Ceramic Holding Element Groove Design for High-Temp Furnace Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-temperature furnace holding elements face challenges in maintaining electrical insulation due to material evaporation and deposition, leading to potential short circuits and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A holding element with a groove design on its surface, featuring a high aspect ratio to prevent the formation of continuous electrically conductive paths, ensuring effective electrical insulation even when contaminated, and allowing for mechanical connection to a support structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ceramic sleeve holding element is used to mechanically connect the heating conductor suspension to the support structure, then mechanical connection is achieved, but electrical insulation deteriorates over time due to material evaporation and deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element is segmented into distinct functional zones: a fastening section for mechanical connection, a heating conductor receiving section for electrical connection, and a groove structure that segments the surface to prevent continuous conductive paths. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function while preventing contamination spread.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure creates local variations in surface topology, with groove bases that are shadowed from direct deposition. This local quality change ensures that while the overall holding element maintains electrical insulation, specific protected areas remain free of conductive deposits.
2Ease of manufacture
If the holding element surface is smooth, then manufacturing is easier, but deposits form continuous conductive paths more easily
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure introduces curved surfaces and shadowed areas that prevent direct line-of-sight deposition. The groove bases are curved and recessed, creating geometric shadowing that blocks conductive deposits from forming continuous paths across the surface.
3Reliability
If cleaning annealing is performed frequently to remove deposits, then electrical insulation is maintained, but plant downtime and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure is designed in advance to prevent deposit accumulation in the first place. By creating shadowed areas that are inaccessible to evaporated material, the holding element maintains its electrical insulation properties without requiring frequent cleaning annealing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure converts the harmful effect of evaporated material deposition into a beneficial protective feature. The shadowed groove bases naturally repel deposits through geometric shadowing, transforming what would be a contamination problem into a self-cleaning design advantage.
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 groove design effectively prevents the formation of conductive paths, maintaining electrical insulation and reducing the risk of short circuits, thus extending the lifespan and reducing maintenance costs of high-temperature furnace components.
Implementation Method 1
the shape of the groove shades the groove contour, preventing precipitation from accumulating
Implementation Method 2
electrically insulating the heating conductor suspension from the support structure
Implementation Method 3
Heating is achieved by passing current through heating elements supported by a heating element suspension and releasing heat into a process chamber
Data Source
Figure 1~9
Figure 4a~4e
Figure 5a~6b
AI summary
The invention relates to a ceramic holding element for a high-temperature furnace, said holding element comprising: at least one fastening portion (200) formed on a part of a surface (3) of the holding element (1) for mechanically connecting the holding element (1) to a supporting structure (210); at least one heat conductor receiving portion (300) formed on a part of the surface (3) of the holding element (1) for receiving a heat conductor (310), wherein at least one groove (4) having a depth (t) and a width (b) is formed on a peripheral part of the surface (3) of the holding element (1), said peripheral part being located between the fastening portion (200) and the heat conductor receiving portion (300), which groove (4) extends substantially over the entire periphery of the peripheral part of the surface (3), and at least one imaginary path between the fastening portion (200) and the heat conductor receiving portion (300) crosses the at least one groove (4) along the surface (3) of the holding element (1), wherein a groove (4) has an aspect ratio, formed by the ratio of the depth (t) to the width (b), of greater than or equal to 1.5.