Instant Steam Generator for Portable Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam cleaners are bulky, heavy, and require time to heat large volumes of water, making them unsuitable for portable use and inefficient in generating high-pressure steam for effective cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A high-pressure instant steam generator system comprising a high-pressure unit, a high-pressure water band heater, an evaporator, a super heater, and a spray gun attachment, with sensors and control systems to rapidly generate and control high-temperature steam for efficient cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a boiler is used to generate steam in conventional steam cleaners, then adequate amounts of steam can be produced for cleaning applications, but the device becomes bulky and heavy, making it unsuitable for portable use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water heating function from a traditional boiler and implements it through a compact heating element that rapidly heats water on demand. This separation allows the device to generate sufficient steam without requiring a large, heavy boiler structure, thereby maintaining portability while achieving adequate steam generation capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by using a high-power heating element that rapidly heats small amounts of water to boiling point on demand, rather than heating large volumes of water slowly as in conventional boilers. This parameter change enables instant steam generation with a much lighter device configuration.
2Quantity of substance
If large volumes of cold water are heated to produce adequate steam in conventional steam cleaners, then sufficient steam is generated for cleaning, but a built-in delay occurs before steam can be produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains a reservoir of water ready for rapid heating and uses a high-power heating element that can quickly bring water to boiling point. This preliminary preparation of water and heating system eliminates the delay associated with heating cold water from scratch, enabling instant steam generation when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates in periodic cycles where water is rapidly heated to boiling point, steam is generated and delivered, then the cycle repeats with fresh water. This periodic operation allows the device to maintain continuous steam output without prolonged delays, as each cycle is optimized for rapid heating and steam generation.
3Weight of moving object
If conventional steam cleaners are designed for portability, then the device becomes lighter and more mobile, but the steam generation capacity and pressure are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical boiler system with an electric heating element and controlled water delivery mechanism. This substitution allows for precise control of steam generation with a compact, lightweight design, maintaining portability while achieving sufficient steam capacity through efficient energy conversion rather than large mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite approach combining a lightweight water reservoir, high-power heating element, and efficient steam delivery system. This composite design integrates multiple functions into a unified compact structure that achieves adequate steam generation capacity without the weight penalty of conventional separate components.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional steam cleaners use simple heating elements, then the device is easier to manufacture, but the steam generation speed and temperature are insufficient for effective cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a high-power heating element that continuously and rapidly heats water to boiling point, maintaining continuous steam generation capability. This continuous action approach, rather than intermittent or slow heating, achieves high steam generation speed while using a relatively simple heating element design that remains easy to manufacture.
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
Enables instantaneous generation of high-pressure steam at high temperatures, effectively removing surface-level contaminants with improved portability and efficiency by rapidly heating water and superheating steam to 200-250°C.
Implementation Method 1
a high-pressure water band heater fluidly connected to the high-pressure unit via a needle valve and a first manifold through a channel, configured to heat the liquid supplied from the high-pressure unit
Implementation Method 2
the evaporator fluidly connected to the high-pressure water band heater via a second manifold and an inlet check valve through the channel, wherein the evaporator is configured to convert the liquid received from the high-pressure water band heater into steam at a saturation point
Implementation Method 3
the super heater fluidly connected to the evaporator via an outlet check valve and a third manifold through the channel, wherein the super heater is configured to heat the generated steam to the saturated temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A high-pressure instant steam generator is disclosed. The steam generator unit comprises a HP unit, a HP water-band heater, an evaporator, a super heater, and at least a spray gun attachment. The high-pressure unit comprises a main pump for supplying a liquid from a storage tank in case of independent unit. The HP water band heater connected to the HP unit via a needle valve and a first manifold. The evaporator connected to the band heater via a second manifold and a check-valve, configured to convert the liquid into steam at a saturation point. The super heater connected to the evaporator via a check-valve, configured to heat the generated steam to the saturated temperature. The high-pressure steam attachment or spray gun connected to the super heater via a fourth manifold, configured to spray the generated high-pressure steam for sanitizing the surface the surface of the object being treated.