Steam Effect Nozzle Baffles for Condensate Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional steam generation systems for entertainment venues output excessive liquid condensate and chemical residues, leading to increased maintenance and costs due to the need for cleaning, which detracts from the desired immersive experience.
Innovation Solution
A steam effect nozzle with baffles and a sloped housing section that separates steam from liquid condensate, allowing the condensate to drain away while the steam is output, using a controlled pressure system to ensure minimal liquid emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional steam generation systems are used to output steam for show attractions, then the steam effect is produced, but excessive liquid condensate is output which increases maintenance and cleaning time
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into separate functional sections: a steam outlet section with a nozzle outlet for steam discharge, and a condensate outlet section for liquid condensate removal. Baffles within the housing section further segment the flow path to separate steam from condensate, allowing each component to handle its designated substance efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful liquid condensate from the steam flow before discharge. The condensate outlet section specifically extracts liquid condensate from the mixed steam-liquid flow, preventing it from being output along with the steam and thereby reducing maintenance requirements
2Quantity of substance
If traditional systems use chemicals other than water to generate vaporous fluid, then the desired effect is achieved, but chemical residue is left on surfaces increasing maintenance and cleaning costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the vaporous fluid from chemical-based synthetic steam to pure water-based steam. By using only water as the steam generation medium, the system eliminates chemical residues while maintaining the desired steam effect, thereby reducing maintenance and cleaning costs
3Device complexity
If steam and liquid condensate are not separated, then the system is simpler, but the desired steam effect is reduced and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle structure is segmented into distinct steam and condensate outlet sections with internal baffles to separate the two phases. This segmentation ensures that steam and liquid condensate follow different flow paths and are discharged separately, maintaining high-quality steam effect while managing the complexity through functional division
4Device complexity
If steam and liquid condensate are not separated, then device complexity is reduced, but maintenance and cleaning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The condensate outlet section extracts and removes liquid condensate from the system separately from the steam discharge path. This extraction mechanism prevents liquid condensate from contaminating surfaces requiring maintenance, thereby significantly reducing cleaning time despite the added structural complexity of the dual-outlet design
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
Reduces the amount of liquid condensate and chemical residue, thereby decreasing maintenance and cleaning time, while enhancing the immersive effect by outputting cleaner steam.
Implementation Method 1
baffles disposed in the housing section and configured to separate a steam of the fluid from a liquid condensate of the fluid
Implementation Method 2
bias the liquid condensate of the fluid toward a sloped lower surface of the housing section, the sloped lower surface sloping downwardly from the second end wall toward the first end wall
Implementation Method 3
nozzle outlet adjacent to the second end wall of the housing section and configured to output the steam to an external environment
Data Source
AI summary
A steam effect nozzle includes a housing section configured to receive a fluid having a mixture of steam and liquid condensate and baffles disposed in the housing section. The baffles are configured to separate the steam of the fluid from the liquid condensate of the fluid, enable the steam to travel from a first end wall of the housing section to a second end wall of the housing section, and bias the liquid condensate of the fluid toward a sloped lower surface of the housing section, the sloped lower surface sloping downwardly from the second end wall toward the first end wall. The steam effect nozzle also includes a nozzle outlet adjacent to the second end wall of the housing section, where the nozzle outlet is configured to output the steam to an external environment.