Deaerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deaerators in thermal power plants have limited deaeration efficiency due to short steam residence time and inadequate contact surface area between steam and water, leading to corrosion of boiler tubes and reduced heat exchanger performance.
Innovation Solution
The deaerator design includes a tank with a spray unit and steam supply unit that spray water and steam in opposite directions, utilizing baffles and porous plates to increase residence time and contact surface area, enhancing deaeration efficiency while maintaining or reducing the tank size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the steam supply unit sprays steam in one direction only, then the device complexity is reduced, but the residence time of steam and contact surface area with water are insufficient, leading to poor deaeration effect
Solution Approach 1:
The steam supply unit is divided into multiple independent spray directions. The steam supply pipe includes multiple spray holes arranged at different angles (e.g., upward, downward, leftward, rightward), segmenting the steam delivery into multiple directional streams that collectively cover the entire tank cross-section, thereby increasing residence time and contact area without complexifying the overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tank receive steam from different directions. The spray holes are strategically positioned to direct steam toward specific zones (center, edges, upper, lower regions), creating locally optimized steam-water contact patterns that maximize deaeration efficiency throughout the entire tank volume
2Area of stationary object
If the deaerator size is increased to improve deaeration effect, then the contact surface area increases, but the device becomes harder to miniaturize and occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-direction linear steam spraying to multi-directional three-dimensional steam distribution. By arranging spray holes at various angles (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) around the tank perimeter, the system creates a three-dimensional steam-water contact network that dramatically increases effective contact surface area within the same tank volume, enabling deaerator miniaturization
3Device complexity
If oxygen is not removed effectively from water, then the deaeration process is simpler, but boiler tube corrosion occurs and heat exchanger performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The deaeration process operates continuously with steam constantly supplied through multiple directional spray holes. The multiple spray directions ensure continuous steam-water contact throughout the tank volume, maintaining persistent oxygen removal action that reliably prevents corrosion without requiring complex additional treatment systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical deaeration mechanisms (such as agitating devices or multiple moving components) with a simplified steam injection system using multi-directional spray holes. The steam's natural expansion and flow patterns, driven by pressure differential alone, create effective steam-water mixing and oxygen removal without requiring additional mechanical systems
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 improves deaeration efficiency, prevents boiler tube corrosion, and increases the thermal power plant's efficiency by maximizing the contact between steam and water, allowing for the miniaturization of the deaerator while maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
The steam supply unit is disposed inside the tank to supply steam to the tank in a direction opposite to the direction in which water is sprayed by the spray unit
Implementation Method 2
The bleed unit is disposed at the upper portion of the tank and adjacent to the spray unit. The bleed unit is configured to bleed air from an inside of the tank
Data Source
AI summary
A deaerator includes a tank, a spray unit, a steam supply unit, a bleed unit and a discharge pipe. The spray unit is disposed at an upper portion of the tank and configured to supply water to the tank. The steam supply unit is disposed inside the tank to supply steam to the tank. The bleed unit is disposed at the upper portion of the tank and adjacent to the spray unit. The bleed unit is configured to bleed air from an inside of the tank. The discharge pipe is configured to discharge water without air to an outside of the tank.