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

Abstract

The present application relates to a condensing device, comprising a condensing part, a flow guide layer, at least one flow guide member, and a flow guide channel. The flow guide layer is arranged on a condensing surface of the condensing part, and the flow guide layer and the flow guide member are each provided with a capillary structure; one end surface of the flow guide member is in contact with and connected to the flow guide layer and placed in the flow guide channel, and the flow guide channel is used for keeping the contact and connection; condensate generated on the condensing surface and the flow guide layer is continuously discharged by means of the capillary action of the flow guide layer and the flow guide member and the gravity action. In addition, the present application also relates to a method for operating the condensing device and a household appliance comprising the condensing device.

Description

Condensing device, method for operating a condensing device, and household appliance Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of liquid processing with liquid phase change, and in particular to a condensing device. In addition, the present application also relates to a method for the condensing device and a household appliance including the condensing device. Background Art

[0002] Currently, liquid treatment condensation equipment (also known as liquid treatment distillation equipment) is primarily used in industrial and laboratory environments to purify wastewater through condensation technology (also known as distillation technology). However, this type of equipment generally suffers from complex structures, high manufacturing costs, and large size, limiting its widespread application in home or small-scale environments.

[0003] Existing sewage condensation treatment equipment usually includes multiple modules such as evaporators, condensers, air flow channels, pump systems and control units. The connection between the modules requires precise processes and high-standard materials, which greatly increases the manufacturing cost of the equipment. At the same time, in order to ensure sufficient processing efficiency and reliability, the equipment is often large in size and occupies a lot of space, making it difficult to adapt to application scenarios with high requirements for miniaturization and integration. In addition, the complex structure and high maintenance costs further limit the popularity of the equipment. Especially in the direction of home applianceization, it is difficult for such equipment to achieve a simple and user-friendly operating interface, and cannot meet the needs of daily household environments for small size, simple operation and affordable prices.

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

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

[0006] Document CN113443669A discloses a distillation treatment device comprising a first capillary layer and a second capillary layer with a gap between them. The first end of the first capillary layer extends into the highly concentrated brine, while the second end is used to precipitate crystallized salt. The first end of the second capillary layer is positioned below the heating portion of the first capillary layer, while the second end extends to a fresh water collection device. Water vapor passes through the gap and reaches the second capillary layer, where it condenses to produce fresh water. However, this solution still requires the fresh water collection device to collect the fresh water, and the second capillary layer uses a flexible structure, which is not conducive to production and subsequent replacement.

[0007] Document CN113247981A discloses a distiller in which a water-absorbing mesh is attached to the condensation cover of the first-stage distiller. Multiple cotton threads above the mesh provide capillary force, drawing condensed water from the cover into a water collection tray to prevent it from dripping back into the first-stage distiller's water tank. However, this solution still requires a water collection tray to collect the condensed water, and the mesh is made of a flexible material, which is not conducive to production and subsequent replacement. Furthermore, the mesh, with its 1-2 cm spacing between the threads, does not 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. The radiation plate is made of a porous medium material. This technical solution sets a plurality of liquid guides on the upper part of the dehumidification channel to drain the moisture inside the radiation plate and drive it downward by gravity. A condensate collection tank is set at the lower part of the dehumidification channel to collect condensate droplets falling on the liquid guides. However, this solution requires the installation of a large number of liquid guides, which increases the equipment cost; at the same time, the surface of the liquid guides 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 its promotion. There is an urgent need for a solution with simpler structure, lower cost, smaller size and suitable for large-scale production. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The purpose of this application is to provide an improved condensing device and method to solve the problems of complex structure, high cost, large size, and difficulty in production in the prior art.

[0011] To this end, according to a first aspect of the present application, a condensing device is provided, comprising a condensing portion, a guide layer, at least one guide member, and a guide channel, wherein:

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

[0013] 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;

[0014] The condensate 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.

