Regenerative Vapor/Particle Generator

Abstract

The present invention discloses a regenerative particle/vapor separator to thermally convert various liquids used to treat stored agricultural products into vapor by: 1) Entraining the liquid in a turbulent mist and then effectuating a change of the liquid into a vapor intermixed with the mist; and, 2) Separating the vapor out of the mist while retaining the remaining mist for subsequent conversion to vapor. Some liquids used to treat stored agricultural products undergo the further step of thermally decomposing into beneficial gaseous byproducts which are also separated out of the mist. The vapor and/or gaseous byproducts are then applied to a stored mass of agricultural products to variously sanitize, clean, and chemically and biologically alter them.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A regenerative vapor/particle generator comprising:
 a. a heating vessel with a hollow interior cavity enclosed by a top surface and bottom surface;   b. at least one air blower unit atmospherically connected to at least one heating unit wherein said heating unit is atmospherically connected to said interior cavity capable of providing hot air into said interior cavity;   c. at least one cylindrical vaporizing unit installed in said heating vessel:
 i. wherein said vaporizing unit is perforated around its circumferential periphery by a multiplicity of heating slits; 
 ii. wherein the exterior aspect of said vaporizing unit extends into said hollow interior cavity such that said multiplicity of heating slits are enclosed within said interior cavity; 
 iii. wherein said heating slits are oriented such that hot air admitted into said vaporizing units flows substantially unidirectionally along the curved inner surface of said vaporizing unit forming a vortex inside said vaporizing unit; 
   d. a funnel-shaped vapor separator in the general form of an inverted, truncated cone installed through the top of said vaporizing unit;
 i. wherein said vapor separator has an open, larger end and an open, smaller end and the central axis of said vapor separator is aligned with the central axis of said vaporizing unit in which it is installed; 
 ii. wherein the open, smaller end of said vapor separator is situated inside said vaporizing unit and the outer surface of said vapor separator substantially seals the open top of said vaporizing unit such that the only exit path for vaporized and dissociated materials generated in said vaporizing unit is through the open, smaller end of said vapor separator and upwardly though the open, larger end of said vapor separator. 
   
     
     
         2 . A regenerative vapor/particle generator of  claim 1  further comprising a vapor collector wherein the open, larger end of said vapor collector covers the open, larger end of said vapor separator and seals it from the atmosphere and said vapor collector is atmospherically connected to a distribution duct for transferring vaporized and dissociated materials to an enclosed space. 
     
     
         3 . A regenerative vapor/particle generator of  claim 1  wherein said heating unit generates heat from electricity. 
     
     
         4 . A regenerative vapor/particle generator of  claim 1  wherein said heating unit generates heat by burning hydrocarbon fuel.