Accelerated flameless evaporation system

Abstract

A flameless evaporator for vaporizing a liquid, comprising a tank for receiving the liquid to be vaporized thereinto; a manifold disposed in the tank for the flow of hot gas therethrough, the manifold having an inlet for the supply of the hot gas and an outlet for the discharge of the hot gas from the manifold; an inlet into the tank for the supply of the liquid thereinto for thermal contact with the manifold for heating and vaporizing the liquid; and a vapour outlet for the discharge of the vapour from the tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic flow diagram of a system for evaporating liquid using heat transferred from an internal combustion engine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative system for evaporating liquid; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a diverter valve forming part of the evaporators of FIG. 1 or 2.

Claims

1. A flameless evaporator for vaporizing a liquid, comprising: a tank for receiving said liquid to be vaporized thereinto;a manifold disposed in said tank for the flow of hot gas therethrough, said manifold having an inlet for the supply of said hot gas and an outlet for the discharge of said hot gas from said manifold;an inlet into said tank for the supply of said liquid thereinto for thermal contact with said manifold for heating and vaporizing said liquid; anda vapour outlet for the discharge of said vapour from said tank.

2. The evaporator of claim 1 wherein said outlet of said manifold includes blower means therein for drawing said hot gas through said manifold.

3. The evaporator of claim 2 wherein said blower reduces the pressure of said hot gas in said manifold relative to the pressure of said hot gas at said inlet to said manifold.

4. The evaporator of claim 3 wherein the speed of said blower is adjustable in response to changes in said pressure of said hot gas at said inlet to said manifold.

5. The evaporator of claim 4 wherein said blower additionally draws vapour from said tank for discharge therefrom.

6. The evaporator of claim 1 wherein said manifold comprises hollow tubing disposed within said tank.

7. The evaporator of claim 6 wherein said tank includes an inner and outer wall with a space therebetween, said space being in fluid communication with said hollow tubing to become part of said manifold for the flow of said hot gas therethrough.

8. The evaporator of claim 7 wherein said inlet to said manifold includes an adjustable valve operable to direct said hot gas into or away from said manifold.

9. The evaporator of claim 1 wherein said evaporator includes a pump for discharging said fluid into said tank.

10. The evaporator of claim 9 wherein said pump sprays said fluid onto said manifold.

11. The evaporator of claim 10 wherein said pump includes an additional inlet in fluid communication with said tank's interior for recirculating fluid accumulated in said tank through said pump and back into said tank for spraying onto said manifold.

12. The evaporator of claim 1 wherein said hot gas is exhaust from a prime mover.

13. The evaporator of claim 12 wherein said prime mover is an internal combustion engine.