Condensing device, method for operating condensing device, and household appliance

Through the capillary structure design of the diversion layer and the diversion member, combined with capillary action and gravity, the existing condensation equipment has been solved, and the efficient condensation rate and equipment miniaturization are achieved, simplifying the structure and reducing maintenance costs.

CN120385233APending Publication Date: 2025-07-29马昆

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202510120844.8
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-01-27
Filing Date
2025-01-24
Publication Date
2025-07-29

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing liquid treatment condensation treatment equipment has complex structure, high cost and large volume, making it difficult to promote in home use or miniaturized scenarios. The inclined design increases the equipment volume and mass transfer resistance, and reduces the temperature difference driving force.

Method used

The capillary structure design of the guide layer and the guide member is adopted, combining capillary action and gravity action to achieve continuous discharge of condensate, cancel the water collection tank, and the condensation surface can be set horizontally to simplify the structure and reduce the equipment volume.

Benefits of technology

It improves the condensation rate, simplifies the equipment structure, reduces energy consumption and failure rates, is suitable for miniaturized and integrated applications, facilitates production and maintenance, and reduces maintenance costs.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The condensing device comprises a condensing part, a flow guide layer, at least one flow guide piece and a flow guide channel, the flow guide layer is arranged on the condensing face of the condensing part, and the flow guide layer and the flow guide piece are each provided with a capillary structure; one end face of the flow guide piece is connected with the flow guide layer in an attached mode and arranged in the flow guide channel, and the flow guide channel is used for keeping attached connection. Condensate generated on the condensing surface and the flow guide layer is continuously discharged through the capillary action and the gravity action of the flow guide layer and the flow guide piece. The invention further relates to a method for operating a condensing device and to a domestic appliance comprising a condensing device.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of liquid treatment for liquid phase change, and more particularly, to a condensation device. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for a condensation device and a household appliance including the condensation device. Background Art

[0002] Currently, liquid treatment condensation treatment equipment (also known as liquid treatment distillation treatment equipment) is mainly applied in industrial and laboratory environments, and it purifies sewage through condensation technology (also known as distillation technology). However, such equipment generally has problems of complex structure, high manufacturing cost, and large equipment volume, which limits its popularization and application in household or miniaturized scenarios.

[0003] Existing sewage condensation treatment equipment usually includes multiple modules such as an evaporator, a condenser, an air flow channel, a pump system, and a control unit. The connection between each module requires precise technology and high-standard materials, which significantly increases the manufacturing cost of the equipment. At the same time, to ensure sufficient treatment efficiency and reliability, the volume of the equipment is often large, occupying more space and being difficult to adapt to application scenarios with high requirements for miniaturization and integration. In addition, the complex structure and high maintenance cost further limit the popularization of the equipment. Especially in the direction of household appliances, it is difficult for such equipment to achieve a simple and user-friendly operation interface and cannot meet the requirements of the daily household environment for small volume, simple operation, and moderate price.

[0004] In addition, in order to use the gravity effect to smoothly drain the condensate from the surface of the condensation cover, small and simple liquid treatment condensation treatment equipment usually improves the drainage effect of the condensate by designing a certain inclination angle. However, this inclination design also brings some technical problems that cannot be ignored: the introduction of the inclination angle of the condensation cover requires providing sufficient space in the geometric design of the condensation cover to achieve an appropriate inclined surface, which results in a significant increase in the overall volume of the condensation cover; in an application scenario with a compact equipment layout, the increase in the volume of the condensation cover may occupy more installation space and limit the feasibility of the system; in addition, a condensation cover with too large a volume will also increase the manufacturing cost and material usage of the equipment. At the same time, the design of the inclination angle usually requires maintaining a certain space between the condensation surface and the evaporation interface of the condensation cover. When the distance increases, the vapor needs to diffuse to the condensation surface on a longer path, and the interaction between vapor molecules and between vapor and air leads to an increase in mass transfer resistance, and the vapor may be partially cooled during the diffusion process, making its temperature closer to the temperature of the condensation surface when it reaches the condensation surface, reducing the temperature difference driving force.

[0005] Document CN109292874A discloses a solar distiller for collecting condensate based on capillary action. The distiller includes a condensation plate having a condensation surface and a drip surface, and the drip surface is in contact with the inner wall of the inner baffle of the water collection tank in a lapping manner. When the hot steam from the liquid storage tank contacts the condensation surface, the steam condenses into liquid on this surface. The condensed liquid is transported from the condensation surface to the drip surface under capillary action and forms a water flow or water droplets under the action of gravity and flows into the water collection tank. However, in this solution, the length of the water collection tank needs to match the length of the drip surface, which increases the volume, structural complexity and manufacturing cost of the device. In addition, since the drip surface adopts a flexible structure and can only be arranged at the edge of the condensation surface, it is not conducive to production and later replacement.

[0006] Document CN113443669A discloses a distillation treatment device, which includes a first capillary layer and a second capillary layer, and there is a gap between the two capillary layers. The first end of the first capillary layer extends into the high-concentration brine, and the second end is used for precipitating crystalline salt; the first end of the second capillary layer is arranged below the heating part of the first capillary layer, and the second end extends to the fresh water collection device, and water vapor reaches the second capillary layer through the gap and condenses to obtain fresh water. However, in this solution, it is still necessary to collect fresh water through a fresh water collection device, and the second capillary layer adopts a flexible structure, which is not conducive to production and later replacement.

[0007] Document CN113247981A discloses a distiller, which closely adheres a water absorption wire mesh on the condensation cover plate of the first-stage distiller, and provides capillary force through multiple cotton threads above the water absorption wire mesh to suck the condensed water on the cover plate into the water collection tray to prevent the condensed liquid from dripping back into the water tank of the first-stage distiller. However, in this solution, it is still necessary to use a water collection tray to collect condensed water, and the water absorption wire mesh used is a flexible material, which is not conducive to production and later replacement, and since the interval between the cotton threads is 1-2 cm, the water absorption wire mesh cannot fully cover the condensation surface.

[0008] Document CN206094501U discloses a radiation plate for passively removing condensate, which includes a plate body, at least one heat transfer channel and at least one dehumidification channel, and the radiation plate is made of a porous medium material. In this technical solution, a plurality of liquid guides are arranged above the dehumidification channel to export the moisture inside the radiation plate and drive it downward by gravity. A condensate collection tank is arranged below the dehumidification channel to collect the condensate droplets falling from the liquid guides. However, this solution requires a large number of liquid guides, which increases the equipment cost; at the same time, the surface of the liquid guide needs to be coated with a hydrophilic coating, which not only increases the surface treatment process, but also the hydrophilic coating has a service life problem.

[0009] Therefore, the complexity and high cost of existing liquid treatment and condensation treatment equipment have become the main obstacles to their promotion. There is an urgent need for a solution with a simpler structure, lower cost, smaller volume and suitable for large-scale production. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved condensation device and method to solve the problems of complex structure, high cost, large volume, and difficulty in production in the prior art.

[0011] To this end, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a condensation device is provided, including a condensation part, a diversion layer, at least one diversion member, and a diversion channel, wherein:

[0012] The diversion layer is arranged on the condensation surface of the condensation part, and both the diversion layer and the diversion member have a capillary structure;

[0013] One end surface of the diversion member is connected to the diversion layer and placed in the diversion channel, and this diversion channel is used for maintaining the connection;

[0014] The condensate generated on the condensation surface and the diversion layer is continuously discharged through the capillary action and gravity of the diversion layer and the diversion member.

[0015] The present invention realizes the efficient and continuous transportation and discharge of condensate by cleverly combining the capillary structure and gravity. Both the diversion layer and the diversion member have a capillary structure, which enables the condensate to flow rapidly in the diversion layer by capillary force and be effectively transferred to the diversion member. The diversion member is like a miniature capillary pump, continuously sucking the condensate out of the diversion layer and discharging it in the form of droplets under the action of gravity. This design effectively avoids the thickening of the liquid film or the formation of droplets on the condensation surface, thereby maintaining a stable thermal resistance and ensuring the continuous and efficient progress of the condensation process. Therefore, the present invention significantly improves the condensation rate and accelerates the overall efficiency of the distillation or condensation process.

[0016] Adopting the design of the present invention, the condensation surface can be set horizontally, which greatly shortens the distance between the condensation surface and the evaporation interface. A shorter distance means a smaller heat transfer resistance, which can further improve the evaporation and condensation rates. At the same time, the horizontal condensation surface design also makes the product structure simpler and more compact, facilitating the miniaturization and integration of the equipment, as well as the installation and maintenance of the equipment.

[0017] The present invention uses the capillary force of the diversion member to pump the condensate and discharge it centrally, cleverly avoiding the collection tank commonly used in traditional designs. The absence of a collection tank not only simplifies the structure, reduces the number of components, but also effectively reduces the volume of the equipment, making the equipment lighter and more compact. This is particularly important for application scenarios with limited space.

[0018] The diversion member in the present invention can be quickly connected and separated from the diversion layer, and this design greatly improves the production efficiency, especially suitable for mass production. At the same time, this detachable design also facilitates later maintenance and replacement, reduces the maintenance cost, and extends the service life of the equipment.

[0019] The overall system design of the present invention is simple and efficient, suitable for both miniaturized and integrated applications and large-scale applications. It effectively improves the condensation efficiency, simplifies the device structure, reduces the energy consumption and failure rate, significantly enhances the service life and economy of the device, and has good application prospects.

[0020] Preferably, the diversion layer includes at least one of capillary structures such as fibrous capillary structure, granular capillary structure, reticular capillary structure, layered capillary structure, hole-shaped capillary structure, microgroove-shaped capillary structure, and sharp-cornered capillary structure.

[0021] Preferably, the diversion member is made of a fibrous material and still maintains structural stability after absorbing water.

[0022] Preferably, the condensation device further includes a spring, which is used to ensure continuous contact of the connection part between the diversion layer and the diversion member.

[0023] Preferably, the condensation device further includes a container, and the diversion channel and the diversion member are arranged at any position inside the container.

[0024] Preferably, the condensation device further includes a capillary connector. One end face of the diversion member is connected to the diversion layer through the capillary connector, and the capillary connector has elasticity to adapt to the interval change between one end face of the diversion member and the diversion layer.

[0025] Preferably, the condensation device further includes a seal, which is arranged between the condensation part and the container to form a first chamber for preventing the condensate and steam from leaking out through the gap between the condensation part and the container.

[0026] Preferably, the condensation part is a corrugated structure.

[0027] Preferably, heat dissipation fins are arranged on the heat dissipation surface of the condensation part.

[0028] Preferably, the condensation part is an arched structure.

[0029] Preferably, a liquid cooling channel is arranged inside the condensation part.

[0030] Preferably, the condensation device includes a plurality of containers, which are stacked vertically in sequence. The bottom surface of each container serves as the condensation surface of the upper-stage condensation part, and diversion layers are provided on both the condensation surface and the bottom of the container.

[0031] Preferably, the condensation device further includes a liquid inlet channel and an overflow channel, which are arranged coaxially and are used for connecting the overflow channel of the upper container to the liquid inlet channel of the lower container when a plurality of containers are stacked.

