ES2364769B1 - SYSTEM TO DRIVE THERMALLY ISOLATED FLUIDS. - Google Patents

Abstract

System for conducting thermally insulated fluids, comprising conductive elements linked to each other, each conduction element having a tubular jacket and a coaxial pipe of conductive material inside the jacket, the fluid circulating internally through said pipe, the coupling being carried out between two adjacent ends of conduction elements such that, the jacket of the first conductor element is snapped into the sleeve of the second conductor element, and the pipe of the first conductor element is snapped into the pipe of the second element of conduction, establishing a stretch of overlap between two adjacent ends of conduction elements, presenting the vacuum in a defined space between the inner face of the jacket and the outer face of the pipe.

Description

System to conduct thermally insulated fluids. Object of the invention

The purpose of this patent application is to register a system for conducting thermally insulated fluids that incorporates notable innovations and advantages.

More specifically, the invention relates to a system for conducting thermally insulated fluids comprising interconnected conduction elements, each of them having a jacket and a coaxial pipe inside and defining a vacuum space between the two members. Background of the invention

Systems for conducting fluids that require thermal insulation against the environment are known. They are usually based on conduits wrapped in one or several layers of insulating materials. Thanks to this insulation, fluids whose temperature is both above and below the environment can be transported.

However, these systems have a series of disadvantages such as the application of layers of insulating material, and the need for proper maintenance of said material, since it degrades over time and loses its insulating properties. Another disadvantage arises from the fact that at the connection points between the different sections, it is necessary first to carry out the welding connection and then place a sleeve of insulating material to protect the joint area. All this translates into a longer duration of assembly tasks, possible defects in the insulation of the joints and possible leakage of fluid due to the presence of pores in the welds.

In addition, the applicant is not aware of the existence of a system for conducting thermally insulated fluids that has all the technical characteristics described herein. Description of the invention

The present invention has been developed in order to provide a system for conducting thermally insulated fluids that solves the aforementioned drawbacks, also providing additional advantages that will be apparent from the description that follows.

In the present application, conductive material will be understood as material that has a high thermal conductivity.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for conducting thermally insulated fluids, comprising interconnected conduction elements, in which each conduction element has a tubular jacket and a coaxial pipe that runs through the interior of the sleeve, said conductive material pipe being made, the flow flowing through the inside of said pipe, defining a space between the inner face of the jacket and the outer face of the pipe, fastening means being provided between said pipe and said jacket , characterized in that the coupling between two adjacent ends of conduction elements is carried out such that,

the outer diameter of the jacket of a first driving element is smaller than the inner diameter of the jacket of a second driving element, driving element,

the outer diameter of the pipe of the first driving element is smaller than the inside diameter of the pipe of the second driving element, so that the pipe of the first driving element is snapped into the pipe of the second driving element,

establishing an overlapping section between two adjacent ends of conduction elements, and

presenting the vacuum in the defined space between the inner face of the jacket and the outer face of the pipe.

Thanks to these characteristics, a system for conducting thermally insulated fluids is obtained that does not require the presence of insulating material around the pipe, and in which the joints between the pipes carrying the fluid are not welded, with the consequent ease of assembly and notable reduction of the risk of leaks. In addition it is not necessary to provide insulating material in the form of a sleeve in the joints of two conduction elements. The adoption of the vacuum in said space prevents the transmission of heat by conduction and / or convection between the fl uid and the environment.

Preferably said pipe is made of copper, and said jacket is made of carbon steel, a fluid flowing through the inside of said pipe is a combination of water and glycol. According to a feature of the present invention, the pipe has a length greater than the sleeve.

In a preferred embodiment, said fastening means have a brass washer. In addition, the pipe of the first conduction element has a final section of wedge-shaped cross-section with an inclination between 0 and 45 °, preferably 15 °.

Additionally, it is possible that two adjacent sleeves are fixed by welding using silver oxide.

It should be mentioned that said space has a pressure of -2.02 MPa.

Other features and advantages of the system for conducting thermally insulated fluids object of the present invention will be apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in the which: Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1.- It is a perspective view of a coupling between two conduction elements cross-sectioned, in accordance with the system of the invention. Description of a preferred embodiment

As shown in the attached figure 1, a preferred embodiment of the system for conducting thermally insulated fluids according to the invention is described below.

