Technical Field

The present application relates to the technical f ield of gas -liquid separation in hydrogen production by water electrolys is , in particular to a baffle type gas- liquid separator .

Background Art

Gas-liquid separators for hydrogen and oxygen are important components of an apparatus for hydrogen production by water electrolysis . They may be classified into two types : vertical type ( for small apparatus ) and horizontal type ( for medium and large apparatus ) . Under the action of gravity, the gas flows upward and the liquid droplets flow downward . When the falling speed of the liquid droplets that are large enough surpasses the rising speed of the gas , the liquid droplets are separated from the gas . No other components are disposed in an ordinary gas-liquid separator for hydrogen or oxygen . A mixture of an alkaline solution and hydrogen (oxygen) enters the separator from one side , and the gas quickly leaves the gas-liquid separator for hydrogen or oxygen from a gas outlet at another side . The separation effect is not good, and the separated gas entrains quite a large amount of the alkali . As a result, many adverse effects are inflicted on subsequent treatments , and downstream equipments may even be damaged . The liquid leaves the gas-liquid separator for hydrogen or oxygen from a liquid outlet at still another side . If the flow rate of the alkaline solution is too large at the alkaline solution recycle port at the bottom of the gas-liquid separator for hydrogen or oxygen, a vortex is likely to be generated, so that a large amount of gas will be entrained in the recycled alkaline solution . When the gas is sent back to the electrolysis bath, not only the quality of the gas will be degraded, but a safety risk will also be caused if the gas purity is too low ( reaching the explosion limit ) . Therefore, there is still a need to improve the existing gas-liquid separators .

Summary-

One obj ect of the present application is to provide a baffle type gas-liquid separator . A gas-liquid mixture enters the separator from one side . The gas rises and impacts against the baffle ( s ) . Small liquid droplets entrained in the gas are retained on the baffle . The liquid passes through an anti -vortex plate and flows out through a liquid recycle port , thereby avoiding generation of a vortex .

The obj ect of the present application is fulfilled by the following technical solution :

A baffle type gas-liquid separator comprising : a gas-liquid separator body, a baffle and an anti-vortex plate, wherein the gas-liquid separator body has a left side wall and a right side wall opposite to each other in a length direction, a front side wall and a back side wall opposite to each other in a width direction, and a top wall and a bottom wall opposite to each other in a height direction, wherein a gas-liquid mixture inlet is provided at the right side wall of the gas-liquid separator body, a gas outlet is provided at the top wall of the gas-liquid separator, and a liquid recycle port for the outflowing of the liquid is provided at the bottom wall of the gas-liquid separator body, wherein the baffle ( s ) is /are provided on the front side wall of the gas-liquid separator body and/or the back side wall of the gas-liquid separator body, wherein the anti-vortex plate is provided over the liquid recycle port to prevent recycle liquid from generating a vortex .

Preferably, the gas outlet is close to the left side wall of the gas-liquid separator body, and the baffle ( s ) is/are provided between the gas outlet and the gas-liquid mixture inlet . This technical solution has the following beneficial advantages : the gas outlet is far away from the gas-liquid mixture inlet to ensure a sufficiently long flow path of the gas , so that the gas passes over the baffles before leaving the gas-liquid separator body through the gas outlet . Thus , small liquid droplets entrained in the liquid are retained on the baffle , thereby increasing the purity of the gas and reducing the liquid content in the gas .

Preferably, baffles are provided on the front side wall of the gas-liquid separator body and on the back side wall of the gas-liquid separator body alternately . This technical solution has the following beneficial advantages : the flow path of the gas is extended, and the contact area between the gas and the baffles is increased, so that more small liquid droplets entrained in the gas can be retained on the baffles , thereby further increasing the purity of the gas and reducing the liquid content in the gas .

Preferably, the baffle ( s ) has/have a length greater than half of a width of the gas-liquid separator body to develop a tortuous flow path of the gas , wherein the baffle ( s ) is/are provided above a liquid level in the gas-liquid separator body . This technical solution has the following beneficial advantages : on the one hand, the flow path of the gas is extended, and on the other hand, the gas flow is made more uniform . By providing the baffles above the liquid level in the gas-liquid separator body, the flowing liquid can be prevented from impacting against the baffle to be atomized and mixed into the gas .

