Frangible Valve Segmentation for Pressure Vessel Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 'vent-before-burst' designs for highly pressurized gas vessels are cumbersome, often requiring thicker ductile tubing, complex burst calculations, and expensive self-igniting pyrotechnic squibs, leading to increased vessel weight and complexity in DOT approval processes.
Innovation Solution
A frangible valve system utilizing a high-strength, low-ductility material with a central region and a thinner separation region that breaks at a predetermined pressure to vent pressure from the vessel, simplifying pressure relief calculations and reducing vessel weight, and optionally incorporating a proofing support tool or pyrotechnic activation for dual functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ductile tubing is used to achieve vent-before-burst, then safety is improved, but vessel weight increases due to thicker walls required
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into a thick central region and a thin separation region. The separation region is specifically designed to be thinner than the central region, creating a weak point that fails at a predetermined pressure to vent the vessel, while the thick central region maintains structural integrity and prevents brittle failure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the valve body have different thicknesses and material properties. The separation region has reduced thickness and is designed to fail predictably, while the central region maintains high strength and ductility. This local differentiation allows the valve to provide both safety through controlled failure and weight reduction by not requiring uniformly thick walls throughout.
2Reliability
If self-igniting pyrotechnic squibs are used for pressure relief, then vent-before-burst capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible valve operates passively by relying on the built-in structural weakness of the separation region. When internal pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold, the separation region automatically fails and vents the vessel without requiring any external activation mechanism, pyrotechnic squibs, or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex pyrotechnic activation system from the pressure relief mechanism. Instead of using self-igniting squibs or other active devices, the patent uses a simple frangible structure that fails purely under pressure differential, significantly reducing device complexity and cost.
3Measurement precision
If high-strength low-ductility materials are used in the separation region, then pressure relief predictability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameters in the separation region by using high-strength low-ductility materials with specific mechanical properties. The material is selected and engineered to fail at a predictable pressure threshold, providing precise control over when venting occurs while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through conventional fabrication processes.
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 frangible valve system provides a lightweight, predictable, and cost-effective pressure relief mechanism that simplifies DOT approval processes by using high-strength materials and eliminating the need for self-igniting pyrotechnic squibs, ensuring safe venting without ductile failure or excessive weight.
Implementation Method 1
The separation region can have a thickness less than a thickness of the central region and can be configured to break at a predetermined fluid pressure inside the pressure vessel to vent pressure from the pressure vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A frangible valve is disclosed. The frangible valve can include an outer portion operable to form a pressure boundary for a pressure vessel. The frangible valve can also include an inner portion integrally formed with the outer portion and having a central region and a separation region about a perimeter of the central region proximate the outer portion. The separation region can have a thickness less than a thickness of the central region and can be configured to break at a predetermined fluid pressure inside the pressure vessel to vent pressure from the pressure vessel.