Low-Flow Vaporizer With Surface Tension Breaking for Uniform Humidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional climate control systems for animal cages struggle to maintain precise humidity levels, especially in small volumes, due to the formation of droplets in vaporizers, which limits flexibility and increases costs, particularly in settings where different climate parameters are needed for various experiments or animals.
Innovation Solution
A vaporizer system with a surface tension breaking device, such as stainless steel wool or porous materials, is used to prevent droplet formation in the vaporization chamber, allowing for a controlled and uniform flow of vapor at ambient pressure, enabling precise humidity control in small volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional humidifiers based on piezo-transducers or ultrasound transducers are used, then water droplets are generated and ejected into the air, but relatively large space is needed and droplet formation occurs in the vaporization chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous wick material to replace traditional piezo-transducer or ultrasound transducer-based humidifiers. The porous structure allows controlled capillary action to transport water to the heating element, enabling compact vapor generation without requiring large spaces for droplet ejection and evaporation. This directly addresses the space constraint while maintaining effective humidification.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the droplet formation problem by using a wick-based liquid delivery system that feeds water directly to the heating element in a controlled manner. This prevents the formation of free water droplets in the vaporization chamber that would otherwise require large spaces for evaporation, thereby reducing the overall system volume.
2Reliability
If traditional climate control systems control the entire building or room, then climate parameters can be maintained, but the system becomes inflexible and costly when different experiments require different climate parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by providing individual climate control units for each cage or small group of cages, rather than controlling the entire room. Each unit can be independently adjusted to provide different climate parameters (temperature, humidity) suited to specific experimental requirements, while maintaining stable control within each segmented zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by enabling different climate conditions in different locations (cages) within the same room. Each climate control unit can be customized with specific temperature and humidity settings tailored to the particular experimental needs of that cage, allowing simultaneous diverse climate conditions throughout the facility.
3Ease of operation
If the liquid supply tube directly enters the vaporization chamber, then liquid can be supplied, but droplets form in the vaporization chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wick material as an intermediary between the liquid supply tube and the vaporization chamber. The wick serves as a mediator that absorbs and transports liquid through capillary action, distributing it uniformly across the heating element surface without allowing free droplet formation. This maintains operational simplicity while achieving precise, uniform vapor generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous wick material provides a controlled pathway for liquid transport, preventing droplet formation by distributing the liquid uniformly across its structure. The capillary pores regulate liquid flow and ensure even distribution to the heating element, thereby achieving uniform vapor generation without compromising the simplicity of liquid supply.
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 solution provides a stable and controllable flow of vapor, even at low amounts, enhancing the flexibility of climate control in animal cages and reducing costs by eliminating the need for large, inflexible humidification systems.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element for raising the temperature of the vaporization chamber
Implementation Method 2
a surface tension breaking device having an open structure is provided at an end of the liquid supply tube which end is abutting or protruding into the vaporization chamber so that the liquid passes through the surface tension breaking device
Implementation Method 3
the liquid passes through the surface tension breaking device when flowing from the liquid supply tube and into the vaporization chamber
Implementation Method 4
a vaporization chamber wherein the vapour is generated
Implementation Method 5
a boiler unit for increasing the temperature of a liquid to above its boiling point
Data Source
Figure 1~2.b
Figure 3.a~4
Figure 5.a~5.b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vaporizer (1) for generation of a flow of vapour to be fed into a stream of gas. The vaporizer (1) comprises a vaporization chamber (4), and liquid is fed to the vaporization chamber (4) via a liquid supply tube (3). A surface tension breaking device (8) having an open structure is provided at the end (9) of the liquid supply tube (3) which is abutting or protruding into the vaporization chamber (4) so that the liquid passes through the surface tension breaking device (8) when flowing from the liquid supply tube (3) and into the vaporization chamber (4). Hereby liquid can be supplied to the vaporization chamber (4) without any significant formation of droplets in the vaporization chamber (4). The invention further relates to a climate control unit (18) comprising such a vaporizer (1). It further relates to a cage system (15) for housing experimental animals which are to experience an environment different from that of a surrounding space (19). The vaporizer (1) is used to supply a controllable and uniform flow of vapour to the cages (16) so that a desired humidity can be maintained.