Method for the separation of a gas mixture and centrifuge for the separation of a gas mixture

Abstract

The invention solves the problem of separation of a mixture of gases with varied molecular weights. According to the invention, the separation of a gas mixture consists in that a mixture of gases with varied molecular weights in fed into the inside of the device through slots in the inlet conduit, said slots disposed near capillary tubes having negative potential, whereas the outlet channels for the heavier molecular weight gases and those for the lower molecular weight gases are separated with a shutter with holes, said shutter being cyclically closed and opened for a period of time from 0.02 to 1.5 second. A centrifuge for the separation of gases has a cylindrical chamber, a capillary-and-blade electrode with negative potential located in the axis of the chamber and embedded on a conduit that feeds the gas mixture to the separator, an annular electrode being on the positive potential of the power source and grounded, located on the centrifuge perimeter, and is provided with two magnets, permanent or electromagnets. The electrode has capillary tubes connected to tubes and to the negative terminal of the power source. At the outlet of the electrode with the heavier gas holes is a first sliding shutter with holes and at the inlet of the light gas discharge pipeline is a baffle with holes and a second sliding shutter with holes, the first and the second shutter and being connected via a sliding mechanism to a controller.

Claims

1. A method for the separation of a gas mixture of different molecular weights using an electrodynamic force causing a spinning movement of ions or charge-carriers in a cylindrical space by generating a radial electric field between a capillary-and-blade electrode located in the axis of a cylindrical chamber and an annular electrode located on the perimeter of the chamber and at the same time generating a magnetic field whose force lines are perpendicular to the lines of the electric field, characterized in that a mixture of gases having varied molecular weights is introduced into the centrifuge chamber through slots in the inlet conduit, said slots being located near capillary tubes connected to an electrode having negative voltage, and there is generated a corona current between that electrode and the positive annular electrode on the perimeter of the chamber, and that current together with the magnetic field causes a spinning of the gas mixture introduced into the chamber, whereas the outlet channels, one for the heavy molecular weight gas and the other for the light molecular weight gas are baffled with a shutter which opens cyclically for a time period of 0.02 to 0.2 second and closes for a time period from 0.05 to 1.5 second.

2. The method for the separation of gas mixtures according to claim 1, characterized in that the corona current between the negative voltage electrode and the positive annular electrode is an ionic corona current in the gas.

3. The method for the separation of gas mixtures according to claim 1, characterized in that the corona current between the negative voltage electrode and the positive annular electrode is a corona current of charge carriers in the form of charged droplets of a liquid.

4. The method for the separation of gas mixtures according to claim 1, characterized in that the corona current between the negative voltage electrode and the positive annular electrode is a discharge current in plasma.

5. The method for the separation of gas mixtures according to claim 1, characterized in that a low surface tension liquid is fed to the capillary tubes, preferably water containing surfactants that reduce the surface tension of the water.

6. The method for the separation of a gas mixture according to claim 2, characterized in that the electrodes are supplied by a direct current source whose voltage is lower than the critical corona voltage, including a direct current source of rectangular voltage, preferably using a Tesla transformer, or an arc welder power supply.

7. The method for the separation of a gas mixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the separated gas having lower molecular weight is directed to the outlet channel through a membrane.

8. The method for the separation of a gas mixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas spinning in the centrifuge chamber at the light gas outlet closed and the outlet at the annular electrode periodically opened and closed is accelerated to a pre-set outlet speed and flows out to the heavier gases outlet channel.

9. A centrifuge for the separation of gases, a magnetodynamic centrifuge, having a cylindrical chamber, an electrode with negative potential located in the axis of the chamber and a positive electrode located on the perimeter, provided with permanent magnets or electromagnets or a solenoid, having in the axis of the chamber an inlet conduit to feed a gas mixture and two outlet channels, characterized in that at the outlet being part of the heavier gas annular electrode there is a first sliding shutter, and at the inlet of the light gas discharge pipeline there is a second sliding shutter, said first and second sliding shutter and being connected via a sliding mechanism to a controller, and in addition, the negative potential electrode located at the end of the conduit is provided with capillary tubes arranged radially on the perimeter of the electrode and connected to tubes located along the conduit, said capillary tubes being connected to the negative terminal of a power source, further, the gas feed conduit has slots located near the capillary tubes.

10. The gas separation device according to claim 9, characterized in that in the outlet part of the annular electrode there are first holes, and the first sliding shutter has second holes located correspondingly to the locations of the first holes, while at the inlet of the pipeline there is a baffle with third holes and in the second shutter there are fourth holes arranged correspondingly to the third holes.

11. The gas separation device according to claim 9, characterized in that in the capillary tubes there are disposed pin wires connected to a DC power source, said capillary tubes being made of a dielectric material.

12. The gas separation device according to claim 9, characterized in that in the lower molecular weight gas outlet channel there is installed a perpendicular semi-permeable membrane or a separating module with tube membranes.

13. The gas separation device according to claim 6, characterized in that the tubes that supply the liquid to the capillary tubes are laid on the strip electrodes located in grooves made in the conduit.

