Flange and intelligent detection method

By designing a flange with hollow structure and intelligent detection functions, the limitations of existing flange leakage monitoring methods are solved, more efficient sealing and monitoring effects are achieved, and the operation and maintenance level of pipeline equipment is improved.

CN120212347APending Publication Date: 2025-06-27HUANENG LANCANG RIVER HYDROPOWER CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202510394853.6
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-03-31
Publication Date
2025-06-27

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing flange leakage monitoring methods have limitations, and cannot effectively identify trace leakage, and it is difficult to meet the monitoring needs of industrial intelligence.

Method used

A flange is designed, including a hollow flange body, sealing groove 1, liquid filling area, sealing groove 2 and outer wall. Through the colored liquid and double sealing structure in the liquid filling area, an intelligent detection method is realized, and the sealing status of the flange is monitored in real time and leakage problems are discovered in a timely manner.

Benefits of technology

It improves the sealing and monitoring efficiency of flanges, enhances the timely detection and positioning accuracy of leak abnormalities, and improves the operation and maintenance level of pipeline equipment.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention provides a flange and an intelligent detection method.The flange comprises a hollow flange body, the hollow flange body structurally comprises an inner wall, a sealing groove 1, a liquid filling area, a sealing groove 2 and an outer wall in sequence, bolt holes are formed in the flanges, and bolts and nuts are used for connecting the two flanges into a whole; sealing rings or sealing gaskets are arranged in the sealing groove 1 and the sealing groove 2 and used for enhancing the sealing performance of connection. The liquid filling area is located on the outer side of the sealing groove 1 and used for filling coloring liquid with different properties, the liquid in the liquid filling area is pressurized through the liquid injection pipe, and it is guaranteed that the pressure is higher than the external atmospheric pressure but lower than the pipeline fluid pressure. By means of the design, sealing weak points of the flange can be found in time in the running process of fluid in a pipeline, leaked fluid flows into the liquid filling area through the sealing groove 1, the pressure of the liquid filling area is increased, finally, the leaked fluid leaks to the outer side through the sealing groove 2, and operation and maintenance personnel and intelligent monitoring equipment can conveniently detect and handle the leakage problem; the detection timeliness and the positioning accuracy of flange leakage are greatly improved, and the operation and maintenance of pipeline equipment are simplified.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of pipelines, and in particular to a flange and an intelligent detection method. Background Art

[0002] Flanges play an important role in fields such as pipeline connection. Its main function is to enable quick and convenient connection between equipment and pipelines, and between pipelines to form a complete system, allowing fluids to flow smoothly between different equipment or pipe segments. The main function of a flange is sealing. Relying on the structure and tight fit between flanges, it can prevent the fluid in the pipeline from leaking to the outside world and ensure the stable operation of the system. At the same time, the flange also has the functions of facilitating installation and maintenance, compensation and adjustment, support and fixation. However, with the use of flanges, the number of pipeline connection points increases, and the leakage probability and treatment work of flanges become more prominent, and there is no good means of monitoring operation leakage. Currently used methods mainly include direct observation method, pressure test method, chemical detection method, ultrasonic detection method, infrared thermal imaging detection method, radioactive tracer method, etc. The use of the above methods all has limitations and is not broad-spectrum enough. For example, the direct observation method has a large amount of manual labor and cannot identify micro-leakage. The pressure test method cannot target specific leakage locations. The ultrasonic detection method is sensitive to environmental noise. The chemical detection method, infrared thermal imaging detection method, radioactive tracer method, etc. all have special requirements for the use environment and fluid properties, etc., and cannot meet the current monitoring needs of industrial intelligence. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application aims to solve at least one of the technical problems in the related art to some extent.

[0004] To this end, the first object of this application is to propose a flange.

[0005] The second object of this application is to propose an intelligent detection method.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the first aspect embodiment of this application proposes a flange, including:

[0007] A flange body, which is hollow, and its structure from the inside to the outside is in turn an inner wall, sealing groove 1, liquid filling area, sealing groove 2, and outer wall;

[0008] Bolt holes provided on the flange, bolts pass through the bolt holes, and nuts are sleeved on the bolts to connect two flanges together to form a whole.

