US2859895A - Insulating tank for cold boiling liquids - Google Patents

Insulating tank for cold boiling liquids Download PDF

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Publication number
US2859895A
US2859895A US499570A US49957055A US2859895A US 2859895 A US2859895 A US 2859895A US 499570 A US499570 A US 499570A US 49957055 A US49957055 A US 49957055A US 2859895 A US2859895 A US 2859895A
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United States
Prior art keywords
liquid
gas
shell
lining
louvres
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Expired - Lifetime
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US499570A
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English (en)
Inventor
Beckwith Sterling
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Constock Liquid Methane Corp
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Constock Liquid Methane Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL102073D priority Critical patent/NL102073C/xx
Priority to BE540004D priority patent/BE540004A/xx
Application filed by Constock Liquid Methane Corp filed Critical Constock Liquid Methane Corp
Priority to US499570A priority patent/US2859895A/en
Priority to GB20628/55A priority patent/GB789755A/en
Priority to DEU3433A priority patent/DE1165625B/de
Priority to FR1135932D priority patent/FR1135932A/fr
Priority to ES0223851A priority patent/ES223851A1/es
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2859895A publication Critical patent/US2859895A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
    • F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
    • F17C3/025—Bulk storage in barges or on ships
    • 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
    • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
    • F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
    • F17C3/04—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation by insulating layers
    • F17C3/06—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation by insulating layers on the inner surface, i.e. in contact with the stored fluid
    • 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
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/05—Size
    • F17C2201/052—Size large (>1000 m3)
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0354—Wood
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0358—Thermal insulations by solid means in form of panels
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0375—Thermal insulations by gas
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0604—Liners
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
    • F17C2203/0636—Metals
    • F17C2203/0639—Steels
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
    • F17C2203/0658—Synthetics
    • F17C2203/066—Plastics
    • 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
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
    • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
    • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
    • 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
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
    • 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
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
    • 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
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/04—Methods for emptying or filling
    • F17C2227/044—Methods for emptying or filling by purging
    • 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
    • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
    • F17C2260/03—Dealing with losses
    • F17C2260/031—Dealing with losses due to heat transfer
    • 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
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
    • F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water
    • F17C2270/0105—Ships
    • 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
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
    • F17C2270/0165—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road
    • F17C2270/0168—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road by vehicles
    • F17C2270/0171—Trucks
    • 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
    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
    • F17C2270/0165—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road
    • F17C2270/0168—Applications for fluid transport or storage on the road by vehicles
    • F17C2270/0173—Railways
    • Y—GENERAL 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
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S220/00—Receptacles
    • Y10S220/901—Liquified gas content, cryogenic

