EP2710251B1 - Device for separating water from the combustion air to be fed to an internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a device for separating water from the combustion air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

In the DE 198 55 992 A1 a water separator is described, which serves to separate water from an air stream in a flow channel, which is supplied to an internal combustion engine. The water separator has in a housing a plurality of parallel Abscheidellamellen between which flow channels are formed. To deflect the air flow, the Abscheidelamellen on a staggered parallel section, so that the inflowing, moisture-laden air impinges at an angle on the lamellar wall and water droplets can attach to the wall. The separated water is discharged via a collecting channel in the lower part of the water separator.

The EP 1 249 597 A1 discloses a water separation system having a plurality of vanes in a housing having a slit-shaped housing opening. Within the housing vertically extending ribs are arranged above a connecting piece to minimize turbulence within the housing.

From the WO 2008/157699 A1 For example, a water separator comprising a plurality of spaced-apart curved plates is known. Each of the plates has a water-receiving pocket and a catcher for receiving and separating drops of water from a fluid stream.

Disclosure of the invention

The invention is based on the object, with simple design measures, a device for separating water from the air supplied to an internal combustion engine efficiently.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. The dependent claims indicate expedient developments.

The device according to the invention is an air inlet device, via which combustion air is supplied to an internal combustion engine in a vehicle and which is designed to separate off water which is entrained in the incoming air. For this purpose, the device has in a housing a plurality of parallel Abscheidelamellen, between which flow channels for the air are formed.

Furthermore, it is provided that the Abscheidellamellen are held at a Anstell- or opening angle in the housing The Anstell- or opening angle determines the size of the opening between adjacent Abscheidelamellen and thus the cross section of the running between adjacent Abscheidellamellen flow channels. Due to the Anstell- or opening angle, the fin surface of the inflowing air faces, so that the deposition is improved at the fins. The pitch or opening angle refers to the housing level in which the Abscheidellamellen are stored or held. In an upright arrangement of the device, the housing plane coincides with a vertical plane in which also the vertical or perpendicular lies, against which the Abscheidellamellen are arranged at the angle of inclination. The Abscheidelamellen are kept at a pitch or opening angle and fall on the upstream side to the outside, so that inflowing air must flow between adjacent Abscheidellamellen under the Anstell- or opening angle upwards. Water droplets deposited on the lamellae partly flow directly over the lamellar surface, which improves the separation efficiency.

The Abscheidelamellen are preferably arranged obliquely in the housing and include with respect to the vertical or a vertical angle of inclination, so that water, which attaches to the Abscheidelamellen, can flow through the inclination.

The Abscheidelamellen thus have a double inclination or inclination, on the one hand, the inclination with the inclination angle relative to the vertical and on the other hand, the pitch or opening angle relative to the housing level. Both angles support the deposition, wherein the Anstell- or opening angle increases the impact surface for zoom introduced, laden with moisture combustion air and the angle of inclination supports the discharge of the separated water from the Abscheidelamellen.

In principle, a version with vertical or horizontal standing Abscheidellamellen, ie with an inclination angle equal to 0 ° or 90 °.

The Abscheidellamellen are expediently designed as in itself flat plates. Such Abscheidellamellen can be easily manufactured and mounted in the housing, on the other hand, the flow resistance for the zoomed-in air is not increased by deflections.

If appropriate, it may be expedient to make the inflow surface of the separation louvers curved in order to improve the dripping off of the separated water. In principle, however, a flat inflow area is sufficient.

According to a further expedient embodiment, it is provided that the pitch or opening angle of the Abscheidelamellen is variably adjustable. The Abscheidelamellen are pivotally mounted in the housing for this purpose, so that the pitch or opening angle is changed by an actuation about the pivot axis. The adjustment of the setting or opening angle is expediently carried out with the aid of an actuator, for example an electromagnetic actuator, which adjusts the separating lamellae about the pivot axis in order to achieve the desired setting or opening angle.

