US2928254A - Storage tank for low temperature liquids - Google Patents

Storage tank for low temperature liquids Download PDF

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Publication number
US2928254A
US2928254A US457173A US45717354A US2928254A US 2928254 A US2928254 A US 2928254A US 457173 A US457173 A US 457173A US 45717354 A US45717354 A US 45717354A US 2928254 A US2928254 A US 2928254A
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liquid
tank
passage
low temperature
refrigerant
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US457173A
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Rae Randolph Samuel
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Garrett Corp
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Garrett Corp
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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
    • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
    • F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
    • F17C3/10—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation by liquid-circulating or vapour-circulating jackets
    • 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
    • F17C2201/01—Shape
    • F17C2201/0104—Shape cylindrical
    • F17C2201/0109—Shape cylindrical with exteriorly curved end-piece
    • 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
    • F17C2201/03—Orientation
    • F17C2201/035—Orientation with substantially horizontal main axis
    • 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
    • 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
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/012—Hydrogen
    • 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
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/04—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by other properties of handled fluid before transfer
    • F17C2223/042—Localisation of the removal point
    • F17C2223/046—Localisation of the removal point in the liquid
    • 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
    • F17C2223/04—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by other properties of handled fluid before transfer
    • F17C2223/042—Localisation of the removal point
    • F17C2223/046—Localisation of the removal point in the liquid
    • F17C2223/047—Localisation of the removal point in the liquid with a dip tube
    • 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
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0337—Heat exchange with the fluid by cooling
    • F17C2227/0341—Heat exchange with the fluid by cooling using another 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
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0367—Localisation of heat exchange
    • F17C2227/0388—Localisation of heat exchange separate
    • 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
    • F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
    • F17C2260/016—Preventing slosh
    • 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
    • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/03—Treating the boil-off
    • F17C2265/032—Treating the boil-off by recovery
    • F17C2265/033—Treating the boil-off by recovery with cooling
    • F17C2265/034—Treating the boil-off by recovery with cooling with condensing the gas phase
    • 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
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/32—Hydrogen storage

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a storage tank for low tem-' perature liquids and more particularly to tanks for storing low temperature liquid gases, such as liquid hydrogen, and preventing loss of the liquid by evaporation.
  • Low temperature liquids such as liquid hydrogen
  • non-air breathing engines such as disclosed in pending US. application Serial No. 417,867,
  • the separate refrigeration cycle utilizes a heat exchanger for reliquifying the evaporated gases and returning the liquid to the tank.
  • the low temperature liquid passing from the tank is utilized in a second heat exchanger to cool-the refrigerant after it has been compressed to a high pressure.
  • the refrigeration cycle can be of the usual type wherein the refrigerant is compressed, cooled and then expanded to a low temperature and pressure.
  • the refrigerant cycle also utilizes a heat exchanger which receives the low temperature liquid passing from the tank in order to cool the refrigerant after compression. However, after the refrigerant is expanded, it is passed around the tank in order to continually, cool the liquid within the tank and thereby prevent any substantial evaporation. The small amount of liquid which will evaporate in the tank will be passed directly to atmosphere.
  • both forms of the invention provide a liquid storage tank in which a low temperature liquid, such as liquid hydrogen, can be stored in ambient surroundings without excessive evaporation of the-liquid by utilizing a separate refrigeration cycle with a refrigerant of lower temperature than the liquification temperature of the liquid.
  • a low temperature liquid such as liquid hydrogen
  • the refrigerant 'can'consist of any suitable substance such as helium or hydrogen at lower pressure than the pressure within the tank.
  • a still further object ofthe invention is to provide.
  • Figure l is a perspective view of the first form of
  • the invention showing the shape of the tank.
  • Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section along line 2-2 of Figure 1 illustrating the inlet passage and thev baffles for the tank.
  • Figure 3 is a vertical section along line 3--3 of Figure 2 showing the separate refrigeration system associated with the tank.
