Vane-Type Demister With Integral Louvers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vapor-liquid separation devices require complex manufacturing processes and additional components like spacers and welding, increasing costs and complexity, while demanding higher efficiency and minimal pressure drop at high velocities.
Innovation Solution
A vapor-liquid separating apparatus using layered corrugated and flat sheets with integral louvers, eliminating the need for spacers and welding by forming self-supporting tortuous fluid flow channels within an outer frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional vapor-liquid separation devices use spacers and welding to assemble vanes and louvers, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (vanes, louvers, and spacers) into a single integrated sheet structure. The corrugated sheets form both the vanes and incorporate louvers as integral features, eliminating the need for separate assembly operations and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sheet into corrugated and flat portions that work together to form the separation structure. The corrugated sections provide structural rigidity and define flow channels, while the flat sections with integrated louvers provide liquid collection and removal functions, achieving complex functionality through geometric segmentation rather than component assembly.
2Reliability
If additional components like spacers and welding are used in vapor-liquid separation devices, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing time and skill requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The structural integrity features are built into the sheet during the forming process itself. The corrugations and louver structures are pre-formed as integral features of the sheet metal, so that when the sheets are stacked and assembled, the structural integrity is automatically provided without requiring additional welding or fastening operations during final assembly.
3Productivity
If vanes are spaced apart by spacers to create narrow flow paths, then liquid removal efficiency is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the third dimension (sheet thickness/depth) to create the narrow flow paths needed for efficient liquid removal. By forming corrugations in the sheets, the invention creates narrow channels between adjacent corrugated surfaces without requiring spacers, achieving the desired flow path geometry through geometric form rather than component assembly.
4Reliability
If welding or bolting is used to attach louvers to vanes, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the louver structure with the vane structure by forming louvers as integral features of the same sheet metal. This eliminates the need for separate attachment operations (welding or bolting) and the associated precision requirements, as the louvers are automatically positioned and secured through the sheet forming process itself.
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 solution simplifies the manufacturing process, achieves high vapor-liquid separation efficiency with minimal pressure drop, and allows for dynamic system operation without additional components, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
Because the liquid droplets have a higher density than the vapor of the stream, the momentum of the liquid will tend to make the liquid travel in a straight line and not change direction as quickly as the vapor
Implementation Method 2
The louvers provide pockets that trap and drain liquid and greatly reduce liquid re-entrainment and improve the vapor-liquid separation
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C~1D
AI summary
The invention provides a vane-type mist eliminator device (100) having formed or corrugated sheets (102, 202, 302), flat sheets (104a, 104b, 204, 304), and integral louvers (108, 110). The corrugated sheets and flat sheets are layered such that the arrangement of sheets and integral louvers creates at least one tortuous fluid flow channel from an inlet to a vapor outlet of the device. An outer casing or frame is sufficient to hold the sheets together.