Flexible SF6 Gas Capture Bag for Outdoor Leakage Containment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for preventing SF6 gas leakage in outdoor installations are costly and ineffective, as they are not applicable for outdoor use, and there is a need for a cost-effective solution to capture and contain SF6 gas leakage across various installations.

Innovation Solution

A portable, flexible, and impermeable gas storage container with a sealable gas inlet that inflates under pressure to capture and store SF6 gas, allowing for on-site use and potential recovery of the gas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If environmental control measures are employed to confine and contain SF6 gas leakage, then gas containment effectiveness is improved, but implementation cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas containment effectivenessVSAvoidimplementation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible containment bag made of impermeable material to capture SF6 gas leakage. This flexible shell approach provides effective gas containment while being significantly simpler and more cost-effective than rigid environmental control systems, directly resolving the contradiction between containment effectiveness and implementation cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The containment system is segmented into a portable, movable bag unit that can be positioned and deployed independently at the leakage source. This segmentation allows the containment function to be separated from complex fixed infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity and cost while maintaining containment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If fixed environmental control systems are used for SF6 gas containment, then gas capture capability is improved, but adaptability to different installations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas capture capabilityVSAvoidapplication scope

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The containment bag is designed to be portable and movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be dynamically positioned and deployed at different leakage locations across various installations. This dynamic characteristic provides both effective gas capture at the source and adaptability to different installation environments, resolving the contradiction between capture capability and versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible containment bag serves as a universal solution that can be applied to SF6 gas leakage from various types of electrical equipment and installations. Its portability and simplicity make it adaptable to both indoor and outdoor applications, providing broad versatility while maintaining effective gas capture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If SF6 gas leakage is allowed to spread in the atmosphere, then immediate containment cost is reduced, but environmental harm and replacement cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainment system costVSAvoidenvironmental harm and gas loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The containment bag captures SF6 gas that would otherwise be harmful to the environment and represent a financial loss. By converting the potentially harmful leaked gas into a contained, recoverable resource, the system transforms an environmental problem into a benefit where the gas can be reclaimed and reused, eliminating both environmental harm and replacement costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution provides a cost-effective and efficient means to capture and contain SF6 gas leakage, enabling on-site storage and potential reuse of the gas, addressing both economic and environmental concerns by limiting atmospheric release.

Implementation Method 1

said container being inflatable under pressure from the captured gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a portable flexible gas storage container which is substantially impermeable to SF6 gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas impermeability: Permeation

Data Source

PatentUS8042580B2Apparatus and method for capturing and containing sulphur hexafluoride gas leakage

Publication Date: 2011.10.25 HITACHI ENERGY LTD

AI summary

An apparatus and method are provided for capturing and containing SF6 gas leakage from a gas enclosure. The apparatus includes a portage flexible gas storage container of material which is substantially impermeable to SF6 gas. The container includes a gas inlet which is adapted to be coupled in a sealable manner to a surface surrounding a leakage source thereby capturing the SF6 gas in the container. The container inflates under pressure from the captured gas in order to accommodate up to a predetermined capacity of SF6 gas. The apparatus can be adapted to act as a container for transporting SF6 gas from a gas source to an enclosure.