Gas-Sealed Damper Assembly for High-Temperature Dust Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing damper assemblies fail to effectively isolate process areas in high-temperature and high-dust environments, such as those found in industrial applications, where temperatures can reach up to 500°C and dust levels exceed 100 mg/Nm3, preventing the isolation of process gases and particles.

Innovation Solution

A damper assembly featuring a metal-based sealing arrangement with a surrounding gas space and pressurized gas feeding mechanism, utilizing metal components and a pivotable closure member to create a robust seal, allowing for isolation in extreme conditions by preventing fluid flow between upstream and downstream sections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional sealing arrangements are used in high-temperature and high-dust environments, then the damper assembly cannot effectively isolate process areas, but using metal-based sealing arrangements with surrounding gas space resolves the sealing reliability issue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing actionVSAvoidhigh temperature and high dust content
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A surrounding gas space is introduced as an intermediary between the closure member and the process fluid. Pressurized gas is fed into this space to create a protective barrier that prevents dust and process fluid from contacting the sealing surfaces, while the metal-based sealing arrangement provides thermal stability in high-temperature environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing arrangement combines metal components (closure member, sealing rings) with a gas medium to create a composite sealing system. The metal provides structural integrity and thermal resistance, while the pressurized gas provides particle exclusion and sealing enhancement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a robust metal-based sealing arrangement is implemented, then effective isolation in extreme conditions is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveisolation capabilityVSAvoidsealing arrangement structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing arrangement is segmented into distinct functional components: the closure member, multiple sealing rings (primary and secondary), and the surrounding gas space. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Pressurized gas is utilized to enhance the sealing action by creating positive pressure in the surrounding gas space. This pneumatic approach provides active sealing that adapts to pressure differential changes, improving isolation capability without requiring overly complex mechanical structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 reliable sealing action in high-temperature and high-dust environments, ensuring effective isolation of process areas, enabling maintenance and preventing fluid flow between sections, even at temperatures up to 500°C and high dust content.

Implementation Method 1

gas feeding means 12 configured to feed pressurized gas into the surrounding gas space 11

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressurized gas: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4095421B1Damper assembly
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 VALMET TECH OY
  • EP4095421B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4095421B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4095421B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Presented is a damper assembly comprising a casing having an inner surface defining a flow channel, a closure member (4) for pivotal movement between a closed position and an open position, and a sealing arrangement (6). The sealing arrangement comprises a first ring member (7) provided at an inner surface of the casing, a first surrounding abutment ring (8) provided at the first ring member (7), a second surrounding abutment ring (9) provided at the closure member (4), and a second ring member (10) provided at the second surrounding abutment ring (9). The first surrounding abutment ring (8), the second surrounding abutment ring (9), the second ring member (10) and the first surrounding abutment ring (8) are configured to form a surrounding gas space (11). A gas feeding means is configured to feed pressurized gas into the surrounding gas space (11).