Cryogenic Emergency Coupler With Vacuum Insulation and Residual Fluid Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency detachment devices for fluid handling systems, particularly those handling liquid hydrogen, face challenges due to poor heat insulation, leading to evaporation of hydrogen and liquefaction of oxygen, which poses safety hazards and inefficiencies in transport.
Innovation Solution
The emergency detachment device employs a vacuum dual-layer structure with valves in series, a remaining-fluid-transferring mechanism, and helium gas for fluid transfer, forming heat insulation sections to minimize heat conduction and prevent extreme temperature exposure, ensuring efficient handling and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If emergency detachment device uses conventional single-layer structure, then device complexity is low, but heat insulation performance is poor causing fluid evaporation and oxygen liquefaction
Solution Approach 1:
The piping structure is segmented into inner and outer pipe sections forming a dual-layer configuration. The inner pipe section contains the fluid while the outer pipe section provides thermal insulation barrier, creating distinct functional zones that improve heat insulation performance without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The inner pipe section is nested within the outer pipe section, with the inner pipe having a smaller diameter and being positioned concentrically inside the outer pipe. This nested arrangement creates vacuum insulation space while maintaining a relatively compact overall structure
2Reliability
If emergency detachment device uses vacuum dual-layer structure, then heat insulation performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The space between the inner and outer pipe sections is evacuated to create a vacuum environment, eliminating heat conduction and convection pathways. This vacuum insulation layer significantly improves thermal performance while the patent maintains relatively simple valve and connection structures to offset the added complexity
3Reliability
If emergency detachment device uses valves in series configuration, then fluid shut-off reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Two valves are arranged in series within the inner pipe section to provide redundant shut-off capability. This configuration ensures that if one valve fails or leaks, the second valve can still prevent fluid escape, providing beforehand cushioning against potential failures
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is localized within the inner pipe section, with both valves positioned in series at a specific location rather than distributed throughout the system. This concentrated arrangement improves shut-off reliability while minimizing the overall complexity increase
4Loss of substance
If emergency detachment device uses remaining-fluid-transferring mechanism, then fluid loss is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A remaining-fluid-transferring mechanism is introduced as an intermediary system between the inner and outer pipe sections. This mechanism transfers residual fluid from the inner pipe to the outer pipe, reducing fluid loss during emergency detachment while maintaining manageable complexity through integrated design
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
This configuration provides exceptional heat insulation in both connected and separated states, reducing fluid evaporation, preventing liquefaction of oxygen, and ensuring the safety of the device and surrounding environment during emergency detachment.
Implementation Method 1
an inner pipe section 5 through which the fluid passes is covered by an outer pipe section 6, and in which the space between the inner pipe section 5 and the outer pipe section 6 is placed in a vacuum state
Implementation Method 2
heat conduction to the inner pipe sections 5 and the second valves 1B is reduced to the extent possible by the heat insulation sections 9 and vacuum sections 10 between the inner pipe sections 5 and the outer pipe sections 6
Implementation Method 3
a gas for fluid transfer is introduced into a residual fluid section, in which the residual fluid remains, via a section for introduction of gas for fluid transfer 7 provided in the inner pipe section 5 on the coupler-opening side of the second valve 1B, the residual fluid is discharged from the residual fluid section, and the residual fluid is transferred via a transfer piping section 8 into the inner pipe section 5
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An object is to provide an emergency detachment device of a fluid handling device, the emergency detachment device having exceptional heat insulation performance and making it possible to handle extremely-low-temperature fluids such as liquid hydrogen. A first coupler 2 and a second coupler 3 are provided with a vacuum section 10 between an inner pipe section 5 and an outer pipe section 6, and are provided with two valves 1 in series. A remaining-fluid-transferring mechanism is provided such that, after second valves 1B provided further inward enter a closed-valve state during emergency detachment, residual fluid that remains closer to the first valves 1A than the second valves 1B is transferred into the inner pipes sections 5 provided further inward of the second valves 1B. Once emergency detachment is in a completed state, heat insulation sections 9 are formed in the space between the first valve 1A and the second valve 1B in each of the first coupler 2 and the second coupler 3, and heat insulation performance is improved by the heat insulation sections 9 and the vacuum sections 10.