Dual Stage Cold Trap Inverted Cup Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current distillation methods using multiple port distribution adapters lead to contamination of distillate fractions due to incomplete condensation and vapor carryover, resulting in impurities and reduced purity of the distillate product.
Innovation Solution
A dual-stage cold trap system with a laminar flow distribution adapter and a monocow design, where vapors condense into liquids before being pulled into the vacuum, preventing warmer vapors from entering the vacuum and ensuring only dry air is suctioned, and a dual-stage cooling system to maintain low temperatures and prevent water vapor contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple port distribution adapters are used to collect different distillate fractions, then the ability to collect multiple fractions is improved, but contamination between fractions occurs due to incomplete condensation and vapor carryover
Solution Approach 1:
The cold trap is divided into multiple independent stages (first cold trap stage, second cold trap stage) with separate condensation zones. Each stage handles specific temperature ranges and vapor types, preventing cross-contamination between fractions while maintaining the ability to collect multiple distillate fractions simultaneously or sequentially
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary cooling system between the distillation head and vacuum pump, using staged cold traps with decreasing temperature gradients. This intermediary system condenses vapors progressively, preventing direct vapor carryover to the vacuum pump and ensuring complete condensation before vacuum engagement, thus eliminating contamination while preserving multi-fraction collection capability
2Productivity
If vacuum is applied to pull vapors through the distribution adapter, then distillation speed is improved, but warmer vapors can be sucked into the vacuum pump causing contamination and depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary condensation action through multiple staged cold traps before vapors reach the vacuum pump. The first and second cold trap stages progressively condense vapors at different temperature levels, ensuring complete condensation occurs in advance, so that only condensed liquid or dry air reaches the vacuum pump, preventing contamination while maintaining high distillation speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions (vapor to liquid condensation) through staged cooling systems. Each cold trap stage induces phase change at progressively lower temperatures, ensuring complete vapor condensation before vacuum engagement. This phase transition mechanism allows high-speed vacuum distillation without vapor carryover to the pump, resolving the contradiction between productivity and vacuum system protection
3Quantity of substance
If condensation occurs along the side of the collection assembly, then condensation efficiency is improved, but distillate product becomes contaminated by dripping back into the collection flask
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the condensation process from the collection assembly by implementing dedicated cold trap stages positioned between the distillation head and collection flasks. Condensation occurs in these separate, isolated stages with proper drainage pathways, preventing condensed distillate from dripping back into collection flasks and contaminating the product, while maintaining high condensation efficiency through optimized cooling surfaces and vapor-liquid contact
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 system achieves higher distillation speeds and purer fraction separation, preventing contamination and extending the duration of uninterrupted distillation by ensuring complete condensation and maintaining vacuum integrity.
Implementation Method 1
vapors entering laterally hit and move around the conical wall, changing from a laminar to a vortex flow. The cooling section further has a bottom portal leading downwards between bottom-side walls
Implementation Method 2
A vacuum, in some embodiments, pulls in a direction such that gas is pulled through the cooling section, then through the evacuation section, and then through the vacuum port is used to pull dry gas out of the system
Implementation Method 3
vapors entering laterally hit and move around the conical wall, changing from a laminar to a vortex flow
Data Source
AI summary
A cold trap has multiple interior spaces formed within one unit such that a vacuum pump pulls only dry air and distillate substantially fully or fully condenses and drops out of the bottom of the device. Laminar flow through a side portal is converted into turbulent flow in a cooling region around a conical cold glass or other inert protrusion. The only other portal of the cooling region is a bottom portal such that though there is vacuum suction, vapors only exit through the bottom portal after condensing and falling through an outer section while dry air is pulled upwards to an upper vacuum portal.