Evaporator and related method

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for vaporizing a liquid and heating the vaporized liquid to an elevated temperature. The apparatus has a heat transfer wall having an outer surface for receiving heat and transferring the heat to an inner surface. A wick material is disposed so that a portion of the wick material is in contact with the inner surface and another portion is remote from the heat transfer wall. A wick support in contact with the wick material opposite the inner surface of the heat transfer wall provides structural support to the wick material and further provides a path for vaporized liquid to flow from the wick material. Vaporizable liquid is delivered to the portion of the wick material that is remote from the heat transfer wall and is allowed to migrate to the portion that is in contact with the inner surface. Heat from the inner surface converts the liquid to a vaporized liquid. Optionally, a gaseous fuel may be introduced into the wick support for pre-heating and mixing with the vaporized liquid. Vaporized liquid flows out of the wick material through the wick support and into a downstream superheater that preferably houses a heat exchange device. The heat exchange device is in thermal communication with the inner surface of the heat transfer wall for receiving and transferring heat to the vaporized liquid. The apparatus can include multiple vaporization units connected to common and / or different heat sources. Methods for making an apparatus for vaporizing a liquid and methods for vaporizing a liquid are also disclosed.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the field of evaporators, digesters and heat exchange devices for converting liquids into gases at high temperatures. In particular, the apparatus and methods of the present invention may be used to generate high quality high temperature steam for use in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, fuel processing applications. Background technique [0002] The evaporation of liquids, especially water, is a very common technique. The traditional method of evaporating water involves heating a puddle of water to its boiling temperature and obtaining the vapor that emanates from the liquid. Common evaporation techniques use shell and tube evaporator designs. In the case of smaller shell and tube evaporators, the water to be evaporated resides in the space surrounding the heat exchange tubes. In the larger case of shell and tube evaporators, water flows internally through heat exchange tubes that are heated by heat f...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, for systems using a separator drum, the start-up time required to start producing vapor product is highly dependent on the size of the separator drum, and such time can extend to several hours

Moreover, the methods used to separate and remove the liquid components from the evaporated liquid would increase the size, cost and complexity of the evaporation equipment

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