Viscous Substance Dilution by Mechanical Spreading and Wettability Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for diluting viscous substances in absorption heat pump systems face limitations due to high surface tension and poor wettability, which restrict the dispersion and contact area with diluents, thereby hindering efficient dilution.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a base body with a treatment chamber, a surface element with a coating surface, and a movable member that mechanically spreads the viscous substance along the coating surface, accompanied by a scooping element that collects and drops the substance onto the surface element, enhancing contact area and dilution efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the viscous substance is dropped from above onto the heat transfer pipes by gravity, then the substance can be supplied to the heat transfer pipes, but the contact area between the substance and the heat transfer pipes is limited due to high surface tension and poor wettability
Solution Approach 1:
A coating element with a coating surface is introduced as an intermediary between the viscous substance and the heat transfer pipes. The coating surface has improved wettability properties that enable the viscous substance to spread more effectively, thereby increasing the contact area without requiring modification of the substance itself or the heat transfer pipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of the coating element are specifically designed to change the wettability parameters, allowing the viscous substance to spread more readily. This parameter change in surface energy or surface chemistry enables better adhesion and larger contact area between the substance and the heat transfer pipes.
2Productivity
If the viscous substance is spread mechanically to increase area, then the contact area with diluent increases and dilution efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The coating element is designed with a movable member that can move along the coating surface. This dynamic configuration allows the coating element to mechanically spread the viscous substance, increasing the contact area with the diluent and improving dilution efficiency, while the movement is controlled to minimize unnecessary complexity.
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 device effectively increases the contact area between the viscous substance and the diluent, leading to efficient dilution and reduced viscosity, thereby improving the dilution process and reducing the need for surfactants and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a coating portion disposed on the movable member and mechanically spreading the viscous substance attached to the coating surface of the surface element on the coating surface of the surface element
Implementation Method 2
contact area of the viscous substance and the diluent increases. Accordingly, the viscous substance efficiently absorbs the diluent and gets diluted
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a device for diluting a viscous substance which is advantageous in spreading a viscous substance to increase its area and allow efficient dilution of the viscous substance with a diluent. The device comprises a base body having a treatment chamber to be supplied with a viscous substance and a diluent for diluting the viscous substance; a surface element having a coating surface to be attached by the viscous substance supplied to the treatment chamber of the base body; and a movable member movable along the coating surface of the surface element and a coating element. The coating element is provided on the movable member and mechanically spreads the viscous substance attached to the coating surface of the surface element on the coating surface of the surface element in association with movement of the movable member to increase area of the viscous substance.