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

[0016] The design of this application allows the condensing surface to be arranged horizontally, significantly shortening the distance between the condensing surface and the evaporation interface. A shorter distance means less heat transfer resistance, further increasing the evaporation and condensation rates. Furthermore, the horizontal condensing surface design makes the product structure simpler and more compact, facilitating miniaturization and integration of the device, and facilitating installation and maintenance.

[0017] This application utilizes the capillary force of the guide element to pump the condensate and discharge it centrally, cleverly avoiding the need for a sump, a common feature in traditional designs. This elimination of the sump not only simplifies the structure and reduces the number of components, but also effectively reduces the size of the device, making it lighter and more compact. This is particularly important in space-constrained applications.

[0018] The guide member of the present invention can be quickly connected and separated from the guide layer, which greatly improves production efficiency and is particularly suitable for mass production. At the same time, this detachable design also facilitates subsequent maintenance and replacement, reduces maintenance costs, and extends the service life of the equipment.

[0019] The overall system design of this application is simple and efficient, suitable for both miniaturized and integrated applications as well as large-scale applications. It effectively improves condensation efficiency, simplifies the equipment structure, reduces energy consumption and failure rate, significantly increases the service life and economic efficiency of the equipment, and has good application prospects.

[0020] Preferably, 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 pore-shaped capillary structure, a micro-groove-shaped capillary structure, and a pointed capillary structure.

[0021] Preferably, the flow guide is made of fiber material and maintains structural stability after absorbing water.

[0022] Preferably, the condensing device further comprises a spring, which is used to ensure that the guide layer and the connecting portion of the guide member are in continuous contact.

[0023] Preferably, 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.

[0024] Preferably, the condensing device further comprises a capillary connector, one end face of the flow guide member is connected to the flow guide layer via the capillary connector, and the capillary connector is elastic to adapt to changes in the interval between the one end face of the flow guide member and the flow guide layer.

[0025] Preferably, 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 from the gap between the condensing portion and the container.

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

[0027] Preferably, heat dissipation fins are provided on the heat dissipation surface of the condensation portion.

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

[0029] Preferably, a liquid cooling channel is provided inside the condensation portion.

[0030] Preferably, 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.

[0031] Preferably, the condensing device further comprises a liquid inlet channel and an overflow channel, which are coaxially arranged so that when multiple containers are stacked, the overflow channel of the upper container is connected to the liquid inlet channel of the lower container.

[0032] Preferably, 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, and the insulation layer is arranged on the outer layer of the container to reduce the loss of heat inside the container to the outside.

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

[0034] Preferably, the guide layer is further provided with a drainage channel, and the drainage channel is configured to be at least one of a linear structure, a tree structure, a mesh structure, and a meridian structure.

[0035] Preferably, the drainage channel is closely connected to the drainage layer, and one end surface of the drainage member is connected to the drainage channel to form a continuous capillary channel.

[0036] Preferably, the guide layer may be made of non-woven fabric made of fiber material.

[0037] Preferably, the flow guide member can be a water-absorbing cotton strip made of fiber material.

[0038] Preferably, a portion of the flow guide can penetrate into the spring.

[0039] Preferably, the materials of the guide layer and the guide member may be treated to be hydrophilic.

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

[0041] Preferably, when the area of ​​the guide layer is relatively large, a plurality of guide members and guide channels matching the guide members may be provided at any position of the guide layer.

[0042] Preferably, the guide layer and / or the guide member may 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.

[0043] Preferably, the guide layer can be a single layer or a stack of multiple layers.

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

[0045] Preferably, the capillary connection may be made of a polymer.

[0046] Preferably, the seal can adopt a planar structure, and one side of the seal can be adhesively fixed to the condensation part or the container; the seal can also be a circular or rectangular cross-sectional structure, and the seal can also be placed in a seal receiving groove on the container; the condensation part and the container can be fixedly connected by screws, magnets, snaps, etc.

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

[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 impact 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 metal material, the heat source part can also be an electromagnetic coil, which heats the metal container through eddy currents to heat the liquid to be treated.