Definitions

  • My invention relates to improvements in method and apparatus for storing and shipping cold boiling liquids at low pressure and ambient temperature.
  • cold boiling I mean liquids which have an active liquid boiling point, at atmospheric pressure, of less than 60 F. and equilibrium vapor pressure of one atmosphere at the atmospheric boiling temperature;
  • low pressure I mean such pressure, approximating atmospheric, that in designing and constructing a tank to contain the liquid, the difference between the gas pressure and the atmospheric pressure outside of the tank may be disregarded.
  • ambient temperature I mean the temperature of the ambient air to which the tank containing theliquid is exposed in storage or transit. This temperature depending on season and geographic conditions might well vary between somewhat below F. and somewhat above 110 F.
  • My invention' is' especially well adapted to storage andtransportation of such a cold boiling liquid as natural gas, or its components, the boiling point of which, at atmospheric pressure is in the order of 258 F.
  • the invention is also applicable to the storage and transport of any liquid, which at the atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature prevailing at the time when and the place where the liquid is located needs insulation to protect it against excessive boiling or evaporation.
  • the tank will include a wall, shell or barrier, impervious to liquid or gas and will have a relatively thick insulating lining, pervious to liquid and gas and in direct contact with the liquid in the tank.
  • the shell and the lining will together form a' self-supporting tankstructure wherein either or both furnishes the structural strength.
  • the shell will be preferably of heat conducting metal.
  • the shell may be of plastic or other non-metallic material, but it must in any event, be impervious to gas and liquid.
  • the lining must completely mask the shell and must be of a material which does not appreciably lose its insulating value and structural strength in contact with the cold liquid and gas.
  • the lining limits the rate of heat inflow from the shell, warmed as the latter is by the ambient air, to the cold liquid mass in the tank and completely prevents contact of the cold liquid with the shell.
  • the shell and lining of the empty tank will usually be at ambient temperature.
  • the lining will be cooled but the shell will not be cooled and the lining will shrink.
  • the lining will be installed in the shell, under pressure sufficient to compress it at least as much as and preferably more than the shrinkage resulting from such cooling.
  • the level of the cold liquid When the tank is filled, the level of the cold liquid will usually be somewhat below the top of the tank and the space above the liquid will be filled by the gas'or Vapor evaporated therefrom.
  • The'li'quid,'in direct-contact with the pervious lining will migrate'therethrough toward the shell in capillary filamentsi T he force: causing this migration will be in part capillary attraction'and' in part the hydraulic pressure ofthe-liquid above" thepoi'n't of penetration at each capillary.
  • Capillary attraction will be generally uniform but the hydraulic pressure decreases as the distance between the point of penetration and the surface of the liquid decreases.
  • theouter boundary of the insulating-zone where it contacts the shell will be somewhat below approximately 58 F. and the inner boundary of the zone in contact with the liquid mass will be at 258 F.
  • the temperature gradient will be 316 F. and since the insulation resists heat flow generally uniformly, the temperature in the lining will drop steadily from the shell toward the liquid.
  • the capillary filaments migrate outwardly, being. of relatively large surface area in relation to their volume and cross section, they will be exposed to progressively increasing heat so that before they can penetrate the insulating zone deep enough to contact the shell they will be vaporized and the resultant vapor if it. continues its travel toward the shell will be further heated so as to contact the shell at a temperature much higher thanlthe boiling temperature. 7
  • the pressure of the gas will under most circumstances be sufiicient to expel the liquid from the pervious lining so that boiling will take place along the inner boundary of the lining where it is contacted by the liquid in which case the gas will pass up for discharge to the gas pocket above the liquid level. If the gas migrates upwardly through the lining, it will finally reach an area where it-can pass outwardly through the lining to enter the gas pocket or gas dome above the liquid level. Perhaps both paths may be followed by the gas. In either event, so long as heat sufiicient to cause boiling reaches the liquid mass, boiling will take place without substantial change in the temperature of the mass just as steam escapes from boiling water on the stove without substantial change in temperature of the water mass. In this case, since I propose storage and ship ment of the gas at atmospheric pressure, the gas will be allowed to escape from the gas pocket in the tank from above the liquid level at such rate as will-maintain the desired pressure.
  • tank lining 3 comprising a wall made of a multiplicity of separate blocks or strips or panels of a light, permeable, preferably straight grained, natural or synthetic wood-like material having a high insulating factor.
