Compression Sealing Gasket Lip Geometry for Insulating Gas Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medium and high voltage gas insulated apparatuses face significant gas leakage issues due to the permeability of traditional elastomer sealing gaskets, particularly with newer insulating gases like 'g3' and CO2, which are more prone to leakage and pose environmental and maintenance challenges.

Innovation Solution

A compression sealing gasket with a main body and a lip structure made of elastomer material, where the lip has a smaller thickness than the main body, reducing the surface area for gas permeation, and is designed to withstand pressures between 1 bar and 20 bar, ensuring tightness against gases such as heptafluoroisobutyronitrile, CO2, O2, N2, and water vapor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional elastomer sealing gasket is used, then the sealing function is provided, but the gas leakage rate is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidgas leakage rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is segmented into two distinct parts: a main body and a lip. The main body provides the primary sealing function through compression, while the lip specifically addresses gas permeation by presenting a smaller surface area to the gas flow path. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the gasket have different geometric properties optimized for their specific functions. The main body has a larger thickness (e.g., 5mm) to ensure sealing under compression, while the lip has a smaller thickness (e.g., 2mm) to minimize gas permeation surface area. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and gas leakage prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of substance

If the gasket surface area is reduced to lower permeability, then gas leakage decreases, but sealing effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas leakage rateVSAvoidsealing function
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is divided into a main body and a lip, where each segment serves a specific function. The main body maintains sealing effectiveness through adequate thickness and compression, while the lip specifically reduces gas permeation by having a smaller surface area exposed to gas flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lip is designed with locally optimized properties (smaller thickness and surface area) specifically at the region where gas permeation occurs, while the main body maintains its sealing function with adequate dimensions. This localized optimization allows reduction of gas leakage without compromising overall sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 gasket significantly reduces gas leakage rates, achieving a leakage rate less than 0.5% vol/year as per IEC standards, effectively minimizing the loss of insulating gases and reducing maintenance costs by enhancing the sealing efficiency in high and medium voltage applications.

Implementation Method 1

The compression of the tubular parts produces an elastic deformation of the gasket, improving the tightness of the connection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the gasket is generally made of an elastomer that shows a permeability to the insulating gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP4306825A1Improved compression sealing gasket and sealing system
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 GENERAL ELECTRIC TECH GMBH
  • EP4306825A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4306825A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP4306825A1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

The invention concerns a compression sealing gasket (14, 14') comprising a main body (141) of general planar extension, or extending in a plane, comprising an inner side (22, 32) and an outer side (20, 30), and end faces (24, 26, 34, 36), which delimit the gasket along an axis (AA') perpendicular to said plane, and connect the inner side and the outer side, made of an elastomer material, said main body having a 1st extension (L14), along said axis (AA'), at least one of said inner side and said outer side being provided with a lip (141) which has a 2nd extension (l14), along said axis (AA') perpendicular to said plane, less than the 1st extension (L14).