Closed Drain Recovery System with Condensing Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Closed drain recovery systems face challenges in downsizing the drain tank without reducing the effective drain recovery rate, as increased load fluctuations lead to surplus drain and flush steam being released to air-open-type makeup water tanks, resulting in incomplete heat recovery.
Innovation Solution
A closed drain recovery system incorporating a steam boiler, closed-type drain tank, air-open-type makeup water tank, steam introduction and surplus drain introduction lines, and a condensing unit that condenses flush steam by contacting it with makeup water in the makeup water tank, along with mixer and circulation means to enhance contact efficiency and heat recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the drain tank is downsized to reduce space and initial cost, then the space requirement and initial cost decrease, but the effective drain recovery rate decreases due to incomplete heat recovery of surplus drain and flush steam
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of the drain tank and makeup water tank by introducing a condensing unit in the makeup water tank that can condense flush steam from both tanks. This integration allows the system to maintain high drain recovery rates while using a smaller drain tank, as the makeup water tank's condensing unit recovers heat from surplus drain and flush steam that would otherwise be wasted.
Solution Approach 2:
The condensing unit acts as an intermediary device that transfers heat from surplus drain and flush steam to the makeup water. By positioning this heat exchange mechanism in the makeup water tank, the system efficiently recovers thermal energy that would otherwise be lost, thereby maintaining high effective drain recovery rates even with a downsized drain tank.
2Loss of energy
If the drain tank content is increased to improve drain recovery rate, then the effective drain recovery rate improves, but the space required and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The makeup water tank is given multiple functions: it not only supplies makeup water to the drain tank but also serves as a condensing unit for recovering heat from flush steam and surplus drain. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high drain recovery rates without requiring the drain tank to be oversized for heat recovery purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of water from vapor to liquid in the condensing unit. By condensing flush steam (vapor to liquid phase change) in the makeup water tank, the system recovers latent heat efficiently, enabling high drain recovery rates without requiring a large drain tank capacity.
3Area of stationary object
If surplus drain is released to the makeup water tank without condensing, then the drain tank can be downsized, but heat recovery is incomplete and effective drain recovery rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the previously harmful waste heat from surplus drain and flush steam into a beneficial resource. By introducing the condensing unit in the makeup water tank, the system recovers thermal energy that would otherwise be lost, transforming the downsizing drawback into an opportunity for efficient heat recovery in a compact configuration.
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 configuration allows for the downsizing of the drain tank while maintaining the effective drain recovery rate by efficiently condensing flush steam and recovering heat, reducing the system's space and initial cost requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a condensing unit provided for the makeup water tank, and configured to condense one or both of the first flush steam and a second flush steam by bringing the one or both of the first flush steam and the second flush steam into contact with the makeup water within the makeup water tank
Implementation Method 2
condense one or both of the first flush steam and a second flush steam by bringing the one or both of the first flush steam and the second flush steam into contact with the makeup water within the makeup water tank
Data Source
AI summary
To achieve a downsized drain tank without reducing an effective drain recovery rate. A closed drain recovery system includes: a steam boiler (2); a closed-type drain tank (4); an air-open-type makeup water tank (7); a steam introduction line (10) for introducing a first flush steam within the drain tank (4) to the makeup water tank (7); a surplus drain introduction line (8) for introducing surplus drain to the makeup water tank (7) from the drain tank (4); and condensing units (33) and (39) provided for the makeup water tank (7), and configured to condense one or both of the first flush steam and a second flush steam by bringing the one or both of the first flush steam and the second flush steam into contact with the makeup water within the makeup water tank (7), the second flush steam being generated from the surplus drain.