Diffusion Substrate with Controlled Capillarity for Constant Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional substrates for diffusing volatile substances face challenges in maintaining a high storage capacity while achieving a constant and long-lasting evaporation rate, as they tend to have high capillary properties that lead to variable evaporation rates and reduced refill duration.
Innovation Solution
A substrate composed of a mixture of natural ingredients with different granularities and a dispersible binder, processed with water through methods like compression molding or extrusion, with specific weight percentages and granulometry, ensuring low capillary properties and consistent evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the substrate volume is increased to hold more liquid, then the storage capacity is improved, but the evaporation rate increases and refill duration decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate utilizes a porous structure with controlled capillary properties to hold liquid while regulating its transport to the evaporation area. The porous material allows the substrate to store significant liquid volume (1-10 ml) while the capillary structure controls the release rate, preventing excessive evaporation despite the large storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the capillary parameter of the substrate material to achieve low and constant capillarity properties. By selecting materials and structures with specific capillary dimensions and surface properties, the substrate maintains consistent liquid transport characteristics throughout its lifetime, ensuring stable evaporation rate despite varying liquid saturation levels.
2Quantity of substance
If the substrate is highly saturated with liquid, then the storage capacity is maximized, but the evaporation rate becomes too high and refill duration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The porous substrate structure provides controlled capillary pathways that regulate liquid transport regardless of saturation level. The capillary dimensions and surface tension properties create a self-regulating system where liquid flow to the evaporation area remains constant whether the substrate is highly saturated or partially saturated, preventing evaporation rate from increasing with saturation.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate design creates a consistent liquid transport mechanism that copies the same capillary flow pattern throughout its operational lifetime. By maintaining identical capillary properties from new to end-of-life conditions, the evaporation rate remains stable and predictable, avoiding the variability that occurs in conventional substrates as they saturate and dry out.
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 substrate achieves a high storage capacity with a constant low capillarity, resulting in a long refill life and consistent evaporation rate, maintaining a stable supply of volatile substances over time.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporation rate is proportional to the amount of liquid transported to the evaporation area (capillary properties)
Implementation Method 2
ensuring transport to an evaporation area... constant and long-lasting diffusion properties in air
Data Source
AI summary
The substrate for diffusing volatile substances comprises a dispersible binder and a natural material, and the percentages by weight in the dry state are: dispersible binder: 15-45%; and natural material: 55-75%. It may also comprise a preservative. It provides a substrate that provides constant and durable air diffusion properties.