Patent Description:
Conventionally, known as a separation device is a centrifuge including a chamber having a cylindrical confinement wall and a driving rotor having a plurality of blades fixed to a shaft (Patent Literature <NUM>).

The cylindrical confinement wall surrounds the shaft and is disposed coaxially with the shaft. Each blade is disposed between the shaft and the cylindrical confinement wall and is coupled to the shaft. The cylindrical confinement wall has an inlet opening (inlet), and an outlet opening (outlet), and a removal opening (discharge port). The removal opening is located closer to the outlet opening than to the inlet opening.

Separation devices are desired to be improved in their separative performance of separating solid substances contained in a gas from the gas.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a separation device and a separation system which are configured to improve separative performance of separating solid substances contained in a gas from the gas.

A separation device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a casing, a rotor, and a blade. The casing includes a tubular part having a circular inner peripheral shape. The rotor is disposed on an inner side of the tubular part and is rotatable around a rotation central axis extending along an axial direction of the tubular part. The blade is disposed between the tubular part and the rotor and is configured to rotate together with the rotor. The tubular part includes a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a solid substance discharge port. The gas outlet is apart from the gas inlet in the axial direction and is in communicative connection with an inside and an outside of the tubular part between a first end and a second end of the tubular part in the axial direction. The solid substance discharge port is aligned with the gas outlet in a direction along an outer periphery of the tubular part. The blade has a first end adjacent to the gas inlet and a second end adjacent to the gas outlet. The casing has a space extending to the solid substance discharge port with respect to the second end of the blade in the axial direction. The separation device further includes a discharge tubular part. The discharge tubular part has an inner space in communicative connection with the solid substance discharge port and protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the tubular part.

A separation system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes the separation device and a driving device. The driving device is configured to rotationally drive the rotor.

<FIG> and <FIG> described in the following embodiment and the like are schematic views, and the ratio of sizes and the ratio of thicknesses of components in the figures do not necessarily reflect actual dimensional ratios.

A separation device <NUM> according to an embodiment and a separation system <NUM> including the separation device <NUM> will be described below with reference to <FIG>.

The separation device <NUM> is provided on an upstream side of, for example, an air conditioning facility having an air blowing function and is configured to separate solid substances in air (gas). The separation device <NUM> is installed on a rooftop of a facility (e.g., a dwelling house) having a flat roof or on ground. The air conditioning facility is, for example, an air blowing device configured to blow air from the upstream side to a downstream side. The air blowing device is, for example, an electric fan. The air conditioning facility is not limited to the air blowing device but may be, for example, a ventilating device, an air conditioner, an air supply cabinet fan, or an air conditioning system including an air blowing device and a heat exchanger. The flow rate of air caused by the air conditioning facility to flow to the separation device <NUM> is, for example, <NUM><NUM>/h to <NUM><NUM>/h. The outflow volume of air from the separation device <NUM> toward the air conditioning facility is substantially equal to the flow rate of air flowing through the air conditioning facility.

As shown in <FIG>, the separation device <NUM> includes a casing <NUM>, a rotor <NUM>, and a blade <NUM>. Moreover, the separation system <NUM> includes the separation device <NUM> and a driving device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

The casing <NUM> includes a tubular part <NUM>. The tubular part <NUM> includes a gas inlet <NUM> (see <FIG>), a gas outlet <NUM> (see <FIG>), and a solid substance discharge port <NUM> (see <FIG>). The rotor <NUM> is disposed on an inner side of the tubular part <NUM>. The rotor <NUM> is rotatable around a rotation central axis <NUM> (<FIG>). The blade <NUM> is disposed between the tubular part <NUM> and the rotor <NUM>. The blade <NUM> rotates together with the rotor <NUM>.

The solid substance discharge port <NUM> is a hole for discharging solid substances contained in, for example, air to an outer side of the casing <NUM>. The solid substance discharge port <NUM> connects an inside space of the casing <NUM> and an outside space of the casing <NUM> to each other. In other words, the inside and the outside of the tubular part <NUM> are in communicative connection with each other via the solid substance discharge port <NUM>. The separation device <NUM> generates, in the casing <NUM>, an airflow swirling in the casing <NUM> when the rotor <NUM> rotates. In the separation device <NUM>, part of a flow path from the gas inlet <NUM> toward the gas outlet <NUM> is formed between the casing <NUM> and the rotor <NUM>.

The separation device <NUM> is configured to cause air flowing from the upstream side into the casing <NUM> to flow to the downstream side while the separation device <NUM> helically rotates the air around the rotor <NUM>. In the present embodiment, "upstream side" means a side (primary side) from which an arrow representing an air-flowing direction is directed. Moreover, "downstream side" means a side (secondary side) to which the arrow representing the air-flowing direction is directed. The separation device <NUM> is used, for example in a posture where the gas outlet <NUM> is located above the gas inlet <NUM>. In this case, the separation device <NUM> is configured such that air flowing through the gas inlet <NUM> formed in the casing <NUM> into the flow path is caused to helically rotate around the rotor <NUM> to move to the gas outlet <NUM>.

The separation device <NUM> has the solid substance discharge port <NUM> in order to discharge the solid substances contained in the air flowing in the casing <NUM> to the outer side of the casing <NUM>. Thus, at least some of the solid substances contained in the air flowing in the casing <NUM> through the gas inlet <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> are discharged to the outer side of the casing <NUM> through the solid substance discharge port <NUM> in the course of passing through the flow path.

Moreover, the separation system <NUM> rotationally drives the rotor <NUM> by the driving device <NUM>. That is, the driving device <NUM> rotates the rotor <NUM> around the rotation central axis <NUM>. The driving device <NUM> includes, for example, a motor.

Examples of the solid substances in the air include fine particles and dust. Examples of the fine particles include particulate matter. Examples of the particulate matter include primary particles emitted directly to air as fine particles and secondary particles emitted to the air as a gas and formed into fine particles in the air. Examples of the primary particles include soil particles (e.g., yellow dust), powder dust, vegetal-origin particles (e.g., pollen), animal-origin particles (e.g., spores of mold), and soot. Examples of the particulate matter include PM1. <NUM> and PM2. <NUM> (fine particulate matters), PM10, and SPM (suspended particulate matter) classified based on their sizes. <NUM> refers to fine particles passing through a sizing device with a collection efficiency of <NUM>% at a particle size of <NUM>. <NUM> refers to fine particles passing through a sizing device with a collection efficiency of <NUM>% at a particle size of <NUM>. PM10 refers to fine particles passing through a sizing device with a collection efficiency of <NUM>% at a particle size of <NUM>. SPM refers to fine particles passing through a sizing device with a collection efficiency of <NUM>% at a particle size of <NUM>, and SPM corresponds to PM6. <NUM> to PM7. <NUM> and refers to fine particles slightly smaller than PM10.

As described above, the separation device <NUM> includes the casing <NUM>, the rotor <NUM>, and the blade <NUM>. The separation device <NUM> further includes a discharge tubular part <NUM>. The separation device <NUM> further includes an outlet tubular part <NUM>. The separation device <NUM> further includes an outer cover <NUM> (see <FIG>). Moreover, the separation system <NUM> (see <FIG>) includes the separation device <NUM> and the driving device <NUM>.

