EP0261033B1 - Insulating structure - Google Patents

Insulating structure Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0261033B1
EP0261033B1 EP87402065A EP87402065A EP0261033B1 EP 0261033 B1 EP0261033 B1 EP 0261033B1 EP 87402065 A EP87402065 A EP 87402065A EP 87402065 A EP87402065 A EP 87402065A EP 0261033 B1 EP0261033 B1 EP 0261033B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
structure according
wall
foam material
block
foam
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP87402065A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0261033A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Louis Neret
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LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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Application filed by LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude filed Critical LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Priority to AT87402065T priority Critical patent/ATE59827T1/en
Publication of EP0261033A1 publication Critical patent/EP0261033A1/en
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS 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
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/001—Thermal insulation specially adapted for cryogenic vessels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/38—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
    • B65D81/3813—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container
    • B65D81/3823—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS 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
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
    • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
    • F17C2203/0329—Foam
    • F17C2203/0333—Polyurethane
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS 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
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
    • F17C2203/0612—Wall structures
    • F17C2203/0626—Multiple walls
    • F17C2203/0629—Two walls

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an isothermal structure, in particular for the manufacture of cryogenic receptacles and cryogenic cooling tunnels, of the type comprising a rigid external wall, a rigid internal wall and, between these two walls, thermal insulation means comprising a block of rigid closed cell foam, the external part of this block being bonded by its external face to the external wall.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a technique making it possible to produce isothermal structures of all shapes, in particular of large dimensions, having improved mechanical strength and good quality of insulation and which are relatively light and compact.
  • the block of foam forms a spacer between the two walls, the space delimited between the latter being under vacuum.
  • the container shown is an open, generally parallelepipedal container intended to contain a cryogenic liquid, for example liquid nitrogen, in order to carry out deep-freezing operations by immersion of food products in this liquid. It consists of a composite outer shell 2 in contact with the ambient air, and of main thermal insulation means 3 disposed between these two envelopes.
  • a cryogenic liquid for example liquid nitrogen
  • the casing 1 is made of stainless steel sheet at least 1.5 mm thick and has the shape of a parallelepiped open upwards. Along its upper edge, it has a horizontal outer crown 4 which ends in a vertical wing 5 directed downwards.
  • the envelopes 1 and 2 delimit an inter-wall space which the insulation means 3 fill.
  • the latter consist of a rigid block which occupies the entire inter-wall and therefore as a whole has the general shape of a bowl. parallelepiped.
  • This block is composed of three sub-blocks of cup-shaped foam nested one inside the other, with the interposition of reflective screens between these sub-blocks and between the innermost sub-block and the adjacent casing 1.
  • Each screen is made of aluminum foil, the reflective side of which faces the inside of the container.
  • the outer casing 2 a foam sub-block 15, a screen 16 of aluminum foil, a sub-block 17 in foam, a screen 18 in aluminum foil, a sub-block 19 in foam, a screen 20 in aluminum foil, and the inner casing 1.
  • a mass of complementary hard foam 21 completes the insulation means 3 to fill the space delimited between, the bowl 15, the crown 4 with its wing 5 and the flanges 7 and 10.
  • the bowl 15 can be coated externally a reflective screen made of aluminum foil (not shown), or else the internal face of the sheet 9 can be made reflective.
  • each of these bowls consists of a set of rectangular aluminum sheets (screen 16, 18 and 20) or rectangular plates of foam (bowls 15, 17 and 19, mass 21 juxtaposed.
  • the foam used both for the mass 14 and for the insulation means 3 is a closed cell foam sufficiently hard to serve as a spacer between the flat plates constituting the envelopes 1 and 2.
  • a compromise is chosen; satisfactory results have been obtained with a polyurethane foam having a density of the order of 50 to 100 kg / m 3 , preferably from 50 to 60 kg / m 3 .
  • a polyurethane foam having such a density and commercially available under the brand "KLEGE-CEL" this foam having been pre-steamed to reduce the pumping time for vacuuming.
  • a housing 22 in which is disposed a suitable quantity of an adsorbent 23.
  • an adsorbent 23 for a container liquid nitrogen, a mixture of activated carbon and zeolites can be chosen as absorbent.
  • the hardness of the foam is chosen to be sufficient to ensure effective support for the two envelopes when the vacuum is achieved.
  • the two envelopes do not undergo any significant deformation, atmospheric pressure ensuring uniform and regular support of their plates on the foam, while allowing relative expansions-contractions of the two envelopes.
  • Putting the foam under vacuum improves its coefficient of thermal conductivity and makes it possible, for identical performance, to reduce the total thickness of foam and, consequently, the cost and size of the container.
  • the presence of aluminum screens reduces heat losses by radiation.
  • the casing 2 has good resistance to bending and can be used to hang the container support, for example feet (not shown), directly on its external wall 6, while maintaining a uniform support of the sheets on the foam.
  • the container then itself participates in the mechanical strength of the assembly, and one can do without any support frame, which is very advantageous from the point of view of space and construction cost, in particular for large containers.
  • the bonding of the foam 14 on its only outer face, that is to say the sheet 6, may be sufficient to ensure the necessary mechanical strength of the container. We can then do without sheet metal 9, preferably by replacing it with a reflective aluminum sheet. Furthermore, when the foam 6 is bonded to the two sheets 6 and 9, the presence of the rim 10 is optional and essentially has a safety role.
  • the bonding is carried out in a region isolated from the very cold part of the container, where the glue would not resist, and this bonding does not interfere with the expansions-contractions in the cold part.
  • the profile 13 is arranged so as to optimally cut the thermal connection between the sheets 6 and 9, which avoids the appearance of frost in the region of the rim 7.
  • the construction technique described above can also be applied to the manufacture of other insulating structures intended to maintain a very cold atmosphere, for example food freezing tunnels or cryogenic cooling of objects.
  • the rigidity of the construction in fact makes it possible to economically produce and with a reduced overall dimensions open large shapes, in particular with flat faces, which practically do not deform, and in particular tunnel covers with inverted U section having a length of the order of ten times the width and greater than 10 m.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
  • Metal-Oxide And Bipolar Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Integrated Circuits (AREA)
  • Control Of Motors That Do Not Use Commutators (AREA)
  • Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
  • Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
  • Freezing, Cooling And Drying Of Foods (AREA)
  • Building Environments (AREA)
  • Polymers With Sulfur, Phosphorus Or Metals In The Main Chain (AREA)

