Drainpipe Concentrating Flow Path Prevents Freezing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drainpipes in cold regions face blockages due to freezing of fluids, particularly snowmelt, as the fluid's surface tension and contact area with air lead to freezing, causing ice pillars to form and block the pipe, and existing solutions like external heating are costly and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A drainpipe design featuring a concentrating flow path with concave portions and convex portions along the inner wall to reduce surface tension, increase fluid speed, and limit ice pillar formation, combined with a thin-walled end portion and water-repelling treatments to prevent liquid membrane formation, and optionally a double-pipe structure for insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cord-shaped heater is provided outside the drainpipe to prevent freezing, then freezing of fluid can be prevented, but running cost and maintenance cost become large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreezing preventionVSAvoidrunning cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The drainpipe uses its own kinetic energy from fluid flow to prevent freezing. The fluid's motion itself generates the necessary energy to avoid ice formation, eliminating the need for external heating systems and reducing both running and maintenance costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal field approach (external heaters) with a mechanical field approach. By utilizing the kinetic energy and flow dynamics of the fluid itself, the system achieves freezing prevention through hydrodynamic effects rather than external heat input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a cord-shaped heater is provided outside the drainpipe, then freezing can be prevented, but the device complexity and installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreezing preventionVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drainpipe structure itself is designed to utilize the fluid's kinetic energy for freezing prevention. The internal geometry modifications (concave portions, grooves, protrusions) enable the fluid flow to generate sufficient energy to prevent ice formation without requiring external heating devices, thereby simplifying installation and reducing space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the fluid flows down the inner wall forming a liquid membrane, then the fluid can be discharged, but surface tension increases and contact area with air increases causing freezing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid dischargeVSAvoidfreezing resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous liquid membrane flow is segmented into discrete droplets or interrupted streams through the concave portions and grooves in the inner wall. This segmentation reduces the total contact area with air and minimizes surface tension effects, preventing freezing while maintaining discharge functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner wall is designed with localized concave portions and grooves at specific positions to modify the fluid flow characteristics. These local structural modifications create regions where fluid velocity increases and contact area with air is reduced, preventing freezing in critical areas while maintaining overall discharge efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the drainpipe is installed indoors in severely cold regions, then freezing can be prevented, but installation space requirements and design complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreezing preventionVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The drainpipe utilizes the kinetic energy of the flowing fluid itself to prevent freezing, eliminating the need for indoor installation or external heating infrastructure. This allows the pipe to be installed in outdoor environments even in severely cold regions, saving installation space and simplifying design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 design effectively inhibits fluid freezing and ice pillar growth within the pipe, preventing blockages without external heating, ensuring smooth water discharge even in extremely cold conditions.

Implementation Method 1

influence from surface tension becomes large to lower flowing speed of the meltwater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 2

water-repelling treatments to prevent liquid membrane formation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 3

optionally a double-pipe structure for insulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 4

it is possible to hydrodynamically inhibit freezing of the fluid to thereby prevent blockage of the pipe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrodynamic effect:

Data Source

PatentUS9279523B2Drainpipe, method for preventing blockage of drainpipe and installation structure of drainpipe

Publication Date: 2016.03.08 YOSHIDA ANNY

AI summary

A drainpipe comprising a concentrating flow path to concentrate flow of fluid on an inner wall of the pipe, which makes it possible to inhibit freezing of the fluid hydrodynamically without providing heat energy from outside, to thereby prevent blockage of the pipe.