  • the separate elements comprising the Wall will be assembled with the grain horizontal and parallel to the tank wall so that a minimum of end grain will be exposed to the liquid. Such material will normally be less pervious to gas and liquid across the grain than parallel with it. So the arrangement I propose offers an adequate resistance -t o penetration of'liquid toward the shell and an adequat'e resistance to escape of gas upwardly along the shell.
  • balsa wood is today from every point of view an ideal material for this purpose but other materials may under some circumstances be used 'with entire satisfaction.
  • Such louvres can be of material of limited conductivity and because the pressures are balanced between the gas and the liquid, those louvres can be light and even flexi- 1ble. They may, for instance, be made of any one of the plastic compositions which retain sufficient strength and impermeability for this purpose under the conditions of low temperature involved.
  • such louvres may be associated with a porous material such as the lining above referred to, either facing the louvres or completely filling the space between them. In the latter case, the louvres will furnish a positive resistance to escape of gas upwardly through the lining along the face of the tank.
  • Figure 2 is a section on an enlarged scale through the insulation
  • Figure 3 is a section on an enlarged scale through a portion of a tank wall showing a modified form of insulation using louvres to define gas pockets;
  • Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 3 showing the louvres associated with a porous material
  • Figure 5 is a similar section to Figure 4 showing the pockets between the louvres filled with the porous material
  • Figure 6 is a further modification where the louvres are in part lined with porous material and in part freely project from the porous material into the body of the tank.
  • 1 is a tank shell. It is preferably of suitable structural steel and is both liquid and gas impervious.
  • 2 indicates generally an insulating lining for the side wall and 3 an insulating lining for the floor.
  • the roof lining is to all intents and purposes the same as the floor lining and in the interest of clarity is not illustrated.
  • the lining is made up of a plurality of slabs or sections or elements 4 which may be cemented together along vertical horizontal glue planes 5 and 6 respectively.
  • the planes are staggered'so that there is no uninterrupted glue plane extending from the liquid mass to the outer shell or barrier.
  • 7 indicates the grain or pores of the lining element. If, as may frequently be the case, it will be of natural straight grain wood, the pores or grain are arranged generally horizontal and parallel with the shell.
  • a plurality of louvres have vertical flanges 8 cemented or otherwise attached to the inner periphery of the shell 1.
  • Intermediate portions 9 are downwardly and inwardly inclined and vertical terminal skirts 10 extend downwardly parallel with the wall.
  • the skirts 10 extend downwardly a distance substantially below the upper extremity of each lower louvre so that a plurality of gas pockets 11 are defined between the shell 1, the downwardly and inwardly inclined portions of two of the louvres, the skirt of one and the liquid mass which is indicated at 12.
  • These louvres will preferably be of some material which has a very low degree of heat conductivity, preferably some of the plastics such as Teflon or Kel-F. These louvres extend clear around the tank and so each pair of louvres define an annular pocket extending clear around the tank. Since there is gas pressure in each of the pockets below the liquid level, the louvres can be of relatively thin, light material. Under some circumstances they might be of very thin metal, such as some of the nickel alloys, which would not be deteriorated by or lose its strength as a result of contact with the cold liquid and have a very high thermal resistance. A very thin metal foil would have a very low conductivity and under some circumstances there would be no objection to that although ordinarily a plastic sheet is preferable.
  • the louvres are formed in part of pervious and in part of impervious material similar to the lining material disclosed in Figures l and 2.
  • the impervious element is shown below the porous material to insure that there will be no escape of the gas through the pervious material to the next higher gas pocket.
  • each annular gas pocket defined by the louvre is closed against the escape of upward movement of the gas
  • a relatively thin sheet of porous material 15, together with the plastic or metal louvre 9 defines the upper boundary of each of the annular pockets.
  • a plurality of insulating porous pieces 16 are arranged about the periphery of the tank being interrupted by the impervious louvres 9.
  • the louvres 9 as indicated extendinwardly beyond the insulating porous material 16.
  • the shell and lining will both be at ambient temperature far .above the boiling point of the cold boiling liquid and will be filled with air. Steps must first be taken to expel the air. This may well be done by filling the tank with carbon dioxide or other inert gas which mixed with the vapor from the liquefied gas will not form an explosive mixture.
  • the cold liquid When the cold liquid is thereafter placed in the tank, it will boil from the heat in the lining and so there will always be the liquid in gaseous or vaporous phase above the surface of the liquid as the tank is filled.
  • the cold liquid will chill the porous lining of Figures 1 and 2 tending to cause it to shrink but since the lining is already under a compression at ambient temperature, the chilling will merely lower that compression pressure and since the compression pressure will shrink or compress the lining more than it will shrink from the cold, a continuous permeable insulating barrier will remain between the cold liquid and the tank wall.
