Double-Walled Tube Coupling Support for Lower Thermal Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transport of cryogenic fuels through dedicated fuel supply lines poses challenges due to temperature-induced stress on interconnections and insulating structures, leading to increased monitoring and maintenance demands.
Innovation Solution
A support structure for coaxial flanges of a double-coaxial coupling is provided, featuring a circular support structure with primary and secondary mounting zones spaced apart in a radial direction. This design decelerates thermal transport between the flanges, reducing heat gradients and thermal stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the primary flange and secondary flange are directly connected structurally, then mechanical strength and stability are improved, but thermal stress and heat gradient between the flanges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure acts as an intermediary element between the primary and secondary flanges. It provides mechanical connection and stability while its elongated thermal conductor design minimizes direct thermal contact, thereby reducing thermal stress transmission between the flanges.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure extends the thermal path in a direction away from the radial plane of the flange connection. This dimensional extension creates a longer thermal path without compromising mechanical strength, effectively decoupling the thermal and mechanical connection functions.
2Speed
If the thermal path between mounting points is shortened, then thermal response time is improved, but thermal stress and heat gradient increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal conductor is configured to extend away from the radial plane of the flange connection, creating a three-dimensional thermal path. This dimensional change allows the thermal path to be longer in terms of heat travel distance while maintaining compact radial dimensions, thus reducing heat gradient without excessively increasing thermal response time.
3Volume of moving object
If the mounting zones are positioned closer together, then structural compactness is improved, but thermal transport between flanges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure positions the mounting zones closer together radially for compactness, while the thermal conductor extends in a direction away from the radial plane. This creates a longer thermal path in the axial or circumferential direction, effectively reducing thermal transport between flanges while maintaining structural compactness.
4Stress or pressure
If a longer thermal path is provided, then thermal stress is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: it provides mechanical support and connection, centers the flanges coaxially, and incorporates the elongated thermal conductor for thermal management. This merging reduces device complexity compared to using separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure serves multiple purposes simultaneously: structural support, flange centering, and thermal path management. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving the longer thermal path for stress reduction.
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 reduces thermal stress, prevents icing or air liquefaction, and decreases monitoring and maintenance demands by slowing down heat gradient changes between the primary and secondary flanges.
Implementation Method 1
A thermal path within the circular support structure between a mounting point of the primary mounting zone and an adjacent spaced apart mounting point of the secondary mounting zone is longer than the distance between the two points
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a support. In order to provide for a more robust way of connecting supply lines, a support (10) for coaxial flanges (12) of a double-coaxial coupling (14) is provided. The support comprises a circular support structure (16). The circular support structure provides a primary mounting zone (18) for attaching a primary flange (20) for connecting a primary outer tube (22), a secondary mounting zone (24) for attaching a secondary flange (26) for connecting a secondary inner tube (28) coaxial to the primary outer tube. The primary mounting zone and the secondary mounting zone are spaced apart from each other in a radial direction for centering the primary flange and the secondary flange in a radially spaced coaxial manner. The primary mounting zone provides an outer circumferential connection region (34) with at least three mounting points (36) for attaching the primary flange. The secondary mounting zone provides an inner circumferential connection region (38) with at least three mounting points (40) for attaching the secondary flange. A thermal path within the circular support structure between a mounting point (44) of the primary mounting zone and an adjacent spaced apart mounting point (46) of the secondary mounting zone is longer than the distance between the two points.