System comprising a cooling device for a machine enclosed in a pressurized casing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for machines enclosed in pressurized casings face challenges such as complex manufacturing, accessibility issues due to weld location, and frequent maintenance needs, particularly with O-rings, which can lead to potential damage and mixing of coolant medium and pressurized gas, posing a risk of over-pressure.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with removable sealing elements comprising inner and outer cylindrical pieces and flanges, featuring dual sealing barriers to prevent gas and coolant medium mixing, with a vent system to detect leaks and facilitate easy maintenance, and adaptable designs for various manufacturing methods like additive manufacturing or casting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If welding is used to integrate the cooling device to the inside of the pressurized casing, then the sealing between cooling medium and pressurized gas is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and accessibility becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is segmented into modular components including a cooling jacket, removable sealing elements with inner and outer cylindrical pieces, flanges, and adaptation pieces. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using standard processes like casting or additive manufacturing, then assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining sealing reliability through multiple sealing interfaces.
2Ease of manufacture
If O-rings are positioned between cooling jacket and casing, then assembly simplicity is improved, but maintenance frequency increases and detection of damage becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The vent system performs preliminary detection of sealing failures by providing an early warning mechanism. The vent allows pressurized gas to escape to the exterior if sealing fails, enabling detection before complete mixing occurs. This preliminary action allows for planned maintenance rather than emergency repairs, reducing overall maintenance frequency and improving ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable sealing elements act as intermediary components between the cooling jacket and the pressurized casing. These sealing elements with dual sealing barriers (inner and outer cylindrical pieces) provide a more robust sealing interface than simple O-rings, reducing maintenance frequency while still allowing for easier replacement compared to welded connections.
3Reliability
If removable sealing elements with dual sealing barriers are used, then safety against mixing is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure uses a nested arrangement with an inner cylindrical piece containing a cooling medium sealing barrier and an outer cylindrical piece containing a gas sealing barrier. The inner piece is positioned within the outer piece, creating concentric sealing zones. This nested design provides dual sealing barriers that prevent mixing of cooling medium and pressurized gas while maintaining a compact structure that does not significantly increase overall device complexity.
4Reliability
If the vent system is implemented to detect leaks, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent system provides self-service safety monitoring by automatically detecting and indicating sealing failures through pressure differential. When sealing barriers fail, the pressure difference causes pressurized gas to flow through the vent to the exterior, providing a visible or detectable warning without requiring external monitoring systems. This self-service approach improves safety while minimizing additional system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
System comprising : a pressurized casing (2) delimiting an enclosure for at least one machine (3); a cooling device (4) including: a cooling jacket (5) located inside the pressurized casing (2); at least one removable sealing element between the cooling jacket (5) and one of a cooling medium inlet or outlet pipe (10, 11) located outside the pressurized casing (2), wherein the removable sealing element (9a, 9b) comprises inner and outer cylindrical pieces (12, 13) extending coaxially through the casing (2) and a flange (18) attached to the casing (2) for maintaining the cylindrical pieces (12, 13), the inner cylindrical piece (12) allowing the cooling medium circulation between the cooling jacket (5) and one of the cooling medium inlet or outlet pipe (10, 11), the removable sealing element (9a, 9b) comprising a cooling medium sealing barrier including a sealing (20) located between the inner cylindrical piece (12) and the cooling jacket (5), and a gas sealing barrier including a sealing (21) located between the outer cylindrical piece (13) and the cooling jacket (5).