Double-Walled Pipe End Sealing With Water Intrusion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing double-walled pipes face challenges in protecting their ends from intrusion of solid or liquid products, particularly liquid water, which degrades thermal insulation during transportation, storage, and assembly, as existing solutions only detect water in assembled pipes and not in prefabricated sections.
Innovation Solution
A device for closing a section of double-walled pipe includes a first plug for the internal tube, a tubular extension welded to the external tube, a flexible ring with a water detector, and a recording box that scans the conduction state at a predetermined frequency, integrating temperature detection for distinguishing humidity from water presence and allowing remote data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conductive wires are inserted into the insulating material to detect water presence, then water detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases and the insulation integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible ring made of porous material as an intermediary element that interfaces with the insulating material without requiring direct insertion of conductive wires into it. The ring contains the detector and provides a controlled pathway for water detection while maintaining insulation integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical insertion of conductive wires into the insulation with a non-invasive detection system where the flexible ring with detector is placed against the insulation surface, eliminating the need to penetrate the insulating material.
2Reliability
If conductive wires are installed between the insulating material and outer tube to detect water, then water presence detection is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible ring with the detector is pre-assembled as an integrated unit that can be installed on the pipe section before the insulation is applied. This preliminary assembly simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need to install separate conductive wires after insulation installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the detector, flexible ring, and mounting structure into a single integrated assembly that is installed as one component, rather than requiring separate installation of multiple conductive wires and detection elements.
3Device complexity
If only water detection is implemented without temperature monitoring, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to false positives from humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the detector continuously monitors both temperature and conduction properties, and the system analyzes the relationship between these parameters over time to distinguish between humidity (which affects temperature) and actual water intrusion (which affects conduction).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors changes in multiple parameters (temperature and electrical conduction) simultaneously and analyzes their temporal relationships. By observing how these parameters change together over time, the system can differentiate between humidity conditions and actual water presence with higher precision.
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 effective insulation and detection of water presence at the ends of pipe sections, reducing false positives by analyzing temperature and conduction data over time, ensuring the integrity of the thermal insulation system during handling and assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a water presence detector implanted in said ring
Implementation Method 2
double-walled insulated pipes have been used for several decades to ensure their thermal insulation
Implementation Method 3
liquid water soaks into the insulation, degrading its thermal performance
Data Source
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AI summary
A sealing device (1) for a section (2) of a double-walled pipe consisting of an inner tube (3) and an outer tube (4) between which an insulating material is interposed, comprising a water detector (13), characterized in that it comprises: - a first plug (6) for closing the inner tube (3), - a tubular extension (7) intended to be welded to the end of the outer tube (4), the free end of said extension extending beyond the first plug (6) and being closed by a second plug (8), - a means for fixing the position of the inner (3) and outer (4) tubes integral with said extension (7).