Cryogenic Fluid Connector Sealing for Concentric Flow Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fluid flow systems face challenges in sealing cryogenic fluids, as conventional sealing materials contract and lead to leakage at low temperatures, and existing connectors modify the nested shape of counter-flow systems, reducing thermal efficiency and allowing fluid cross-contamination.
Innovation Solution
The development of fluid flow connectors with a sealing mechanism using malleable, cryogenic sealing materials like indium, and deformation features in grooves to ensure a secure seal between concentric fluid channels, maintaining thermal efficiency and preventing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing materials are used in cryogenic fluid systems, then the sealing structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sealing materials contract at low temperatures causing leakage and reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by using indium instead of conventional sealing materials. Indium maintains its sealing properties at cryogenic temperatures unlike conventional materials that contract and fail. This material substitution resolves the contradiction by improving reliability without requiring complex additional mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite sealing approach by combining indium sealing elements with grooves and deformation features. This composite structure integrates the malleable indium material with the rigid connector body, creating a hybrid sealing system that adapts to thermal contraction while maintaining reliability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If concentric fluid channels are used to improve thermal efficiency, then thermal efficiency is improved, but sealing becomes more difficult and fluid cross-contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested concentric fluid channels where the inner channel is positioned within the outer channel. This nesting arrangement maximizes thermal efficiency by enabling counter-flow heat exchange while the indium sealing elements positioned at critical interfaces prevent fluid cross-contamination between the nested channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies localized sealing quality by positioning indium sealing elements specifically at the interfaces between concentric channels and at external sealing points. This localized application of high-quality sealing material addresses the sealing challenges in concentric configurations without compromising thermal efficiency.
3Reliability
If indium sealing elements with deformation features are used, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates preliminary deformation features directly into the groove design during manufacturing. These pre-formed deformation features guide the indium sealing element into the correct shape and position, ensuring reliable sealing while reducing the need for post-manufacturing adjustments and lowering precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The indium sealing elements perform self-adjustment through their malleable properties and deformation features. When installed, the indium automatically deforms to fit the groove geometry and creates its own seal, reducing the need for high-precision manual adjustment and simplifying the manufacturing process.
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 seals cryogenic fluids within counter-flow systems, preventing leakage and maintaining thermal efficiency by using indium-based sealing elements that deform to fit snugly within the grooves, addressing the limitations of traditional sealing techniques.
Implementation Method 1
the first groove and the second groove may each define a deformation feature configured to plastically deform the first sealing element and the second sealing element, respectively
Implementation Method 2
the first sealing element and the second sealing element may include a malleable, cryogenic sealing material. In such an embodiment, the first sealing element and the second sealing element may include indium
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, devices, systems, and methods are described that provide fluid flow connectors. An example fluid flow connector includes a first connector body that defines a first inner bore and a first plurality of outer bores. The example connector further includes a second connector body that defines a second inner bore and a second plurality of outer bores. In an operational configuration in which the first connector body is attached to the second connector body, the first inner bore mates with the second inner bore to form a first fluid channel, and each of the first plurality of outer bores mate with a respective one of the second plurality of outer bores to form a second fluid channel. The example connector further includes a sealing mechanism that, in the operational configuration, seals the first fluid channel from the second fluid channel and seal the second fluid channel from an external environment of the fluid flow connector.