Cryogenic fluid storage device

Abstract

The invention relates to a cryogenic fluid storage device comprising a first wall (2) made of aluminium alloy forming a tank and a second wall (4) delimiting a volume intended to house a set of tank equipment, for example at least one valve, the second wall (4) being fixed to the first wall by welding, characterized in that the second wall (4) is made of stainless steel and in that the welding of the second wall (4) to the first wall (2) is carried out via a junction portion (5) composed of an alloy based on aluminium alloy and stainless steel and interposed between the two walls (2, 4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cryogenic fluid storage device, for example for the storage of liquefied hydrogen.

[0002] Such a device is known from US 2020 / 047852 A1.

[0003] The invention relates more particularly to a cryogenic fluid storage device in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] The invention relates in particular to a vacuum-insulated tank for cryogenic fluids (typically liquid hydrogen) equipped with an equipment housing (sometimes called a "valve box"). This housing or "valve box" is part of the cryogenic tank and contains all or some of the components ancillary to storage (valve(s), heat exchanger(s), safety device(s), etc.). These components generally require thermal insulation, preferably of the vacuum type.

[0005] This valve box is usually made of the same material as the outer shell of the tank. This allows the valve box to be directly bonded to the tank wall, for example by welding. With a stainless steel outer shell, the valve box is made of the same material, and assembly is straightforward. However, this solution results in a relatively large tank.

[0006] In the case of a lighter tank, for example, one made of aluminum alloy, manufacturing the valve box casing from aluminum presents challenges. Given the large number of penetrations (through holes) in the wall of this casing, aluminum welds, being less reliable than stainless steel alloy welds, can be defective. Since cryogenic tanks are generally insulated with a static vacuum, a screw connection between the outer tank casing and the valve box casing is risky.

[0007] For this reason, in the case of an aluminum alloy tank, the equipment typically found in a valve box is not integrated into such a housing. In this case, the equipment is poorly or not at all thermally insulated and prone to condensation (of water or air). This can cause operational or safety problems.

[0008] One aim of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the disadvantages of the prior art noted above.

[0009] To this end, the device according to the invention, which also conforms to the generic definition given in the preamble to claim 1, is essentially characterized in that the first wall (3) is made of aluminum alloy and in that the junction portion (5) is composed of an alloy based on aluminum and stainless steel.

[0010] Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following characteristics: The second wall and the first wall are welded respectively at two ends of the junction portion; the portions of the second wall and the first wall welded respectively at two ends of the junction portion are thinner relative to the junction portion and / or relative to the rest of the walls; the junction portion is ring-shaped; the first wall and the second wall each comprise a tubular portion, one circular end of which is welded to the circumference of the ring formed by the junction portion; the first wall and / or the second wall has a generally cylindrical shape; the welded portion of the first wall and / or the second wall is located at a cylindrical branch integral with the wall; the volume delimited by the second wall houses at least one of the following: a valve, a heat exchanger, a section of pipe, electrical equipment, a section of piping.The second wall includes at least one passage configured for the passage of one or more pieces of equipment through the second wall; the device includes a third wall delimiting a storage volume for cryogenic fluid; the first wall is arranged around the third wall with a thermally insulated spacing so that the tank is of the double-walled type; the spacing between the first and third walls is under vacuum; the volume delimited by the second wall is under vacuum and communicates with the spacing.

[0011] The invention may also relate to any alternative device or method comprising any combination of the above or below features within the scope of the claims. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description, given with reference to the figures in which: Brief description of the figures

[0012] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a schematic and partial side view of an example of a storage device according to the invention, [ Fig. 2 ] is a schematic and partially cross-sectional view of a detail of another embodiment of the device according to the invention. Detailed description

[0013] In all the figures, the same references refer to the same elements.

[0014] In this detailed description, the following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not mean that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features from different embodiments can also be combined and / or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

[0015] The illustrated cryogenic fluid storage device 1 comprises a first wall 2 made of aluminum alloy delimiting a tank and a second wall 4 delimiting an adjacent volume or enclosure intended to house a set of tank equipment, for example at least one valve, at least one heat exchanger, circuitry, ...