[0032] Preferably, the condensing device further includes a fan, a heat source part, and a heat insulation layer. The fan is used to accelerate the air flow around the surface of the condensing part. The heat source part is used to heat the liquid to be processed in the container. The heat insulation layer is arranged on the outer layer of the container to reduce the heat dissipation from the inside of the container to the outside.

[0033] Preferably, the flow guiding layer is made of a high thermal conductivity material. The high thermal conductivity material includes a metal material with a capillary structure, such as a copper mesh or a titanium mesh, and the flow guiding layer is a single-layer or multi-layer structure.

[0034] Preferably, a drainage channel is also provided for the flow guiding layer. The drainage channel is arranged in at least one of a linear structure, a tree structure, a mesh structure, and a meridian-like structure.

[0035] Preferably, the drainage channel is adhesively connected to the flow guiding layer, and one end face of the flow guiding member is connected to the drainage channel to form a continuous capillary channel.

[0036] Preferably, the flow guiding layer can be made of a non-woven fabric made of a fiber material.

[0037] Preferably, the flow guiding member can be an absorbent cotton strip made of a fiber material.

[0038] Preferably, a part of the flow guiding member can penetrate into a spring.

[0039] Preferably, the materials of the flow guiding layer and the flow guiding member can be subjected to hydrophilic treatment.

[0040] Preferably, the flow guiding layer has a thickness of 0.01 - 5 mm.

[0041] Preferably, when the area of the flow guiding layer is large, a plurality of flow guiding members and drainage channels matching the flow guiding members can be arranged at any position of the flow guiding layer.

[0042] Preferably, the flow guiding layer and / or the flow guiding member can be made of a high thermal conductivity material, such as a copper mesh or a titanium mesh made of a metal material with a capillary structure.

[0043] Preferably, the flow guiding layer can be a single layer or a multi-layer stack.

[0044] Preferably, the flow guiding member and / or the flow guiding member can be made of materials such as sintered metal materials, porous metal materials, and metal foams.

[0045] Preferably, the capillary connecting member can be made of a polymer.

[0046] Preferably, the sealing member can adopt a planar structure, and one side of the sealing member can also be adhesively fixed on the condensing part or the container; the sealing member can also be a circular or rectangular cross-section structure, and the sealing member can also be placed in a sealing member receiving groove on the container; the condensing part and the container can be fixedly connected by means of screws, magnetic attraction, snap connection, etc.

[0047] Preferably, the shape of the diversion layer matches the cross-section of the first chamber and the upper cross-section of the diversion channel, and is spaced a certain distance, such as 1-5 mm, from the inner edge of the seal.

[0048] Preferably, the heat source part can be arranged at the bottom of the container to transfer heat to the liquid to be treated through the bottom of the container. The heat source part can also be arranged inside the container to reduce the influence of the thermal resistance of the container material on heat transfer. The heat source part can also be arranged in the first chamber to directly heat the liquid to be treated. In addition, when the container is made of a metal material, the heat source part can also be an electromagnetic coil, and the metal container is heated by eddy current to heat the liquid to be treated.

[0049] Preferably, the thermal insulation layer includes at least one of polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam (EPS), vacuum insulation panel (VIP), aerogel felt, rubber and plastic thermal insulation material, glass fiber, and perlite.

[0050] Preferably, the liquid cooling channels include, but are not limited to, straight channels, bent channels, spiral channels, serpentine channels, grid channels, and branch channels.

[0051] In addition, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a condensation device is provided, wherein the condensation device is constructed according to the above preferred design solutions.

[0052] In addition, according to the third aspect of the present invention, a household appliance is provided, which includes a condensation device constructed according to the above preferred design solutions.

[0053] Preferably, the household appliance can be an aquarium, a floor sweeping robot, a floor washing machine, a pet drinking fountain, a dishwasher, etc.

[0054] The various design solutions of the present invention can be implemented alone or in any combination. In particular, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the features mentioned above and to be explained below can be used not only in the described combinations, but also in other combinations or alone. Description of the Drawings

[0055] The drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. For clarity, not every component is labeled in each drawing. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the schematic drawings, in which:

[0056] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a condensation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0057] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of the position of the diversion channel and the diversion member in the container in

[0058] Figure 3 The structural schematic diagram of a condensation device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0059] Figure 4 The structural schematic diagram of a condensation device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0060] Figure 5 The schematic diagram of the first structure of the condensation part according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0061] Figure 6 The schematic diagram of the second structure of the condensation part according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0062] Figure 7 The schematic diagram of the third structure of the condensation part according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0063] Figure 8 The structural schematic diagram of a multi-stage condensation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0064] Figure 9 The structural schematic diagram of a condensation device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0065] Figure 10 The structural schematic diagram of a multi-stage condensation device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0066] In each figure, elements having the same function and mode of action are respectively provided with the same reference signs. Detailed implementation manners

[0067] The aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the details of the construction and arrangement of the elements set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The aspects and embodiments disclosed herein can be practiced or carried out in various ways.

[0068] Figure 1 The structural schematic diagram of a condensation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The condensation device includes a diversion layer 02, a diversion member 03, a spring 11, a diversion channel 06, and a water outlet 07. Among them, both the diversion layer 02 and the diversion member 03 have a capillary structure, and the diversion layer 02 is adhesively connected to the condensation surface 09.

[0069] The diversion layer 02 may include at least one of a fibrous capillary structure, a granular capillary structure, a reticular capillary structure, a layered capillary structure, a hole-shaped capillary structure, a microgroove-shaped capillary structure, and a sharp-cornered capillary structure. For example, the diversion layer 02 may be made of a non-woven fabric made of a fibrous material.