[0009] Optionally, the inner wall is used to connect the fluid in the pipeline to make it flow freely;

[0010] The sealing groove 1 is located outside the inner wall and is used to ensure that the fluid flowing inside does not leak to the external environment;

[0011] The liquid filling area is located outside the sealing groove 1 and is used to fill filling liquids with different properties and viscosities according to the properties of the fluid in the pipeline and the performance of the gasket in the sealing groove;

[0012] The sealing groove 2 is located outside the liquid filling area and is used to isolate the liquid in the liquid filling area from the external environment;

[0013] The outer wall is located outside the sealing groove 2, and bolt holes are evenly distributed on the outer wall;

[0014] Sealing rings or gaskets are arranged in the sealing groove 1 and the sealing groove 2, which are located between two flange plates and are used to enhance the sealing performance of the connection.

[0015] The liquid filling area passes outward through the sealing groove 2 to the outer wall, and a liquid injection pipe is installed on the outer wall. The liquid injection pipe has a check structure inside, which is used to fill the liquid filling area with colored liquid, and at the same time prevent the injected colored liquid from leaking abnormally.

[0016] To achieve the above object, a second aspect embodiment of the present application proposes an intelligent detection method, including:

[0017] Put sealing rings or gaskets into the sealing groove 1 and the sealing groove 2 of the flange described in the first aspect;

[0018] Align another flange that cooperates with it with the flange, and through the bolt holes on the flange, use bolts and nuts to combine the two flanges into a whole;

[0019] Fill the liquid filling area with colored liquid through the liquid injection pipe with a check structure, ensuring that the pressure in the liquid filling area is higher than the external atmospheric pressure but lower than the pressure of the fluid in the pipeline;

[0020] During the operation of the fluid in the pipeline, if there is a leakage at the weak point of the seal inside the flange, the leaked fluid flows into the liquid filling area through the sealing groove 1. After the pressure in the liquid filling area increases to a certain value, it leaks to the outside of the flange through the sealing groove 2.

[0021] Optionally, the colored liquid in the liquid filling area has different colors for distinguishing from the leaked fluid.

[0022] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application at least bring the following beneficial effects:

[0023] While ensuring the good sealing and other functions of conventional flanges, the sealing function is strengthened. More importantly, a convenient observation and intelligent monitoring means is provided, greatly improving the timeliness of discovering abnormal situations caused by flange leakage and the positioning accuracy, and greatly facilitating and simplifying the operation and maintenance level of pipeline equipment.

[0024] Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be given in part in the following description, become apparent in part from the following description, or be learned by practice of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent and be readily understood from the following description of embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a flange provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 2 is a top view schematic diagram of a flange provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, where the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to explain the present application and should not be construed as limiting the present application.

[0029] In the embodiments of the present application, the design of the flange is innovative on the basis of traditional flanges, especially some improvements have been made in the sealing structure and intelligent monitoring to ensure more secure and efficient fluid connection in the pipeline system. Figure 1 and Figure 2 are respectively a schematic diagram of the overall structure and a top view schematic diagram of a flange provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the design of the flange body is hollow, and its internal structure successively includes an inner wall, sealing groove 1, liquid filling area, sealing groove 2, and outer wall. Each part has a unique function, jointly achieving better sealing effect and monitoring performance.

[0031] In the embodiments of the present application, the inner wall of the flange body is mainly used for fluid connection with the fluid in the pipeline, enabling the fluid to flow freely. The design of the inner wall takes into account factors such as the flow rate and pressure of the fluid in the pipeline. Therefore, the surface of the inner wall is smooth and specially treated to reduce friction and resistance when the fluid flows. This design ensures that the fluid flows more smoothly and does not cause unnecessary pressure loss to the pipeline system. The outer side of the inner wall is connected to sealing groove 1, becoming the core part of the sealing function.

