Vapor Analyzer Cooling Plate Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vapor analysis systems face challenges in effectively separating and analyzing liquid and vapor phases in breath samples, particularly in removing water vapor to prevent humidity interference and preserve condensate for comprehensive diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A vapor analyzer system with a chamber and cooling plate that condenses water vapor into a liquid phase, utilizing a Peltier cooler to achieve high water vapor removal efficiency and separate fluid flow paths for liquid and vapor phases, along with sensors and a controller for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If water vapor is removed from the vapor sample, then measurement precision of VOC concentration is improved, but the liquid condensate is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the vapor sample into separate liquid and vapor phases using a cooling plate, allowing water vapor to condense into liquid while leaving VOCs in the vapor phase. This segmentation enables independent analysis of both phases without interference from each other, resolving the contradiction between removing water vapor for measurement precision and preserving liquid condensate for comprehensive diagnosis.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition of water vapor from gas to liquid through cooling. The cooling plate condenses water vapor into liquid condensate, enabling simultaneous preservation of liquid phase samples and creation of dry vapor phase samples for separate analysis, thus resolving the contradiction between water vapor removal and condensate preservation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If dehumidification is applied to the vapor sample, then humidity interference is reduced, but the condensate collection time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary cooling of the vapor sample using a cooling plate, which pre-condenses water vapor into liquid phase before the sample enters the analysis system. This preliminary action removes humidity interference while simultaneously collecting condensate, eliminating the time delay associated with traditional dehumidification methods.
Solution Approach 2:
By inducing phase transition of water vapor to liquid through cooling, the system achieves both dehumidification and condensate collection in a single process step, eliminating the time penalty of sequential operations and resolving the contradiction between removing humidity and collecting condensate efficiently.
3Productivity
If a cooling plate is used to condense water vapor, then water vapor removal efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling plate serves as an intermediary component that facilitates efficient water vapor removal through a simple cooling mechanism. This intermediary approach achieves high productivity in water vapor removal while adding minimal complexity to the overall system, as the cooling plate can be integrated into existing vapor analysis instruments without requiring complex additional subsystems.
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 system achieves a moisture removal efficiency of 62.4% or greater, allowing for effective collection of both dry gas and liquid condensate, enhancing breath analysis for non-invasive health diagnostics while maintaining breath comfort and miniaturization for point-of-care applications.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling plate disposed along at least a portion of the interior channel within the chamber such that the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path contact the cooling plate
Implementation Method 2
The cooling plate can comprise a Peltier cooler
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are vapor analyzer systems comprising a chamber defining an interior channel, an inlet in fluid communication with the interior channel, a liquid phase outlet in fluid communication with the interior channel, a vapor phase outlet in fluid communication with the interior channel, and a cooling plate disposed along at least a portion of the interior channel within the chamber. The liquid phase outlet and the inlet can define a first fluid flow path from the inlet, through the interior channel, to the liquid phase outlet. The vapor phase outlet and the inlet can define a second fluid flow path from the inlet, through the interior channel to the vapor phase outlet. Each of the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path can contact the cooling plate.