Preferably, the baffles are provided vertically onto the front side wall of the gas-liquid separator and the back side wall of the gas-liquid separator . This technical solution has the following beneficial advantage : the flowing gas impacts forcefully against the baffles to facilitate segregation of small liquid droplets from the gas .

Preferably, one side of the baffle ( s ) is j oined to the top wall of the gas-liquid separator body . This technical solution has the following beneficial advantage : the gas entraining the liquid can be prevented from bypassing the baffle ( s ) , i . e . directly leaving the top wall of the gas-liquid separator body from the gas outlet .

Preferably, the liquid recycle port provided at the bottom wall of the gas-liquid separator body is close to the left side wall . This technical solution has the following beneficial advantage : it can be ensured that there is sufficient time to separate the gas from the gas-liquid mixture so as to reduce the gas content in the liquid .

Preferably, the gas-liquid mixture inlet is provided below the liquid level in the gas-liquid separator body . This technical solution has the following beneficial advantage : when the gas-liquid mixture in the electrolytic bath enters the gas-liquid separator body, it is prevented from colliding with the liquid in the gas-liquid separator body to cause atomization of the liquid .

Preferably, the baffle ( s ) is/are fixedly j ointed to the gas-liquid separator body . This technical solution has the following beneficial advantage : it ensures that the baffle ( s ) can operate stably, and the gas flow is more uniform .

Preferably, the anti-vortex plate has a cylindrical structure with a closed top end, an open bottom end and a perforated lateral side , wherein the open bottom of the anti-vortex plate is provided above and encloses the liquid recycle port , and fixedly j ointed to the gas-liquid separator body . This technical solution has the following beneficial advantage : the liquid flows into the inner side of the anti-vortex plate through the holes in the perforated lateral side of the anti-vortex plate , and then flows out from the open bottom of the anti-vortex plate , thereby preventing the liquid from generating a vortex and reducing the gas entrained by the liquid recycled to the electrolytic bath .

Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention at least include :

By providing baffle ( s ) and an anti-vortex plate in the baffle type gas-liquid separator according to the present utility model , the gas in the gas-liquid separator body impacts against the baffle ( s ) , bypasses the baffle ( s ) and then reaches the gas outlet . Thus , the flow path of the gas is extended . The small liquid droplets entrained in the gas are retained on the baffle ( s ) , thereby reducing the liquid content in the gas and increasing the gas purity . The liquid passes through the anti-vortex plate before passing through the liquid recycle port, such that the liquid in the gas-liquid separator body will not generate a vortex, thereby preventing the liquid from carrying the gas into the electrolytic bath. As a result, the quality of the electrolytic gas is improved, and safe production is guaranteed.

Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-section view of the baffle type gas-liquid separator according to the present utility model. Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the baffle type gas-liquid separator according to the present utility model.

In the figures: 1. gas-liquid separator body; 2. gas-liquid mixture inlet ; 3. gas outlet; 4. liquid recycle port ; 5. baffle; 6. anti-vortex plate

Specific Embodiments

Exemplary embodiments will be described in more details with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various ways, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to facilitate more thorough and full understanding of the present invention, and fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same or similar structures, and thus they will not be described repeatedly .

The words used to describe positions and directions in the present application are all used with reference to the accompanying drawings as examples, but variations can also be made as desired. The variations are all covered by the protection scope of the present application.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 2, the baffle type gas-liquid separator of the present utility mo del comprises a gas-liquid separator body 1, baffles 5 and an anti-vortex plate 6. The gas-liquid separator body 1 comprises a left side wall and a right side wall opposite to each other in a length direction, a front side wall and a back side wall opposite to each other in a width direction, and a top wall and a bottom wall opposite to each other in a height direction. A gas-liquid mixture inlet 2 is provided at the right side wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1. The gas-liquid mixture enters the gas-liquid separator body 1 through the gas-liquid mixture inlet 2. The gas-liquid mixture is, for example, a mixture of hydrogen gas and an alkaline solution, or a mixture of oxygen gas and an alkaline solution. A gas outlet 3 is provided at the top wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1. The gas leaves the gas-liquid separator 1 from the gas outlet 3. The gas is, for example, hydrogen gas or oxygen gas that has been separated. A liquid recycle port 4 is provided at the bottom wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1. The liquid is recycled to the electrolytic bath through the liquid recycle port 4. The baffle (s) 5 may be provided onthe front side wall of thegas-liquidseparator body 1, or the baffle (s) 5 may be provided on the back side wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1. Alternatively, the baffles 5 may be provided on both the front side wall and the back side wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1. The anti-vortex plate 6 is provided over the liquid recycle port 4. The anti-vortex plate 6 can reduce the recycling flow rate of the liquid, and prevent generation of a vortex due to which the recycled liquid may entrain a large amount of gas. Thus, no liquid entraining gas will be recycled to the electrolytic bath to cause decreased product purity, or even cause a certain safety risk (when an explosion limit is reached) .

