AU2023201697B1 - Active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage tank - Google Patents

Active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage tank Download PDF

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AU2023201697B1
AU2023201697B1 AU2023201697A AU2023201697A AU2023201697B1 AU 2023201697 B1 AU2023201697 B1 AU 2023201697B1 AU 2023201697 A AU2023201697 A AU 2023201697A AU 2023201697 A AU2023201697 A AU 2023201697A AU 2023201697 B1 AU2023201697 B1 AU 2023201697B1
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tank
storage tank
liquid nitrogen
liquid hydrogen
liquid
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AU2023201697A
Inventor
Cong CHEN
Zherui Chen
Yingying CUI
Linan GUAN
Zhiwei Li
Zhiying LI
Qianli Ma
Yan Qin
Jingyue Sun
Xi Wang
Yue Zhang
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Dalian University of Technology
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Dalian University of Technology
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C1/00Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge
    • F17C1/12Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge with provision for thermal insulation
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C13/00Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/02Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment
    • F17C13/025Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment having the pressure as the parameter
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C13/00Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/02Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment
    • F17C13/026Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment having the temperature as the parameter
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/58Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation characterised by the form or material of the contacting members
    • H01R4/66Connections with the terrestrial mass, e.g. earth plate, earth pin
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02GINSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G13/00Installations of lightning conductors; Fastening thereof to supporting structure
    • H02G13/40Connection to earth
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/01Shape
    • F17C2201/0128Shape spherical or elliptical
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/03Thermal insulations
    • F17C2203/0304Thermal insulations by solid means
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/03Thermal insulations
    • F17C2203/0391Thermal insulations by vacuum
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/012Hydrogen
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/014Nitrogen
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/04Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
    • F17C2250/0404Parameters indicated or measured
    • F17C2250/043Pressure
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2250/00Accessories; Control means; Indicating, measuring or monitoring of parameters
    • F17C2250/04Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values
    • F17C2250/0404Parameters indicated or measured
    • F17C2250/0439Temperature
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17CVESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2260/00Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
    • F17C2260/04Reducing risks and environmental impact
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/32Hydrogen storage

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention provides an active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage tank, and belongs to the field of renewable energy liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage devices. An inner tank in the present invention is a spherical storage tank; an outer tank is arranged at the periphery of the inner tank; a cryogenic insulation layer is filled in a spherical annular space between the inner tank and the outer tank; the cryogenic insulation layer is a multilayer structure composed of an aluminum foil, an elastic felt layer and flowing granular material; an air barrier is arranged on an inner wall of the outer tank; a flexible membrane inner floating roof is fixed in the inner tank for reducing the evaporation of liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen; and an integrated low temperature refrigeration system is composed of a heat exchanger arranged in the inner tank, and a refrigeration unit arranged outside the storage tank. The present invention can realize high capacity storage of liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen. By combining active cryogenic insulation and passive cryogenic insulation, the evaporation rate of the liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen is kept at a very low level, thereby greatly improving the operation efficiency of a high capacity storage tank, and laying a foundation for the development of superhigh capacity active cryogenic insulation type storage tanks in the future.

Description

ACTIVE CRYOGENIC INSULATION TYPE INNER-FLOATING-ROOF SPHERICAL LIQUID HYDROGEN/LIQUID NITROGEN STORAGE TANK
Technical Field
The present invention belongs to the field of renewable energy liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage devices, and relates to an active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof
spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage tank.
