Pipe-in-Pipe Annulus Infill for Thermal Insulation and Compression Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipe-in-pipe (PiP) assemblies face challenges in achieving high-performance thermal insulation without compromising mechanical strength, and existing manufacturing methods are inefficient and prone to quality control issues.
Innovation Solution
A bundled infill structure is created within the annulus of the PiP assembly using a mixture of reinforcing and insulating elongate elements, where the reinforcing elements provide mechanical resistance and the insulating elements offer superior thermal insulation, allowing for a combination of mechanical strength and thermal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If spacers and thermal insulation blankets are used in the annulus, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and manual intervention requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines spacers and thermal insulation into a single integrated infill structure made of elongate elements. These elements simultaneously provide both mechanical spacing functions and thermal insulation, eliminating the need for separate spacer and blanket installations, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining thermal insulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The infill structure uses composite elongate elements that integrate the functions of spacers and thermal insulation materials. These composite elements are designed to provide both structural support for spacing and thermal insulation properties, simplifying the overall assembly process while addressing both mechanical and thermal requirements.
2Strength
If spacers are installed on top of cables, then cable protection is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to pinching during pipeline bending
Solution Approach 1:
The infill structure merges cable protection functionality into the same elongate elements that provide spacing. The elements are designed to surround and protect cables without creating pinching points, allowing the pipeline to bend freely while maintaining cable integrity and reliability.
3Productivity
If conventional winding machines are used for infill structure installation, then manufacturing speed is improved, but precision control of element placement becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The infill structure is segmented into standardized elongate elements that can be efficiently handled and installed by conventional winding machines. This segmentation allows for rapid installation while maintaining sufficient precision through the repetitive, modular nature of the elements and their consistent geometric properties.
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
This approach enables the manufacture of PiP assemblies with enhanced thermal insulation and mechanical strength, utilizing conventional winding machines to create a continuous, automated process that simplifies the manufacturing and installation of the infill structure, reducing thermal losses and improving the assembly's reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the insulating elements provide greater thermal insulation than the reinforcing elements
Implementation Method 2
the reinforcing elements having greater mechanical resistance than the insulating elements to radial compression
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe-in-pipe assembly comprises a bundled infill structure occupying an annulus between inner and outer pipes (12, 26) of the assembly. The infill structure is formed of a plurality of elongate elements laid along the inner pipe comprising a mixture of reinforcing elements (16B) and insulating elements (16A). The reinforcing elements have greater mechanical resistance than the insulating elements to radial compression whereas the insulating elements provide greater thermal insulation than the reinforcing elements. Pluralities of the reinforcing elements are positioned together within the infill structure to form reinforcing formations, such as spacer formations, embedded between insulating regions of the infill structure that are defined by pluralities of the insulating elements.