PARTICLE SEPARATOR

Abstract

A particle separator for the separation of solid particles out of a flowing fluid, the input mass flow, which is characterized in that a particle chamber for concentrating the solid particles to be separated is disposed in the flow path of the input mass flow and that at least one region of the wall of the particle chamber is implemented as a filter element through which a primary mass flow of the fluid can flow and that, additionally, at least one bypass opening is disposed in the wall of the particle chamber for the through-flow of the fluid with a secondary mass flow at higher filtration resistance.

Claims

1. A particle separator for the separation of solid particles from a flowing fluid, the input mass flow, wherein a particle chamber for the concentration of the solid particles to be separated is disposed in the flow path of the input mass flow, wherein at least one region of the wall of the particle chamber is implemented as a filter element for a primary mass flow of the fluid to flow through, and wherein additionally at least one bypass opening is located in the wall of the particle chamber for the through-flow of the fluid with a secondary mass flow.

2. A particle separator as in claim 1, wherein in the flow path of the fluid a nozzle is disposed in front of the particle chamber.

3. A particle separator as in claim 2, wherein the geometry of the nozzle can be implemented such that its cross section or length are adjustable through a nozzle element.

4. A particle separator according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle is implemented annularly and the input mass flow into the particle chamber is developed as a coaxial flow.

5. A particle separator according to 1, wherein the particle chamber is at least partially delimited by a deflector plate, and wherein the deflector plate prevents the solid particles from leaving the particle chamber during the flow with the secondary mass flow.

6. A particle separator as in claim 1, wherein the particle chamber is implemented as a hollow cylinder, wherein the filter element is implemented as a portion of the cylinder wall and the input mass flow enters the particle chamber axially and the primary mass flow leaves the particle chamber in the radial direction, wherein the particle chamber has a greater through-flow cross section than an inflow tube of the particle separator.

7. A particle separator as in claim 6, wherein one or several bypass openings are disposed in the axial direction in the particle chamber and are implemented as a gap between the inflow tube and the wall of the particle chamber.

8. A particle separator according to claim 6, wherein a settling chamber is disposed in the flow path of the fluid past the particle chamber and the bypass opening.

9. A particle separator as in claim 8, wherein in the settling chamber a labyrinth element is disposed.

10. A particle separator according to claim 6, wherein the particle chamber is implemented as a component of the compressor shaft of a refrigerant compressor.

11. A particle separator according to claim 1, wherein the particle separator comprises a rotationally symmetric hollow cylinder-shaped casing in which an inset is disposed that compartmentalizes the interior volume of the casing.

12. A particle separator according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the particle chamber are entirely implemented as a filter element.

13. A refrigeration system or heat pump comprising a refrigerant oil circuit, said refrigerant oil circuit comprising a particle separator according to claim 1.

14. A wobble plate compressor comprising a control mass flow and a particle separator.

15. A particle separator according to claim 7, wherein a settling chamber is disposed in the flow path of the fluid past the particle chamber and the bypass opening.

16. A particle separator according to claim 2, wherein the particle separator comprises a rotationally symmetric hollow cylinder-shaped casing in which an inset is disposed that compartmentalizes the interior volume of the casing.

17. A particle separator according to claim 3, wherein the particle separator comprises a rotationally symmetric hollow cylinder-shaped casing in which an inset is disposed that compartmentalizes the interior volume of the casing.

18. A particle separator according to claim 4, wherein the particle separator comprises a rotationally symmetric hollow cylinder-shaped casing in which an inset is disposed that compartmentalizes the interior volume of the casing.

19. A particle separator according to claim 5, wherein the particle separator comprises a rotationally symmetric hollow cylinder-shaped casing in which an inset is disposed that compartmentalizes the interior volume of the casing.

20. A particle separator according to claim 6, wherein the particle separator comprises a rotationally symmetric hollow cylinder-shaped casing in which an inset is disposed that compartmentalizes the interior volume of the casing.

Description

[0042] Further details, characteristics and advantages of implementations of the invention are evident based on the following description of embodiment examples with reference to the associated drawing. Therein show:

[0043] FIG. 1: particle separator with nozzle in cross sectional representation,

[0044] FIG. 2: particle separator with nozzle and additional nozzle element in cross sectional representation,

[0045] FIG. 3 particle separator with central and axial inflow to the particle chamber in cross sectional representation,

[0046] FIG. 4 particle separator with settling chamber and labyrinth element.