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

[0050] Preferably, the liquid cooling channel includes but is not limited to a straight flow channel, a curved flow channel, a spiral flow channel, a serpentine flow channel, a grid flow channel and a branched flow channel.

[0051] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present application, a method for operating a condensing device is provided, wherein the condensing device is constructed according to the above preferred design solution.

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

[0053] Preferably, the household appliance can be a fish tank, a sweeping robot, a floor scrubber, a pet water dispenser, a dishwasher, etc.

[0054] The various designs of the present application can be implemented individually or in any combination. In particular, without departing from the scope of the present application, 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. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

[0056] FIG1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a condensing device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0057] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram showing the positions of the flow guiding channel and the flow guiding member in the container in FIG1 .

[0058] FIG3 shows a schematic structural diagram of a condensing device according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0059] FIG4 shows a schematic structural diagram of a condensing device according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0060] FIG5 shows a schematic diagram of a first structure of a condensation portion according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0061] FIG6 shows a schematic diagram of a second structure of a condensation portion according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0062] FIG7 shows a schematic diagram of a third structure of a condensation portion according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0063] FIG8 shows a schematic structural diagram of a multi-stage condensing device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0064] FIG9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a condensing device according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0065] FIG10 shows a schematic structural diagram of a multi-stage condensing device according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0066] In the individual figures, elements having the same function and mode of operation are respectively provided with the same reference symbols. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] The aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the details of construction and the arrangement of 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 shows a schematic structural diagram of a condensing device according to one embodiment of the present application. The condensing device includes a guide layer 02, a guide member 03, a spring 11, a guide channel 06, and a water outlet 07. Both the guide layer 02 and the guide member 03 have capillary structures, and the guide layer 02 is in close contact with the condensing surface 09.

[0069] The guide layer 02 may include at least one of a fibrous capillary structure, a granular capillary structure, a mesh capillary structure, a layered capillary structure, a pore-shaped capillary structure, a micro-groove-shaped capillary structure, and a pointed capillary structure. For example, the guide layer 02 may be made of a non-woven fabric made of a fiber material.

[0070] The condensation surface 09 of the condensation portion 01 is tightly connected to the guide layer 02, for example, by at least one of laminating, bonding, gluing, hot melting, sintering, hot air bonding or welding.

[0071] The flow guide 03 is constructed of a capillary structure with a certain mechanical strength to ensure that it does not deform in both wet and dry conditions, enabling quick connection and separation between the flow guide 03 and the flow guide layer 02. For example, when the flow guide 03 is an absorbent cotton strip, it is typically made of a fibrous material. Through a rational fiber arrangement and bonding technology, it ensures sufficient tensile strength and tear resistance during use. Furthermore, the absorbent cotton strip maintains a certain structural stability after absorbing water, preventing it from losing its load-bearing capacity or causing fiber separation due to water absorption and expansion.

[0072] The guide member 03 is placed within the guide channel 06. This channel is used to maintain full contact between the upper end surface of the guide member 03 and the guide layer 02, ensuring a full connection between the capillary channels of the two layers. It also isolates the liquid to be processed, forming an independent, clean channel for condensate transport. One end surface of the guide member 03 is in close contact with the guide layer 02. The spring force of the spring 11 ensures continuous contact between the connecting portion of the guide layer 02 and the guide member 03, preventing gaps caused by manufacturing or installation errors, thermal expansion and contraction of materials, or during assembly and disassembly, which could affect the rapid transport of condensate. Therefore, the elastic deformation capacity of the spring 11 can compensate within a certain range, making the connection between the guide layer 02 and the guide member 03 more adaptable.

[0073] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of the flow channel and flow guide member shown in Figure 1 within the container. The flow channel 06 and flow guide member 03 are positioned in the center of the container 05. A portion of the flow guide member 03 can be inserted into the spring 11, allowing for a longer spring stroke and a softer elastic force to be selected. This prevents excessive elastic force from compressing the capillary channels of the flow guide layer 02 and affecting the capillary force. By connecting the capillary channels in contact with each other and utilizing capillary action to form a continuous liquid transfer path, condensate can be quickly transferred from the flow guide layer 02 to the flow guide member 03, achieving efficient condensate transfer. Furthermore, the materials of the flow guide layer 02 and the flow guide member 03 can be treated to be hydrophilic to further optimize liquid transfer performance.

