Superconducting power transmission system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Superconducting power transmission systems face challenges in maintaining precise alignment and managing thermal stress due to contraction and expansion of superconducting cables within cryostats, leading to potential breakdowns and damage to radiation shielding films.
Innovation Solution
A thermally insulated double pipe system with an inner pipe supported by a bellows pipe and an outer pipe, where a camera monitors the cable's end and adjusts the cryostat's position to mitigate thermal stress, and a gas replacement method using carbon oxide gas to achieve high vacuum and solidify gases at liquid nitrogen temperatures, ensuring the inner pipe remains aligned and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a superconducting cable is housed within a thermally insulated double pipe system, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but thermal stress and contraction/expansion effects worsen alignment precision
Solution Approach 1:
A bellows pipe is introduced between the inner pipe and outer pipe to provide flexible accommodation for thermal contraction and expansion. The bellows structure allows axial movement while maintaining the sealed vacuum insulation environment, thus resolving the contradiction between thermal insulation and alignment precision by decoupling the rigid positioning requirement from the thermal deformation issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent explicitly addresses thermal expansion and contraction effects by providing clearance spaces and using the bellows pipe to accommodate dimensional changes. The inner pipe is positioned with gaps from the outer pipe, and the bellows structure absorbs thermal deformation, allowing the system to maintain both vacuum insulation and alignment precision under thermal stress.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the inner pipe is rigidly fixed to the outer pipe, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to thermal deformation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows pipe serves as a flexible connection element that replaces rigid fixing between the inner and outer pipes. It provides structural stability through its supported configuration while simultaneously accommodating thermal deformation through its expandable and contractible bellows structure, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic flexible connection using the bellows pipe. The bellows structure can dynamically adjust its length in response to thermal conditions, allowing the inner pipe to move relative to the outer pipe while maintaining overall structural integrity and vacuum sealing.
3Loss of energy
If vacuum insulation is implemented between inner and outer pipes, then thermal insulation is improved, but complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows pipe is designed to maintain vacuum sealing while accommodating thermal movement. By using a flexible sealed structure instead of complex active control systems or multiple rigid components, the patent achieves effective vacuum insulation with relatively simple implementation, resolving the contradiction between insulation efficiency and system complexity.
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 system effectively prevents displacement and thermal stress in the superconducting cable, maintaining alignment and reducing the risk of damage to radiation shielding, while achieving a high degree of vacuum for improved thermal insulation.
Implementation Method 1
a bellows pipe (102) connected to an end of the straight-shaped inner pipe section (101)... the bellows pipe is configured to absorb thermal shrinkage of the inner pipe when the superconducting cable is cooled
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum thermally insulating section (105) provided between the inner pipe (101, 102) and the outer pipe (103)
Implementation Method 3
a multi-layered radiation shielding film composed by a plurality of sheets, coated with aluminum... that covers up the inner pipe
Implementation Method 4
a gas replacement method using carbon oxide gas to achieve high vacuum and solidify gases at liquid nitrogen temperatures
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
In a thermally insulated double pipe, a structure is provided in which an inner pipe may be prevented from being appreciably offset relative to an outer pipe due to thermal contraction. The structure includes an inner pipe 101, within which a superconducting cable is mounted, an outer pipe 103 within which the inner pipe is housed, with the inner and outer pipes constituting a thermally insulated double pipe, and an inner pipe support member 104 supporting the inner pipe. The inner pipe support member 104 is secured to the inner and outer pipes.