RU2787081C1 - Vortex heat generator - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: thermal power engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to thermal power engineering and can be used to heat liquids in hydraulic systems for various purposes or to start and enhance physico-chemical transformations in a liquid medium. The vortex heat generator includes a high-pressure chamber, a vortex tube, the first and second parts of the annular separator, a cylindrical resonant chamber, a collecting chamber, which is equipped with an outlet pipe for connecting the chamber to the hydraulic circuit pipe, a cylindrical rod, a disk, a rectangular section sealing ring, handles mounted on the outer edges of the flow control rod and a cylindrical rod with using a metal rod and gaskets that are used to prevent liquid leakage.

EFFECT: when implementing the invention, the combination of two methods for exciting cavitation in one device is achieved without the use of additional devices.

2 cl, 9 dwg

Description

The invention relates to thermal power engineering and can be used to heat liquids in hydraulic systems for various purposes and/or to start and/or enhance physical and chemical transformations in a liquid medium.

The cavitation phenomenon that occurs in a liquid medium consists in the formation, growth and collapse of gaseous and vapor bubbles due to a decrease in ambient pressure below the vaporization pressure at operating temperature. The following methods are used for this: generation of sound waves or pressure waves in a liquid using a piezoelectric transducer, hydrosonic cavitation and reduction of ambient pressure by accelerating the flow of liquid through a venturi or diaphragm.

The hydrosonic method produces cavitation by generating sound or pressure waves in a liquid medium so that vapor bubbles form and grow during the low pressure phases of these waves and collapse in the high pressure cycle; these waves can be transmitted by mechanical means, or mainly by electrical impulses from an electronic circuit whose energy is transferred to the static fluid contained in the tanks through electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducers, which can provide an energy transfer of about 85% of the sound energy used. Efficiency is increased when it operates in resonant mode in a small volume tank and at ultrasonic frequencies so that the waves bounce off the tank walls and can reach the entire volume of the liquid. Each exploding microbubble emits a new shock wave, forming a chain of cavitation in the static fluid, forming spherical microbubbles that increase the force of the explosion. These configurations are widely used in facility cleaning, the chemical and food industries, and pharmaceutical and laboratory applications. The effectiveness of the method decreases with large volumes of liquid or in moving liquids.

Hydrodynamic cavitation is a physical phenomenon occurring in liquid flow resulting from the rapid acceleration of liquid in a venturi, sharp edges or narrow holes, so that according to Bernoulli's principle, there is a sudden pressure drop that reduces the vaporization temperature, the pressure of the liquid medium, so that microbubbles of vapor are created and shortly thereafter they collapse as the velocity decreases and the pressure at the exit of the venturi rises. Hydrodynamic cavitation is less efficient than hydrosonic cavitation because the fast moving fluid randomly scatters the reflection of the pressure waves emitted by the microbubble explosions. But the benefits of hydrosonic cavitation disappear when used in dynamic flows, where hydrodynamic cavitation provides the most practical and effective results. This method is used for the treatment of relatively large volumes of liquid, for example in the treatment and heating of water, in some specific processes in the food and chemical industries, due to its efficiency and effectiveness compared to other methods used for the same purposes.

There are designs of hydrosonic and hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus for various purposes.

The prior art device hydrosonic cavitation using piezoelectric transducers, the disadvantage of which is the limited volume of static fluid [patent RU 2335705 C2. IPC F24J 3/00, F22B 27/00. Application No. 2005136836/06 dated 11/25/2005. Published: 10.10.2008 in Bull. No. 28]. Also known is a hydrosonic apparatus of medium efficiency, which can process large volumes of liquid when powered by an electric motor [Patent US5188090 A dated February 23, 1993. IPC B01F7/00; F24J3/00. Application US19910682003 dated 04/08/1991] in the form of a cylindrical rotor with several peripheral holes, which rotates in a concentric housing supported by bearings and seals. The disadvantages of the design are the complexity of the design and high cost, as well as the need to use a pump to force the liquid to pass through the said body. Vibration generated by shock waves, since uneven rotor erosion caused by cavitation leads to premature damage and damage to the rotor, bearings and seals.

