Cooling Flat Tube Collapse Prevention via External Traction Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cooling flat tube of a platinum channel in substrate glass manufacturing is prone to collapsing during warming due to its structural instability, which is exacerbated by the absence of internal glass melt support, leading to deformation and failure of thermocouples.
Innovation Solution
A traction structure is externally applied to the cooling flat tube, comprising heater modules with a traction hanging bar that extends from the docking seam, connected to a traction substrate, to provide structural support and prevent collapse by distributing traction forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cooling flat tube is made thinner to reduce manufacturing cost, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the structural strength and stability deteriorate, causing collapse during warming
Solution Approach 1:
A traction structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the cooling flat tube and the external environment. This traction structure bears the tensile stress during warming, allowing the flat tube itself to maintain a thinner wall thickness while still achieving sufficient structural strength. The mediator transfers the load from the thin-walled tube to the dedicated support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a one-dimensional wall thickness increase to a two-dimensional external support structure. Instead of making the tube wall thicker (radial dimension), a traction structure is added in the axial and circumferential directions, distributing stresses through additional spatial dimensions and maintaining strength without increasing material consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the wall thickness is increased to prevent collapse, then the structural stability improves, but the manufacturing cost increases due to more platinum material
Solution Approach 1:
The structural support function is segmented from the cooling flat tube itself and assigned to a separate traction structure. This allows the flat tube to be optimized for its primary cooling function with appropriate thin walls, while the dedicated traction structure handles the mechanical support during warming, achieving both cost efficiency and structural stability through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a homogeneous single-material structure to a composite system combining the platinum flat tube with the traction structure (which may use different materials). This composite approach allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the platinum tube for thermal conductivity and the traction structure for mechanical strength - reducing overall material cost while maintaining performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cooling flat tube is made with minimal reinforcement to control cost, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the reliability during warming deteriorates due to collapse and thermocouple failure
Solution Approach 1:
The traction structure is installed beforehand to provide preventive support during the critical warming phase. This preliminary structural reinforcement ensures that when thermal expansion occurs during warming, the flat tube is already supported and cannot collapse, preventing thermocouple failure and ensuring reliable operation throughout the warming process.
Solution Approach 2:
The traction structure acts as a protective cushion against the harmful effects of thermal expansion during warming. By providing pre-installed mechanical support, it cushions the flat tube from the stresses that would otherwise cause collapse and subsequent reliability failures, ensuring stable operation during the vulnerable warming period.
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 traction structure effectively prevents the cooling flat tube from collapsing during warming by providing structural assistance and enhancing the structural integrity of the platinum channel, reducing the failure rate of thermocouples and ensuring uniform heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling section is the most difficult and risky part of the platinum channel during manufacturing and warming
Implementation Method 2
the main function of the cooling section in the platinum channel is to carry out rapid and uniform heat dissipation
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for preventing a cooling flat tube of a platinum channel from collapsing during warming are provided. The devices include a traction structure. The cooling flat tube is externally wrapped with a plurality of heater modules. There may be a gap between the cooling flat tube and the plurality of heater modules. A docking seam is disposed between every two docked heater modules. The traction structure is disposed on an outer surface of the cooling flat tube and includes a traction hanging bar. A position of the traction hanging bar coincides with a position of the docking seam. By designing the special traction structure on the upper surface of the cooling flat tube, combined with a matching mounting manner, the stability of a cross section structure of the cooling flat tube during warming is realized, and the cooling flat tube is prevented from deforming and collapsing during warming.