FR2680118A1 - Method for catalytically spraying (diffusing) a combustible liquid mixed with a perfumed, cleansing, deodorising, insecticidal, expectorising or other product, and catalytic spray (diffuser) implementing this method - Google Patents

Abstract

The spray includes a container (1) for the combustible liquid (2), at least one pumping element (3) made of inorganic fibres immersed in the container (1) and constituting the first aforementioned part of the porous network and at least one burner (5), also made of inorganic fibres, constituting the second aforementioned part of the porous network, the upper end of the burner being impregnated with a catalyst (6) and its lower end being brought into contact with the pumping element in order to make their respective pores communicate.

Description

Method for diffusing by catalysis a combustible liquid mixed with a perfumed, sanitizing, deodorant, insecticide, expectorant or other product and catalytic diffuser controlling this process.

 Catalytic diffusers are known and include a wick supplying a porous ceramic burner; this wick plunges into a container which contains an alcohol mixed with the product to be diffused.

 A first drawback of this known diffuser is that due to the too fine porosity of the burner, the choice of scents or other products of the mixture is very limited in order to limit fouling of the part of said burner impregnated with catalyst.

In any case, the burner is out of service after a number of ignitions between 30 and 70.

 A second drawback lies in the commissioning of the diffuser which turns out to be long, difficult and dangerous.

The liquid impregnation of the textile wick and ceramic burner assembly requires a wait of approximately 30 minutes. The ignition is delicate, because it is necessary to ignite the burner saturated with alcohol for 1 to 3 minutes, the flame rising from 10 to 15 cm, so that the temperature of the particles impregnated with catalyst reaches appreciably 2600C, then it is necessary to blow the flame and in principle the catalysis is established.

 The textile wick being in contact with a heat source of high temperature, carbonizes the perfumes or other products by denaturing them, disturbs the supply to the burner and transforms the alcohol in the container into vapor, which is very dangerous since it risks ignite in the event of distracted handling.

 If the catalysis is defused, the previous operation must be restarted which the user does not fail to do, but then the danger is even more present.

 When the diffusion must be stopped, a cap is placed on the burner whose average temperature is such that the operator can, if he is not careful, burn his hand.

 The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a method for diffusing by catalysis a combustible liquid, mixed with a perfumed, sanitizing, deodorant, insecticide, expectorant or other product.

According to the invention, it consists
- to organize a set of mineral fibers, refractory and insulating, in a porous network whose pores are sized between 0.3 and 80 microns for a specific surface between 2.2m2cc and 0.008 m2 / cc,
- to supply a first part of the porous network with the aforementioned combustible liquid,
- impregnating a second part of the network intended for diffusing the active product, with a catalyst which does not significantly reduce the porosity,
- to establish communication between the pores of said parts,
- to heat the catalytic zone of the second part to very quickly trigger the self-sustaining catalysis.

 Advantageously, the pores of the porous network of mineral fibers are sized between 5 and 20 microns for a specific surface of between 0.09 and 0.05 m2 / cc.

 To achieve the above object, the invention also extends to a catalytic diffuser implementing the above method.

 According to the invention, this diffuser comprises a liquid reserve, at least one pumping element made of mineral fibers plunging into the reserve and constituting the aforementioned first part of the porous network, and at least one burner also made of mineral fibers constituting the second part above of the porous network, the upper end of the burner being impregnated with a catalyst and its lower end being brought into contact with the pumping element to communicate their respective pores.

 According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the pumping element is a rod molded and / or machined from high purity quartz fibers without organic or mineral binder, the open porosity of which is between 50 and 85%, while the burner is a molded and / or machined tip made of high purity quartz fibers without organic or mineral binder, the open porosity of which is between 50 and 85%; the tip can be a head trapped in a capsule open at the top and fitted into a neck of a container forming a reserve and the capsule contains a mineral wool pad advantageously constituted by continuous silica fibers entangled without any organic binder, the pad forming a burner being in contact with the nozzle and its apparent surface being impregnated over at least part of its extent with a catalyst.

 Thanks to these characteristics, catalysis is established almost instantaneously as soon as the liquid mixture reaches the burner and fills its pores in quantity with a sufficient renewal flow rate to bring the catalyst and its environment to the locally appropriate temperature so that the self-supporting catalytic combustion.

 In reality, in embodiments where the open pores of the burner open largely outside outside the catalytic zone, the catalytic combustion begins almost instantaneously, with the flame of a match for example.

On the other hand, in embodiments where the pores are closed, in particular on the sides of the burner (by a metal capsule, by vitrification of the lateral surface of the burner, etc.), the establishment of catalysis is a little longer and requires sustained ignition of the liquid and extinction as soon as catalytic combustion begins.

