Vaporizer Annular Gap Segmentation for Uniform Liquid Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vaporizers experience significant issues with unvaporized liquid exiting through the vapor discharge opening, leading to inefficient vaporization and coking due to uneven liquid distribution and residue deposition.
Innovation Solution
The annular gap between the heating element and the housing is divided into a narrower starting portion, a longer middle portion with a flow obstacle, and a wider end portion, ensuring uniform liquid distribution and increased heat absorption, which prevents coking and enhances vaporization efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a uniform annular gap is used between the heating element and housing, then the structure is simple, but liquid distribution becomes uneven causing coking and unvaporized liquid exit
Solution Approach 1:
The annular gap is divided into three distinct sections along the axial direction: a first section with a first gap width, a second section with a second gap width, and a third section with a third gap width. This segmentation allows each section to perform different functions - the first section distributes liquid uniformly, the second section enables thorough heating, and the third section allows vapor discharge, thereby resolving the contradiction between vaporization completeness and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different gap widths are assigned to different axial sections of the annular gap. The first section has a narrower gap for uniform liquid distribution, the second section has a wider gap for efficient heat absorption, and the third section has an optimized gap for vapor exit. This local differentiation of gap quality ensures optimal performance in each region while preventing coking and unvaporized liquid exit.
2Productivity
If liquid flows quickly through the annular gap, then the residence time is short, but heat absorption is insufficient leading to unvaporized liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The annular gap is segmented into sections with different gap widths. The second section has a larger gap width that extends axially, providing a longer residence time for liquid to absorb heat thoroughly. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high productivity while ensuring sufficient heat absorption time in the optimized section.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from considering only the radial gap width to incorporating the axial dimension by dividing the annular gap into multiple axial sections. The second section extends axially with a larger gap width, utilizing the axial dimension to increase residence time and heat absorption efficiency without compromising overall vaporization productivity.
3Reliability
If the annular gap is narrow to improve liquid distribution, then heat absorption area is reduced, but vaporization completeness improves
Solution Approach 1:
The annular gap is divided into sections with different gap widths optimized for different functions. The first section has a narrower gap for uniform liquid distribution, while the second section has a wider gap to compensate for the reduced heat absorption area in the first section. This segmentation ensures that liquid distribution uniformity is achieved in the distribution zone while total heat absorption area is maintained in the heating zone.
Solution Approach 2:
Different gap widths are assigned to different axial sections to optimize local functions. The first section prioritizes liquid distribution uniformity with a narrower gap, while the second section prioritizes heat absorption area with a wider gap. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring each section performs its primary function optimally.
4Speed
If liquid is heated rapidly, then vaporization speed increases, but uniform heating is compromised leading to coking
Solution Approach 1:
The annular gap is segmented into a first section for uniform liquid distribution and a second section for thorough heating. This segmentation ensures that liquid is distributed uniformly before heating begins, and then heated slowly and evenly in the second section, preventing coking while maintaining efficient vaporization rate through the optimized structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The first section of the annular gap performs preliminary liquid distribution before the heating process in the second section. By ensuring uniform liquid distribution in advance, the subsequent heating process can proceed at an optimal rate with uniform heating, preventing coking while maintaining high vaporization efficiency.
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
This configuration results in a more thorough vaporization process, reducing unvaporized liquid exit and preventing coking by ensuring uniform heating and distribution of the liquid, thereby improving the vaporizer's performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The flow obstacle increases the residence time of the liquid in the middle portion of the annular gap and thus ensures improved absorption of heat
Implementation Method 2
The liquid is to be heated in the middle portion to close to the boiling point
Implementation Method 3
the liquid is actually vaporized in the end portion once it has been heated in the middle portion to close to the boiling point
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a vaporizer comprising a housing, a housing cap, which covers an end of the housing and has a vapor discharge opening, and a heating element, which sits in the housing and protrudes into the housing cap, wherein an annular gap is provided between the heating element and the housing and also between the heating element and the housing cap and connects an inlet opening in the housing to the vapor discharge opening. In accordance with this disclosure, the annular gap has a starting portion, a middle portion and an end portion, wherein the starting portion and the middle portion are arranged in the housing and the end portion is arranged in the housing cap, and wherein the annular gap is wider in the middle portion than in the starting portion.