Multi-Chamber Vessel Pressure Relief via Piercing Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vessels with multiple internal chambers lacking pressure relief mechanisms can experience dangerous over-pressure situations due to high pressure events, leading to potential explosions and catastrophic ruptures.
Innovation Solution
A vessel design incorporating a flexible membrane with a pressure relief device and a piercing member that punctures the membrane at a predefined pressure, allowing pressure to be vented externally, and additional features like thermal expansion channels for pressure relief.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible membrane separates chambers in a vessel, then the vessel can store different substances in separate chambers, but the membrane can fail under excessive pressure causing catastrophic rupture
Solution Approach 1:
A piercing member is pre-positioned within the vessel to automatically puncture the flexible membrane when excessive pressure is reached, creating a pressure relief path before catastrophic failure can occur. This preliminary safety mechanism is built into the vessel structure during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane serves as an intermediary element that can be selectively breached. It normally separates chambers to enable versatile storage, but can be punctured by the piercing member when needed to relieve pressure, thus mediating between the need for separation and the need for pressure relief.
2Device complexity
If no pressure relief device is installed in a chamber, then the vessel structure remains simpler, but dangerous over-pressure situations can occur leading to explosions
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel performs its own pressure relief function through the piercing member that automatically activates when pressure exceeds safe limits. This self-service safety mechanism eliminates the need for complex external pressure relief devices while preventing over-pressure explosions.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane acts as a disposable sacrificial element that can be punctured by the piercing member to relieve pressure. Once punctured, the membrane is destroyed but this prevents catastrophic failure of the entire vessel, trading a cheap component for overall system safety.
3Strength
If the flexible membrane is made stronger to withstand higher pressure, then pressure resistance improves, but the ability to puncture for pressure relief becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane has different mechanical properties in different locations. It is designed to be strong enough to withstand normal operating pressures but with localized weak points or material characteristics that allow it to be punctured by the piercing member when pressure exceeds the threshold.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane's effective strength parameter changes based on pressure conditions. Under normal pressure, the membrane maintains its strength for separation functionality. Under excessive pressure, the membrane reaches its failure point and is punctured, changing its state from intact to breached.
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
Prevents dangerously high pressures by ensuring timely venting of chamber pressures, reducing the risk of explosions and maintaining vessel integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The piercing member is designed and positioned to puncture the flexible membrane when the first chamber reaches the second predefined pressure
Implementation Method 2
The flexible membrane is configured to tear or puncture when the first chamber reaches a second predefined pressure
Implementation Method 3
In a situation where excess heat or flame is applied to the vessel, thermal expansion of the metallic layers and/or contraction or softening of the one or more non-metallic layers create a pressure relief channel
Data Source
AI summary
A vessel includes a body that defines an interior space. The body includes a first metal surface, a second metal surface, and a non-metallic material crimped between the first metal surface and the second metal surface at a joint. The vessel further includes a pressure relief device coupled to the body. The pressure relief device is configured to vent contents of the vessel to an exterior of the body. Upon exposure of the vessel to a temperature for a period of time, the second metal surface is configured to expand or bend to create a pressure relief route from the interior space to the pressure relief device, between the first metal surface and the second metal surface, and/or the non-metallic material is configured to melt to create the pressure relief route.