Abstract

The inner wall of this container is filled with plates of hard foam (14, 15, 17, 19, 21) and placed under vacuum. The foam acts as a spacer between the two inner (1) and outer (2) casings of the container and prevents their deformation through the action of pressure. Its adhesive bonding to the outer wall (16) makes it possible to render the structure self-supporting. Application to parallelepipedal vessels intended for the deep- freezing of food, by immersion in liquid nitrogen, and to covers for tunnels for deep-freezing food. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention est relative à une structure isotherme, notamment pour la fabrication de récipients cryogéniques et de tunnels de refroidissement cryogéniques, du type comprenant une paroi extérieure rigide, une paroi intérieure rigide et, entre ces deux parois, des moyens d'isolation thermique comprenant un bloc de mousse à cellules fermées rigide, la partie externe de ce bloc étant collée par sa face externe sur la paroi extérieure.The present invention relates to an isothermal structure, in particular for the manufacture of cryogenic receptacles and cryogenic cooling tunnels, of the type comprising a rigid external wall, a rigid internal wall and, between these two walls, thermal insulation means comprising a block of rigid closed cell foam, the external part of this block being bonded by its external face to the external wall.

Une structure de ce type est décrite dans le document FR-A-2285569.A structure of this type is described in document FR-A-2285569.

L'invention a pour but de fournir une technique permettant de réaliser des structures isothermes de toutes formes, notamment de grandes dimensions, présentant une tenue mécanique améliorée et une bonne qualité d'isolation et qui soient relativement légères et peu encombrantes.The object of the invention is to provide a technique making it possible to produce isothermal structures of all shapes, in particular of large dimensions, having improved mechanical strength and good quality of insulation and which are relatively light and compact.

