Corrugated Geothermal Pipe for Sealing and Flow Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing geothermal probes face issues with surface structures and burrs from injection molding, weld seams, and flow obstruction due to weld burrs, which compromise their stability and flow efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A geothermal pipe with external longitudinal corrugations, such as trapezoidal or T-shaped, improves connection and sealing with filling material, enhances damage resistance, and indicates flow direction through corrugation patterns, ensuring better functional reliability and flow management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If injection molding is used to manufacture geothermal probe bases, then production efficiency is improved, but surface structures and burrs are formed that obstruct heat transfer fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful surface structures and burrs from the injection-molded base through post-processing steps (drilling and grinding), separating the beneficial production efficiency from the harmful flow obstruction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the base by creating recesses and removing material through drilling and grinding, transforming the surface topology to eliminate flow obstructions while maintaining structural integrity
2Strength
If welding processes are used to assemble geothermal probe bases, then structural strength is improved, but weld seams and weld burrs are created that weaken the component and obstruct fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes weld burrs through grinding and drilling operations, extracting the harmful elements that obstruct fluid flow while preserving the structural benefits of welding
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface geometry by creating recesses and removing material through machining, changing the physical state of weld areas from protruding to recessed, eliminating flow obstruction
3Ease of manufacture
If smooth pipe surfaces are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but connection and sealing with backfill material are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds longitudinal ribbing to the pipe surface, transitioning from a two-dimensional smooth surface to a three-dimensional corrugated surface, increasing contact area with backfill material for improved sealing and connection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite surface structure combining smooth pipe material with corrugated geometry, integrating structural integrity with enhanced bonding characteristics to backfill material
4Reliability
If uniform corrugations are applied along the entire pipe length, then connection and sealing are improved, but damage propagation cannot be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous corrugated structure into segmented zones with different corrugation patterns, creating discontinuities that can act as barriers to damage propagation while maintaining overall connection and sealing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different corrugation characteristics to different sections of the pipe, creating local variations in bonding strength and damage resistance, with some sections optimized for sealing and others for damage containment
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 corrugated design enhances the connection and sealing of the geothermal pipe with the filling material, improves resistance to damage, and facilitates easier identification of flow and return pipes, thereby improving the stability and efficiency of the geothermal probe system.
Implementation Method 1
the backfill material adheres better to the pipe due to the ribbing
Implementation Method 2
Trapezoidal corrugations allow for interlocking between the corrugations and the filler material, resulting in a further improved connection
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The invention relates to a geothermal pipe (60) with external longitudinal corrugation, the longitudinal corrugation having a corrugation depth of between 1.5 and 0.2 mm, preferably between 1.0 and 0.4 mm and more preferably between 0.6 and 0. 4 mm, characterized in that the corrugations are trapezoidal, T-shaped or mushroom-shaped in cross-section.