Underwater Cooling Circuit Leak Compensation via Suction Orifice
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Energy conversion devices for underwater compression and pumping stations face challenges in maintaining long-term operation due to leaks of heat transfer fluid, which reduce the device's lifetime and make maintenance difficult in deep water environments.
Innovation Solution
The energy conversion device includes a receiving area filled with heat transfer fluid, featuring an inlet orifice that allows leaked fluid to be suctioned back into the circuit, ensuring continuous operation even with leaks, and is designed with features such as anti-return valves, filters, and neutral gas filling to enhance reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cooling circuit operates under pressure difference (e.g., 10 bars), then cooling efficiency is improved, but heat transfer fluid leaks occur at gaskets and fittings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of heat transfer fluid leakage into a beneficial self-compensation mechanism. The receiving area, initially designed to contain fluid, is repurposed as a reservoir that automatically replenishes leaked fluid through the inlet orifice driven by pressure differential, transforming a failure mode into a self-healing feature that extends device lifetime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automatic fluid compensation. When leakage occurs, the pressure difference between the receiving area and cooling circuit automatically draws fluid from the receiving area through the inlet orifice to replace lost fluid, without requiring external intervention, sensors, or control systems.
2Productivity
If the device operates in deep water environment, then productivity is improved, but maintenance becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares for future failures by pre-establishing a receiving area filled with heat transfer fluid before any leakage occurs. This anticipatory design ensures that when leakage happens during long-term deep-sea operation, the system can automatically compensate without requiring maintenance intervention, effectively cushioning against the inability to perform repairs in deep water.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention ensures continuous cooling operation by maintaining a reservoir of heat transfer fluid in the receiving area. This allows the cooling circuit to continuously replenish leaked fluid and maintain operational integrity throughout the device's intended five-year lifetime without interruption or maintenance, ensuring uninterrupted useful action in the deep-sea environment.
3Reliability
If the inlet orifice allows fluid suction to compensate leaks, then reliability is improved, but risk of contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a filter as an intermediary element between the receiving area and the cooling circuit. This filter mediates the fluid transfer through the inlet orifice, allowing heat transfer fluid to pass from the receiving area to compensate for leaks while blocking contaminants, particles, or degradation products from entering the cooling circuit and causing contamination.
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
This design enables the energy conversion device to maintain efficient operation and extend its lifetime by automatically compensating for leaks and preventing corrosion, thus ensuring reliable operation for at least five years without requiring maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger with the power module, through which passes the heat transfer fluid of the cooling circuit
Implementation Method 2
at least one pump for driving the heat transfer fluid circulating in the circuit
Implementation Method 3
this loss of heat transfer fluid generates negative pressure in the circuit, then causing suction through the inlet orifice
Implementation Method 4
the cooling circuit is laid out above or in the receiving area so that possible leaks of the heat transfer fluid from the circuit fall by gravity into the receiving area
Data Source
AI summary
The energy conversion device (10) includes a power module (14), elements (16) for cooling the power module (14), and a sealed enclosure (12) for housing the power module (14) and at least one portion of the cooling elements (16). The cooling elements (16) include a cooling circuit 18, in which a heat transfer fluid circulates, a first heat exchange (20) with the power module (14), through which passes the heat transfer fluid of the cooling circuit (18) and at least one pump (24) for driving the heat transfer fluid circulating in the circuit (18). The enclosure (12) includes an area (26) for receiving heat transfer fluid, filled with heat transfer fluid, and the cooling circuit (18) includes an inlet orifice (28) in the circuit (18) made upstream from the driving pump (24) and opening into the heat transfer fluid of the receiving area (26).