In devices [patent US5957122 A dated 09/28/1999. IPC B01F7/00; F24D3/08; F24J3/00. Application US19980133721 dated 08/31/1998; patent US6595759 B2 dated July 22, 2003. IPC F04D29/58; F04D5/00. Application US20010918325 dated 07/30/2001; patent US7089886 B2 dated 15.08.2006. IPC F24J3/00. Application US20040814189 dated 04/01/2004; patent US6910448 B2 dated 06/28/2005. IPC F24J3/00. Application US20030612980 dated 07/07/2003; patent US6976486 B2 dated 12/20/2005. IPC F24J3/00. Application US20030682503 dated October 10, 2003] describes generators with identical rotors provided with cavities. The device is also known [Patent US7767159 B2 dated 03.08.2010. IPC F01K25/00. Application US20070729753 dated March 29, 2007], where the rotor interacts with a concentric stator, both are provided with peripheral holes that are capable of cutting and passing liquid under pressure at high frequencies during rotation. All of the above devices have the same disadvantages, namely, a complex design and high cost.

Also well known are devices capable of generating hydrodynamic cavitation by forcing liquid through plates with small holes. They give low efficiency and are prone to clogging and erosion during cavitation. There are even systems that use liquid vortices, the main low pressure of which is created by microbubbles, and the high peripheral pressure causes their destruction [patent US 2010/0103768].

As the closest prototype, a cavitation heat generator was chosen [patent RU 2312277 C1. IPC F24J 3/00. Application No. 2006106480/06 dated 03/02/2006. Published: 12/10/2007 in Bull. No. 34], consisting of a booster pump, a vortex chamber equipped on both end sides with axial outlet channels, one of which is made in the form of a nozzle, hydraulically communicated through an annular body chamber, equipped with throttling nozzles at the inlet and an outlet guide vane supplying a swirling flow liquid to the axial nozzle of the vortex chamber with its opposite twist, and both enter the resonator common to them. On both sides of the central vortex channel common to the heat generator and the resonator, electronic inputs are installed for connecting a high-frequency electric generator, and the body surfaces of the vortex and annular chambers are electrically insulated and connected to a voltage source. The disadvantages of the prototype device include the small volume of the hydrosonic chamber, resulting in more time required to heat the liquid. In addition, an additional source of electricity consumption is needed - a high-frequency electric generator. A short service life of the electrically insulating surface of the vortex and annular chambers, since wear of the internal surfaces is observed during cavitation. The device has a plurality of shaped surfaces, as a result of which its manufacture becomes complicated and expensive.

The objective of the invention is to combine in one device two methods of excitation of cavitation without the use of additional devices: hydrodynamic and hydrosonic.

The problem is solved by the fact that the cavitation heat generator includes:

a pressure chamber, preferably cylindrical, to which a nozzle is attached. The pressure chamber in its lower part is equipped with a support with a central hole, to which a polypropylene coupling is welded using a polypropylene tube. Inside the coupling there is a brass bushing with internal thread and coincides with the axis of the chamber. The other end of the chamber is open, contains a fastener for a strong and hermetic fastening of the high pressure chamber to the rest of the device body;

a vortex tube located inside the high pressure chamber and provided with side holes, the axes of which are tangentially aligned with the circumference of the vortex tube;

the first part of the annular separator, having the shape of a cylinder and provided with a first flange for tight connection with the fastener of the high pressure chamber. The annular spacer is provided with a central cylindrical protrusion with an opening suitable for connection to the vortex tube, and on the opposite side a semicircular bulge located around the circular opening to form a half part of the radial and annular Venturi tube, the cross section of the outer edges of which forms a round concentric recess;

the second part of the annular separator of cylindrical shape, provided with a second flange suitable for tight connection with the first flange and having a concentric annular recess, so that when attached to the said annular separator, a transverse toroidal cavity is formed, provided with a circular hole facing the center. On the opposite side is a round protrusion with a rectangular cross section;

a cylindrical resonant chamber with a closed end on one side, which is attached with a washer and nut to the end of a flow control rod, threaded to provide flow control. The open edge of the resonant chamber is concentrically located at a small distance from the round protrusion of the second part of the annular separator, forming a circular slot;

collecting chamber, which is equipped with an outlet for connecting the chamber with the pipe of the hydraulic circuit. The collecting chamber is equipped with a support with a central hole, to which a polypropylene coupling is welded using a polypropylene tube. Inside the coupling there is a brass insert with an internal thread and coincides with the axis of the collecting chamber. At the edge of the open end of the collecting chamber there is a third flange designed to be sealed to the second flange.

