Heat Exchange System with Nested Condenser for Latent Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distillation processes, such as those used for seawater desalination, are energy-intensive due to the high energy consumption required for heating and vaporization, making them costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A distillation system that recycles heat by compressing water vapor from boiling seawater, condensing it, and reabsorbing the latent heat back into the system, reducing the need for external energy through a condenser placed within the evaporator and utilizing an expansive section powered by a refrigerant or energy derived from an expansion system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional distillation heating is used, then water vaporization is achieved, but energy consumption is excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the waste heat from condensing water vapor into a useful resource by directing it back to preheat the feed water entering the evaporator. This transforms what would otherwise be wasted thermal energy into a beneficial preheating function, significantly reducing the energy required for vaporization and improving overall distillation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers latent heat from the condensing vapor that would otherwise be discarded. The condenser releases latent heat during phase change, and this heat is captured and redirected to preheat incoming feed water, preventing energy waste and improving thermal efficiency of the distillation process
2Loss of energy
If a condenser is placed within the evaporator, then heat recycling is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser is nested within the evaporator chamber, with the condenser coil or surface positioned inside the vapor space of the evaporator. This nested configuration allows the condenser to directly utilize the vapor environment for condensation while simultaneously enabling efficient heat transfer to preheat feed water, reducing heat loss without requiring separate external heat exchange systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the condenser and evaporator into a single integrated unit where both functions occur within the same chamber. The condenser is positioned inside the evaporator, combining vaporization and condensation functions in one location, which simplifies the overall system structure while maximizing heat recycling efficiency
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
Significantly reduces the energy required for the distillation process by reusing heat, thereby decreasing operational costs and increasing efficiency in producing pure water from seawater.
Implementation Method 1
The compressor draws in water vapor from the boiling seawater contained in an evaporator and compresses the vapor to an elevated temperature into a condenser
Implementation Method 2
where it condenses into pure water... the heat given off by the condenser is absorbed by the boiling seawater in the evaporator... the latent heat of condensation is absorbed by the latent heat of vaporization
Implementation Method 3
heating a liquid until it boils into a gas-phase... the seawater in the evaporator is preheated to 212 F.°... the steam from the evaporator
Implementation Method 4
the latent heat of condensation is absorbed by the latent heat of vaporization... The reabsorption of the latent heat back into the system greatly reduces the amount of external energy required to operate the distillation process
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchange system having at least one closed compartment containing in a first portion a first liquid having a first temperature at or near the first liquid's boiling point; a first thermally conductive conduit, containing a first fluid having a second temperature higher than the first temperature, submerged in the first liquid, causing at least a portion of the first liquid to absorb latent heat and boil within the at least one closed compartment, and convert to vapors; and a second thermally conductive conduit, containing a second fluid having a third temperature lower than the first temperature, passing through a second portion of the at least one closed compartment where the vapors contact the second thermally conductive conduit containing the second fluid, causing the vapors to lose latent heat and condense, and join the first liquid in the first portion of the at least one closed compartment.