GB2117662A

GB2117662A - Device for removing gas or air bubbles from fluid in a circuit

Info

Publication number: GB2117662A
Application number: GB08210142A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shinichi Sugano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-06
Filing date: 1982-04-06
Publication date: 1983-10-19

Abstract

A device for removing gas or air bubbles generated or entrained in the flow of a fluid circuit. The device is adapted to be arranged in the fluid circuit and comprises a cylindrical section hollow body (12) defining a first expansion chamber, a second expansion chamber (E2) in communication with the first expansion chamber, an air collection chamber (22) in communication with the second expansion chamber, and an exhaust pipe (24) having an exhaust valve (25) for the discharge of air or gas collected in the collection chamber. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for removing gas or air bubbles from fluid in a circuit This invention relates to a device for removing gas orairfrom feedwater, and more particularlyto a deaerator in which air or gas bubbles of, for exam ple, oxygen or carbon dioxide in say, a fluid circuit of a hot-watertype heating system or a cold-water type cooling system are removed.

In such a hot-water heating or cold-water cooling system, air or gas bubbles are frequently generated or contained in the feedwater passing through a fluid circuit connecting radiator or heat-exchanger units with a boiler or generator. The accumulation of these bubbles in piping ofthesystem can produce harsh noises and cause airlocks which impedethe water flow in the piping. In addition to the above, metal portions of the system can be attacked bytheaction ofairorgas.

In the light of the above, it is particularly desirable to remove air or gas bubbles from the fluid flow passing through the piping ofthe system.

United States Patent No. 3,952,756 discloses a device for separating air bubbles from fluids in piping. This device has, however, the disadvantage that it is too large in size to arrange conveniently in the piping of a system of the kind aforesaid.

The present invention, therefore, has as its object the provision of a device for removing air or gas bubbles from fluid flow, which device can be small in size compared to the known device referred to above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a deaeratorwhich can be of compact and inexpensive construction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a deaeratorwhich will improve the efficiency of operation of a heating or cooling system.

The present invention provides a device for removing air or gas bubbles from a fluid flow passing through a fluid circuit, which device comprises a cylindrical section hollow body adapted to be connected with an upstream conduit and a downstream conduit of the flow circuit, an upstream side of the cylindrical hollow body being closed by an end plate having an opening therein to communicate with the upstream conduit, a downstream side of the cylindrical hollow body being closed byan end plate having an opening therein to communicate with the downstream conduit, the internal diameter of the cylindrical hollow bodybeing largerthantheinternal diameter ofthe conduit so as to form a first chamber for expanding bubbles in the flow, a second chamber for expanding bubbles in the flow in communication with said first chamber, an air chamber in communication with the second chamber, and an exhaust pipe having valve meansforthe discharge of air or gas accumulated in the air chamber.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a fluid circuit and illustrating a suitable position in which a device according to the present invention can be arranged.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; Figure 3 is a vertical cross section of a further embodiment of a device according to the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a device according to the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic cross sectional view along line V-V of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a partly sectional fragmentary schematic illustration of a modification of a deaerator device according to the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a fluid circuit of an exemplary hot-watertype heating system in which a deaerator device 10 according to the invention is arranged. In the illustrated system water is fed to a boiler B through a conduitfrom awatersupplyortankT.Thesupplied water is heated in the boiler B and the hot-water is circulated by means of a pump Pthrough conduits C, Cm, and C2 and at least one radiator UT before being returned to tank T.

In the circuit mentioned above, the deaerator 10 is plumbed into the piping in a suitable position such as between the pump P and the radiator UT.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown afirst embodiment of a deaerator device according to the invention. The deaerator 10 of this embodiment comprises a cylindrical hollow body 12 of larger diameter than the conduits C1 and 02. The opposite ends of the cylindrical body 12 are respectively closed by means of an upstream end wall 14 and a downstream end wall 15. The upstream end wall 14 has an opening 16 therein and is provided with a fitting 17 for connecting the body 12 with an upstream conduit C1.In similar manner, the end wall 15 has an outlet opening 18 therein and is provided with a fitting n g 1 9 fo r com m u n icati ng th e body 1 2 with a downstream conduit 02. The internal diameter of the cylindrical hol low body 12 is substantial Iy largerthan that of the conduits C, C1 and CPI and therefore the body 12 forms a first chamber E 1 forthe expansion of any bubbles entrained in thewaterflowtherethrough.The body 12 is curved substantially in the form of a shallow inverted U-shapesothat in the position of use as shown a central portion of the length ofthe body 12 is higherthanthe ends thereof.