Pour ce faire, selon une caractéristique de l'invention, le bloc de mousse forme entretoise entre les deux parois, l'espace délimité entre ces dernières étant sous vide.To do this, according to a characteristic of the invention, the block of foam forms a spacer between the two walls, the space delimited between the latter being under vacuum.

Un exemple de réalisation de l'invention va maintenant être décrit en regard du dessin annexé, sur lequel la figure unique représente en coupe une partie d'un récipient parallélépipédique conforme à l'invention.An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure shows in section a part of a rectangular container according to the invention.

La récipient représenté est un bac ouvert de forme générale parallélépipédique destiné à contenir un liquide cryogénique, par exemple de l'azote liquide en vue de réaliser des opérations de surgélation par immersion de produits alimentaires dans ce liquide. Il est constitué d'une enveloppe extérieure composite 2 au contact de l'air ambiant, et de moyens d'isolation thermique principaux 3 disposés entre ces deux enveloppes.The container shown is an open, generally parallelepipedal container intended to contain a cryogenic liquid, for example liquid nitrogen, in order to carry out deep-freezing operations by immersion of food products in this liquid. It consists of a composite outer shell 2 in contact with the ambient air, and of main thermal insulation means 3 disposed between these two envelopes.

L'enveloppe 1 est en tôle d'acier inoxydable d'épaisseur au moins égale à 1,5 mm et a la forme d'un parallélépipède ouvert vers le haut. Le long de son bord supérieur, elle comporte une couronne extérieure 4 horizontale qui se termine par une aile verticale 5 dirigée vers le bas.The casing 1 is made of stainless steel sheet at least 1.5 mm thick and has the shape of a parallelepiped open upwards. Along its upper edge, it has a horizontal outer crown 4 which ends in a vertical wing 5 directed downwards.

L'enveloppe extérieure 2 est une structure composite constituée:

  • d'une tôle extérieure 6 en acier inoxydable d'épaisseur inférieure ou égale à la tôle 1, s'étendant presque jusqu'au niveau de la couronne 4 et présentant sur son pourtour supérieur un rebord extérieur horizontal 7 qui se termine par une aile 8 dirigée vers le bas, cette dernière étant fixée par une soudure le long de l'aile 5;
  • d'une tôle intérieure 9 en acier ou en aluminium, éventuellement perforée ou du type "Métal Déployé", qui se termine par un rebord extérieur horizontal 10 soudé sur son pourtour sur l'extrémité supérieure de la face interne de la tôle 6 et prolongeant vers l'intérieur le rebord 7. Le rebord 10 est constitué d'une collerette intérieure 11 en acier adjacente à la tôle 9, d'une couronne extérieure 12 en acier adjacente à la tôle 6, et, entre ces deux éléments, d'un profilé 13 en matière plastique à section en X couche, les éléments 11 et 12 étant fixés par collage dans les évidements correspondants à ce profilé;
  • d'une masse de mousse dure 14 maintenue sous vide. Cette mousse 14 peut, comme représenté, être constituée de plusieurs sous-blocs parallélépipédiques juxtaposés emplissant l'espace délimité par les tôles 6 et 9 et le rebord 10. Dans ce cas, ces sous-blocs sont collés à la tôle 6 sur toute leur surface extérieure, et ils sont également collés à la tôle 9 sur toute leur surface intérieure ainsi qu'au rebord 10. En variante, la mousse 14 peut être injectée et adhérer lors de sa formation aux tôles 6 et 9 préalablement préparées de façon appropriée.
The outer envelope 2 is a composite structure consisting of:
  • an outer sheet 6 of stainless steel of thickness less than or equal to the sheet 1, extending almost to the level of the crown 4 and having on its upper periphery a horizontal outer rim 7 which ends in a wing 8 directed downwards, the latter being fixed by a weld along the wing 5;
  • an inner sheet 9 of steel or aluminum, possibly perforated or of the "Expanded Metal" type, which ends in a horizontal outer rim 10 welded around its periphery on the upper end of the inner face of the sheet 6 and extending inwardly the rim 7. The rim 10 consists of an inner flange 11 of steel adjacent to the sheet 9, an outer ring 12 of steel adjacent to the sheet 6, and, between these two elements, a profile 13 made of plastic with an X-layer section, the elements 11 and 12 being fixed by gluing in the recesses corresponding to this profile;
  • a mass of hard foam 14 maintained under vacuum. This foam 14 may, as shown, be made up of several juxtaposed parallelepipedal sub-blocks filling the space delimited by the sheets 6 and 9 and the flange 10. In this case, these sub-blocks are glued to the sheet 6 over their whole outer surface, and they are also bonded to the sheet 9 over their entire inner surface as well as to the rim 10. As a variant, the foam 14 can be injected and adhere during its formation to the sheets 6 and 9 previously prepared in an appropriate manner.