[0070] The condensation surface 09 of the condensation part 01 is closely attached to the diversion layer 02, which is achieved by at least one of the methods such as fitting, bonding, gluing, hot melting, sintering, hot air bonding or welding.

[0071] The diversion member 03 is a capillary structure material with a certain mechanical strength to ensure that the diversion member 03 does not deform under wet and dry conditions, so as to achieve rapid connection and separation between the diversion member 03 and the diversion layer 02. For example, when the diversion member 03 is made of a water-absorbing cotton strip, it is usually made of a fiber material. Through a reasonable fiber arrangement method and bonding technology, it is ensured that it has sufficient tensile strength and tear resistance during use. At the same time, the water-absorbing cotton strip can still maintain a certain structural stability after absorbing water, and will not lose its bearing capacity or cause fiber separation due to water absorption expansion.

[0072] The diversion member 03 is placed in the diversion channel 06. The diversion channel 06 is used to keep the upper end surface of the diversion member 03 in full contact with the diversion layer 02 to ensure full connection of the capillary channels between the diversion member 03 and the diversion layer 02. The diversion channel 06 is also used to isolate the liquid to be treated to form an independent and clean condensate transmission channel. One end surface of the diversion member 03 is attached to the diversion layer 02, and the spring force of the spring 11 ensures continuous contact of the connection part between the diversion layer 02 and the diversion member 03, avoiding the generation of gaps caused by manufacturing or installation errors, or thermal expansion and contraction of materials, or disassembly and assembly processes, which may affect the rapid transmission of condensate. Therefore, the elastic deformation ability of the spring 11 can be compensated within a certain range, making the connection between the diversion layer 02 and the diversion member 03 more adaptable.

[0073] Figure 2 shows Figure 1 a schematic structural diagram of the positions of the diversion channel and the diversion member in a container. Among them, the diversion channel 06 and the diversion member 03 are arranged in the middle of the container 05. A part of the diversion member 03 can penetrate into the spring 11 to select a spring with a longer stroke and a softer elastic force, avoiding excessive elastic force from compressing the capillary channels of the diversion layer 02, which may affect the capillary force. Through the connection of the mutually contacting capillary channels, a continuous liquid transfer path is formed by capillary action, and the condensate can be quickly transferred from the diversion layer 02 to the diversion member 03 to achieve efficient transmission of the condensate. At the same time, the materials of the diversion layer 02 and the diversion member 03 can be subjected to hydrophilic treatment to further optimize the liquid transmission performance.

[0074] When the vapor generated by the evaporation of the liquid to be processed encounters the diversion layer 02 and the condensation surface 09, the temperature of the vapor is reduced, causing it to transform back into liquid condensate. Under the capillary action of the diversion layer 02, the condensate flows to various parts of the diversion layer 02. When the condensate reaches the contact part between the diversion layer 02 and the diversion member 03, under the capillary action of the diversion member 03, the condensate flows into the interior of the diversion member 03. Under the action of gravity, the condensate accumulates at the lower part of the diversion member 03 and forms droplets that drip from the diversion member 03 into the water outlet 07. Thus, the diversion member 03 continuously sucks the condensate in the diversion layer 02, causing the condensate to continuously flow out of the diversion layer 02, preventing the liquid film on the condensation surface 09 from thickening or forming droplets. Due to the continuous suction of the diversion member 03, the thickness of the liquid film will never exceed the thickness of the diversion layer 02. Therefore, the thermal resistance of the diversion layer 02 will not change, that is, the thermal resistance is the thermal resistance of the diversion layer 02 containing condensate. Therefore, it has a stable thermal resistance to maintain a sustainable condensation effect.

[0075] Since the thickness of the liquid in the diversion layer 02 will not exceed the thickness of the diversion layer 02 under the action of capillary force, the heat transfer thermal resistance is fixed. The thinner the diversion layer 02, the smaller the heat transfer thermal resistance, but the fewer the capillary structures in the diversion layer 02, the lower the capillary force, and the lower the flow rate of the liquid. In practical applications, according to the manufacturing process and application requirements, the thickness of the diversion layer 02 is 0.01 - 5 mm, such as 0.01 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.15 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm, etc.

[0076] When the area of the diversion layer 02 is large, to ensure the rapid discharge of the condensate, a plurality of diversion members 03 and diversion channels 06 matching the diversion members 03 can be provided at any position of the diversion layer 02.

[0077] Figure 3 The structural schematic diagram of a condensation device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The condensation device includes a diversion layer 02, a diversion member 03, a capillary connecting member 41, a diversion channel 06, and a water outlet 07. Among them, both the diversion layer 02 and the diversion member 03 have capillary structures, and the diversion layer 02 is attached to the condensation surface 09.

[0078] The diversion layer 02 can be made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as a copper mesh or a titanium mesh of a metal material with a capillary structure. The diversion layer 02 can be one layer or a plurality of layers stacked together.

[0079] The diversion member 03 is a capillary structure material with a certain mechanical strength. For example, the diversion member 03 can be made of sintered metal materials, porous metal materials, and metal foams, etc. Through its internal complex capillary structure, it has good capillary action and mechanical strength.

[0080] One end face of the flow guide member 03 is connected to the flow guide layer 02 through a capillary connector 41. The capillary connector 41 has a certain elasticity to adapt to the change in the interval between one end face of the flow guide member 03 and the flow guide layer 02, ensuring that one end face of the flow guide member 03 and the flow guide layer 02 are in full contact with the capillary connector 41 to form a liquid transmission path of a continuous capillary channel. For example, the capillary connector 41 can be made of a polymer to have a certain elasticity to adapt to the interval change. Thus, through the connection of the mutually contacting capillary channels, a continuous liquid transfer path is formed by capillary action, and the condensate can be quickly transferred from the flow guide layer 02 to the flow guide member 03 to achieve efficient transfer of the condensate.