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second form of the invention illustrating the external connections to the tank. 7 1
  • Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section along line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing the bafiles for the tank and the passages extending around the tank.
  • Figure 6 is a vertical section along line 6-6 of. Figure 5 showing the refrigeration system associated with;
  • the tank Referring to the body having dome shaped ends.
  • the tank has an outer skin 9 which is separated from an inner containerlfl by means of insulation 11.
  • a supply tube 12, having a removable cap 13', is secured to a fitting 13 attachedto the outer skin and inner container and the passage terminates adjacent the bottom surface of the tank.
  • inner container 10 supports two vertical bafiles 14 and
  • the openings in both the vertical and horizontal baffles permit some movement of the liquid within the i81'lk.'
  • the level 20 of the liquid within the tank can varyv asthe liquid is withdrawn from or supplied to'the tank.
  • a pump 21 inpassage 22 draws the gases into the outer chamber 23,.
  • heat exchanger 24 where the evaporated gases are again liquified and returned to thetank through passage 25.
  • the inner passage 26 of heat;exchanger 24 receives the refrigerant, such as cold helium gas, from passage 27.
  • the helium gas temperature in passage 27 will be below the liquifica-Z tion temperature of the hydrogen in the tank in order to liquify the gases entering chamber 23.
  • the refrigerant will leave the heat exchanger 24 through passage281at.
  • the low temperature liquid is; stored in a tank. 8 which is in the form of a cylindrical;
  • the high pressure, low temperature gas in passage 38 is expanded through turbine 39 in order to substantially lower the temperature and pressure of.the refrigerant which leaves the turbine by passage 40.
  • the passage 40.' contains a cooling. coil 41 which surrounds pump 36 and serves to decrease the cavitation losses which result from gas formation at the low pressure within the pump.
  • refrigerant leaving the coil 41 is again passed to the inner chamber 26 of heat exchanger 24 through passage 27.
  • the turbine 39 and the compressor 29 can be connected together by any suitable connection so that the turbine will drive the compressor.
  • a refrigerant such as helium gas of very low temperature
  • heat exchanger 24 in order to continually liquify the gases which evaporate from the surface 20 of the low temperature liquid.
  • the higher. temperature refrigerant leaving heat exchanger 24 is then compressed by compressor 29 and these compressed, high temperature gases are cooled in heat exchanger 32 and then expanded through turbine 39 inorder to obtain lowcontinually re-liquified in heat exchanger 24 and returned to thetank
  • the heat exchangers 24 and 32 can take any desirable form and that the .compressor 29 can be ofthe piston or turbine type.
  • the expansion turbine 39 can be replaced by a piston type expansion engine or by a throttle valve.
  • the insulation 11 can be of any desired type and serves to prevent heat transfer from the tank surroundings to the low temperature liquid.
  • the liquid storagetank '43 also has a cylindrical body with dome shaped ends.
  • the tank is formed of an outer skin 44 and an inner container 45 which contains the low temperature liquid substance.
  • a uniform layer of insulation 46 covers the inner container 45 and an insulation member 47 is positioned between the outer skin and layer 46.
  • the member 47 contains a plurality of passages 48 which pass around the tank from one end to the other and are separated by projections 49' of the member.
  • a supply passage 50 is secured to afit ting 51 supported by both the outer skin and inner container and the passage has a cap 52which can be removed to supply additional low temperature liquid to the tank.
  • the inner container also supports a horizontal bafile 57 having openings 58 for permitting some movement of the liquid.
  • a passage 59 connects with the upper surface of the inner container at a position normally above the level 60' of the low temperature liquid, and this passage permits the escape of evaporated liquid to the atmosphere.
  • a passage 60 supplies low, temperature, low pressure refrigerant to a header space 61 which connects with all of the passages 48 extending around the surface of'the inner container.
  • temperature refrigerant gas passes from header61 around the tank through passages 48 and collects-at header space.
