Rectangular Pressure Vessel Closure for Lower-Cost Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pressure vessels require multiple components for opening and closing structures, increasing manufacturing costs due to the need for flanges and other components for inspection and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A pressure vessel design with a positioning member for the closing member, allowing it to be fixedly mounted in a demountable manner using an inorganic adhesive, and made from the same material or with greater thermal expansion than the vessel body, reducing the number of components needed for opening and closing on one end surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If flanges and opening/closing structures are provided on both lid members for inspection and maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the opening/closing structure from one of the lid members, providing it only on the first lid member. This allows inspection and maintenance operations to be performed through the single openable lid, eliminating the need for corresponding structures on the second lid member, thereby reducing component count while maintaining repairability
Solution Approach 2:
The single openable first lid member serves multiple functions: it provides access for inspection of the heat exchanger core, allows replacement of internal components, and enables maintenance operations. This universal access point eliminates the need for separate opening mechanisms on both lid members
2Ease of operation
If flanges and opening/closing structures are provided on both lid members for inspection and maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the expensive flange and opening/closing structure from the second lid member, providing access for inspection and operation through the first lid member only. This reduction in components directly lowers manufacturing cost while preserving operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing symmetric opening structures on both lid members as would be conventional, the invention inverts the approach by concentrating all opening/closing functionality on a single lid member, achieving operational ease with reduced manufacturing complexity
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 reduces the number of components and manufacturing costs while maintaining effective sealing and ease of maintenance, making the pressure vessel lighter and more cost-efficient.
Implementation Method 1
the closing member is fixedly mounted in a demountable manner with an inorganic adhesive
Implementation Method 2
the opening portion includes a positioning member which positions the closing member
Data Source
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AI summary
A pressure vessel (10) comprises a pressure vessel body (12) having a rectangular cross-sectional shape and formed to extend in the direction of flow of fluids, and the pressure vessel body (12) includes a first flow channel which is formed in the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel body (12) and through which a first fluid is caused to flow, a second flow channel which is formed in the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel body (12) and through which a second fluid is caused to flow, a first-fluid inlet-outlet port (38) which is provided in one longitudinal end surface of the pressure vessel body (12) and connects with the first flow channel and through which the first fluid is caused to flow in or out, a second-fluid inlet-outlet port which is provided in the other longitudinal end surface of the pressure vessel body (12) and connects with the second flow channel and through which the second fluid is caused to flow in or out, an opening portion (50) which is provided in the one longitudinal end surface of the pressure vessel body (12) and connects with the second flow channel, and a closing member (52) which closes the opening portion (50) in a demountable manner.