A material for the casing <NUM> is, for example, but is not limited to, metal but may be a resin (e.g., ABS resin). Moreover, the casing <NUM> may include a metal part made of metal and a resin part made of a resin.

The casing <NUM> includes a tubular part <NUM> having a circular inner peripheral shape. Saying "having a circular inner peripheral shape" means that the shape along the inner periphery of the tubular part <NUM> is circular. The tubular part <NUM> has a circular shape in a direction along the outer periphery thereof. The tubular part <NUM> has a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM> in an axial direction D1 (see <FIG>). The casing <NUM> includes: the tubular part <NUM>; and a bottom part <NUM> which closes an opening of the second end <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. That is, in the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the casing <NUM> has a bottomed tubular shape. In the tubular part <NUM>, an opening of the first end <NUM> of tubular part <NUM> constitutes the gas inlet <NUM>. Thus, the gas inlet <NUM> penetrates the tubular part <NUM> in the axial D1 of the tubular part <NUM>.

In the tubular part <NUM>, the outer diameter at the first end <NUM> is smaller than the outer diameter at a part <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> surrounding the rotor <NUM> (hereinafter also referred to as a cylindrical part <NUM>). In the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>, the length of the cylindrical part <NUM> is greater than the length of the rotor <NUM>. Each of the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the cylindrical part <NUM> is uniform over the entire length of the cylindrical part <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. Further, the tubular part <NUM> includes a part <NUM> (hereinafter also referred to as an expanding diameter portion <NUM>) between the first end <NUM> and the cylindrical part <NUM>. The inner diameter and the outer diameter of the part <NUM> gradually increase as the distance from the first end <NUM> increases. The outer diameter of the expanding diameter portion <NUM> is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical part <NUM>. The opening area of the expanding diameter portion <NUM> gradually increases as the distance from the gas inlet <NUM> increases in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>.

In the tubular part <NUM>, the gas outlet <NUM> (see <FIG>) is apart from the gas inlet <NUM> in the axial direction D1 (see <FIG>) of the tubular part <NUM> and is in communicative connection with the inside and the outside of the tubular part <NUM> between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. The gas outlet <NUM> is formed along one direction intersecting the axial direction D1 of tubular part <NUM> in the vicinity of the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM>. In other words, the gas outlet <NUM> is open at a lateral side of the tubular part <NUM>.

In the tubular part <NUM>, the solid substance discharge port <NUM> (see <FIG>) is apart from the gas inlet <NUM> in the axial direction D1 (see <FIG>) of the tubular part <NUM> and is in communicative connection with the inside and the outside of the tubular part <NUM> between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of tubular part <NUM>. The solid substance discharge port <NUM> is formed along one direction intersecting the axial direction D1 of tubular part <NUM> in the vicinity of the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM>. In other words, the solid substance discharge port <NUM> is open at a lateral side of the tubular part <NUM>. The tubular part <NUM> includes a plurality (two) solid substance discharge ports <NUM>. The two solid substance discharge ports <NUM> are apart from each other in the direction along the outer periphery of the tubular part <NUM>. The two solid substance discharge ports <NUM> are aligned in one radial direction of the tubular part <NUM> when viewed in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>.

In the separation device <NUM>, the opening width of the solid substance discharge port <NUM> is greater than the opening width of the gas outlet <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. Here, in the separation device <NUM>, the distance between the solid substance discharge port <NUM> and the gas inlet <NUM> is shorter than the distance between the gas outlet <NUM> and the gas inlet <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. Further, in the separation device <NUM>, in a direction along the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>, the distance between the solid substance discharge port <NUM> and the blade <NUM> is shorter than the distance between the gas outlet <NUM> and the blade <NUM>. Further, in the separation device <NUM>, the opening width of the solid substance discharge port <NUM> is narrower than the opening width of the gas outlet <NUM> in the direction along the outer periphery of the tubular part <NUM>.

The rotor <NUM> is disposed on the inner side of the tubular part <NUM> and is rotatable around the rotation central axis <NUM> extending along the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. The rotor <NUM> is disposed coaxially with the tubular part <NUM> on the inner side of the tubular part <NUM>. Saying "disposed coaxially with the tubular part <NUM>" means that the rotor <NUM> is disposed such that the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> (see <FIG>) is aligned with the central axis <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> (see <FIG>). The rotor <NUM> has, for example, in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>, a circular truncated cone shape whose outer diameter gradually increases as the distance from the gas inlet <NUM> increases, but the shape of the rotor <NUM> is not limited to this example. Here, the rotor <NUM> may have, for example, a bottomed tubular shape having a bottom wall adjacent to the gas inlet <NUM> or a columnar shape. When the rotor <NUM> has the bottomed tubular shape, the rotor <NUM> preferably includes a reinforcing wall on its inside. Examples of a material for the rotor <NUM> include a polycarbonate resin.

In a direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>, the rotor <NUM> has a length less than the length of the cylindrical part <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>.

The rotor <NUM> has a first end <NUM> adjacent to the gas inlet <NUM> and a second end <NUM> adjacent to the gas outlet <NUM>. The rotor <NUM> is disposed closer to the expanding diameter portion <NUM> than to the bottom part <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. More particularly, the distance between the rotor <NUM> and the expanding diameter portion <NUM> is shorter than the distance between the rotor <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>.

The blade <NUM> is disposed between the tubular part <NUM> and the rotor <NUM> and rotates together with the rotor <NUM>. In the separation device <NUM>, a plurality of (here, <NUM>) blades <NUM> are disposed between the tubular part <NUM> and the rotor <NUM>. That is, the separation device <NUM> includes the plurality of blades <NUM>. The plurality of blades <NUM> are connected to the rotor <NUM> and are apart from an inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. The plurality of blades <NUM> rotate together with the rotor <NUM>.

The plurality of blades <NUM> are provided to the rotor <NUM> over the entire length of the rotor <NUM> in the direction along the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. That is, the plurality of blades <NUM> are provided from the first end <NUM> to the second end <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>. Examples of a material for the plurality of blades <NUM> include a polycarbonate resin. In the separation device <NUM>, the same material is adopted for the rotor <NUM> and the plurality of blades <NUM>, but this should not be construed as limiting the disclosure. The material for the rotor <NUM> and the material for the plurality of blades <NUM> may be different from each other. The plurality of blades <NUM> may be formed integrally with the rotor <NUM>, or each of the plurality of blades <NUM> may be formed as members separated from the rotor <NUM> and may be fixed to the rotor <NUM>, thereby being connected to the rotor <NUM>.

Each of the plurality of blades <NUM> is disposed such that a gap is formed between each blade <NUM> and the tubular part <NUM> when viewed in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. In other words, the separation device <NUM> has a gap between each of the plurality of blades <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. In the radial direction of the rotor <NUM>, the distance between a protruding tip end of each of the plurality of blades <NUM> and an outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> is shorter than the distance between the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>.