[0074] When the vapor generated by the evaporation of the liquid to be processed encounters the guide layer 02 and the condensation surface 09, its temperature drops, transforming it back into liquid condensate. Under the capillary action of the guide layer 02, the condensate flows throughout the guide layer 02. When it 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 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 into the water outlet 07. This continuously draws the condensate from the guide layer 02 through the guide member 03, forcing it to continuously flow out of the guide layer 02, preventing the thickening of the liquid film or the formation of droplets on the condensation surface 09. Since the thickness of the liquid film will never exceed the thickness of the guide layer 02 under the continuous suction of the guide member 03, the thermal resistance of the guide layer 02 will not change. That is, the thermal resistance is the thermal resistance of the guide layer 02 containing the condensate, so it has a stable thermal resistance to maintain a sustainable condensation effect.

[0075] Because the liquid within the guide layer 02 does not exceed its thickness due to capillary forces, the thermal resistance is constant. A thinner guide layer 02 reduces the thermal resistance. However, the fewer capillary structures in the guide layer 02, the lower the capillary forces, which also slows the liquid flow rate. In practical applications, the thickness of the guide layer 02 ranges from 0.01 to 5 mm, for example, 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., depending on the manufacturing process and application requirements.

[0076] When the area of ​​the guide layer 02 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 provided at any position of the guide layer 02 .

[0077] Figure 3 shows a schematic structural diagram of a condensing device according to another embodiment of the present application. The condensing device includes a guide layer 02, a guide member 03, a capillary connector 41, a guide channel 06, and a water outlet 07. Both the guide layer 02 and the guide member 03 have capillary structures, and the guide layer 02 is in close contact with the condensing surface 09.

[0078] The guide layer 02 can be made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as a copper mesh or titanium mesh of a metal material with a capillary structure. The guide layer 02 can be a single layer or a stack of multiple layers.

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

[0080] One end face of the flow guide member 03 is connected to the flow guide layer 02 via a capillary connector 41. This capillary connector 41 has a certain degree of elasticity to accommodate variations in the gap between the end face of the flow guide member 03 and the flow guide layer 02, ensuring sufficient contact and connection between the end face of the flow guide member 03, the flow guide layer 02, and the capillary connector 41, thereby forming a continuous capillary channel for liquid transfer. For example, the capillary connector 41 can be made of a polymer to provide a certain degree of elasticity to accommodate variations in the gap. This capillary channel connection, through which capillary action forms a continuous liquid transfer path, allows condensate to be quickly transferred from the flow guide layer 02 to the flow guide member 03, achieving efficient transfer of condensate.

[0081] Figure 4 shows a schematic structural diagram of a condensing device according to another embodiment of the present application. The condensing device comprises a condensing portion 01, a guide layer 02, a guide member 03, a sealing member 04, a container 05, a guide channel 06, and a water outlet 07. By providing a guide layer 02 and a guide member 03 with a capillary structure on the condensing surface 09 of the condensing portion 01, the condensing device achieves rapid discharge of condensate, improving the condensation rate and the stability and continuity of condensate collection.

[0082] The condensation surface 09 of the condensation portion 01 is tightly connected to the guide layer 02, for example, by at least one of laminating, bonding, gluing, hot melting, sintering, hot air bonding or welding.

[0083] To ensure constant contact between the guide layer 02 and the guide member 03, a spring 11 is incorporated into the device, maintaining a secure connection between the two through spring force. When the condensation unit 01 connects or disconnects from the container 05, the guide member 03 and the capillary channel of the guide layer 02 also connect or disconnect accordingly. This design is simple and reliable.

