Concentric Vent Conduit Purging to Prevent Cryogenic Ice Buildup
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ice buildup on cryogenic vent lines in cryogenic plants leads to operational inefficiencies and safety hazards due to restricted flow and potential ice falling from elevated vent stacks, existing solutions like heating collars being ineffective and costly.
Innovation Solution
A concentric conduit design where a cold vent stream is surrounded by a dry purge stream, preventing condensation and ice formation by displacing wet atmospheric gas with dry gas, eliminating the need for a heating collar and enhancing safety through nitrogen purging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If insulation is provided around the cold vent conduit, then heat loss is reduced, but ice still forms on the external surface due to condensation from ambient moisture
Solution Approach 1:
A heating collar is introduced as an intermediary element between the cold vent conduit and the ambient air. This heating collar actively counteracts the condensation of moisture from the ambient air, preventing ice formation on the external surface while allowing the insulation to maintain thermal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature parameter of the external surface of the vent conduit is changed by introducing a heating collar that maintains the surface temperature above the freezing point of water. This parameter change prevents condensation and ice formation while the insulation maintains the internal cold temperature.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If heating collar is installed to prevent ice formation, then ice buildup is prevented, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of heating the entire vent conduit, the heating collar is applied only at the specific location where ice formation occurs - the external surface exposed to ambient moisture. This localized approach prevents ice formation while minimizing the complexity and cost of the heating infrastructure.
3Productivity
If personnel manually remove ice from elevated vent stacks, then ice buildup is cleared, but safety risks and time loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating collar is installed to perform preliminary action by preventing ice formation before it occurs. This eliminates the need for personnel to manually remove ice, thereby eliminating safety hazards associated with working at elevated vent stacks and maintaining continuous vent operation.
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
Effectively prevents ice buildup, improving operational efficiency and safety by maintaining flow and reducing energy costs and maintenance needs, while eliminating the risk of ice falling on personnel.
Implementation Method 1
introducing a dry purge stream into a third conduit, wherein the third conduit is in fluid connection with the annular region, thereby preventing the first conduit from forming condensation or ice
Data Source
AI summary
An improved vent ice prevention apparatus including a first conduit, a second conduit, and a third conduit, wherein the second conduit concentrically surrounds the first conduit thereby forming an annular region between the two conduits. The third conduit is in fluid communication with said annular region. The first conduit is configured to receive a cold vent stream, and the third conduit is configured to receive a dry purge stream and introduce the dry purge stream into the annular region in order to prevent ice formation.