  • This low n ma 4Q header 62 connects through passage 63 to a compressor 64 which increases the pressure and temperature of the gases received from header 62 and the compressed gases from the compressor are connected with the outer chamber 65 of heat exchanger 66 through a passage 67.
  • the inner chamber 68 of heat exchanger 66 is connected with the liquid in the tank through passage 69 which contains a pump 70 for withdrawing the liquid.
  • the low temperature liquid in passage 69' serves to cool the refrigerant gas entering theheat exchanger from passage 67 and. leaves the heat exchanger as a gas through passage'71' to its point of use, such as a non-air breathing engine.
  • Refrigerant gas leaving heat exchanger 66 through passage 72 is expanded-man expansion turbine 73 in order to substantially reduce the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant in'passage 74.
  • a cooling coil 75 is connected between passage 74 and passage 60 and surrounds the pump 70 in order to prevent cavitation losses within the pump resulting from gas formation.
  • the compressor 64 and turbine 73 are connected together by a suitable shaft connection 76 so that the turbine will drive the compressor.
  • the refrigerant system takes the low temperature gas, such as helium, and compresses it to high temperature and pressurein compressor 64. This gas is then cooledto a low temperature by heat exchangor 66 and is then expanded to a low pressure and lower temperature through expansion turbine 73. The ex panded gas is then passed around the pump 70 and perature liquid is available for its intended use.
  • the compressor 64 can be. either of the piston or turbine type-and theexpansiou turbine 73 can be replaced by either a piston expansion engine or a throttle valve.
  • a storage tank for low temperature liquids which prevents the loss of any substant-ial portion of the liquid through evaporation. It is understood that any refrigerant can be used in the refrigeration cycle andthat the refrigerant mustbe of a lower temperature than the storedlow temperature liquid.
  • liquid hydrogen is stored helium gas can be used as the refrigerant since it has a liquificationtemperature lower than that of hydrogen and other low temperature refrigerants could be used, including.
  • the outer skin and inner containerfor both tanks can be formed of any suitable material. such as steel or plastic, which will withstand the low temperatures.
  • An apparatus for storing gas material in theform of low'temperature liquid comprising a storage tankfor said liquid, passage means surrounding the liquid with-inf the tank for cooling the liquid, and means for-supplying refrigerant to said passage means 'at a lower temr. peraturethan-said' liquid, said supplying means comprising means for compressing said refrigerant to high pres:
  • An apparatus for storing gas material in the form of low temperature liquid comprising a storage tank for said liquid, passage means located adjacent said tank and in heat exchange relationship with the gas evaporating from the liquid, and means for supplying said passage means with a refrigerant of lower temperature than said liquid in order to continually cool said evaporated gas, said supplying means comprising compressor means and expansion means for said refrigerant, heat exchanger means connected with said compressor means and said expansion means for cooling the compressed refrigerant prior to entering said expansion means, conduit means for connecting said heat exchanger means with the low temperature liquid in said tank, pump means in said conduit means for circulating low temperature liquid from shell, insulation means positioned between said inner container and said shell, passage means for a refrigerant formed in said insulation means and completely surrounding the surface of said inner containerto cool all the liquid, header means at each end of said tank connecting with said passage means, compressor means I connected with one of said header means for compressing saidrefn'gerant to high temperature and pressure, ex-
  • pansion means connected with said compressor means for liquid from said tank to said heat exchanger means in order'to reduce the temperature of said compressed refrigerant, pump means for said supply means, and a coil in said connecting means and surrounding said pump means in order to prevent cavitation losses resulting from the evaporation of said liquid within said pump means.
  • An apparatus as defined in claim 3 having a passage connecting the upper space of said tank to atmosphere to vent any gas evaporating from said liquid.

Description

R. S. RAE
March 15, 1960' STORAGE TANK FOR LOW TEMPERATURE LIQUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept.
