Multi-Venturi Desuperheater Plate for Low-Flow Steam Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single venturi devices in desuperheaters may not adequately increase steam velocity in low flow steam lines, leading to insufficient mixing of cooling liquid and steam, which is crucial for effective steam conditioning.
Innovation Solution
A multi-venturi plate design with a body containing multiple venturis, peripheral and supply flow paths, and a liquid inlet, which accelerates steam and distributes steam acceleration across the flow path, improving mixing with cooling liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single venturi is used in low flow steam lines, then the device complexity is reduced, but the steam velocity is not increased enough to provide adequate mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The single venturi is divided into multiple venturis (e.g., three venturis) arranged in parallel within the desuperheater body. Each venturi processes a portion of the steam flow, collectively achieving sufficient velocity increase and mixing effectiveness that a single venturi cannot provide in low flow conditions.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single venturi is used, then the manufacturing cost is lower, but the mixing effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The desuperheater incorporates multiple venturi components instead of one, distributing the mixing function across several elements. This segmentation ensures that adequate mixing effectiveness is achieved even in low flow steam lines, while the modular nature of multiple identical venturis simplifies manufacturing compared to designing a single complex venturi.
3Use of energy by moving object
If steam flow rate is low, then energy consumption is reduced, but the steam velocity through the venturi is insufficient for adequate mixing
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the steam flow across multiple parallel venturis, each venturi receives a portion of the low flow steam and accelerates it to sufficient velocity for effective mixing. The cumulative effect of multiple venturis processing divided flow rates achieves the required steam velocity without requiring high overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional flow path to a multi-dimensional arrangement with multiple parallel venturis. This dimensional change allows the system to process low flow rates effectively by distributing flow across multiple pathways, each capable of generating sufficient velocity for mixing.
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 multi-venturi plate effectively mixes cooling liquid with steam at low flow rates, enhancing steam conditioning by ensuring adequate mixing and temperature reduction.
Implementation Method 1
Some desuperheater devices take the form of a venturi, which helps increase the steam velocity resulting in turbulent steam flow, which improves mixing of liquid and steam.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-venturi plate for a desuperheater can include a body disposed within a steam flow path, a plurality of venturis through the body, a peripheral flow path in the body, and a plurality of supply flow paths in the body. The body can include a liquid inlet configured to receive liquid therein. The peripheral flow path can be in fluid communication with the liquid inlet. Each of the plurality of supply flow paths can be in fluid communication with the peripheral flow path and an outlet end of the multi-venturi plate.