  • the liquid will wet the lining and since the lining is pervious to the liquid, the liquid will tend to enter the lining along capillary pores being drawn in by capillary attraction. It will also be forced in by hydraulic pressure of the liquid colu'mn above each point of penetration so there can be a gradual migration of liquid in capillary filaments into the lining.
  • the distance between the liquid mass and the shell in a direction perpendicular to the shell is much less than the distance from the point of capillary penetration to a discharge in the gas pocket above the liquid everywhere except just at the top of the tank.
  • the longer the capillary passage to be traveled by the gas the greater the resistance. Therefore, especially since in the case of wood where the grain is parallel with the shell and horizontally disposed, the resistance to gas movement or migration upwardly from point of vaporization for discharge to the gas pocket is at a maximum.
  • the resistance to travel of gas back from the shell to the mass of liquid comes in part from resistance to flow through the capillary in part from the capillary attraction between the walls of the capillaries and the liquid and in part from the hydraulic pres- 6 sure head.
  • the balance between the resistance to movement of gas upwardly toward the gas pocket on the one hand and horizontally back toward the liquid on the other hand depends on the relationship between the" distance traveled, the hydraulic pressure and the capillary attraction.
  • the liquid is always enclosed in a blanket or cushion or wall of the gas, the gas wall or cushion being localized in the insulating lining and the boundary zone between the liquid and the gas cushion being generally at the surface of the insulation but always continuous to the extent that the gas cushion is' interposed between the liquid and the shell throughout their entire opposed areas.
  • the cushion serves as an insulator. It is sufficiently flexible to compensate for variations in pressures and temperatures and remains continuously, as long as there is cold boiling liquid in the tank, as a'barrier between the liquid and the tank wall whereby the tank wall is never allowed to be contacted by and so brought down to the temperature of the cold boiling liquid.
  • This cushion whether resulting from the louvre structure of Figure 3 or the louvre structure in combination with porous or pervious material as in Figures 4, 5 and 6 or from the pervious porous material of Figures 1 and 2 is always a living, flowing, continuously generated cushion which controls and always remains interposed between the solid mass of liquid and the shell.
  • the pervious lining If the pervious lining is used, it is wetted by the liquid, the liquid is vaporized and the living, continuous cushion of gas is localized and held between the liquid and the shell by the pervious lining.
  • the louvres or some similar mechanism are used to define a multiplicity of relatively large gas pockets, those gas pockets together define the continuous, living, flexible cushion interposed at all times between the liquid and the shell.
  • the material between the capillary pores or the material of the glue planes or the material of the louvres being themselves not good conductors and being of relatively small cross sectional area in proportion to the surface of the shell masked by the cushion from contact with the liquid do not permit any excess heat penetration.
  • Some heat penetration to the liquid mass will always take place, under most circumstances is desirable, can be predicted and controlled. The important thing is that the heat penetration is always from the shell through the gas cushion to the liquid but the liquid itself, as liquid, never contacts the shell and the gas which does contact the shell is always much warmer than the liquid and of such low specific heat that the temperature of the shell is not raised appreciably above ambient temperature.
  • This gas cushion will increase in temperature outwardly toward the shell because of the temperature gradient and gas in contact with the shell will be at a relatively high temperature even though it may be below the temperature of the shell but the shell is always exposed to gas, not to the liquid, so the shell temperature seldom if ever falls below the point at which condensation ofambient air moisture will take place and never below the point at which any deleterious temperature etfect will be felt by the shell.
  • wall or shell that word is intended to means the impervious outer layer through which neither gas nor liquid can penetrate whether it is on the side, top or bottom of the tank or storage reservoir defined thereby.
  • the particular shape of the louvre is not important. All that is required is that the lower inner edge of the louvre be far enough below the zone of contact of the louvre with the shell that the level of the liquid in the pocket defined by each two adjacent louvres be such that the liquid never contacts the shell and always contacts the lower louvre below its area of contact with the shell. Since the base of the louvre in contact with the shell is out of line with the inner portion of the louvre shrinkage of the part of the louvre chilled far below the temperatureof the shell may cause distortion but since that part of the louvre in contact with the shell is at shell temperature a gas tight seal will continue to exist even if a part of the louvre should draw away from the shell.