Les enveloppes 1 et 2 délimitent un espace d'interparoi qu'emplissent les moyens d'isolation 3. Ces derniers sont constitués par un bloc rigide qui occupe la totalité de l'interparoi et a donc dans son ensemble la forme générale d'une cuvette parallélépipédique. Ce bloc est composé de trois sous-blocs de mousse en forme de cuvette emboîtés les uns dans les autres, avec interposition d'écrans réflecteurs entre ces sous-blocs et entre le sous-bloc le plus intérieur et l'enveloppe 1 adjacente. Chaque écran est constitué d'une feuille d'aluminium dont la face réfléchissante est tournée vers l'intérieur du récipient.The envelopes 1 and 2 delimit an inter-wall space which the insulation means 3 fill. The latter consist of a rigid block which occupies the entire inter-wall and therefore as a whole has the general shape of a bowl. parallelepiped. This block is composed of three sub-blocks of cup-shaped foam nested one inside the other, with the interposition of reflective screens between these sub-blocks and between the innermost sub-block and the adjacent casing 1. Each screen is made of aluminum foil, the reflective side of which faces the inside of the container.

Ainsi, on trouve, de l'extérieur vers l'intérieur, huit cuvettes emboîtées les unes dans les autres: l'enveloppe extérieure 2, un sous-bloc 15 en mousse, un écran 16 en feuille d'aluminium, un sous-bloc 17 en mousse, un écran 18 en feuille d'aluminium, un sous-bloc 19 en mousse, un écran 20 en feuille d'aluminium, et l'enveloppe intérieure 1.Thus, there are, from the outside to the inside, eight bowls nested one inside the other: the outer casing 2, a foam sub-block 15, a screen 16 of aluminum foil, a sub-block 17 in foam, a screen 18 in aluminum foil, a sub-block 19 in foam, a screen 20 in aluminum foil, and the inner casing 1.

Une masse de mousse dure complémentaire 21 complète les moyens d'isolation 3 pour combler l'espace délimité entre, la cuvette 15, la couronne 4 avec son aile 5 et les rebords 7 et 10. De plus, la cuvette 15 peut être revêtue extérieurement d'un écran réfléchissant en feuille d'aluminium (non représenté), ou bien la face interne de la tôle 9 peut être rendue rélféchissante.A mass of complementary hard foam 21 completes the insulation means 3 to fill the space delimited between, the bowl 15, the crown 4 with its wing 5 and the flanges 7 and 10. In addition, the bowl 15 can be coated externally a reflective screen made of aluminum foil (not shown), or else the internal face of the sheet 9 can be made reflective.

A part les enveloppes 1 et 2, qui sont constituées à partir de tôles planes soudées les unes aux autres, chacune de ces cuvettes est constituée d'un ensemble de feuilles rectangulaires d'aluminium (écran 16, 18 et 20) ou de plaques rectangulaires de mousse (cuvettes 15, 17 et 19, masse 21 juxtaposées.Apart from the envelopes 1 and 2, which are formed from flat sheets welded to each other, each of these bowls consists of a set of rectangular aluminum sheets (screen 16, 18 and 20) or rectangular plates of foam (bowls 15, 17 and 19, mass 21 juxtaposed.