Background
Liquid hydrogen storage has the advantage of high volume energy density, and evaporation
loss constitutes a major disadvantage. Evaporation loss causes large and unrecoverable annual
cost. Therefore, reduction of the evaporation of liquid hydrogen during storage is a difficulty that
needs to be overcome currently in China. At present, the storage modes of hydrogen energy
mainly include: low temperature liquid method, physical adsorption method, metal hydride
method, complex hydride method, high-pressure liquid method, underground hydrogen storage
method, etc. The low temperature liquid method is currently the main storage technology for
large-scale hydrogen storage in China and abroad. Based on the low temperature liquid method,
the concept of integrated refrigeration and storage can be used for further effectively improving
the hydrogen storage capability of a spherical storage tank. Integrated refrigeration and storage
directly removes energy from the liquid hydrogen by using an integrated heat exchanger and a
cryogenic refrigerant, to control the state of the liquid hydrogen in the storage tank. The concept
of integrated refrigeration and storage pursues four capabilities: 1. Zero loss for liquid hydrogen
handling: when a tank car unloads the spherical storage tank, very little power is needed. The
pressure formed in the process of the transfer of the liquid hydrogen is reduced through a
refrigeration unit, rather than through a discharge gap. 2. Zero boiling: when the refrigerating
capacity of the refrigeration unit is balanced with the heat leakage of a tank body, and no liquid
hydrogen is handled, the pressure and the liquid level in the tank may remain unchanged
indefinitely. 3. Liquefaction: gaseous hydrogen can be loaded into the spherical storage tank and
liquefied in situ and filled into a container. 4. Densification: when the refrigerating capacity of
the refrigeration unit is higher than the heat leakage, and there is no handling, the liquid
hydrogen is cooled below the normal boiling point and thus becomes denser. Liquid hydrogen
with high density corresponds to low vapor pressure, and low operating pressure may prolong the life cycle of the tank body.
At present, the technology of liquid hydrogen storage in China has many limitations. The
volumes of the liquid hydrogen storage tanks are mostly at a level of 300 cubic meters, and the
large-volume liquid hydrogen storage technology is not mature. Therefore, a large-volume active
cryogenic insulation type liquid hydrogen storage technology adopted in the present invention
provides an effective means and mode for the development of energy in China.
Summary
In order to overcome the defects of the prior art, the present invention provides an active
cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage
tank, which can realize high capacity storage of liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen. By combining
active cryogenic insulation and passive cryogenic insulation, the evaporation rate of liquid
hydrogen/liquid nitrogen is kept at a very low level, thereby greatly improving the operation
efficiency of a high capacity liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage tank, and laying a
theoretical foundation for the development of superhigh capacity active cryogenic insulation type
storage tanks in the future.
To achieve the above purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:
An active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage tank is provided. The storage tank comprises an inner tank 1, a cryogenic
insulation layer, an air barrier 5, an outer tank 6, a prestressing system 7, a vacuum system 8,
inner support columns 9, a conductive grounding device 10, an integrated low temperature
refrigeration system, a flexible membrane 13, a fixing disc 14, a pressure and temperature
monitoring pipeline 15, a safety protection device 16, a pressure balancing device 17, an
artificial ladder 18, a lightning protection device 19, a loading pipeline 20, an unloading pipeline
21, outer support columns 22 and a pile foundation 23.
The inner tank 1 is a spherical storage structure and is used for storing liquid hydrogen or
liquid nitrogen.
The outer tank 6 is arranged outside the inner tank 1 and is used for holding the inner tank 1
and the cryogenic insulation layer of a vacuum multilayer structure; a spherical annular space is
formed between the outer tank 6 and the inner tank 1; the cryogenic insulation layer is arranged
in the spherical annular space; the air barrier 5 is arranged on an inner wall of the outer tank 6 to ensure the air tightness of the cryogenic insulation layer; and the bottom of an outer wall surface of the outer tank 6 is supported on the pile foundation 23 through a plurality of outer support columns 22.
The inner support columns 9 are arranged between the inner tank and the outer tank; one
end of each inner support column is fixedly installed on the air barrier 5, and the other end is
fixedly connected with the outer wall of the inner tank 1 for supporting the inner tank 1; a
plurality of inner support columns are arranged, and a gap exists between the adjacent inner
support columns 9.
The cryogenic insulation layer adopts the vacuum multilayer structure and successively
comprises an aluminum foil layer 2, an elastic felt layer 3 and a glass bubble filled insulation
material layer 4 from inside to outside; specifically, the aluminum foil layer 2 and the elastic felt
layer 3 are sequentially wrapped on the outer wall of the inner tank 1; a gap between the
remaining spherical annular space and the inner support columns 9 is filled by the glass bubble
filled insulation material layer 4, and is kept in a vacuum state by the vacuum system 8, wherein
the glass bubble filled insulation material layer 4 is a flowing granular glass bubble.
