Passive Isolation Assembly for Gas Transport Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transporting industrial gases from earth ground to high voltage environments poses safety risks due to the potential for Paschen events, which can lead to arc formation and equipment damage, necessitating a solution to eliminate or minimize these events.
Innovation Solution
A passive isolation assembly is used, comprising a non-conductive transport insulator and an irregularly shaped thermoplastic isolation tracking insulator, coupled with electrically conductive sealing caps at earth ground and high voltage potentials, to safely bridge the gas across the voltage gap without reaching breakdown voltage, thus preventing Paschen events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gas is transported from earth ground to high voltage environment through a conductive path, then gas transport is simple and direct, but Paschen events occur causing arc formation and equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a non-conductive isolation assembly as an intermediary component between the earth ground environment and the high voltage environment. This assembly includes a non-conductive transport insulator and an isolation tracking insulator that physically bridge the two environments while preventing electrical conduction, thereby eliminating Paschen events while maintaining gas transport functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The gas transport path is segmented into distinct electrical isolation zones. The isolation assembly divides the continuous conductive path into separate high voltage and earth ground sections, with the non-conductive insulators creating electrical discontinuity that prevents arc formation while allowing gas to pass through
2Device complexity
If a simple conductive transport line is used, then device complexity is low, but Paschen events cause safety risks and equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The non-conductive isolation assembly serves as a mediator that adds safety functionality without significantly complicating the overall system. The assembly integrates multiple insulating components into a unified structure that maintains relative simplicity while providing robust protection against Paschen events
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation assembly utilizes composite construction combining different non-conductive materials (transport insulator material and thermoplastic tracking insulator material) to achieve both electrical isolation and mechanical integrity, enhancing reliability while maintaining design efficiency
3Ease of operation
If conventional transport methods are used, then gas transport is straightforward, but arc formation leads to excessive current draw and equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of electrical breakdown into benefit by using the non-conductive properties of the isolation assembly to prevent arc formation entirely. The isolation tracking insulator's irregular shape is specifically designed to increase tracking length and prevent electrical breakdown, transforming what would be a dangerous condition into a protective feature
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 solution effectively prevents Paschen events, ensuring safe transportation of gases to high voltage environments, reducing equipment downtime and enhancing safety by avoiding the need for frequent gas tank changes and minimizing the risk of arc formation and excessive current draw.
Implementation Method 1
The isolation tracking insulator may be in direct contact with and surrounding the transport insulator. The isolation tracking insulator may have an irregular shape that increases the tracking length of the outside diameter of the isolation tracking insulator.
Implementation Method 2
The passive isolation assembly may include a non-conductive transport insulator constructed from an elongated rod having a central axial bore extending the length of the rod.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are techniques to reduce the effects of Paschen events from occurring within a gas transport system. A passive isolation assembly may be used to bridge a gas being transported from a low potential environment to a high potential environment. The passive isolation assembly may include a non-conductive axially bored transport insulator. An irregularly shaped non-conductive isolation tracking insulator may be in direct contact with and surrounding the transport insulator. The passive isolation assembly may also include an electrically conductive front end sealing cap at earth ground potential that has an opening that is adapted to couple with a source gas transport line and an electrically conductive rear end sealing cap at a high voltage potential that has an opening adapted to couple with a destination gas transport line.