BIA/001.1 11 JAMz/L'L A345,
V NTOR. F/G. 3. E
March 15, 1960 R. S. RAE
STORAGE TANK FOR LOW TEMPERATURE LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet? /E4A/00LPH JAMl/Z EAL,
INVENTOR. 7
Y WM,
United a fis l STORAGE TANK FOR LOW TEMPERATURE LIQUIDS Randolph Samuel Rae, Santa Monica, Calif., assignor to The Garrett Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California I Application September 20, 1954, Serial No. 457,173
4 Claims. (CI. 62-54) This invention relates to a storage tank for low tem-' perature liquids and more particularly to tanks for storing low temperature liquid gases, such as liquid hydrogen, and preventing loss of the liquid by evaporation.
Low temperature liquids, such as liquid hydrogen, can be utilized as fuel for non-air breathing engines such as disclosed in pending US. application Serial No. 417,867,
filed March 22, 1954, by Randolph Samuel Rae and in order to conserve the liquid fuel it is necessary to prevent substantial evaporation. One method of continually cooling the low temperature liquid is disclosed in pending US. application Serial No. 417,658, filed March 22, 1954, by Randolph Samuel Rae, now Patent No. 2,811,234, October 29, 1957, and utilizes the liquid fuel passing to the engine for cooling the evaporated gases and these cooled gases are circulated around the liquid in the tank. By the present invention, it is proposed to use a separate refrigeration cycle in connection with the liquid storage tank so that a refrigerant of lower temperature than the liquid fuel within the tank can be utilized to prevent excessive evaporation.
In one form of the invention, the separate refrigeration cycle utilizes a heat exchanger for reliquifying the evaporated gases and returning the liquid to the tank. The low temperature liquid passing from the tank is utilized in a second heat exchanger to cool-the refrigerant after it has been compressed to a high pressure.
The refrigeration cycle can be of the usual type wherein the refrigerant is compressed, cooled and then expanded to a low temperature and pressure. In 'a second form of the invention, the refrigerant cycle also utilizes a heat exchanger which receives the low temperature liquid passing from the tank in order to cool the refrigerant after compression. However, after the refrigerant is expanded, it is passed around the tank in order to continually, cool the liquid within the tank and thereby prevent any substantial evaporation. The small amount of liquid which will evaporate in the tank will be passed directly to atmosphere. Thus, both forms of the invention provide a liquid storage tank in which a low temperature liquid, such as liquid hydrogen, can be stored in ambient surroundings without excessive evaporation of the-liquid by utilizing a separate refrigeration cycle with a refrigerant of lower temperature than the liquification temperature of the liquid. When liquid hydrogen is being stored, the refrigerant 'can'consist of any suitable substance, such as helium or hydrogen at lower pressure than the pressure within the tank.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a storage tank for low temperature liquids which utilizes a separate refrigeartion system to prevent excessive evaporation of the liquid while in the tank.
tank for low temperature liquids wherein a separate refrigeration cycle is utilized to re-liquify gases evaporating from the tank.
A still further object ofthe invention is to provide.
These and other objects of the invention not specificall set forth above will become readily apparent from the.
following description and drawings, in which:
Figure l is a perspective view of the first form of;
the invention showing the shape of the tank.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section along line 2-2 of Figure 1 illustrating the inlet passage and thev baffles for the tank.
;Figure 3 is a vertical section along line 3--3 of Figure 2 showing the separate refrigeration system associated with the tank.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second form of the invention illustrating the external connections to the tank. 7 1
Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section along line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing the bafiles for the tank and the passages extending around the tank.