14. The gas separation device according to claim 11, characterized in that the pin wires are connected to the strip electrodes.

15. The gas separation device according to claim 9, characterized in that the capillary tubes made of an electrically conductive material are connected to the strip electrodes.

Description

[0031] Preferably, the tubes are laid on strip electrodes disposed in groves in the gas feed conduit. The subject of the present invention is illustrated in an exemplary embodiment in a drawing where

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the separation centrifuge in longitudinal cross-section,

[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the variant of the centrifuge with a solenoid,

[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the device with a solenoid,

[0035] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a negative voltage electrode,

[0036] FIG. 5 depicts a design detail of a capillary tube made of a dielectric,

[0037] FIG. 6a design detail of the capillary tube made of an electrically conducting material,

[0038] FIG. 7a fragment of the capillary-and-blade electrode in longitudinal cross-sectional view,

[0039] FIG. 8a part of the heavy gas discharge pipeline in longitudinal cross-sectional view, and

[0040] FIG. 9a part of the heavy gas discharge channel in longitudinal cross-sectional view.

EXEMPLARY DEVICE

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the gas centrifuge has two round plates 1a and 1b of the casing, between which there is an annular electrode 2 shielded with an insulating band 3, thus creating a centrifuge chamber 18. On a part of the annular electrode 2 there are first holes 4 and above them a perforated shutter 5 having second holes 5a, said shutter connected to a sliding mechanism and a controller 16. The second holes 5a are arranged correspondingly to the arrangement of the first holes 4. The annular electrode 2 is connected to the positive terminal of a power source 7, and also to the ground 6. In the axis of the round disc 1a of the casing there is a plugged conduit 8 that supplies a gas mixture to the centrifuge chamber 18 through slots 9. An end of the conduit 8 introduced into the chamber 18 is a capillary-and-blade electrode 10. On the end of the conduit 8 there are capillary tubes 11 set radially, connected to liquid feeding tubes 12 which are positioned around the perimeter, in parallel to the axis of the conduit 8, and in parallel to them there are strip electrodes 23 electrically connected to the negative terminal of the current source 7. In the axis of the second round plate 1b there is a light gas discharge pipeline 13, provided at the inlet with a baffle 14 having third holes 14a. At the baffle, there is a shutter 15 with fourth holes 15a, spaced apart correspondingly to the locations of the third holes 14a. The shutter 15 is connected through the sliding mechanism to a controller 16.

[0042] Located inside the chamber 18 are permanent disc magnets 17a and 17b. The surface of the magnets 17a and 17b is shielded from the side of the chamber 18 with an insulating coating 19. Above the first holes 4 in a part of the annular electrode 2 and above the shutter 15 there is a discharge channel 20 for the separated heavier gases.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the invention, the annular electrode 2 is surrounded by a solenoid 21 to excite magnetic field. According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the annular electrode is surrounded by a ferromagnetic core 22, around which there is the solenoid 21. The solenoid 21 and the electrode 2 form, together with the round plates 1a and 1b, the centrifuge chamber.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a magnified cross section of the electrode 10 which is inside the centrifuge chamber 18. In grooves on the perimeter of the conduit 8, situated in parallel to the axis, there are strip electrodes 23 conducting the electric current, on which tubes 12 are laid. The strip electrodes 23 are connected to the negative terminal of the power source 7. Inside the capillaries 11, whose longitudinal cross section is shown in the drawing FIG. 5, made of a dielectric material, there are pin wires 24 whose tips project beyond the capillaries 11, said pin wires connected to the strip electrodes 23. Between the capillary tubes 11 there are slots 9.

[0045] In another embodiment, shown in the drawing FIG. 6, the capillary tubes 11 are made of an electrically conducting material and are connected to the negative terminal of the power source 7 through the strip electrodes 23. The capillary tubes 11 perform the function of a corona electrode.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section of the capillary-and-blade electrode 10. Embedded in the grooves along the conduit 8 are strip electrodes 23 connected to the negative terminal of the power source 7. Placed on the strip electrodes 23 are tubes 12 that deliver a liquid to the capillary tubes 11 and are connected to these capillary tubes 11. Inside the capillary tubes 11 made of a dielectric material are pin wires 24 connected to the strip electrodes 23.

[0047] As shown in the drawing FIG. 8, the pipeline 13 for discharging light gases is additionally provided with a semi-permeable perpendicular membrane 25 and a separating module 26 with tube membranes. FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal cross section of the outlet channel 20 for the separated heavier gases, which is additionally equipped with a semi-permeable perpendicular membrane 27 and a separating module 28 with tube membranes.

