Cryogenic Pump Insulator Plate Air Gap Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insulating arrangements for cryogenic pumps using low thermal conductivity materials are mechanically weak and expensive, making them unsuitable for robust cryogenic applications.
Innovation Solution
An insulating arrangement featuring an insulator plate with first and second air gaps between the warm and cold end portions, allowing the use of more conventional and thermally conductive materials like stainless steel for the insulator plate, which reduces heat transfer and enhances mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If low thermal conductivity materials (e.g., perlite) are used to insulate the cold and warm ends of the pump, then heat transfer between ends is reduced, but the mechanical strength and robustness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating arrangement is divided into multiple components: an insulator plate, first air gap, second air gap, and optional insulation material. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill a specific function - the air gaps provide thermal insulation while the insulator plate provides mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between insulation performance and mechanical robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating arrangement combines materials with different properties: the insulator plate uses a thermally conductive material (such as stainless steel) for mechanical strength, while air gaps and optional insulation materials provide thermal insulation. This composite structure achieves both mechanical robustness and thermal insulation effectiveness.
2Loss of energy
If low thermal conductivity materials (e.g., perlite) are used to insulate the cold and warm ends of the pump, then heat transfer between ends is reduced, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from low thermal conductivity materials (perlite) to thermally conductive materials (stainless steel) for the insulator plate, reducing material cost while maintaining insulation effectiveness through the air gap design. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between insulation performance and manufacturing cost.
3Strength
If conventional thermally conductive materials (e.g., stainless steel) are used for the insulator plate, then mechanical strength and cost-effectiveness improve, but heat transfer between ends increases
Solution Approach 1:
Air gaps are introduced as intermediary elements between the insulator plate and the pump ends. These air gaps act as thermal barriers, preventing direct thermal conduction through the thermally conductive insulator plate material, thus resolving the contradiction between using strong conventional materials and maintaining thermal insulation.
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 solution effectively limits heat transfer between the warm and cold ends while utilizing cost-effective, high-strength materials, improving the mechanical robustness and reducing thermal expansion issues in cryogenic pumps.
Implementation Method 1
An insulating arrangement including an insulator plate is arranged between the warm end portion and the cold end portion and defines a first air gap between the cold end portion and the insulator plate
Data Source
AI summary
A cryogenic pump configured for pressurizing a cryogenic fluid is provided. The cryogenic pump includes a warm end portion adapted to not contact cryogenic fluid during operation of the pump and including one or more driving components. The cryogenic pump includes a cold end portion adapted to contact cryogenic fluid during operation of the pump and including a pump inlet and a pump outlet. An insulating arrangement including an insulator plate is arranged between the warm end portion and the cold end portion and defines a first air gap between the cold end portion and the insulator plate.