Each of the plurality of blades <NUM> is disposed in a space (the flow path) between the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> to be parallel to the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>. Each of the plurality of blades <NUM> has a flat plate shape. Each of the plurality of blades <NUM> has a quadrangular shape elongated in the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> viewed in a thickness direction defined with respect to each of the plurality of blades <NUM>. Each of the plurality of blades <NUM> is tilted by a prescribed angle (e.g., <NUM> degrees) to one radial direction of the rotor <NUM> when viewed form the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM> in the direction along the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. In this embodiment, each of the plurality of blades <NUM> has a tip end adjacent to the tubular part <NUM> and a base end adjoining the rotor <NUM>, and the tip end is located rearward of the base end in a rotation direction R1 (see <FIG> and <FIG>) of the rotor <NUM> in a protrusion direction from the rotor <NUM>. That is, in the separation device <NUM>, each of the plurality of blades <NUM> is tilted to the one radial direction of the rotor <NUM> by the prescribed angle (e.g., <NUM> degrees) in the rotation direction R1 of the rotor <NUM>. The prescribed angle is not limited to <NUM> degrees but may be an angle greater than <NUM> degree and less than or equal to <NUM> degrees. For example, the prescribed angle may be an angle within a range from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees. Each of the plurality of blades <NUM> is not necessarily tilted with respect to the one radial direction of the rotor <NUM> by the prescribed angle in the rotation direction R1 of the rotor <NUM> but may have, for example, an angle of <NUM> degree with respect to the one radial direction of the rotor <NUM>. That is, the plurality of blades <NUM> may radially extend from the rotor <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of blades <NUM> are disposed to be apart from each other at equal angular intervals in a circumferential direction of the rotor <NUM>. The "equal angular interval" as used herein is not limited to only the case of a strictly equal angular interval but may be, for example, an angular interval within a prescribed error range (e.g., ±<NUM>% of the prescribed angular interval) with respect to a prescribed angular interval.

In the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>, the length of each of the plurality of blades <NUM> is equal to the length of the rotor <NUM>. The length of each of the plurality of blades <NUM> is not limited to the case of being equal to the length of the rotor <NUM> but may be greater, or may be less, than the length of the rotor <NUM>.

In the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>, the length of each of the plurality of blades <NUM> is less than the length of the cylindrical part <NUM>.

Each of the plurality of blades <NUM> has a first end <NUM> adjacent to the gas inlet <NUM> and a second end <NUM> adjacent to the gas outlet <NUM> and the solid substance discharge port <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>.

The casing <NUM> has a space <NUM> (see <FIG>) between the second end <NUM> of each blade <NUM> and the solid substance discharge port <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. In the separation device <NUM>, the solid substance discharge port <NUM> is at a location where the solid substance discharge port <NUM> overlaps the space <NUM> in a direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>. That is, the solid substance discharge port <NUM> is at a location where the solid substance discharge port <NUM> overlaps the space <NUM> in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. Moreover, in the separation device <NUM>, the solid substance discharge port <NUM> is at a location where the solid substance discharge port <NUM> does not overlap each blade <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>. That is, the solid substance discharge port <NUM> is at a location where the solid substance discharge port <NUM> does not overlap each blade <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. In other words, each blade <NUM> is not in a projection area of the solid substance discharge port <NUM> when the tubular part <NUM> is viewed from the side.

In the separation device <NUM>, the ratio of the length of the space <NUM> to the sum of the length of each blade <NUM> and the length of the space <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM> is, for example, greater than or equal to <NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM> and is, for example, <NUM>.

The separation device <NUM> includes the discharge tubular part <NUM> as described above. The discharge tubular part <NUM> is connected to a peripheral edge of the solid substance discharge port <NUM> (see <FIG>), for example, at an outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. The discharge tubular part <NUM> is a member for discharging solid substances contained in a gas. The discharge tubular part <NUM> has an inner space <NUM> (see <FIG>) in communicative connection with the solid substance discharge port <NUM> and protrudes from the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. The discharge tubular part <NUM> has a rectangular tubular shape. Moreover, the discharge tubular part <NUM> has a part <NUM> extending inward of the tubular part <NUM> from the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. In other words, the part <NUM> of the discharge tubular part <NUM> is a part extending inward of the tubular part <NUM> from the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of tubular part <NUM> in the discharge tubular part <NUM>. Of the discharge tubular part <NUM>, the part protruding from the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> has an opening on an opposite side from the solid substance discharge port <NUM>, and the opening has a rectangular shape whose longitudinal direction is the direction along the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. Of the discharge tubular part <NUM>, the part extended in from the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of tubular part <NUM> has an opening on an opposite side from the solid substance discharge port <NUM>, and the opening has a rectangular shape whose longitudinal direction is the direction along the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>.

In the separation device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, an inner peripheral surface of the solid substance discharge port <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> has an inner front surface <NUM> located frontward and an inner rear surface <NUM> located rearward in a direction along the rotation direction R1 of the rotor <NUM>. The inner rear surface <NUM> is extended along one tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of tubular part <NUM> when viewed in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. The discharge tubular part <NUM> protrudes in a direction along the one tangential direction when viewed in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. The discharge tubular part <NUM> is at a location where the discharge tubular part <NUM> does not overlap the blades <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>. The part <NUM> of the discharge tubular part <NUM> extends from the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> along the inner front surface <NUM> of the solid substance discharge port <NUM> to one center line B1 (see <FIG>) of the tubular part <NUM>. The one center line B1 is orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> and is orthogonal to the axial direction of the discharge tubular part <NUM>. The separation device <NUM> includes a plurality of (e.g., two) discharge tubular parts <NUM>. The plurality of discharge tubular parts <NUM> are arranged to have revolution symmetry when viewed in the axial D1 of tubular part <NUM>.

The separation device <NUM> includes the outlet tubular part <NUM> as described above. The outlet tubular part <NUM> is connected to a peripheral edge of the gas outlet <NUM>, for example, at the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. The outlet tubular part <NUM> is a member for feeding the gas from which solid substances have been separated to the outer side of the casing <NUM>. The outlet tubular part <NUM> has an inner space <NUM> in communicative connection with the gas outlet <NUM> and protrudes from the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. The outlet tubular part <NUM> has a rectangular tubular shape. In the outlet tubular part <NUM>, an opening on an opposite side of the outlet tubular part <NUM> from the gas outlet <NUM> has a square shape, but the shape of the opening is not limited to this example.

In the separation device <NUM>, the outlet tubular part <NUM> is adjacent to one discharge tubular part <NUM> of the two discharge tubular parts <NUM>. The outlet tubular part <NUM> is located frontward of the discharge tubular part <NUM> adjacent thereto in the direction along the rotation direction R1 of the rotor <NUM>.

In the separation device <NUM>, the outlet tubular part <NUM> is, but not limited to be being, disposed parallel to the discharge tubular part <NUM> adjacent thereto when viewed in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. For example, the outlet tubular part <NUM> may protrude in a direction along the one tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of tubular part <NUM>.

