Mixing Tee Flow Control Device Mitigating Thermal Stratification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mixing tee pipes in industrial plants face thermal stratification issues due to temperature differences, leading to bending stress and thermal fatigue, which existing solutions fail to effectively mitigate without increasing costs or risking leakage.
Innovation Solution
A flow control device with a mixing bowl, ejector, and mixer is installed in the mixing tee pipe, featuring differently sized holes to enhance fluid mixing and reduce thermal stratification, preventing damage from bending stress and thermal fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If separate tubes with long flow paths are formed to mitigate thermal stratification, then thermal stratification is partially mitigated, but the device complexity increases and leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing tee pipe is segmented into multiple flow paths with different lengths. The first flow path has a longer length than the second flow path, creating deliberate asymmetry in flow path lengths to induce thermal mixing while avoiding the need for complex separate tube assemblies
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the mixing tee pipe are given different flow path lengths to create local variations in fluid residence time and mixing characteristics. This local differentiation achieves thermal stratification mitigation without requiring complex device structures
2Temperature
If separate tubes with long flow paths are formed to mitigate thermal stratification, then thermal stratification is partially mitigated, but the reliability decreases due to leakage risk
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flow paths are merged into a single integrated mixing tee pipe structure rather than using separate tubes. This consolidation eliminates potential leakage points between separate components while maintaining the differential flow path length effect for thermal mixing
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the mixing tee pipe is arranged away from high and low temperature pipes, then crack location is adjusted, but the thermal stratification is not prevented and pipe length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path length parameter is varied within the mixing tee pipe structure itself, creating different residence times for fluid portions without changing the overall pipe arrangement or extending pipe lengths
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 device effectively mitigates thermal stratification by mixing high and low temperature fluids to an appropriate temperature, reducing temperature variations and preventing pipe damage, while being economically efficient and easy to maintain.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing bowl having an empty sphere shape; a main pipe having a tubular shape and connected to the mixing bowl, wherein a fluid flows through the main pipe; a branch pipe having a tubular shape and connected to the mixing bowl, wherein a fluid flows through the branch pipe; and a mixing tee pipe having a tubular shape, through which a fluid in the mixing bowl flow
Data Source
AI summary
A flow control device for mitigating thermal stratification in a mixing tee pipe includes a mixing bowl provided as an empty sphere; a main pipe having a tubular shape, through which a fluid flows, and coupled to the mixing bowl in linkage with the mixing bowl; a branch pipe having a tubular shape, through which a fluid flows, and coupled to the mixing bowl in linkage with the mixing bowl; and a mixing tee pipe having a tubular shape, through which the fluid in the mixing bowl flows, and coupled to the mixing bowl in linkage with the mixing bowl, wherein a fluid introduced from the main pipe and a fluid introduced from the branch pipe are mixed in the mixing bowl and discharged through the mixing tee pipe.