Material for the controlled vaporization of a liquid cryogen

• US 6,644,040 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings Incorporated (W.L. Gore and Associates), W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Myers, David, Robbie, Mark John
• Primary Examiner(s): CAPOSSELA, RONALD C
• Application Number:
  US10/193,440
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 62/502, 62/507
• US Class Current: 62/50.2
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0053 Cooled garments
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0128 spherical or elliptical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0138 tubular
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0604 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0639 Steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/2163 with a mandrel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/014 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/016 Noble gases (Ar, Kr, Xe)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/017 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/031 Air
• 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 2223/047 with a dip tube
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0192 by using a working fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/031 by discharge
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/04 with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage

Abstract

A shaped article is capable of at least one of containing and delivering a cryogenic fluid. The article has a porous structure that restricts the passage of cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase while permitting the passage of cryogenic fluid in the gaseous phase. The article may be in the form of a tube or container. The article permits a liquid cryogen to be transported to a specific site, and then cool the site by means of conduction from the cold article and convection of cold gas, the phase change of the evaporating liquid greatly enhancing the heat loss.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the evaporation of a cryogenic fluid comprising transporting said fluid through a shaped article, said shaped article having a porous structure and a liquid nitrogen leak pressure of greater than or equal to about 0.3 psi.

2. A method of controlling the evaporation of a cryogenic fluid comprising transporting said fluid through a shaped article comprising a polymer, said shaped article having a porous structure that restricts the passage of cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase while permitting the passage of cryogenic fluid in the gaseous phase.