The separation device <NUM> may further include a rectifying structure <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). The rectifying structure <NUM> is disposed between the gas inlet <NUM> and the rotor <NUM> inside the tubular part <NUM> and is configured to rectify a flow of a gas flowing into the tubular part <NUM>. The rectifying structure <NUM> has, for example, a circular truncated cone shape and is disposed inside the expanding diameter portion <NUM>. The rectifying structure <NUM> is disposed such that the central axis of the rectifying structure <NUM> coincides with the central axis <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. Thus, in separation device <NUM>, gas flowing through the gas inlet <NUM> into the tubular part <NUM> is easily introduced to allocation from the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> in the radial direction of the rotor <NUM> but near the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. The rectifying structure <NUM> is connected to, for example, the rotor <NUM> and rotates together with the rotor <NUM>, but the configuration of the rectifying structure <NUM> is not limited to this example. The rectifying structure <NUM> may be supported, for example, by the tubular part <NUM> via one or more beams.

The separation device <NUM> may further include a structure <NUM> disposed in the space <NUM> on a side apart from the gas inlet <NUM> when viewed from the rotor <NUM>. The shape of the structure <NUM> is cylindrical but is not limited to this example. The structure <NUM> is disposed along the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>. The structure <NUM> may, but does not have to, be connected to the rotor <NUM>. The structure <NUM> may rotate together with the rotor <NUM> or may rotate independently of the rotor <NUM>. From the viewpoint of introducing an airflow into a space between the structure <NUM> and the cylindrical part <NUM> and suppressing turbulence of the airflow, the structure <NUM> preferably has a shape having revolution symmetry around the rotation central axis <NUM>.

The outer cover <NUM> surrounds part of the casing <NUM>. The outer cover <NUM> has a bottomed cylindrical shape. The inner diameter of the outer cover <NUM> is larger than the outer diameter of the tubular part <NUM>. The outer cover <NUM> is located at least laterally to the second end <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. The outer cover <NUM> suppresses solid substances discharged through the discharge tubular part <NUM> from being discharged laterally to the separation device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the separation system <NUM> includes the separation device <NUM> and the driving device <NUM> configured to rotationally drive the rotor <NUM> of the separation device <NUM>. The driving device <NUM> includes, for example, a motor configured to rotationally drive the rotor. The driving device <NUM> may be configured such that a rotation shaft of the motor is directly or indirectly coupled to the rotor <NUM> or such that rotation of the rotation shaft of the motor is transmitted to the rotor <NUM> via a pulley and a rotary belt. The motor may be disposed on the inner side of the casing <NUM> or may be disposed on the outer side of the casing <NUM>. The rotational velocity of the rotor <NUM> rotationally driven by the driving device <NUM> is, for example, <NUM> rpm to <NUM> rpm.

The separation system <NUM> further includes a control device <NUM> configured to control the driving device <NUM>. The control device <NUM> includes a computer system. The computer system includes, as principal hardware components, a processor and memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory of the computer system, thereby implementing functions as the control device <NUM>. The program may be stored in advance in the memory of the computer system. Alternatively, the program may also be downloaded over a telecommunications network or be distributed after having been recorded in some non-transitory storage medium such as a memory card, an optical disc, or a hard disk drive, any of which is readable for the computer system. The processor of the computer system includes one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). As used herein, the "integrated circuit" such as an IC or an LSI is called by a different name depending on the degree of integration thereof. Examples of the integrated circuits include a system LSI, a very large-scale integrated circuit (VLSI), and an ultra large-scale integrated circuit (ULSI). Optionally, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to be programmed after an LSI has been fabricated or a reconfigurable logic device allowing the connections or circuit sections inside of an LSI to be reconfigured may also be adopted as the processor. The plurality of electronic circuits may be collected on one chip or may be distributed on a plurality of chips. The plurality of chips may be collected in one device or may be distributed in a plurality of devices. As mentioned herein, the computer system includes a microcontroller including one or more processors and one or more memory elements. Thus, the microcontroller is also composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit or a large-scale integrated circuit.

In the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the rotation direction R1 (see <FIG> and <FIG>) of the rotor <NUM> is, for example, a clockwise direction when the rotor <NUM> is viewed from the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. The separation system <NUM> rotationally drives the rotor <NUM> by the driving device <NUM>.

In the separation device <NUM>, rotation of the rotor <NUM> enables force to be applied to air flowing in the inside space (flow path) of the casing <NUM> in a rotation direction around the rotation central axis <NUM>. In the separation device <NUM>, the rotation of the rotor <NUM> rotates the plurality of blades <NUM> together with the rotor <NUM>, which results in that the velocity vector of the air flowing through the inside space of the casing <NUM> has a velocity component in a direction parallel to the rotation central axis <NUM> and a velocity component in the rotation direction around the rotation central axis <NUM>. In sum, in the separation device <NUM>, rotation of the rotor <NUM> and each blade <NUM> generates a swirling airflow in the casing <NUM>. The swirling airflow is a three-dimensional helically rotating airflow.

In the separation device <NUM>, solid substances contained in the air flowing in the casing <NUM> receive centrifugal force in a direction toward the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> from the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> while the air helically rotates in the inside space of the casing <NUM>. The solid substances receiving the centrifugal force move toward the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> and easily helically rotate along the inner peripheral surface <NUM> in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>. Then, in the separation device <NUM>, some of the solid substances in the air pass through the solid substance discharge port <NUM> and are discharged through the discharge tubular part <NUM> in the course of passing through the inside space of the casing <NUM>. The centrifugal force that acts on the solid substances is proportional to the mass of the solid substances. Thus, the solid substances having a relatively large mass are likely to reach the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> earlier than the solid substances having a relatively small mass.

In the separation device <NUM>, an airflow swirling in the inner space of the casing <NUM> (swirling flow) is generated. Thus, in the separation device <NUM>, some of the solid substances (e.g., dust) in the air flowing in the casing <NUM> through the gas inlet <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> are discharged through the solid substance discharge port <NUM> and the discharge tubular part <NUM>, and air (purified air) from which the solid substances have been separated (removed) flows out through the gas outlet <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>.

The separation device <NUM> has the space <NUM> in the casing <NUM>. Thus, in the separation device <NUM>, for example, even when an eddy flow is generated in a gap between two blades <NUM> adjacent to each other in the rotation direction R1 of the rotor <NUM> between the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>, the eddy flow is readily rectified into the helical airflow in the space <NUM> on the downstream side of each blade <NUM>. Particles having a relatively large particle size tend to deviate from the airflow when receiving the centrifugal force, approach the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>, and are easily discharged through the solid substance discharge port <NUM>. In contrast, particles having a relatively small particle size strongly tend to move with the airflow, but in the separation device <NUM>, the airflow is readily rectified into the helical airflow swirling along the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> in the space <NUM> on the downstream side of each blade <NUM>, and thus, the particles having a relatively small particle size are also easily discharged through the solid substance discharge port <NUM>.