[0084] Seal 04 is positioned between condenser 01 and container 05 to form a relatively closed first chamber 08. Seal 04 prevents condensate from leaking through the gap between condenser 01 and container 05, preventing water leakage. It also prevents steam from escaping through the gap, reducing steam and temperature loss. Furthermore, it effectively prevents odors from the treated liquid from escaping, improving the user experience.

[0085] The seal 04 can adopt various structural forms, such as a planar structure, a circular or rectangular cross-section structure. In a specific implementation, one side of the seal 04 can be bonded to the condenser 01 or the container 05 to facilitate production and subsequent maintenance. Alternatively, the seal 04 can be placed in a seal receiving groove (not shown) on the container 05.

[0086] The condensation part 01 and the container 05 can be fixedly connected by screws, magnetism, snap-on 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 application.

[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 condensing device provided in this embodiment shortens the distance between the condensing surface 09 and the evaporation interface, thereby improving the evaporation and condensation rates; avoids the problem of uneven steam distribution, and improves the condensation efficiency; the overall system design is simple and efficient, suitable for miniaturized and integrated applications, as well as large-scale applications; and is easy to manufacture, install and maintain.

[0092] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of the first structure of the condensation section according to an embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, the condensation section 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 section 01, improves its compression and bending resistance in the vertical direction, and enables it to withstand greater pressure and bending force, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the device; secondly, the corrugated structure increases the surface area of ​​the condensation surface 09 and the heat dissipation surface of the condensation section 01, increases the temperature difference driving force, and effectively improves 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 section 01, thereby reducing the weight of the structure and meeting the requirements of lightweight design. In actual production, the plate of the condensation section 01 bonded with the guide layer 02 can be subjected to bending or stamping and other processing to make the required corrugated structure.

[0093] Referring again to Figure 2 , another structural form of the condenser section 01 is shown. In this embodiment, heat dissipation fins 12 are provided on the heat dissipation surface of the condenser section 01. The design of the heat dissipation fins 12 is intended to further improve the heat dissipation performance of the condenser section 01. Specifically, the heat dissipation fins 12 significantly increase the heat exchange area of ​​the condenser section 01, thereby effectively improving the overall heat dissipation efficiency of the condenser section and accelerating the condensation process. At the same time, the provision of the heat dissipation fins 12 also enhances the overall strength and stability of the condenser section 01, improving the mechanical performance of the device.

[0094] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a second structure of the condensation section according to another embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, the condensation section 01 adopts an arched structure. The main advantage of the arched structure is that it improves the pressure-bearing capacity of the condensation section 01, enabling it to withstand higher internal pressures. For example, the condensation section 01 is designed with a natural transition between the arc edge and the top microplane, which not only optimizes the structural strength and avoids stress concentration, but also gives the condensation section 01 a simple and smooth appearance, thereby improving the overall aesthetics of the equipment. In actual production, the condensation section 01 plate connected to the guide layer 02 can also be subjected to stamping and other process processing to make the required arched structure.

[0095] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of a third configuration of a condenser according to another embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, a liquid cooling channel 13 is provided within the condenser 01. Liquid cooling channel 13 is provided along the surface or within the condenser 01. Through the circulation of coolant, the liquid can quickly remove the heat released during the condensation process, effectively maintaining the low temperature of the condensation surface 09, thereby significantly increasing 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, curved flow channels, spiral flow channels, serpentine flow channels, grid flow channels and branched flow channels.

[0097] Compared to natural cooling or air cooling, liquid cooling offers higher heat transfer efficiency and helps stabilize condensation performance. For example, increasing the coolant flow rate can remove heat more quickly, accelerating the condensation rate and improving condensation efficiency; whereas reducing the flow rate can slow the condensation rate, avoiding overcooling and energy waste. By adjusting the coolant flow rate, the condensation rate can be precisely controlled based on the actual heat load, flexibly adapting to different operating conditions. This design not only improves system adaptability and optimizes energy efficiency, but also maintains stable and reliable operation, achieving a good balance between efficient condensation and energy-saving operation.