[0032] In the embodiment of the present application, a sealing groove 1 is provided on the outer side of the inner wall. The main function of the sealing groove 1 is to prevent the fluid flowing in the pipeline from leaking into the external environment. Since the fluid in the pipeline usually has a certain pressure, if the sealing is not tight, fluid leakage may occur. Through reasonable geometric shape and precise dimension design, the sealing groove 1 ensures that no leakage occurs during the process of fluid passing through the flange. A suitable sealing ring or gasket can be placed in the sealing groove 1, and different types of seals are selected according to the properties of the pipeline fluid and the working environment to enhance the sealing effect.

[0033] It should be noted that the depth and width of the sealing groove 1 are carefully calculated during design to ensure that it can accommodate appropriate sealing materials and will not lose its sealing performance due to long-term use. In practical applications, the design of the sealing groove 1 not only improves the sealing performance of the flange but also reduces the maintenance cost of the pipeline because it reduces the frequency of leakage problems.

[0034] In the embodiment of the present application, the liquid filling area is located outside the sealing groove 1. The function of the liquid filling area is to enhance the sealing performance of the flange by filling filling liquids with different properties and viscosities. The liquid in the liquid filling area helps to strengthen the seal and prevent fluid from leaking to the outside. According to the properties of the fluid in the pipeline and the performance of the gasket, filling liquids with different viscosities can be selected for the liquid filling area. For high-pressure pipelines, selecting a liquid with a higher viscosity can effectively resist pressure changes and maintain the stability of the liquid filling area.

[0035] In addition, in the actual application process, the selection of the color of the coloring liquid in the liquid filling area is also very important. By choosing different colors, it can help the monitoring personnel more easily distinguish the coloring liquid from the fluid in the pipeline. Especially when leakage occurs, the leakage of the coloring liquid will be immediately detected, ensuring that the leakage problem can be quickly discovered and processed. For example, in a chemical pipeline system, the liquid filling area may use green or red liquid, so that when leakage occurs, the staff can quickly identify the leakage location, greatly improving the processing efficiency.

[0036] It can be understood that the liquid in the liquid filling area can not only play a sealing role but also effectively separate the fluid in the pipeline from the external environment, avoiding contact between the fluid and external pollutants such as air and dust, and reducing the risk of system corrosion and pollution. The liquid in the liquid filling area can be colored according to the actual situation to make it easier to identify during monitoring.

[0037] In addition, the design of the liquid filling area also considers the convenience of maintenance and update. When it is necessary to replace the filling liquid, an interface for easy liquid injection is designed. Through the liquid injection pipe on the outer wall, new liquid can be quickly and conveniently filled into the liquid filling area to ensure the sealing effect during the long-term operation of the flange.

[0038] In the embodiment of the present application, the sealing groove 2 is located outside the liquid filling area. Its main function is to isolate the liquid in the liquid filling area from the external environment, prevent the liquid in the liquid filling area from leaking to the outside, and maintain the stable pressure in the liquid filling area. The sealing groove 2 and the sealing groove 1 in the liquid filling area together form a double sealing structure, further enhancing the sealing performance of the flange. The design of the sealing groove 2 takes into account not only the fluid pressure but also environmental factors such as the influence of temperature and humidity changes on the seal.

[0039] It should be noted that the space between the sealing groove 2 and the inner wall and the outer wall is determined through strict calculations and tests to ensure that it can effectively prevent the leakage of the liquid in the liquid filling area and can also withstand the high pressure that may occur in the pipeline system. Appropriate sealing rings or gaskets can also be used in the sealing groove 2 as needed to further enhance the sealing effect, especially under high pressure or harsh working conditions.

[0040] In the embodiment of the present application, the outer wall of the flange body is located outside the sealing groove 2. A plurality of bolt holes are evenly distributed on the outer wall, which are used to connect two flanges into a whole through bolts and nuts. The design of the outer wall takes into account the strength and stability of the flange to ensure that it can withstand the high pressure in the pipeline. Setting a plurality of bolt holes on the outer wall can ensure the firm connection of the two flanges and avoid loosening or cracking of the flange caused by uneven pressure or uneven force.