Figure 6 is a vertical section along line 6-6 of. Figure 5 showing the refrigeration system associated with;
the tank. Referring to the body having dome shaped ends. The tank has an outer skin 9 which is separated from an inner containerlfl by means of insulation 11. A supply tube 12, having a removable cap 13', is secured to a fitting 13 attachedto the outer skin and inner container and the passage terminates adjacent the bottom surface of the tank. The
inner container 10 supports two vertical bafiles 14 and;
15 having openings 16 and" 17 respectively, and also.
supports a horizontal bafile 18 which has openings 19.,
The openings in both the vertical and horizontal baffles permit some movement of the liquid within the i81'lk.' The level 20 of the liquid within the tank can varyv asthe liquid is withdrawn from or supplied to'the tank. As'the liquid within the tank evaporates, a pump 21 inpassage 22 draws the gases into the outer chamber 23,.
of heat exchanger 24 where the evaporated gases are again liquified and returned to thetank through passage 25. The inner passage 26 of heat;exchanger 24 receives the refrigerant, such as cold helium gas, from passage 27.
When liquid hydrogen is stored in the tank, the helium gas temperature in passage 27 will be below the liquifica-Z tion temperature of the hydrogen in the tank in order to liquify the gases entering chamber 23. The refrigerant will leave the heat exchanger 24 through passage281at.
about the same temperature as the evaporated gasesin passage 22 and will enter compressor 29 whichser-ves 'to increase the pressure and temperature of therefngeranta Compressor 29 discharges the refrigerant through passage 30 to the outer chamber 31' of heat exchanger 32 where, the high pressure refrigerant gas is reduced in temperature. The inner chamber 34 of heat exchanger 32 con nects with the low temperature liquid supply in the inner container 10'thro'ugh a passage 35 which contains a pump. 36 for removing the liquid. Because'of the work done on the. liquid by the pump 36, some evaporation of the lower temperature liquid will take place prior to reach-- ing heat exchanger 32. The low temperature liquid will} be completely evaporated in chamberi34' and williex haust through passage 37 to its point of use, l such as to a non-air hr 'ng engine. The passage of the low. tem:
" perature liquid through the inner chamber 34 serves to Patented Mar- 15,
first form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, the low temperature liquid is; stored in a tank. 8 which is in the form of a cylindrical;
lowerthe temperature of the compressed refrigerant in passage 38 leaving the heat exchanger 32.
The high pressure, low temperature gas in passage 38 is expanded through turbine 39 in order to substantially lower the temperature and pressure of.the refrigerant which leaves the turbine by passage 40. The passage 40.' contains a cooling. coil 41 which surrounds pump 36 and serves to decrease the cavitation losses which result from gas formation at the low pressure within the pump. The
refrigerant leaving the coil 41 is again passed to the inner chamber 26 of heat exchanger 24 through passage 27.
As is diagrammatically indicated, the turbine 39 and the compressor 29 can be connected together by any suitable connection so that the turbine will drive the compressor.
Referring now to the operation of the first form of the invention, a refrigerant, such as helium gas of very low temperature, is passed through heat exchanger 24 in order to continually liquify the gases which evaporate from the surface 20 of the low temperature liquid. The higher. temperature refrigerant leaving heat exchanger 24 is then compressed by compressor 29 and these compressed, high temperature gases are cooled in heat exchanger 32 and then expanded through turbine 39 inorder to obtain lowcontinually re-liquified in heat exchanger 24 and returned to thetank It is understood that the heat exchangers 24 and 32 can take any desirable form and that the .compressor 29 can be ofthe piston or turbine type. Also, the expansion turbine 39 can be replaced by a piston type expansion engine or by a throttle valve. Of course, the insulation 11 can be of any desired type and serves to prevent heat transfer from the tank surroundings to the low temperature liquid.
Referring to the second form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 through 6, the liquid storagetank '43 also has a cylindrical body with dome shaped ends. The tank is formed of an outer skin 44 and an inner container 45 which contains the low temperature liquid substance. A uniform layer of insulation 46 covers the inner container 45 and an insulation member 47 is positioned between the outer skin and layer 46. The member 47 contains a plurality of passages 48 which pass around the tank from one end to the other and are separated by projections 49' of the member. A supply passage 50 is secured to afit ting 51 supported by both the outer skin and inner container and the passage has a cap 52which can be removed to supply additional low temperature liquid to the tank.
