CRYOGENIC STORAGE VESSEL

• US 3,782,128 A
• Filed: 06/01/1970
• Issued: 01/01/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cesar Cavanna, Paul J. Eifel, Robert S. Hampton, Stasys J. Kungys
• Original Assignee: Cesar Cavanna, Paul J. Eifel, Robert S. Hampton, Stasys J. Kungys
• Inventors: Hampton, Robert S., Eifel, Paul J., Cavanna, Cesar, Kungys, Stasys J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perlin, Meyer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Capossela, Ronald C.
• Application Number:
  US05/042,052
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 220/10,9LG,15 62/45,51,50
• US Class Current: 62/45.1
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/086 for Dewar vessels or cryostats
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/035 with substantially horizontal main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/052 large (>1000 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/01 Reinforcing or suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/012 on or in the wall, e.g. ribs
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/015 Bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/016 Cords
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0308 Radiation shield
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/032 Multi-sheet layers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0395 Getter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0631 Three or more walls
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0639 Steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0643 Stainless steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0314 breakable, e.g. with burst discs
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/014 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/017 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0161 cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/033 : Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0353 : using cryocooler
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0386 : with a jacket
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0408 : Level of content in the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/031 : due to heat transfer
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 3/08 : by vacuum spaces, e.g. Dewar flask for household use A47J41/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/901 : Liquified gas content, cryogenic

Abstract

A vessel for storing and transporting cryogenic fluids such as liquid helium. The vessel comprises a plurality of elongated containers supported one within another in coaxial circumjacent relation in a manner minimizing heat transmission therebetween, and it further comprises a cooling system forming a temperature barrier that restricts inward migration of heat from the outer to the inner container. Respecting the support system, the inner fluid-receiving container is supported by an encapsulating intermediate heat shield container which in turn is supported by an outer jacket surrounding and enclosing the intermediate heat shield. The support means effecting such interrelationship includes both transverse support structure constraining the containers relative to each other against transverse or radial displacements and longitudinal support structure interconnecting the containers one with another and constraining the same against relative longitudinal displacements at least at one end of the vessel. The transverse support structure constitutes a plurality of structurally independent supports as respects the interconnection of the inner container with the intermediate heat shield and interconnection of the heat shield with the outer jacket; and all of the support structures define restricted thermal flow paths through which heat migration from the outer container to the inner container is sharply limited. Respecting the cooling system, two flow-separated cooling coils surround the heat shield container, one of which carries a coolant such as liquid nitrogen and the other of which connects both with the inner fluid-receiving container and with a delivery system through which fluid is withdrawn from the inner container.

Claims

1. A vessel for cryogenic fluids and the like, comprising:

a plurality of longitudinally extending containers supported one within another in spaced apart relation, one of said containers being an inner storage container adapted to receive such fluid therein, a second thEreof being an intermediate heat shield enclosing the inner container, and a third being an outer jacket enclosing all of said containers; and

support means interconnecting said containers to maintain the same in spaced apart relation and at the same time minimize conductive heat migration through the support means between said outer and inner containers, said support means including transverse support structure providing adjacent each end of said vessel a plurality of relatively thin and narrow spaced apart inner transverse supports substantially confined within the space between said inner storage and intermediate heat shield containers and extending outwardly from the center portion of said inner container at each end thereof generally adjacent its longitudinal axis to the outer portions of said heat shield generally adjacent its cylindrical surface to interconnect the same adjacent the ends thereof, said transverse support structure further providing adjacent each end of said vessel a plurality of relatively thin and narrow spaced apart outer transverse supports substantially confined within the space between said intermediate heat shield and outer jacket containers and extending outwardly from the center portion of said heat shield at each end thereof generally adjacent its longitudinal axis to the outer portion of said outer jacket generally adjacent its cylindrical surface to interconnect the same adjacent the ends thereof, said inner and outer transverse supports disposed in structural parallelism and functional serialism and being relatively long with the length of the thermal path defined thereby between said inner container and outer jacket being materially greater than the transverse distance therebetween to define relatively long thermal paths restricted in cross sectional area and effective to reduce conductive heat migration therethrough.

2. The vessel according to claim 1 in which said inner transverse supports include a plurality of angularly spaced inner spokes adjacent each end of said inner container and being connected therewith and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom to areas of connection with said intermediate heat shield container to constrain said inner container against transverse displacements relative thereto, and in which said outer transverse supports include a plurality of angularly spaced outer spokes adjacent each end of said intermediate heat shield container and being connected therewith and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom to areas of connection with said outer jacket to constrain said intermediate heat shield container against transverse displacements relative thereto.

3. The vessel according to claim 2 in which said inner and outer spokes adjacent one end of said vessel are relatively flexible in longitudinal directions so as to accommodate limited relative longitudinal displacements of said containers, the relatively great lengths of said flexible spokes being contributive to the longitudinal flexibility thereof.

