Corrugated Insert Body Layout for Low-Resistance Gas Humidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas humidification, cleaning, and cooling devices face inefficiencies due to high flow resistance, suboptimal gas-moisture exchange, and structural instability, particularly in larger systems, where plate elements can lead to instability and are difficult to clean without damage.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves creating a self-stabilizing installation element with offset plate elements arranged in multiple dimensions, connected via snap-in or pin-hole connections, and featuring perforated corrugated plastic or grid mat designs for enhanced gas-liquid interaction, reducing flow resistance and improving moisture retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plate elements are arranged in close contact to form channels for gas flow, then gas treatment function is achieved, but flow resistance increases and gas-moisture exchange efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional planar plate arrangements to a three-dimensional hollow spherical structure with radially extending channels. This dimensional change allows gas to flow through multiple pathways simultaneously (radial, tangential, and axial directions), dramatically reducing flow resistance while increasing the effective gas-liquid contact surface area for improved treatment efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow spherical elements create an inherently porous three-dimensional structure with numerous interconnected channels and void spaces. This porous architecture provides multiple flow paths for gas while maintaining large surface area for moisture exchange, effectively resolving the contradiction between flow resistance and treatment efficiency
2Quantity of substance
If plate elements are made large to increase wetting surface area, then moisture retention improves, but structural stability decreases in larger systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wetting surface into numerous small hollow spherical elements rather than using few large plate elements. Each sphere maintains structural stability while collectively providing extensive wetting surface area. The modular spherical units can be arranged in stable configurations without the instability problems of large-scale plate structures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction with hollow spherical shells containing internal support structures (such as radial ribs or nested spheres). This composite design maintains structural integrity and stability while preserving the hollow interior space for gas flow and the outer surface for moisture retention
3Ease of manufacture
If paper plate elements are used for gas flow channels, then ease of manufacture improves, but cleanability deteriorates due to risk of destruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs plastic materials for the hollow spherical elements, which are more durable and cleanable than paper. While plastic may be slightly more complex to manufacture than paper, the ability to thoroughly clean and maintain the structure without risk of destruction provides long-term operational advantages that outweigh the minor manufacturing complexity increase
4Ease of repair
If plastic plate elements are used instead of paper, then cleanability improves, but gas-moisture exchange efficiency remains suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a three-dimensional arrangement of hollow spheres with radially extending channels, transforming the traditional two-dimensional plate structure. This dimensional change provides vastly increased surface area for gas-moisture exchange while maintaining the cleanability advantages of plastic material. The radial channel configuration ensures efficient gas flow through the moisture-retaining structure
Solution Approach 2:
The use of spherical geometry provides optimal surface area to volume ratio, maximizing the wetting surface area available for gas-moisture exchange. The curved spherical surfaces and radial channels facilitate efficient gas flow patterns and moisture distribution, achieving superior exchange efficiency compared to flat plastic plates
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 enhances gas treatment efficiency by increasing the gas-liquid contact area, reducing flow resistance, and providing structural stability, enabling effective humidification, cleaning, and cooling of gases in larger systems while allowing for easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling of a gas with the help of such devices takes place according to the principle of adiabatic cooling (evaporative cooling).
Implementation Method 2
The built-in elements of the type mentioned above are wetted with liquid, in particular water, so that the gas to be treated flows along wetted surfaces of the plate elements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The insert element for inserting into a device for moistening, cleaning and/or cooling a fluid, in particular a gas, such as, for example, air is provided with an insert body (10) which can be wetted with liquid, in particular water, and through which a gas, in particular air, can flow and which has a flow inlet side and a flow outlet side and, between said sides, is provided with regions which can be wetted by the liquid and can be exposed to the fluid. The insert body (10) is of multi-layered design and has a multiplicity of corrugated plate elements (12) which bear against one another, are bounded by an edge (14, 16) and are provided with elevations and depressions. Plate elements (12) bearing in each case against one another are in contact by way of the elevations thereof. In at least one layer (13), the insert body (10) has a plurality of plate elements (12) which lie next to one another and the edges (14, 16) of which lie opposite one another. The opposite edges (14, 16) of in each case two plate elements (12) lying next to one another in the at least one layer (13) are covered by a plate element (12) of the adjacent layer (13) of the insert body (10).