 It is important to note that since the mineral fibers are refractory and insulating, no notable propagation of heat is to be feared towards the liquid of the container. Consequently, any risk of explosion is eliminated; moreover, the denaturing of perfumes or other products is no longer to be feared; carbonization is excluded because there is no longer a textile wick, the fouling of the burner is practically nonexistent and the service life of the assembly: burner and pumping element is considerably increased.

 Virtually any product can be mixed with the combustible liquid. When it comes to perfumes, no restrictions are imposed, heavy perfumes, body perfumes ... can be used.

 Of course, the catalytic combustion of these products which are unusually used in known diffusers can, contrary to what has been said previously for the products which are commonly usable, lead to fouling of the burner. In this exceptional case, cleaning is easy, since it suffices to treat said burner fouled in a pyrolysis oven for example.

 Various other characteristics and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the detailed description which follows.

 Embodiments of the object of the invention are shown, by way of nonlimiting examples, in the accompanying drawing.

On this drawing
FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating a first embodiment of the catalytic diffuser according to the invention,
FIGS. 2 to 7 are partial views similar to FIG. 1 showing other embodiments,
FIG. 8 is a cutaway perspective showing a burner holding capsule,
- Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1 schematically an eighth embodiment of the catalytic diffuser.

Whatever the embodiment envisaged, the catalytic diffuser comprises
- a container 1 containing a combustible liquid 2 such as isopropyl alcohol, perfume alcohol, absolute ethyl alcohol, denatured superfine ethyl alcohol conforming to European AIRE standards etc ..., This liquid is mixed with the product to be diffused such as a perfume or any other agent sought for its specific properties when it is diffused in a room; for example, it can be a sanitizing, deodorant, insecticide, expectorant, etc. product.

a pumping element 3 immersed in the liquid 2 of the container 1 (FIG. 1) or taking the liquid absorbed by a filling 4 of the container (FIG. 9),
a burner 5 cooperating for its supply with the pumping element 3 and impregnated in the region of the combustion of a catalyst 6.

 The pumping element 3 and the burner 5 are porous and constituted by a network of mineral fibers made of silica, silico-aluminous, glasses or ceramics of varied or other compositions which have the property of being refractory and insulating.

 The network is very porous with a high specific surface. The porosity is advantageously substantially the same for the pumping element and the burner. However, to better control the capillary flow to the catalytic combustion surface and in particular at the interfaces in particular between the burner and the pumping element, the porosities can be differentiated by the choice of materials used.

 Thus, the smallest pores are obtained by using the finest fibers to produce dense materials.

For example, silica fibers having a diameter of 1 micron organized in a material of density 1.2 generate pores which on average have a size close to 0.3 micron.

 The largest pores are obtained by using large diameter fibers to make light materials. For example, silico-aluminous fibers having a diameter of 20 microns and organized in a material of density 0.1 generate pores which have on average a size between 70 and 80 microns.

 It is interesting to note that the aforementioned finest porosity is limited. On the other hand, the largest porosity essentially depending on the diameter of the fibers may be greater than that of the above example.

The fibrous material is characterized not only by the size of its pores, but also by its specific surface which depends in particular on the nature and the diameter of the fibers used as well as on the density of said material obtained. The limits of this specific surface can be defined as follows
- 2.2 m2 / cc for a dense material of density 1.2 obtained with silica fibers with a diameter of 1 micron,
- 0.008 m2 / cc for a light 0.1 density material made of silico-aluminous fibers with a diameter of 20 microns.

 Advantageously, the pores can be sized between 5 and 20 microns for a specific surface of between 0.09 and 0.05 m2 / cc. Of course, these characteristics are adapted to the desired operating conditions of the diffuser as well as to the pumping or burning properties of the porous network.

 Properties of the material (refractory, insulating, porous in particular), it results that the fibers do not accumulate and practically do not transmit the heat of the catalytic flame, so that the reserve of combustible liquid 2 in the container 1 cannot '' heat up dangerously and the burner will not cause burns when you approach your hand to extinguish it.

 It also results therefrom that the combustible liquid can reach, due to the particular porosity of the material or materials used, up to the burner in sufficient quantity to ignite very easily. The ignition of the diffuser and the initiation of catalysis are therefore practically instantaneous.

 In addition, the operating conditions are such that any perfume or other product can be mixed with the combustible liquid and diffused by the burner without being denatured.

In particular, body perfumes can be used. In addition, the porosity of the base material can be suitable for heavy perfumes and prevents clogging of the pores. However, during prolonged use, the burner can be clogged and instead of replacing it simply pass it through a pyrolysis oven, which the mineral fibers withstand without deterioration.