  • the pockets are defined by the impervious louvres, may be filled with porous or pervious material. Since the impervious louvre limits and controls gas escape the filler for the pockets may, if desired, not be under initial compression but even if clearance develops about or within the louvre filler material the presence of the filler will still inhibit convection currents in the gas in the pocket.
  • evaporation of the liquid take place along the zone of contact between the cold liquid and the insulation exposed to and in direct contact with the liquid.
  • the vapor cushion will be located between the liquid and the insulation and as vaporization continues the vapor will migrate upwardly along the area of contact toward the vapor dome above the liquid.
  • this preferred threshold is reached when the escape of vapor upwardly through the porous insulation is at a lower rate than the rate of evaporation at the surface of the insulation.
  • gas generated by evaporation within the pervious lining may migrate upwardly and return to the area between the lining and the liquid at a point below the liquid level depending upon possible differences in the resistance to gas migration in various parts of the lining.
  • a tank for storage at low pressure of cold boiling liquids which includes a shell impervious to liquid and gas, a porous, liquid and gas permeable insulating lining interposed as a lining between the shell and the liquid and directly in contact with the liquid, the lining being more permeable along horizontal lines parallel with the shell than it is along horizontal lines perpendicular there to so as to provide greater resistance to the flow of liquid and vapors endwise through the lining from the liquid to the shell than to the flow of liquid and vapors through the lining parallel to the shell.
  • Atank for storage at low pressure of cold boiling liquids which includes a shell impervious to liquid and gas, a liquid and gas permeable insulating lining interposed as a lining between the shell and the liquid and directly in contact with the liquid, the lining being more permeable along horizontal lines parallel with the shell than it is along vertical lines parallel with the shell so as to provide greater resistance to flow of liquid and gases through the lining in a vertical direction as compared to the direction of flow of liquid and gases through the lining in a horizontal direction.
  • a tank for storage at low pressure of cold boiling liquids which includes a shell impervious to liquid and gas, a liquid and gas permeable insulating lining interposed as a lining between the shell and the liquid and directly in contact with the liquid, the lining being more permeable along horizontal lines parallel with the shell than it is along horizontal lines perpendicular to and along vertical lines parallel with the shell so as to provide greater resistance to flow of liquid and gases through the lining in a vertical direction as compared to the direction of flow of liquid and gases through the lining in a horizontal direction.
  • a tank for storage at low pressure of cold boiling liquids including a shell impervious to liquid and gas, a liquid and gas permeable insulating lining therefor, exposed to direct contact with the liquid, built up of a multiplicity of substantially straight grained wood-like sections, cemented in place to completely mask the shell, the grain of the sections being generally horizontal and parallel with the adjacent shell wall so as to provide greater resistance to flow of vapors and liquids endwise through the lining from the liquid to the shell as compared to the flow of liquids and vapors through the lining parallel to the shell.
  • a tank for storage of cold boiling liquids including a shell impervious to gas and liquid, a plurality of horizontally disposed louvres extending inwardly and downwardly about the vertical inner boundary of the shell, arranged one above the other, the inner lower periphery of each louvre terminating substantially below the upper, outer periphery of the louvre below it, each louvre being in impervious contact with the inner wall of the shell, being itself impervious to gas and liquid and being composed of such material so dimensioned as to have low heat conductivity.
  • a tank for storage of cold boiling liquids including a shell impervious to gas and liquid, a plurality of horizontally disposed louvres extending inwardly and downwardly about the vertical inner boundary of the shell, arranged one above the other, the inner lower periphery of each louvre terminating substantially below the upper, outer periphery of the louvre below it, each louvre being in impervious contact with the inner wall of the shell, being itself impervious to gas and liquid and being made of material having low heat conductivity, the series of louvres defining a plurality of annular gas tight gas pockets closed at their lower boundary by the liquid in the tank.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
US499570A 1955-04-06 1955-04-06 Insulating tank for cold boiling liquids Expired - Lifetime US2859895A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL102073D NL102073C (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png) 1955-04-06
BE540004D BE540004A (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png) 1955-04-06
US499570A US2859895A (en) 1955-04-06 1955-04-06 Insulating tank for cold boiling liquids
GB20628/55A GB789755A (en) 1955-04-06 1955-07-15 Insulating tank for cold boiling liquids
DEU3433A DE1165625B (de) 1955-04-06 1955-07-16 Innenisolierung fuer Behaelter zur Aufbewahrung tiefkalter verfluessigter Gase
FR1135932D FR1135932A (fr) 1955-04-06 1955-08-29 Réservoir isolant
ES0223851A ES223851A1 (es) 1955-04-06 1955-09-06 UN MÉTODO Y UN DISPOSITIVO DE AISLAR LA PARED DE UN RECIPIENTE DESTINADO A CONTENER LiQUIDOS DE EBULLICIoN EN FRIO

