Vaporization Device Manifold Positioning for Heat Exchange Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vaporizing apparatuses for cryogenic liquefied gases face inefficiencies due to long flow paths for heating liquid, leading to increased material costs and resistance, as well as variations in heating liquid flow that affect heat exchange efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A vaporizing apparatus configuration featuring a heat transfer panel with horizontally aligned tubes, a trough positioned below the panel for shorter heating liquid supply paths, and a manifold for efficient liquid distribution, along with a rise suppressing portion to manage liquid surface rising and ensure uniform flow, reducing material costs and improving heat exchange efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a long water supplying pipe is formed to guide the heating liquid from the manifold to the trough, then the heating liquid can be supplied to the trough, but the resistance to the flow of the heating liquid increases and the material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating liquid supplyVSAvoidflow resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The manifold is repositioned from a distant location to be adjacent to the trough, changing the spatial dimension of the supply system. This reduces the pipe length from extending below the trough to a short connection at the trough's end wall, dramatically reducing flow resistance and material requirements while maintaining effective heating liquid supply

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a long water supplying pipe is formed to guide the heating liquid, then the heating liquid can be supplied to the trough, but the cost for the material of the water supplying pipe increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating liquid supplyVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The manifold is repositioned from a distant location to be adjacent to the trough, changing the spatial dimension of the supply system. This reduces the pipe length from extending below the trough to a short connection at the trough's end wall, dramatically reducing material consumption and cost while maintaining effective heating liquid supply

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the heating liquid flows through a long path to reach the trough, then the heating liquid can be supplied, but variations in heating liquid flow occur affecting heat exchange efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating liquid supplyVSAvoidheat exchange efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The manifold is repositioned from a distant location to be adjacent to the trough, changing the spatial dimension of the supply system. This shortens the flow path and reduces variations in heating liquid flow, ensuring more stable and reliable heat exchange efficiency between the heating liquid and liquefied gas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The manifold is positioned to supply heating liquid to the trough before the liquid needs to traverse a long path, ensuring that the heating liquid is delivered efficiently and consistently to where it is needed for heat exchange, preventing flow variations that would affect efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 configuration enables efficient vaporization of liquefied gases by minimizing heating liquid flow resistance and ensuring consistent heat exchange across the heat transfer tubes, thereby improving vaporization efficiency and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

the liquefied gas flowing through the plurality of heat transfer tubes does heat exchange with the heating liquid on the outer surfaces of the plurality of heat transfer tubes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the heating liquid sprinkled by the trough is flowing down along the outer surfaces of the plurality of heat transfer tubes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

Owing to the heat exchange with the heating liquid, the liquefied gas vaporizes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3922938B1Vaporization device
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 KOBE STEEL LTD
  • EP3922938B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3922938B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3922938B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application discloses a vaporizing apparatus for vaporizing a liquefied gas by a way of heat exchange between the liquefied gas and heating liquid. The vaporizing apparatus includes a heat transfer panel including a plurality of heat transfer tubes standing and horizontally lining up for guiding the liquefied gas; a trough for supplying the heating liquid to an outer surface of each of the plurality of heat transfer tubes; and a manifold having an outflow port from which the heating liquid to be supplied to the trough flows out. The trough includes a bottom wall extending in the lining-up direction of the plurality of heat transfer tubes, and a first end wall and a second end wall respectively extending upward at positions away from each other in the lining-up direction of the plurality of transfer panels. The first end wall has an inflow port for allowing the heating liquid to flow in. The manifold is attached to the first end wall.