That is, the storage tank successively comprises: the inner tank 1, the aluminum foil layer 2,
the elastic felt layer 3, the glass bubble filled insulation material layer 4, the air barrier 5 and the
outer tank 6 from inside to outside.
The vacuum system 8 is arranged on the pile foundation 23 outside the storage tank, and is
communicated with the spherical annular space provided with the glass bubble filled insulation
material layer 4.
The fixing disc 14 is an annular structure, and is fixed in a central position in the inner tank
1; the flexible membrane 13 as an inner floating roof is arranged in an inner circle of thefixing
disc 14; the flexible membrane 13 floats on a liquid level of liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen
stored in the inner tank 1 and can rise and fall synchronously with the liquid level of liquid
hydrogen/liquid nitrogen to reduce surface area directly exposed by liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen; and the evaporation of liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen can be reduced passively. At the
same time, the flexible membrane 13 is provided with a pipeline that can be opened and closed
for the artificial ladder 18, the loading pipeline 20, the unloading pipeline 21 and the pressure
and temperature monitoring pipeline 15 to pass through.
The lower end of the artificial ladder 18 is fixedly installed on the bottom of the inner tank 1, and the upper part of the artificial ladder penetrates through an opening reserved in the flexible membrane 13 for the operation and maintenance of the storage tank. The prestressing system 7 is a steel rope wrapped around the outer surface of the outer tank 6 for ensuring the structural stability of the outer tank. The integrated low temperature refrigeration system comprises a heat exchange pipeline 11 and a refrigeration unit 12 for ensuring uniform temperature distribution of liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen in the inner tank 1, improving temperature stratification and reducing an evaporation rate; The heat exchange pipeline 11 is fixed on a lower hemisphere in the inner tank 1, and is a double W-shaped structure; a refrigerant flows in the pipeline; inlet and outlet pipelines penetrate through the wall of the storage tank and then are connected with the refrigeration unit 12 outside the storage tank; a part of the heat exchange pipeline 11 located outside the inner tank 1 adopts a double-layer vacuum pipeline to prevent cooling amount leakage; the refrigeration unit 12 is arranged on the pile foundation 23 outside the storage tank; the integrated low temperature refrigeration system provides cooling amount for the storage of liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen, reduces a temperature gradient of liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen in a vertical direction, and reduces the evaporation of liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen by active energy input. The safety protection device 16 and the pressure balancing device 17 are respectively communicated with the inner tank 1 through the pipelines for pressure control and protection of the storage tank during overpressure and negative pressure of the storage tank, wherein the pressure balancing device 17 is used for removing excess gas when liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen evaporates into gas, and offsetting a pressure difference when negative pressure is generated by loading and unloading liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen; and the safety protection device 16 is used for protecting the storage tank during overpressure in the storage tank, and also providing safety guarantee for positions in which liquid may accumulate in each pipeline of the storage tank. The liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen in the storage tank is loaded and unloaded through the loading pipeline 20 and the unloading pipeline 21; the liquid level and temperature parameters of the liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen in the storage tank are monitored in real time through the pressure and temperature monitoring pipeline 15; the bottoms of the loading pipeline 20, the unloading pipeline 21, and the pressure and temperature monitoring pipeline 15 penetrate through the flexible membrane 13 and are located inside the liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen; and tops penetrate through the wall of the storage tank successively and are arranged outside the storage tank.
The conductive grounding device 10 and the lightning protection device 19 are arranged on
the outer wall of the outer tank 6 respectively for protecting the storage tank from static
electricity and lightning strike; the conductive grounding device 10 is located on the bottom
surface of the storage tank; and the lightning protection device 19 is located on the top surface of
the storage tank.
Further, the inner tank 1 is made of austenitic stainless steel 304.
Further, the outer tank 6 is a cross prestressed concrete structure, and is made of C40 or
high-strength and low-temperature concrete.
Further, the inner support columns 9 are made of reinforced concrete, welded and installed
on the air barrier 5 and reinforced by anchoring.
Further, the inner support columns 9 are arranged in an annular array.
Further, the air barrier 5 is made of carbon steel 16MnDR, welded and installed through
butt joint or overlap joint, and fixed to the inner wall of the outer tank 6 by anchoring.
