Steam Generator Partitioned Housing with Cooling Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Steam generators face challenges in compact design due to internal and external overheating risks, requiring effective temperature management to ensure safety and functionality, especially for components with different thermal tolerance levels.

Innovation Solution

A steam generator design with a partitioned housing separates electrical and steam generation components, incorporating a cooling unit with a recess for a cooling medium flow, allowing for separate temperature control and using domestic water for both steam generation and cooling, ensuring the components operate within safe temperature ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the steam generator is made compact, then the housing size is reduced, but the risk of internal overheating increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing sizeVSAvoidinternal temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two separate compartments by a partition wall: a first compartment for electrical components and a second compartment for steam generation components. This segmentation isolates the high-temperature steam generation area from the temperature-sensitive electrical components, allowing compact design without internal overheating risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If electrical and steam components are integrated in a compact housing, then device compactness is improved, but temperature control for different components becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing sizeVSAvoidtemperature control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two separate compartments by a partition wall: a first compartment for electrical components and a second compartment for steam generation components. This segmentation isolates the high-temperature steam generation area from the temperature-sensitive electrical components, allowing compact design without internal overheating risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A cooling unit is introduced as an intermediary element between the steam generation compartment and the electrical compartment. This cooling unit actively manages thermal transfer, allowing the compact integrated design to maintain appropriate temperature zones for different component types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If the housing is made compact, then all components can be accommodated in a small space, but external parts may exceed safe maximum temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing sizeVSAvoidexternal surface temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two separate compartments by a partition wall: a first compartment for electrical components and a second compartment for steam generation components. This segmentation isolates the high-temperature steam generation area from the temperature-sensitive electrical components, allowing compact design without internal overheating risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the housing are designed with different thermal characteristics. The partition wall and cooling unit create localized thermal management zones, allowing external surfaces to remain at safe temperatures even while internal steam generation occurs at high temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Temperature

If separate cooling systems are added for temperature management, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent temperature controlVSAvoidcooling system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling function is merged with the partition wall structure itself. The partition wall incorporates a cooling unit that uses the separation between compartments to its advantage, allowing thermal management without requiring separate, independent cooling systems for each compartment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall serves multiple functions: it provides structural separation between compartments, acts as a thermal barrier, and incorporates the cooling unit for active temperature management. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by combining several functions into a single integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design prevents overheating, allows for a compact and safe steam generator with easy maintenance and operation, ensuring external parts remain at a safe temperature for user safety and component longevity.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling unit being arranged on the partition, in which a recess is provided through which cooling medium flows

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a heating element arranged in the steam generator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

an electrical unit being arranged in a first housing part and a steam generator being arranged in a second housing part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2423580B1Steam generator with cooling unit
Publication Date: 2014.10.08 ARTWEGER A
  • EP2423580B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2423580B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2423580B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In order to house all components of a steam generator, including control electronics and steam generator, in a compact housing without the risk of overheating in the housing or the housing itself, the invention proposes that the housing of the steam generator 1 be divided into two parts by a partition 17 arranged in the housing 2, wherein an electrical unit 16 is arranged in a first housing part and a steam generator 10 is arranged in a second housing part, and a cooling unit 20 is arranged on the partition 17, in which a recess 57 is provided through which cooling medium flows.