FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of piping equipment and more particularly to a device for separating moisture from liquid-gas mixture.

DEFINITIONS

As used in the present disclosure, the following term is generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which it is used indicate otherwise.

Baffle - The term “Baffle” refers to a plate or a mechanical component designed to restrain or regulate the flow of a fluid.

BACKGROUND

The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.

One of the important concerns in a steam system is wet steam. Wet steam can decrease the productivity and quality of the product, and can damage most of the equipment in a plant. Although proper drainage and careful trapping can remove most of the condensate, a small amount of moisture is still retained by the steam. To remove these water droplets, moisture separators are installed in steam pipelines. There are several types of moisture separators available in the market viz. coalescence type, cyclone type or baffle type. The coalescence type employs demisters, while the cyclone type employs rotating parts. However, the coalescence type and the cyclone type need frequent maintenance, which further increases related costs. Industries prefer use of baffle type moisture separators despite being less efficient than the coalescence or cyclone type separators, as the baffle type moisture separators once installed do not need frequent maintenance.

A conventional baffle type moisture separator has three baffles anchored alternatively at the top and the bottom of the separator interior space. The operative bottom is slightly inclined in order to drain the water collected at the operative bottom. Steam travelling inside the separator interior space follows an alternating up and down path before finally leaving the separator. In this case, there is still a probability of separated water droplets falling from the top hanging baffles into the steam flow, which reduces the efficiency of the moisture separator.

There is therefore a need of a device for separating moisture from wet steam to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a device for separating moisture from wet steam.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a device for separating moisture from wet steam that offers increased separation efficiency.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a device for separating moisture from wet steam that minimizes losses in steam pressure.

Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a device for separating moisture from wet steam that is less expensive. Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a device for separating moisture from wet steam which comprises an elongated body having inner walls and outer walls, and having an inlet on one end and an outlet on the other end. A space is defined by the inner walls of the body and configured to extend from the inlet to the outlet. A plurality of baffles is attached to the inner walls of the body in the space and configured to partially occupy cross sectional area of said body. Each of the plurality of baffles configured serially spanning from the inlet to the outlet. Each of the baffles are configured to deflect flow of the wet steam traveling from the inlet to the outlet while alternating between the operative left and the operative right, thereby causing separation of moisture present in the wet steam.

In a preferred embodiment, a horizontal axis of each of the plurality of baffles is configured to be oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device.

In another embodiment, the horizontal axis of each of the baffles in a first group of the plurality of baffles is configured to be oriented at an angle in the range of 105 degrees and 110 degrees to the longitudinal axis.

In another embodiment, the horizontal axis of each of the baffles in a second group of the baffles is configured to be oriented at an angle in the range of 85 degrees and 95 degrees to the longitudinal axis.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the baffles occupies 60 percent of the cross sectional area at the corresponding location along the longitudinal axis of the body.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the baffles is provided with a cut on an operative bottom of the baffles.

In a preferred embodiment, a drain is provided proximal to the outlet to drain the moisture separated from the wet steam. In a preferred embodiment, the inner walls on the operative bottom of the device are oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the device.

In a preferred embodiment, the profile of each of the baffles conforms to the profile of the inner walls of the device. In another embodiment, the body has a variable cross sectional area along the longitudinal axis of the device.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the baffles in the first group and each of the baffles in the second group of the plurality of baffles is configured in an alternate sequence on the inner walls of the body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

A device for separating moisture from wet steam, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the device for separating moisture from wet steam. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

100 - device

1,2, 3, 4 - baffles

5 - cut

6 - inlet 7 - outlet

8 - drain

10 - body

12 - operative top

14 - operative bottom 16 - operative left 18 - operative right 20 - space

L - longitudinal axis of device H - horizontal axis of baffle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well- known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.

The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present disclosure is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.

Terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.

The present disclosure envisages a device for separating moisture from wet steam. The device for separating moisture from wet steam (hereinafter referred to as device 100) is described herein below with reference to Figure 1.

The device 100 comprises an elongated body 10 having inner walls and outer walls. The elongated body 10 is configured with an inlet 6 on one end and an outlet 7 on the other end of the elongated body 10. A space 20 is defined by the inner walls of the body 10. The space 20 is configured to extend from the inlet 6 to the outlet 7 of the body 10 along a longitudinal axis L of the device 100. A plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4, is configured to be serially attached to the inner walls of the body 10 extending from the inlet 6 to the outlet 7 in the longitudinal axis L, thus occupying the space 20. Each of the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 has a horizontal axis H that passes through a central portion of each of the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4. The baffles 1,2, 3, 4 are configured to occupy the cross sectional area at a particular location of a baffle extending from an operative top 12 of the device 100 to an operative bottom 14 of the device 100 and an operative left 16 of the device 100 to an operative right 18 of the device 100. The cross sectional area width is defined from the operative left 16 to the operative right 18 of the body 10. The cross sectional area height is defined from the operative top 12 to the operative bottom 14 of the body 10. Each of the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 is configured to occupy a partial portion of the cross sectional area width at that particular location of the baffle 1,2, 3, 4. However, each of the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 is configured to occupy the total portion of the cross sectional area height at that particular location of the baffle 1,2, 3, 4. This facilitates formation of a flow path for the wet steam in a horizontal zigzag manner i.e. alternating between the operative left 16 and the operative right 18, contrary to a flow path in a vertical zigzag manner i.e. alternating between the operative top 12 and the operative bottom 14 of the conventional construction of baffles.

