Welded Fluid Line Connection for Clean Cryogenic Hydrogen Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Welding and cutting processes in fluid line connections, particularly for cryogenic or liquid hydrogen piping, result in swarf and debris that can contaminate the inner piping and allow hydrogen to escape, posing challenges in maintaining cleanliness and preventing leaks.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a continuous weld connection with a sealing element between two fasteners, where the fasteners are positioned using locating elements and clamped together by a mounting tool to create a leak-tight seal that surrounds the inner piping, and a process for disconnecting the connection that prevents contamination by swarf and debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a weld connection is used to prevent hydrogen leakage, then reliability is improved, but the inner piping is contaminated by swarf and debris from welding and cutting processes
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into separate functional zones: a sealing zone with the sealing element that protects the inner piping, and a welding zone where the weld connection is created. This segmentation allows the welding process to occur outside the protected inner piping area, preventing contamination while maintaining the leak-tight connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element acts as an intermediary barrier between the welding process and the inner piping. It encloses the inner piping and prevents swarf and debris from entering, while still allowing the weld connection to be formed between the fasteners for hydrogen leakage prevention.
2Reliability
If fasteners are welded together to create a leak-tight seal, then hydrogen leakage is prevented, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is installed and positioned between the fasteners before the welding process begins. This preliminary action ensures that the inner piping is already protected when the welding occurs, simplifying the overall process by eliminating the need for post-welding cleaning or protection steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function and the structural connection function are merged into a single integrated system. The sealing element is positioned within the fastener assembly and works together with the weld connection to achieve both leak-tight sealing and structural integrity in one manufacturing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If locating elements are used to position fasteners, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locating elements are integrated into the fastener structure itself, allowing the fasteners to self-position and self-align during assembly. This self-service approach achieves precise positioning without requiring external positioning devices or complex alignment procedures, thereby limiting the increase in device 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 solution effectively prevents hydrogen leakage and contamination of the inner piping during both connection and disconnection processes, ensuring a clean and leak-tight environment for fluid lines, particularly suitable for liquid hydrogen applications.
Implementation Method 1
pressing the first and the second fastener against each other so that the sealing element is pressed between the fasteners and seals the enclosed inner piping
Implementation Method 2
welding the first fastener to the second fastener, whereby a continuous weld connection is created which completely surrounds the sealing element and the enclosed inner piping
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making a weld connection for a fluid line, in particular for the transport of liquid hydrogen by: (a) providing a first fastener connected to a first fluid line and a second fastener connected to a second fluid line; (b) positioning the fasteners so that they face each other; (c) providing a sealing element between the first fastener and the first fastener so that it encloses an inner piping provided within the fasteners when they are connected; (d) pressing the first fastener and the second fastener against each other so that the sealing element is pressed between the fasteners and seals the enclosed inner piping; and (e) welding the first fastener to the second fastener, whereby a continuous weld connection is created which completely surrounds the sealing element and the enclosed inner piping.