 29 with a subsequent reversal into the mixing chamber 23, with the result that a tangential vertically offset combination of the two fluid flows from the fluid feed lines 24, 25 takes place with an imparted swirl movement in opposite directions as a result of said elbow courses. A suitable tangential angle is illustrated with 10°±5° in FIG. 4b.

(16) In addition, local narrowing of the outflow area is produced here as a circumferential constriction 30 in comparison with the adjoining fluid outflow line 26 at the outlet of the mixing chamber 23. Here, the diameter is smaller by the factor of 0.8±0.1 than the cross section of the fluid outflow line 26 and is used for a local increase in the flow speed which promotes the thorough mixing.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(17) 1 Homogenization apparatus, 1st embodiment

(18) 2 Mixing section

(19) 3 First fluid feed line

(20) 4 Feed line

(21) 5 Fluid outflow line

(22) 6′, 6″, 6′″ Center lines

(23) 7 Reference plane

(24) 8 Region

(25) 9 Region

(26) 10 Internal screw thread

(27) 11 Homogenization apparatus, 2nd embodiment

(28) 12 Mixing chamber

(29) 13 First fluid feed line

(30) 14 Second fluid feed line

(31) 15 Fluid outflow line

(32) 16′, 16″, 16′″ Center lines

(33) 18 Reference plane

(34) 18 Region

(35) 19 Region

(36) 20 Center line

(37) 21 Homogenization apparatus, 3rd embodiment

(38) 22 Homogenization apparatus, 4th embodiment

(39) 23 Mixing chamber

(40) 24 First fluid feed line

(41) 25 Second fluid feed line

(42) 26 Fluid outflow line

(43) 27 Elbow

(44) 28 Elbow

(45) 29 Center plane

(46) 30 Constriction