Hot Isostatic Pressing Device Thermal Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hot isostatic pressing devices, thermal uniformity in the hot zone is degraded due to gas leakage at the valve and seal portions, leading to lower processing performance for workpieces.
Innovation Solution
A hot isostatic pressing device with a three-layer structure, including an inner and outer casing, a heat insulating body, and a gas flow generation unit, which generates a pressure-medium gas flow to maintain thermal uniformity by allowing a gentle circulation of gas between the inner and outer casings, preventing gas leakage and ensuring consistent temperature across the hot zone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve and seal portion are used to close the hot zone, then the hot zone can be sealed during pressing processing, but gas leakage occurs at the valve and seal portions leading to degraded thermal uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the problematic valve and seal portion from the system by using an open structure without moving parts. The hot zone is defined by the inner casing geometry rather than by closure mechanisms, eliminating the source of gas leakage while maintaining sealing through the gas-impermeable nature of the casing walls themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention divides the pressing device into multiple gas-impermeable casings (inner casing, outer casing, heat insulating body) that are arranged concentrically. Each casing serves as a separate barrier, and the hot zone is contained within the inner casing without requiring closure at the bottom, thus avoiding the need for seals while maintaining temperature uniformity.
2Reliability
If a bottom wall portion is used to close the hot zone, then the hot zone can be sealed, but gas leakage at the bottom wall seal causes temperature gradients
Solution Approach 1:
The invention completely removes the bottom wall portion and its associated seal from the system. The inner casing extends downward without closure, and the hot zone is defined by the lateral walls of the inner casing rather than by a bottom closure. This eliminates the seal interface that causes gas leakage and subsequent temperature gradients.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of closing the hot zone from the bottom with a sealed bottom wall, the invention inverts the approach by defining the hot zone through the lateral boundaries of the inner casing and leaving the bottom open. The sealing function is achieved through the gas-impermeable properties of the casing walls rather than through a bottom closure mechanism.
3Productivity
If cooling gas is introduced through the bottom wall, then rapid cooling can be achieved, but low-temperature gas inflow from the periphery degrades thermal uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the bottom wall portion through which cooling gas was introduced, eliminating the source of low-temperature gas inflow from the periphery. Cooling can still be achieved through other means (such as cooling the outer casing or using a separate cooling system) without compromising the thermal uniformity of the hot zone during pressing processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulating body acts as an intermediary barrier between the hot zone and the external environment. It prevents direct contact between low-temperature external gas and the hot zone, maintaining thermal uniformity while still allowing heat transfer control for processing and cooling operations.
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 effectively maintains thermal uniformity in the hot zone during processing, preventing temperature gradients and enhancing the processing performance of workpieces, while also enabling rapid cooling to shorten processing time.
Implementation Method 1
The heating unit is arranged in the hot zone to generate heat
Implementation Method 2
The heat insulating body is a gas-impermeable heat insulating body arranged to surround the inner casing
Implementation Method 3
multiple communication pipes blocked from a space between the inner peripheral wall portion and the heat insulating body peripheral wall portion, and each form the pressure-medium gas passage penetrating the heat insulating body peripheral wall portion
Implementation Method 4
The bottom wall portion seals the hot zone from below
Implementation Method 5
The heat insulating body has a heat insulating body peripheral wall portion extending along the upper-to-lower direction to surround the inner peripheral wall portion through a pressure-medium gas passage
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) device that improves the heat uniformity of a hot zone during a pressurization process of an object being processed. This HIP device (100) is provided with: an outer casing (4) having an open outer opening part (4H); an inner casing (5) having an open inn opening part (5H); a heat-insulating body (R) disposed between the outer casing (4) and the inner casing (5); a gas flow generation part (30); and a plurality of first gas conduits (12), A hot zone (P) in which a pressurization process is performed is formed inside the inner casing (5). During the pressurization process, a low-temperature pressurization medium gas which has been generated by the gas flow generation part (30) and has passed through the first gas conduits (12) moves upward in an inner flow passage (L1) between the casings, and then flows into the hot zone (P) from the inner opening part (5H), Even when the pressurization medium gas leaks from the vicinity of a bottom all part (20) and flows into the hot zone (P), the heat uniformity of the hot zone (P) is maintained.