Slip Joint Assembly With Tapered Flow Expander
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slip joints in pressurized piping systems experience thrust loads due to thermal expansion, which can cause stress and operational issues, and reducing the joint diameter to minimize thrust loads constricts fluid flow and increases pressure drop.
Innovation Solution
A slip joint assembly featuring a tapered flow expander with an annular seal assembly and an inlet bellmouth, allowing for relative movement between pipes while maintaining a fluid seal, reduces thrust loads and accommodates thermal expansion without significant pressure drop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the slip joint diameter is reduced to minimize thrust loads, then the thrust load is reduced, but the fluid flow is constricted and pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bellmouth is segmented into a large-diameter inlet section and a tapered transition section. The large inlet section captures fluid flow without restriction, while the tapered section gradually reduces the diameter to minimize the effective area exposed to pressure, thereby reducing thrust load while maintaining flow capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellmouth extends in the axial dimension with a tapered geometry, transitioning from a large inlet diameter to a smaller outlet diameter. This dimensional transition allows the joint to present a large flow area at the inlet while reducing the effective pressure area at the outlet, resolving the contradiction between flow capacity and thrust load reduction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If larger slip joints are used to accommodate thermal expansion, then thermal growth is accommodated, but the joint becomes larger, heavier, and causes greater blockage to fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The joint is segmented into functional sections: a large-diameter inlet bellmouth for thermal expansion accommodation, a tapered transition section for geometry transformation, and a smaller outlet section for reduced weight and flow blockage. This segmentation allows each section to optimize for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the joint have different diameters optimized for their local functions. The inlet section has a large diameter to accommodate thermal expansion movements, while the outlet section has a smaller diameter to reduce weight and minimize flow blockage, with the tapered section providing a smooth transition between these different local qualities.
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 slip joint assembly effectively accommodates thermal expansion, reduces thrust loads, and minimizes pressure drop by allowing axial and angular movement between pipes, ensuring efficient fluid flow and reduced operational stress.
Implementation Method 1
Piping systems used to route such air may experience temperature gradients that cause thermal growth mismatches between sections of pipe
Implementation Method 2
An annular seal assembly is coupled to the upstream pipe and being positioned around the flow expander to operably couple the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A slip joint assembly for joining multiple pipes is provided. The slip joint assembly includes a flow expander that is connected to a downstream pipe and is tapered toward a forward end. An inlet bellmouth is coupled to the forward end of the flow expander and defines a flared inlet positioned within an upstream pipe. An annular seal assembly is coupled to the upstream pipe and includes a ball seal positioned around and forming a seal with the flow expander to operably couple the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe. An internal diameter of the annular seal assembly is smaller than a diameter of the flared inlet.