Flange Work-Hardening for High-Pressure Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure and high-temperature gases in compressors can cause leaks between flanges due to gas pressure or heat deformation, despite the use of grooves and protrusions, and materials with sufficient resistance are difficult to find, leading to plastic deformation and reduced clamping force.
Innovation Solution
A manufacturing method involving work-hardening, correction, and refastening of flanges to increase yield strength and maintain strain within the elastic region, preventing plastic deformation and ensuring reliable sealing without increasing clamping force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a material having corrosion resistance to the gas is chosen for the shell, then corrosion resistance is improved, but the flanges may be plastically deformed beyond yield strength, reducing clamping force and causing leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary work-hardening treatment to the flange portions before final assembly. This preliminary action increases the yield strength of the flanges in advance, preventing plastic deformation when the corrode-resistant shell material is used under high pressure and temperature conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the flange portions by applying work-hardening treatment, which transforms the material structure to increase yield strength. This parameter change allows the flanges to maintain sufficient clamping force while using materials with good corrosion resistance.
2Reliability
If the clamping force of the bolt is increased to prevent leaks, then sealing performance is improved, but the bolt and seats may exceed yield stress, limiting further increase in clamping force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local work-hardening treatment specifically to the portions that form the seats and mating surfaces of the flanges. This localized quality improvement increases yield strength at critical areas without requiring a uniform increase in clamping force across the entire bolt connection, allowing higher sealing pressure without exceeding yield stress.
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 method effectively prevents leaks by enhancing the yield strength of flanges through work-hardening and correction, allowing for stable operation with materials of lower initial strength and improving material flexibility without altering the apparatus structure.
Implementation Method 1
plastically deforming portions that form seats of the flanges configured to receive the fastening member and portions that form mating surfaces of the flanges with pressure of the fluid being applied
Implementation Method 2
a work-hardening step of introducing a fluid into an internal space of the fluid apparatus, and plastically deforming portions that form seats of the flanges
Implementation Method 3
a correction step of releasing the fastening of the flanges and correcting at least the mating surfaces out of the seats and the mating surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a fluid apparatus with flanges that are fastened together may include the following steps: fastening the flanges with a fastening member; introducing a fluid into an internal space of the fluid apparatus, and plastically deforming portions of the flanges that form seats for receiving the fastening member and portions of the flanges that form mating surfaces with pressure of the fluid being applied; releasing the fastening member and correcting at least the mating surfaces out of the seats and the mating surfaces; and refastening the flanges.