Regarding separation characteristics of the separation device <NUM>, the separation efficiency tends to increase as the rotational velocity of the rotor <NUM> increases. Moreover, regarding the separation characteristics of the separation device <NUM>, the separation efficiency tends to increase as the separation particle size increases. In the separation device <NUM>, for example, the rotational velocity of the rotor <NUM> is preferably set such that fine particles larger than or equal to a prescribed particle size are separated. The fine particles having the prescribed particle size are assumed to be, for example, particles having an aerodynamic diameter of <NUM>. The term "aerodynamic diameter" means the diameter of a particle which is in terms of aerodynamic behavior, equivalent to a spherical particle having a specific gravity of <NUM>. The aerodynamic diameter is a particle size obtained from the sedimentation rate of a particle. Examples of the solid substances which are not separated by the separation device <NUM> and which remain in air include fine particles having a particle size smaller than the particle size of fine particles to be separated by the separation device <NUM> (in other words, fine particles having a mass smaller than the mass of the fine particles to be separated by the separation device <NUM>).

In the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment, it was found from a result of simulation that the separation efficiency of <NUM>% or greater is obtained for the fine particles having respective particle diameters of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The airflow in the casing <NUM> of the separation device <NUM> can be inferred from a result of simulation performed by using, for example, fluid analysis software. As the fluid analysis software, for example, ANSYS(R) Fluent(R) may be adopted. For the separation device <NUM>, the simulation results obtained by using the fluid analysis software were simulated by using software for particle trajectory analysis. As a method of the particle trajectory analysis, a Discrete Phase Model (DPM) may be adopted. In <FIG>, an example of the trajectory of a particle having a particle diameter of <NUM> in the casing <NUM> of the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment is shown in thick lines. <FIG> shows that the particle having a particle diameter of <NUM> is discharged through the solid substance discharge port <NUM>.

In the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the casing <NUM> has a space <NUM> extending to the solid substance discharge port <NUM> with respect to the second end <NUM> of each blade <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>. The separation device <NUM> further includes the discharge tubular part <NUM>. The discharge tubular part <NUM> has the inner space <NUM> in communicative connection with the solid substance discharge port <NUM> and protrudes from the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM>.

The configuration described above enables the separative performance of the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment to be improved.

The separation device <NUM> is disposed on the upstream side of an air filter such as a high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA filter) disposed on the upstream side of an air conditioning facility in an air purification system to be installed in, for example, a dwelling house. The "HEPA filter" is an air filter which has particle collection efficiency of higher than or equal to <NUM>% of particles having a particle size of <NUM> at a rated flow rate and whose initial pressure loss is <NUM> Pa or less. For the air filter, a particle collection efficiency of <NUM>% is not an essential condition. Providing the separation device <NUM> to the air purification system enables the air purification system to suppress the fine particles such as dust contained in air from reaching the air filter. Thus, the air purification system enables the life of, for example, an air filter provided on the downstream side of the separation device <NUM> to be prolonged. For example, the air purification system enables pressure loss to be suppressed from increasing due to an increase in gross mass of, for example, fine particles collected by the air filter. Thus, the air filter in the air purification system may be replaced with a reduced frequency. The configuration of the air purification system is not limited to a configuration in which the air filter and the air conditioning facility are housed in different housings, but the air filter may be provided in the housing of the air conditioning facility. In other words, the air conditioning facility may include an air filter in addition to the air blowing device.

The embodiment is a mere example of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Various modifications may be made to the embodiment depending on design and the like as long as the object of the present disclosure is achieved.

In the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment, when the rotor <NUM> and the structure <NUM> are integrally formed and the structure <NUM> is configured to rotate together with the rotor <NUM>, the rotor <NUM> and the structure <NUM> are integrally formed by, for example, resin-molding or the like. For example, when the material for the rotor <NUM> and the material for the structure <NUM> are the same resin, the rotor <NUM> and the structure <NUM> can be integrally molded at the time of manufacturing the separation device <NUM>. In the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment, when the structure <NUM> is configured to rotate together with the rotor <NUM>, a gap which is part of the space <NUM> is provided between the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM> and the structure <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The gap length between the bottom part <NUM> and the structure <NUM> is, for example, about several millimeters.

In a configuration in which a gap is provided between the bottom part <NUM> and the structure <NUM> as in the case of the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the flow velocity increases in the vicinity of the discharge tubular part <NUM>, which may have influence of reducing the separation efficiency of the particles.

In contrast, a separation device 1a according to a first variation is different the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment in that a projection <NUM> protruding from the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM> toward the space <NUM> of the casing <NUM> is further provided as shown in <FIG>. Regarding the separation device 1a according to the first variation, the same components as those of the separation device <NUM> of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs as those in the embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

The projection <NUM> overlaps the structure <NUM> when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>.

In the separation device 1a according to the first variation, the projection <NUM> is located on an outer side of the structure <NUM> when viewed in a direction along the rotation central axis <NUM>. The projection <NUM> is apart from the structure <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>. The projection <NUM> is cylindrical. The inner diameter of the projection <NUM> which is cylindrical is larger than the outer diameter of the structure <NUM> which is cylindrical, and smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical part <NUM>. From the viewpoint of suppressing turbulence of an airflow in the casing <NUM>, the difference between the inner diameter of the projection <NUM> and the outer diameter of the structure <NUM> is preferably small. The projection <NUM> is cylindrical as described above and is disposed coaxially with the structure <NUM> which is cylindrical and the cylindrical part <NUM>. In the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>, the distance between the structure <NUM> and the projection <NUM> is shorter than the distance between the projection <NUM> and the tubular part <NUM>. In the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>, the distance between the projection <NUM> and the tubular part <NUM> is longer than the shortest distance between each of the plurality of blades <NUM> and the tubular part <NUM>. The projection <NUM> overlaps part of each of the plurality of blades <NUM> when viewed in the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM>.

From the viewpoint of suppressing the turbulence of the airflow in the casing <NUM>, the shape of the structure <NUM> is preferably, but is not limited to being, cylindrical. Alternatively, the structure <NUM> may have a tubular shape other than the cylindrical shape. The structure <NUM> has a first end <NUM> adjacent to the rotor <NUM> in the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> and a second end <NUM> adjacent to the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM>. From the viewpoint of suppressing the turbulence of the airflow in the casing <NUM>, the separation device 1a preferably further includes a lid <NUM> for closing an opening of the second end <NUM> of the structure <NUM>. The lid <NUM> has a disk shape. The lid <NUM> may be molded integrally with the structure <NUM> or may be formed separately from the structure <NUM> and integrated into the structure <NUM> by an adhesive, a fixing tool, or the like. The configuration of the separation device 1a is not limited to including the lid <NUM>, but the separation device 1a may have a configuration without the lid <NUM>.

Providing the separation device 1a according to the first variation with the projection <NUM> can increase the flow path resistance in the vicinity of a gap between the bottom <NUM> of the casing <NUM> and the structure <NUM> and can suppress gas from flowing into the gap. Thus, in the separation device 1a according to the first variation, the separation efficiency can be improved compared to that in the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment.