[0016] In the example of the [ Fig. 1The reservoir and the adjacent housing each have a general cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section. Of course, any other shape is conceivable for one or both containers.

[0017] The first wall 2 is, for example, the outer shell of the tank and is arranged around a third wall 3, which defines the storage volume for cryogenic fluid. The first wall 2 is arranged, for example, around the third wall 3 with a thermally insulated gap 7, preferably under vacuum, so that the tank is of the double-walled type 2, 3. The second wall 4 is made of stainless steel and is welded to the first wall 2 via a connecting portion 5 composed of an aluminum-stainless steel alloy and interposed between the two walls 2, 4.

[0018] This means that this structure provides for a bi-material type junction (typically comprising an aluminum alloy and a stainless steel alloy). This junction portion 5 can be obtained, for example, by explosion welding or diffusion welding.

[0019] This arrangement allows for the use of a stainless steel valve box, capable of integrating all or part of the bulkhead penetrations (fluid and / or electrical) more effectively than with an aluminum wall, and which is reliably assembled to an aluminum alloy tank wall 2. The second wall 4 can thus include passages 6, symbolized by openings in the schematic representations, configured to allow for a watertight penetration of the second wall (passage of cables and / or pipes...).

[0020] The second wall 4 and the first wall 2 can be welded respectively at the two ends of the joint portion 5. That is to say, the assembly can be carried out via a stainless steel to stainless steel weld followed by an aluminum to aluminum weld.

[0021] As seen in the [ Fig. 2 ], the portions of the second wall 4 and the first wall 2 welded respectively at two ends of the junction portion 5 can be thinned relative to the junction portion 5 and / or relative to the rest of the walls 4, 2. For example the junction portion has a central thickness of around 10 mm while its edges welded to the walls have a lower thickness, for example around 1 to 2 mm.

[0022] The joining portion 5 may have the general shape of a ring. The first wall 2 and the second wall 4 may each include a tubular end welded to a circumference of the ring formed by the joining portion 5.

[0023] For example, the first wall 2 and / or the second wall 4 has a general cylindrical shape.

[0024] The welded end of the first wall 2 can in particular be at the level of a solid cylindrical branch attached to the first wall 2.

[0025] Preferably the volume delimited by the second wall 4 is under vacuum and for example communicates with the space 7, for example through an orifice or passage (and therefore preferably shares the same vacuum).

Claims

1. Cryogenic-fluid storage device comprising a first wall (2) forming a tank and a second wall (4) delimiting a volume intended to house a set of equipment for the tank, for example at least one valve, the second wall (4) being fastened to the first wall by welding, the second wall (4) being made of stainless steel and the second wall (4) being welded to the first wall (2) via a joining portion (5) interposed between the two walls (2, 4), characterized in that the first wall (3) is made of aluminium alloy and in that the joining portion (5) is made of an aluminium-based alloy and stainless steel.

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second wall (4) and the first wall (2) are welded at two ends of the joining portion (5) respectively.

3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the portions of the second wall (4) and of the first wall (2) that are welded respectively at two ends of the joining portion (5) are thinner than the joining portion (5) and / or than the rest of the walls (4, 2).

4. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the joining portion (5) is ringshaped and in that the first wall (2) and the second wall (4) each comprise a tubular portion, one circular end of which is welded to the circumference of the ring formed by the joining portion (5).

5. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first wall (2) and / or the second wall (4) has an overall cylindrical shape.

6. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the welded portion of the first wall (2) and / or the second wall (4) is located level with a cylindrical tap integral with the wall (2, 4).

7. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the volume delimited by the second wall (4) houses at least one of the following items of equipment forming part of the storage device: at least one valve, a heat exchanger, a duct portion, an electrical apparatus, a piping portion.

8. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second wall (4) comprises at least one passage (6) designed to enable equipment to pass through the second wall.

9. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a third wall (3) delimiting a storage volume for cryogenic fluid and in that the first wall (2) is arranged about the third wall (3) with a thermally insulated gap (7), thereby making the tank a double-walled (2, 3) tank.

10. Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the gap (7) between the first wall (2) and third wall (3) is under vacuum.

11. Device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the volume delimited by the second wall (4) is under vacuum and communicates with the gap (7).

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