Pipe Decontamination Blocking Body Reduces Agent Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chemical decontamination of large-diameter pipelines in nuclear facilities is inefficient due to the significant volume of decontaminant required and the complexity of achieving uniform reaction conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a blocking body inserted into the pipeline with a gap between its outer surface and the inner surface, allowing decontaminant to flow through a narrow channel, reducing the volume of decontaminant needed and creating non-laminar flow for efficient chemical reactions, with the blocking body designed to fit the pipeline geometry and made of inert materials to prevent reaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the pipe section is completely flooded with decontaminant, then the decontamination coverage is complete, but the volume of decontaminant required is considerable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pipe cross-section by introducing a blocking body that divides the internal space into a restricted gap region and a blocked region. The decontaminant is confined to flow through the gap, segmenting the fluid distribution to achieve uniform contact along the pipe length without flooding the entire volume, thus reducing decontaminant quantity while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking body creates a localized flow channel (gap) with specific dimensions (10-30 mm width) that concentrates the decontaminant flow where it is most needed - along the pipe inner surface. This local concentration ensures reliable decontamination coverage in the critical contact zone while avoiding waste in non-essential areas.
2Productivity
If the decontaminant flows at high velocity, then the decontamination efficiency is improved, but the conveying capacity required is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow channel parameters by restricting the gap width to 10-30 mm, which increases flow velocity for a given volume flow rate. This parameter change enables achieving the minimum velocity required for non-laminar flow (enhancing decontamination efficiency) while maintaining a relatively low conveying capacity, as the restricted geometry naturally amplifies velocity without requiring high pump capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If a blocking body is introduced to reduce decontaminant volume, then the decontaminant volume is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the function of flow distribution from the overall pipe system by introducing a separate blocking body component. This extracted element performs the specific function of confining and directing decontaminant flow along the pipe inner surface, simplifying the analysis and design while reducing decontaminant volume requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a flow distributor, a spacer to maintain gap geometry, and a structural element that can be removed after decontamination. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
4Speed
If the gap height is reduced to increase flow velocity, then the flow velocity increases, but the manufacturing precision required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking body is designed with pre-defined gap geometry (10-30 mm width) that establishes the flow conditions before decontamination begins. This preliminary geometric configuration ensures that the required flow velocity range is achieved without requiring tight tolerances during operation, as the velocity is primarily determined by the overall gap dimension rather than minor variations.
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
Significantly reduces the volume of decontaminant required and achieves efficient chemical decontamination with reduced flow velocity, allowing for effective contact between the decontaminant and inner surface, while being easy to handle and insert/remove.
Implementation Method 1
The contaminants on the inner surface of the pipe section, as well as any coatings applied there, are dissolved by chemical reactions with the decontaminant
Implementation Method 2
the corresponding reaction products are flushed away with the decontaminant
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The method presented here for the chemical decontamination of a pipeline section (1) is based on the fact that the entire cross-section of the pipeline section (1) is not permeated by a decontamination agent. Instead, a blocking element (5) is inserted into the pipeline section (1) so that the decontamination agent flows only in a circumferential gap (10). This significantly reduces the required volume of decontamination agent. At the same time, the volumetric flow rate required to achieve a specific Reynolds number is also significantly reduced, thus making the decontamination process more efficient overall.