A separation device 1b according to a second variation is different from the separation device 1a according to the first variation in that the projection <NUM> is located on an inner side of the structure <NUM> when viewed in a direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In the separation device 1b according to the second variation, the same components as those of the separation device 1a of the first variation are denoted by the same reference signs as those in the first variation, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

In the separation device 1b according to the second variation, the projection <NUM> is located on the inner side of the structure <NUM> when viewed in the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM>. The projection <NUM> is apart from the structure <NUM> in a direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>. The outer diameter of the projection <NUM> which is cylindrical is smaller than the inner diameter of the structure <NUM> which is cylindrical. From the viewpoint of suppressing turbulence of an airflow in the casing <NUM>, the difference between the outer diameter of the projection <NUM> and the inner diameter of the structure <NUM> is preferably small. The projection <NUM> is cylindrical as described above and is disposed coaxially with the structure <NUM> which is cylindrical and the cylindrical part <NUM>.

The separation device 1b according to the second variation further includes a partition wall <NUM> disposed in the structure <NUM> and facing the projection <NUM> in the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>. The partition wall <NUM> has a disk shape. The partition wall <NUM> has an outer peripheral part which is connected along the entire circumference to an inner peripheral surface of the structure <NUM>. In the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>, the distance between the partition wall <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the structure <NUM> is shorter than the distance between the partition wall <NUM> and the first end <NUM> of the structure <NUM>. Part of the projection <NUM> is housed in a space surrounded by the structure <NUM> and the partition wall <NUM> at the side of the second end <NUM> of the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the structure <NUM>.

In the separation device 1b according to the second variation, the projection <NUM> is disposed inside the structure <NUM> when viewed in the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM>, and thereby, the separation efficiency can be improved compared to that in the case of the projection <NUM> being disposed outside the structure <NUM> as in the case of the separation device 1a according to first variation.

A separation device 1c according to a third variation is different from the separation device 1b according to the second variation in that a part of the partition wall <NUM> is formed along an inner peripheral surface of the projection <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In the separation device 1c according to the third variation, the same components as those of the separation device 1b of the second variation are denoted by the same reference signs as those in the second variation, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

In the separation device 1c according to the third variation, the distance between a center part of the partition wall <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM> is shorter than the distance between the center part of the partition wall <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM> in the separation device 1b according to the second variation in a direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>.

In the separation device 1c according to the third variation, part of the partition wall <NUM> is formed along the inner peripheral surface of the projection <NUM>, and thereby, an airflow can be suppressed from entering a gap between the center part of the partition wall <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM> compared to the separation device 1b according to the second variation. Thus, in the separation device 1c according to the third variation, the airflow can be further suppressed from being turbulent, and the separation efficiency can be improved compared to that in the separation device 1b according to the second variation.

A separation device 1d according to a fourth variation is different from the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment in that the structure <NUM> is integrally formed with the casing <NUM> and that the structure <NUM> and the rotor <NUM> are apart from each other as shown in <FIG>. In the separation device 1d according to the fourth variation, the same components as those of the separation device <NUM> of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs as those in the embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

In the separation device 1d according to the fourth variation, the structure <NUM> is connected to the bottom <NUM> of the casing <NUM>. Further, in the separation device 1d according to the fourth variation, the structure <NUM> is apart from the rotor <NUM> and the plurality of blades <NUM> in a direction along the rotation central axis <NUM>, so that the structure <NUM> does not rotate even when the rotor <NUM> rotates. From the viewpoint of suppressing turbulence of an airflow in the casing <NUM>, the separation device 1d preferably further includes a lid <NUM> for closing an opening of the first end <NUM> of the structure <NUM>. The lid <NUM> has a disk shape. The lid <NUM> may be molded integrally with the structure <NUM> or may be formed separately from the structure <NUM> and integrated into the structure <NUM> by an adhesive, a fixing tool, or the like. The configuration of the separation device 1d is not limited to including the lid <NUM>, but the separation device 1d may have a configuration without the lid <NUM>.

The structure <NUM> may be molded integrally with the casing <NUM> or may be formed separately from the casing <NUM> and integrated into the casing <NUM> by an adhesive, a fixing tool, or the like.

In the separation device 1d according to the fourth variation, a gap does not have to be provided between the structure <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM> in the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM>, and the separation efficiency can be improved compared to that in the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment.

A separation device 1e according to a fifth variation is different from the separation device 1d according to the fourth variation in that part of the structure <NUM> overlaps part of the rotor <NUM> when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In the separation device 1e according to the fifth variation, the same components as those of the separation device 1d of the fourth variation are denoted by the same reference signs as those in the fourth variation, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

In the separation device 1e according to the fifth variation, the rotor <NUM> has a projection <NUM> which is cylindrical. The projection <NUM> protrudes toward the bottom part <NUM> from an outer peripheral part of a surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>. The surface <NUM> has a circular shape and faces the bottom part <NUM> of the casing <NUM>. In the separation device 1e according to the fifth variation, the inner diameter of the structure <NUM> is larger than the outer diameter of the projection <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>. From the viewpoint of suppressing turbulence of an airflow in the casing <NUM>, the difference between the outer diameter of the projection <NUM> and the inner diameter of the structure <NUM> is preferably small. In the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>, the length of the projection <NUM> is shorter than the length of the structure <NUM>. Further, in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>, the length of the projection <NUM> is greater than the distance between a plane including the surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> and a plane including an end face of the first end <NUM> of the structure <NUM>.

The separation device 1e according to the fifth variation further includes a partition wall <NUM>. The partition wall <NUM> is disposed in the structure <NUM> and faces the projection <NUM> in a direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>. The partition wall <NUM> has a disk shape. The partition wall <NUM> has an outer peripheral part which is connected along the entire circumference to an inner peripheral surface of the structure <NUM>. In the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>, the distance between the partition wall <NUM> and the first end <NUM> of the structure <NUM> is shorter than the distance between the partition wall <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the structure <NUM>. Part of the projection <NUM> is housed in a space surrounded by the structure <NUM> and the partition wall <NUM> at the side of the first end <NUM> of the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the structure <NUM>.

In the separation device 1e according to the fifth variation, part of the structure <NUM> overlaps part of the rotor <NUM> when viewed in the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>. Thus, in the separation device 1e according to the fifth variation, the airflow can be suppressed from being turbulent, and the separation efficiency can be improved compared to that in the separation device 1d according to the fourth variation.

A separation device 1f according to a sixth variation is different from the separation device 1e according to the fifth variation in that part of the partition wall <NUM> has a shape along an inner peripheral surface of the projection <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In the separation device 1f according to the sixth variation, the same components as those of the separation device 1e of the fifth variation are denoted by the same reference signs as those in the fifth variation, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

In the separation device 1f according to the sixth variation, the distance between a center part of the partition wall <NUM> and the surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> is shorter than the distance between the center part of the partition wall <NUM> and the surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> in the separation device 1e according to the fifth variation in a direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>.

In the separation device 1f according to the sixth variation, part of the partition wall <NUM> has a shape along the inner peripheral surface of the projection <NUM>, and thereby, an airflow can be suppressed from entering a gap between the center part of the partition wall <NUM> and surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> compared to the separation device 1e according to the fifth variation. Thus, in the separation device 1f according to the sixth variation, the airflow can be further suppressed from being turbulent, and the separation efficiency can be improved compared to that in the separation device 1e according to the fifth variation.

