Integrated helium recovery device
The sealed connection and aperture assembly design of the integrated helium recovery device solves the problem of low recovery efficiency caused by the mixing of helium and air in existing devices, and achieves efficient helium recycling and recovery.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422607618.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-30
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-10-28
AI Technical Summary
The existing helium recovery device adopts a split structure, which causes helium and air to mix, resulting in low recovery efficiency.
An integrated helium recovery device is used. Through the detachable sealing connection and O-ring at the top of the helium recovery chamber and the bottom of the graphite furnace, combined with a snap-on connection design, it ensures that helium does not leak and prevents the entry of outside air. The helium outlet is designed to be set downward to increase the helium concentration, and the aperture assembly through-hole is designed to have a small diameter to reduce helium overflow.
The helium recovery efficiency is improved, the helium concentration in the helium collection system is enhanced, and more efficient helium recycling and recovery is achieved.
Smart Images
Figure CN223394027U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of helium recovery, in particular to an integrated helium recovery device. Background Art
[0002] Helium, a colorless, odorless, inert gas, is widely used in a variety of industrial fields, including optical fiber manufacturing, semiconductor production, metal fabrication, welding, and leak detection. During the optical fiber manufacturing process, prefabricated optical rods are melted in a graphite furnace during the drawing stage. Leveraging its inert properties, helium is used as a shielding gas in the furnace to prevent oxidation of the graphite components at high temperatures.
[0003] During the optical fiber manufacturing process, to recover helium, a helium recovery device is typically installed at the lower aperture of the graphite furnace. Most existing helium recovery devices utilize a split-type design, with the left and right aperture halves housed in a slideway that allows for free opening and closing. Helium extraction connectors are welded to the left and right apertures. When the prefabricated optical fiber is heated in the graphite furnace, the diameter of the melted and falling rod tip is relatively large (typically around 40 mm). At this point, the left and right apertures need to be opened to allow the thicker tip to fall smoothly and prevent it from becoming clogged in the lower aperture. Once the melted fiber diameter decreases to less than 1 mm, the left and right apertures can be closed. During normal fiber drawing, the left and right apertures remain closed. The negative pressure generated by the helium recovery collection system acts on the connectors at the left and right apertures, extracting the helium and dust mixture from the lower outlet of the graphite furnace from within the apertures. This mixture is then recycled and reprocessed for adsorption and purification in the next process.
[0004] To ensure the left and right diaphragms can slide freely in the chute, a certain gap must be maintained between them. Because of this gap, external air inevitably enters the diaphragm cavity through it. As a result, the helium mixed gas extracted by the helium collection system is mixed with the air sucked in from the gap, reducing the concentration of the mixed helium and inevitably affecting the efficiency of helium recovery.
[0005] During normal fiber drawing, the left and right apertures need to be brought together. To ensure a tight fit, some systems use clips or magnets to hold the two apertures in place. Because the temperature at the lower aperture is high, often exceeding 200°C, the left and right apertures can easily deform, causing the magnets to lose their magnetic properties and creating a gap between them. This can also affect helium recovery efficiency. Utility Model Content
[0006] In response to the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, the present invention aims to provide an integrated helium recovery device, which solves the problem that most existing helium recovery devices adopt a split structure, which affects the helium recovery efficiency.
[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned utility model purpose, the technical solution adopted by the utility model is as follows:
[0008] An integrated helium recovery device is provided, comprising a helium recovery chamber with openings at both ends. The top of the helium recovery chamber is used to be sealed and detachably connected to the bottom of a graphite furnace. Two helium outlets for connecting to a helium collection system are symmetrically arranged in the middle of the helium recovery chamber, and the helium outlets are connected to the interior of the helium recovery chamber. An aperture assembly is slidably arranged at the bottom opening of the helium recovery chamber, and a through hole is provided in the middle of the aperture assembly for passing the melted optical fiber.
