Flange Leak Containment Collar for Insulating Cone Gas Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for containing gas leaks in metal-enclosed electrical substations and natural gas pipelines are complex, costly, and pose safety risks to operators, while current sealing techniques require frequent maintenance and can damage insulating components.
Innovation Solution
A containment device using a strapping band with a removable sealing cord and deformable annular bands to collect and contain gas leaks, featuring a collection enclosure with a hood for protection and easy detachment, ensuring safe and effective sealing without damaging insulating components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing paste or resin is applied to seal leakage points, then gas leak containment is improved, but the complexity and time required for application increases due to inaccessible flange contours
Solution Approach 1:
A collection enclosure is introduced as an intermediary device between the flange and the environment. This enclosure captures escaping gas before it releases into the atmosphere, providing effective leak containment without requiring complex application procedures. The enclosure acts as a mediator that simplifies the sealing process while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection enclosure utilizes flexible sealing elements that can conform to the flange contour, enabling effective sealing without requiring precise application to complex geometries. The flexible nature of the sealing component adapts to inaccessible contours automatically, reducing application complexity while maintaining containment effectiveness.
2Reliability
If sealing paste or resin is used to seal leakage points, then gas leak containment is improved, but the frequency of maintenance operations increases as the sealing must be renewed regularly
Solution Approach 1:
The collection enclosure employs a disposable or easily replaceable sealing component rather than requiring long-term durable sealing material. This approach accepts that the sealing element has limited service life but eliminates the need for complex maintenance procedures. The simple, inexpensive nature of the sealing component allows for quick replacement without regular intensive maintenance, effectively reducing maintenance frequency while maintaining containment reliability.
3Reliability
If sealing operations are performed on compartment flanges, then gas leak containment is improved, but the safety risk to personnel increases due to induction phenomena
Solution Approach 1:
The collection enclosure is installed and positioned around the flange before any sealing operations are performed. This preliminary setup creates a containment barrier that captures gas leaks during subsequent sealing activities, protecting personnel from exposure to induction phenomena and harmful gas releases during the maintenance process.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transforms the potentially harmful escaping gas into a contained and controlled element. By capturing the gas that would otherwise pose a safety hazard to personnel, the collection enclosure converts a harmful factor into a manageable situation, allowing sealing operations to proceed safely while maintaining gas containment.
4Reliability
If sealing paste or resin is applied to flanges, then gas leak containment is improved, but the cost of maintenance operations increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The collection enclosure utilizes inexpensive, easily manufactured components that can be quickly installed and replaced. The simple design of the enclosure with basic sealing elements reduces material costs and eliminates the need for expensive specialized sealing materials, significantly lowering overall maintenance costs while maintaining effective gas leak containment.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (10) for containing a gas leak at an interface between an intermediate part, such as an insulating cone (11) or a sealing gasket, and a first circular flange (21), the intermediate part being sandwiched between the first circular flange (21) and a second circular flange (12). According to the invention, such a device (10) comprises: • means for encircling a substantial portion of the edge of the intermediate part, comprising an open annular band (35) having a first and a second end and a fastening (23) connecting the first and second ends; • a chamber (15) for collecting leaking gas which is rigidly connected to the encircling means, having an internal housing (22) capable of at least partially receiving the fastening (23); • a sealing collar (16) at least partially covering, all the way around the flanges (12, 21), the edges of the flanges and the open annular band, and surrounding at least the outer bottom portion of the collector.