Further, the outer support columns 22 are made of prestressed reinforced concrete, wherein
the concrete structure is made of C60 or high-strength and low-temperature resistant concrete,
steel bars are low-temperature steel bars, and cross and single transverse prestressed reinforced
concrete reinforcement bars are arranged between the adjacent outer support columns 22.
The present invention has the following beneficial effects:
1. In the present invention, the inner tank is supported by the inner support columns,
thereby replacing the bearing effect of the lower cryogenic insulation material. The cryogenic
insulation layer is allowed to be filled with a single ultra-low thermal conductivity glass bubble
material, which reduces the temperature gradient of the liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen in the
vertical direction due to uneven temperature of the wall surface of the inner tank.
2. In the present invention, the cryogenic insulation layer is a vacuum multilayer structure
and the cryogenic insulation material and the elastic felt layer filled are heat conduction and insulation layers. The vacuum further reduces the thermal conductivity of the heat conduction and insulation layers, and the application of the aluminum foil layer significantly reduces heat transfer caused by radiation.
3. In the present invention, the flexible membrane is attached to the surface of the liquid
hydrogen/liquid nitrogen, which reduces surface area exposed to the spatial environment by the
liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen to a great extent; and the evaporation rate of the liquid
hydrogen/liquid nitrogen is reduced by passive storage of cooling amount.
4. In the present invention, the heat exchange pipeline of the integrated low temperature
refrigeration system is a double W-shaped structure and arranged on two horizontal sides of the
lower half part of the inner tank; the refrigeration unit provides cooling amount for the liquid
hydrogen/liquid nitrogen, reduces the temperature gradient of the liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen
in vertical and horizontal directions, and reduces the natural convection effect in the liquid
hydrogen. The evaporation rate of the liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen is reduced by active input
of the cooling amount.
5. In the present invention, the combination of two modes of passive cryogenic insulation
and active refrigeration makes the large liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage tank realize zero
evaporation.
6. In the present invention, the pressure balancing system ensures the pressure stability of
the inner tank.
7. In the present invention, the safety protection device ensures safety and reliability when
the storage tank and the pipelines are under overpressure.
8. In the present invention, the outer support columns, the conductive grounding device and
the lightning protection device of the storage tank provide external seismic force load, and
anti-static and lightning protection effects for the storage tank to ensure the stability of the
storage tank when operated in adverse weather conditions.
In conclusion, the technical structure of the active cryogenic insulation type
inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage tank provided by the present
invention not only meets the demand of superlarge volume, but also realizes zero evaporation of
the liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen through active and passive modes and ensures the safe and
stable operation and convenient and quick maintenance, thereby laying a foundation for superlarge liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage technology.
Description of Drawings
Fig. 1 is an arrangement schematic diagram of an internal structure of a storage tank
according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an external schematic diagram of a storage tank according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a heat exchange pipeline according to the present
invention.
In the figures: 1 inner tank; 2 aluminum foil layer; 3 elastic felt layer; 4 glass bubble filled
insulation material layer; 5 air barrier; 6 outer tank; 7 prestressing system; 8 vacuum system; 9
inner support column; 10 conductive grounding device; 11 heat exchange pipeline; 12
refrigeration unit; 13 flexible membrane; 14 fixing disc; 15 pressure and temperature monitoring
pipeline; 16 safety protection device; 17 pressure balancing device; 18 artificial ladder; 19
lightning protection device; 20 loading pipeline; 21 unloading pipeline; 22 outer support column;
23 pile foundation.
Detailed Description
The present invention will be further described below in detail in combination with specific
embodiments, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.
Embodiment 1:
An embodiment according to the present application adopts the following technical
solution:
An active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage tank comprises an inner tank 1, a cryogenic insulation layer, an air barrier 5, an
outer tank 6, a prestressing system 7, a vacuum system 8, inner support columns 9, a conductive
grounding device 10, an integrated low temperature refrigeration system, a flexible membrane 13,
a fixing disc 14, a pressure and temperature monitoring pipeline 15, a safety protection device 16,
a pressure balancing device 17, an artificial ladder 18, a lightning protection device 19, a loading
pipeline 20, an unloading pipeline 21, outer support columns 22 and a pile foundation 23. The
specific structure is shown in Fig. 1.
