Evaporator having a fluid distribution sub-assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale falling film evaporators face inefficiencies due to thermal elements drying out, especially in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) applications, where maintaining the surface area wetted with the working fluid is challenging, leading to reduced thermal energy transfer and overall efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fluid distribution system with multiple tube sets, each comprising individual tubes with fluid distribution points, is strategically placed around thermal elements within the evaporator shell to ensure even distribution of the working fluid in three dimensions, ensuring that a greater proportion of the thermal elements' surface area is wetted, thereby enhancing thermal energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional falling film arrangement is used in large-scale evaporators, then the evaporator can handle large scale applications, but many portions of thermal elements dry out reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid distribution system is segmented into multiple tube sets with individual tubes distributed throughout the evaporator volume. Each tube independently distributes fluid to specific thermal element regions, ensuring comprehensive coverage across large-scale applications without dry-out issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional surface distribution to three-dimensional volumetric distribution by positioning multiple tube sets at different locations and orientations throughout the evaporator shell, enabling uniform fluid distribution across all thermal elements regardless of scale.
2Reliability
If thermal elements are completely immersed in working fluid (flooded-type), then thermal elements are always wetted, but heat transfer efficiency decreases due to large volume of fluid
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniform flooding, the system applies fluid distribution locally through strategically positioned tubes that target specific thermal element surfaces. This ensures complete wetting of heat transfer surfaces while minimizing the overall volume of working fluid required in the evaporator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the fluid distribution function from the bulk liquid pool and implements it through discrete distribution tubes. This separates the wetting function from the thermal mass, allowing efficient heat transfer by eliminating excess fluid volume while maintaining reliable surface wetting.
3Area of stationary object
If more thermal elements are added to increase heat transfer area, then heat transfer capacity increases, but difficulty in maintaining uniform wetting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid distribution system is divided into multiple independent tube sets, each responsible for specific regions. This modular segmentation allows the system to scale with thermal element quantity while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized distribution units.
Solution Approach 2:
By distributing tubes in three dimensions throughout the evaporator volume rather than relying on two-dimensional surface flow, the system can accommodate increased thermal element surface area while maintaining uniform wetting through volumetric fluid distribution.
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 approach increases the overall efficiency of the evaporator by ensuring that a greater proportion of thermal energy is transferred to the working fluid, preventing thermal elements from drying out and maintaining efficiency in large-scale applications.
Implementation Method 1
a greater proportion of thermal energy from the thermal elements is transferred to the working fluid within the evaporator
Implementation Method 2
causes the working fluid to evaporate
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporator comprises a plurality of thermal elements disposed in a shell interior of an evaporator shell. A primary supply line configured to carry a working fluid is disposed in the shell interior. A plurality of tube sets is fluidically coupled to the primary supply line, and each tube set is spaced apart from an adjacent tube set along the first primary supply line. Each tube set comprises a plurality of individual tubes, with each tube proximate a different subset of thermal elements within the shell interior. Each tube comprises a plurality of first fluid distribution points configured to distribute the working fluid proximate the external surface of at least one of the plurality of thermal elements, thereby increasing the amount of surface area of the thermal elements in contact with the working fluid, and increasing the overall efficiency of the evaporator.