Double-Walled Pipe Coupling Structure for Low Heat Ingress
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Double-walled pipes used for handling hot or cold fluids, such as liquid hydrogen, face challenges with heat ingress at coupling points, which can disrupt the insulation and affect the fluid's state.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design for double-walled pipes that features an outer section with material interruptions in the radial direction, creating multiple pockets and spokes that extend the heat ingress path, thereby reducing heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a coupling includes a flange reaching the inner pipe to provide connection, then the connection strength is improved, but heat ingress path is created affecting insulation
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into inner and outer sections with the inner section having interrupted material in the radial direction, creating multiple pockets. This segmentation allows the coupling to maintain connection strength while breaking up continuous heat transfer paths through the coupling material.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses heat ingress by adding complexity in the radial dimension through material interruptions and pockets, rather than simply increasing connection strength in the axial dimension. This dimensional approach to heat path management resolves the contradiction between connection strength and heat ingress prevention.
2Strength
If the material of the outer section is continuous in the radial direction, then structural integrity is improved, but heat ingress path is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The outer section material is segmented radially into multiple discrete sections separated by pockets, creating a discontinuous structure. This segmentation maintains overall structural integrity while effectively increasing the heat transfer path length and reducing thermal conductivity through the coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat path is forced to follow curved or meandering routes around the pockets rather than straight radial lines, increasing the effective heat transfer path length. This geometric approach reduces heat transfer while maintaining structural continuity in the circumferential direction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple interruptions are created in the outer section material, then heat ingress is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure is segmented into standardized inner and outer sections with repeating pocket patterns, which reduces heat ingress through systematic material interruptions. The segmented design achieves thermal performance goals while maintaining manufacturability through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer section creates a pseudo-porous structure with radial interruptions and pockets, similar to porous thermal insulation materials. This approach reduces effective thermal conductivity through the coupling while maintaining structural integrity, achieving thermal performance without excessive 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
The coupling effectively minimizes heat ingress by increasing the length of the heat transfer path, thus maintaining the insulation integrity and the fluid's state, even at coupling points.
Implementation Method 1
a coupling for a double-walled pipe with reduced heat ingress... The material of the outer section is interrupted in a radial direction multiple times... extending the heat ingress path
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a coupling (100) for a double-walled pipe having an inner wall (50) and an outer wall (60), the inner wall (50) having an inner lumen (51), and the inner wall (50) and the outer wall (60) delimiting an outer lumen (61). The coupling comprises an inner section (119) forming a passage in fluid communication with the inner lumen (51), and an outer section (117) arranged radially adjacent to the inner section (119). A material of the outer section (117) is interrupted in a radial direction multiple times in an area corresponding to a radial range between the inner wall (50) and the outer wall (60). A further exemplary coupling may have an outer section that is interrupted multiple times in the longitudinal direction.