Elastically Deformable Aerogel Pipe Cladding for Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tubular claddings for thermal insulation of pipes are not deformable in a radial direction, requiring separate claddings for different pipe diameters, leading to storage and transport inefficiencies, as they cannot be folded or compressed for convenient storage or wrapping around supports.
Innovation Solution
A tubular insulating cladding comprising an elastically deformable braided tubular element, an aerogel insulating layer, and a PVC external containment sheath, allowing adaptation to various pipe diameters and enabling compression for storage, with the aerogel layer retained between the tubular element and sheath to ensure effective thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional tubular claddings are used for thermal insulation, then thermal insulation function is provided, but the claddings cannot be deformed in radial direction requiring separate claddings for different pipe diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding incorporates an elastically deformable tubular element that can dynamically adjust its inner diameter to accommodate pipes of different sizes. This dynamic adaptability eliminates the need for multiple fixed-size cladding types, directly resolving the contradiction between versatility and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of the tubular element from rigid to elastically deformable, allowing it to change its inner diameter parameter according to the pipe size. This parameter change enables a single cladding design to serve multiple pipe diameters, reducing the number of cladding types needed.
2Reliability
If conventional tubular claddings with fixed diameter are used, then structural stability is maintained, but storage volume and transport volume increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The elastically deformable tubular element can be compressed radially during storage and transport, then expands to its original diameter when installed. This dynamic property allows the cladding to occupy minimal storage space while maintaining full structural stability during use, resolving the contradiction between reliability and storage volume.
3Loss of energy
If conventional tubular claddings are used, then thermal insulation is provided, but they cannot be folded or compressed for convenient storage
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding uses a flexible elastically deformable tubular element that can be folded and compressed like a flexible shell, yet maintains its insulating function. This flexibility dramatically improves ease of operation for storage and handling while preserving thermal insulation efficiency through the aerogel material.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular element can change its physical state between compressed/folded for storage and expanded for installation, while the aerogel insulating layer maintains its thermal properties throughout. This parameter change capability resolves the contradiction between insulation efficiency and operational convenience.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple series of tubular claddings are stored for different pipe diameters, then complete coverage of pipe sizes is achieved, but storage space requirements increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The elastically deformable tubular element provides universal adaptability to accommodate multiple pipe diameters within a single cladding unit. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to store multiple specialized cladding series, dramatically reducing storage space requirements while maintaining complete coverage of the pipe diameter range.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for flexible adaptation to different pipe diameters, reducing storage and transport volume, enabling wrapping around supports, and maintaining high thermal insulation efficiency, thus addressing the limitations of conventional claddings.
Implementation Method 1
a tubular element (11) that is elastically deformable in a radial direction
Implementation Method 2
an insulating layer (13), which can be conformed and is based on aerogel
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
Tubular insulating cladding for pipes (10), comprising: - a tubular element (11) that is elastically " deformable in a radial direction and is adapted either to accommodate a pipe (12) to be clad, conforming thereto dimensionally and geometrically, or to be compressed for storage, - an insulating layer (13), which can be conformed and is based on aerogel and arranged so as to surround, with play at least in the inactive configuration, the elastically deformable tubular element (11), - an external containment sheath (14), which is arranged so as to envelop the insulating layer.