[0047] In FIG. 1 is depicted a first embodiment of a particle separator 1 in cross section utilized in a refrigerant circuit. The embodiment comprises a filter element 2 as well as a filter retainer 3 permeable for the filtrate, which retains and supports the filter element 2 in its position. Furthermore is provided a nozzle 4 which lastly forms a flow constriction site for the input mass flow 8. The nozzle 4 is here implemented annularly as a coaxial gap such that a coaxial flow develops with respect to the input mass flow 8 entering the particle separator 1. The fluid flowing through the nozzle 4 is accelerated and, past the nozzle 4, decelerated again, wherein, due to inertia, the solid particles from the input mass flow 8 slow their movement with delay and arrive thus in the particle chamber 5 after the nozzle 4 and are here concentrated. The fluid with the solid particles is now filtered in the particle chamber 5 by filter element 2, with the solid particles being retained on the filter element 2. The filter element 2 is developed as a portion of the wall of the particle chamber 5 and the filtrate, the largely particle-free refrigerant-oil mixture, reaches as the so-called primary mass flow 9 through a central region of the inset 13 the outlet of the particle separator 1. If the filter element 2, due to a concentration of solid particles thereon, becomes impaired in its permeability and an increased pressure drop develops, the fluid is no longer going to flow through the filter 2 but rather will flow out of the particle chamber 5 on another path and therein make contact with the deflector plate 6. The deflector plate 6 causes the solid particles, contained in the fluid flow flowing from the particle chamber 5, to flow against the deflector plate 6, rebound therefrom and lose their kinetic energy. Consequently, the major portion of the solid particles remains in the particle chamber 5. The fluid flowing out of the particle chamber 5 forms the secondary mass flow 10, also referred to as bypass mass flow, and flows through the bypass opening 7, of which there are preferably several, to the outlet of the particle separator 1. With increasing pressure loss, due to the blocking of the filter 2, an output mass flow of the fluid of the two partial mass flows forms in a transition phase before the filter 2 is completely blocked. The output mass flow is composed of the weakening primary mass flow 9 and the secondary mass flow 10. With the complete blocking of filter element 2 the output mass flow is entirely comprised of the secondary mass flow 10 and, with the filter element 2 entirely free of particles, the output mass flow is formed nearly exclusively by the primary mass flow 9.

[0048] According to the present embodiment, the structure of the particle separator 1 is formed by a cylindrical casing 12 which includes an inlet and an outlet at opposite end sides. In the casing 12 is disposed an inset 13 which holds the filter element 2 in a certain region and forms here the filter retainer 3. The inset 13 is furthermore developed at its inlet-side end by an annular plate which, implemented correspondingly to the cylindrical casing wall at an appropriate distance, forms the nozzle 4 at the narrowest site. In terms of fabrication engineering the particle separator 1 can in this way especially advantageously be produced cost effectively of essentially one casing element and one inset element.

[0049] The particle separator 1 according to FIG. 2 is developed further such that the geometry of the nozzle 4 is changed through an additional nozzle element 11. It has been found that through an additional, and optionally adjustable, nozzle element 11, the flow and pressure relationship in the nozzle as well as also the conduction of the fluid as an annular flow coaxially to the particle chamber 5 can be optimized. In the depicted embodiment the secondary mass flow 10 flows through between the deflector plate 6 and the nozzle element, passes the bypass 7 and subsequently reaches the outlet of the particle separator 1.

[0050] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, alternatively to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, depict particle separators 1 which do not require the additional acceleration of the fluid in front of the particle chamber 5 and consequently dispense with a nozzle and a nozzle element. A further significant difference of the last-mentioned embodiments consists therein that the filter element 2 is implemented as a component part of a cylindrical particle chamber 5 and the primary mass flow 9 leaves the particle chamber 5 outwardly in the radial direction. With the rotating implementation of the particle separator 1 the centrifugal force becomes hereby usable as the driving force for the filtration.

[0051] The input mass flow 8 is moved across an inflow tube 15 axially and centrally into the particle chamber 5. In the transition from the inflow tube 15 to the particle chamber 5, the flow cross section widens for the input mass flow 8 such that a slowing of the flow occurs and the particles are already concentrated in the particle chamber 5 matrix through which it flows. In the axial direction the particle chamber 5 is delimited by a front wall 14 and a rear wall 18. The mechanism of function of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is similar to the mechanism of function of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, wherein with each increase of the pressure drop through the filter element 2 a secondary mass flow 10 is generated in the particle chamber 5. This secondary mass flow 10 does not flow through the filter 2 but rather through a bypass opening 7 in the form of a gap on the rear wall 18 into a settling chamber 16. In the settling chamber 16 solid particles are again deposited before the secondary mass flow 10 flows to the outlet of the particle separator 1. The casing 12 encompasses the particle chamber 5 and the flow paths for the primary mass flow 9 and the secondary mass flow 10.

[0052] In addition to the components and elements of the embodiment according to FIG. 3, in the embodiment according to FIG. 4 labyrinth elements 17 are disposed in the settling chamber 16 which additionally affect the flow of the secondary mass flow 10 and are intended to lead to a deposition of solid particles out of the secondary mass flow 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0053] 1 Particle separator [0054] 2 Filter element [0055] 3 Filter retainer [0056] 4 Nozzle, flow constriction [0057] 5 Particle chamber [0058] 6 Deflector plate, baffle plate [0059] 7 Bypass opening [0060] 8 Input mass flow [0061] 9 Primary mass flow, filtrate [0062] 10 Secondary mass flow, bypass mass flow [0063] 11 Nozzle element [0064] 12 Casing [0065] 13 Inset [0066] 14 Front wall [0067] 15 Inflow tube [0068] 16 Settling chamber [0069] 17 Labyrinth element [0070] 18 Rear wall