Device for converting a liquid to a vapour
A device for converting a liquid into vapor includes an enclosure, a heating surface with a downward slope arranged in the enclosure, and a liquid inlet port connected to an upper portion of the heating surface so that a liquid introduced from the liquid inlet port flows on the heating surface. The device also includes a vapor outlet port formed through a wall of the enclosure. The heating surface includes a heat transfer pipe configured to allow the flowing of a heat transfer fluid to heat the heating surface, and a corner piece including a U-shaped cross-section with a semi-circular portion arranged around the heat transfer pipe and an upper portion forming an opening on the enclosure.
1. A device for converting a liquid into vapor, said device comprising:
an enclosure;
a heating surface with a consistently downward slope arranged in said enclosure and defining a liquid flow path;
a liquid inlet port connected to an upper portion of said heating surface so that the liquid introduced from said liquid inlet flows on said slope of the heating surface; and
a vapor outlet port formed through a wall of the enclosure;
wherein the heating surface comprises:
a heat transfer pipe configured to allow the flowing of a heat transfer fluid heating said heating surface; and
a channel piece comprising a U-shaped cross-section with a semi-circular portion arranged around said heat transfer pipe and an upper portion forming an opening on said enclosure; and
wherein the heat within the enclosure enters the enclosure via the heat transfer fluid.
2. The device for converting a liquid into vapor of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the semi-circular portion of the channel piece is substantially equal to the diameter of the heat transfer pipe.
3. The device for converting a liquid into vapor of claim 2 , wherein the channel piece is bent around the heat transfer pipe.
4. The device for converting a liquid into vapor of claim 1 , wherein the heating surface forms a spiral.
5. The device for converting a liquid into vapor of claim 1 , wherein the heating surface has a slope in the range from 1 to 4%.
6. The device for converting a liquid into vapor of claim 1 , wherein the channel piece comprises at least one groove extending on one side of the heat transfer pipe.
7. The device for converting a liquid into vapor of claim 1 , wherein the channel piece and/or the heat transfer pipe are made of a material neutral for the liquid.
8. The device for converting a liquid into vapor of claim 7 , wherein the channel piece and/or the heat transfer pipe are made of stainless steel.
9. The device for converting a liquid into vapour of claim 7 , wherein the material neutral for the liquid is stainless steel.
10. The device for converting a liquid into vapor of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises an insulating outer jacket and a temperature-controlled inner jacket.
11. The device for converting a liquid into vapor of claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer pipe is configured to circulate a heat transfer fluid in a circulation direction inverse to the direction of a liquid in the channel piece.
12. The device for converting a liquid into vapor of claim 1 , wherein said device comprises two portions:
an upper portion where the heat transfer pipe is arranged in the semi-circular portion of the channel piece; and
a lower portion where an electric heating resistor is arranged in the semi-circular portion of the channel piece.
13. A vapor generator comprising:
a liquid flow regulator capable of generating a constant liquid flow rate in the range from 0 to 10 kg/hr;
the device for converting liquid into vapor of claim 1 , the inlet port of the device coupled to said liquid flow regulator; and
an energy source capable of supplying a sufficient quantity of energy to the heating surface of the conversion device to heat the liquid.
14. The vapor generator of claim 13 , further comprising a source for heating the heat transfer pipe of the conversion device, arranged on an inlet port of heat transfer fluid of said heat transfer pipe.
15. A device for converting a liquid into vapor, said device comprising:
an enclosure into which heat is introduced by a heat transfer fluid;
a heating surface formed as an open channel having a U-shaped cross-section and forming a helix extending downward from an upper portion of the heating surface at a top of the enclosure;
a heat transfer pipe configured to provide heat to the heating surface via the heat transfer fluid flowing therein, the heat transfer pipe disposed within the channel of the heating surface, having a cross-section complementary to the U-shaped cross-section of the heating surface, and further having a helical shape corresponding to that of the heating surface such that the heating surface and the heat transfer pipe are in contact over at least the upper portion of the heating surface;
a liquid inlet port connected to the upper portion of the heating surface such that a liquid introduced through said liquid inlet port flows, by gravity, within the channel formed by the heating surface and around the heat transfer pipe from the upper portion to a lower portion of the heating surface; and
a vapor outlet port formed through a wall of the enclosure.
16. A device according to claim 15 , further comprising an electrolyzer having an inlet coupled to the vapor outlet port and operating at atmospheric pressure such that an inner pressure of the enclosure is equal to the atmospheric pressure.
17. A device according to claim 15 , wherein the heating surface extends downward with a constant slope over a majority of its helical length.
18. A device according to claim 17 , wherein the constant slope is between 1% and 4%.
19. A device according to claim 15 , wherein the heat transfer pipe includes an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet and outlet ports arranged such that the flow of heat transfer fluid through the heat transfer pipe is against gravity.