Pour construire le récipient, on réalise les deux enveloppes 1 et 2, on met en place tous les éléments qui composent les cuvettes 15 à 20 dans l'enveloppe extérieure 2, puis on met en place la masse de mousse 21 et l'enveloppe intérieure 1 et l'on ferme hermétiquement par soudage de l'aile 5 de la couronne 4 sur l'aile 8 de l'enveloppe 2 l'espace d'interparoi délimité par les deux enveloppes. On peut en particulier effectuer toutes les soudures par soudage du type TIG (Tungster Inert Gas). Ensuite, au moyen d'une pompe à vide, on établit un vide de l'ordre de 0,13 Pa (10-3mm Hg) dans l'interparoi. Le vide est scellé au moyen d'un clapet spécial limiteur de pression (non représenté) qui évite l'apparition d'une surpression en cas de pénétration accidentelle de liquide cryogénique dans l'inter- paroi.To build the container, we make the two envelopes 1 and 2, we put in place all the elements that make up the bowls 15 to 20 in the outer envelope 2, then we put in place the mass of foam 21 and the inner envelope 1 and the seal 5 of the crown 4 is hermetically closed by welding on the wing 8 of the envelope 2 the inter-wall space delimited by the two envelopes. In particular, all TIG welds (Tungster Inert Gas) can be welded. Then, by means of a vacuum pump, establishes a vacuum of about 0.13 Pa (10- 3 mm Hg) in the inter-wall. The vacuum is sealed by means of a special limiter valve pressure (not shown) which prevents the appearance of an overpressure in the event of accidental penetration of cryogenic liquid into the inter-wall.

La mousse utilisée tant pour la masse 14 que pour les moyens d'isolation 3 est une mousse à cellules fermées suffisamment dure pour servir d'entretoise entre les plaques planes constituant les enveloppes 1 et 2. Comme la dureté d'une mousse croît avec sa densité tandis que ses performances d'isolation thermique décroissent lorsque cette densité augmente, on choisit un compromis; des résultats satisfaisants ont été obtenus avec une mousse de polyuréthane ayant une masse volumique de l'ordre de 50 à 100 kg/ m3, de préférence de 50 à 60 kg/m3. On peut en particulier faire appel à une mousse de polyuréthane ayant une telle masse volumique et disponible dans le commerce sous la marque "KLEGE-CEL", cette mousse ayant été préétuvée pour réduire le temps de pompage pour la mise sous vide.The foam used both for the mass 14 and for the insulation means 3 is a closed cell foam sufficiently hard to serve as a spacer between the flat plates constituting the envelopes 1 and 2. As the hardness of a foam increases with its density while its thermal insulation performance decreases when this density increases, a compromise is chosen; satisfactory results have been obtained with a polyurethane foam having a density of the order of 50 to 100 kg / m 3 , preferably from 50 to 60 kg / m 3 . In particular, it is possible to use a polyurethane foam having such a density and commercially available under the brand "KLEGE-CEL", this foam having been pre-steamed to reduce the pumping time for vacuuming.

Pour maintenir le niveau de vide malgré le dégazage des cellules de la mousse, on prévoit dans la cuvette intérieure 19, du côté de l'enveloppe 1, un logement 22 dans lequel est disposée une quantité convenable d'un adsorbant 23. Pour un récipient d'azote liquide, on peut choisir comme absorbant un mélange de charbon actif et de zéolites.To maintain the vacuum level despite the degassing of the foam cells, there is provided in the internal bowl 19, on the side of the casing 1, a housing 22 in which is disposed a suitable quantity of an adsorbent 23. For a container liquid nitrogen, a mixture of activated carbon and zeolites can be chosen as absorbent.

