Vacuum-Insulated Pipe Assembly With Axially Offset Inner Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum-insulated pipes for aircraft hydrogen fuel systems face challenges in providing easy access to connection interfaces and maintaining effective thermal insulation, especially when handling cryogenic fluids like hydrogen fuel.
Innovation Solution
The design features an inner connection interface axially offset from the outer connection interface, with a continuous evacuated space across pipe sections, and includes metallic gaskets and locators to maintain vacuum and thermal insulation, while facilitating connector access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the inner connection interface is aligned with the outer connection interface, then the assembly structure is compact, but access to the inner interface is hindered by the outer pipe sections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent offsets the inner connection interface axially relative to the outer connection interface along the common central axis. This dimensional change in the axial direction allows technicians to access the inner connection interface without the outer pipe sections blocking the view or physical access, effectively resolving the accessibility problem while maintaining a relatively compact overall structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the space is filled with gas, then the structure is simple, but heat transfer between the fluid and external atmosphere increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent evacuates the space between the inner and outer pipes to create a vacuum environment. This inert environment eliminates gas molecules that would otherwise conduct heat, thereby significantly reducing the heat transfer rate from the external atmosphere to the cryogenic fluid in the inner pipe. The vacuum acts as an effective thermal barrier while the dual-pipe structure maintains the necessary mechanical support and sealing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a barrier is added between pipe sections, then thermal insulation is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and may conduct heat
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a solid barrier between pipe sections that would conduct heat, the patent extracts the heat transfer medium (gas molecules) from the space between the inner and outer pipes by creating a vacuum. This removes the harmful heat conduction mechanism without introducing additional structural elements that would act as thermal bridges, thereby maintaining thermal insulation effectiveness while avoiding increased structural complexity.
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
Enhances thermal insulation and safety by reducing heat transfer and leak risks, while allowing easy access and assembly, particularly suitable for cryogenic hydrogen fuel systems.
Implementation Method 1
The space is evacuated to define a vacuum
Implementation Method 2
The vacuum in the space provides a thermally-insulating barrier between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. This may reduce a rate of heat transfer between the fluid flowing through the inner pipe and an external atmosphere external to the outer pipe
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~3B
Figure 4A~5
AI summary
Disclosed is a vacuum-insulated pipe assembly comprising an outer pipe and an inner pipe within the outer pipe, the inner and outer pipes concentric along a common central axis, the outer pipe spaced from the inner pipe to define a space, the space evacuated to define a vacuum. The outer pipe comprises first and second outer pipe sections, the first outer pipe section comprises a first outer connector, and the second outer pipe section comprises a second outer connector, the first outer connector removably connected to the second outer connector at an outer connection interface. The inner pipe comprises first and second inner pipe sections, the first inner pipe section comprises a first inner connector, and the second inner pipe section comprises a second inner connector, the first inner connector removably connected to the second inner connector at an inner connection interface. The inner connection interface is axially offset from the outer connection interface along the common central axis. The space extends continuously between the outer pipe and the inner pipe, across a region including each of the first and second outer pipe sections and each of the first and second inner pipe sections.