Continuous Vapor Integrator for Low-Noise Coanda Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vapor integrators are inefficient, costly, and difficult to install and maintain, leading to increased downtime and environmental noise pollution during heat treatment processes.
Innovation Solution
A continuous vapor integrator (CVI) with a modular design featuring a product flow path and vapor channel combination at an angle, utilizing a Coanda surface for instantaneous mixing without boiling or cavitation, and allowing easy disassembly and cleaning through a two-part assembly with adjustable jet control body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional steam injectors with open mixing regions are used, then the mixing of product and steam occurs in a large volume, but this causes noise pollution and inefficient heat treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a three-dimensional open mixing chamber to a two-dimensional Coanda surface contact zone. The steam is injected along a Coanda surface where it contacts the product flow in a controlled planar interface, reducing the mixing volume and eliminating the noisy turbulent mixing that occurs in traditional open chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the mixing process by controlling the contact angle between steam and product flow. By optimizing the Coanda surface geometry and steam injection parameters, the mixing occurs efficiently at a controlled interface rather than in a large volumetric space, reducing noise while maintaining heat transfer effectiveness.
2Reliability
If complex vapor integrator designs are used, then heat treatment functionality is achieved, but installation and maintenance become difficult leading to increased downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The vapor integrator is divided into separate modular components including the Coanda surface section, steam injection system, and product flow channels. This segmentation allows individual components to be manufactured, tested, and maintained independently, simplifying installation and reducing downtime during maintenance operations.
3Productivity
If traditional mixing chambers are used, then steam and product can mix, but the process is slow and requires large volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the mixing function from a large volumetric chamber and concentrates it into a thin boundary layer along the Coanda surface. The steam contacts the product flow in a controlled interface zone, achieving rapid mixing without requiring a large mixing chamber volume.
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 CVI provides efficient, low-noise heat treatment with reduced maintenance needs, easier installation, and scalability to various products, minimizing downtime and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
the central channel wall 8 forms a Coanda surface for the product flow within the transition section
Implementation Method 2
the vapor condenses in the contact zone (i.e. the vapor integration (VI) zone), whereby the product is heated by the condensation energy
Implementation Method 3
the product is heated by the condensation energy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention regards a continuous vapor integrator (CVI) for heat treating a product, comprising: - a product flow channel having a convergent product inlet section (3) and a divergent product outlet section (18) with a centre line C defining a product flow path, wherein the inlet and outlet sections are separated by a transition section T defined by a central channel wall (8),- one or more vapor channels (14) contacting the product flow path at a first acute angle at the transition section T, such that the central channel wall (8) forms a Coanda surface for the product flow within the transition section.