Rapid Vapor Generator
- Summary
- Well-explained by its name, this new invention is an electrically-energized device for the rapid generation of steam. The device has a wicked evaporator which consists of a low-thermal-conductivity porous wick, heated from a downward-facing grooved heating block that is in intimate contact with the upper surface of the wick structure. Once a heat load is applied on the grooved heating block, an extremely steep temperature gradient is established immediately at the upper surface of the wick so that water from the saturated wick evaporates rapidly adjacent to the heated surface. Subsequently, menisci are formed at the vapor/liquid interface to develop capillary force to pump subcooled liquid into the wick from the feedwater container. The grooves in the heating block allow the resulting vapor to instantaneously escape from the heated surface so that a high heat transfer rate from the heating block to the saturated wick can be maintained all the time.
This new design causes rapid vaporization of liquid, requires no external pumping power, controls precisely a predetermined quantity of vapor, and saves energy.
- Technology Benefits
- Usually, in electrically-energized steam generators, one or more electric heaters are immersed in a water container to heat up subcooled liquid to saturated or superheated vapor. One of the major drawbacks is that it takes a rather long time for subcooled water to be vaporized because the process of heating up a large volume of water in the whole container is usually slow. Some application maintained water at saturated state by heaters in order to generate steam immediately that however means extra consumption of energy.
The design of this simple Rapid Vapor Generator not only avoids these problems but also allows users to have precise control over the quantity of vapor to generate. Also, the Generator does not need external pumping power.
- Technology Application
- - Humidity control
- Steam cooking
- Steam hair setting
- Steam skin therapy
- Steam iron
- Supplementary Information
- Patent Number: US6169852B1
Application Number: US1999294133A
Inventor: Liao, Qiang | Zhao, Tianshou | Cheng, Ping
Priority Date: 20 Apr 1999
Priority Number: US6169852B1
Application Date: 20 Apr 1999
Publication Date: 2 Jan 2001
IPC Current: F22B000128
US Class: 392395 | 261094 | 261142
Assignee Applicant: The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
Title: Rapid vapor generator
Usefulness: Rapid vapor generator
Summary: For use in, e.g. humidity control of an air-conditioned space, steam cooking, steam hair setting, steam skin therapy or steam iron.
Novelty: Vapor generator for use in, e.g. humidity control, steam cooking or steam hair setting, has grooves in heating block surface in contact with porous medium to allow escape of generated vapor
- Industry
- Electronics
- Sub Category
- 3C/Gadgets
- Application Date
- 20 Apr 1999
- Application No.
- US 09/294133
- Patent Information
- US 6169852
- ID No.
- TTC.PA.097
- Country/Region
- Hong Kong
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