 Several embodiments of the catalytic diffuser are described in the following with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

In these different embodiments, various porous materials based on mineral fibers are used. Some of them are marketed by EUROSIL for other applications and are defined below.

 A material for making molded and / or machined parts is known under the name "fibrosil". It is made of high purity quartz fibers without organic or mineral binder.

 A material in the form of a "tubular sheath" is produced by weaving, knitting, etc., sized quartz wires of very high purity.

 A braid-shaped material is produced by intertwining several twisted cords in silicoaluminous fibers.

 A material called "felt" is obtained from quartz fibers with a diameter between 2 and 15 microns, of about 9 microns. The size can be destroyed by burning at 5000 or by steam entrainment.

 A material called: "Papsil" is a paper made up exclusively of pure quartz fibers without organic or mineral binder.

 A material called "silica wool" consists of continuous fibers entangled without any organic binder. The silica content is greater than 99.99%. The fiber diameter is between 2 and 15 microns. The apparent density of the wool remains 3 less than 10 kg / m3.

 According to the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the pumping element 3 is a "fibrosil" rod 3a molded and machined. I1 has a projecting head 7 forming a tip and covered by a pad 8 of wool or felt. The wool or felt is made of very pure silica (99.99% minimum). The fiber diameter is in the range of 2 to 15 microns with an average of 9 microns. This material is very light with a density between 3 between 10 and 30 kg / m3 depending on the compaction. It is in the form of sized sheets of thickness close to 10 mm. The organic size burns around 5000C during the first use. By carrying out a rapid torch treatment, the felt settles superficially, the fibers are welded and one can observe the appearance of a rigid film, however very porous. The fiber itself has a density of 2.2 resulting in a porosity of around 99%. In other words, 99% of the space is occupied by air.

This very high porosity explains why one can touch the burner in operation; the mass of material brought to high temperature is so reduced that a finger for example cannot be substantially heated.

 This possibility of heat treating the surface is specific to this type of felt constituted by a vitreous material; one could not obtain this result with ceramic fibers which have a crystal structure.

 The head 7 and the tampon 8 are held one against the other, to establish permanent communication between their respective pores, by a metal capsule 9.

 This capsule 9 includes a perforated upper cage 10, connected by a shoulder 11 to a sleeve 12. The head 7 rests on the shoulder 11 and is held there by lugs 13 of the capsule 9 which clamp the bar 3 extending coaxially in the sleeve 12.

 A rim 14 of the cage 10 is crimped on the pad 8 to press the latter against the head 7. The rim defines a central opening 15 through which the pad appears 8. This apparent zone of the pad is impregnated with a catalyst 6 and constitutes the effective part of the catalytic burner.

 The pores of the head 7 and of the pad 8 are for the most part closed laterally by the cage 10. This makes it possible to adjust the flow rate of the liquid consumed by the catalytic combustion.

But at the same time, it increases the duration of the ignition which brings the catalyst particles to the temperature from which the catalytic combustion is self-sustaining. In any case, this duration remains short.

 For the first use, the sleeve 12 is inserted into the neck 16 of the container 1 until the shoulder 11 rests on the end of the latter. The bar 3 then plunges into the combustible liquid 2 and pumps it by capillary action so that it reaches the pad 8 and impregnates it.

 The bar 3 may include a weakening groove 3b located at an intermediate level. By breaking the bar at this level, the depth of immersion and thus the duration of the diffusion can be adjusted. Of course, several appropriately staggered slits can be provided.

 I1 is important to note that the cage 10 of the capsule 9 completely releases the thread of the neck 16, which allows to screw a cap 17 for sealing.

 Many catalysts are known. I1 can be certain metals in the pure state or in the form of salts, oxides. For example, one can use chloroplatinic acid, paladium salts, rhodium salts, vanadium salts, etc. titrating from 25 to 30%.

 The mixture is then sprayed on the pad 8 or only on the zone thereof delimited by the central opening 15 of the capsule 9. The spraying is then followed by heating to approximately 2500C to fix the metal microparticles on the mineral fibers of the burner. These micro-particles do not significantly reduce the cross section of the pores.

 Of course, the catalyst can also be deposited by dipping, but the consumption of metal is greater for a result which is not necessarily significant.

 In the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, there is the bar 3 surmounted by a head 18 coming from molding and / or machining therewith.

 The head 18 has, between two cylindrical areas 19 and 20, a groove 21 of which at least part of the surface is impregnated, by spraying or soaking, with a catalyst 6. The areas 19 and 20 are vitrified to block the pores with this place and thus limit the burner flow. The catalytic combustion takes place in the groove 21.

