Sliding Insulation Cartridge for Thermal Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current thermal protection solutions for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors face challenges in managing thermal gradients and pressure changes, leading to stress and deformation issues in piping systems, particularly at transition zones between pipe elements, where existing solutions are complex, bulky, or prone to gas leaks.

Innovation Solution

A thermal insulation cartridge with sliding parts that absorb thermal and mechanical deformations, featuring a male and female connector system allowing axial adaptation to compensate for expansion and stress, encapsulating fibrous insulation to prevent fiber exposure and facilitate easy assembly of piping elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid envelope is used to contain fibrous insulation in high-temperature piping, then the insulation is protected from gas circulation, but the envelope cannot accommodate differential thermal expansion between the hot internal liner and external piping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulation protectionVSAvoidthermal expansion accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the rigid envelope into a dynamic structure by introducing a bellows component that can expand and contract axially. This bellows structure allows the envelope to adapt to differential thermal expansion between the hot internal liner and external piping while maintaining containment of the fibrous insulation, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If complex transition zones with interlocking structures are used to compensate for differential expansion, then thermal expansion is accommodated, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal expansion compensationVSAvoidtransition zone structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the thermal expansion compensation function from the complex interlocking transition zones and concentrates it in a dedicated bellows component. This simplifies the overall structure by separating the expansion accommodation function from the connection function, making the system easier to manufacture and assemble while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If axial bellows are integrated into the jacket to compensate for expansion, then differential expansion is managed, but the manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpansion compensationVSAvoidpiping assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the piping system into modular components with standardized bellows and transition zones. This segmentation allows for pre-fabrication of components with controlled expansion compensation capabilities, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining the ability to accommodate thermal expansion in the final assembled system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

The solution effectively manages thermal and mechanical stresses, ensuring safe and simple assembly of high-temperature piping systems while maintaining insulation integrity, reducing thermal bridges and preventing gas leaks, thus enhancing the durability and reliability of the piping system.

Implementation Method 1

The sliding surfaces (102.3, 108.7, 112.14, 112.16) make it possible to absorb the deformations due to the thermal expansion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

The sliding surfaces are advantageously coated with a coating limiting friction and wear

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

at least one thermal insulator of the fibrous type disposed in said envelope

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP1957854B1Insulating element for a pipe for transporting hot gases, and method of implementing such a pipe

Publication Date: 2012.01.04 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention relates primarily to a thermal insulating element (200) of cylindrical shape for a fluid-transporting pipe, comprising an envelope (204) of longitudinal axis (X), a thermal insulating material arranged in said envelope (204), the envelope (204) comprising a deformable annular region which has a first (212.6) and a second (212.12) cylindrical surface which overlap one another and are designed to slide relative to one another in the event of a displacement imposed by thermal loads applied to said pipeline-insulating element (200). The present invention also relates to a method of producing pipes for transporting fluids at high temperature, in particular hot gases, from elements according to the present invention by fitting a male connector of one element into a female connector of the other element.