[0081] Figure 4 The structural schematic diagram of a condensation device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The condensation device includes a condensation part 01, a flow guide layer 02, a flow guide member 03, a seal 04, a container 05, a flow guide channel 06, and a water outlet 07. By arranging the flow guide layer 02 and the flow guide member 03 with capillary structures on the condensation surface 09 of the condensation part 01, the condensation device realizes the rapid discharge of condensate, and improves the condensation rate and the stability and persistence of condensate collection.

[0082] The condensation surface 09 of the condensation part 01 is closely attached and connected to the flow guide layer 02, for example, realized by at least one of the ways such as fitting, bonding, gluing, hot melting, sintering, hot air bonding or welding.

[0083] To ensure the continuous contact of the connection part between the flow guide layer 02 and the flow guide member 03, a spring 11 is arranged in the device to maintain a reliable connection between the two through the spring force. When the condensation part 01 is connected to or separated from the container 05, the capillary channels of the flow guide member 03 and the flow guide layer 02 are correspondingly connected or separated, and this design structure is simple and reliable.

[0084] The seal 04 is arranged between the condensation part 01 and the container 05 to form a relatively closed first chamber 08. The main function of the seal 04 is to prevent the condensate from seeping out from the gap between the condensation part 01 and the container 05 to avoid water leakage; at the same time, prevent the steam from escaping from the gap to reduce steam and temperature loss; in addition, it can also effectively prevent the odor emitted by the liquid to be treated from overflowing and improve the user experience.

[0085] The seal 04 can adopt various structural forms, such as a planar structure, a circular or rectangular cross-sectional structure. In a specific implementation, one side of the seal 04 can be adhesively fixed to the condensation part 01 or the container 05 for convenient production and later maintenance; or, the seal 04 can also be placed in a seal accommodation groove (not shown in the figure) on the container 05.

[0086] The condensation part 01 and the container 05 can be fixedly connected by means of screws, magnetic attraction, snap connection, etc.

[0087] The shape of the guide layer 02 matches the cross section of the first chamber 08 and the upper cross section of the guide channel 06 , and maintains a certain distance from the inner edge of the seal 04 , for example 1-5 mm, to prevent condensate in the guide layer 02 from contacting the seal 04 .

[0088] The liquid to be treated is placed in the first chamber 08. When the vapor generated by evaporation encounters the guide layer 02 and the condensation section 01, its temperature drops and it recondenses into liquid condensate. Under the capillary action of the guide layer 02, the condensate flows throughout the guide layer 02. When the condensate reaches the contact point between the guide layer 02 and the guide member 03, the capillary action of the guide member 03 forces the condensate to flow into the interior of the guide member 03. Under the influence of gravity, the condensate accumulates at the bottom of the guide member 03, forming droplets that drip from the guide member 03 to the water outlet 07. Through the continuous suction of the guide member 03, the condensate in the guide layer 02 flows out continuously, effectively preventing the thickening of the liquid film or the formation of droplets on the condensation surface 09 of the condensation section 01. Due to the continuous suction effect of the guide member 03, the thickness of the liquid film will never exceed the thickness of the guide layer 02. Therefore, the thermal resistance of the condensation part and the guide layer 02 remains stable, that is, the thermal resistance is the sum of the thermal resistance of the material of the condensation part 01 and the thermal resistance of the guide layer 02 containing the condensate, thereby ensuring a sustainable condensation effect.

[0089] The material of the guide layer 02 can be varied. For example, ES fibers and other materials can be used to make a fibrous capillary structure by hot air bonding. Specific connection process methods include but are not limited to lamination, bonding, gluing, hot melting, sintering, hot air bonding, welding, etc. For example, the ES fibers can be hot-melt bonded at the contact position with the condensation surface 09 by heating or preheating the condensation part material and / or hot air bonding, and other ES fibers can be bonded to each other to form a guide layer 02 with a capillary structure; or, the fibers can be directly sprayed onto the condensation part material through a melt-blown nonwoven process to form a guide layer 02 with a fibrous capillary structure; for example, the prepared polypropylene material guide layer 02 can be welded to a plastic plate (such as acrylic, organic glass) by ultrasonic spot welding or continuous welding, or the fibers of the polypropylene material can be directly sprayed onto the plastic plate through a melt-blown nonwoven process to form a guide layer 02 with a fibrous capillary structure. When the condensation surface 09 is made of metal, the guide layer 02 can be connected to the condensation surface 09 by local gluing in a dotted or linear manner. Alternatively, the guide layer 02 can be sintered or welded to the condensation surface 09 by using a metal material such as a metal mesh, foam metal, or metal felt. The above is merely an example and does not limit the present invention.

[0090] It is understandable that when the area of the condensation portion 01 is large, in order to ensure the rapid discharge of the condensate, multiple guide members 03 and guide channels 06 matching the guide members 03 can be set at any position of the guide layer 02.

[0091] Through the above design, the condensation device provided by this embodiment shortens the distance between the condensation surface 09 and the evaporation interface, improving the evaporation and condensation rates; avoids the problem of uneven steam distribution, enhancing the condensation efficiency; the overall system design is simple and efficient, suitable for both miniaturized and integrated applications as well as large-scale applications; and is convenient for manufacturing, installation, and maintenance.