Figure 1 illustrates a practical embodiment of a coupling between two conductive elements A, B cross-sectioned for a better understanding of the invention. In said fi gure two conduction elements A, B can be seen linked to each other, where each conduction element A, B has a tubular sleeve 1A, 1B preferably made of carbon steel and a pipe 2A,

3 EN 2364769A1 4

Coaxial 2B that passes through the inside of the jacket 1A, 1B, said conduit 2A, 2B of conductive material such as copper being made, the flow circulating through the interior of said pipe 2A, 2B. Preferably said fluid is a combination of water and glycol, although other combinations will be possible for the person skilled in the art.

It can also be seen that there is a defined space 4 between the inner face of the jacket 1A, 1B and the outer face of the pipe 2A, 2B. Preferably, the vacuum is presented in this space 4, whose pressure is -2.02 MPa, although it will be understood that other values are possible. When all the air inside the space has been extracted, an optimal thermal insulation of the fluid flowing through the pipe 2A, 2B is achieved, since heat conduction is avoided by conduction and / or convection between the fluid and the environment of the driving element A, B.

To keep the pipe 2A, 2B in position, a series of brass-made washers 3 have been provided to allow welding with the steel and copper.

Continuing with Figure 1, the coupling between two adjacent ends of conduction elements A, B is carried out such that, the outer diameter of the jacket 1A of a first conduction element A is smaller than the inner diameter of the jacket 1B of a second conduction element B, so that the jacket 1A of the first conduction element A is snapped into the jacket 1B of the second conduction element B.

On the other hand, the outer diameter of the pipe 2A of the first conduit element A is smaller than the inside diameter of the pipe 2B of a second conduit element B, so that the pipe 2A of the first conduit element A is fitted to pressure in the pipe 2B of the second conduction element B, an overlapping section being established between two adjacent ends of conduction elements A and B.

Advantageously, the pipe 2A of the first conduit element A has a final section 5 of wedge-shaped cross-section with an inclination preferably of 15 °, although it will be understood by the person skilled in the art that other inclinations are possible. Thus, it is possible to minimize the pressure losses of the fluid transported through the pipe 2A, 2B since it has an inner face that favors hydrodynamics.

Additionally, it is provided that two adjacent sleeves 1A, 1B can be fixed by welding based on silver oxide, which makes it possible to reinforce the tightness of the coupling.

In Figure 1 it is also observed that the overlapping section between two pipes 2A, 2B is greater than the coupling section of two jackets 1A, 1B, which is possible because the pipe 2A, 2B has a length greater than the jacket 1A, 1B.

In an application of the system it will be possible to raise the temperature of the pipe 2A, 2B to heat the fluid flowing through it. For this purpose, any device available to the person skilled in the art can be used.

The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, as well as the materials used in the manufacture of the system for conducting thermally insulated fluids of the invention may be conveniently substituted by others that are technically equivalent and do not depart from the essentiality of the invention or the scope defined by the claims included below.

Claims (10)

1. System for conducting thermally insulated fluids, comprising interconnected conduction elements (A, B), in which each conduction element (A, B) has a tubular jacket (1A, 1B) and a pipe (2A, 2B) coaxial that runs through the inside of the jacket (1A, 1B), said pipe (2A, 2B) being made of conductive material, the flow flowing through the inside of said pipe (2A, 2B), defining a space (4 ) between the inner face of the jacket (1A, 1B) and the outer face of the pipe (2A, 2B), fastening means being provided between said pipe (2A, 2B) and said shirt (1A, 1B), characterized by the fact that the coupling between two adjacent ends of conduction elements (A, B) is carried out such that, the outer diameter of the jacket (1A) of a first driving element (A) is smaller than the inner diameter of the jacket (1B) of a second driving element (B), so that the jacket (1A) of the first element of conduction (A) snap into the jacket (1B) of the second conduction element (B), the outer diameter of the pipe (2A) of the first conduit element (A) is smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe (2B) of the second conduit element (B), so that the pipe (2A) of the first element of conduit (A) snap into the pipe (2B) of the second conduction element (B), establishing an overlapping section between two adjacent ends of conduction elements (A, B), and presenting the vacuum in the space (4) defined outside the pipe (2A, 2B).

2.

System for conducting thermally insulated fluids according to claim 1, characterized in that said pipe (2A, 2B) is made of copper.

3.

System for conducting thermally insulated fluids according to claim 1, characterized in that said jacket (1A, 1B) is made of carbon steel.

