Hot Isostatic Pressing Device Forced Gas Circulation Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hot isostatic pressing devices face limitations in cooling efficiency, particularly after HIP treatment, due to heat-insulating layers that inhibit heat transfer and natural convection, leading to prolonged cooling times, especially when the temperature drops below 300°C.

Innovation Solution

The HIP device employs a forced circulation system where pressure medium gas is circulated along the inner and outer surfaces of the high-pressure container, with a second cooling mechanism that merges high-temperature gas with cooled gas and returns it to the hot zone, enhancing cooling efficiency through forced convection and gas flow amplification, allowing for balanced heat discharge and rapid cooling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a heat-insulating layer is provided inside the high-pressure container to maintain thermal uniformity, then the hot zone can be maintained in a thermally uniform condition, but the cooling efficiency is inhibited because the heat-insulating layer prevents heat transfer from the hot zone to the container wall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal uniformityVSAvoidcooling time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure medium gas circulation path is segmented into multiple regions: an inner circulation path inside the heat-insulating layer, an outer circulation path outside the heat-insulating layer, and a hot zone. This segmentation allows different circulation patterns in different regions, enabling both thermal uniformity maintenance and efficient heat discharge to the container wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different circulation characteristics are applied to different locations: natural convection is utilized in the inner circulation path to maintain thermal uniformity, while forced convection is applied in the outer circulation path to enhance heat discharge efficiency to the container wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If natural convection is used for pressure medium gas circulation outside the heat-insulating layer, then the structure is simple, but the flow rate of pressure medium gas is insufficient and cooling efficiency is severely limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecirculation system complexityVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-insulating layer acts as an intermediary that separates the inner and outer circulation paths. This allows the system to utilize natural convection inside the heat-insulating layer for thermal uniformity while employing forced convection outside for efficient heat discharge, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the pressure medium gas merely circulates by natural convection outside the heat-insulating layer, then the system requires minimal energy input, but it takes a lot of time to transfer heat from the hot zone to the high-pressure container

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidheat transfer time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation mode is made dynamic and adaptable: natural convection is used when thermal uniformity is the priority, while forced convection is activated when rapid heat discharge is needed. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize between energy consumption and heat transfer time based on process requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This configuration enables efficient and rapid cooling of the hot zone, preventing non-uniform cooling and significantly reducing the time required for the cooling process, while maintaining thermal uniformity and preventing equipment damage from sudden temperature changes.

Implementation Method 1

a forced circulation system where pressure medium gas is circulated along the inner and outer surfaces of the high-pressure container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

heat-insulating layers that inhibit heat transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

transferring the heat within the hot zone to the casing by the inside circulating flow, and then discharging it out of the high-pressure container through a container wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2324997B1Hot isostatic pressing device
Publication Date: 2016.06.08 KOBE STEEL LTD
  • EP2324997B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2324997B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2324997B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A hot isostatic pressing device (1) according to the present invention includes an inner casing (3), an outer casing (4), and a heating means (7) which are provided inside a high-pressure container. The device further includes a first cooling means (41) for forcedly circulating pressure medium gas in such a manner that pressure medium gas guided upwardly between the inner casing (3) and the outer casing (4) is guided to the outside of the outer casing (4) through an upper part of the outer casing (4), cooled while being guided downwardly along an inner circumferential surface of the high-pressure container, and then returned to between the inner casing (3) and the outer casing (4) through a lower part of the outer casing (4); and a second cooling means (43) for guiding pressure medium gas within a hot zone formed inside the inner casing (3) to the outside of the hot zone, cooling the pressure medium gas guided to the outside by merging it with the pressure medium gas forcedly circulated by the first cooling means, and returning the cooled pressure medium gas into the hot zone. According to such a structure, a high cooling efficiency can be attained while maintaining the hot zone in a thermally uniform condition.