[0009] The basic principle of the integrated helium recovery device in this utility model is that the top of the helium recovery chamber and the bottom of the graphite furnace are in close contact via an O-ring, creating a strong seal that prevents helium from leaking from the interface between the top and bottom of the helium recovery chamber and also prevents air from the external environment from entering the helium recovery chamber. A snap-on, detachable connection design allows for easy installation and removal of the integrated helium recovery device and the sealing disk, allowing for flexible switching between the two depending on the situation. Helium can only flow downward within the helium recovery chamber. When helium flows through the helium outlet, the helium collection system extracts most of the helium mixture through the outlet. The helium mixture is then adsorbed and purified for recycling. The aperture assembly typically has a very small diameter to further minimize helium leakage. Because the graphite furnace always contains more than 20 liters of helium, this large amount of helium can only flow out through the lower aperture. Therefore, at this time, there is always a positive pressure difference between the helium recovery chamber and the outside air, and the outside air will not enter through the through-hole at the bottom, which increases the concentration of helium in the helium mixed gas collected by the helium collection system, thereby improving the helium recovery efficiency and solving the problem that most existing helium recovery devices adopt a split-type structure, which affects the helium recovery efficiency.
[0010] Furthermore, as a specific sealing method for the top of the helium recovery chamber and the bottom of the graphite furnace, the top of the helium recovery chamber is a hollow frustum structure with the small diameter end facing downward, and the middle and lower parts of the helium recovery chamber are hollow cylindrical structures. The outer diameter of the middle and lower parts of the helium recovery chamber is the same as the outer diameter of the small diameter end of the top of the helium recovery chamber, and an O-ring is provided on the contact surface between the top of the helium recovery chamber and the bottom of the graphite furnace.
[0011] Furthermore, as a specific detachable connection method between the top of the helium recovery chamber and the bottom of the graphite furnace, a chuck base is provided at the bottom of the graphite furnace, a buckle is provided on one side of the lower end surface of the chuck base, and a locking bolt is hinged on the other side; a clamping block cooperating with the buckle is provided on one side of the top of the helium recovery chamber, and a connecting block is provided on the other side, and a connecting groove is provided on the connecting block, the locking bolt is rotated downward and is located in the connecting groove, the free end of the locking bolt is located outside the connecting groove and is threadedly connected to a locking nut, when the locking nut is tightened, the upper end surface of the locking nut is in close contact with the lower end surface of the connecting block; the above arrangement can realize the rapid assembly and disassembly of the entire integrated helium recovery device from the bottom of the graphite furnace.
[0012] Furthermore, two helium outlets are symmetrically arranged in the middle of the helium recovery chamber with the axis of the helium recovery chamber as the center, and the free end of each helium outlet is arranged toward the bottom of the helium recovery chamber; since the mixture of helium and dust is discharged from the bottom of the graphite furnace, each helium outlet is arranged downward to avoid dust accumulation.
[0013] Furthermore, an annular cooling channel is located within the top of the helium recovery unit. This channel has a cooling medium outlet and a cooling medium inlet for connection to an external cooling circulation system. The cooling channel is used to reduce the temperature of the O-ring seal to prevent burns.
[0014] Furthermore, as a specific embodiment of the aperture assembly, the aperture assembly includes a left aperture and a right aperture, which are symmetrically arranged at the bottom opening of the helium recovery cavity with the axis of the helium recovery cavity as the center. A semicircular hole is provided through the center of the left aperture and the right aperture. When the left aperture and the right aperture are closed, the two semicircular holes form a through hole.
[0015] Furthermore, the inner diameter of the lower middle portion of the helium recovery cavity is 60 mm, enabling the rod head to pass through smoothly.
[0016] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: in the integrated helium recovery device of the present invention, the top of the helium recovery chamber and the bottom of the graphite furnace are provided with a detachable connection, the upper O-ring is in close contact with the bottom of the graphite furnace without a gap, forming a good sealing effect, preventing helium from leaking from the contact surface between the top of the helium recovery chamber and the bottom of the graphite furnace, and also preventing the cavity in the external environment from entering the helium recovery chamber. At the same time, the diameter of the through hole on the aperture assembly is usually set to be very small, further reducing the overflow of helium, improving the concentration of helium in the helium mixed gas collected by the helium collection system, and thereby improving the helium recovery efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the integrated helium recovery device connected to the bottom of the graphite furnace.
[0018] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of a graphite furnace with a chuck base at the bottom.
[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure in the AA direction.