Four.

System for conducting thermally insulated fluids according to claim 1, characterized in that said fastening means have a washer (3) made of brass.

5.

System for conducting thermally insulated fluids according to claim 1, characterized in that the pipe (2A) of the first conduction element (A) has a final section of wedge-shaped cross-section with an inclination between 0 and 45 °, preferably 15º.

6.

System for conducting thermally insulated fluids according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid is a combination of water and glycol.

7.

System for conducting thermally insulated fluids according to claim 1, characterized in that two adjacent sleeves (1A, 1B) are fixed by welding based on silver oxide.

8.

System for conducting thermally insulated fluids according to claim 1, characterized in that the pipe (2A, 2B) is longer than the jacket (1A, 1B).

9.

System for conducting thermally insulated fluids according to claim 1, characterized in that said space (4) has a pressure of -2.02 MPa.

 ES 2 364 769 A1   SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application number: 201130440 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 03.25.2011 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: See Additional Sheet RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

Documents cited Claims Affected

Y

WO 2006109015 A1 (HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERV INC et al.) 19.10.2006, pages 2-5; Figure 1. 1-9

Y

US 3850453 A (BENTLEY et al.) 26.11.1974, column 1; column 3, lines 60-65; figure 2. 1-9

TO

DE 202007013853 U1 (SEM SCHNEIDER ELEMENTEBAU GMBH) 10.07.2008, the whole document. 1-9

TO

US 4491347 A (GUSTAFSON KEITH W) 01.01.1985, the whole document. 1-9

TO

GB 794761 A (ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY UK) 07.05.1958, the whole document. 1-9

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 30.08.2011

Examiner A. Pérez Igualador Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201130440 CLASSIFICATION OBJECT OF THE APPLICATION F16L59 / 065 (2006.01) F16L9 / 18 (2006.01) F16L39 / 00 (2006.01) Minimum documentation sought (classification system followed by classification symbols) F16L Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENTIONS, EPODOC State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201130440 Date of Written Opinion: 30.08.2011 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-9 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-9 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201130440 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

WO 2006109015 A1 (HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERV INC et al.) 19.10.2006

D02

US 3850453 A (BENTLEY et al.) 11/26/1974

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement Document D01 describes a tube configured to thermally isolate the fluid that circulates inside it, whether it is hotter or colder. It consists of sections spliced together. Each section consists of two tubular walls, that is to say a tube inside another tube. The fluid circulates through the inner tube; the inner tube is inside Another outer tube. The space between the two tubes is filled with insulating material or subjected to low pressure to create a vacuum (and thus prevent heat transmission by convection). The inner tube is separated from the outside by means of a crown (see figures) of section V to lengthen and hinder the transmission of heat. In an alternative, it is done vacuum in the space defined by the outer and inner tubes and the separation crown. The connection between the sections is carried out similarly to the insertion joint of the 1st claim. In D01 it insert one end into the other, as in the 1st claim, but the tubes of the consecutive sections are the same diameter, unlike the request. This is the only substantial difference between D01 and claim 1. Document D02 describes an exhaust duct of the combustion smoke of an engine. It is intended to keep the Smoke temperature for better treatment against pollution. This duct is double walled: it consists of a tube inside another tube. They are also made based on united sections. As seen in Figure 2, the sections are joined by insertion, the diameters of the consecutive sections being such that the inner diameter is adjusted to the outside of the consecutive section, as in claim 1. It would be obvious for a person skilled in the art to apply this way of joining the pipe sections to the system described in the document D01. Therefore, the object of claim 1 does not imply inventive activity (Articles 4, and 8 of the Law on Patents). The materials claimed in claims 2, 3 and 4 are a choice that the person skilled in the art would have at his scope (copper, steel, brass), particularly considering that the pipes of D01 and D02 are metallic. In claim 5, the slight constructive variant of the wedge-shaped section is considered within the scope of the usual practice followed by the person skilled in the art, especially since the advantages achieved are foreseen easily. Consequently, the object of claim 5 also lacks inventive activity. The technical characteristics of claims 6 to 9 are simply obvious possibilities for an expert in the matter would select according to the circumstances, without the exercise of inventive activity. In conclusion, all claims of the application (1st to 9th) lack inventive activity (Articles 4, 6 and 8 of the Law patent). State of the Art Report Page 4/4