In an embodiment, the amount of cross sectional area occupied by each of the baffles 1,2, 3, 4 is 60 percent of cross sectional area width.

In another embodiment, the amount of cross sectional area occupied by each of the baffles 1,2, 3, 4 is adjustable.

The inlet 6 is configured to receive the wet steam and the outlet 7 facilitates outgoing of the wet steam. The arrangement of the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 inside the body 10 is in the form of a pattern. The pattern includes two distinct groups of baffles 1,2, 3, 4. In an embodiment as shown in the figure 1, a first group of plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 includes the baffle 1 and the baffle 3, and a second group of the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 includes the baffle 2 and the baffle 4. The horizontal axis H of each baffle included in each group is oriented at similar angles with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the device 100. In an embodiment, the horizontal axis H of each baffle in the first group i.e. baffles 1,3 of the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 is oriented at similar angles to the longitudinal axis L of the device 100, and the horizontal axis H of each baffle in the second group i.e. the baffles 2,4 of the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 is oriented at similar angles to the longitudinal axis L of the device 100. The wet steam flows along the longitudinal axis L of the device 100. In an embodiment, as shown in the figure 1, the horizontal axis H of each baffle in the first group i.e. baffles 1,3 and is oriented at an angle of 108 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis L. The horizontal axis H of each baffle in the second group i.e the baffles 2,4 is oriented at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis L of device 100. In another embodiment, the angle of the horizontal axis H of each baffle in the first group i.e. the baffles 1,3 is adjustable between 105 and 110 degrees, while the angle of the horizontal axis H of each baffle in the second group i.e. the baffles

2.4 is adjustable between 85 degrees and 95 degrees. Each of the baffles in the first group and each of the baffles in the second group of the plurality of baffles

1.2.3.4 is configured in an alternate sequence on the inner walls of the body 10. Thus, the wet steam follows a zigzag path while traveling from the inlet 6 to the outlet 7.

The plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 facilitates deflecting of the wet steam while traveling from the inlet 6 to the outlet 7 in a horizontal zigzag manner i.e. from the operative left 16 and the operative right 18. The plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 facilitate separation of the suspended water droplets from the wet steam, as suspended water droplets collide on the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 due to inertia. The collided water droplets on the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 coalesce to form bigger droplets. Due to gravity, the bigger droplets move towards the operative bottom 14 of the device 100. The inner walls on the operative bottom 14 of the device 100 are oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis L of the device 100 to facilitate ease of draining of the separated moisture. Each of the baffles 1,2, 3, 4 are provided with a cut 5 near the operative bottom 14 of the body 10, so that separated moisture forms a streamline while being removed from the body 10. A drain 8 is provided adjacent to the outlet 7 of the device 100 to cause the separated moisture to exit the device 100. Thus, probability of moisture entering the wet steam is very less which further helps in improving the separation efficiency of the device 100.

In an operative configuration, the profile of each of the plurality of baffles 1,2, 3, 4 conforms to the profile of the inner walls of the device 100.

In another operative configuration, the body 10 has a variable cross sectional area along the longitudinal axis L of the device 100. The device 100 of the present disclosure offers increased separation efficiency. The device 100 of the present disclosure minimizes losses in steam pressure and is less expensive.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a device for separation of moisture in wet steam, that:

• reduces amount of moisture present in the wet steam;

• reduces the amount of pressure drop of wet steam passing therethrough; and

• offers a cost effective solutions.

The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.

The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

One of the objects of the Patent Law is to provide protection to new technologies in all fields and domain of technologies. The new technologies shall or may contribute in the country economy growth by way of involvement of new efficient and quality method or product manufacturing in India.

To provide the protection of new technologies by patenting the product or process will contribute significant for innovation development in the country. Further by granting patent the patentee can contribute in manufacturing the new product or new process of manufacturing by himself or by technology collaboration or through the licensing.

The applicant submits that the present disclosure will contribute in country economy, which is one of the purposes to enact the Patents Act, 1970. The product in accordance with present invention will be in great demand in country and worldwide due to novel technical features of a present invention is a technical advancement in eliminating moisture from the wet steam. The technology in accordance with present disclosure will provide product cheaper, saving in time of total process of manufacturing. The saving in production time will improve the productivity, and cost cutting of the product, which will directly contribute to economy of the country.

The product will contribute new concept of separating moisture from wet steam used in industrial applications, wherein patented product will be used. The present disclosure will replace the whole concept of steam separators with baffles that are less efficient in separating moisture from useful wet steam from decades with increased efficiency and portability. The product is developed in the national interest and will contribute to country economy. The economy significance details requirement may be called during the examination. Only after filing of this Patent application, the applicant can work publically related to present disclosure product/process/method. The applicant will disclose all the details related to the economic significance contribution after the protection of invention.