Cryogenic Coupling Locking and Purging Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing couplings for liquefied gases, particularly in cryogenic applications, face safety issues due to thermal bridges and dead spaces, which lead to inefficient purging and potential hazards during the transfer of liquefied gases like liquid hydrogen, requiring excessive purge gas and lacking integrated safety features.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design featuring vacuum insulation and integrated shut-off valves, with a locking mechanism that allows for secure purging and safe operation, including a warm seal and purge opening to minimize gas usage and prevent atmospheric contamination, along with an emergency release device for enhanced safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum insulated couplings are used without valves, then thermal bridge issues are reduced, but the coupling remains open to atmosphere requiring excessive purge gas
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into separate sections with integrated valves that create isolated volumes. The first and second parts each have their own valve arrangements, allowing the internal volume to be segmented and purged independently, reducing the total amount of purge gas needed while maintaining vacuum insulation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Valves are introduced as intermediary components between the internal liquefied gas conduits and the atmosphere. These valves act as mediators that allow controlled purging of the internal volume while preventing uncontrolled atmospheric contamination, thus reducing purge gas consumption compared to fully open couplings.
2Speed
If couplings are designed to be fully connected in one movement, then operation speed is improved, but safety risks increase due to inability to purge between positions
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling operation is segmented into distinct lock positions (first and second lock positions) with the ability to pause between them. This segmentation allows operators to purge the internal volume at the first lock position before completing the connection, maintaining safety while enabling relatively quick operation through defined stages.
Solution Approach 2:
Purging is performed as a preliminary action at the first lock position before the coupling is fully connected in the second lock position. This preliminary purging ensures the internal volume is cleared of contaminants before complete connection, enhancing safety without significantly extending total operation time.
3Ease of operation
If no sealing mechanism is used between first and second parts, then ease of connection is improved, but atmospheric contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted as a separate warm seal component distinct from the connection mechanism itself. This warm seal is arranged to seal the space between the first and second parts from the atmosphere, providing contamination protection without complicating the insertion and connection process.
Solution Approach 2:
A warm seal acts as an intermediary element between the first and second coupling parts. This seal mediates the interface between the two parts, preventing atmospheric contamination while allowing relatively easy connection through simple insertion followed by locking.
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 provides a secure and efficient purging process, reducing the need for excessive purge gas, ensuring safety during operation, and preventing leakage by creating a closed volume between seals, while enabling safe connection and disconnection without operator expertise.
Implementation Method 1
providing vacuum insulation and integrated shut-off valves
Implementation Method 2
vacuum insulated couplings to partly address the issue
Implementation Method 3
the warm seal is arranged to seal a space between the first and second parts from the atmosphere
Implementation Method 4
a cold seal arranged to seal a volume between the cold seal and the warm seal from the internal liquefied gas conduits
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6b
AI summary
A coupling (1) comprising a first (11) and second (12) elongated part to be coupled to each other by insertion of the first part (11) into the second part (12). Each part (11, 12) comprises an internal liquefied gas conduit (11a, 12a) to be fluidly connected at a connection point (10) for transfer of liquefied gas through the coupling (1). The first part (11) or the second part (12) comprises a warm seal (2) and the second part (12) comprises a purge opening (4). By providing a locking device (6) with two positions, a safe and reliable coupling is provided.