[0092] Figure 5 The schematic diagram of the first structure of the condensation part according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the condensation part 01 adopts a corrugated structure. The design of the corrugated structure has multiple advantages: First, it significantly enhances the rigidity of the material of the condensation part 01, improving its compressive and bending resistance in the vertical direction, enabling it to withstand greater pressure and bending force, thus ensuring the stability and reliability of the device; Second, the corrugated structure increases the surface area of the condensation surface 09 and the heat dissipation surface of the condensation part 01, increasing the temperature difference driving force and effectively improving the condensation efficiency; In addition, since the corrugated structure enhances the strength of the material, a thinner material can be selected to manufacture the condensation part 01, thereby reducing the structural self-weight and meeting the requirements of lightweight design. In actual production, the plate of the condensation part 01 attached with the diversion layer 02 can be processed by processes such as bending or stamping to form the required corrugated structure.

[0093] Refer again to Figure 2 , which shows another structural form of the condensation part 01. In this embodiment, heat dissipation fins 12 are provided on the heat dissipation surface of the condensation part 01. The design of the heat dissipation fins 12 aims to further improve the heat dissipation performance of the condensation part 01. Specifically, the heat dissipation fins 12 significantly increase the heat exchange area of the condensation part 01, thereby effectively improving the overall heat dissipation efficiency of the condensation part and accelerating the condensation process. At the same time, the setting of the heat dissipation fins 12 also enhances the overall strength and stability of the condensation part 01, improving the mechanical properties of the device.

[0094] Figure 6 The schematic diagram of the second structure of the condensation part according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the condensation part 01 adopts an arched structure. The main advantage of the arched structure is to enhance the pressure-bearing capacity of the condensation part 01, enabling it to withstand higher internal pressure. For example, through the design of the natural transition of the arc-shaped edge and the top micro-plane of the condensation part 01, not only the structural strength is optimized, avoiding stress concentration, but also a simple and smooth appearance is given to the condensation part 01, enhancing the overall aesthetic degree of the device. In actual production, similarly, the plate of the condensation part 01 connected with the diversion layer 02 can be processed by processes such as stamping to form the required arched structure.

[0095] Figure 7Shows a schematic diagram of the third structure of the condensation part according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a liquid cooling channel 13 is provided inside the condensation part 01. The liquid cooling channel 13 is arranged along the surface or inside of the condensation part 01. Through the circulation of the coolant, the heat released during the condensation process can be quickly taken away, effectively maintaining the low temperature of the condensation surface 09, thereby significantly enhancing the condensation rate of the steam.

[0096] The flow channel form of the liquid cooling channel 13 can be selected according to actual needs, including but not limited to straight flow channels, bent flow channels, spiral flow channels, serpentine flow channels, grid flow channels, and branch flow channels, etc.

[0097] Compared with natural cooling or air cooling and other methods, the liquid cooling method has higher heat transfer efficiency, which helps to stabilize the condensation performance. For example, increasing the coolant flow rate can take away heat faster, accelerate the condensation rate, and improve the condensation efficiency; while reducing the flow rate can reduce the condensation rate, avoid overcooling or causing energy waste. By adjusting the coolant flow rate, the condensation rate can be precisely controlled according to the actual heat load, so as to flexibly adapt to different working conditions. This design not only improves the adaptability of the system, but also optimizes the energy utilization efficiency, while maintaining the stability and reliability of the equipment operation, achieving a good balance between efficient condensation and energy-saving operation.

[0098] Figure 8 Shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a multi-stage condensation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This multi-stage condensation device realizes the multi-stage utilization of energy by vertically stacking a plurality of containers 05 in sequence, and increases the evaporation surface and the condensation surface, thereby improving the evaporation rate and the condensation rate.

[0099] Specifically, the bottom surface of each container 05 serves as the condensation surface 09 of the upper-stage condensation part 01, and a diversion layer 02 is provided on both the condensation surface 09 and the bottom of the container 05, so that the condensate can be quickly transferred from the diversion layer 02 to the diversion member 03. The latent heat released by the condensation of water vapor is transferred upward through the diversion layer 02 and the bottom of the container 05 to the liquid to be processed in the container 05, realizing the effective recovery and utilization of energy.

[0100] In this multi-stage structure, the condensate discharged from the upper-layer diversion member 03 flows to the lower-layer diversion layer 02 and is discharged through the lower-layer diversion member 03, and so on, and the condensate finally discharges from the water outlet 07 of the lowermost container 05. To prevent the condensate from leaking out from the gap between the upper and lower containers 05, the adjacent containers 05 are hermetically connected through a sealing member 04 to ensure the sealing performance and operation efficiency of the device.

[0101] Figure 10The structural schematic diagram of a multi-stage condensation device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The multi-stage condensation device further includes a liquid inlet channel 21 and an overflow channel 22. The liquid inlet channel 21 and the overflow channel 22 are coaxially arranged so that when a plurality of containers 05 are stacked, the overflow channel 22 of the upper container 05 communicates with the liquid inlet channel 21 of the lower container 05.

[0102] The liquid to be treated flows into the liquid inlet channel 21 from the liquid inlet 33, and then flows into the first chamber 08 from the liquid inlet 33. When the liquid level in the first chamber 08 reaches the overflow port 36, the liquid to be treated flows into the overflow channel 22 from the overflow port 36 and flows into the liquid inlet channel 21 of the lower layer container 05 through the liquid discharge port 37, and so on. In this way, the liquid level of the liquid to be treated will never exceed the height of the overflow port 36, so as to maintain the set liquid level height in each first chamber 08 and ensure the stable progress of the condensation process.

[0103] In practical applications, in order to further improve the sealing effect and prevent the liquid to be treated from leaking between the upper and lower containers 05, when the overflow channel 22 of the upper container 05 communicates with the liquid inlet channel 21 of the lower container 05, the liquid discharge port 37 of the upper container 05 and the liquid inlet channel 21 of the lower container 05 can be sealed by a sealing ring (not shown in the figure) to ensure that the liquid to be treated overflowing from the upper container 05 can effectively flow into the lower container 05, so as to supplement the liquid to be treated for the lower container 05.