The inner tank 1 is a spherical storage structure, has a volume of about 5000 cubic meters
and a diameter of about 20m, is made of austenitic stainless steel and can bear low temperature below 20K. The inner tank 1 is welded and installed by overlap joint or butt joint of a stainless steel plate, and a weld coefficient is 1.0 to prevent the phenomenon of hydrogen embrittlement.
The outer tank 6 is a cross prestressed concrete structure, is made of high-strength and
low-temperature concrete material, is arranged outside the inner tank 1, is used for holding the
inner tank 1 and the cryogenic insulation layer and forms a spherical annular space with the inner
tank 1. The cryogenic insulation layer is arranged in the spherical annular space. The air barrier 5
is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the outer tank 6 by anchoring, is made of carbon steel
16MnDR, and is welded and installed through butt joint or overlap joint to ensure the air
tightness of the cryogenic insulation layer. The bottom of an outer wall surface of the outer tank
6 is supported on the pile foundation 23 through a plurality of outer support columns 22, as
shown in Fig. 2.
The inner support columns 9 are arranged between the inner tank and the outer tank; and a
plurality of inner support columns are arranged and distributed in an annular array. A gap exists
between the adjacent inner support columns 9. The inner support columns 9 are made of
reinforced concrete; one end of each inner support column is fixedly installed on the air barrier 5,
and reinforced by anchoring; and the other end is fixedly connected with the outer wall of the
inner tank 1 for supporting the inner tank 1.
The cryogenic insulation layer adopts a vacuum multilayer structure and successively
comprises an aluminum foil layer 2, an elastic felt layer 3 and a glass bubble filled insulation
material layer 4 from inside to outside, wherein the aluminum foil layer 2 and the elastic felt
layer 3 are sequentially attached to the outer wall of the inner tank 1; a gap between the
remaining spherical annular space and the inner support columns 9 is filled by the glass bubble
filled insulation material layer 4, and is kept in a vacuum state by the vacuum system 8; and
vacuum degree is 0.03 MPa. The glass bubble filled insulation material layer 4 is a flowing
granular glass bubble, and density after jolt ramming is 68 kg/m3 , and the average thermal
conductivity is 0.04 w/nik.
The vacuum system 8 is arranged on the pile foundation 23 outside the storage tank, and is
communicated with the spherical annular space provided with the glass bubble filled insulation
material layer 4.
The fixing disc 14 is an annular structure, and is fixed in a central position in the inner tank
1; the flexible membrane 13 as an inner floating roof is arranged in an annular inner circle of the fixing disc 14; the flexible membrane 13 is attached to the liquid level surface of liquid hydrogen and can rise and fall synchronously with the liquid level of liquid hydrogen. It should be indicated that the evaporation of the liquid hydrogen is due to the temperature increase caused by the input of external energy on the one hand, and is natural evaporation on the surface of the liquid hydrogen on the other hand. The flexible membrane 13 reduces surface area directly exposed by liquid hydrogen; and the evaporation of liquid hydrogen can be reduced passively. The flexible membrane 13 is provided with a pipeline that can be opened and closed for the loading pipeline 20, the unloading pipeline 21 and the pressure and temperature monitoring pipeline 15 to pass through. The artificial ladder 18 is fixedly installed on the bottom of the inner tank 1, and the upper part of the artificial ladder penetrates through an opening reserved in the flexible membrane 13 for the operation and maintenance of the storage tank. The prestressing system 7 is a steel rope wrapped around the outer surface of the outer tank 6 for ensuring the structural stability of the outer tank. The integrated low temperature refrigeration system comprises a heat exchange pipeline 11 and a refrigeration unit 12 for ensuring uniform temperature distribution of liquid hydrogen in the inner tank 1, improving temperature stratification and reducing an evaporation rate. The heat exchange pipeline 11 is a double W-shaped structure (as shown in Fig. 3) and is placed on a bottom half in the inner tank 1; a refrigerant flows in the pipeline; inlet and outlet pipelines penetrate through the wall of the storage tank and then are connected with the refrigeration unit 12 outside the storage tank; a part of the heat exchange pipeline 11 located outside the inner tank 1 adopts a double-layer vacuum pipeline to prevent cooling amount leakage. The refrigeration unit 12 is arranged on the pile foundation 23 outside the tank. Due to the input of external energy during loading and unloading, the heat exchange pipeline 11 and the refrigeration unit 12 are used for providing cooling amount for the storage of liquid hydrogen, reducing a temperature gradient of the liquid hydrogen in a vertical direction and reducing the evaporation of the liquid hydrogen by active energy input. The safety protection device 16 and the pressure balancing device 17 are respectively communicated with the inner tank 1 through the pipelines for pressure control and protection of the storage tank during overpressure and negative pressure of the storage tank. Specifically, the pressure balancing device 17 is used for removing excess hydrogen when liquid hydrogen evaporates into hydrogen, and offsetting a pressure difference when negative pressure is generated by loading and unloading the liquid hydrogen; and the safety protection device 16 is used for protecting the storage tank during overpressure in the storage tank, and also providing safety guarantee for positions in which liquid may accumulate in each pipeline of the storage tank.
