Pressurized Gas Drying for Concrete ASR Moisture Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Moisture in concrete structures leads to structural integrity and longevity issues due to Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR), which causes swelling and cracking, and existing methods fail to effectively maintain internal relative humidity below 80% to prevent damage.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a network of sealed cavities in concrete structures where pressurized gas is introduced to drive moisture out, optionally combined with a competitive inhibiting agent like lithium nitrate to stabilize the ASR gel, ensuring internal relative humidity remains below 80%.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional drying methods are used, then the drying process is slow and time-consuming, but the internal relative humidity cannot be effectively reduced below 80% to prevent ASR damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic pressure by injecting pressurized gas (air) through cavities into the concrete structure. The pressurized gas forces moisture out of the concrete pores and capillaries, achieving rapid internal drying. This pneumatic approach reduces internal relative humidity below 80% much faster than traditional evaporative drying methods, resolving the contradiction between drying effectiveness and time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The concrete structure is divided into multiple cavities distributed throughout the affected area. Each cavity acts as an independent injection point for pressurized gas, enabling segmented treatment of large concrete structures. This segmentation allows simultaneous drying of multiple zones, significantly reducing total drying time while ensuring thorough moisture removal throughout the structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the concrete structure is left in a moist environment, then ASR reaction progresses causing swelling and cracking, but reducing internal relative humidity requires complex and ineffective traditional methods
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a relatively simple pneumatic injection setup consisting of gas supply lines connected to cavities in the concrete. This straightforward pneumatic system avoids the complexity of traditional methods such as heating elements, dehumidification equipment, or chemical treatments, while effectively reducing internal humidity to protect structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of gas pressure to achieve moisture removal. By controlling the pressure of injected gas, the system effectively extracts moisture from concrete pores without requiring complex thermal or chemical processes. This parameter-based approach simplifies the system while maintaining effectiveness in preventing ASR-related structural degradation.
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
Effectively reduces the risk of ASR-related damage by maintaining internal relative humidity below 80%, minimizing gel expansion and stabilizing the concrete structure.
Implementation Method 1
applying a pressurized gas and forcing such pressurized gas into the concrete structure, in turn driving moisture in the pores of the concrete to the exterior of the structure
Implementation Method 2
causing the gas to move into the concrete structure through pores and capillaries through the structure
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are disclosed for lowering the internal relative humidity inside of a concrete structure by applying a pressurized gas and forcing such pressurized gas into the concrete structure, in turn driving moisture in the pores of the concrete to the exterior of the structure. Pressurized gas is supplied to a network of sealed cavities extending into the face of the concrete structure, ultimately causing the gas to move into the concrete structure through pores and capillaries through the structure, in turn driving moisture in the concrete structure toward the surface. Optionally, a competitive inhibiting agent, such as lithium nitrate, may also be provided to stabilize the concrete structure against future deleterious expansions caused by moisture uptake in the existing ASR gel.