Casting Core Metal Jacket for Small Fluid Machine Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing casting processes for fluid machine housings, particularly large ones like steam turbines and compressors, face challenges in creating channels with inner diameters less than 60 mm due to excessive thermal stress and mineralization issues, leading to difficulties in removing the core material and often resulting in the need to discard the entire housing.

Innovation Solution

A casting core design featuring a channel body with a metal jacket that surrounds a core material, allowing for the creation of housing channels with inner diameters less than 60 mm by ensuring the metal jacket fuses with the casting material, reducing thermal shock, and facilitating easy removal of the core material post-casting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If thin-walled channels are created in cast housing using conventional core material, then channel miniaturization is achieved, but thermal shock and mineralization occur causing core material adhesion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel inner diameterVSAvoidcore material removal reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The channel body is segmented into two distinct parts: a core material inner section and a metal jacket outer section. This segmentation allows each material to serve its specific function - the core material forms the channel shape while the metal jacket prevents adhesion and facilitates removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The channel body uses a composite structure combining core material (e.g., chromium ore sand) and metallic material (e.g., steel) in a single component. This composite design leverages the shape-forming capability of the core material while the metal jacket provides thermal resistance and prevents mineralization adhesion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Shape

If conventional core material is used for thin channels, then channel formation is achieved, but thermal shock causes mineralization and core material adhesion to housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel geometryVSAvoidthermal shock and mineralization
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The metal jacket acts as an intermediary layer between the molten casting material and the core material. It absorbs and distributes thermal shock, preventing direct thermal contact that would cause mineralization and adhesion of the core material to the housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The metal jacket is applied locally only to the channel body, specifically where thermal shock risks are highest. This localized quality enhancement protects the critical channel formation area without requiring the entire core to be metal, maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Length of moving object

If channel inner diameter is reduced below 60 mm, then miniaturization is achieved, but core material cannot be removed requiring housing discard

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel inner diameterVSAvoidcore material removal ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The design enables selective discarding of only the metal jacket and core material from the channel body, while recovering and retaining the expensive cast housing. The metal jacket and core material are designed to be removable as a unit, avoiding complete housing discard.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Productivity

If conventional casting core is used, then housing casting is achieved, but channels require minimum 60 mm diameter for successful core removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing production efficiencyVSAvoidchannel size adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material composition parameter of the channel body, incorporating metallic material in the form of a metal jacket. This parameter change enables channel inner diameters to be reduced from the conventional 60 mm minimum to as small as 25 mm while maintaining successful core removal capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables the production of small and precise housing channels with inner diameters as low as 25 mm, while preventing core material adhesion and allowing for the creation of channels with variable cross-sections, thus enhancing the manufacturing efficiency and flexibility of fluid machine housings.

Implementation Method 1

the metal material of the channel body shell is adapted to the casting material, in particular that the metal material corresponds to the casting material... the metal material of the channel body shell melts down after some time and bonds with the casting material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFusion: Melting

Implementation Method 2

the channel body shell radially surrounds the channel body core... the channel body shell ensures the mechanical stability of the channel body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3609636B1Casting core for a cast housing of a fluid machine, housing for a fluid machine, and fluid machine
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3609636B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3609636B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3609636B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a casting core (10) for a cast housing (2) of a fluid machine (1), the housing (2) comprising a metal casting material (6), the casting core (10) comprising a core body (11) for forming cavities (3) in the housing (2) of the fluid machine (1) during a casting process, the core body (11) comprising a core material (12). The invention further relates to a housing (2) for a fluid machine (1) made of a cast metal material (6), wherein production of the housing (2) comprises a casting process in which casting is performed around a casting core (10). The invention further relates to a fluid machine (1) comprising a housing (2).