Steam Conditioner Separator Using Porous Filtering Mass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water vapour separators only eliminate liquid formations carried over with the vapour, leaving behind suspended droplets, which reduces the calorific value of the vapour and increases energy costs.
Innovation Solution
A water vapour conditioning-separating device with a tangentially connected vapour transport duct, a labyrinthine filtering mass between perforated plates, and a second perforated plate with inclined walls to collect and condense remaining water particles, ensuring dry vapour without additional energy input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional water vapour separators are used to eliminate liquid formations, then liquid water removal is improved, but suspended droplets remain in the vapour
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a filtering mass composed of porous material (such as sponges or fibrous materials) with controlled pore sizes. This porous structure allows the filtering mass to intercept and retain suspended water droplets in the vapour stream while permitting the vapour to pass through, thereby achieving both liquid water removal and complete droplet elimination that conventional separators cannot accomplish.
2Device complexity
If conventional separators only remove liquid formations, then device simplicity is maintained, but energy costs increase due to reduced vapour calorific value
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the separator by introducing a filtering mass with specific pore size characteristics and arranging it in a controlled flow path. This parameter change enables the system to achieve complete droplet removal without requiring additional energy input, maintaining the passive operation of the separator while dramatically improving vapour quality and preserving calorific value.
3Manufacturing precision
If a filtering mass is introduced to remove suspended droplets, then vapour dryness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a filtering mass as an intermediary element between the vapour source and the outlet. This filtering mass acts as a mediator that performs the complex function of droplet capture and retention, allowing the rest of the separator structure to remain relatively simple. The filtering mass absorbs the complexity of the separation process while maintaining overall device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of porous filtering materials provides a compact, space-efficient solution for droplet removal. The porous structure naturally creates a large surface area within a small volume, enabling effective filtration without significantly increasing the overall device size or structural complexity.
4Loss of energy
If additional separation mechanisms are added to eliminate suspended droplets, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the separator to be self-service by utilizing the natural flow of vapour through the filtering mass. The system requires no external power source or active control mechanisms - the vapour flow itself drives the separation process. The filtering mass automatically captures droplets as vapour passes through, and the condensed water is naturally collected and removed, making the entire system energy-efficient without adding operational complexity.
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 device achieves practically dry vapour with minimal water particles, enhancing heat transfer performance in production processes by eliminating both liquid water and microparticles, thereby improving energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a vapour transport duct (2) disposed on the upper part of the tank (1) wherein the vapour inflow to the tank is carried out tangentially... a filtering mass (4)... that jointly determine, together with the filtering mass, a labyrinthine passage for the circulating vapour where the greatest condensation of water particles carried over with said vapour is produced
Implementation Method 2
the vapour inflow to the tank is carried out tangentially to the wall of said device, flowing into an upper expansion enclosure (3) of said tank (1)
Implementation Method 3
The perforated plates (5, 8) comprise orifices which, in turn, comprise protruding necks (12) having irregular edges that form points (13) that determine condensate drop formation spots
Implementation Method 4
which, sliding down said walls and aided by the peripheral passages of the perforated plates (5, 8) formed by the notches (9), flows directly towards the funnel (10) disposed at the bottom of the tank (1), where it is accumulated
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for treating-separating water vapour aimed at eliminating the condensed particles that may be carried over therewith as it flows through the ducts, as well as the droplets suspended therein, thereby obtaining practically dry vapour, improving its quality, without additional energy input.