NUMERIC REFERENCES TO FIG. 1

[0048] 1aCasing plate of MGD centrifuge,

[0049] 1bCasing plate of MGD centrifuge,

[0050] 2Annular electrode,

[0051] 3Insulating band,

[0052] 4Holes in a part of annular electrode,

[0053] 5Perforated shutter of the heavy gas spinning time mechanism,

[0054] 6Grounding of annular electrode,

[0055] 7Power source,

[0056] 8Gas mixture feed conduit,

[0057] 9Slots in the feed conduit,

[0058] 10Capillary-and-blade electrode,

[0059] 11Blade capillaries,

[0060] 12Capillary tubes liquid conduit,

[0061] 13Light gas discharge pipeline,

[0062] 14Light gas pipeline baffle,

[0063] 14aHoles in the pipeline baffle,

[0064] 15Perforated shutter of the light gas spinning time mechanism,

[0065] 16Controller with a slide mechanism,

[0066] 17ADisc magnet or electromagnet,

[0067] 17bDisc Magnets or electromagnet,

[0068] 18MGD gas centrifuge chamber,

[0069] 19Magnet cover,

[0070] 20Discharge channel for separated heavier gases.

NUMERIC REFERENCES TO FIG. 2

[0071] 1aCasing plate of MGD centrifuge,

[0072] 1bCasing plate of MGD centrifuge,

[0073] 2Annular electrode,

[0074] 3Insulating band,

[0075] 4Holes in a part of annular electrode,

[0076] 5Perforated shutter of the heavy gas spinning time mechanism,

[0077] 6Grounding of annular electrode,

[0078] 7Power source,

[0079] 8Gas mixture feed conduit,

[0080] 9Slots in the feed conduit,

[0081] 10Capillary-and-blade electrode,

[0082] 11Blade capillaries,

[0083] 12Capillary tubes liquid conduit,

[0084] 13Light gas discharge pipeline,

[0085] 14Light gas pipeline baffle,

[0086] 14aHoles in the pipeline baffle,

[0087] 15Perforated shutter of the light gas spinning time mechanism,

[0088] 16Controller with a slide mechanism,

[0089] 20Discharge channel for separated heavier gases,

[0090] 21Solenoid.

NUMERIC REFERENCES TO FIG. 3

[0091] 1aCasing plate of MGD centrifuge,

[0092] 1bCasing plate of MGD centrifuge,

[0093] 2Annular electrode,

[0094] 3Insulating band,

[0095] 4Holes in a part of annular electrode,

[0096] 5Perforated shutter of the heavy gas spinning time mechanism,

[0097] 6Grounding of annular electrode,

[0098] 7Power source,

[0099] 8Gas mixture feed conduit,

[0100] 9Slots in the feed conduit,

[0101] 10Capillary-and-blade electrode,

[0102] 11Blade capillaries,

[0103] 12Capillary tubes liquid conduit,

[0104] 13Light gas discharge pipeline,

[0105] 14Light gas pipeline baffle,

[0106] 14aHoles in the pipeline baffle,

[0107] 15Perforated shutter of the light gas spinning time mechanism,

[0108] 16Controller with a slide mechanism,

[0109] 20Discharge channel for separated heavier gases,

[0110] 21Coil,

[0111] 22Annular ferromagnetic core.

NUMERIC REFERENCES TO FIG. 4

[0112] 7Power source, negative electrode,

[0113] 8Gas mixture conduit (pipeline),

[0114] 9Slots in the conduit and in the capillary-and-blade electrode,

[0115] 10Capillary-and-blade electrode,

[0116] 11Capillary tubes,

[0117] 12Tubes for capillary liquid,

[0118] 23Strap electrodes,

[0119] 24Pin wire.

NUMERIC REFERENCES TO FIG. 5

[0120] 7Power source, negative electrode,

[0121] 11Dielectric capillary tube,

[0122] 12Tube for capillary liquid,

[0123] 23Strap electrode,

[0124] 24Pin wire.

NUMERIC REFERENCES TO FIG. 6

[0125] 7Power source, negative electrode,

[0126] 11Conductive capillary tube,

[0127] 12Tube for capillary liquid,

[0128] 23Strap electrode.

NUMERIC REFERENCES TO FIG. 7.

[0129] 7Power source, negative electrode,

[0130] 8Slots (pipeline) for gas mixture,

[0131] 9Holes in the conduit and in the capillary-and-blade electrode,

[0132] 10Capillary-and-blade electrode,

[0133] 11Capillary tubes,

[0134] 12Tubes for capillary liquid,

[0135] 23Strap electrodes,

[0136] 24Pin wires.

NUMERIC REFERENCES TO FIG. 8

[0137] 13Light gas discharge pipeline,

[0138] 14Light gas pipeline baffle,

[0139] 14aHoles in the pipeline baffle,

[0140] 15Perforated shutter of the light gas spinning time mechanism,

[0141] 16Controller with a slide mechanism,

[0142] 25Perpendicular diaphragm (membrane),

[0143] 26Separation module with tube membranes.

NUMERIC REFERENCES TO FIG. 9.

[0144] 2Annular electrode ring, perforated part,

[0145] 4Holes in the annular electrode,

[0146] 5Perforated shutter of the heavy gas spinning time mechanism,

[0147] 5aHoles in the shutter,

[0148] 16Controller with a slide mechanism,

[0149] 20Heavier gas discharge channel,

[0150] 27Perpendicular diaphragm (membrane),

[0151] 28Separation module with tube membranes.