Tangential Air Separator And Flow Balancer For A Closed Fuel Circulation System

Abstract

A combination air eliminator and flow balancer for a fluid circulation system includes a tank having a supply inlet, a supply outlet, a return inlet and a return outlet. The tank defines an interior having a vertical cylindrical configuration. The supply inlet is located above the supply outlet, the return inlet and the return outlet. The supply inlet introduces fluid into an upper portion of the interior of the tank in a tangential direction to induce rotational downward flow between the supply inlet and the supply outlet, which separates air contained within the fluid. The air migrates upwardly within the tank interior and is vented. The tank is capable of balancing flow by 1) returning fluid from the supply inlet to the return outlet without passing through the supply outlet, and 2) returning fluid from the return inlet to the supply inlet without passing through the return outlet,

I claim: 
     
         1 . A combination air eliminator and flow balancer for a closed fluid circulation system that includes a pump having an intake and outlet and a circulation loop, comprising:
 a tank positioned between the circulation loop and the pump intake and outlet, wherein the tank includes a supply inlet that receives supply fluid from the pump outlet and a supply outlet that supplies fluid to the circulation loop, and further includes a return inlet that receives return fluid from the circulation loop and a return outlet that supplies fluid to the pump intake, wherein the tank defines an interior having a generally cylindrical configuration that extends along a generally vertical axis, and wherein the supply inlet of the tank is located at an elevation above the supply outlet, the return inlet and the return outlet, and wherein the supply inlet is positioned in a generally non-radial orientation such that fluid flow is introduced into an upper portion of the interior of the tank in a non-radial flow direction so as to induce rotational downward fluid flow between the supply inlet and the supply outlet, wherein the rotational downward fluid flow induces separation of air contained within the fluid and wherein the air migrates upwardly within the interior of the tank, and further wherein the tank is capable of balancing flow by 1) returning fluid from the supply inlet to the return outlet without the fluid passing through the circulation loop, and 2) returning fluid from the return inlet to the supply inlet without the fluid passing through the pump; and   an air vent interconnected with the tank for exhausting air from the tank interior to atmosphere.   
     
     
         2 . The combination air eliminator and flow balancer of  claim 1 , wherein the supply inlet is located on the same side of the tank as the supply outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The combination air eliminator and flow balancer of  claim 2 , wherein supply inlet and the supply outlet are configured so as to define fluid flow paths that are generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The combination air eliminator and flow balancer of  claim 2 , wherein the return inlet and the return outlet are located on a side of the tank opposite that of the supply inlet and the supply outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The combination air eliminator and flow balancer of  claim 4 , wherein the return inlet and the return outlet are configured so as to define flow paths that are generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The combination air eliminator and flow balancer of  claim 5 , wherein the return inlet and the return outlet are configured so as to define flow paths that are generally in alignment with each other. 
     
     
         7 . The combination air eliminator and flow balancer of  claim 5 , wherein the supply outlet, the return inlet and the return outlet are at generally the same elevation below the supply inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The combination air eliminator and flow balancer of  claim 1 , wherein the circulation loop comprises a hydronic heating system, and further comprising a fluid thing arrangement interposed between the pump and the supply inlet. 
     
     
         9 . A closed fluid circulation system, comprising:
 a circulation loop;   a pump for circulating fluid through the circulation loop, wherein the pump includes an intake and an outlet; and   a combination air eliminator and flow balancer interconnected in the circulation loop, comprising a tank positioned downstream of the pump outlet, wherein the tank includes a supply inlet that receives supply fluid from the pump outlet and a supply outlet that supplies fluid to the circulation loop, and further includes a return inlet that receives return fluid from the circulation loop and a return outlet that supplies fluid to the pump intake, wherein the tank defines an interior having a generally cylindrical configuration that extends along a generally vertical axis, and wherein the supply inlet of the tank is located at an elevation above the supply outlet, the return inlet and the return outlet, and wherein the supply inlet is positioned in a generally non-radial orientation such that fluid flow is introduced into an upper portion of the interior of the tank in a non-radial flow direction so as to induce rotational downward fluid flow between the supply inlet and the supply outlet, wherein the rotational downward fluid flow induces separation of air contained within the fluid and wherein the air migrates upwardly within the interior of the tank and wherein the tank includes an air vent for exhausting air from the tank interior to atmosphere, and further wherein the tank is capable of balancing flow by 1) returning fluid from the supply inlet to the return outlet without the fluid passing through the circulation loop, and 2) returning fluid from the return inlet to the supply inlet without the fluid passing through the pump.   
     
     
         10 . The closed fluid circulation system of  claim 9 , wherein the circulation loop comprises a hydronic heating system. 
     
     
         11 . The closed fluid circulation system of  claim 9 , wherein the supply inlet is located on the same side of the tank as the supply outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The closed fluid circulation system of  claim 11 , wherein the supply inlet and the supply outlet are configured so as to define fluid flow paths that are generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The closed fluid circulation system of  claim 11 , wherein the return inlet and the return outlet are located on a side of the tank opposite that of the supply inlet and the supply outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The closed fluid circulation system of  claim 13 , wherein the return inlet and the return outlet are configured so as to define flow paths that are generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The closed fluid circulation system of  claim 14 , wherein the return inlet and the return outlet are configured so as to define flow paths that are generally in alignment with each other. 
     
     
         16 . The closed fluid circulation system of  claim 14 , wherein the supply outlet, the return inlet and the return outlet are at generally the same elevation below the supply inlet. 
     
     
         17 . A method of circulating fluid in a closed fluid circulation system that includes a pump and a circulation loop, comprising the acts of:
 connecting a tank in the closed fluid circulation system, wherein the tank includes a supply inlet, a supply outlet, a return inlet and a return outlet, wherein the tank defines an interior having a generally cylindrical configuration that extends along a generally vertical axis, and wherein the supply inlet is located at an elevation above the supply outlet, the return inlet and the return outlet;   introducing fluid through the supply inlet in a generally non-radial orientation such that fluid flow is introduced into an upper portion of the interior of the tank in a non-radial flow direction so as to induce rotational downward fluid flow between the supply inlet and the supply outlet, wherein the rotational downward fluid flow induces separation of air contained within the fluid and wherein the air migrates upwardly within the interior of the tank;   exhausting air from the tank interior to atmosphere; and   selectively balancing flow in the fluid circulation system by 1) returning fluid from the supply inlet to the return outlet without the fluid passing through the circulation loop, or 2) returning fluid from the return inlet to the supply inlet without the fluid passing through the pump.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the circulation loop comprises a hydronic heating system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the supply inlet is located on the same side of the tank as the supply outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the supply inlet and the supply outlet are configured so as to define fluid flow paths that are generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the return inlet and the return outlet are located on a side of the tank opposite that of the supply inlet and the supply outlet. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the return inlet and the return outlet are configured so as to define flow paths that are generally in alignment with each other. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the supply outlet, the return inlet and the return outlet are at generally the same elevation below the supply inlet.