Leak Diverter Assembly for Substation Transformer Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Substation transformer oil-conveying conduits with leaking joints pose environmental hazards and operational challenges due to the inability to effectively contain and manage leaks, as existing solutions focus on permanent sealing which is impractical and prone to failure.
Innovation Solution
A diverter assembly with a non-sealed, elongated housing that continuously diverts and collects leaking liquids using a sump and quick-connect interlocking sections, allowing for easy access and inspection without creating a fully sealed enclosure, and optional features to inhibit water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a fully sealed enclosure is used to contain leaking liquid, then liquid containment is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inherent seal failure risk
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to contain the leak through sealing (the conventional approach), the invention inverts the strategy by using a non-sealed enclosure that allows the leak to pass through while still directing it into a collection sump. The housing deliberately does not seal against the conduit, yet achieves liquid containment through gravitational collection and drainage.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a sealed enclosure is used to contain leaking liquid, then liquid containment is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult access for inspection and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple separable sections that can be easily assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows the enclosure to be opened for inspection and maintenance of the conduit and joint without requiring complex seal breaking or specialized tools, while still providing effective liquid collection when closed.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If O-rings or sealing devices are used at conduit joints, then joint sealing is improved, but duration of action deteriorates due to seal failure over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the joint itself and relocates it to the diverter assembly. Instead of relying on seals at the conduit joint that deteriorate over time, the housing captures leaks after they occur and directs them to a collection sump, effectively removing the need for joint seals to maintain liquid containment.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If joint seals are replaced to fix leaks, then joint sealing is improved, but loss of time increases due to transformer shutdown requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The diverter assembly provides a temporary but effective solution that does not require shutting down the transformer or replacing permanent joint seals. It is a relatively simple, easily installed device that manages leaks externally, avoiding the time-consuming process of transformer maintenance while still addressing the harmful leak.
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 diverter assembly provides a safe, environmentally friendly, and permanent solution for managing leaks by allowing continuous collection and potential reuse of the liquid, without the risk of sealed enclosure failure, and allows for easy maintenance and inspection of the conduit section.
Implementation Method 1
The housing includes a sump for continuously diverting and collecting leaking liquid
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides improved diverter assemblies (10) designed for installation on liquid-conveying conduit sections (12) having one or more joints susceptible to leakage of liquid. The assemblies (10) include a plurality of mating housing sections (34, 36) which are releasably interconnected and in surrounding relationship to the conduit sections (12) on opposite sides of the conduit joint(s) to form an overall housing (35) defining anon-sealed enclosure. The housing (35) is equipped with a sump (72) which gravitationally collects escaped liquid. The sump (72) includes a drain outlet (74) for conveying the collected liquid away from the conduit sections (12) for collection or reuse.