4. The vessel according to claim 1 in which said inner and outer transverse supports are angularly disposed relative to a transverse plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said vessel so as to accommodate thermally induced relative changes in said containers without excessively stressing said supports.

5. The vessel according to claim 4 in which the angular orientation of said inner supports is selected to define the relationship in which any thermally induced change in the radial length of an inner support tends to be compensated by the radial change in the distance between the ends thereof as such support swings between its selected angle and a more nearly transverse disposition as a consequence of thermally induced relative longitudinal changes in the lengths of said containers.

6. A vessel for cryogenic fluids and the like, comprising:

a plurality of longitudinally extending containers supported one within another in spaced apart relation, one of said containers being an inner storage container adapted to receive such fluid therein, a second thereof being an intermediate heat shield enclosing the inner container, and a third being an outer jacket enclosing all of said containers; and

support means interconnecting said containers to maintain the same in spaced apart relation and at the same time minimize conductive heat migration through the support means between said outer and inner containers, said support means including transverse support structure providing adjacent each end of said vessel of plurality of spaced apart inner transverse supports substantially confined within the space between said inner storage and intermediate heat shield containers and extending outwardly from the center portion of said inner container at each end thereof to the outer portions of said heat shield to interconnect the same adjacent the ends thereof, said transverse support structure further providing adjacent each end of said vessel a plurality of spaced apart outer transverse supports substantially confined within the space between said intermediate heat shield and outer jacket containers and extending outwardly from the center portion of said heat shield at each end thereof to the outer portion of said outer jacket to interconnect the same adjacent the ends thereof, said transverse supports thereby being relatively long with the length of the thermal path defined thereby between said inner container and outer jacket being materially greater than the transverse distance therebetween to define relatively long thermal paths effective to reduce conductive heat migration therethrough, said support means further including longitudinal support structure providing inner longitudinal supports interconnecting said inner storage and intermediate heat shield containers, and also providing outer longitudinal supports interconnecting said intermediate heat shield and outer jacket containers, said longitudinal support structure being effective to resist relative bodily displacements between said containers in longitudinal directions.

7. The vessel according to claim 6 in which said inner and outer longitudinal supports are entirely located adjacent one end portion of said vessel.

8. The vessel according to claim 7 in which each of said inner and outer longitudinal supports comprises an elongated longitudinally extending rod interconnected one with another in a serial relationship so as to minimize conductive heat migration therethrough between said outer and inner containers as aforesaid.

9. The vessel according to claim 8 in which said longitudinal support structure further includes a pair of universal joints respectively located adjacent the ends of said inner rod and being connected therewith and with said inner and intermediate heat shield containers so as to accommodate limited transverse displacements therebetween.

10. The vessel according to claim 8 in which each of said rods is hollow so as to reduce the cross sectional area of the conductive heat path defined thereby.

11. The vessel according to claim 8 in which said inner and outer transverse supports are angularly disposed relative to a transverse plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said vessel so as to accommodate thermally induced relative changes in said containers without excessively stressing said supports.

12. The vessel according to claim 11 in which the angular orientation of said inner supports is selected to define the relationship in which any thermally induced change in the radial length of an inner support tends to be compensated by the radial change in the distance between the ends thereof as such support swings between its selected angle and a more nearly transverse disposition as a consequence of thermally induced relative longitudinal changes in the lengths of said containers.

13. The vessel according to claim 8 in which said inner transverse supports include a plurality of angularly spaced inner spokes adjacent each end of said inner container and being connected therewiTh and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom to areas of connection with said intermediate heat shield container to constrain said inner container against transverse displacement relative thereto, and in which said outer transverse supports include a plurality of angularly spaced outer spokes adjacent each end of said intermediate heat shield container and being connected therewith and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom to areas of connection with said outer jacket to constrain said intermediate heat shield against transverse displacements relative thereto;

and in which said inner and outer spokes adjacent one end of said vessel are relatively flexible in longitudinal directions so as to accommodate limited relative longitudinal displacements of said containers, the relatively great lengths of said flexible spokes being contributive to the flexibility thereof.

14. The vessel according to claim 13 in which said inner and outer transverse supports are angularly disposed relative to a transverse plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said vessel so as to accommodate thermally induced relative changes in said containers without excessively stressing said supports.

15. A vessel for cryogenic fluids and the like, comprising:

a plurality of containers supported one within another and including an inner storage container adapted to receive such fluid therein, an intermediate heat shield enclosing the inner storage container, and an outer jacket enclosing the latter; and

a bipartite cooling system defining a temperature barrier restricting the inward migration of heat from said outer jacket to said inner container and including first and second flow conduits located intermediate said inner container and outer jacket and each being formed to define a cooling coil therebetween disposed in heat exchange relation with said heat shield;

a reservoir for a coolant such as liquid nitrogen or the like, the first of said flow conduits being connected adjacent one end thereof to said reservoir and adjacent its other end being vented to atmosphere to enable liquid coolant converted to the gaseous phase by absorbing heat to escape to atmosphere, and the second of said flow conduits being connected adjacent one end thereof to said inner storage container and adjacent its other end enabling cryogenic fluid to be released therefrom, heat migrating inwardly from said outer jacket toward said inner container being absorbed at least in part by any flow of coolant through the coil defined by said first flow conduit and any flow of cryogenic fluid through the coil defined by said second flow conduit and temperature- responsive valve means disposed in said first flow conduit and being operative to control the flow of such coolant therethrough in accordance with predetermined temperature values.

