Encasement for heat transfer fluid (HTF) conduits

Abstract

An encasement for heat transfer fluid (HTF) conduits having an outer layer (1) of sheet metal and an intermediate layer (2) below the outer layer (1). The intermediate layer (2) is made of insulating material having a maximum thickness of 1.4 inches (35 mm). The heat transfer fluid (HTF) conduits are movable.

Claims

1. An encasement for movable heat transfer fluid conduits, comprising: a first cylindrical encasement segment comprising: a box adapted to envelop a rotating joint of a heat transfer fluid conduit and to absorb rotational movement of the rotating joint; and a first assembly flange; and a second cylindrical encasement segment adapted to envelop a section of the heat transfer fluid conduit, the section being connected to the rotating joint, the second cylindrical encasement section comprising: a second assembly flange; each of the first cylindrical encasement segment and the second cylindrical encasement segment comprising: an outer layer comprising sheet metal; and an intermediate layer located below the outer layer, said intermediate layer being made of insulating material having a maximum thickness of 1.4 inches; wherein: the first cylindrical encasement segment is adapted to be coupled to the second cylindrical encasement segment; and the first and second assembly flanges are adapted to axially connect the first cylindrical encasement to the second cylindrical encasement segment and provide clearance between the box of the first cylindrical encasement segment and the second cylindrical encasement segment.

2. The encasement according to claim 1, the first cylindrical encasement segment comprising first and second halves configured to envelop the rotating joint of the heat transfer fluid conduit and to fit together.

3. The encasement according to claim 2, wherein the first and second halves are configured to contact in two diametrically opposed generatrices.

4. The encasement according to claim 2, further comprising: a joint configured to seal an attachment between the first and second halves.

5. The encasement according to claim 2, further comprising at least one longitudinal metal flange configured to close the first and second halves.

6. The encasement according to claim 5, further comprising wherein: the at least one longitudinal metal flange includes a first longitudinal metal flange and a second longitudinal metal flange; the first longitudinal metal flange is disposed on the first half; the second longitudinal metal flange is disposed on the second half; and a joint is housed between the first longitudinal metal flange and the second longitudinal metal flange.

7. The encasement according to claim 5, wherein the at least one longitudinal metal flange has a height between 0.4 and 0.6 inches.

8. The encasement according to claim 7, further comprising a cover, wherein the cover comprises aluminum sheet metal having a thickness between 0.015 and 0.04 inches thick aluminum sheet metal.

9. The encasement according to claim 7, further comprising a cover comprising: a glass fiber fabric having a thickness between 0.004 and 0.06 inches; and a sheet made of corrosion resistant material having a thickness between 0.004 and 0.06 inches.

10. The encasement according to claim 9, wherein the sheet comprises aluminum.

11. The encasement according to claim 10, wherein the sheet has a thickness between 0.012 and 0.016 inches.

12. The encasement according to claim 11, wherein the insulating material is microporous.

13. The encasement according to claim 12, wherein the insulating material is configured to heat-insulate and has a heat transfer coefficient between 0.11 and 0.33 BTUin/(hrft.sup.2F) at 752 F. of the temperature of a heat transfer fluid.

14. The encasement according to claim 13, further comprising: an inner layer comprising: a second glass fiber fabric having a thickness between 0.004 and 0.06 inches; and a second sheet made of corrosion resistant material having a thickness between 0.004 and 0.06 inches.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A series of drawings which aid in better understanding the invention and which expressly relate to an embodiment of said invention presented as a non-limiting example thereof is very briefly described below.

(2) FIG. 1A shows an encasement of the invention.

(3) FIG. 1B shows an encasement of the invention in kit mode.

(4) FIG. 1B1 shows a detail of the area of contact between a box and an elbow.

(5) FIG. 1B2 shows a detail of the area of attachment between segments where the assembly rim is illustrated.

(6) FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of an encasement in an open position in accordance with an embodiment.

