Pre-Insulated Pipe Assembly With Asymmetric Flow Pipe Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pre-insulated pipe assemblies for fluid transfer suffer from inadequate thermal insulation, leading to significant heat loss and increased energy costs, particularly when carrying hot fluids.
Innovation Solution
The design features a center insulator profile with channels arranged to maximize insulation around the pipe closest to the center axis, using thermally insulating foamed plastics with an outer jacket, and optional slits for easy installation, allowing for flexible configurations with multiple nested insulation layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flow pipes are located at the outer periphery of the center insulator profile, then installation is simplified and pipe access is easier, but thermal insulation capacity is reduced leading to increased heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating asymmetric channel positioning where one channel is closer to the center axis and another is closer to the outer periphery. This allows different thermal insulation configurations for different pipes, optimizing heat loss reduction for the most critical pipe while maintaining installation accessibility for all pipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by deliberately positioning the channels at different radial distances from the center axis rather than symmetrically. This asymmetric arrangement enables the pipe closer to the center to receive maximum insulation material, thereby reducing its heat loss, while the outer pipe remains accessible for installation and maintenance.
2Loss of energy
If maximum insulation material is arranged around the pipe closest to the center axis, then thermal insulation capacity is improved and heat loss is reduced, but temperature distribution becomes asymmetric
Solution Approach 1:
The patent accepts asymmetric temperature distribution as a necessary local condition to achieve the global goal of reduced heat loss. By concentrating insulation material around the center-adjacent pipe, the system prioritizes thermal performance of the most critical pipe, even though this creates asymmetric temperature fields within the assembly.
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 enhances thermal insulation capacity, reduces heat loss, and allows for flexible installation, enabling efficient energy savings by keeping the temperature distribution centered around the pipe axis.
Implementation Method 1
The pre-insulated pipe assembly comprises a center insulator profile (1) made of thermally insulating foamed plastics
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
An elongated pre-insulated pipe assembly for fluid transfer, the pipe assembly having a longitudinal center axis (x) and comprising: a center insulator profile (1) made of thermally insulating foamed plastics, the center insulator profile having a circular cross-section and being concentric in relation to the center axis (x), the center insulator profile comprising at least two longitudinally extending channels (2, 3) formed inside an periphery of the center insulator profile and each channel being adapted to receive one flow pipe, at least two flow pipes (7, 8) made of plastics, each one of the flow pipes being inserted inside the channel (2, 3) of the center insulator profile (1), at least one insulation layer (12, 13, 14) made of thermally insulating foamed plastics arranged to enclose the center insulator profile (1), and an outer jacket (15) made of plastics to enclose the at least one insulation layer (12, 13, 14). At least one channel (2) of the center insulator profile (1) and the flow pipe (7) inserted in said channel (2) are disposed inside the center insulator profile at a distance from the outer periphery of the center insulator profile and closer to the center axis (x) than other channels (3) and the flow pipe (8) arranged in said other channel (3).