Fusible Pneumatic Line for Flammable Fluid Pump Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated liquefied gases such as liquefied oxygen, liquefied natural gas, and liquefied hydrogen are highly flammable and explosive, posing a risk during pumping, as existing pumping apparatuses lack a failsafe mechanism to prevent the spread of these gases in case of a fire.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatically actuated valve system with a fusible material pneumatic line that melts upon exposure to heat from a fire, causing the pressure inside the line to drop and automatically closing the valve, thereby stopping the flow of flammable gases, and additional secondary lines for increased exposure and responsiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional pumping apparatus is used without fail-safe mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but safety reliability deteriorates as the apparatus cannot automatically stop flammable gas flow in case of fire
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic line is pre-configured with fusible material that will automatically melt at a predetermined temperature threshold during fire conditions. This preliminary preparation of the fusible material allows the system to automatically close the valve without requiring external detection systems or control mechanisms, achieving fail-safe operation through pre-built thermal response characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The fusible material acts as an intermediary element between the thermal environment (fire) and the valve actuation system. When exposed to fire heat, the fusible material melts and releases pneumatic fluid, which then actuates the valve closure. This intermediary mechanism translates thermal energy into mechanical action without requiring complex sensors or control systems
2Reliability
If the pneumatic line is made of fusible material to enable automatic valve closure in fire, then safety reliability is improved, but the material strength and temperature resistance deteriorate as the line must melt at relatively low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The fusible material is applied locally to the pneumatic line at strategic positions where it can effectively sense fire conditions and trigger valve closure. This localized application of temperature-sensitive material allows the line to maintain normal structural integrity during operation while having specific zones designed to fail at predetermined temperature thresholds, balancing operational strength with safety response
3Speed
If the pneumatic line passes along the pump longitudinal axis to maximize fire exposure, then responsiveness to fire is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic line is divided into multiple segments that can be independently installed along the pump longitudinal axis. Each segment contains fusible material and can be separately positioned to maximize fire exposure while simplifying installation. The segmented design allows for modular assembly and easier integration into existing pumping apparatus without requiring complete system disassembly
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 system effectively contains the flammable gases by automatically shutting off the flow in case of a fire, ensuring safety without external power or command, and can be easily integrated into existing pumping apparatuses through modular segment design.
Implementation Method 1
the pneumatic line will be melted by the heat resulting from the fire
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus for pumping flammable fluids like refrigerated liquefied gases, comprising a pump (5) (for pumping the fluid) having a longitudinal axis; a pneumatically actuated valve (8) fluidly connected to the inlet of the pump (5); and a pneumatic line (9) made of a fusible material connected to the pneumatic valve (8) for supplying actuation pneumatic fluid to the pneumatic valve (8); wherein the pneumatic line passes along the longitudinal axis of the pump (5).