Dual-Walled Fluid Conduit With Interlocking Thermal Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional double-walled conduits face mechanical and thermal issues due to mechanical coupling between the inner and outer conduits, leading to defects, cracks, and heat transfer, which can result in mechanical failure, especially under stress or significant temperature gradients.
Innovation Solution
The dual-walled fluid transportation system features an inner duct and an outer duct with interlocking geometries and a separating channel, preventing mechanical and thermal interconnection, thus isolating the inner duct from the outer duct to prevent defect propagation and heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If mechanical coupling between inner conduit and outer conduit is used to position and support the conduits, then structural stability is improved, but defects, cracks, and strain are transmitted between conduits leading to mechanical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-walled conduit system divides the inner conduit and outer conduit into mechanically independent segments. The inner conduit is supported by the interstitial volume and geometric interlocking features rather than direct mechanical coupling to the outer conduit, preventing defect propagation between walls while maintaining structural stability through distributed support mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The interstitial volume acts as an intermediary medium between the inner and outer conduits. This intermediate space provides mechanical support and positioning while preventing direct transmission of defects, cracks, and strain between the conduits, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing structural stability.
2Manufacturing precision
If connecting structure is used to mechanically interconnect inner conduit and outer conduit, then positioning accuracy is improved, but heat is transmitted between conduits resulting in mechanical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting structure that caused thermal transmission is removed from the system. Instead of mechanically interconnecting the conduits, the invention uses the interstitial volume and geometric interlocking to achieve positioning accuracy while eliminating the thermal conduction path between inner and outer conduits.
Solution Approach 2:
The interstitial volume serves as a thermal intermediary that prevents direct heat transmission between the inner and outer conduits. This intermediate space maintains positioning accuracy through geometric constraints while blocking thermal conduction, thereby preventing heat-related mechanical failure.
3Strength
If inner conduit and outer conduit are mechanically interconnected, then structural support is improved, but stress concentration occurs leading to defects and cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the stress paths by preventing mechanical connection between inner and outer conduits. Each conduit bears its own stress independently, avoiding stress concentration at connection points. The interstitial volume provides distributed support that maintains structural strength without creating stress concentration zones.
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 design enhances the mechanical integrity and thermal insulation of dual-walled conduits, reducing the risk of failure by preventing stress and heat transfer between the inner and outer conduits, thereby improving their reliability under various conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an inter duct channel extending between the inner duct and the outer duct such that the inter duct channel thermally insulates the inner duct from the outer duct
Data Source
AI summary
Dual-walled fluid transportation systems and related methods. The systems comprise a dual-walled fluid conduit, comprising an outer duct comprising a pair of flared end regions and a central region extending therebetween that define an outer duct internal surface surrounding an outer duct internal volume, an inner duct defining a central conduit, extending within the outer duct internal volume, and comprising a pair of flared end regions and a central region extending therebetween that define an inner duct external surface. The inner duct and outer duct define interlocking geometries and are configured to be supported with an inner duct channel completely separating the inner duct external surface from the outer duct internal surface. The methods include additively forming an outer duct wall and additively forming an inner duct wall within an outer duct internal volume of the outer duct wall with an inner duct channel extending therebetween.