Absorption Member Evaporation Device Preventing Condensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices fail to produce large quantities of vapors from essential oils or volatile synthetic products without risking condensation, which can be phytotoxic to foodstuffs and hinder effective sterilization and humidity increase in storage rooms.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a liquid reserve, an absorption member with multiple absorbent strips, and a gas flow producer, where the absorbent strips provide a large contact surface for evaporation, preventing condensation by maintaining a low temperature and avoiding the use of high-pressure nozzles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high-pressure nozzles are used to evaporate liquid, then evaporation efficiency is improved, but temperature increases causing condensation and phytotoxic fallout

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevaporation efficiencyVSAvoidtemperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The absorption member is divided into multiple absorbent strips that are spaced apart from each other. This segmentation increases the total evaporation surface area while maintaining low temperature, as each strip operates independently and the spacing allows efficient heat dissipation to the surrounding air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a conventional single-point high-pressure injection approach to a distributed multi-strip configuration. By spreading the evaporation process across multiple strips in space, the system achieves high productivity without concentrating thermal energy in one location, thus avoiding temperature-related condensation issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If large quantities of vapor are produced, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but condensation risk increases causing phytotoxic fallout

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevapor quantityVSAvoidcondensation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple absorbent strips spaced apart create numerous small evaporation zones rather than one large concentrated vapor source. This distribution allows the vapor to disperse more uniformly throughout the space, preventing localized saturation that would lead to condensation and phytotoxic fallout on foodstuffs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each absorbent strip maintains a localized evaporation front with controlled vapor generation. The spacing between strips ensures that each local vapor source remains below condensation threshold, while the cumulative effect of multiple strips achieves the desired overall vapor quantity for effective sterilization without causing harmful condensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Area of moving object

If absorbent strips are placed close together, then evaporation surface area is improved, but gas flow passage is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevaporation surface areaVSAvoidgas flow speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The absorption member consists of multiple discrete absorbent strips separated by spacing. This segmentation provides both sufficient total evaporation surface area and adequate passage spaces between strips for gas flow, allowing vapor to be generated efficiently while maintaining proper air circulation for vapor distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The configuration creates an asymmetric arrangement where the absorbent strips occupy only a portion of the available space, leaving irregular passage spaces between and around them. This asymmetric layout optimizes both the evaporation surface area and the gas flow pathways, allowing vapor to be generated effectively while maintaining unobstructed airflow for vapor dispersal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device efficiently evaporates large quantities of liquid, maintaining a low temperature to prevent condensation and ensure effective sterilization and humidity increase without phytotoxic fallout, thereby prolonging food conservation and sanitizing storage environments.

Implementation Method 1

the absorption member comprises a plurality of absorbent strips suitable for retaining the liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

the vapors must not condense and form droplets of essential oils, volatile synthetic products or water which could fall on the foodstuffs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP2864009B1Device for evaporating a liquid and associated method
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 XEDA INTERNATIONAL SA
  • EP2864009B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2864009B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

This device (10; 110) for evaporating a liquid comprising: - a reservoir (14) containing the liquid; - an absorption member (16) for absorbing the liquid; and - a member (18) producing a gas stream, the gas stream being directed towards the absorption member (16); is characterised in that the absorption member (16) comprises a plurality of absorbent strips (24) designed to hold the liquid.