The liquid hydrogen in the storage tank is loaded and unloaded through the loading pipeline
and the unloading pipeline 21; the liquid level and temperature parameters of the liquid
hydrogen in the storage tank are monitored in real time through the pressure and temperature
monitoring pipeline 15; the bottoms of the loading pipeline 20, the unloading pipeline 21, and
the pressure and temperature monitoring pipeline 15 penetrate through the flexible membrane 13
and are located inside the liquid hydrogen; and tops penetrate through the wall of the storage
tank successively and are arranged outside the storage tank.
The conductive grounding device 10 and the lightning protection device 19 are arranged on
the outer wall of the outer tank 6 respectively for protecting the storage tank from static
electricity and lightning strike; the conductive grounding device 10 is located on the bottom
surface of the storage tank; and the lightning protection device 19 is located on the top surface of
the storage tank.
Embodiment 2
The liquid hydrogen in the storage tank 6 can also be replaced with liquid nitrogen, and
other structural layouts are the same as embodiment 1.
The above embodiments only express the implementation of the present invention, and shall
not be interpreted as a limitation to the scope of the patent for the present invention. It should be
noted that, for those skilled in the art, several variations and improvements can also be made
without departing from the concept of the present invention, all of which belong to the protection
scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS:
1. An active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage tank, comprising an inner tank (1), a cryogenic insulation layer, an air barrier (5),
an outer tank (6), a prestressing system (7), a vacuum system (8), inner support columns (9), a
conductive grounding device (10), an integrated low temperature refrigeration system, a flexible
membrane (13), a fixing disc (14), a pressure and temperature monitoring pipeline (15), a safety
protection device (16), a pressure balancing device (17), an artificial ladder (18), a lightning
protection device (19), a loading pipeline (20), an unloading pipeline (21), outer support columns
(22) and a pile foundation (23), wherein
the inner tank (1) is a spherical storage structure and is used for storing liquid hydrogen or
liquid nitrogen;
the outer tank (6) is arranged outside the inner tank (1) and is used for holding the inner
tank (1) and the cryogenic insulation layer of a vacuum multilayer structure; a spherical annular
space is formed between the outer tank (6) and the inner tank (1); the cryogenic insulation layer
is arranged in the spherical annular space; the air barrier (5) is arranged on an inner wall of the
outer tank (6) to ensure the air tightness of the cryogenic insulation layer; and the bottom of an
outer wall surface of the outer tank (6) is supported on the pile foundation (23) through a
plurality of outer support columns (22);
the inner support columns (9) are arranged between the inner tank and the outer tank; one
end of each inner support column is fixedly installed on the air barrier (5), and the other end is
fixedly connected with the outer wall of the inner tank (1) for supporting the inner tank (1); a
plurality of inner support columns are arranged, and a gap exists between the adjacent inner
support columns (9);
the vacuum system (8) is arranged on the pile foundation (23) outside the storage tank, and
is communicated with the spherical annular space;
the fixing disc (14) is an annular structure, and is fixed in a central position in the inner tank
(1); the flexible membrane (13) as an inner floating roof is arranged in an inner circle of the
fixing disc (14); the flexible membrane (13) floats on a liquid level of liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen stored in the inner tank (1) and can rise and fall synchronously with the liquid level of
liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen; at the same time, the flexible membrane (13) is provided with a pipeline that can be opened and closed for the artificial ladder (18), the loading pipeline (20), the unloading pipeline (21) and the pressure and temperature monitoring pipeline (15) to pass through; the lower end of the artificial ladder (18) is fixedly installed on the bottom of the inner tank (1), and the upper part of the artificial ladder penetrates through an opening reserved in the flexible membrane (13) for the operation and maintenance of the storage tank; the prestressing system (7) is wrapped around the outer surface of the outer tank (6) for ensuring the structural stability of the outer tank; the