[0020] Among them, 1. Helium recovery chamber; 2. Graphite furnace; 3. Helium outlet; 4. Aperture assembly; 401, left aperture; 402, right aperture; 5. Through hole; 6. O-ring; 7. Chuck base; 8. Buckle; 9. Locking bolt; 10. Block; 11. Connecting block; 12. Locking nut; 13. Cooling channel; 14. Cooling medium outlet; 15. Cooling medium inlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The specific implementation methods of the present invention are described below to facilitate understanding of the present invention by those skilled in the art. However, it should be clear that the present invention is not limited to the scope of the specific implementation methods. For those skilled in the art, as long as various changes are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined and determined by the appended claims, these changes are obvious, and all inventions and creations conceived using the present invention are protected.
[0022] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the utility model provides an integrated helium recovery device, which includes a helium recovery chamber 1 with openings at both ends. The top of the helium recovery chamber 1 is used to be sealed and detachably connected to the bottom of the graphite furnace 2. The middle of the helium recovery chamber 1 is provided with at least one helium outlet 3 for connecting to a helium collection system, and the helium outlet 3 is communicated with the interior of the helium recovery chamber 1; an aperture assembly 4 is slidably provided at the bottom opening of the helium recovery chamber 1, and a through hole 5 for the molten optical fiber to pass through is provided in the middle of the aperture assembly 4.
[0023] Specifically, as a specific embodiment of the aperture assembly 4, the aperture assembly 4 includes a left aperture 401 and a right aperture 402. The left aperture 401 and the right aperture 402 are symmetrically arranged at the bottom opening of the helium recovery chamber 1 with the axis of the helium recovery chamber 1 as the center. A semicircular hole is provided at the center of the left aperture 401 and the right aperture 402. When the left aperture 401 and the right aperture 402 are closed, the two semicircular holes form a through hole 5.
[0024] The top of the helium recovery chamber 1 and the bottom of the graphite furnace 2 are sealed and detachably connected, forming a good sealing effect, thereby preventing helium from leaking from the contact surface between the top of the helium recovery chamber 1 and the bottom of the graphite furnace 2, and also preventing the cavity in the external environment from entering the helium recovery chamber 1. Helium can only flow downward in the helium recovery chamber 1. When the helium flows through the helium outlet 3, the helium collection system extracts most of the helium mixed gas through the helium outlet 3, and subsequently adsorbs and purifies the helium mixed gas to achieve recycling and reuse of the helium; and the diameter of the through hole 5 on the aperture assembly 4 is usually set to be very small to further reduce the overflow of helium, because there is always more than 20 liters of helium in the graphite furnace, and such a large helium flow can only flow out from the lower aperture. Therefore, at this time, there is always a positive pressure difference between the helium recovery chamber 1 and the outside air, and the outside air will not enter through the through hole 5 at the bottom, thereby increasing the concentration of helium in the helium mixed gas collected by the helium collection system, thereby improving the helium recovery efficiency, and solving the problem that most existing helium recovery devices adopt a split structure, which affects the helium recovery efficiency.
[0025] Specifically, as a specific sealing method for the top of the helium recovery chamber 1 and the bottom of the graphite furnace 2, the top of the helium recovery chamber 1 is a hollow truncated cone with the smaller diameter end facing downward, and the lower middle portion of the helium recovery chamber 1 is a hollow cylindrical structure. The inner diameter of the lower middle portion of the helium recovery chamber 1 is 60mm, which allows the optical fiber head to pass smoothly. The outer diameter of the lower middle portion of the helium recovery chamber 1 is the same as the outer diameter of the smaller diameter end at the top of the helium recovery chamber 1. An O-ring 6 is provided on the contact surface between the top of the helium recovery chamber 1 and the bottom of the graphite furnace 2. The O-ring 6 forms a good seal, preventing helium from leaking from the contact surface and allowing helium to flow only downward within the helium recovery chamber 1.
[0026] The cam 12 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12 and the cam 13 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12. When the cam 12 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12, the cam 13 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12 and the cam 13 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12. When the cam 12 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12, the cam 13 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12 and the cam 13 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12. When the cam 12 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12, the cam 13 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12 and the cam 13 is screwed onto the bottom of the cam 12. The snap-on detachable connection design allows for easy installation and removal of the integrated helium recovery device and sealing disc, allowing for free switching between the two depending on the situation.
