Vacuum-Insulated Pipe Coupling With Thermal Zoning at the Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing couplings for insulated piping, particularly vacuum-insulated piping, suffer from thermal ingress issues, are heavy and expensive, and are not suitable for bends or junctions, while bayonet couplings require careful handling and are costly.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design with thermally-conductive and thermally-insulative portions that extend away from the flange, providing a long thermal path and radial insulation, enhancing thermal performance and structural rigidity, suitable for various pipe configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional metal flanged couplings are used for insulated piping, then structural strength and connection reliability are improved, but thermal ingress to the cold fluid increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into distinct thermal zones: a thermally-insulative portion (first region) that radially surrounds the thermally-conductive portion (second region). This segmentation allows the coupling to simultaneously provide structural strength through the conductive portion while blocking thermal ingress through the insulative portion.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the coupling have different thermal properties: the first region is thermally-insulative to block heat transfer radially, while the second region is thermally-conductive to maintain structural integrity. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between strength and thermal protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bayonet couplings are used to reduce thermal ingress, then thermal performance is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling employs a composite structure combining thermally-insulative material in the first region with thermally-conductive material in the second region. This composite approach achieves thermal performance comparable to bayonet couplings while potentially reducing weight and cost by using optimized material placement rather than entirely insulative construction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If long thermally-conductive paths are provided in the coupling, then thermal ingress is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the thermally-conductive portion longitudinally away from the interface, creating a long thermal path in the axial dimension rather than requiring complex radial insulation arrangements. This dimensional approach simplifies the overall structure while effectively reducing thermal conduction to the fluid.
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 effectively reduces thermal conduction from ambient to the fluid, maintains structural integrity, and accommodates bends and junctions, offering improved thermal performance and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional couplings.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the first and second parts comprises a thermally-conductive portion that extends away from the interface portion and which provides a thermally-conductive path between the flange and the interface second portion
Implementation Method 2
at least one (and preferably each) of the first and second parts comprises a thermally-insulative portion between the flange and the interface second portion, thereby providing a thermally-insulative path in a radial direction between the flange and the interface second portion
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4b
Figure 3
AI summary
A coupling for vacuum-insulated piping is provided. The coupling comprises: first and second parts for forming the coupling; each of the first and second parts comprising an inner portion for fluid communication with an inner part of a vacuum-insulated pipe and an outer portion for fluid communication with an outer, low pressure part of a vacuum-insulated pipe; the inner portions of the first and second parts form an inner region for the passage of fluid therethrough; each of the first and second parts comprising an interface portion for forming an interface with interface portion of the other of the first and second parts, the interface portion comprising a flange for connecting the first and second parts; each of the first and second parts comprises a sleeve surrounding the outer portion, the sleeve comprising a thermally-conducting portion that is in thermal communication with the interface portion so as to conduct heat away from the interface portion.