Storage Facility Inert Gas Control via Segmented Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large storage facilities with multiple accommodating sections, the number of flow control devices needed to control inert gas supply increases, leading to reduced efficiency and higher costs.
Innovation Solution
A configuration with M main pipes, M flow control devices, and M branch pipe groups, where each branch pipe group has N branches, and switching valves on (M−1) branch pipes, allowing each flow control device to adjust the inert gas flow based on the number of unblocked branch pipes, reducing the number of flow control devices required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flow control device is provided for each accommodating section to control inert gas supply, then appropriate control of inert gas supply to each section is achieved, but the number of flow control devices increases, causing reduced efficiency and increased cost
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the control function into two levels: flow control devices control the main pipes (coarse control), while switching valves control individual branch pipes (fine control). This segmentation allows one flow control device to serve multiple accommodating sections through the switching valves, reducing the total number of flow control devices needed while maintaining appropriate control for each section.
Solution Approach 2:
Switching valves are introduced as intermediary components between the main pipes and branch pipes. These switching valves act as mediators that direct the flow of inert gas from a single main pipe (controlled by one flow control device) to multiple branch pipes leading to different accommodating sections, enabling one flow control device to control multiple sections.
2Measurement precision
If multiple flow control devices are installed to control inert gas flow to each accommodating section, then precise flow control is achieved, but space efficiency is reduced and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the control function for multiple accommodating sections into fewer flow control devices located at the main pipe level. By combining control at the main pipe level with switching mechanisms at the branch level, the system achieves precise flow control for each section while using fewer physical devices, thereby improving space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control architecture transitions from a one-to-one mapping (one flow control device per accommodating section) to a many-to-many mapping enabled by the tree structure. Flow control devices operate at the main pipe dimension, while switching valves operate at the branch pipe dimension, creating a hierarchical control system that reduces device count while maintaining precision.
3Productivity
If the number of flow control devices is reduced, then cost and space efficiency are improved, but control capability over each accommodating section may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic switching capability through switching valves that can be opened or closed based on which accommodating sections require inert gas supply. This dynamic configuration allows the same infrastructure (fewer flow control devices) to adapt to different operational requirements, maintaining full control capability while improving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching valves enable the system to self-regulate the distribution of inert gas to different accommodating sections based on demand. Each branch pipe can be independently activated or deactivated, allowing the system to automatically configure itself for different operational scenarios without requiring additional flow control devices for each section.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage facility includes N accommodating sections, where N is a positive integer, M main pipes through which an inert gas flows, where M is a positive integer of 2≤M<N, M flow control devices, M branch pipe groups, and a plurality of switching valves. Each branch pipe group includes N branch pipes, and the switching valves are respectively provided on the branch pipes included in at least (M−1) of the branch pipe groups. Each flow control device is configured to control the flow rate of the inert gas flowing through the main pipe to which this flow control device is connected, based on a flow-through pipe count, which is the number of the branch pipes for which the flow of the inert gas is not blocked by the switching valve, out of the N branch pipes of the branch pipe group that corresponds to this main pipe.