Protective Fabric Jacket With Spacer Cells for Extreme Heat Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective jackets for heat-sensitive equipment are inadequate in preventing damage from extreme heat and fire, particularly for non-metallic materials which can ignite and lose strength at high temperatures, leading to potential loss of containment and increased fire emergency complexity.

Innovation Solution

A protective fabric jacket with a layered structure comprising a bottom and top layer attached to a flexible honeycomb spacer fabric layer filled with a settable material, including a cementitious mixture and organic polymers, which hardens to provide enhanced heat shielding and structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If non-metallic materials are used for equipment, then equipment complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but heat resistance deteriorates and reliability under extreme heat conditions worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidheat resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective jacket combines multiple materials with different properties: a flexible spacer fabric layer for conformability and movement accommodation, a heat-resistant coating layer for thermal protection, and an intumescent material for fire suppression. This composite structure allows the jacket to protect non-metallic equipment while maintaining the equipment's inherent manufacturing advantages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The intumescent material undergoes a parameter change when exposed to heat - it expands and forms a protective char layer. This phase change allows the material to transition from a compact state to an expanded insulating barrier, providing active fire protection without compromising the equipment's normal operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If protective jackets are added to equipment, then heat resistance is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat resistanceVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The jacket uses a flexible spacer fabric as its base structure, which can be wrapped around and secured to irregularly shaped equipment. The flexibility allows the jacket to conform to the equipment surface without requiring rigid fittings or complex installation procedures, maintaining ease of operation while providing heat protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer fabric construction allows the jacket to dynamically adapt to equipment movement and thermal expansion. The three-dimensional structure can flex and move with the equipment, preventing restriction of operational movements while maintaining protective coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Weight of moving object

If non-metallic materials are exposed to extreme temperatures, then equipment weight is reduced, but strength and stiffness deteriorate significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment weightVSAvoidstrength and stiffness

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-resistant coating and intumescent layers provide beforehand cushioning against thermal damage. When heat is applied, these layers activate first to protect the underlying non-metallic material, preventing the temperature from reaching levels that would cause strength and stiffness deterioration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective jacket acts as an intermediary barrier between the heat source and the non-metallic equipment. It absorbs and reflects thermal energy, preventing direct exposure of the equipment materials to extreme temperatures that would compromise their mechanical properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 fabric jacket effectively shields equipment from extreme heat and fire, maintaining structural integrity and preventing material ignition, thus enhancing safety and control during emergencies by providing improved heat resistance and strength retention.

Implementation Method 1

a settable material that disposed within the cells and includes a cementitious mixture and one or more organic polymers and is settable to a hardened material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSetting and hardening of cementitious mixture:

Implementation Method 2

protective fabric jacket for placement on an object to be protected from excessive heat... shields equipment from extreme heat and fire

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12072057B2Fabric jacket to prevent nonmetallic equipment from extreme heat, external damage and fire

Publication Date: 2024.08.27 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

A protective fabric jacket for placement on an object to be protected from excessive heat includes a first layer; a second layer; and an intermediate spacer fabric layer that is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. The first and second layers are attached to the intermediate spacer fabric layer to form a layered structure. The intermediate spacer fabric layer comprises a flexible honeycomb or octagonal shaped spacer fabric that has a plurality of cells defined therein. The protective fabric jacket also includes a settable material that disposed within the cells and includes a cementitious mixture and one or more organic polymers and is settable to a hardened material.