Insulated Pipe Coupling Using Thermal Expansion Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing couplings for insulated piping, particularly vacuum-insulated piping, suffer from thermal ingress, are heavy and expensive, and are not suitable for bends or junctions, while bayonet couplings require careful handling and installation.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design featuring first and second parts with inner and outer conduit portions, a projection with a lower thermal expansion region, and a projection-receiving portion with a higher thermal expansion, ensuring enhanced engagement and seal integrity when cold liquids pass through, using materials like Invar and steel to manage thermal expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional metal couplings are used for insulated piping, then the coupling is strong and provides good thermal insulation, but the coupling is heavy and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling uses a composite structure combining a polymer body with metal reinforcement elements (inner conduit, outer conduit, flanges). This allows the coupling to achieve the necessary mechanical strength and thermal insulation properties while reducing overall weight compared to traditional solid metal couplings.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bayonet couplings are used for vacuum-insulated piping, then thermal ingress is reduced, but the coupling becomes heavy, expensive, and requires careful handling and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into separate modular components: a first part with an inner conduit portion, outer conduit portion, and flange; and a second part that connects to it. This segmentation allows for easier handling, installation, and maintenance while maintaining thermal insulation performance through the insulated pipe sections between components.
3Ease of operation
If flanged couplings with compressible seals are used, then the coupling is easy to install, but thermal ingress increases and the coupling becomes less reliable at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling employs flexible membrane seals (such as elastomeric or PTFE membranes) that conform to the mating surfaces and provide effective sealing at low temperatures without creating thermal bridges. These flexible seals maintain sealing effectiveness across temperature variations while minimizing thermal conduction paths.
4Device complexity
If conventional couplings are used, then the coupling design is simple, but the coupling cannot accommodate thermal expansion differences and may fail at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling design incorporates features that accommodate differential thermal expansion between the polymer body and metal components. The flanged connection with flexible seals and the modular structure allow for thermal movement without creating excessive stresses that would lead to failure at low temperatures.
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 coupling effectively inhibits thermal ingress and unwanted decoupling, maintaining a strong and secure seal, even at low temperatures, suitable for various pipe configurations including bends and junctions.
Implementation Method 1
the inner conduit portion of the first part comprises a projection comprising a lower thermal expansion region having a first co-efficient of thermal expansion; and the second part comprising a projection-receiving portion for receiving the projection of the first part, the projection-receiving portion having a second co-efficient of thermal expansion, the second co-efficient of thermal expansion being greater than the first co-efficient of thermal expansion
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling for insulated piping is disclosed having first and second parts for forming the coupling. The first and second parts include an inner conduit portion for fluid communication with an inner tube of an insulated pipe and an outer conduit portion, the inner conduit portion and outer conduit portion forming therebetween a space for fluid communication with the insulating part of an insulated pipe. In use, cold liquid is transported in the inner conduit portions. The first and second parts comprise flanges. The inner conduit portion of the first part has a projection comprising a lower thermal expansion region. The second part has a projection-receiving portion for receiving the projection of the first part, the projection-receiving portion having a co-efficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the lower thermal expansion region of the projection.