(7) FIG. 1D shows a perspective view of an encasement in a closed position in accordance with an embodiment.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a clamp-type closure.

(9) FIG. 3 shows a double arm.

(10) FIG. 4 shows a single arm.

(11) FIG. 5A is a cross-section showing two halves of an encasement, the longitudinal joint and a longitudinal flange.

(12) FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the encasement of the embodiment of FIG. 5A, showing a longitudinal metal flange 1001D.

(13) FIG. 6A is a cross-section showing two halves of an encasement, each half having a flange configured to house a longitudinal joint.

(14) FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the encasement of the embodiment of FIG. 6A, showing a longitudinal metal flange 1001E.

(15) FIG. 7 shows a detail of the area of contact between the flange of each half and the longitudinal joint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

(16) As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an embodiment of the invention relates to an encasement for heat transfer fluid conduits: comprising an outer layer (1) of sheet metal, encasement layer, configured to protect against working conditions such as high temperatures and high degree of sunshine; comprising an intermediate layer (2), insulation layer below the outer layer (1) of insulating material having a maximum thickness of 1.4 inch (35 mm); wherein the heat transfer fluid conduits are movable.

(17) According to other features of the invention: The metal is aluminum. The sheet metal has a thickness comprised between 0.02 and 0.06 inch (0.5 and 1.5 mm). The insulating material is microporous. The insulating material configured to heat-insulate has a heat transfer coefficient comprised between 0.11 and 0.33 BTU inch/(hr ft.sup.2F) (0.016 and 0.048 W/mK) at 752 F. (400 C.) of the temperature of the heat transfer fluid (HTF). The insulating material is molded pipe section shell.

(18) As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the encasement comprises an inner layer (3) comprising: a glass fiber fabric (31) having a thickness comprised between (0.1 mm and 1.5 mm); 0.004 and 0.06 inch a sheet (32) made of corrosion resistant material, which can be stainless steel or aluminum, having a thickness comprised between 0.004 and 0.06 inch (0.1 mm and 1.5 mm).

(19) As illustrated in FIG. 1B1, the encasement comprises:

(20) As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the encasement comprises a flange (4) having a height comprised between 10 and 15 mm configured to allow coupling between two consecutive segments 8 of the encasement.

(21) As illustrated in FIG. 1B1, the encasement comprises: a cover (51, 531, 532) configured to close a front face of the encasement; a ceramic fiber washer (6) between the cover (51, 531, 532) and the flange (4).

(22) The cover (51, 531, 532) comprises 0.016 and 0.04 inch (0.4-1 mm) thick aluminum sheet metal (51), as illustrated in FIG. 1B1.

(23) As illustrated in FIG. 1B1, the cover (51, 531, 532) comprises; a glass fiber fabric (531) having a thickness comprised between 0.004 and 0.06 inch (0.1 and 1.5 mm); and a sheet (532) made of corrosion resistant material, which can be stainless steel or aluminum, having a thickness comprised between 0.04 inch and 0.4 inch (0.1 and 1.5 mm).

(24) The encasement is box-shaped having a cylindrical inner cavity, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, having: a box diameter (D); a length (L); the box diameter (D) and the length (L) being configured to allow clearance between the box and the adjacent encasement segments 8. The clearance, which can be comprised between 1 and 10 mm, allows the box to have a floating arrangement on the adjacent encasement segments 8. Therefore, during the movement of the arms, the boxes can move over the elbows 8B, straight segments 8A or other segments of the encasement. Additionally, the clearances also allow variations in the dimensions of the components of the invention due to heat loads.

(25) FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of encasement 8A in an open position in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 1D shows a perspective view of encasement 8A in a closed position in accordance with an embodiment.

(26) As illustrated in FIG. 5, the encasement comprises two halves (1001A, 1001B) configured to envelope a conduit and to fit with one another.