a cylindrical rod that can be rotated by means of two handles, the rod being threaded so that it can be screwed into a brass bushing which is located in the coupler. The opposite end of the rod is equipped with a screw with a washer and a nut;

The disk is a thin round plate with enough mass to achieve high vibration frequencies, but at the same time withstand significant deforming forces, with small holes that are used to reduce mass and at the same time to create additional cavitation. The disc has a diameter equal to or greater than that of a semicircular bulge which is concentric with the opening of the central cylindrical ridge so as to form a narrow circular slot. The disk is provided with a central hole into which the screw enters. The nut can regulate the pressure of the elastic elements on the disk, as a result of which the disk can create resonant oscillatory movements;

a rectangular O-ring located around a cylindrical pressure control rod installed in the housing at the bottom of the pressure chamber to prevent leakage;

handles or other hand aids attached to the outer edges of the flow control rod and the cylindrical rod with a metal rod;

gaskets that are used to prevent fluid leakage. Gaskets are located between the flanges of the pressure chamber, the first part of the annular separator, the second part of the annular separator and the collection chamber, which are firmly connected with additional screws, washers and nuts distributed in the holes on the flanges.

The problem is solved due to the ability of the device to generate hydrosonic cavitation in a resonant chamber where the laminar flow moves slowly, due only to the turbulent flow of hydrodynamic cavitation, which leads to the generation of large amplitude waves that cause pressure fluctuations in the laminar flow. The hydrodynamic cavitation heat generator creates clouds of microbubbles due to its ability to fractionate the liquid flow by dispersing it radially in a very thin layer at high speed, the thickness of which can be adjusted from the outside, according to the pressure and flow characteristics, density and viscosity of the liquid. The disk limits the radial thickness of the venturi where the fluid is accelerating so that as the fluid speed increases, the pressure decreases (in accordance with Bernoulli's principle) and said thin disk is forcibly pushed back by the large downward pressure. With a decrease in the slotted passage, the inlet pressure instantly increases and pushes the disk to its original position. The disk is held by elastic elements with a limited stroke, which allows you to set the vibratory movement. The oscillation frequency of the disc is proportional to the flow pressure and area of the disc and inversely proportional to its mass. The vibratory movement of said disk determines fluctuations in speed and pressure through the gap of the fluid flowing around it, which also causes pressure fluctuations above and below the disk in the form of pressure waves. At the same time, hydrodynamic cavitation is created in the groove channel, where at a higher flow rate, a smaller number of microbubbles of a larger diameter are created, and at a lower flow rate, a larger number of microbubbles with a smaller diameter are generated. The amplitude of the disk movement can vary from a few thousandths of a millimeter to more than 1 mm, its frequency depends on the density, viscosity and pressure of the working fluid, the pressure applied to the elastic elements, and the mass of the disk and can reach the sound range up to hundreds of kHz. In addition, the amount of energy that will be dissipated in the form of vibration and noise is used as useful energy by converting the vibration into a field of resonant pressure waves in the resonant chamber. The vibration frequency and the exposure time of the fluid flow to the pressure waves are externally adjustable.

The proposed technical solution is illustrated by the following drawings.

In FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a cavitation heat generator and the path of the liquid inside the device using arrows.

Figures 2 and 3 show the elements of a cavitation heat generator, where

1 - high pressure chamber,

2 - branch pipe,

3 - support with a central hole of the high pressure chamber,

4 - polypropylene coupling of the high pressure chamber,

5 - polypropylene tube of the high pressure chamber,

6 - brass bushing,

7 - internal thread,

8 - fastener,

9 - vortex tube,

10 - side holes,

11 - the first part of the ring separator,

12 - the first flange,

16 - the second part of the ring separator,

20 - resonant chamber,

21 - closed end,

22 - rod,

23 - thread,

24 - collecting chamber,

25 - outlet pipe,

26 - support with a central opening of the collecting chamber,

27 - polypropylene coupling of the collecting chamber,

28 - polypropylene tube of the collecting chamber,

29 - brass insert,

31 - cylindrical rod,

32 - handle,

33 - thread,

34 - screw,

35 - washer,

36 - nut,

37 - means of fastening,

38 - disk,

40 - the central hole of the disk,

41 - sealing ring of rectangular section,

42 - body,

43 - metal rod,

44 - gaskets,

45 - additional screw,

46 - additional washer,

47 - additional nut,

48 - holes on the flanges.