Appropriately, all Abscheidelamellen are provided in the housing with the same angle of inclination, based on the vertical, in particular in an angular range is between 30 ° and 60 ° and preferably at least approximately 45 °. Also, the pitch or opening angle can be in an angular range between 30 ° and 60 °, At least a portion of Abscheidellamellen have a different pitch or opening angle. For example, it is possible for the setting or opening angle to change over the height of the device, in particular in such a way that the setting or opening angle in the upper region of the device is greater than in the lower region. This can lead to equalization of the flow velocity over the cross section.

According to the invention, water discharge channels are provided on the separation blades, which extend parallel to the longitudinal extent of the separation blades and serve to discharge separated water. The water discharge channels ensure safe removal of separated water droplets and prevent entrained water droplets are again entrained by the air flow and guided in the direction of the internal combustion engine. The water drainage channels are preferably adjacent to the rear edge of the separation fins in the flow direction of the air and are formed, for example, as half-open channels which rise above the top of the separation fins. The top of the Abscheidelamellen forms the impact surface on which the water is separated. Through the air flow, the separated water passes over the top of the slats to the rear water discharge channels and is discharged laterally in these. Due to the inclination of the Abscheidellamellen in the housing and the drainage channels are at the same inclination angle as the Abscheidellamellen, which has the advantage that the water flows through the gutters by its weight.

According to another expedient embodiment, an at least substantially vertically extending water discharge channel is arranged laterally adjacent to the Abscheidellamellen on the housing. This water discharge channel, the water is supplied from the water discharge channels to the Abscheidellamellen. The front end of the water discharge channels opens into the vertical water outlet channel or is in the immediate vicinity of the water discharge channel. Thus, there is a flow path of the water droplets deposited on the surface of the water separation fins toward the water drainage channel, along this to the water drainage channel and finally along the water drainage channel until it leaves the housing of the device.

Since strong wind can possibly drive the water in the water discharge channel upwards, it is expedient to provide both at the lower end and at the upper end of the water discharge channel each having an at least substantially vertically extending water discharge channel.

Brief description of the drawings

• Fig. 1 in perspektivischer Darstellung eine Lufteintrittsvorrichtung zur Abscheidung von Wasser aus der einer Brennkraftmaschine zuzuführenden Luft, mit einer Mehrzahl von Abscheidelamellen in einem Gehäuse der Vorrichtung, die gegenüber der Vertikalen schräg verlaufen und zusätzlich unter einem Anstell- bzw. Öffnungswinkel im Gehäuse gehalten sind.
• Fig. 2 die Vorrichtung in einer Ansicht von vorne,
• Fig. 3 die Vorrichtung in geschnittener Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 4 der Strömungsweg der an der Oberseite der Abscheidelamellen abgeschiedenen Wassertröpfchen.

Further advantages and expedient embodiments can be taken from the further claims, the description of the figures and the drawings. Show it:

• Fig. 1 in a perspective view of an air inlet device for the separation of water from the air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine, with a plurality of Abscheidellamellen in a housing of the device, which are inclined relative to the vertical and additionally held at a Anstell- or opening angle in the housing.
• Fig. 2 the device in a front view,
• Fig. 3 the device in sectional side view,
• Fig. 4 the flow path of the deposited at the top of the Abscheidellamellen water droplets.

In the figures, the same components are provided with the same reference numerals.

Embodiment (s) of the invention

In the figures, an air inlet device 1 is shown, is passed through the ambient air in an intake tract of an internal combustion engine. The air inlet device 1 is located on a vehicle, for example in the lateral area of a commercial vehicle. The direction of travel is marked "F". The air inlet device 1 has in a housing 2 a plurality of superposed Abscheidelamellen 3, between which flow channels are formed for bringing the combustion air. Part of the housing 2 is a rectangular frame 4, in which the Abscheidellamellen 3 are mounted. The Abscheidellamellen point, as Fig. 2 relative to a vertical or vertical, which coincides with the weight force vector, an inclination angle a, which is in an angular range between 30 ° and 60 ° and in particular at least approximately 45 °. Conveniently, all Abscheidelamellen 3 within the frame 4 of the housing 2 have the same inclination angle α.

