Cryogenic tank

• US 4,835,975 A
• Filed: 10/18/1983
• Issued: 06/06/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nhy-Temp Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nhy-Temp Incorporated
• Inventors: Windecker, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capossela, Ronald C.
• Application Number:
  US06/542,979
• Time in Patent Office: 2,058 Days
• Field of Search: 62/45, 220/414, 220/3
• US Class Current: 62/45.1
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/14 constructed of aluminium; constructed of non-magnetic steel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/16 constructed of plastics materials shaping of plastics B29C
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/085 on wheels hand carts B62B
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/032 with substantially vertical main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/054 medium (>1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0333 Polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0604 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0619 with two layers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0629 Two walls
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0639 Steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0646 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/067 helically wound
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/013 Two or more vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0169 stackable
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0302 Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0397 on both sides of the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/2154 Winding
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/014 Nitrogen
• 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 2223/035 : High pressure (>10 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0626 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/011 : Improving strength
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/012 : Reducing weight
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/033 : by enhancing insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/042 : Reducing risk of explosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/031 : by discharge
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/033 : with cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0194 : for use under microgravity conditions, e.g. space
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/901 : Liquified gas content, cryogenic

Abstract

A filament wound pressure vessel or tank includes a thin metal inner liner of 1020 steel wrapped by epoxy-resin-coated fiberglass filament windings. The coefficients of thermal expansion of the windings and the inner liner are approximately equal. The filament windings are clad in a thick layer of polyurethane foam insulation. The foam-insulated cryogenic tanks containing cryogenic fluid are mounted in the front of a refrigerated transport container cooled by the release of the cryogenic fluid coolants thereinto.

Claims

1. In a transport container having

a. an insulated compartment,

b. at least one pressure vessel in the compartment,

c. cryogenic liquid coolant and boil of gas therefrom contained under greater than ambient pressure within the pressure vessel, and

d. a temperature control means fluidly connected to the pressure vessel for releasing the cryogenic liquid coolant and the boil off gas from the pressure vessel into the compartment;

WHEREIN IMPROVEMENT COMPRISES IN COMBINATION WITH THE ABOVE;

e. the pressure vessel having

f. a metal inner liner wrapped by

g. a plurality of synthetic, resin-coated, filament windings,

h. the metal liner having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the synthetic filament windings within a temperature range from ambient to cryogenic,

i. said pressure vessel being insulated with a thick layer of polyurethane foam enclosing the synthetic filament windings,

j. the thickness of said layer being such that the heat transfer through the layer, the synthetic filament windings, and the inner metal liner, to the cryogenic liquid produces boil off gas in greater quantity than is released by the temperature control means into the compartment.

2. In a pressure vessel for containing cryogenic fluids having

a. a thin metal inner linear wrapped by

b. a plurality of synthetic, resin-coated, filament windings;

WHEREIN THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISES

c. the metal liner having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the synthetic filament windings within a temperature range from ambient to cryogenic,

d. inner metal liner being formed of 1020 low carbon steel,

e. the windings being 80% fiberglass filaments, and

f. the 1020 steel having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the fiberglass filaments, within a temperature range from ambient to cryogenic.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 including all of the limitations a. through f. with the addition of the following limitations:

g. the 1020 low carbon steel forming the inner metal liner being about 0.036 inches in thickness,

h. said fiberglass filaments wrapped helically and circumferentially about the inner liner, and

i. the coefficients of thermal expansion of the steel and the fiberglass filaments being about 0.0000055 in/in/°

F. within a temperature range from ambient to cryogenic.

4. In a pressure vessel for containing cryogenic fluids having

a. a thin metal inner linear wrapped by

b. a plurality of synthetic resin-coated, filament windings;

WHEREIN THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISES;

c. the metal liner has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the synthetic filament windings within a temperature range from ambient to cryogenic.