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US499570A US2859895A (en) 1955-04-06 1955-04-06 Insulating tank for cold boiling liquids

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2859895A true US2859895A (en) 1958-11-11

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US499570A Expired - Lifetime US2859895A (en) 1955-04-06 1955-04-06 Insulating tank for cold boiling liquids

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US2859895A (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png)
BE (1) BE540004A (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png)
DE (1) DE1165625B (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png)
ES (1) ES223851A1 (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png)
FR (1) FR1135932A (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png)
GB (1) GB789755A (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png)
NL (1) NL102073C (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png)

Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2937780A (en) * 1958-07-01 1960-05-24 Constock Liquid Methane Corp Housing for cold boiling liquids
US2947438A (en) * 1957-12-19 1960-08-02 Texaco Inc Internal insulation structure for use with liquefied petroleum products
US2995268A (en) * 1958-09-05 1961-08-08 Boeing Co Insulated tank construction
US3018018A (en) * 1958-07-01 1962-01-23 Conch Int Methane Ltd Tank for storing low boiling temperature liquids
US3019937A (en) * 1957-10-25 1962-02-06 Conch Int Methane Ltd Insulated tank for storage and transportation of low boiling liquefied gas
US3031856A (en) * 1960-08-17 1962-05-01 Exxon Research Engineering Co Vessel for transporting low temperature liquids
US3039418A (en) * 1958-12-16 1962-06-19 Shell Oil Co Tankers
US3043256A (en) * 1957-04-05 1962-07-10 Wm Cory & Son Ltd Marine tankers
US3050951A (en) * 1959-04-30 1962-08-28 Willard J Gebien Shipping container and method for transporting liquefied gases and the like
US3079026A (en) * 1958-06-25 1963-02-26 Couch Internat Methane Ltd Insulated space and elements employed therein
US3108445A (en) * 1958-07-14 1963-10-29 Union Carbide Corp Acetylene transport system
US3122259A (en) * 1959-09-10 1964-02-25 Kieler Howaldtswerke A G Tanker for liquid gas
US3129684A (en) * 1962-02-06 1964-04-21 Freeport Sulphur Co Insulated ship hull
US3145680A (en) * 1961-02-24 1964-08-25 Hydrocarbon Research Inc Transport of liquefied gases
US3147728A (en) * 1959-06-20 1964-09-08 Nippon Kokan Kk Ship for the transportation of high temperature molten material
US3150793A (en) * 1961-01-23 1964-09-29 Conch Int Methane Ltd Membrane-type insulated tanks
US3158459A (en) * 1960-03-22 1964-11-24 & Chantiers De La Seine Mariti Self-discharging container for conveying and storing low temperature fluids or othermaterials
US3208621A (en) * 1963-08-16 1965-09-28 North American Aviation Inc Insulated tank for liquids boiling below ambient temperatures
US3325037A (en) * 1963-11-12 1967-06-13 Kohn Jean Cryogenic structural insulating panels
US3339784A (en) * 1960-05-27 1967-09-05 Jr Charles George Filstead Insulated structure for use in transportation of cold liquids
US3339783A (en) * 1965-02-24 1967-09-05 Exxon Research Engineering Co Cryogenic container
US3347057A (en) * 1960-09-27 1967-10-17 Marvin C Van Wanderham Rapid cooling method and apparatus
US3668880A (en) * 1970-10-16 1972-06-13 Martin Marietta Corp Capillary insulation
US3693367A (en) * 1970-04-24 1972-09-26 Leonard J Di Peri Thermodynamic control device
US3948406A (en) * 1972-08-10 1976-04-06 Marine And Industrial Developments Limited Storage tanks, particularly for liquified gases
US3958714A (en) * 1973-02-15 1976-05-25 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Heat-insulating structure
US3993213A (en) * 1975-09-04 1976-11-23 Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation Thermally insulated cryogenic container
WO2010086491A1 (en) 2009-02-02 2010-08-05 Tom Sommardal Container