16. The vessel according to claim 15 and further comprising support means interconnecting said containers to maintain the same in spaced apart relation and at the same time minimize conductive heat migration through the support means between said outer and inner containers and including transverse support structure, the length of the thermal path defined between said inner container and outer jacket by said transverse support structure being materially greater than the transverse distance therebetween.

17. The vessel of claim 16 in which said transverse support structure includes inner transverse supports substantially confined within the space between said inner storage and intermediate heat shield containers and interconnecting the same adjacent the ends thereof, and further includes outer transverse supports substantially confined within the space between said intermediate heat shield and outer jacket containers and interconnecting the same adjacent the ends thereof;

and in which said inner transverse supports extend outwardly from the center portion of said inner container at each end thereof to said heat shield, and said outer transverse supports extend outwardly from the center portion of said heat shield to said outer jacket, whereby said transverse supports are relatively long and define relatively long thermal paths so as to reduce conductive heat migration therethrough.

18. The vessel according to claim 17 in which said transverse support structure includes inner transverse supports extending from said inner storage container adjacent the center portion of an end thereof to said heat shield, and further includes outer transverse supports extending from said heat shield adjacent the center portion of an end thereof to said outer jacket, said inner and outer transverse supports being angularly disposed relative to a transverse plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said vessel so as to accommodate thermally induced relative changes in said containers without excessively stressing said supports, and in which the angular orientation of said inner supports is selected to define the relationship in which any thermally induced change in the radial length of an inner support tends to be compensated by the radial change in the distance between the ends thereof as such support swings between its selected angle and a more nearly transverse disposition as a consequence of thermally induced relative longitudinal changes in the lengths of said containers.

19. The vessel according to claim 17 in which said support means includes transverse support structure comprising inner transverse supports interconnecting said inner storage and intermediate heat shield containers, and further comprising outer transverse supports interconnecting said intermediate heat shield and outer jacket containers;

and in which said longitudinal support structure includes inner longitudinal supports interconnecting said inner storage and intermediate heat shield containers, and further includes outer longitudinal supports interconnecting said intermediate heat shield and outer jacket containers.

20. The vessel according to claim 19 in which said inner transverse supports include a plurality of angularly spaced inner spokes adjacent each end of said inner container and being connected therewith and extending outwardly therefrom to areas of connection with said intermediate heat shield container to constrain said inner container against transverse displacements relative thereto, and in which said outer transverse supports include a plurality of angularly spaced outer spokes adjacent each end of said intermediate heat shield container and being connected therewith and extending outwardly therefrom to areas of connection with said outer jacket to constrain said intermediate heat shield against transverse displacements relative thereto;

and in which said inner and outer spokes adjacent one end of said vessel are relatively flexible in longitudinal directions so as to accommodate limited relative longitudinal displacements of said containers.

21. A vessel for cryogenic fluids and the like, comprising:

a plurality of longitudinally extending containers supported one within another in spaced apart relation, one of said containers being an inner storage container adapted to receive such fluid therein, a second thereof being an intermediate heat shield enclosing the inner container, and a third being an outer jacket enclosing all of said containers; and

support means interconnecting said containers, said support means including longitudinal support structure interconnecting said containers so as to resist relative bodily displacements therebetween in longitudinal directions and providing inner longitudinal supports interconnecting said inner storage and intermediate heat shield containers and further providing outer longitudinal supports interconnecting said intermediate heat shield and outer jacket containers, each of said inner and outer longitudinal supports having an elongated longitudinally extending rod interconnected one with another in a serial relationship so that the length of the thermal path defined between said inner container and outer jacket by said longitudinal suPport structure is materially greater than the transverse distance therebetween so as to minimize conductive heat migration through the support means between said outer and inner containers, said support means further including transverse support structure interconnecting said containers so as to resist relative bodily displacements therebetween in transverse directions.

22. The vessel according to claim 21 in which said inner and outer longitudinal supports are entirely located adjacent one end portion of said vessel.

23. The vessel according to claim 22 in which said longitudinal support structure further includes a pair of universal joints respectively located adjacent the ends of said inner rod and being connected therewith and with said inner and intermediate heat shield containers so as to accommodate limited transverse displacements therebetween.

24. The vessel according to claim 22 in which each of said rods is hollow so as to reduce the cross sectional area of the conductive heat path defined thereby.