Fluid Coupling Thermal Seal Design for High-Temperature Leak Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid couplings used in high-temperature environments face seal degradation, leading to leaks, as organic material-based seals lose integrity and metallic seals lack compliance and low sliding friction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of thermally-activated seals with high thermal expansion materials like polyether ether ketone, polybenzimidazole, and aluminum, which expand at elevated temperatures to create a seal between adapters and an inner sleeve, ensuring a leak-free connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If organic material seals are used in high-temperature environments, then the seals provide good compliance and low sliding friction, but the seals degrade and leak at temperatures above 600 degrees F.
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the seal from organic elastomeric material to thermally-activated material that undergoes a phase change or expansion at elevated temperatures. This parameter change allows the seal to transition from a non-sealing state at normal temperatures to a sealing state at high temperatures, thereby extending the operating temperature limit while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamic seal mechanism where the thermally-activated seal dynamically changes its dimensional state in response to temperature variations. At normal temperatures, the seal is spaced apart from mating surfaces, allowing compliance and low friction. At high temperatures, the seal expands or changes phase to dynamically engage and create a fluid-tight barrier, adapting to thermal conditions in real-time.
2Temperature
If insulation is added to protect against high temperatures, then the fluid coupling can operate in severe environments, but the insulation becomes bulky and increases device size.
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal protection function from a separate insulation component and integrates it directly into the seal element itself. By making the seal thermally-activated, the sealing function and thermal response function are combined in one component, eliminating the need for bulky external insulation and reducing overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally-activated seal performs multiple functions: it provides the primary sealing function like traditional seals while simultaneously serving as a thermal response element that activates at elevated temperatures. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate insulation components, achieving compact design without sacrificing high-temperature capability.
3Temperature
If metallic seals are used for high-temperature applications, then the seals can withstand high temperatures, but the seals lack compliance and have high sliding friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material strategy by using thermally-activated materials that combine properties of both organic and inorganic substances. These composite materials exhibit compliance and low friction characteristics similar to organic seals at normal temperatures, while providing high-temperature resistance akin to metallic seals, thereby achieving both ease of operation and temperature resistance simultaneously.
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 thermally-activated seals maintain a fluid-tight connection at high temperatures, preventing leaks and reducing the need for bulky insulation, while minimizing material usage and overall length of the fluid coupling.
Implementation Method 1
At or above a predetermined temperature, the thermally-activated seal may be configured to expand to create a seal between the two of the first adapter, the second adapter, and the sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid coupling including a first adapter, a second adapter configured to selectively connect with and disconnect from the male adapter, an inner sleeve, a first seal between the first adapter and the inner sleeve, a second seal between the second adapter and the inner sleeve, and at least one thermally-activated seal between two of the first adapter, the second adapter, and the inner sleeve. During normal operation, the at least one thermally-activated seal may be spaced apart from at least one of the two of the first adapter, the second adapter, and the inner sleeve. At or above a predetermined temperature, the thermally-activated seal may be configured to expand to create a seal between the two of the first adapter, the second adapter, and the sleeve.