Vaporization and pressurization of liquid in a porous material
First Claim
1. A vaporization module to create pressurized vapor, comprising:
- a capillary member comprising a low thermal conducting material having small-sized pores, wherein the capillary member transforms liquid into vapor towards a vaporization zone by heat migration;
an orifice plate having one or more orifices to permit release of pressurized vapor; and
a sealing member to form, in association with the orifice plate, an at least partial enclosure of the vaporization module in which vapor pressure may increase.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vaporization module is provided that includes a capillary member to convert non-pressurized liquid to pressurized vapor. The pressure is sustained by capillary pressure of the liquid in the capillary member. The capillary member has low thermal conductivity and small-sized pores that permits liquid to travel by capillary action toward the vaporization zone. Often, the pores of the capillary member are substantially uniform in size. The capillary member may comprise ceramic material. The module also includes an orifice plate that has one or more orifices to permit release of pressurized vapor, e.g. as a pressurized vapor jet. The orifice plate is associated with a sealing member to form an at least partial enclosure of the module so that vapor may accumulate and pressure may be increased within the module. In addition, other aspects of the present invention relating to the vaporization and pressurization of liquid are described.
78 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A vaporization module to create pressurized vapor, comprising:
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a capillary member comprising a low thermal conducting material having small-sized pores, wherein the capillary member transforms liquid into vapor towards a vaporization zone by heat migration;
an orifice plate having one or more orifices to permit release of pressurized vapor; and
a sealing member to form, in association with the orifice plate, an at least partial enclosure of the vaporization module in which vapor pressure may increase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for producing pressurized vapor from non-pressurized liquid, in a vaporization module, comprising:
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providing liquid to a vaporization zone of a capillary member having small-sized pores and being at least partially enclosed by a sealing member;
allowing the liquid to travel within the pores of the capillary member;
providing heat to the vaporization zone to convert the liquid into vapor;
accumulating the vapor to increase pressure; and
releasing the vapor from the vaporization module through an opening in an orifice plate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification