Acentric Heating Element for Steam Sterilizer Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam sterilizers require excessive energy to operate while maintaining the same steam output, due to the need to heat a larger volume of liquid to achieve the target temperature.
Innovation Solution
A steam sterilizer design featuring a heating element with an acentric arrangement relative to its axis of rotation, allowing it to be positioned closer to the bottom of the liquid basin, thereby reducing the volume of liquid that needs to be heated, which is achieved through a non-concentric, offset configuration of the heating section, enabling efficient energy use by minimizing the liquid volume required to be heated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the heating element is arranged horizontally in the liquid basin, then the steam generation capability is improved, but the energy consumption increases due to heating a larger volume of liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is designed with an acentric arrangement where the heating section is offset from the axis of rotation, creating an asymmetric configuration that positions the heating section closer to the bottom of the liquid basin. This asymmetric design reduces the volume of liquid that needs to be heated while maintaining steam generation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating section is positioned in a specific location closer to the bottom of the liquid basin rather than being uniformly distributed. This local positioning optimizes heat transfer efficiency and reduces the overall volume of liquid requiring heating, thereby decreasing energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the heating element is positioned closer to the bottom of the liquid basin, then energy consumption is reduced, but the connection complexity increases due to threading requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Threads are pre-formed on the connection section of the heating element during manufacturing, enabling straightforward screwing into the heating element receptacle. This preliminary preparation simplifies the assembly process and reduces installation complexity despite the acentric positioning requirements.
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
This design reduces the energy consumption during operation by minimizing the volume of liquid that needs to be heated, allowing for the same amount of steam to be generated with less energy input.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element arranged in the liquid basin... The heating element serves to heat liquid stored in the liquid basin to generate steam
Implementation Method 2
heat liquid stored in the liquid basin to generate steam... target temperature of 137 °C is intended for steam generation
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a steam sterilizer with a pressure vessel (20) and a steam generator (30) which can be brought into flow connection with the pressure vessel (20), wherein the steam generator (30) has a liquid basin (40) and a heating element (50) arranged in the liquid basin (40), wherein the heating element (50) has a heating section (54) for heat dissipation, which comprises the entirety of all surfaces of the heating element (50) serving for heat transfer, and a connection section (51) for connection with the steam generator (30), wherein a thread (52) is formed in the connection section (51), by means of which the heating element (50) is screwed into a heating element receptacle of the steam generator (30).The steam sterilizer is characterized in that the connection section (51) has an axis of rotation (R) around which the heating element (50) is moved to screw into or out of the heating element receptacle, and that a bottom surface (540) of the heating section (54) extending along the axis of rotation (R) is further away from the axis of rotation than a top surface (541) of the heating section (54) extending along the axis of rotation (R).