Condensate Trap Float Structure to Block Exhaust Gas Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing condensate trap systems for boilers discharge both condensate and exhaust gas, leading to environmental contamination and safety concerns, as the exhaust gas can introduce harmful gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into residential environments.
Innovation Solution
A condensate trap apparatus featuring a buoyant body with a closed convex part that seats on a discharge part to block the outlet, allowing condensate to be stored and discharged while preventing the escape of exhaust gas, utilizing a columnar support and head part design to enhance buoyancy and stability, ensuring smooth condensate discharge without exhaust gas release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional discharge system is used to remove condensate from the boiler, then condensate discharge is achieved, but exhaust gas is also discharged causing environmental contamination and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge system is segmented into two separate pathways: one for condensate (liquid phase) and one for exhaust gas (gaseous phase). The buoyant body acts as a selective barrier that allows gas to pass through while blocking liquid, effectively segmenting the discharge function to eliminate harmful gas release while maintaining reliable condensate drainage
Solution Approach 2:
The buoyant body serves as an intermediary element between the condensate storage space and the discharge outlet. It mediates the discharge process by selectively allowing exhaust gas to pass through its porous structure while blocking condensate liquid, thus preventing harmful gas discharge while maintaining condensate removal functionality
2Ease of manufacture
If the buoyant body has a simple spherical shape, then manufacturing is easy, but the buoyant body may turn over during operation reducing discharge efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyant body employs an asymmetric design with a convex lower portion and a columnar upper portion, creating an unstable equilibrium that prevents overturning during operation. This asymmetric geometry ensures the buoyant body maintains a stable orientation with the convex portion submerged, enhancing operational stability while remaining manufacturable
Solution Approach 2:
The convex lower portion of the buoyant body is designed with a spherical or spheroidal curvature, which provides stable buoyancy characteristics and prevents the body from turning over during operation. This curved geometry naturally orientates the buoyant body in a stable position while simplifying the manufacturing process
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the buoyant body completely blocks the outlet, then exhaust gas discharge is prevented, but condensate discharge becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyant body exhibits different functional properties in different regions: the lower convex portion is designed to block the outlet and prevent exhaust gas discharge, while the upper columnar portion with porous structure allows condensate to pass through. This local differentiation of properties enables simultaneous achievement of gas blocking and liquid discharge
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 apparatus effectively prevents the discharge of exhaust gas while allowing condensate to be discharged smoothly, maintaining environmental safety by ensuring the buoyant body floats stably and operates without overturning, thus addressing the issue of environmental contamination and safety hazards.
Implementation Method 1
a buoyant body (10) which floats in the condensate (210)
Implementation Method 2
a closed part (11) formed to be convex toward a vertically lower side such that the buoyant body (10) is seated on the discharge part (30) to close the outlet (31)
Data Source
AI summary
A condensate trap apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an inlet hole for inflowing a condensate; a storage space for storing the condensate introduced from the inlet hole; an outlet unit including a discharge hole for discharging the stored condensate from the storage space; and a buoyant body including a closing portion which is convex vertically downward so as to close the discharge hole by being seated on the outlet unit, and a support of a pillar type extending vertically upward from the closing portion.