[0104] By adopting the above multi-stage stacking structure and liquid inlet / overflow channel design, the condensation device not only improves the energy utilization efficiency, but also increases the effective area of evaporation and condensation, thus significantly improving the evaporation rate and condensation rate and realizing an efficient condensation process. At the same time, this design also ensures the independence and stability of each stage of the condensation process, avoids mutual interference, and improves the overall performance of the device.

[0105] Figure 9 The structural schematic diagram of a condensation device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The condensation device includes a fan 31, a heat source part 32 and a heat insulation layer 35, as well as the condensation part 01, the diversion layer 02, the diversion member 03, the sealing member 04, the container 05, the diversion channel 06, the spring 11 and the water outlet 07 described in the foregoing embodiment.

[0106] The heat source unit 32 is used to heat the liquid to be processed in the container 05 to accelerate the evaporation rate, thereby increasing the condensation rate, and ultimately accelerating the processing rate of the liquid to be processed. The setting method of the heat source unit 32 can be flexibly selected according to the actual situation: for example, it can be set at the bottom of the container 05 to transfer heat to the liquid to be processed through the bottom of the container 05; it can also be set inside the container 05 to reduce the influence of the thermal resistance of the container 05 material on heat transfer; it can also be set in the first chamber 08 to directly heat the liquid to be processed. In addition, when the container 05 is made of a metal material, the heat source unit 32 can also be an electromagnetic coil, which heats the metal container 05 through eddy current to heat the liquid to be processed.

[0107] The liquid to be processed evaporates into water vapor in the first chamber 08, and the water vapor condenses into condensate when it encounters the diversion layer 02. The heat released during the condensation process is transferred out through the condensation unit 01. The fan 31 is used to accelerate the flow of air around the surface of the condensation unit 01, improve the heat transfer efficiency, quickly take away the heat released by the condensation unit 01, and maintain the low temperature state of the surface of the condensation unit 01, thereby accelerating the condensation process of the steam. The generated condensate is discharged to the water outlet 07 through the diversion member 03 to complete the evaporation treatment of the liquid to be processed.

[0108] The heat insulation layer 35 is provided on the outer layer of the container 05 to reduce the loss of heat inside the container 05 to the outside, maintain the temperature stability inside the heating container 05, improve the heating efficiency, and thus save energy. At the same time, the heat insulation layer 35 can also protect the surrounding equipment and environment from the influence of high temperature. The material of the heat insulation layer 35 can include but is not limited to at least one of polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam (EPS), vacuum insulation panel (VIP), aerogel felt, rubber and plastic insulation material, glass fiber, and perlite, etc.

[0109] See again Figure 7 This condensation device further includes a water pump 34, a heat source unit 32, and a liquid inlet 33, as well as the condensation unit 01, the diversion layer 02, the diversion member 03, the seal 04, the container 05, the diversion channel 06, the spring 11, and the water outlet 07 described in the foregoing embodiments.

[0110] Compared with Figure 9 the main difference from the embodiment shown is that a liquid cooling channel 13 is provided inside the condensation unit 01 in this embodiment, and the water pump 34 is used to pump the coolant through the liquid cooling channel 13 to quickly take away the heat released during the condensation process, maintain the low temperature of the condensation surface 09, and thus enhance the steam condensation rate.

[0111] The function of the heat source unit 32 is the same as that of Figure 9Similar to the illustrated embodiments, it is used to heat the liquid to be processed in the container 05 to accelerate the evaporation rate, increase the condensation rate, and thus accelerate the processing rate of the liquid to be processed. The generated condensate is also discharged to the water outlet 07 through the guide member 03 to complete the evaporation treatment of the liquid to be processed. The liquid inlet 33 is used to add the liquid to be processed into the container 05.

[0112] Through the above two different cooling methods, combined with the heating effect of the heat source part 32, the temperature during the condensation process can be effectively controlled, and the condensation efficiency and processing speed can be improved. The air-cooling method has a simple structure and low cost, and is suitable for occasions with low cooling requirements; the liquid-cooling method has a better cooling effect and higher temperature control accuracy, and is suitable for occasions with higher cooling requirements. Selecting a suitable cooling method according to the actual application requirements can better meet different usage needs.

[0113] In addition, when the area of the guide layer 02 is large, in order to ensure the rapid discharge of the condensate, in the above embodiments, in order to better transport the liquid, at least one raised structure in the form of a line, a tree, a net, or a meridian can also be provided on the guide layer 02. Imitating the vein structure of a leaf, the veins usually include main veins, lateral veins, and minor veins. Among them, the main vein has the largest cross-sectional area, the lateral veins are numerous and have a relatively small cross-sectional area compared to the main vein, and the minor veins are even more numerous and are distributed comprehensively, which helps to transport water and nutrients.

[0114] Based on this principle, the raised structure can imitate the leaf structure, effectively converge the surrounding liquid into the structure, optimize the liquid flow direction and position in the guide layer, improve the liquid transport speed, and do not increase the overall thickness of the guide layer.

[0115] Optionally, by imitating the vein structure of a leaf, a variety of drainage channels are provided for the guide layer 02. The drainage channels are adhesively connected to the guide layer, and one end face of the guide member is connected to the drainage channels to form a continuous capillary channel. The liquid directly condensed on the condensation surface 01 without drainage channels will form a liquid film that spreads outwards. When the liquid film reaches the drainage channels, the capillary force will cause it to flow into the channels, thereby removing the liquid on the condensation surface 01 and reducing the heat transfer thermal resistance.