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL234762A (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png) * 1957-03-14
DE1045434B (de) * 1957-06-15 1958-12-04 Linde Eismasch Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Verzoegerung des Druckanstieges und Verringerung der Gasverluste beim Speichern und/oder Transportieren von bei tiefer Temperatur siedender Fluessigkeit
DE1301353B (de) * 1967-10-28 1969-08-21 Otto Dipl Ing Bodengefrierspeicher fuer tiefsiedende verfluessigte Gase
GB2108647B (en) * 1981-10-27 1985-06-12 Capper Neill International Lim Improvements in tanks
DE3429522C1 (de) * 1984-08-10 1985-11-14 Uhde Gmbh, 4600 Dortmund Reaktionsrohrsystem eines Roehrenspaltofens

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US644259A (en) * 1899-05-01 1900-02-27 Oscar Partic Ostergren Receptacle for holding and storing liquid air or other liquid gases.
US2148109A (en) * 1935-05-16 1939-02-21 Union Carbide & Carbon Corp Method and apparatus for handling gas material
US2663626A (en) * 1949-05-14 1953-12-22 Pritchard & Co J F Method of storing gases
US2770951A (en) * 1952-12-31 1956-11-20 Union Stock Yards & Transit Co Apparatus for unloading in gaseous form from a liquefied gas storage body

Family Cites Families (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2177369A (en) * 1936-12-16 1939-10-24 Standard Oil Dev Co Insulation for oil storage tanks
BE530808A (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png) * 1954-05-10

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US644259A (en) * 1899-05-01 1900-02-27 Oscar Partic Ostergren Receptacle for holding and storing liquid air or other liquid gases.
US2148109A (en) * 1935-05-16 1939-02-21 Union Carbide & Carbon Corp Method and apparatus for handling gas material
US2663626A (en) * 1949-05-14 1953-12-22 Pritchard & Co J F Method of storing gases
US2770951A (en) * 1952-12-31 1956-11-20 Union Stock Yards & Transit Co Apparatus for unloading in gaseous form from a liquefied gas storage body