A-pair of vertical baffles 53 and 54 .are secured to the inner container 45 and contain openings 55 and 56, re-' spectviely, in order to permit some movement of the liquid. The inner container also supports a horizontal bafile 57 having openings 58 for permitting some movement of the liquid. A passage 59 connects with the upper surface of the inner container at a position normally above the level 60' of the low temperature liquid, and this passage permits the escape of evaporated liquid to the atmosphere.
' In order to maintain the low temperature liquid at its liquification temperature and prevent any substantial evaporation of the liquid, a passage 60 supplies low, temperature, low pressure refrigerant to a header space 61 which connects with all of the passages 48 extending around the surface of'the inner container. temperature refrigerant gas passes from header61 around the tank through passages 48 and collects-at header space.
62 at'the opposit end of the tank, where the'gases-are at a higher temperature because of the'heat transferred to thegasesfrom the liquid andthe' surroundings; The
This low n ma 4Q header 62 connects through passage 63 to a compressor 64 which increases the pressure and temperature of the gases received from header 62 and the compressed gases from the compressor are connected with the outer chamber 65 of heat exchanger 66 through a passage 67. The inner chamber 68 of heat exchanger 66 is connected with the liquid in the tank through passage 69 which contains a pump 70 for withdrawing the liquid. The low temperature liquid in passage 69'serves to cool the refrigerant gas entering theheat exchanger from passage 67 and. leaves the heat exchanger as a gas through passage'71' to its point of use, such as a non-air breathing engine. Refrigerant gas leaving heat exchanger 66 through passage 72 is expanded-man expansion turbine 73 in order to substantially reduce the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant in'passage 74. A cooling coil 75 is connected between passage 74 and passage 60 and surrounds the pump 70 in order to prevent cavitation losses within the pump resulting from gas formation. As in theprevious embodiment, the compressor 64 and turbine 73 are connected together by a suitable shaft connection 76 so that the turbine will drive the compressor.
In operation, the refrigerant system takes the low temperature gas, such as helium, and compresses it to high temperature and pressurein compressor 64. This gas is then cooledto a low temperature by heat exchangor 66 and is then expanded to a low pressure and lower temperature through expansion turbine 73. The ex panded gas is then passed around the pump 70 and perature liquid is available for its intended use. As in the previous-embodiment, the compressor 64 can be. either of the piston or turbine type-and theexpansiou turbine 73 can be replaced by either a piston expansion engine or a throttle valve.
By the present invention, a storage tank for low temperature liquids has been provided which prevents the loss of any substant-ial portion of the liquid through evaporation. It is understood that any refrigerant can be used in the refrigeration cycle andthat the refrigerant mustbe of a lower temperature than the storedlow temperature liquid. When liquid hydrogen is stored helium gas can be used as the refrigerant since it has a liquificationtemperature lower than that of hydrogen and other low temperature refrigerants could be used, including.
hydrogen at a lower pressure than the pressure of the liquid hydrogen within the tank.
evaporation of-the liquid by preventing heat transfer from the surrounding-atmosphere.
around the inner container of the second form andthat various types of insulation material could be used in both forms of the invention.- The outer skin and inner containerfor both tanks can be formed of any suitable material. such as steel or plastic, which will withstand the low temperatures. Various other modifications are con templated by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for storing gas material in theform of low'temperature liquid comprising a storage tankfor said liquid, passage means surrounding the liquid with-inf the tank for cooling the liquid, and means for-supplying refrigerant to said passage means 'at a lower temr. peraturethan-said' liquid, said supplying means comprising means for compressing said refrigerant to high pres:
7 sure and means for expanding the compressed refrigerant It is understood thatv the insulationmembers 11, 46 and 47 aid in preventing- It is also contem platedthat various types of passage means could extend to low pressure and temperature, heat exchanger means positioned between said compressor means and said expansion means to reduce the temperature of said refrigerant after compression, conduit means for connecting said low temperature liquid in the tank with said heat exchanger means, pump means positioned insaid conduit means for circulating liquid from said tank through said heat exchange means, and coil means surrounding said pump meansand connected with said expansion means to continually cool said pump means and prevent cavitation losses.
