Rotatable Baffle Cold Trap Adjusting Flow Impedance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cold trap systems operating in both viscous and molecular flow regimes face a compromise between impedance and condensation efficiency, failing to optimize performance in either regime effectively.
Innovation Solution
A variable impedance, rotatable baffle system is introduced within the cold trap to adjust flow impedance and condensation efficiency by rotating a baffle relative to the gas flow path, allowing optimal operation in both viscous and molecular flow regimes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a long and turbulent flow path is used to maximize vapor contact with the cold surface, then condensation efficiency is improved in viscous flow regime, but flow impedance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is made rotatable to dynamically adjust the flow path configuration. In viscous flow regime, the baffle is positioned to create long turbulent paths for high condensation efficiency. In molecular flow regime, the baffle is rotated to minimize impedance. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between condensation efficiency and flow impedance for different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow path parameters (length, turbulence, impedance) by rotating the baffle to different positions. This allows optimization of condensation efficiency in viscous flow while maintaining acceptable impedance in molecular flow regime, resolving the contradiction through parameter adjustment.
2Productivity
If a long flow path is used to maximize vapor contact, then condensation efficiency is improved, but flow impedance increases in molecular flow regime
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable baffle enables dynamic reconfiguration of the flow path. For molecular flow applications, the baffle can be rotated to create a shorter, lower-impedance path while still providing adequate vapor contact with the cold surface, thus resolving the contradiction between condensation efficiency and flow impedance.
3Device complexity
If impedance is reduced to maintain low system pressure in molecular flow regime, then flow impedance is improved, but condensation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the baffle position based on operating regime. In molecular flow regime, the baffle is rotated to minimize impedance and maintain low system pressure, while still providing sufficient vapor contact with the cold surface to maintain acceptable condensation efficiency, thus resolving the contradiction.
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 rotatable baffle system enables adjustable flow impedance and condensation efficiency, enhancing vapor contact and condensation in both flow regimes, thereby improving overall system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cold finger or cooling coil... to condense vapors flowing through the trap into a liquid
Implementation Method 2
Cold traps systems with a 'rough vacuum' operate in a viscous flow regime where it is desirable to have a long and turbulent flow path to maximize vapor contact with the cold surface
Implementation Method 3
cold trap systems with a 'high vacuum' operate in a molecular flow regime, where the few molecules left will almost certainly collide with any and every surface in the flow path
Data Source
AI summary
An improved cold trap of the type having a cooling mechanism (e.g., one or more cold fingers and optionally a cooling coil), to accept a gas stream to condense out volatile vapors, and a seal that contains the gas stream within the cold trap. The cold trap accordingly exhibits a flow impedance and a condensation efficiency. The improvement includes a baffle and the seal made rotatable, to rotatably hold the baffle and the cooling mechanism within the cold trap thereby allowing adjustment of the flow impedance and the condensation efficiency of the cold trap.