As Fig. 3 can be seen, the Abscheidelamellen 3 are additionally under a Anstellbzw. Opening angle β held in the frame 4 of the housing 2 and fall on the upstream side to the outside. The setting or opening angle β refers to the plane 6 of the frame 4 of the housing 2, in which the Abscheidelamellen 3 are added. In an upright arrangement of the air inlet device 1, as shown in the figures, the vertical 5 lies in the plane 6 or parallel to the plane 6. The peripheral frame 4 has longitudinal sides which are at least approximately parallel to the vertical 5. As Fig. 2 can be seen, the frame 4 but slightly curved sides have longitudinal sides and thus deviate from the vertical 5.

The inclination angle α, under which the Abscheidellamellen are held in the housing is fixed and can not be changed. The setting or opening angle β, however, can optionally be made adjustable by the Abscheidelamellen are pivotable along an axis which is parallel to the lamella longitudinal axis. To set the desired setting or opening angle β actuators may be provided, wherein optionally a common actuator for the joint adjustment of the opening or angle of attack of all Abscheidelamellen is sufficient.

The top 8 ( Fig. 3, 4 ) of Abscheidelamellen 3 forms the inflow and faces the zoomed air flow. The water particles contained in the air stream are deposited on the upper side 8 of the Abscheidellamellen. For an orderly Flow guide is arranged at the rear edge of the Abscheidellamellen in the flow direction in each case a water discharge channel 7, which is formed as half-open and rising above the top of the Abscheidellamellen gutter. The water discharge channel 7 is made in one piece with the respective Abscheidelamelle.

The water flow path is in Fig. 4 located. First of all, the supplied air with the water particles contained therein impinges on the upper side 8 of the separation lamellae 3 and is deposited there. Due to the air flow, the water particles migrate, as indicated by the arrow direction, to the water discharge channel 7 and can flow off laterally or obliquely downwardly there due to the inclination of the separation slats. In the facing longitudinal side of the frame 4 of the housing 2 there is a water discharge channel 10 which extends vertically and into which the water discharge channels 9 open. The water flowing along in the water discharge channel 7 thus enters the vertical discharge channel 10 and can be discharged from the housing into the environment, for example via an outflow opening 9.

In order to ensure a drainage even in the case of strong wind, which can drive the water in the water drainage channel 7 against the inclination, it is expedient not only at the lower end, but also at the upper end of the water drainage channel 7 at least substantially proceed vertically extending water discharge channel.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for separating water from the air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine, with a plurality of parallel separating lamellae (3), which are disposed in a housing (2) and form intermediate flow channels, wherein the separating lamellae (3) are held under an angle of engagement or angle of aperture (β) and are inclined downwards to the outside on the inflow side, wherein water discharge gutters (7) are provided at the separating lamellae (3), which extend parallel to the longitudinal extension of the separating lamellae (3) and via which separated water can be discharged, characterized in that at least one part of the separating lamellae (3) feature different angles of engagement or angles of aperture (β) in the apparatus.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating lamellae (3) are inclined in the housing (2) and enclose an angle of inclination (α) relative to the vertical line.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the separating lamellae (3) are designed as in itself flat plates.
4. Apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the angle of engagement or angle of aperture (β) of the separating lamellae (3) is variably adjustable.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the water discharge gutters (7) are disposed adjacently in flow direction to the rear edge of the separating lamellae (3).
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that the water discharge gutters (7) are designed as semi-open grooves projecting over the upper side of the separating lamellae (3).
7. Apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at the housing (2) an at least substantially vertically extending water discharge channel (10) is disposed adjacently to the separating lamellae (3).
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the water discharge channel (10) ends in an outflow opening (9) in the housing.
9. Apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the angle of inclination (α) is in an angular range between 30° and 60°, in particular approximately 45°.
10. Apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the angle of engagement or angle of aperture (β) is in an angular range between 30° and 60°.

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