Wick-Based Liquid Vaporiser for Low-Condensation Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for delivering fungicides and antimicrobials to food crops are inefficient, costly, and pose risks of resistance and cross-contamination, with limited applicability to a wide range of crops and challenging in refrigerated conditions.
Innovation Solution
A device that vaporizes liquid formulations using pre-heated inlet air to control vaporization rate, featuring a wick heater and reservoir heater, with a duct configuration to optimize vapor plume dispersal and minimize condensation, suitable for use in chilled environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If thermofogging is used to vaporize pesticides, then vaporization rate is improved, but pesticide heat decomposition occurs and distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature thermofogging to low-temperature controlled heating, and changes the vaporization mechanism from bulk heating to surface evaporation through wick capillary action. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable uniform distribution while achieving adequate vaporization rates through controlled parameters rather than high temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a wick as an intermediary substance between the pesticide liquid and the heating element. The wick absorbs pesticide through capillary action and provides a large surface area for controlled evaporation, mediating between the liquid pesticide and the air to achieve uniform vapor distribution without direct high-temperature heating of the bulk liquid.
2Productivity
If high temperature heating is used to vaporize volatile materials, then vaporization rate is improved, but re-condensation in refrigerated conditions worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature heating to low-temperature controlled heating, specifically designed for refrigerated environments. By operating at temperatures below the dew point of the volatile materials, the system achieves vaporization without creating temperature differentials that would cause re-condensation, thus resolving the contradiction between vaporization rate and re-condensation prevention.
3Ease of operation
If volatile materials are handled in cartridge form, then delivery control is improved, but operator exposure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to operate automatically once the cartridge is installed, with the heating element and airflow system managing the vaporization and distribution processes without requiring operator intervention. This self-service operation eliminates ongoing operator exposure risks while maintaining precise delivery control through the controlled heating and airflow mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If conventional spray or dip methods are used, then application simplicity is improved, but water usage and cross-contamination risk worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical spray or dip application system with a vapor-phase application system. Instead of using water-based sprays or dips that require large volumes of water and create runoff contamination, the system uses controlled vaporization of the volatile pesticide material, which naturally disperses through the air to treat the produce without water usage or cross-contamination risks.
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 ensures efficient and uniform delivery of antimicrobials and fungicides in refrigerated conditions, reducing waste and operator exposure, with improved applicability to various crops and environments.
Implementation Method 1
a wick in communication with the liquid formulation and delivering the liquid formulation to a vapourisation point
Implementation Method 2
pre-heated inlet air to control vapourisation rate
Implementation Method 3
Pre-heating of the inlet air, thereby delivering warm air to the wick
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention is a vapourising device (10) for vapourising a volatile liquid for supply to an environment. The device has a housing 100 having an inlet (109) for receiving inlet air which is warmed by inlet heater (111) before being supplied to cartridge assembly (200). Cartridge assembly (200) has a reservoir (204) for containing the liquid to be vapourised and at least one wick (206), one end of which is located in the reservoir to receive and transport the liquid to the other, exposed end of the wick where the liquid evaporates and mixes with the supplied stream of heated inlet air. The wick may be heated by a wick heater (211). The device also includes an outlet duct section (217) between the wick (206) and the outlet (221) which is conical in shape and is configured to accelerate the flow of the mixture of inlet air and vapourised liquid away from the wick towards the outlet (221). The invention provides increased control of the vapourisation process and helps to reduce condensation of the volatile liquid back onto the apparatus or onto surrounding surfaces.