Avant la mise sous vide, toutes les plaques constituant le récipient sont déjà au contact les unes des autres. La dureté de la mousse est choisie suffisante pour assurer un support efficace aux deux enveloppes lorsque le vide est réalisé. Ainsi, les deux enveloppes ne subissent pas de déformation notable, la pression atmosphérique assurant un appui uniforme et régulier de leurs plaques sur la mousse, tout en permettant des dilatations-contractions relatives des deux enveloppes.Before the evacuation, all the plates constituting the container are already in contact with each other. The hardness of the foam is chosen to be sufficient to ensure effective support for the two envelopes when the vacuum is achieved. Thus, the two envelopes do not undergo any significant deformation, atmospheric pressure ensuring uniform and regular support of their plates on the foam, while allowing relative expansions-contractions of the two envelopes.

La mise sous vide de la mousse améliore son coefficient de conductibilité thermique et permet, pour des performances identiques, de réduire l'épaisseur totale de mousse et, par suite, le coût et l'encombrement du récipient. La présence des écrans d'aluminium réduit les pertes thermiques par rayonnement.Putting the foam under vacuum improves its coefficient of thermal conductivity and makes it possible, for identical performance, to reduce the total thickness of foam and, consequently, the cost and size of the container. The presence of aluminum screens reduces heat losses by radiation.

Par ailleurs, grâce à sa structure composite collée, l'enveloppe 2 présente une bonne résistance à la flexion et peut servir à l'accrochage de support du récipient, par exemple de pieds (non représentés), directement sur sa paroi externe 6, tout en conservant un appui uniforme des tôles sur la mousse. Le récipient participe alors lui- même à la résistance mécanique de l'ensemble, et l'on peut se passer de tout bâti-support, ce qui est très avantageux du point de vue de l'encombrement et du coût de construction, notamment pour les récipients de grandes dimensions.Furthermore, thanks to its bonded composite structure, the casing 2 has good resistance to bending and can be used to hang the container support, for example feet (not shown), directly on its external wall 6, while maintaining a uniform support of the sheets on the foam. The container then itself participates in the mechanical strength of the assembly, and one can do without any support frame, which is very advantageous from the point of view of space and construction cost, in particular for large containers.

Il est à noter à ce sujet que dans certains cas, le collage de la mousse 14 sur sa seule face extérieure, c'est-à-dire à la tôle 6, peut suffire pour assurer la résistance mécanique nécessaire du récipient. On peut alors se passer de la tôle 9, de préférence en la remplaçant par une feuille d'aluminium réfléchissante. Par ailleurs, lorsque la mousse 6 est collée aux deux tôles 6 et 9, la présence du rebord 10 est facultative et a essentiellement un rôle de sécurité.It should be noted in this regard that in some cases, the bonding of the foam 14 on its only outer face, that is to say the sheet 6, may be sufficient to ensure the necessary mechanical strength of the container. We can then do without sheet metal 9, preferably by replacing it with a reflective aluminum sheet. Furthermore, when the foam 6 is bonded to the two sheets 6 and 9, the presence of the rim 10 is optional and essentially has a safety role.

Dans tous les cas, le collage est réalisé dans une région isolée de la partie très froide du récipient, où la colle ne résisterait pas, et ce collage ne gêne pas les dilatations-contractions en partie froide.In all cases, the bonding is carried out in a region isolated from the very cold part of the container, where the glue would not resist, and this bonding does not interfere with the expansions-contractions in the cold part.

Il est à noter que le profilé 13 est disposé de façon à couper de façon optimale la liaison thermique entre les tôles 6 et 9, ce qui évite l'apparition de givre dans la région du rebord 7.It should be noted that the profile 13 is arranged so as to optimally cut the thermal connection between the sheets 6 and 9, which avoids the appearance of frost in the region of the rim 7.

La même technique pourrait s'appliquer à la réalisation de récipients de révolution. Par exemple, pour un récipient cylindrique, on utiliserait un bloc de mousse façonné en forme d'anneau cylindrique, éventuellement en deux ou plusieurs secteurs. La fonction d'entretoise remplie par ce bloc permettrait de diminuer l'épaisseur des tôles constituant les deux enveloppes jusqu'à la valeur juste nécessaire pour efectuer les opérations de soudage sans détériorer la mousse.The same technique could be applied to the production of revolution vessels. For example, for a cylindrical container, a block of foam shaped like a cylindrical ring would be used, possibly in two or more sectors. The spacer function fulfilled by this block would make it possible to reduce the thickness of the sheets constituting the two envelopes to the value just necessary to effect the welding operations without damaging the foam.