(27) According to a first embodiment of the invention, two steps are necessary for assembling the insulation and encasement system. In a first operation, the insulation layer or intermediate layer (2) is placed on the conduit, and then in a second operation, the encasement layer or outer layer (1) is placed on the insulation layer. These two layers are placed in the field, i.e., it is necessary to perform the two operations at the location of the facility of the conduits to be protected.

(28) As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the outer layer (1) of the elbows comprises a plurality of segments 8 for forming the curved segment 8B from the preceding segment, or incoming segment entering the elbow, to the subsequent segment, or outgoing segment exiting the elbow.

(29) In a second embodiment of the invention, a kit is previously prepared so that the operations to be performed in the field are simplified. With the second embodiment of the invention, the components of the kit are ready to be placed directly and in a single operation on the facility of the conduits. The kit supplied for being installed in the field already has the insulation layer or intermediate layer (2) and the encasement layer or outer layer (1) integrated in its components. With this arrangement, the assembly of the insulation and encasement system is simplified as only the components already incorporating the intermediate layer (2) and the outer layer (1) have to be assembled on the conduits.

(30) As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the outer layer (1) of the elbows comprises a right angle shape for forming the change of direction segment 8B from the preceding segment, or incoming segment entering the elbow, to the subsequent segment, or outgoing segment exiting the elbow. Therefore, in the embodiment of the kit the elbows are formed by two halves at a right angle from the preceding segment, or incoming segment entering the elbow, to the subsequent segment, or outgoing segment exiting the elbow. The number of parts needed for forming an elbow is thus reduced.

(31) The two halves are configured to contact in 2 diametrically opposed generatrices as illustrated in FIG. 5.

(32) The encasement illustrated in FIG. 1B2 comprises an assembly rim (1000) at a front end configured to axially assemble a first encasement (1001) with a consecutive second encasement (1002).

(33) The encasement comprises means for fixing and sealing the 2 halves: a circular metal flange (7) as illustrated in FIG. 1B2 configured to close and seal the assembly rims (1000); a joint (1001C) as illustrated in FIG. 5 configured to seal an attachment between the two halves (1001A, 1001B); perimetric closing means selected from a plurality of flanges with screw locking and a plurality of clamp-like quick-closures (600) as illustrated in FIG. 2 configured to allow assembling/disassembling the encasement.

(34) The encasement illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises means for closing the 2 halves comprising: a longitudinal metal flange (1001D) configured to externally close the two halves (1001A, 1001B).

(35) The encasement illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 comprises means for closing the 2 halves comprising: a first longitudinal metal flange (1001E) on a first half (1001A); a second longitudinal metal flange (1001F) on a second half (1001B); wherein the joint (1001C) is housed between the first longitudinal metal flange (1001E) and the second longitudinal metal flange (1001F).

(36) Simple swivel arm as illustrated in FIG. 4 comprising: 3 boxes according to previous features; a first entrance box (101); a second exit box (102); a third intermediate box (103); 5 elbows according to previous feature; a first elbow (201) exiting the entrance box (101); 442) a second elbow (202) entering the intermediate box (103); a third elbow (203) exiting the intermediate box (103); a fourth elbow (204) entering the exit box (102); a fifth elbow (205) exiting the exit box (102);

(37) 2 straight segments according to previous feature; a first incoming segment (301) between the entrance box (101) and the intermediate box (103); a second outgoing segment (302) between the intermediate box (103) and the exit box (102).

(38) Swivel arm configured as illustrated in FIG. 3 comprising: 3 boxes according to previous features; a first entrance box (101); a second exit box (102); a third intermediate box (103);

(39) 4 elbows according to previous feature; a first elbow (201A) entering the entrance box (101); a second elbow (202) entering the intermediate box (103); a third elbow (203) exiting the intermediate box (103); a fourth elbow (204A) exiting the exit box (102);

(40) 2 z-shaped segments according to previous feature; a first incoming segment (301) between the entrance box (101) and the intermediate box (103); a second outgoing segment (302) between the intermediate box (103) and the exit box (102).