A separation device <NUM> according to a seventh variation is different from the separation device 1d according to the fourth variation in that part of the structure <NUM> is disposed on an inner side of the rotor <NUM> when viewed in a direction along the rotation central axis <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In the separation device <NUM> according to the seventh variation, the same components as those of the separation device 1d of the fourth variation are denoted by the same reference signs as those in the fourth variation, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

The separation device <NUM> according to the seventh variation has a recess <NUM> formed in a surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>. The surface <NUM> faces the bottom <NUM> of the casing <NUM> and is circular. Part of the structure <NUM> is housed in the recess <NUM>. The shape and the dimension of an opening of the recess <NUM> are determined such that the structure <NUM> does not interfere with the rotation of the rotor <NUM>. The opening of the recess <NUM> has a circular shape. The inner diameter of the opening of the recess <NUM> is larger than the outer diameter of the structure <NUM>. In the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM>, a gap is provided between the structure <NUM> and a bottom surface of the recess <NUM>.

In the separation device <NUM> according to the seventh variation, part of the structure <NUM> is located on the inner side of the rotor <NUM> when viewed in the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM>. Thus, in the separation device <NUM> according to the seventh variation, the airflow can be suppressed from being turbulent, and the separation efficiency can be improved compared to that in the separation device 1d according to the fourth variation.

In the separation device <NUM> according to the seventh variation, the rotor <NUM> may have a tubular shape capable of housing part of the structure <NUM> instead of forming the recess <NUM> in the rotor <NUM>.

For example, the tubular part <NUM> of separation device <NUM> may include a plurality of gas outlets <NUM>. In this case, the separation device <NUM> may include a plurality of outlet tubular parts <NUM>. Further, the separation device <NUM> does not have to include the outlet tubular part <NUM>.

Further, in the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment, the gas inlet <NUM> penetrates the tubular part <NUM> in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM> (surface including the gas inlet <NUM> intersects the axial direction D1), but this should not be interpreted as limiting. The surface including the gas inlet <NUM> may orthogonally intersect the direction orthogonal to the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM>.

Moreover, the solid substance discharge port <NUM> is not limited to being at a location where the solid substance discharge port <NUM> does not overlap the blades <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>. The solid substance discharge port <NUM> may be at a location where the solid substance discharge port <NUM> at least partially overlaps the blades <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>. In this case, as viewed in the axial direction D1 of the tubular part <NUM> (i.e., as viewed in the direction along the rotation central axis <NUM>), the solid substance discharge port <NUM> does not overlap with any of the plurality of blades <NUM>. In this case, for example, the protruding length of the plurality of blades <NUM> from the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> is determined such that each blade <NUM> does not collides with a peripheral edge of the solid substance discharge port <NUM>.

The casing <NUM> of the separation device <NUM> may have a solid substance discharge port <NUM> disposed not to overlap the blades <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM> and a solid substance discharge port disposed to overlap the blades <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>.

The tubular part <NUM> does not necessarily include a plurality of solid substance discharge ports <NUM> but may have one solid substance discharge port.

Moreover, the plurality of solid substance discharge ports <NUM> are not limited to having the same shape but may have different shapes.

Moreover, each of the plurality of blades <NUM> has a tip end adjacent to the tubular part <NUM> and a base end adjoining the rotor <NUM>, and the tip end may be located frontward of the base end in the rotation direction R1 of the rotor <NUM> in the protrusion direction from the rotor <NUM>.

Moreover, each of the plurality of blades <NUM> may have a shape having one or more curved portions in the shape of, for example, an arc.

Moreover, each of the plurality of blades <NUM> may have a helical shape around the rotation central axis <NUM> of the rotor <NUM>. Here, "helical" is not limited to a helical shape with one or more turns but includes a shape corresponding to part of the helical shape with one turn.

Moreover, the rotor <NUM> may include a plurality of rotary members. In this case, in the rotor <NUM>, for example, the rotary members aligned in a direction along the central axis <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> are coupled to each other.

Moreover, the gas flowing through the gas inlet <NUM> of the tubular part <NUM> into the casing <NUM> is not limited to air but may be, for example, exhaust gas.

Moreover, the separation device <NUM> according to the embodiment may further include a lid <NUM> for closing an opening of a second end <NUM> of the structure <NUM> as in the case of the separation device 1a according to the first variation.

The present specification discloses the following aspects.

A separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a first aspect includes a casing (<NUM>), a rotor (<NUM>), and a blade (<NUM>). The casing (<NUM>) includes a tubular part (<NUM>) having a circular inner peripheral shape. The rotor (<NUM>) is disposed on an inner side of the tubular part (<NUM>) and is rotatable around a rotation central axis (<NUM>) extending along an axial direction (D1) of the tubular part (<NUM>). The blade (<NUM>) is disposed between the tubular part (<NUM>) and the rotor (<NUM>) and is configured to rotate together with the rotor (<NUM>). The tubular part (<NUM>) includes a gas inlet (<NUM>), a gas outlet (<NUM>), and a solid substance discharge port (<NUM>). The gas outlet (<NUM>) is apart from the gas inlet (<NUM>) in the axial direction and is in communicative connection with an inside and an outside of the tubular part (<NUM>) between a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>) of the tubular part (<NUM>) in the axial direction. The solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) is aligned with the gas outlet (<NUM>) in a direction along an outer periphery of the tubular part (<NUM>). The blade (<NUM>) has a first end (<NUM>) adjacent to the gas inlet (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>) adjacent to the gas outlet (<NUM>). The casing (<NUM>) has a space (<NUM>) extending to the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) with respect to the second end (<NUM>) of the blade (<NUM>) in the axial direction (D1). The separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) further includes a discharge tubular part (<NUM>). The discharge tubular part (<NUM>) has an inner space (<NUM>) in communicative connection with the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) and protrudes from an outer peripheral surface (<NUM>) of the tubular part (<NUM>).

In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the first aspect, the separative performance of separating solid substances contained in a gas from the gas is improved.

In a separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a second aspect referring to the first aspect, the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) of the tubular part (<NUM>) has an inner peripheral surface having an inner rear surface (<NUM>) located rearward and an inner front surface (<NUM>) located frontward in a direction along a rotation direction (R1) of the rotor (<NUM>). The inner rear surface.

(<NUM>) is extended along one tangential direction of an inner peripheral surface (<NUM>) of the tubular part (<NUM>) when viewed in the axial direction (D1) of the tubular part (<NUM>). The discharge tubular part (<NUM>) protrudes in a direction along the one tangential direction when viewed in the axial direction (D1) of the tubular part (<NUM>).

The separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the second aspect facilitates discharge of the solid substances contained in the gas through the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) and the discharge tubular part (<NUM>).

A separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a third aspect referring to the first or second aspect further includes an outlet tubular part (<NUM>). The outlet tubular part (<NUM>) has an inner space (<NUM>) in communicative connection with the gas outlet (<NUM>) and protrudes from the outer peripheral surface (<NUM>) of the tubular part (<NUM>).

The separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the third aspect facilitates the flow of the gas, from which the solid substances have been separated, through the gas outlet (<NUM>) and the outlet tubular part (<NUM>).

In a separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a fourth aspect referring to any one of the first to third aspects, the discharge tubular part (<NUM>) is at a location where the discharge tubular part (<NUM>) does not overlap the blade (<NUM>) in a direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis (<NUM>).

In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the fourth aspect, the separation efficiency is improved compared to that in the case of the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) being located at a location where the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) at least partially overlaps the blade (<NUM>) in the direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis (<NUM>).

A separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a fifth aspect is based on any one of the first to fourth aspects. In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>), the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) has an opening width greater than an opening width of the gas outlet (<NUM>) in the axial direction (D1) of the tubular part (<NUM>).

In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the fifth embodiment, the separation efficiency is improved compared to that in the case of the opening width of the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) being narrower than or equal to the opening width of the gas outlet (<NUM>) in the axial direction (D1) of tubular part (<NUM>).

A separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a sixth aspect is based on the fifth aspect. In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>), a distance between the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) and the blade (<NUM>) is shorter than a distance between the gas outlet (<NUM>) and the blade (<NUM>) in a direction along the axial direction (D1).

In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the sixth aspect, the separation efficiency is improved is improved.

A separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a seventh aspect is based on the fifth or sixth aspect. In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>), the opening width of the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) is narrower than the opening width of the gas outlet (<NUM>) in the direction along the outer periphery of the tubular part (<NUM>).

In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the seventh aspect, pressure loss is suppressed.

In a separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of an eighth aspect referring to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the tubular part (<NUM>) includes a plurality of the solid substance discharge ports (<NUM>). The separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) includes a plurality of the discharge tubular parts (<NUM>).

In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the eighth aspect, the separation efficiency is improved is improved.

In a separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a ninth aspect referring to the eighth aspect, the discharge tubular parts (<NUM>) are arranged to have revolution symmetry when viewed in the axial direction (D1) of the tubular part (<NUM>).

In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the ninth aspect, an airflow is suppressed from being turbulent, and the separation efficiency is improved is improved.

A separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a tenth aspect referring to any one of the first to ninth aspects further includes a rectifying structure (<NUM>). The rectifying structure (<NUM>) is disposed between the gas inlet (<NUM>) and the rotor (<NUM>) on the inner side of the tubular part (<NUM>) and is configured to rectify a flow of a gas flowing in through the gas inlet (<NUM>).

The separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the tenth aspect is capable of rectifying the flow of gas flowing into the tubular part (<NUM>).

In a separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of an eleventh aspect referring to any one of the first to tenth aspects, the gas inlet (<NUM>) penetrates the tubular part (<NUM>) in the axial direction (D1).

In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the eleventh aspect, pressure loss can be suppressed.

A separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a twelfth aspect referring to any one of the first to eleventh aspects further includes a structure (<NUM>). The structure (<NUM>) is disposed along the rotation central axis (<NUM>) of the rotor (<NUM>). At least part of the structure (<NUM>) is disposed in the space (<NUM>).

In the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the twelfth aspect, the separation efficiency is improved is improved.

In a separation device (1a; 1b; 1c) of a thirteenth aspect referring to the twelfth aspect, the casing <NUM> includes a bottom part (<NUM>) which closes an opening of the second end (<NUM>) of the tubular part (<NUM>). The structure (<NUM>) is integrated with the rotor (<NUM>). The separation device (1a; 1b; 1c) further includes a projection (<NUM>). The projection (<NUM>) protrudes from the bottom part (<NUM>) of the casing (<NUM>) toward the space (<NUM>) of the casing (<NUM>). The projection (<NUM>) overlaps the structure (<NUM>) when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis (<NUM>).

In the separation device (1a; 1b; 1c) of the thirteenth aspect, the separation efficiency is improved is improved.

In a separation device (1b; 1c) of a fourteenth aspect referring to the thirteenth aspect, the structure (<NUM>) is tubular. the projection (<NUM>) is disposed inside the structure (<NUM>) when viewed in a direction along the rotation central axis (<NUM>).

In the separation device (1b; 1c) of the fourteenth aspect, the separation efficiency is improved compared to that in the case of the projection (<NUM>) being disposed outside the structure (<NUM>) when viewed in the direction along the rotation central axis (<NUM>).

In a separation device (1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a fifteenth aspect referring to the twelfth aspect, the structure (<NUM>) is integrated with the casing (<NUM>). The structure (<NUM>) and the rotor (<NUM>) are apart from each other.

In the separation device (1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the fifteenth aspect, the separation efficiency is improved is improved.

In a separation device (1e; 1f; <NUM>) of a sixteenth aspect referring to the fifteenth aspect, part of the structure (<NUM>) overlaps part of the rotor (<NUM>) when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation central axis <NUM>.

In the separation device (1e; 1f; <NUM>) of the sixteenth aspect, the separation efficiency is improved is improved.

In the separation device (<NUM>) of the seventeenth aspect referring to the sixteenth aspect, part of the structure (<NUM>) is disposed inside the rotor (<NUM>) when viewed in a direction along the rotation central axis (<NUM>).

In the separation device (<NUM>) of the seventeenth aspect, the separation efficiency is improved.

The constituent elements of the second to seventeenth aspects are not essential constituent elements for the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) and may thus be omitted as appropriate.

A separation system (<NUM>) of an eighteenth aspect includes the separation device (<NUM>; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e; 1f; <NUM>) of any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, and a driving device (<NUM>). The driving device (<NUM>) is configured to rotationally drive the rotor (<NUM>).

Claim 1:
A separation device (<NUM>, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, <NUM>) comprising:
a casing (<NUM>) including a tubular part (<NUM>) having a circular inner peripheral shape;
a rotor (<NUM>) disposed on an inner side of the tubular part (<NUM>) and rotatable around a rotation central axis (<NUM>) extending along an axial direction (D1) of the tubular part (<NUM>); and
a blade (<NUM>) disposed between the tubular part (<NUM>) and the rotor (<NUM>) and configured to rotate together with the rotor (<NUM>),
the tubular part (<NUM>) including
a gas inlet (<NUM>),
a gas outlet (<NUM>) apart from the gas inlet (<NUM>) in the axial direction (D1) and in communicative connection with an inside and an outside of the tubular part (<NUM>) between a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>) of the tubular part (<NUM>) in the axial direction (D1), and
the blade (<NUM>) having a first end (<NUM>) adjacent to the gas inlet (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>) adjacent to the gas outlet (<NUM>),
characterized by
a solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) aligned with the gas outlet (<NUM>) in a direction along an outer periphery of the tubular part (<NUM>),
the casing (<NUM>) having a space (<NUM>) extending to the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) with respect to the second end (<NUM>) of the blade (<NUM>) in the axial direction (D1), and
the separation device (<NUM>, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, <NUM>) further comprising a discharge tubular part (<NUM>) having an inner space (<NUM>) in communicative connection with the solid substance discharge port (<NUM>) and protruding from an outer peripheral surface (<NUM>) of the tubular part (<NUM>).