 Furthermore, a cup 22 is hollowed out on the top of the head 18, to receive a solid or liquid perfume or any other naturally diffusing product. The cup can also be brought back.

 According to the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the diffuser proper comprises a head 23 similar to the head 18, but distinct from the pumping element 3.

This consists of a tubular sheath 24 rolled up on itself and enveloping several braids 25, three in the example shown. The sheath 24 is threaded on a stud 26 projecting under the head 23 and applied against the latter by a collar 27. this collar is crimped and at the same time maintains the braids 25 against the stud 26.

 In the fourth embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, there is the same pumping element 3 as in the third (Figure 3), comprising a upturned sheath 24 and braids 25. By cons, the burner 5 is different. I1 is constituted by the open upper end 28 of the sheath and of the braids, housed in a capsule 9 similar to that of the first embodiment according to FIG. 1. This end is covered and packed by a pad 8 of wool or felt impregnated with a catalyst 6, the whole forming the burner 5.

 The fifth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 is similar to the fourth according to FIG. 4, with the only difference that the upturned sheath 24 envelops a bar 3a.

The wool or felt of the pad 8 penetrates into the opening 28 of the sheath and surrounds the bar 3. This lining 8 is relatively packed and can fill the capsule 9.

 The sixth and seventh embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively show that the pumping element 3a can be retractable to modify the flow of flagrances. To this end, a advancement device 29 is provided and may for example be of the type shown. It comprises a wheel 30 secured to a shaft 31 mounted to rotate in a socket 32 or 33 fitted onto or in the neck 16 of the container 1. The shaft 31 is formed at its free end with an operating button 34.

 In the sixth embodiment, the pumping element 3a is a rod guided in the neck 16 of the container. Its upper end 35 is frayed and impregnated with a catalyst 6 to constitute the burner. The advancement device 29 projects more or less the frayed end 34 out of the socket 32.

 In the seventh embodiment, the upper end of the bar 3a has the same behavior as the rest of it. The sleeve 33 has a flare 36 containing a pad 8 impregnated on its apparent surface with a catalyst 6 and covered with a grid 37. The advancement device 29 more or less brings the upper end of the bar 3a closer to the pad 8 .

 According to the eighth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the catalytic diffuser comprises a container 1 which, instead of being a bottle with a narrow neck as in the other embodiments, is a relatively large jar closed by a clipped cover 37 or screwed.

 In the jar 1, immerse at least one pumping element 3 of any type and in particular of the type of one of those described in the foregoing with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The jar contains around this or these elements, a felt, silica wool, a stack of papers or the like which is saturated with saturation of the aforementioned combustible liquid mixed with the product to be diffused.

 The cover 38 is equipped with as many burners 5 as the body of the jar 1 contains pumping elements 3. Each burner 5 is a cage 39 made of mesh containing a pad 8 of mineral wool impregnated on the exterior surface of a catalyst. When the cover 38 is closed, the burner or burners 5 are in contact with said pumping elements.

Claims (19)

