Vapor diffuser

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Vapor delivering apparatuses face a significant temperature drop when delivering vapor above 150°C, reducing sanitizing and disinfecting effectiveness due to the vapor's temperature decrease shortly after delivery.

Innovation Solution

A vapor diffuser with a conductive bushing and grid at the outlet creates a turbulent flow, maintaining high temperature by transferring heat to the conductive materials, which are designed to be made of metal alloys and positioned to maximize temperature retention near the delivery point.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If vapor is delivered at high temperature above 150°C to optimize cleaning effectiveness, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but temperature drop occurs immediately after delivery reducing sanitizing effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevapor temperatureVSAvoidtemperature retention
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive bushing and grid act as intermediary elements between the vapor source and the environment. These conductive components temporarily store thermal energy and release it to maintain vapor temperature at the delivery point, preventing immediate temperature drop while allowing continuous vapor flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive materials in the bushing and grid utilize their own thermal properties to maintain vapor temperature. The system self-regulates by transferring heat from the conductive components to the vapor as it passes through, without requiring external heating elements or complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 vapor diffuser effectively maintains temperatures above 150°C during delivery, optimizing cleaning effectiveness by preventing immediate temperature drops and enhancing sanitizing capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

the grid and the bushing being made of conductive material... part of the heat of the turbulent flow is transferred to the bushing itself and to the grid which, being made of conductive material, further raise their temperature and partially release it to the surrounding environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

In the bushing, the vapor is not free to be delivered but is obstructed by the grid. This way, a turbulent flow of vapor is created inside the bushing, which raises the temperature of the vapor itself

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP4023252A1Vapor diffuser
Publication Date: 2022.07.06 CAPTEK SRL
  • EP4023252A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4023252A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4023252A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A vapor diffuser (1) comprising a handle (2) adapted to be gripped by the hand of a user is described; said handle (2) comprising an inlet (3) for the vapor coming from a boiler, a heat exchanger (4) accommodated inside said handle (2), and an outlet for delivering high temperature vapor, characterized by comprising a delivering device adapted to be mounted at the outlet (5) comprising a bushing (6) and a grid (8) comprising a plurality of holes (7) for the passage of the vapor; said grid (8) and said bushing (6) being made of conductive material.