En variante, pour faciliter le pompage lors de la mise sous vide de l'interparoi, on peut utiliser des blocs ou des plaques de mousse rainurés.Alternatively, to facilitate pumping during the evacuation of the interwall, it is possible to use grooved blocks or foam plates.

La technique de construction décrite ci-dessus peut également s'appliquer à la fabrication d'autres structures isolantes destinées à conserver une ambiance très froide, par exemple de tunnels de surgélation alimentaire ou de refroidissement cryogénique d'objets. La rigidité de la construction permet en effet de réaliser de façon économique et avec un encombrement réduit des formes ouvertes de grandes dimensions, notamment à faces planes, qui ne se déforment pratiquement pas, et en particulier des couvercles de tunnels à section en U inversé ayant une longueur de l'ordre de dix fois la largeur et supérieure à 10 m.The construction technique described above can also be applied to the manufacture of other insulating structures intended to maintain a very cold atmosphere, for example food freezing tunnels or cryogenic cooling of objects. The rigidity of the construction in fact makes it possible to economically produce and with a reduced overall dimensions open large shapes, in particular with flat faces, which practically do not deform, and in particular tunnel covers with inverted U section having a length of the order of ten times the width and greater than 10 m.

Claims (15)

1. An isothermal structure, of the type comprising a rigid outer wall (6), a rigid inner wall (1) and, between said two walls, thermal insulating means (3) comprising a rigid block (14, 15, 17, 19, 21) of foam material of closed cells, the outer part (14) of said block being adhered by its outer surface to the outer wall (6), characterized in that the block (14, 15, 17, 19, 21) of foam material forms spacer means between the walls (1, 6) and in that the space defined between the two walls (1, 6) is under a vacuum.
2. A structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the adhesion is effected on the whole of the outer surface of said outer part (14).
3. A structure according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the foam material is a polyurethane foam material having a voluminal mass of the order of 50 to 100 Kg/m3, and preferably 50 to 60 Kg/m 3.
4. A structure according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a sheet (20) comprising a reflecting face oriented toward said inner wall (1) is interposed between the block (6, 8, 10, 20) of foam material and said wall.
5. A structure according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said block (14, 15, 17, 19, 21) of foam material comprises a plurality of juxtaposed subblocks.
6. A structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the elements comprising a reflecting face oriented toward said inner wall (1) are interposed between the subblocks (14, 15, 17, 19, 21).
7. A structure according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an absorbent material (23) is disposed in the block of foam material, in particular in a place adjacent the inner wall (1).
8. A structure according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has planar faces.
9. A structure according to claim 8 in combination with one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the subblocks (14, 15, 17, 19, 21) are constituted by planar plates of foam material.
10. A structure according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the block (14, 15, 17, 19, 21) of foam material comprises grooved sub-blocks.
11. A structure according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the outer part (14) of the block (14, 15, 17, 19, 21) of foam material is also adhered by its inner face to a rigid intermediate wall (9).
12. A structure according to claim 11, characterized in that the intermediate wall (9) is mechanically connected to the outer wall (6).
13. A structure according to claim 12, characterized in that said connection is achieved through the intermediary of a member (13) of insulating material.
14. A structure according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it constitutes a cryogenic liquid tank.
15. A structure according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it constitutes a cover having an inverted U-shaped section for a cryogenic cooling tunnel.
EP87402065A 1986-09-18 1987-09-16 Insulating structure Expired - Lifetime EP0261033B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT87402065T ATE59827T1 (en) 1986-09-18 1987-09-16 INSULATING STRUCTURE.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8613061 1986-09-18
FR8613061A FR2604157B1 (en) 1986-09-18 1986-09-18 ISOTHERMAL STRUCTURE