All these catalytic diffusers work in the same way. The liquid 2 is absorbed by the pumping element 3 which transmits it to the burner 5. When the apparent surface of the latter, impregnated with catalyst 6, is at an appropriate temperature, the catalytic combustion of the liquid is established and stabilized . The use of mineral fibers organized to generate a very high porosity with a high specific surface allows, also taking into account the refractory and insulating properties of the fibers and the possibility of adjusting the overall section of the pores open to the outside, to obtain catalytic diffusion at low temperature as close as possible to the catalyst particles. Thus, practically all kinds of products can be diffused without denaturing, catalytic combustion can be ignited very quickly and easily, extinction can be carried out without special precautions by hand for example, the manipulations are absolutely not dangerous, catalytic diffusions can be chained with natural diffusions. CLAIMS  1. Method for diffusing by catalysis a combustible liquid mixed with a perfumed, sanitizing, deodorant, insecticide, expectorant or other product,  characterized in that it consists  - to organize a set of mineral fibers, refractory and insulating, in a porous network whose pores are sized between 0.3 and 80 microns for a specific surface between 2.2 m2cc and 0.008 m2 / cc,  - to supply a first part of the porous network with the aforementioned combustible liquid,  - impregnating a second part of the network intended to diffuse the active product with a catalyst which does not significantly reduce the porosity,  - to establish a communication between the pores of said two parties  - to heat the catalytic zone of the second part to very quickly trigger the self-sustaining catalysis.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pores of the porous network of mineral fibers, in particular of silica, are dimensioned between 5 and 20 microns 2 for a specific surface of between 0.09 and 0.05 m2 / cc .  3.- catalytic diffuser implementing the method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a reserve (1) of combustible liquid (2) mixed with a perfumed, sanitizing, deodorant, insecticide, expectorant product,  characterized in that it also includes  - at least one pumping element (3) made of mineral fibers plunging into the reserve (1) and constituting the aforementioned first part of the porous network,  - And at least one burner (5) also made of mineral fibers constituting the aforementioned second part of the porous network, the upper end of the burner being impregnated with a catalyst (6) and its lower end being brought into contact with the element of pumping to communicate their respective pores.  4.- catalytic diffuser according to claim 3, characterized in that the pumping element (3) and the burner (5) have substantially the same porosity.  5.- catalytic diffuser according to claim 3, characterized in that the pumping element (3) is a rod (3a) molded and / or machined from quartz fibers of high purity without organic or mineral binder, whose open porosity is between 50 and 85%.  6.- catalytic diffuser according to claim 5, characterized in that the pumping rod (3) comprises a weakening groove (3b) located at at least one intermediate level for adjusting by breaking the depth of immersion of said rod and thus the duration of the broadcast.  7.- catalytic diffuser according to claim 3, characterized in that the pumping element (3) comprises, on the one hand, a tubular sheath (24) rolled up on itself in silica or glass fibers knitted, woven or braided and, on the other hand, one or more braids (25) of aluminous silico fibers enveloped by the sheath.  8.- catalytic diffuser according to claim 3, characterized in that the pumping element comprises, on the one hand, a tubular sheath (24) rolled up on itself in knitted, woven or braided silica or glass fibers, on the other hand, a bar (3a) molded and / or machined from high purity quartz fibers without binder whose open porosity is between 50 and 85%, the bar being enveloped by the upturned sheath.  9.- catalytic diffuser according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the pumping element (3) immersed in the aforementioned combustible liquid (2) contained in a container forming a reserve (1).  10.- catalytic diffuser according to any one of claims 5, 7 and 8, characterized in that the pumping element (3) plunges into a felt or a stack of papers (4) filling the container (1), this felt or these papers based on quartz fibers being very porous and impregnated with the aforementioned combustible liquid (2).  11.- catalytic diffuser according to any one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the burner (5) is a nozzle (7; 18; 23) molded and / or machined from high purity quartz fibers without organic binder or mineral whose open porosity is between 50 and 85%.  12.- catalytic diffuser according to claims 5 and 11, characterized in that the end piece considered (7; 18; 23) constitutes with the aforementioned bar (3a) a monolithic part.  13.- catalytic diffuser according to claim 12, characterized in that the end piece is a head (7) trapped in a capsule (9) open at the top and fitted into a neck (16) of a container (1) forming a reserve and in that the capsule (9) also contains a pad (8) of mineral wool advantageously constituted by continuous silica fibers entangled without any organic binder, the burner pad being in contact with the nozzle and its visible surface being impregnated over at least part of its extent of a catalyst (6).  14.- Diffuser according to claim Il or 12, characterized in that the end piece (18; 23) considered comprises a groove (21) of which at least part of the surface is impregnated with catalyst (6) to constitute the catalytic diffuser proper, the groove being located between two substantially cylindrical areas (19, 20) vitrified over a greater or lesser extent to adjust the flow rate of the diffusion.  15.- catalytic diffuser according to claim 14, characterized in that the end piece (16, 23) forms or cooperates with an upper cup (22) intended to receive a solid or liquid perfume.  16.- catalytic diffuser according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the open upper end (28) of the pumping element is trapped in a capsule (9) open at the top and fitted into a neck (16) d '' a container (1) forming a reserve and in that the capsule also contains a tampon (8) of mineral wool advantageously constituted by tangled silica fibers without any organic binder, the burner tampon being in contact with the nozzle and its apparent surface being impregnated over at least part of its extent with a catalyst (6).  17.- catalytic diffuser according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that to regulate the flow rate, a advancement device (29), in particular with thumbwheel (30), cooperates with the pumping element ( 3) to adjust the height of its end (35) projecting into the open air, end which is partly impregnated with catalyst (6).  18.- catalytic diffuser according to claim 13 or 16, characterized in that to regulate the flow rate, a advancement device (29), in particular with thumbwheel (30), cooperates with the pumping element (3) for the approximate more or less the aforementioned pad (8) in mineral wool.  19.- catalytic diffuser according to claim 10, characterized in that a plug (5) forming a burner, made of mineral wool advantageously constituted by continuous silica fibers entangled without any organic binder, is trapped in a cage (39) in mesh , is partially impregnated with a catalyst (6) and is in contact with the pumping element (3).