Vacuum-Insulated Steel Jacket Pipe With Phase-Change Thermal Buffer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal insulation technologies for underground pipes, such as those used in geothermal and petroleum exploitation, suffer from poor insulation performance, leading to increased energy consumption and reduced service life due to deformation under high geothermal temperatures and pressures.
Innovation Solution
A super-long thermal insulation steel jacket pipe design featuring a vacuum insulation layer with a spiral annular support frame made of elastic material, filled with a phase-change material, and sealed with anti-corrosion coating, ensuring vacuum integrity and mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional thermal insulation pipe is used for underground exploitation, then the pipe structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the thermal insulation performance is poor leading to increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure with multiple concentric layers: inner working steel pipe, intermediate insulation layer (vacuum cavity with phase-change material), outer protective steel pipe, and spiral support frame. This nested configuration enables superior thermal insulation performance by combining vacuum insulation with phase-change material heat storage, while maintaining a systematic and integrated pipe structure suitable for underground exploitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction by combining dissimilar materials with complementary properties: steel pipes for mechanical strength, vacuum for thermal insulation, phase-change materials for heat storage, and elastic materials for support. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by achieving excellent thermal insulation performance through material combination rather than relying on a single complex structure.
2Temperature
If the pipe is exposed to high geothermal temperatures and pressures, then the exploitation can proceed, but the pipe deforms and service life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating a phase-change material within the vacuum cavity that undergoes phase transition at specific temperatures. This phase-change material acts as a thermal buffer, absorbing excess geothermal heat through phase transition and preventing direct heat transmission to the working steel pipe, thereby protecting the pipe from thermal deformation and extending its service life under high temperature conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the phase-change material as a thermal management mechanism. When exposed to high geothermal temperatures, the phase-change material transitions between solid and liquid states, absorbing or releasing latent heat to maintain thermal equilibrium. This phase transition mechanism protects the pipe structure from thermal stress and deformation, ensuring long-term durability in high-temperature geothermal environments.
3Loss of energy
If a vacuum insulation layer is implemented, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but maintaining vacuum integrity under underground pressure is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing differential support to the vacuum cavity: the spiral annular support frame made of elastic material provides localized structural reinforcement at critical points along the vacuum cavity, while maintaining vacuum integrity throughout. This localized support approach strengthens the vacuum structure where needed without compromising the overall vacuum insulation performance or requiring complete structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible shells by using an elastic material for the spiral support frame that can flex and adapt to external underground pressures. This flexible support structure maintains the vacuum cavity integrity under compression by deforming elastically rather than fracturing, allowing the vacuum insulation to remain effective while withstanding variable geothermal pressures during exploitation operations.
4Productivity
If the pipe operates for extended periods in harsh conditions, then exploitation efficiency increases, but corrosion and deformation accumulate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary protective layering system between the working steel pipe and the harsh external environment: the vacuum cavity acts as a thermal and chemical barrier, the phase-change material provides additional protection and thermal buffering, and the outer protective steel pipe serves as a sacrificial barrier. This intermediary layering system protects the inner working pipe from corrosion and deformation caused by geothermal chemicals and pressure, enabling extended operation without degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert environment by maintaining a vacuum within the insulation cavity, eliminating oxygen and moisture that would otherwise cause corrosion. This inert vacuum atmosphere protects the inner working steel pipe from oxidative corrosion during extended exploitation periods, while the phase-change material and outer protective pipe provide additional chemical barriers, allowing the pipe to maintain structural integrity and operate efficiently over long durations in harsh geothermal conditions.
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 design provides enhanced thermal insulation and corrosion resistance, maintaining consistent temperature within the pipe and extending service life, reducing energy costs and deformation risks.
Implementation Method 1
an annular cavity formed by a gap between the inner steel pipe and the outer steel pipe; a support frame between the inner steel pipe and the outer steel pipe; two ends of the outer steel pipe are tightened, and a tightened part of the outer steel pipe is sealed with an outer wall of the inner steel pipe through several seal rings, and the annular cavity is filled with a phase-change material
Implementation Method 2
The design provides enhanced thermal insulation and corrosion resistance, maintaining consistent temperature within the pipe
Implementation Method 3
the annular cavity is filled with a phase-change material
Implementation Method 4
the annular cavity is filled with a phase-change material; maintaining consistent temperature within the pipe
Implementation Method 5
the support frame is a spiral annular support frame, the spiral annular support frame is made of an elastic material
Implementation Method 6
coating anti-corrosion liquid outside the outer steel pipe
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention discloses a super-long thermal insulation steel jacket pipe and the machining process thereof. The pipe has relatively good thermal insulation performance and corrosion resistance. Because an annular cavity (3) of the pipe is in a vacuum state, the pipe is internally provided with a support frame (5, 6) and filled with a phase change material. When the pipe is used for underground energy exploitation, temperature in a working steel pipe (1) in the pipe can be effectively kept unaffected when external temperature decreases. The steel jacket pipe in the present invention has long service life, and can greatly reduce costs of exploitation of petroleum and an underground heat source and reduce a heat loss in exploitation.