[0027] Specifically, a cooling channel 13 is circumferentially disposed within the outer wall at the top of the helium recovery chamber 1. This channel is located near the O-ring 6 and is provided with a cooling medium outlet 14 and a cooling medium inlet 15 for connection to an external cooling circulation device. The external cooling circulation device can circulate cooling medium into the cooling channel 13 through the cooling medium outlet 14 and the cooling medium inlet 15, thereby reducing the temperature of the cooling channel 13. The cooling medium can be water, cooling gas, or cooling oil. Since the O-ring 6 is also located at the top of the helium recovery chamber 1, the cooling channel 13 is used to reduce the temperature of the O-ring 6 at its sealing point, preventing burns and thereby increasing its service life.
[0028] When a cooling channel 13 is circumferentially provided on the outer wall of the top of the helium recovery chamber 1 , the chuck base 7 is detachably connected to the cooling channel 13 , and a clamping block 10 and a connecting block 11 are provided on the cooling channel 13 .
[0029] Preferably, but not limited to, two helium outlets 3 are symmetrically arranged in the middle of the helium recovery chamber 1 with the axis of the helium recovery chamber 1 as the center, and the free end of each helium outlet 3 is arranged toward the bottom of the helium recovery chamber 1; since the mixture of helium and dust is discharged from the bottom of the graphite furnace 2, each helium outlet 3 is arranged downward to avoid dust accumulation.
[0030] To sum up, in the integrated helium recovery device of the present invention, the top of the helium recovery chamber 1 and the bottom of the graphite furnace 2 are sealed and detachably connected, forming a good sealing effect, preventing helium from leaking from the contact surface between the top of the helium recovery chamber 1 and the bottom of the graphite furnace 2, and also preventing the cavity in the external environment from entering the helium recovery chamber 1. At the same time, the diameter of the through hole 5 on the aperture assembly 4 is usually set to be very small, further reducing the overflow of helium, improving the concentration of helium in the helium mixed gas collected by the helium collection system, and thus improving the helium recovery efficiency.
Claims
1. An integrated helium recovery device, characterized in that: The helium recovery chamber comprises a helium recovery chamber with openings at both ends. The top of the helium recovery chamber is used to be sealed and detachably connected to the bottom of the graphite furnace. The middle of the helium recovery chamber is provided with at least one helium outlet for connecting to a helium collection system, and the helium outlet is communicated with the interior of the helium recovery chamber. An aperture assembly is slidably provided at the bottom opening of the helium recovery chamber, and a through hole is provided in the middle of the aperture assembly for the melted optical fiber to pass through.
2. The integrated helium recovery device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the helium recovery chamber is a hollow frustum structure with the small diameter end facing downward, the middle and lower part of the helium recovery chamber is a hollow cylindrical structure, the outer diameter of the middle and lower part of the helium recovery chamber is the same as the outer diameter of the small diameter end of the top of the helium recovery chamber, and an O-ring is provided on the contact surface between the top of the helium recovery chamber and the bottom of the graphite furnace.
3. The integrated helium recovery device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A chuck base is provided at the bottom of the graphite furnace, a buckle is provided on one side of the lower end surface of the chuck base, and a locking bolt is hinged on the other side; a clamping block that cooperates with the buckle is provided on one side of the top of the helium recovery chamber, and a connecting block is provided on the other side, and a connecting groove is provided on the connecting block, and the locking bolt is rotated downward and located in the connecting groove, and the free end of the locking bolt is located outside the connecting groove and is threadedly connected to a locking nut. When the locking nut is tightened, the upper end surface of the locking nut is in close contact with the lower end surface of the connecting block.
4. The integrated helium recovery device according to claim 3, characterized in that: Two helium outlets are symmetrically arranged in the middle of the helium recovery chamber with the axis of the helium recovery chamber as the center, and the free end of each helium outlet is arranged towards the bottom of the helium recovery chamber.
5. The integrated helium recovery device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A cooling channel is provided in an annular direction on the outer wall of the top of the helium recovery chamber. The cooling channel is provided close to the O-ring. A cooling medium outlet and a cooling medium inlet for connecting to an external cooling circulation device are provided on the cooling channel.
6. The integrated helium recovery device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The aperture assembly includes a left aperture and a right aperture, which are symmetrically arranged at the bottom opening of the helium recovery cavity with the axis of the helium recovery cavity as the center. A semicircular hole is provided through the center of the left aperture and the right aperture. When the left aperture and the right aperture are closed, the two semicircular holes form a through hole.
7. The integrated helium recovery device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the lower part of the helium recovery chamber is 60 mm.