[0041] It should be noted that the material selection of the outer wall takes into account corrosion resistance, and corrosion-resistant alloy steel or stainless steel materials are often selected. These materials can resist the corrosion of the fluid in the pipeline and ensure the stability and durability of the flange during long-term use. In addition, the outer wall has strong mechanical strength and can withstand the external forces during installation and use.

[0042] In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, in order to facilitate liquid filling and maintain the sealing performance of the liquid filling area, a liquid injection pipe is installed on the outer wall. The function of the liquid injection pipe is to inject the coloring liquid into the liquid filling area and prevent abnormal liquid leakage through a check structure. The check structure plays a crucial role in the liquid injection pipe, preventing the backflow or leakage of the injected liquid due to pressure fluctuations or improper installation, and ensuring the stability of the liquid in the liquid filling area.

[0043] It can be understood that the design of the liquid injection pipe takes into account not only the convenience of liquid filling but also the control of liquid flow. Through the cooperation of the check valve and the liquid injection pipe, it is ensured that the liquid filling process is more efficient and safe, avoiding unnecessary liquid loss.

[0044] In the embodiment of the present application, each part of the flange is carefully designed to achieve efficient sealing function and provide the possibility of intelligent monitoring. The various structural parts such as the inner wall, sealing groove 1, liquid filling area, sealing groove 2 and outer wall cooperate with each other to ensure the stability and sealing performance of the flange. Each part not only takes into account the use requirements of the flange, but also combines the actual operation requirements such as maintenance and monitoring, so that it can operate stably in the pipeline system for a long time and can be discovered and handled in time when a leak occurs.

[0045] According to the design of this application, in addition to the structural innovation of the flange, an intelligent detection method is also provided to effectively monitor the sealing status of the flange during actual use and to detect potential leakage problems in a timely manner. The following are the detailed steps of the intelligent detection method:

[0046] First, place suitable sealing rings or gaskets in the sealing grooves 1 and 2 of the flange. The selection of these sealing rings or gaskets is based on factors such as the type of fluid in the pipeline, the working temperature and pressure. Their main function is to enhance the sealing of the flange connection and prevent the fluid from leaking into the external environment. Different types of sealing rings and gaskets can be selected according to different working conditions, for example, high temperature resistant, corrosion resistant, and pressure resistant materials, to ensure that the sealing performance remains stable for a long time under various environments.

[0047] Next, align another flange that matches the flange with it and connect it through the bolt holes on the flange. Bolts pass through the bolt holes, nuts are put on the bolts, and the two flanges are tightly fixed by bolts and nuts to form a whole. In this way, the two flanges are firmly connected together by the action of bolts and nuts to ensure the stability of the flange connection. The tightening force of bolts and nuts needs to be properly controlled to prevent flange deformation or gasket damage due to over-tightening, while ensuring a tight connection between flanges.

[0048] Afterwards, the colored liquid is filled into the liquid filling area through the liquid filling pipe with a check structure. In this step, the liquid pressure in the liquid filling area is set to be higher than the external atmospheric pressure, but lower than the pressure of the fluid in the pipeline. The purpose of this design is to ensure that the colored liquid in the liquid filling area will not enter the flow system in the pipeline, and at the same time strengthen the seal inside the flange. The colored liquid in the liquid filling area can effectively increase the sealing effect and further reduce the risk of leakage. In addition, the color of the colored liquid in the liquid filling area is usually different from the fluid in the pipeline, which is convenient for monitoring personnel to find abnormalities during the inspection process.

[0049] The liquid in the liquid filling area can not only provide additional sealing pressure, but also facilitate monitoring. When there is a leak in the flange, the fluid in the pipeline will flow into the liquid filling area through the sealing groove 1. The pressure change in the liquid filling area will eventually leak to the outside or trigger the monitoring system, prompting the operation and maintenance personnel to conduct a detailed inspection. In this way, the pressure and color change of the liquid in the liquid filling area can be used as a real-time monitoring method to help monitor and confirm whether there is a leakage problem.

