Rupture Disc Frangible Line Laser Cutting After Welding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing safety/rupture discs for pipelines face challenges in maintaining precision and reliability, especially when welding, which can alter the calibration and mechanical characteristics of the disc, leading to unpredictable behavior during rupture.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of high-frequency lasers to create frangible lines on a pre-welded sheet-like body, ensuring precise incisions without affecting the crystalline structure, followed by welding to achieve high-tolerance and high-sealing-tightness elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If welding is used to connect the sheet-like body to tubular portions, then sealing tightness and structural integrity are improved, but the crystalline structure and mechanical characteristics of the disc material are altered, compromising calibration precision and rupture behavior predictability
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible lines are created on the sheet-like body before the welding operation. This preliminary action ensures that the incisions are made on unheated material with its original crystalline structure intact, guaranteeing precise and predictable rupture behavior while allowing subsequent welding to provide the necessary sealing tightness without affecting the frangible lines
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing process is segmented into distinct sequential steps: first creating the frangible lines on the sheet-like body, then performing welding to connect it to tubular portions. This segmentation allows each operation to be optimized independently, with the incision step preserving calibration precision and the welding step ensuring sealing tightness without interfering with each other
2Manufacturing precision
If high-frequency lasers are used to create frangible lines, then incision precision and reliability are improved, but the process complexity and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional mechanical cutting methods are replaced with high-frequency laser technology to create frangible lines. The laser provides non-contact, precise incisions with controlled depth and geometry, achieving superior incision precision and reliability while the complexity is managed through automated programming and process control
3Strength
If non-through incisions are made on the disc, then sealing capability is improved, but maintaining the crystalline-metallurgical structure near the incisions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
High-frequency laser technology replaces mechanical cutting methods to create non-through incisions. The laser delivers precise energy control, creating clean incisions with minimal heat-affected zones, thereby preserving the crystalline-metallurgical structure near the incisions and maintaining both sealing capability and structural integrity
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 approach results in safety/rupture discs with increased reliability, high precision, and improved sealing capabilities, ensuring consistent performance under varying pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A method involving the use of high-frequency lasers to create frangible lines on a pre-welded sheet-like body, ensuring precise incisions without affecting the crystalline structure
Implementation Method 2
followed by welding to achieve high-tolerance and high-sealing-tightness elements
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A method for making a safety element comprises the steps of preparing a sheet-like body (2) of pre-determined thickness, provided with a blocking peripheral annular portion (2a) and a central portion (2b), surrounded by the peripheral annular portion (2a) and active in use, preparing a first tubular portion (3) having its own annular abutting edge (3a), and connecting the sheet-like body (2) to at least the first tubular portion (3) by means of at least one welding step. The method further comprises, subsequently to the connection step, an incision step of the sheet-like body (2) by means of a laser beam (L) to obtain at least one frangible line adapted to allow yield of the sheet-like body (2) to a pre-set pressure.