Cited By (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3043256A (en) * 1957-04-05 1962-07-10 Wm Cory & Son Ltd Marine tankers
US3019937A (en) * 1957-10-25 1962-02-06 Conch Int Methane Ltd Insulated tank for storage and transportation of low boiling liquefied gas
US2947438A (en) * 1957-12-19 1960-08-02 Texaco Inc Internal insulation structure for use with liquefied petroleum products
US3079026A (en) * 1958-06-25 1963-02-26 Couch Internat Methane Ltd Insulated space and elements employed therein
US3018018A (en) * 1958-07-01 1962-01-23 Conch Int Methane Ltd Tank for storing low boiling temperature liquids
US2937780A (en) * 1958-07-01 1960-05-24 Constock Liquid Methane Corp Housing for cold boiling liquids
US3108445A (en) * 1958-07-14 1963-10-29 Union Carbide Corp Acetylene transport system
US2995268A (en) * 1958-09-05 1961-08-08 Boeing Co Insulated tank construction
US3039418A (en) * 1958-12-16 1962-06-19 Shell Oil Co Tankers
US3050951A (en) * 1959-04-30 1962-08-28 Willard J Gebien Shipping container and method for transporting liquefied gases and the like
US3147728A (en) * 1959-06-20 1964-09-08 Nippon Kokan Kk Ship for the transportation of high temperature molten material
US3122259A (en) * 1959-09-10 1964-02-25 Kieler Howaldtswerke A G Tanker for liquid gas
US3158459A (en) * 1960-03-22 1964-11-24 & Chantiers De La Seine Mariti Self-discharging container for conveying and storing low temperature fluids or othermaterials
DE1187650B (de) * 1960-03-22 1965-02-25 & Chantiers De La Seine Mariti Tank zur Lagerung oder zum Transport tiefsiedender verfluessigter Gase
US3339784A (en) * 1960-05-27 1967-09-05 Jr Charles George Filstead Insulated structure for use in transportation of cold liquids
US3031856A (en) * 1960-08-17 1962-05-01 Exxon Research Engineering Co Vessel for transporting low temperature liquids
US3347057A (en) * 1960-09-27 1967-10-17 Marvin C Van Wanderham Rapid cooling method and apparatus
US3150793A (en) * 1961-01-23 1964-09-29 Conch Int Methane Ltd Membrane-type insulated tanks
US3145680A (en) * 1961-02-24 1964-08-25 Hydrocarbon Research Inc Transport of liquefied gases
US3129684A (en) * 1962-02-06 1964-04-21 Freeport Sulphur Co Insulated ship hull
US3208621A (en) * 1963-08-16 1965-09-28 North American Aviation Inc Insulated tank for liquids boiling below ambient temperatures
US3325037A (en) * 1963-11-12 1967-06-13 Kohn Jean Cryogenic structural insulating panels
US3339783A (en) * 1965-02-24 1967-09-05 Exxon Research Engineering Co Cryogenic container
US3693367A (en) * 1970-04-24 1972-09-26 Leonard J Di Peri Thermodynamic control device
US3668880A (en) * 1970-10-16 1972-06-13 Martin Marietta Corp Capillary insulation
US3948406A (en) * 1972-08-10 1976-04-06 Marine And Industrial Developments Limited Storage tanks, particularly for liquified gases
US3958714A (en) * 1973-02-15 1976-05-25 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Heat-insulating structure
US3993213A (en) * 1975-09-04 1976-11-23 Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation Thermally insulated cryogenic container
WO2010086491A1 (en) 2009-02-02 2010-08-05 Tom Sommardal Container
CN102300766A (zh) * 2009-02-02 2011-12-28 汤姆·索马尔戴尔 容器
CN102300766B (zh) * 2009-02-02 2015-12-02 汤姆·索马尔戴尔 容器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB789755A (en) 1958-01-29
BE540004A (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png) 1955-08-13
DE1165625B (de) 1964-03-19
ES223851A1 (es) 1956-03-01
NL102073C (US07922777-20110412-C00004.png)
FR1135932A (fr) 1957-05-06

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