[0098] Figure 8 shows a schematic structural diagram of a multi-stage condensing device according to an embodiment of the present application. The multi-stage condensing device achieves multi-stage energy utilization by stacking multiple containers 05 vertically in sequence, and increases the evaporation surface and condensation surface, thereby improving the evaporation rate and condensation rate.

[0099] Specifically, the bottom surface of each container 05 serves as the condensation surface 09 of the upper-level condensation section 01, and both the condensation surface 09 and the bottom of the container 05 are provided with a guide layer 02, so that the condensate can be quickly transferred from the guide layer 02 to the guide member 03. The latent heat released by the condensation of water vapor is transferred upward through the guide layer 02 and the bottom of the container 05 to the liquid to be treated within the container 05, achieving effective energy recovery and utilization.

[0100] In this multi-stage structure, condensate discharged from the upper-level flow guide 03 flows to the lower-level flow guide 02 and is discharged through the lower-level flow guide 03. Similarly, the condensate is ultimately discharged from the outlet 07 of the lowest-level container 05. To prevent condensate from seeping through the gap between the upper and lower containers 05, adjacent containers 05 are sealed with seals 04 to ensure the device's tightness and operational efficiency.

[0101] FIG10 shows a schematic structural diagram of a multi-stage condensing device according to another embodiment of the present application, wherein the multi-stage condensing 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 multiple 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 from the liquid inlet 33 into the liquid inlet channel 21 and then from the liquid inlet 33 into the first chamber 08. When the liquid level in the first chamber 08 reaches the overflow port 36, the liquid to be treated flows from the overflow port 36 into the overflow channel 22 and then through the drain port 37 into the liquid inlet channel 21 of the next container 05, and so on. In this way, the liquid level of the liquid to be treated never exceeds the height of the overflow port 36, thereby maintaining the set liquid level in each first chamber 08 and ensuring the stability of the condensation process.

[0103] In actual application, in order to further improve the sealing effect and prevent the treated liquid from leaking between the upper and lower containers 05, when the overflow channel 22 of the upper container 05 is connected to the liquid inlet channel 21 of the lower container 05, the 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 treated liquid overflowing from the upper container 05 can effectively flow into the lower container 05, thereby replenishing the lower container 05 with the treated liquid.

[0104] By adopting this multi-stage stacking structure and the inlet / overflow channel design, the condensing device not only improves energy utilization efficiency but also increases the effective area for evaporation and condensation, significantly increasing the evaporation and condensation rates and achieving a highly efficient condensation process. Furthermore, this design ensures the independence and stability of each condensation process, avoiding mutual interference and improving the overall performance of the device.

[0105] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a condensing device according to another embodiment of the present application. The condensing device includes a fan 31, a heat source 32, and a heat insulation layer 35, as well as the condensing portion 01, the guide layer 02, the guide member 03, the sealing member 04, the container 05, the guide channel 06, the spring 11, and the water outlet 07 described in the previous embodiment.

[0106] The heat source 32 is used to heat the liquid to be treated within the container 05 to accelerate evaporation, thereby increasing the condensation rate and ultimately speeding up the treatment of the liquid to be treated. The heat source 32 can be flexibly positioned based on practical circumstances. For example, it can be positioned at the bottom of the container 05, transferring heat to the liquid to be treated through the bottom of the container 05; it can also be positioned within the container 05 to reduce the impact of the thermal resistance of the container 05 material on heat transfer; or it can be positioned within the first chamber 08 to directly heat the liquid to be treated. Furthermore, when the container 05 is made of metal, the heat source 32 can also be an electromagnetic coil, heating the metal container 05 via eddy currents, thereby heating the liquid to be treated.

[0107] The liquid to be treated evaporates into water vapor within first chamber 08. This water vapor condenses into condensate upon encountering guide layer 02. The heat released during the condensation process is transferred through condensation section 01. Fan 31 is used to accelerate the flow of air around the surface of condensation section 01, improving heat transfer efficiency and rapidly removing the heat released by condensation section 01. This maintains the surface of condensation section 01 at a low temperature, thereby accelerating the condensation process of the vapor. The resulting condensate is discharged through guide member 03 to outlet 07, completing the evaporation of the liquid to be treated.

