UV Curing Module Layout for Long Pipe Renovation Cables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing curing apparatuses for renovating underground pipes have cables with large cross sections due to high operating currents, limiting the length of pipeline portions that can be renovated in one piece and resulting in significant power losses.
Innovation Solution
The operating appliance for each UV light source is placed directly at the UV module inside the pipe, allowing the control device to actuate it via a cable with fewer and higher-voltage power supply lines, reducing the number of wires and power losses, and enabling longer cable lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cable connects multiple operating appliances for multiple UV light sources, then all light sources can be powered, but the cable cross section becomes very large due to high operating currents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the system into segments by placing an operating appliance at each UV module location along the pipe. Each operating appliance is connected to the cable at its respective position, rather than connecting all appliances at a single location. This segmentation allows the cable to carry lower current at each segment point, enabling the use of smaller cross-section cables while still powering all UV light sources along the pipeline.
2Productivity
If high-power UV light sources are used to cure resin efficiently, then curing speed increases, but power losses in the cable increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the power distribution system with individual operating appliances at each UV module, the patent enables efficient high-power UV light sources to be used at each location while reducing overall cable power losses. Each segment draws power locally, preventing the accumulation of high currents over long cable lengths that would cause significant I²R losses.
3Productivity
If the cable length is increased to renovate longer pipeline portions in one piece, then renovation efficiency improves, but the cable cross section must be even larger to handle the distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by segmenting the power distribution along the cable length. Operating appliances are positioned at intervals corresponding to UV modules along the pipeline. This allows the cable to be divided into multiple shorter effective segments, each carrying lower current, thereby enabling much longer total cable lengths (500m or more) to be used without requiring excessively large cable cross sections.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wires are used in the cable to supply power to each UV light source, then all light sources can be operated independently, but the cable becomes more complex and harder to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by positioning operating appliances at distributed locations along the pipe rather than consolidating them. This spatial segmentation allows the use of a simpler cable with fewer wires (such as a single-phase or three-phase power cable plus ground), as each operating appliance taps into the cable at its location rather than requiring dedicated wiring from a central control point. This reduces cable complexity while maintaining independent operation capability.
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 configuration allows for longer pipeline renovations with reduced cable cross sections and lower power losses, enabling cable lengths of 500 meters or more and improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
the UV module has at least one UV light source for irradiating the inner wall of a pipe
Implementation Method 2
The liner is a hose consisting of a fiber material that is soaked with a resin that is curable by UV light
Implementation Method 3
The UV light sources are discharge lamps (e.g. mercury vapor lamps). The operating appliances are configured to ignite the discharge lamps and, after ignition, to control the operating current of the discharge lamps
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a curing apparatus having at least one UV module (3), wherein the UV module (3) has at least one UV light source (6) for irradiating the inner wall of a pipe (1), wherein the UV module (3) that has been introduced into the pipe (1) is connected, by means of a cable (7), to a control device (9) that is situated outside of the pipe (1). It is an object of the invention to provide a curing apparatus in which the cable (7) for connecting the UV modules (3) to the control device (9) has a cross section that is reduced in comparison with the prior art. As a result, longer pipeline portions should be able to be renovated in one piece. Moreover, the electrical power losses in the cable (7) should be reduced. To this end, the invention suggests that at least one operating appliance (10) that is connected to the cable (7) and the UV light source (6) is arranged at each UV module (3), wherein the control device (9) actuates the operating appliance (10) by way of the cable (7) for the purposes of operating the UV light source (6).