Hinged Shell Piping Heater for Uniform Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heaters for piping in semiconductor and chemical processing apparatuses face issues with temperature uniformity, environmental cleanliness, and work efficiency due to factors like uneven heating, dust generation, and corrosion, as well as difficulties in reproducing heating performance during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A heater comprising shells connected via hinges forming a polyhedron around the piping with thermal insulators and heating elements positioned between the shells and the piping, ensuring uniform heating and improved mounting stability, while reducing dust generation and corrosion risks through the use of clean block thermal insulators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a jacket heater with heating elements embedded in thermal insulator and glass fabric is used, then heating function is provided, but temperature uniformity deteriorates due to positioning and winding variations
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is divided into multiple shell segments that can be separately assembled around the piping. Each shell contains heating elements and thermal insulators in predetermined positions, eliminating the need for manual positioning and ensuring consistent temperature distribution across the piping surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements and thermal insulators are pre-assembled into shell structures with predetermined configurations before reaching the installation site. This preliminary assembly ensures proper positioning and spacing, eliminating temperature uniformity issues caused by manual installation variations.
2Strength
If glass fabric is used in jacket heater, then structural integrity is provided, but environmental cleanliness deteriorates due to dust generation
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal insulator uses a composite material structure combining heat-resistant resin-impregnated porous blocks with metal mesh reinforcement. This composite provides both structural integrity and a clean surface that does not generate dust, replacing the problematic glass fabric material.
3Ease of operation
If silicon resin is used for heater formation, then flexible mounting is provided, but piping corrosion deteriorates due to siloxane generation
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is designed as a removable, replaceable unit with a service life optimized for ease of replacement rather than long-term durability. This allows the use of materials that provide good mounting flexibility without the corrosion issue, as the entire heater assembly can be easily replaced if needed.
4Temperature
If large space is kept between metal plates and piping for non-contact heating, then temperature uniformity improves, but device size increases affecting transport and mounting efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The heater transitions from a large spaced structure to a compact form by utilizing the radial dimension - placing heating elements and thermal insulators in concentric layers directly against the piping surface. This dimensional reorganization achieves uniform heating contact while minimizing overall heater size for efficient transport and installation.
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 stable and uniform heating of the piping, enhances work efficiency during transport and mounting, and reduces temperature variations, ensuring consistent performance without requiring high skill levels for installation and minimizing environmental contamination.
Implementation Method 1
thermal insulators disposed over entire surfaces of inner walls of the shells
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of heating elements disposed to be positioned in a space formed between corners of the polyhedron and the outer circumferential wall
Implementation Method 3
the piping is heated by radiation heat from the heating elements and thermal conduction by the air within the space
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of shells connected via hinges, the shells being adapted to be mounted on an outer circumferential wall of piping having a circular cross section to enclose the piping and form a polyhedron along the piping
Data Source
AI summary
A heater for piping includes a plurality of shells connected via hinges. The shells are adapted to be mounted on an outer circumferential wall of piping having a circular cross section to enclose the piping and form a polyhedron along the piping. Thermal insulators are disposed over entire surfaces of inner walls of the shells. A plurality of molds are disposed at the inner walls and are adapted to abut on the outer circumferential wall of the piping in the mounted state. A plurality of heating elements are disposed at the inner walls of the shells so that the heating elements are positioned in a space formed between corners of the polyhedron and the outer circumferential wall of the piping and extend in the longitudinal direction of the piping in the mounted state.