Cryogenic Roll Seal Using Warm Gas to Maintain Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic cooling systems in rolling mills face challenges in maintaining an effective seal around work rolls as they wear down or change diameter, leading to gaps that compromise the seal's effectiveness, especially with traditional gas seals which lose flexibility at cryogenic temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A flexible seal system using a combination of a flexible gas chamber and a solid body, where warm gas flows through to maintain the seal's elasticity and apply pressure, ensuring a consistent seal across varying roll diameters and cryogenic conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional gas seal is used to seal the cooling chamber, then the seal can prevent cryogenic gas leakage, but the seal loses flexibility at cryogenic temperatures when the work roll diameter changes due to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by heating the gas flowing through the flexible seal to maintain it above the dew point temperature. This temperature parameter change prevents the seal material from becoming brittle and losing flexibility, allowing the seal to adapt to varying work roll diameters while maintaining sealing effectiveness throughout the cryogenic cooling process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by introducing a flow of warm gas through the flexible seal structure. The pressurized warm gas flow serves dual purposes: it heats the seal material to maintain flexibility and creates a pneumatic barrier that enhances the sealing effect against cryogenic gas leakage, allowing adaptation to different roll diameters
2Adaptability or versatility
If plastic material or mechanical seal is used to seal the chamber, then the seal can accommodate varying roll diameters, but the seal may damage the surface finish of the work roll
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic pressure by flowing warm gas through the flexible seal, creating a non-contact sealing mechanism. This pneumatic seal adapts to varying work roll diameters through the flexible structure while the gas flow itself prevents direct mechanical contact between the seal and work roll surface, eliminating damage to the surface finish
Solution Approach 2:
The warm gas flow acts as an intermediary between the flexible seal and the work roll surface. It transmits the sealing function while preventing direct mechanical contact, allowing the seal to accommodate diameter variations without damaging the work roll surface finish
3Temperature
If the seal material is kept at cryogenic temperatures, then the seal can prevent heat transfer, but the seal material becomes brittle and loses flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by maintaining the flexible seal material at a temperature above the dew point through continuous flow of warm gas. This temperature parameter change prevents the seal material from becoming brittle while the seal still effectively prevents heat transfer from the cryogenic cooling chamber, resolving the contradiction between thermal insulation and material flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the thermal environment by creating a thermal barrier around the flexible seal through the warm gas flow. This allows the seal material to exist in a warmer, more flexible state while still preventing heat transfer into the cryogenic cooling chamber, separating the thermal conditions of the seal material from those of the cooled environment
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 maintains a tight seal across different roll diameters and cryogenic temperatures by keeping the seal material flexible and warm, preventing cryogenic gas leakage and accommodating roll size changes without damaging the surface finish.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible gas chamber is configured and located to apply pressure to the solid body
Implementation Method 2
A continuous flow of warmed gas through the seal keeps the seal material at an elevated temperature to maintain its flexibility
Implementation Method 3
The gas flowing through the seal keeps the seal flexible and applies pressure to maintain the sealing effect
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing device includes a flexible seal (10), a source of gas (15), a gas inlet (14) into the seal, and a gas outlet (17) from the seal 10, 17 whereby gas flows through the seal. A cryogenic source cools the seal and the gas from the cryogen helps seal the seal to the roll and to keep the seal flexible as the gas flows.