[0050] It can be understood that during the operation of the fluid in the pipeline, due to factors such as pressure fluctuations, leakage may occur at the weak sealing points of the flange connection. When there is a leak in the flange, the fluid in the pipeline will flow from the sealing groove 1 into the liquid filling area. The pressure in the liquid filling area will increase accordingly until it reaches a certain value, and then the liquid with too high pressure will leak to the outside of the flange through the sealing groove 2.

[0051] It should be noted that during this process, the colored liquid in the liquid filling area has a different color from the fluid in the pipeline and the external environment. Therefore, once there is a leakage, the monitoring equipment or the operation and maintenance personnel can quickly detect the pressure change in the liquid filling area and timely identify the color difference between the colored liquid and the fluid and the external environment, so as to locate the specific leakage location.

[0052] Through this intelligent detection method, the flange system can continuously monitor the sealing condition during actual operation. Since the colored liquid in the liquid filling area has a distinct color difference from the fluid and the external environment, and the pressure change in the liquid filling area can reflect the change of the sealing state, the operation and maintenance personnel and the intelligent monitoring equipment can real-time master the sealing condition of the flange and take effective measures at the first time of leakage occurrence to avoid potential safety hazards.

[0053] This intelligent detection method not only improves the safety of flange sealing, but also optimizes the work process of the operation and maintenance personnel, reduces the frequency of manual inspections, and reduces leakage and safety problems caused by untimely inspections. Through efficient monitoring means, the operation and maintenance level of pipeline equipment has been significantly improved, and the reliability and safety of the entire pipeline system have also been enhanced.

[0054] It should be understood that various forms of processes shown above can be used, steps can be reordered, added or deleted. For example, the steps described in this application can be executed in parallel, sequentially, or in a different order, as long as the desired results of the technical solution of this application can be achieved, which is not limited herein.

[0055] The above specific embodiments do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions can be made according to design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principle of this application shall be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A flange, characterized in that: include: The flange body is hollow, and its structure from inside to outside is an inner wall, a sealing groove 1, a liquid filling area, a sealing groove 2 and an outer wall; Bolt holes are arranged on the flanges, bolts pass through the bolt holes, and nuts are sleeved on the bolts to connect the two flanges together to form a whole.

2. The flange according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall is used to connect the fluid in the pipeline to allow it to flow freely; The sealing groove 1 is located outside the inner wall to ensure that the fluid flowing inside does not leak to the external environment; The liquid filling area is located outside the sealing groove 1 and is used to fill the filling liquid with different properties and viscosities according to the properties of the fluid in the pipeline and the performance of the sealing gasket in the sealing groove; The sealing groove 2 is located outside the liquid-filled area and is used to isolate the liquid in the liquid-filled area from the external environment; The outer wall is located outside the sealing groove 2, and bolt holes are evenly distributed on the outer wall; Sealing rings or sealing gaskets are arranged in the sealing groove 1 and the sealing groove 2 and are located between the two flanges to enhance the sealing performance of the connection. The liquid filling area passes through the sealing groove 2 outward to the outer wall, and a liquid injection pipe is installed on the outer wall. The liquid injection pipe has a non-return structure for filling the liquid filling area with coloring liquid and preventing the injected coloring liquid from leaking abnormally.

3. An intelligent detection method, characterized in that: include: Put sealing rings or sealing gaskets in the sealing grooves 1 and 2 of the flanges described in claims 1-2; Align another matching flange with the flange, and use bolts and nuts through the bolt holes on the flanges to combine the two flanges into a whole; Fill the liquid filling area with colored liquid through a liquid filling pipe with a check structure to ensure that the pressure in the liquid filling area is higher than the external atmospheric pressure but lower than the pressure of the fluid in the pipeline; During the flow of fluid in the pipeline, if leakage occurs at the weak point of the seal in the flange, the leaked fluid flows into the liquid filling area through the sealing groove 1. After the pressure in the liquid filling area increases to a certain value, it leaks to the outside of the flange through the sealing groove 2.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The colored liquid in the liquid-filled area has a different color for distinguishing it from the leaked fluid.