Vapore, Inc.

Robert A Lerner

Thomas M Young

Mark L Richardson

Barry Hal Rabin

A capillary pump is provided for producing pressurized and unpressurized vapor emissions from liquid feed. In its simplest form, the capillary pump incorporates a liquid feed intake, a porous vaporization component, and a heat transfer component. Additional components, such as an insulator component, a feed pre-heat component, a liquid feed reservoir and/or delivery system, an integrated or associated heater component, a vapor collection chamber, a heat distribution component, an orifice component and/or vapor release component, may also be associated with or integrated in the improved capillary pumps. Capillary pump arrays are provided, and numerous applications for capillary pumps are disclosed.

Capillary pumps for vaporization of liquids

A capillary pump is provided for producing pressurized vapor emissions, having various layers that assist in creating optimal conditions to accomplish a high maximum fluid flow rate and pressurization. Heat and liquid/vapor flows in opposing directions in pathways within the layers. The pump includes a vaporization layer having small-sized pores and with a thickness and area to reduce viscous drag of flowing liquid and vapor. An ejection layer is also included having one or more openings and an integrated heat transfer portion for conveying heat and providing a low fluidic drag area. The pump may include an insulation layer to shield the liquid in a supply area from heat and/or a preheat layer to raise the temperature of the liquid prior to the liquid entering the vaporization layer. A coating at least partially surrounds the outer surfaces of the pump to allow vapor pressure to increase.

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Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Robert A Lerner