Capillary Pump Evaporator with Non-Wetting Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vaporization devices with capillary pumps suffer from leakage issues when tilted, and they consume excessive electrical power due to inefficient heat transfer and lack of effective sealing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A vaporization device featuring a capillary pump with a non-wetting porous component acting as a capillary barrier, which prevents liquid leakage and minimizes electrical power consumption by using a thermally insulating, impermeable-to-liquid yet permeable-to-vapor barrier, allowing for compact and reliable operation regardless of orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wetting porous medium is used for capillary pumping, then liquid can be pumped passively from reservoir to heating element, but liquid leakage occurs when device is oriented upside down
Solution Approach 1:
A non-wetting porous component is introduced as an intermediary element between the wetting porous medium and the external environment. This mediator allows the capillary pump to maintain its passive pumping function while blocking liquid leakage when the device is inverted, as the non-wetting material repels liquid while still permitting vapor passage
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes porous materials with different wetting properties - a wetting porous medium for capillary pumping and a non-wetting porous component for leakage prevention. The non-wetting porous material has pore structures that allow vapor to pass through while preventing liquid from penetrating, thus solving the leakage problem without compromising the pumping mechanism
2Power
If conventional heating elements are used without thermal insulation, then heating function is achieved, but electrical power consumption is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
Thermal insulation material is placed beforehand around the heating element to prevent heat loss to the surrounding environment. This prior cushioning of thermal energy ensures that the heat generated by the heating element is directed efficiently toward vaporizing the liquid rather than being wasted, thereby reducing electrical power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The heating assembly uses composite material construction, combining the heating element with surrounding thermal insulation material. This composite structure optimizes heat transfer efficiency by concentrating thermal energy where needed while minimizing heat loss, resulting in reduced electrical power requirements for the same vapor production
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 operates without leakage and minimizes electrical power consumption by using a non-wetting porous component to prevent liquid escape and optimize heat transfer, ensuring efficient vapor production and integration into various applications.
Implementation Method 1
a capillary pump capable of pumping liquid contained in said reservoir towards said heating element by capillary pumping
Implementation Method 2
a capillary barrier, impermeable to liquid and permeable to vapor
Implementation Method 3
a heating element capable of heating liquid in order to vaporize it
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The device (100) has a reservoir (101) containing liquid to be vaporized (111). A heating element (105) i.e. electrically conductive grid, heats the liquid to vaporize the liquid. An annular capillary barrier (106) is arranged in a capillary pumping direction (102) of liquid, downstream from a cylindrical capillary pump (110). The barrier prevents discharge of unvaporized liquid from the device, and has a non-wetting porous component (116) provided with a polymer membrane. The reservoir, the pump and the barrier are arranged in an outer support made of glass, ceramics and/or plastic material. The non-wetting porous component is made of thermally insulating material. The heating element is made of stainless material.