Parallel Container Engine Generator Pipe Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in efficiently arranging and coupling container units for engine generator devices within standard ISO-sized containers to maximize space utilization and maintain accurate assembly and performance, while minimizing the need for on-site adjustments and ensuring stability during transportation and assembly, especially in emergency power situations.

Innovation Solution

A container unit configuration where a long generator container and a short exhaust heat utilizing container are arranged in parallel, with facing longer walls and shared reference surfaces to facilitate precise pipe coupling, allowing for accurate and efficient assembly and maintenance, and enabling the use of shorter containers for heat exchanger and boiler units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If main components are unitized and transported to site for assembly, then installation flexibility is improved, but assembly time and skill requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The engine generator device is divided into multiple independent container units (generator container, exhaust heat utilization container, etc.), each capable of being transported separately to the site and then assembled together, combining installation flexibility with reduced assembly complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The containers are pre-assembled with all necessary components and connections inside the container units before transportation, so that only simple coupling operations are needed at the installation site, dramatically reducing assembly time and skill requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If pipe connections are made between container units, then functional integration is improved, but installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional integrationVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional components (generator, exhaust heat utilization apparatus, heat exchanger) are merged into a single integrated container unit, eliminating the need for external pipe connections between separate units and thereby reducing installation space requirements while maintaining functional integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If container width and height are reduced to fit public road standards, then transportability is improved, but space utilization for components decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransportabilityVSAvoidcomponent arrangement space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The container units utilize the length dimension extensively to accommodate all necessary components, while maintaining standard width and height dimensions for public road transportability, effectively solving the space utilization constraint by optimizing the spatial distribution of components along the length of the container

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 configuration allows for space-efficient, accurate, and stable assembly of engine generator devices, reducing the need for on-site adjustments and ensuring reliable performance by maintaining precise pipe connections and unit positioning, thus addressing the challenges of space and assembly complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a boiler that generates steam and hot water for hot-water supply by using exhaust heat of the engine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchanger is accommodated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS9920707B2Container unit-type engine generator device having pipe coupling function

Publication Date: 2018.03.20 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER LTD

AI summary

The container unit type cogeneration engine generator comprises a long generator container in which an engine and components on a generator main body side including a generator driven by the engine are accommodated, and a short exhaust heat utilizing container in which a boiler that generates steam and hot water for hot-water supply by utilizing exhaust heat of the engine and an exhaust heat utilizing apparatus including a heat exchanger are accommodated. A combination container unit is configured so that shorter walls on one end side of the both containers in a longer direction are positioned on a same straight line, and making both longer walls of the long generator container and the short exhaust heat utilizing container to face each other. Both containers are coupled with a plurality of pipes along the shorter direction of the containers across the facing walls along which the both containers are arranged.