Pipe Liner Electric Heating for One-Step Uniform Curing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for rehabilitating pipeline sections are complex, costly, and lack efficient sealing mechanisms, requiring separate steps for heating medium introduction and uneven curing of inliners.
Innovation Solution
A rehabilitation device with a tubular electric heating element and a calibration hose is used to insert and cure a resin-impregnated synthetic fiber inliner within the pipeline, ensuring uniform heating and sealing in a single step, eliminating the need for separate heating medium introduction and maintaining consistent pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a liner tube is inserted into the old pipe and bonded to the inner wall, then the pipe is sealed and repaired, but the process requires separate steps for heating medium introduction and curing, increasing complexity and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating element and inliner into a single integrated unit, where the heating element is positioned within the inliner. This merging eliminates the need for separate heating medium introduction steps, as the heating element directly provides the necessary thermal energy for curing the resin-impregnated inliner in place, thereby reducing process complexity while maintaining sealing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element acts as an intermediary that directly transfers thermal energy to the resin-impregnated inliner without requiring external heating media. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the process by eliminating the need for separate heating system installation and operation, reducing both device complexity and processing time while ensuring reliable curing.
2Manufacturing precision
If compressed air is supplied to place the inliner against the inner wall, then the inliner is positioned correctly, but uniform curing along the entire length requires separate heating steps, increasing time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is pre-positioned within the inliner before insertion into the pipe. Once the inliner is inflated against the inner wall using compressed air, the heating element is already in place to provide uniform heat distribution along the entire length of the inliner, enabling simultaneous curing throughout. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for sequential heating steps, reducing curing time while maintaining positioning accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If the inliner is cured along its entire length, then uniform sealing is achieved, but the process requires multiple steps and separate heating medium introduction, increasing cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the heating element within the inliner structure allows uniform curing along the entire length to be achieved in a single step. The heating element distributes thermal energy evenly throughout the resin-impregnated inliner, ensuring consistent curing without requiring multiple heating passes or separate heating medium introduction, thereby improving productivity while maintaining curing uniformity.
4Temperature
If separate heating medium introduction is required, then heating can be provided, but the process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element serves as a self-contained intermediary that provides all necessary heating capability within the inliner structure. It converts electrical energy directly into thermal energy at the precise location where curing is needed, eliminating the complexity associated with introducing and managing external heating media such as hot water or steam through separate piping systems.
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 method simplifies the rehabilitation process by allowing simultaneous and uniform curing of the inliner along its entire length, enhancing the sealing efficiency and reducing costs while maintaining consistent heat intensity.
Implementation Method 1
activating the tubular electric heating element for curing the inliner
Implementation Method 2
supplying compressed air so that the tubular inliner is placed against an inner wall of the pipe section
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
In order to further improve a method and a device for the rehabilitation of a pipe section (111), wherein the rehabilitation device comprises at least a tubular liner (10) for sealing damage to the pipe section and a heating element (11), in such a way that the rehabilitation can be carried out more easily, safely and cost-effectively, it is proposed to design the heating element (11) as a tubular and electric heating element and to arrange it substantially over the entire length of the liner located inside the pipe section and to cure the liner substantially along its entire length in one step by means of the tubular electric heating element.