[0108] The insulation layer 35 is provided on the outer layer of the container 05 to reduce heat loss from the interior of the container 05 to the outside, maintaining a stable temperature within the heated container 05, improving heating efficiency, and thus saving energy. The insulation layer 35 also protects surrounding equipment and the environment from high temperatures. The material of the 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, fiberglass, and perlite.

[0109] Referring to Figure 7 again, the condensation device also includes a water pump 34, a heat source part 32 and a liquid inlet 33, as well as the condensation part 01, the guide layer 02, the guide member 03, the seal 04, the container 05, the guide channel 06, the spring 11 and the water outlet 07 described in the above embodiment.

[0110] The main difference from the embodiment shown in Figure 9 is that in this embodiment, a liquid cooling channel 13 is provided inside the condensation part 01, and the water pump 34 is used to pump the coolant through the liquid cooling channel 13, quickly taking away the heat released during the condensation process, maintaining the low temperature of the condensation surface 09, thereby enhancing the steam condensation rate.

[0111] The heat source 32 functions similarly to the embodiment shown in Figure 9 , heating the liquid to be treated within container 05 to accelerate evaporation and condensation, thereby accelerating the processing of the liquid. The resulting condensate is also discharged through the flow guide 03 to the water outlet 07 , completing the evaporation of the liquid to be treated. The liquid inlet 33 is used to add the liquid to be treated into container 05 .

[0112] The two cooling methods described above, combined with the heating effect of the heat source 32, effectively control the temperature during the condensation process, improving condensation efficiency and processing speed. Air cooling offers a simpler structure and lower costs, making it suitable for applications with lower cooling requirements. Liquid cooling offers better cooling performance and higher temperature control precision, making it suitable for applications with higher cooling requirements. Choosing the appropriate cooling method based on actual application requirements can better meet different usage needs.

[0113] Furthermore, when the area of ​​the guide layer 02 is large, to ensure rapid drainage of condensate, in the above embodiment, at least one of linear, tree-like, mesh-like, and meridian-like protrusions can be provided on the guide layer 02 for better liquid transport. This is similar to the vein structure of a leaf, which typically includes a main vein, lateral veins, and minor veins. The main vein has the largest cross-sectional area, while the lateral veins are numerous and smaller in cross-sectional area than the main vein. The minor veins are more numerous and more comprehensively distributed, facilitating the transport of water and nutrients.

[0114] Based on this principle, the raised structure can mimic the blade structure, effectively gathering the surrounding liquid into the structure, optimizing the liquid flow direction and position in the guide layer, and increasing the liquid delivery speed without increasing the overall thickness of the guide layer.

[0115] Optionally, multiple drainage channels can be designed for the guide layer 02, mimicking the vein structure of a leaf. These channels are bonded to the guide layer, and one end of the guide element is connected to the channels to form a continuous capillary channel. Liquid condensing directly on the condensation surface 01, which lacks drainage channels, forms a liquid film that spreads outward. When the liquid film reaches the drainage channel, capillary forces cause it to flow into the channel, removing the liquid from the condensation surface 01 and reducing thermal resistance.

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

[0117] The drainage channels can adopt linear, tree-shaped, mesh-like, or meridian-like structures and can be composed of fibrous, granular, layered, porous, or microgrooved capillary structures. The porous or microgrooved capillary structures are placed on the condenser and capillarily connected to the guide layer. For example, capillary microgrooves can be machined from the condensing surface into the condenser. After the guide layer is bonded to the condensing surface, it also connects to the capillary microgrooves to form a capillary channel. Drainage channels can be designed with different cross-sectional thicknesses, such as a first drainage channel having a greater cross-sectional thickness than a second drainage channel.