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0261033A1 EP0261033A1 (en) 1988-03-23
EP0261033B1 true EP0261033B1 (en) 1991-01-09

Family

ID=9339065

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87402065A Expired - Lifetime EP0261033B1 (en) 1986-09-18 1987-09-16 Insulating structure

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EP (1) EP0261033B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS6392897A (en)
AT (1) ATE59827T1 (en)
AU (1) AU596216B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1318267C (en)
DE (1) DE3767257D1 (en)
DK (1) DK164658C (en)
ES (1) ES2021076B3 (en)
FR (1) FR2604157B1 (en)
GR (1) GR3001742T3 (en)
NZ (1) NZ221814A (en)

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WO1989000265A1 (en) * 1987-06-29 1989-01-12 Norman Lindsay Wood Angled laminate panel, apparatus and method of manufacture
FR2664240B1 (en) * 1990-07-04 1992-10-23 Hernas Bernard INSULATED BOX AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF.
DE69609063T3 (en) * 1995-04-13 2004-03-11 Huntsman International Llc.(N.D.Ges.D.Staates Delaware), Salt Lake City METHOD FOR PRODUCING NON-FLAT VACUUM INSULATION PANELS
DE19519407A1 (en) * 1995-05-26 1996-11-28 Aeg Hausgeraete Gmbh Baking and roasting oven muffle
US6632648B1 (en) 1996-05-14 2003-10-14 Elan Drug Delivery Limited Methods of terminal sterilization of fibrinogen
US7005181B2 (en) 2000-04-06 2006-02-28 American Aerogel Corporation Organic, open cell foam materials, their carbonized derivatives, and methods for producing same
WO2002044032A2 (en) * 2000-11-29 2002-06-06 American Aerogel Corporation Insulated barriers and methods for producing same
FR2900135B1 (en) * 2006-04-24 2009-11-27 Philippe Assouly DEVICE MADE OF ISOTHERMIC POT AND SINGLE-USE CONTAINERS FOR RECEIVING LIQUID NITROGEN FOR MEDICAL THERAPEUTIC USES
NL2001023C2 (en) * 2007-11-20 2009-05-25 Coltratech B V Thermally insulated container with at least two stacked layers of vacuum insulation panels.
WO2023196979A2 (en) * 2022-04-08 2023-10-12 Isthmus Cryotech, Inc. Cryogenic cooling apparatus and related methods

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US2485647A (en) * 1945-10-26 1949-10-25 Glenn H Norquist Insulated container structure
US3682346A (en) * 1970-03-23 1972-08-08 Marathon Oil Co Liquid cryogen storage tank for shore, ship or barge
US3695483A (en) * 1970-11-27 1972-10-03 Louis A Pogorski Thermal insulation and thermally insulated device
JPS5828235B2 (en) * 1974-09-20 1983-06-14 ニホンソフランカコウ カブシキガイシヤ How can I make a difference?
FR2458740A1 (en) * 1979-06-08 1981-01-02 Technigaz METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING A LOW TEMPERATURE LIQUID STORAGE TANK
JPS597416B2 (en) * 1981-08-10 1984-02-18 株式会社クラレ Manufacturing method of milk protein fiber bundle molded product
US4492725A (en) * 1982-07-20 1985-01-08 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Composite thermal insulator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK164658C (en) 1992-12-14
ATE59827T1 (en) 1991-01-15
FR2604157A1 (en) 1988-03-25
DK485487A (en) 1988-03-17
NZ221814A (en) 1989-01-06
AU7860887A (en) 1988-03-24
CA1318267C (en) 1993-05-25
DK164658B (en) 1992-07-27
GR3001742T3 (en) 1992-11-23
JPS6392897A (en) 1988-04-23
DE3767257D1 (en) 1991-02-14
FR2604157B1 (en) 1989-09-01
AU596216B2 (en) 1990-04-26
DK485487D0 (en) 1987-09-16
ES2021076B3 (en) 1991-10-16
EP0261033A1 (en) 1988-03-23

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