Spherical Object Buffer Device with Flow-Limiting Pipe and Central Column
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technologies for pebble bed high temperature gas-cooled reactors fail to protect spherical objects from damage during repeated free falls, which affects operational stability and reliability of fuel loading and unloading systems.
Innovation Solution
A spherical object falling buffer device is designed with a flow-limiting pipe assembly and central column assembly, featuring gravity flow guide grooves and a conical redirecting joint, which guides and buffers the spherical objects to prevent direct center falls and collision damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If spherical objects are allowed to free fall directly into the stock bin, then the buffer loading efficiency is improved, but the spherical objects and stock bin suffer collision damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer device as an intermediary component between the spherical objects and the stock bin. This buffer device absorbs the impact energy during free fall, preventing direct collision damage to both the spherical objects and the stock bin, while still maintaining efficient buffer loading operation
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer device is positioned in advance at the entry of the stock bin to provide cushioning protection before the spherical objects make direct contact with the bin. This prior cushioning arrangement ensures that the spherical objects are protected from damage during the loading process
2Speed
If the flow-limiting pipe diameter is increased to allow smoother spherical object passage, then the loading speed is improved, but the spherical objects may gain excessive falling speed causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the diameter parameter of the flow-limiting pipe to achieve a balance between loading speed and falling speed control. By carefully selecting the pipe diameter, the system allows sufficient loading speed while limiting the spherical objects' falling speed to prevent damage upon impact
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a complex buffer structure is designed to protect spherical objects, then the protection effect is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer device is divided into multiple functional segments: a buffer body, a flow-limiting pipe assembly, and a central column assembly. Each segment performs a specific function, and their modular arrangement provides effective protection while keeping the overall structure manageable and not overly complex
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 device effectively protects spherical objects and the stock bin by guiding and buffering them, ensuring reliable buffer loading under various conditions with a simple and convenient installation.
Implementation Method 1
a single spherical object can be dropped from a height of 4 m to the pebble bed 50 times in a free falling manner
Implementation Method 2
the spherical objects will be further buffered by the conical surface when they fall to the redirecting joint
Implementation Method 3
several gravity flow guide grooves are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the central column
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application relates to the field of engineering technologies, and particularly to a spherical object falling buffer device. The spherical object falling buffer device includes a flow-limiting pipe assembly and a central column assembly; wherein the flow-limiting pipe assembly includes a flow-limiting pipe, a redirecting joint and a sphere outlet pipe; a diameter of the flow-limiting pipe is greater than that of the sphere outlet pipe, and an inner surface of the redirecting joint is a conical surface; the central column assembly includes at least a central column arranged in the flow-limiting pipe; a flow-guiding region is provided between the flow-limiting pipe and the central column, and a plurality of gravity flow guide grooves are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the central column. The spherical object falling buffer device provided by the present application is able to restrict, guide and buffer spherical objects during falling, and avoids the collision damage of the spherical objects or the stock bin due to the excessive falling speed of the spherical objects. The spherical object falling buffer device has a good protective effect on the spherical objects and the stock bin entity, and has simple structure as well as convenient installation, which can meet the reliability requirement of buffer loading of spherical objects under various working conditions.