[0118] Connection methods for the drainage channels can include at least one of non-woven fabrication, bonding, gluing, hot melt, sintering, hot air bonding, and welding. Edge connection or stacking can be used to achieve a tight connection between the various network layers, ensuring the stability and continuity of the liquid transfer system. The specific connection process can be flexibly selected based on the material properties of the drainage layer and the application scenario to optimize the overall performance of the condensing device.

[0119] By providing drainage channels within the guide layer, liquid permeability can be significantly increased, accelerating liquid flow. This design can reduce the local thickness of the guide layer, minimizing the condensation surface occupied, thereby increasing the condensation rate. This method also effectively increases the effective area of ​​the condensation surface and the guide layer, further optimizing the overall performance of the condensation device.

[0120] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is 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, indicate the presence of the specified 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, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the basic scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode for carrying out the concepts of the present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

[0122] Reference Symbol List

[0123] 01 Condensation section

[0124] 02 Diversion layer

[0125] 03 Flow guide

[0126] 04 Seals

[0127] 05 Container

[0128] 06 Diversion Channel

[0129] 07 Water Outlet

[0130] 08 First Chamber

[0131] 09 Condensation surface

[0132] 11 Spring

[0133] 12 heat sink fins

[0134] 13 liquid cooling channels

[0135] 21 Liquid inlet channel

[0136] 22 Overflow channel

[0137] 31 Fan

[0138] 32 Heat Source

[0139] 33 Liquid inlet

[0140] 34 water pump

[0141] 35 Insulation layer

[0142] 36 Overflow port 36

[0143] 37 drain port

[0144] 41 Capillary connection.

Claims

1. A condensation device, comprising a condensation part, a diversion layer, at least one diversion member and a diversion channel, characterized in that: 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; One end surface of the diversion member is connected to the diversion layer and is placed in the diversion channel, and the diversion channel is used to maintain the connection; 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.

2. The condensation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diversion layer includes at least one capillary structure among a fibrous capillary structure, a granular capillary structure, a reticular capillary structure, a layered capillary structure, a hole-shaped capillary structure, a micro-groove-shaped capillary structure, and a sharp-corner-shaped capillary structure.

3. The condensation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diversion member is made of a fibrous material and still maintains structural stability after absorbing water.

4. The condensation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The condensation device further includes a spring, and the spring is used to ensure continuous contact of the connection part of the diversion layer and the diversion member.

5. The condensation device according to claim 1, characterized in that The condensation device further includes a container, and the diversion channel and the diversion member are arranged at any position inside the container.

6. The condensation device according to claim 1, wherein, It further includes a capillary connector, one end surface of the diversion member is connected to the diversion layer through the capillary connector, and the capillary connector has elasticity to adapt to the change of the interval between one end surface of the diversion member and the diversion layer.

7. The condensation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The condensation device further includes a seal, and the seal is arranged between the condensation part and the container to form a first chamber, which is used to prevent the condensate and steam from leaking out of the gap between the condensation part and the container.

8. The condensation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A diversion channel is further provided for the diversion layer, and the diversion channel is arranged in at least one of a linear structure, a tree structure, a reticular structure, and a meridian structure.

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

10. The condensation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, Heat dissipation fins are arranged on the heat dissipation surface of the condensation part, or a liquid cooling channel is arranged inside the condensation part.

11. The condensation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The condensation device includes a plurality of containers, the plurality of containers are stacked vertically in sequence, the bottom surface of each container serves as the condensation surface of the upper-stage condensation part, and a diversion layer is provided on both the condensation surface and the bottom of the container.

12. The condensation device according to claim 11, characterized in that, The condensation device further includes a liquid inlet channel and an overflow channel, and the liquid inlet channel and the overflow channel are coaxially arranged. When the plurality of containers are stacked, the overflow channel of the upper container is communicated with the liquid inlet channel of the lower container.

13. The condensation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The condensation device further includes a fan, a heat source part and a heat insulation layer. The fan is used to accelerate the flow of air around the surface of the condensation part, the heat source part is used to heat the liquid to be processed in the container, and 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.

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

Images