As such, the gas in the gas-liquid separator body 1 impacts against the baffle (s) 5, bypasses the baffle (s) and then reaches the gas outlet 3, thereby extending the flow path of the gas. The small liquid droplets entrained in the gas are retained on the baffle (s) 5, thereby reducing the liquid content in the gas and increasing the purity of the gas. The liquid passes through the anti-vortex plate 6 and then passes through the liquid recycle port 4. The liquid in the gas-liquid separator body 1 will not generate a vortex, thereby preventing the liquid from carrying the gas into the electrolytic bath. As a result, the quality of the electrolytic gas is improved, and safe production is guaranteed .

In a specific embodiment, the gas outlet 3 is close to the left side wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1 to ensure a sufficiently long flow path of the gas. The baffle 5 is provided between the gas outlet 3 and the gas-liquid mixture inlet 2. The gas passes over the baffle (s) 5 first to allow the small liquid droplets entrained in the gas to be retained on the baffle (s) 5, and then leaves the gas-liquid separator body 1 through the gas outlet 3, thereby reducing the liquid content in the gas .

In a specific embodiment, the baffles 5 are provided on the front side wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1 and the back side wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1 alternately, thereby increasing the contact area between the gas and the baffles 5, and extending the flow path of the gas. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the baffle (s) 5 is greater than half of the width of the gas-liquid separator body 1, so as to form a tortuous flow path of the gas. On the one hand, the flow path of the gas is extended, and on the other hand, the gas flow is made more uniform . The baffle ( s ) 5 is/are provided above the liquid level in the gas-liquid separator body 1 to prevent the liquid from impacting against the baffle (s) 5 when it flows, thereby preventing the liquid from being atomized and mixed into the gas.

In a specific embodiment, the baffles 5 are provided vertically onto the front side wall of the gas-liquid separator 1 and the back side wall of the gas-liquid separator 1. The flowing gas impacts forcefully against the baffles 5 to facilitate segregation of small liquid droplets from the gas . In a preferred embodiment, one side of the baffle (s) 5 is joined to the top wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1, thereby preventing the gas from directly leaving the top wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1 through the gas outlet 3. In a pref erred embodiment , the baffle (s) 5 is/are fixedly jointed to the front side wall, the back side wall and the top wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1.

In a specific embodiment, the liquid recycle port 4 provided at the bottom wall is close to the left side wall of the gas-liquid separator body 1, and the liquid recycle port 4 is far away from the gas-liquid mixture inlet 2. Such an arrangement can ensure that there is sufficient time to separate the gas from the gas-liquid mixture . In a preferred embodiment, the gas-liquid mixture inlet 2 is provided below the liquid level in the gas-liquid separator body 1. Thus, when the gas-liquid mixture in the electrolytic bath enters the gas-liquid separatorbody, it is prevented from colliding with the liquid in the gas-liquid separator body 1 to cause atomization of the liquid.

In a specific embodiment, the anti-vortex plate 6 has a cylindrical structure with a closed top, an open bottom and a perforated lateral side. The liquid flows into the inner side of the anti-vortex plate 6 through the holes in the perforated lateral side of the anti-vortex plate 6, and then flows out from the open bottom of the anti-vortex plate 6. The open bottom of the anti-vortex plate 6 is provided over and encloses the liquid recycle port 4, and fixedly jointed to the gas-liquid separator body 1.

Although the examples of the present invention have been shown and described above, it may be appreciated that the above examples are exemplary and cannot be construed as limitations to the present application. Without departing from the principles and spirits of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, replacements and variations to the above examples within the scope of the present application, and all these alternatives should fall in the protection scope defined by the claims of the present application.