Evaporator System Using Vapor Recirculation for Concentration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for preparing water-based process media through evaporation require high energy input due to additional heating, especially in multi-stage evaporators, which increases the energy expenditure and limits the concentration of the concentrate.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a primary and secondary evaporator setup where the primary evaporator is heated by isobaric recirculation of vapors generated in the secondary evaporator, allowing energy recovery without active pressure change, thereby reducing energy expenditure and achieving higher concentrate concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multi-stage evaporator setup is used to achieve higher concentrate concentration, then concentration is improved, but energy input increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers waste heat from the condensation of vapors in the secondary evaporator and uses it to preheat the feed liquid in the primary evaporator. This heat recovery system captures energy that would otherwise be discarded and repurposes it for the evaporation process, reducing the overall energy input required while maintaining high concentrate concentration through multi-stage evaporation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the condensation heat from the secondary evaporator is fed back to the primary evaporator through a heat exchanger. This creates a closed-loop thermal system where the output heat from one stage is fed back as input to another stage, optimizing energy utilization and reducing external energy requirements while achieving higher concentrations.
2Productivity
If additional thermal heating is supplied to increase evaporation rate, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the vapor condensation heat serve multiple functions: it preheats the feed liquid in the primary evaporator and maintains the thermal process. This multi-functional use of the same thermal energy source increases the evaporation rate and productivity without requiring additional external thermal energy input, as the same heat source performs multiple heating tasks within the system.
3Use of energy by moving object
If vapor compression is used to supply evaporation energy, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes the condensation heat from the vapor condensation process directly in the primary evaporator, separating this heat recovery function from the main evaporation process. By taking out the waste heat and applying it independently through a heat exchanger, the system achieves energy efficiency without requiring complex vapor compression arrangements, as the heat is captured and used in its existing form.
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 enables a higher concentration of the concentrate with reduced energy input, allowing for efficient recycling of energy and minimizing waste heat, resulting in an economically viable method for preparing highly concentrated water-based process media.
Implementation Method 1
a secondary evaporator (2) downstream of the primary evaporator (1) and configured to separate the pre-concentrate into vapors and concentrate
Implementation Method 2
the primary evaporator is heated by isobaric recirculation of the vapors generated in the secondary evaporator
Implementation Method 3
wherein the primary evaporator is heated by isobaric recirculation of the vapors generated in the secondary evaporator
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and a method for processing process medium by evaporation. A device according to the invention comprises a primary evaporator configured to separate the process medium into distillate and pre-concentrate, and a secondary evaporator configured to separate the pre-concentrate into vapors and concentrate, wherein the primary evaporator is heated by isobaric recirculation of the vapors generated in the secondary evaporator.