2. An apparatus for storing gas material in the form of low temperature liquid comprising a storage tank for said liquid, passage means located adjacent said tank and in heat exchange relationship with the gas evaporating from the liquid, and means for supplying said passage means with a refrigerant of lower temperature than said liquid in order to continually cool said evaporated gas, said supplying means comprising compressor means and expansion means for said refrigerant, heat exchanger means connected with said compressor means and said expansion means for cooling the compressed refrigerant prior to entering said expansion means, conduit means for connecting said heat exchanger means with the low temperature liquid in said tank, pump means in said conduit means for circulating low temperature liquid from shell, insulation means positioned between said inner container and said shell, passage means for a refrigerant formed in said insulation means and completely surrounding the surface of said inner containerto cool all the liquid, header means at each end of said tank connecting with said passage means, compressor means I connected with one of said header means for compressing saidrefn'gerant to high temperature and pressure, ex-
pansion means connected with said compressor means for liquid from said tank to said heat exchanger means in order'to reduce the temperature of said compressed refrigerant, pump means for said supply means, and a coil in said connecting means and surrounding said pump means in order to prevent cavitation losses resulting from the evaporation of said liquid within said pump means.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 having a passage connecting the upper space of said tank to atmosphere to vent any gas evaporating from said liquid.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 646,459 Place Apr. 3, 1900 1,088,052 Aumont Feb. 24, 1914 1,440,000 Bonine Dec. 26, 1922 2,379,215 Brinkmann June 26, 1945 2,480,093 Anderson Aug. 23, 1949 2,617,264 McGovern et a1. Nov. 11, 1952 2,682,154 Wilkinson June 29, 1954
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US3110156A (en) * 1960-07-15 1963-11-12 Minikay A G Insulation of containers for the storage of liquids which boil at atmospheric or slightly superatmospheric pressure
US3144316A (en) * 1960-05-31 1964-08-11 Union Carbide Corp Process and apparatus for liquefying low-boiling gases
US3878689A (en) * 1970-07-27 1975-04-22 Carl A Grenci Liquefaction of natural gas by liquid nitrogen in a dual-compartmented dewar
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WO2009107743A1 (en) * 2008-02-27 2009-09-03 三菱重工業株式会社 Device for re-liquefaction of liquefied gas, liquefied gas storage facility and liquefied gas carrying vessel equipped with the device, and method of re-liquefaction of liquefied gas
DE102010033956A1 (en) * 2010-07-16 2012-01-19 Thorben Meinardus Compressed gas storage device has heat absorption or heat transfer device with heat storage tank, where compressed gas tank is arranged within heat storage tank
WO2012063944A1 (en) * 2010-11-12 2012-05-18 株式会社Ihi Lng vaporization equipment
US20130153172A1 (en) * 2011-12-20 2013-06-20 Conocophillips Company Method and apparatus for reducing the impact of motion in a core-in-shell heat exchanger
US20130153179A1 (en) * 2011-12-20 2013-06-20 Conocophillips Company Internal baffle for suppressing slosh in a core-in-shell heat exchanger
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WO2014129562A1 (en) * 2013-02-21 2014-08-28 三菱重工業株式会社 Tank internal pressure suppression device
US20170328520A1 (en) * 2011-07-08 2017-11-16 Capat Llc Multi-stage compression and storage system for use with municipal gaseous supply