integrated low temperature refrigeration system comprises a heat exchange pipeline (11) fixed on a lower hemisphere in the inner tank (1), and a refrigeration unit (12) arranged outside the storage tank; the safety protection device (16) and the pressure balancing device (17) are respectively communicated with the inner tank (1) through the pipelines for pressure control and protection of the storage tank during overpressure and negative pressure of the storage tank; the liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen in the storage tank is loaded and unloaded through the loading pipeline (20) and the unloading pipeline (21); the liquid level and temperature parameters of the liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen in the storage tank are monitored in real time through the pressure and temperature monitoring pipeline (15); the bottoms of the loading pipeline (20), the unloading pipeline (21), and the pressure and temperature monitoring pipeline (15) penetrate through the flexible membrane (13) and are located inside the liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen; and tops penetrate through the wall of the storage tank successively and are arranged outside the storage tank; the conductive grounding device (10) and the lightning protection device (19) are arranged on the outer wall of the outer tank (6) respectively for protecting the storage tank from static electricity and lightning strike.
2. The active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the cryogenic insulation layer successively comprises an aluminum foil layer (2), an elastic felt layer (3) and a glass bubble filled insulation material layer (4) from inside to outside; specifically, the aluminum foil layer (2) and the elastic felt layer (3) are sequentially wrapped on the outer wall of the inner tank (1); and a gap between the remaining spherical annular space and the inner support columns (9) is filled by the glass bubble filled insulation material layer (4), and is kept in a vacuum state by the vacuum system
(8).
3. The active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the integrated low temperature refrigeration
system comprises a heat exchange pipeline (11) and a refrigeration unit (12); the heat exchange
pipeline (11) is fixed on a lower hemisphere in the inner tank (1), and is a double W-shaped
structure; inlet and outlet pipelines penetrate through the wall of the storage tank and then are
connected with the refrigeration unit (12) outside the storage tank; the refrigeration unit (12) is
arranged on the pile foundation (23) outside the storage tank; and the evaporation of the liquid
hydrogen/liquid nitrogen is reduced by active energy input.
4. The active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the inner tank (1) is made of austenitic
stainless steel 304; and the outer tank (6) is a cross prestressed concrete structure, and is made of
C40 or high-strength and low-temperature concrete.
5. The active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the inner support columns (9) are made of
reinforced concrete, welded and installed on the air barrier (5) and reinforced by anchoring.
6. The active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage tank according to claim 1 or 5, wherein the inner support columns (9) are
arranged in an annular array.
7. The active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the glass bubble filled insulation material
layer (4) is a flowing granular glass bubble.
8. The active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the air barrier (5) is made of carbon steel
16MnDR, welded and installed through butt joint or overlap joint, and fixed to the inner wall of
the outer tank (6) by anchoring.
9. The active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid
nitrogen storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the outer support columns (22) are made of prestressed reinforced concrete, wherein the concrete structure is made of C60 or high-strength and low-temperature resistant concrete, steel bars are low-temperature steel bars, and cross and single transverse prestressed reinforced concrete reinforcement bars are arranged between the adjacent outer support columns (22).
10. The active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage tank according to claim 1, wherein a part of the heat exchange pipeline (11) located outside the inner tank (1) adopts a double-layer vacuum pipeline to prevent cooling amount leakage.
AU2023201697A 2023-03-01 2023-03-20 Active cryogenic insulation type inner-floating-roof spherical liquid hydrogen/liquid nitrogen storage tank Active AU2023201697B1 (en)

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