[0116] In practical applications, the spacing of the drainage channels can be adjusted according to the wetting performance of the condensation surface to control the liquid film thickness and obtain the best condensation rate. The cross-sectional thickness of the drainage channels can be selected in the range of 0.1 mm - 10 mm.

[0117] The drainage channel can adopt a linear, tree-shaped, network-shaped or meridian-shaped structure, and can be composed of fibrous, granular, layered, hole-shaped or micro-grooved capillary structures. Among them, the hole-shaped or micro-grooved capillary structure is arranged on the condenser and is capillary-connected to the diversion layer. For example, capillary micro-grooves are processed from the condensation surface into the interior of the condenser. After the diversion layer is attached to the condensation surface, it is also connected to the capillary micro-grooves to form a capillary channel. Drainage channels with different cross-sectional thicknesses can be designed, such as the cross-sectional thickness of the first drainage channel being greater than that of the second drainage channel.

[0118] The connection methods of the drainage channel can include at least one of non-woven process, bonding, gluing, hot melting, sintering, hot air bonding, welding, etc. The tight combination of each layer of the network can be realized through edge connection or superposition to ensure the stability and continuity of the liquid transmission system. The specific connection process can be flexibly selected according to the material characteristics and application scenarios of the diversion layer to optimize the overall performance of the condensation device.

[0119] By setting the drainage channel for the diversion layer, the liquid permeability can be significantly improved and the liquid flow rate can be accelerated. This design can reduce the local thickness of the diversion layer and reduce the occupation of the condensation surface, thereby increasing the condensation rate. At the same time, this method can also effectively increase the effective area of the condensation surface and the diversion layer, further optimizing the overall performance of the condensation device.

[0120] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising", when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0121] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes can be made and equivalents can be substituted for its elements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from its basic scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

[0122] List of reference symbols

[0123] 01 Condensing part

[0124] 02 Diversion layer

[0125] 03 Diverter

[0126] 04 Seal

[0127] 05 Container

[0128] 06 Diversion Channel

[0129] 07 Outlet

[0130] 08 First Chamber

[0131] 09 Condensing Surface

[0132] 11 Spring

[0133] 12 Heat Dissipation Fin

[0134] 13 Liquid Cooling Channel

[0135] 21 Liquid Inlet Channel

[0136] 22 Overflow Channel

[0137] 31 Fan

[0138] 32 Heat Source Part

[0139] 33 Liquid Inlet

[0140] 34 Water Pump

[0141] 35 Thermal Insulation Layer

[0142] 36 Overflow Port 36

[0143] 37 Drain Port

[0144] 41 Capillary Connector.

Claims

1. A condensing device comprising a condensing portion, a guide layer, at least one guide member and a guide channel, characterized in that: The guide layer is arranged on the condensing surface of the condensing portion, and both the guide layer and the guide member have a capillary structure; One end surface of the flow guide is connected to the flow guide layer and is placed in the flow guide channel, and the flow guide channel is used to maintain the connection; The condensed liquid generated on the condensation surface and the guide layer is continuously discharged through the capillary action of the guide layer and the guide member and the action of gravity.

2. The condensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide layer includes at least one capillary structure selected from the group consisting of a fibrous capillary structure, a granular capillary structure, a mesh capillary structure, a layered capillary structure, a hole-like capillary structure, a micro-groove-like capillary structure, and a pointed capillary structure.

3. The condensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that The flow guide is made of fiber material and still maintains structural stability after absorbing water.

4. The condensation device according to claim 1, wherein The condensing device further includes a spring, and the spring is used to ensure that the guide layer and the connecting portion of the guide member are in continuous contact.

5. The condensation device according to claim 1, wherein The condensing device further comprises a container, wherein the flow guiding channel and the flow guiding member are arranged at any position inside the container.

6. The condensation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a capillary connector, through which one end face of the flow guide is connected to the flow guide layer. The capillary connector is elastic to adapt to changes in the interval between one end face of the flow guide and the flow guide layer.

7. The condensation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The condensing device further comprises a sealing member, which is arranged between the condensing portion and the container to form a first chamber for preventing condensate and steam from leaking out of the gap between the condensing portion and the container.

8. The condensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide layer is further provided with a drainage channel, and the drainage channel is arranged in at least one of a linear structure, a tree structure, a network structure, and a meridian structure.

9. The condensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The condensation portion is a corrugated structure or an arched structure.

10. The condensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The heat dissipation surface of the condensation part is provided with heat dissipation fins, or the interior of the condensation part is provided with a liquid cooling channel.

11. The condensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The condensing device includes a plurality of containers, which are stacked vertically in sequence. The bottom surface of each container serves as the condensing surface of the upper-level condensing part, and the condensing surface and the bottom of the container are both provided with a guide layer.

12. The condensation device according to claim 11, wherein, The condensing device further includes a liquid inlet channel and an overflow channel, wherein the liquid inlet channel and the overflow channel are coaxially arranged so that when the multiple containers are stacked, the overflow channel of the upper container is connected to the liquid inlet channel of the lower container.

13. The condensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The condensing device also includes a fan, a heat source and an insulation layer. The fan is used to accelerate the flow of air around the surface of the condensing part. The heat source is used to heat the liquid to be treated in the container. The insulation layer is arranged on the outer layer of the container to reduce the loss of heat from the inside of the container to the outside.

14. The condensation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The guide layer and / or the guide member are made of a high thermal conductivity material, wherein the high thermal conductivity material includes a metal material with a capillary structure, and the guide layer is a single-layer or multi-layer structure.

15. A method for operating a condensation device, wherein the condensation device is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. A household appliance, characterized in that, It comprises a condensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

Citation Information

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