US20180222315A1 (en) * 2015-08-11 2018-08-09 Volvo Truck Corporation Pressurized liquid fuel tank system and vehicle including same
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US3144316A (en) * 1960-05-31 1964-08-11 Union Carbide Corp Process and apparatus for liquefying low-boiling gases
US3034319A (en) * 1960-06-29 1962-05-15 Dudley B Chelton High-efficiency fluid transfer line coupling
US3110156A (en) * 1960-07-15 1963-11-12 Minikay A G Insulation of containers for the storage of liquids which boil at atmospheric or slightly superatmospheric pressure
US3878689A (en) * 1970-07-27 1975-04-22 Carl A Grenci Liquefaction of natural gas by liquid nitrogen in a dual-compartmented dewar
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US8739569B2 (en) * 2008-02-27 2014-06-03 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Liquefied gas reliquefier, liquefied-gas storage facility and liquefied-gas transport ship including the same, and liquefied-gas reliquefaction method
WO2009107743A1 (en) * 2008-02-27 2009-09-03 三菱重工業株式会社 Device for re-liquefaction of liquefied gas, liquefied gas storage facility and liquefied gas carrying vessel equipped with the device, and method of re-liquefaction of liquefied gas
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US20100170297A1 (en) * 2008-02-27 2010-07-08 Masaru Oka Liquefied gas reliquefier, liquefied-gas storage facility and liquefied-gas transport ship including the same, and liquefied-gas reliquefaction method
DE102010033956A1 (en) * 2010-07-16 2012-01-19 Thorben Meinardus Compressed gas storage device has heat absorption or heat transfer device with heat storage tank, where compressed gas tank is arranged within heat storage tank
DE102010033956B4 (en) * 2010-07-16 2012-11-08 Thorben Meinardus Pressure gas storage device with at least one compressed gas tank and with a heat absorption and / or heat transfer device, in particular with a heat exchanger
CN103180656B (en) * 2010-11-12 2014-11-12 株式会社Ihi LNG vaporization equipment
WO2012063944A1 (en) * 2010-11-12 2012-05-18 株式会社Ihi Lng vaporization equipment
CN103180656A (en) * 2010-11-12 2013-06-26 株式会社Ihi LNG vaporization equipment
JP5494819B2 (en) * 2010-11-12 2014-05-21 株式会社Ｉｈｉ LNG vaporization equipment
US20130327066A1 (en) * 2011-02-24 2013-12-12 Aker Engineering & Technology As Temperature control
US20170328520A1 (en) * 2011-07-08 2017-11-16 Capat Llc Multi-stage compression and storage system for use with municipal gaseous supply
US10731794B2 (en) * 2011-07-08 2020-08-04 Capat Llc Multi-stage compression and storage system for use with municipal gaseous supply
US20130153172A1 (en) * 2011-12-20 2013-06-20 Conocophillips Company Method and apparatus for reducing the impact of motion in a core-in-shell heat exchanger
US20130153179A1 (en) * 2011-12-20 2013-06-20 Conocophillips Company Internal baffle for suppressing slosh in a core-in-shell heat exchanger
JP2015502518A (en) * 2011-12-20 2015-01-22 コノコフィリップス カンパニー Internal baffle for sloshing suppression in core heat exchanger in shell
JP2018013328A (en) * 2011-12-20 2018-01-25 コノコフィリップス カンパニー Internal baffle for suppressing slosh in core-in-shell heat exchanger
WO2014129562A1 (en) * 2013-02-21 2014-08-28 三菱重工業株式会社 Tank internal pressure suppression device
AU2014255682B2 (en) * 2013-04-17 2019-04-04 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Storage tank for liquefied flammable gases
US20180222315A1 (en) * 2015-08-11 2018-08-09 Volvo Truck Corporation Pressurized liquid fuel tank system and vehicle including same
US11014445B2 (en) * 2015-08-11 2021-05-25 Volvo Truck Corporation Pressurized liquid fuel tank system and vehicle including same

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