In FIG. 4 shows a vortex tube with tangential slots (top view), where 9 is a vortex tube, 10 are side holes.

In FIG. 5 shows the first and second part of the annular separator, where 11 is the first part of the annular separator, 12 is the first flange, 13 is the central cylindrical protrusion, 15 is a round concentric recess, 16 is the second part of the annular separator, 17 is the second flange, 18 is the concentric annular deepening, 19 - a round protrusion with a rectangular cross section, 48 - holes.

In FIG. 6 shows a disk with several small holes, where 38 is a disk, 39 are holes, 40 is a central hole.

Fig. 7 illustrates the configuration of a hydraulic circuit using a cavitation heat generator that is connected to an open tank, specifically for use as a water heater and purifier, where 49 is a tank, 50 is a pump, 51 is a cavitation heat generator.

In FIG. 8 shows the design of a hydraulic circuit with a bypass system, where 49 is a tank, 50 is a pump, 51 is a cavitation heat generator, 52 is a bypass system, 53 is a control valve, 54 is a heat exchanger.

In FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing of a hydraulic circuit equipped with a heat exchanger, where 49 is a reservoir, 50 is a pump, 51 is a cavitation heat generator, 54 is a heat exchanger, 55 is an expansion vessel, 56 is a safety valve.

The drawings do not show element 14 - a semicircular bulge located around a round hole 13 and element 30 - the third flange.

The operation of the cavitation heat generator begins when water or other working fluid enters the specified high pressure chamber 1, where it is immediately directed into the vortex tube 9 through the side holes 10 directed tangentially, subjected to angular acceleration and assuming a spiral movement around the pressure control rod 31. Upon reaching disk 38, the flow of fluid is directed radially outward, passing through a narrow venturi slot, where it is subjected to strong acceleration and, consequently, a sharp decrease in pressure. This high vacuum creates many cavitation bubbles and forces disk 38 to press against the bulge of said annular spacer 11, 16, drastically reducing the area of the flow passage in said slot, but not completely closing it due to the momentary increase in inlet pressure. The resonant oscillating motion of the disk 38 is set according to /f = (P × A × t) / (I × m), where f is the frequency, P is the flow pressure, A, diaphragm area, t time, I, diaphragm free play and m, its mass.

Vibratory motion is transmitted to the liquid volume below the specified diaphragm in the form of waves with a net power defined as: I = (P × Q) / (A × k), where I is the power in W / cm ² , P is the pressure in kg / cm ² , Q is the flow rate in liters per minute, A is the diaphragm area, k is a constant coefficient (equal to 0.6). On this basis, disc 38 easily reaches ultrasonic frequencies.

The pressure of the liquid at the narrowest point of the annular Venturi is always lower than the vapor point of the liquid due to velocity fluctuations, which creates a dense cloud of variously sized cavitation microbubbles. As the flow moves radially within the narrow opening of the venturi, its velocity drops exponentially and, conversely, occurs at a pressure that causes the microbubbles to collapse in a very short time. The specified toroidal cavity around the edges of the disk 38 creates an internal toroidal vortex, peripheral centrifugal pressure, compressing all microbubbles, creates a protective barrier that prevents erosion of the inner walls of the chamber. From there, the liquid flow is directed to the resonant chamber 20, the diameter of which is significantly larger than the inlet nozzle. In said resonant chamber, it creates a Doppler effect, so that even in the resonant mode, the waves moving away from the said diaphragm have a longer length than the reflected ones. Thus, obtaining a wide variety of microbubble sizes, the liquid channel leads it to the collection chamber 24, where the liquid absorbs the sound and vibrations created by the walls of the resonant chamber 20, and then is forced out through the outlet 25. Microbubbles generated by infrasound and ultrasound waves are usually , spherical and explode with energy: E = 4/3 × π × R ³ × P, where R is the radius of the microbubbles and P is the peak pressure of the pressure waves.

