Liquefied Gas Heater with Nested Flow Path to Reduce Component Count
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heater devices for liquefied gas utilization equipment face challenges in efficiently heating and atomizing liquefied gases at low temperatures due to heat shortages, long heating times, and increased component complexity, which affects safety and durability, especially when dealing with volatile gases.
Innovation Solution
A heater device with a hollow device housing and a built-in heater that forms a liquefied gas flow path with a return flow path, allowing for increased flow path length and transit time, reducing the number of components, and incorporating a cylindrical metal case with fins for enhanced heating efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heater device is installed between the piping pipe connecting the cylinder and the regulator, then the liquefied gas can be heated, but the number of components increases and the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The heater device is integrated into the regulator body, merging the heating function with the existing regulator structure. This eliminates the need for separate heating components and piping, thereby reducing the number of components while maintaining the heating function.
2Temperature
If the heater device is installed between the piping pipe connecting the cylinder and the regulator, then the liquefied gas can be heated, but the device is not easy to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The heater device is integrated into the regulator body as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate assembly of multiple components. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process and makes the device easier to assemble while maintaining the heating function.
3Temperature
If the heater device is installed between the piping pipe connecting the cylinder and the regulator, then the liquefied gas can be heated, but safety and durability problems occur with volatile gases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater device is integrated into the regulator body, creating a unified structure that eliminates multiple connection points and potential leakage sites. This integration improves safety and durability by reducing the number of interfaces where volatile gases could escape, while maintaining effective heating.
4Temperature
If a long flow path is used to increase heating time, then heating efficiency improves at low temperatures, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is arranged in a nested or folded configuration within the compact regulator body, allowing the gas to traverse a longer path for extended heating time while maintaining a small overall device size. The flow path winds through the heater element multiple times, maximizing heat transfer surface area within the constrained volume.
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 solution enables efficient heating and atomization of liquefied gases at low temperatures with reduced component count, improved safety, and flexibility in layout, while minimizing size and power consumption, ensuring effective operation even in cold conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heater (12) for heating the inside of the hollow portion (18)
Implementation Method 2
heating liquefied gas flowing through a gas flow path... promotes atomization of liquefied gas at low temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
A device housing having a hollow portion including a gas intake pipe projectingly provided to an outer periphery of an instrument body, having a heater built therein and attached to the instrument body. In the hollow portion, a heating wall formed by a bulge extending from the outer end side to the inner end side in the axial direction of the intake pipe and the heater for heating are internally provided. Between the heating wall and a gas intake pipe, and between the heating wall and an inner wall of the housing, inner and outer gas flow paths are formed a liquefied gas introduction side opening is provided at an outer end side of the outer gas flow path, and the outer end side of the inner gas flow path is communicated with a gas intake opening of the tip of the gas intake pipe.