At the central top portion of the cylindrical hollow body 12,the body protrudes outwardlytoform a second chamber E2for expanding any bubbles in the flow. An air chamber 22 above the second expansion chamber E2 communicates by means of a passage 23 with the second expansion chamber E2. The air chamber 22 is provided with an exhaust pipe 24 having a conventional exhaust valve means 25.

When the deaerator 10 is arranged in the piping of a system as shown in Figure 1 and the feed water is heated in the boiler B and fed to the deaerator 10 The drawing(s) originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

throughthe conduitC by means ofthe pump P,the flow rate and the pressure of the hot-water are reduced and any air bubbles contained therein will rapidly rise upwardly in the device 10, and enter the second expansion chamber E2. In the second expansion chamber E2, the flow rate ofthe hot-water and the pressure of the flow are further reduced and any air bubbles in the flow are separated therefrom. The air bubbles collected in the second expansion chamber E2 pass to the air chamber 22 through the passage 23 and the air is discharged therefrom to the atmosphere through the pipe 24 and the valve means 25. Thewaterflowfrom which a substantial portion of the air bubbles have been removed passes from the body 12 to the downstream conduit 02.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of a deaerator device of the present invention. In this embodiment, the deaerator 10 comprises a cylindrical section hollow body having three portions 31,32 and 33 in the form of a reversed Y-shape. The portion 31 serves as afirstexpansion chamber E1,acentral portion at which the three portions 31,32 and 33 are connected serves as a second expansion chamber E2, and the upright portion 32 corresponds to the air chamber 22 of the first embodiment.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a third embodiment of the device ofthe invention will be explained. In the third embodiment, a cylindrical hollow body 12 is formed in a U-shape curved along a longitudinal axis of the body in a horizontal plane. The upstream side 41 and the downstream side 42 of the body 12 each have around the upper partthereof a second expan sion chamber E2with an upright passage 23 respectively. The passages 23 of the second expansion chambers E2 are joined or bridged by an air chamber 22 having an exhaust pipe with a conventional valve means 25.

The action of separating or removing air bubbles from the flow passing through the deaerator 10 of the thirdembodimentofthe invention issubstantiallythe same as for the first and second embodiments. The deaerator 10 ofthethird embodiment, however, is superior to the first and second embodiments in its effect because the expansion of any air bubbles in the flow is carried out both by the first expansion chamber E1 of the upstream side 41 of the body 12 and bythetwo second expansion chambers E2.

As shown in Figure 6, it is preferable to provide a protrusion 45 on the inner wall ofthe upstream side of the body 12 for deflecting the flow entering the deaerator 10 towards the second expansion chamber E2.

In a system fitted with a deaerator device according to the present invention, the flow passing through the one or more radiators UTwill contain substantially no air bubbles, and accordingly there will be less likelihood of noise due to air-hammer or air-lock.

Furthermore, corrosion of metal portions of the piping or radiators resulting from oxidation can be reduced.

Claims

1. A device for removing gas or air bubbles from a fluid flow passing through a fluid circuit, which device comprises a cylindrical section hollow body adapted to be connected with an upstream conduit and a downstream conduit of the flow circuit, an upstream side of the cylindrical hollow body being closed by an end plate having an opening therein to communicate with the upstream conduit, a downstream side of the cylindrical hollow body being closed by an end plate having an opening therein to communicate with the downstream conduit, the internal diameter of the cylindrical hollow body being larger than the internal diameter ofthe conduit so as to form a first chamber for expanding bubbles in the flow, a second chamber for expanding bubbles in the flow in communication with said first chamber, an air chamber in communication with the second chamber, and an exhaust pipe having valve means forthe discharge of air or gas accumulated intheairchamber.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the cylindrical hollow body, in its position of use, is substantially in the form of a inverted U, said second chamber communicating with the highest part of the hollow body.

3. A device according to claim 1, in which the cylindrical hollow body, in its position of use, comprises an upstream portion and a downstream portion intheform of a reversed Y-shape.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which the cylindrical hollow body, in its position of use, is curved in theform of a U-shape in a horizontal plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the body, and a second chamber for expanding bubbles in the flow is provided with both of an upstrean side and a downstream side of the cylindrical hollow body.

5. A device according to claim 1, in which a protrusion for deflecting flow in the cylindrical hollow bodytowardssaid second chamber is provided on an innerwall ofthe body.

6. A device for removing gas or air bubbles from a fluid flow passing through a fluid circuit, the device being substantially as herein described with referonce to Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Figs. 4 and 5, or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

7. Afluid circuitwhen provided with a device according to any one ofthe preceding claims.