To heat water in tanks (Fig. 7), such as swimming pools and spas, and even domestic boilers 49 that operate at temperatures below 50 ° C, the liquid is withdrawn from the tank 49 using a pump 50, fed directly into a real generator 51 and returned to tank 49. This configuration can also be used for sterilization of liquids, accelerating chemical reactions, emulsification, biodiesel production, and other processes requiring intense cavitation. To use heating, a "bypass" system 52 and control valves 53 are needed to control the amount of liquid to be re-treated and discharged, at the desired temperature, into the domestic boiler (FIG. 8). For heating other liquids, such as foodstuffs, chemicals, or for heating the environment, the heat exchanger 54 must be connected to an expansion vessel 55, necessarily provided with a safety valve 56 (FIG. 9).

The difference in energy costs between the proposed technical solution and the prototype will make it possible to carry out the work process at a higher energy level, therefore, to obtain more energy at the output.

The invention discloses a device with which it is possible to heat directly or through a heat exchanger water or other liquids and even the environment with a thermodynamic efficiency (coefficient of performance) exceeding more than 200% in relation to the power supplied to the input device. In addition, the invention can be used for sterilization of liquids, acceleration of chemical reactions, emulsification, biodiesel production with the same efficiency and does not depend on ambient temperature and relative humidity.

Claims (12)

1. Cavitation heat generator, including a high-pressure chamber, to which a branch pipe is attached at one end, equipped in its lower part with a support with a central hole, to which a polypropylene coupling is welded using a polypropylene tube, while inside the coupling there is a brass bushing with an internal thread and coincides with the axis of the chamber, and the second open end of the chamber contains a fastener for strong and tight fastening of the high pressure chamber to the rest of the device body, a vortex tube located inside the high pressure chamber and provided with side holes, the axes of which are tangentially aligned with the circumference of the vortex tube, the first part of the annular separator, having the shape of a cylinder and provided with a first flange for tight connection with the fastener of the pressure chamber, while the annular separator is provided with a central cylindrical protrusion with an opening suitable for connection with the vortex tube, and on the opposite side has a semicircular bulge located around a circular hole to form a half part of a radial and annular venturi, the cross-section of the outer edges of which forms a circular concentric recess, the second part of the annular separator of cylindrical shape, provided with a second flange suitable for tight connection with the first flange and having a concentric annular recess, so that when attached to the said annular separator, a transverse toroidal cavity is formed, provided with a circular hole facing the center, and on the opposite side is located ledge with a rectangular cross section, a cylindrically shaped resonant chamber with a closed end on one side attached with a washer and nut to the end of a flow control rod threaded to provide flow control, the open end of the resonant chamber being concentrically located at a short distance from the circular protrusion of the second part of the annular spacer, forming a circular slot, a collecting chamber, which is equipped with an outlet pipe for connecting the chamber with a hydraulic circuit pipe and a support with a central hole, to which a polypropylene coupling is welded using a polypropylene tube, while inside the coupling there is a brass insert with an internal thread coinciding with the axis of the collecting chamber, and on the edge of the open end of the collecting chamber there is a third flange designed for tight attachment to the second flange, a cylindrical rod with two handles, and the rod is threaded, so that it can be screwed into a brass bushing, which is located in the coupling, while the opposite end of the rod is equipped with a screw with a washer and nut, disc which is a thin plate of circular shape with holes and having a diameter equal to or greater than the diameter of a semicircular bulge which is concentric with the hole of the central cylindrical boss so as to form a narrow circular slot, the disc being provided with a central hole into which the screw enters with a nut that regulates the pressure of the elastic elements on the disk, a rectangular O-ring located around a cylindrical pressure control rod mounted in a housing at the bottom of the pressure chamber, handles attached to the outer edges of the flow control rod and the cylindrical rod with a metal rod, gaskets to prevent liquid leakage located between the flanges of the pressure chamber, the first part of the annular separator, the second part of the annular separator and the collection chamber, which are firmly connected with additional screws, washers and nuts distributed in the holes on the flanges. 2. Cavitation heat generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the high pressure chamber may have a cylindrical shape.

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