Torus-shaped tank

Abstract

The purpose is to reduce variations in the temperature distribution within the container when adjusting the temperature inside the container from the outside. [Solution] The torus-shaped tank 10 comprises a torus-shaped container portion 20 and a heat-conducting fin portion 30 extending from the container portion 20 into the internal space 24 of the container portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toroidal tank.

Background Art

[0002] A gas storage container formed in a metal toroidal shell shape is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, for example, in a tank storing a hydrogen storage alloy, when releasing hydrogen gas from the hydrogen storage alloy, the tank is heated from the outside by a heater or the like, and the hydrogen storage alloy is adjusted to a predetermined temperature.

[0005] However, when a container portion such as a tank accommodating a hydrogen storage alloy is heated from the outside by a heater or the like, for example, the temperature at the central portion of the container portion is less likely to rise than at the outer peripheral portion, and variation in the temperature distribution inside the container portion tends to occur. Similarly, when the container portion is cooled from the outside, variation in the temperature distribution inside the container portion tends to occur.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object thereof is to reduce variation in temperature distribution inside the container portion when adjusting the temperature inside the container portion from the outside of the container portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The toroidal tank according to claim 1 includes a toroidal container portion, and a heat conductive fin portion extending from the container portion into the internal space of the container portion.

[0008] According to the torus-shaped tank of claim 1, the heat conduction fin portion extends from the torus-shaped container portion into the internal space of the container portion. As a result, for example, when the container portion of the torus-shaped tank is heated or cooled from the outside, heat is transferred to the internal space of the container portion via the heat conduction fin portion.

[0009] Therefore, variations in temperature distribution within the container section of a torus-shaped tank can be reduced.

[0010] The torus-shaped tank according to claim 2 is the torus-shaped tank according to claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of the inner circumferential wall portion of the container portion is greater than the wall thickness of the outer circumferential wall portion of the container portion.

[0011] According to the torus-shaped tank of claim 2, the wall thickness of the inner circumferential wall portion of the container portion is greater than the wall thickness of the outer circumferential wall portion of the container portion.

[0012] In this case, in the torus-shaped container section, the curvature of the inner circumferential wall is greater than the curvature of the outer circumferential wall, so stress concentrates on the inner circumferential wall.

[0013] In contrast, in the present invention, as described above, the wall thickness of the inner circumferential wall of the container is greater than the wall thickness of the outer circumferential wall of the container. This allows for efficient reinforcement of the torus-shaped container.

[0014] The torus-shaped tank according to claim 3 is a torus-shaped tank according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a ground contact surface forming portion provided on the outer peripheral wall of the container portion and forming a ground contact surface along the axial direction of the container portion.

[0015] According to the torus-shaped tank of claim 3, a ground contact surface forming portion is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the container portion. The ground contact surface forming portion forms a ground contact surface along the axial direction of the container portion.

[0016] Thereby, when transporting the torus-shaped tank, for example, by bringing the ground contact surface of the container portion into contact with the transport surface, the torus-shaped tank can be stably rolled. Therefore, the transportability of the torus-shaped tank can be improved.

[0017] The torus-shaped tank according to claim 4 is the torus-shaped tank according to claim 1, wherein a hydrogen storage alloy is accommodated in the container portion.

[0018] According to the torus-shaped tank of claim 4, the hydrogen storage alloy is accommodated in the container portion. Thereby, variation in the temperature distribution of the hydrogen storage alloy stored in the container portion can be reduced.

Effects of the Invention

[0019] As described above, according to the present invention, when adjusting the temperature inside the container portion from the outside of the container portion, variation in the temperature distribution inside the container portion can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] It is a plan view of the torus-shaped tank according to one embodiment as viewed from the axial direction. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1. [Figure 3] (A) and (B) are explanatory views showing a manufacturing apparatus for the torus-shaped tank shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] It is an explanatory view for explaining a heating method for the torus-shaped tank shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 2 showing a modified example of the torus-shaped tank according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a plan view corresponding to Figure 1 showing a modified example of the torus-shaped tank according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0022] (Torus-shaped tank) Figure 1 shows a torus-shaped tank 10 according to this embodiment. The torus-shaped tank 10 is, for example, a hydrogen storage alloy tank that contains a hydrogen storage alloy 40 (see Figure 2). This torus-shaped tank 10 has a container section 20 and a plurality of heat-conducting fin sections 30 (see Figure 2).

[0023] (Container part) The container portion 20 is formed in a torus shape, or donut shape, and has a through hole 22 in the center. For example, the container portion 20 is made of metal. Alternatively, the container portion 20 may be made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as steel, aluminum, or copper.

[0024] Note that the torus-shaped tank 10 refers to a tank that has a torus-shaped container section 20 with a through hole 22 in the center, and the outer shape of the outer periphery of the torus-shaped tank 10 does not necessarily have to be torus-shaped.

[0025] A valve 12 is provided in the inner circumferential wall portion 20A of the container portion 20. The valve 12 is positioned within a through hole 22 of the container portion 20 and is attached, for example, to a mounting hole (not shown) formed in the inner circumferential wall portion 20A of the container portion 20. The valve 12 is positioned along the radial direction of the through hole 22 and protrudes from the inner circumferential wall portion 20A of the container portion 20 toward the center of the through hole 22. A hose, piping, etc. (not shown) is connected to this valve 12.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, the cross-sectional shape of the container portion 20 is cylindrical. The wall thickness t of the container portion 20 is approximately constant. In cross-sectional view, the container portion 20 has a circular internal space 24. Multiple heat-conducting fin portions 30 are provided in the internal space 24 of the container portion 20.

[0027] (Heat conduction fin section) The multiple heat conduction fins 30 serve as heat conductors that transfer heat between the inside and outside of the container 20. These heat conduction fins 30, like the container 20, are made of metal. Furthermore, the multiple heat conduction fins 30 are formed from materials with high thermal conductivity, such as steel, aluminum, or copper.

[0028] The multiple heat-conducting fin portions 30 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the container portion 20 in a cross-sectional view of the container portion 20, and each extends from the inner circumferential surface 24S inside the container portion 20 toward the center of the internal space 24, where they are connected to each other.

[0029] In other words, the multiple heat-conducting fins 30 extend radially outward from the center of the internal space 24 in a cross-sectional view of the container 20 and are connected to the inner circumferential surface 24S inside the container 20. These heat-conducting fins 30 divide the internal space 24 into multiple containment chambers 24R in the circumferential direction in a cross-sectional view of the container 20.

[0030] Furthermore, multiple heat conduction fin sections 30 have through holes or openings formed to connect adjacent housing chambers 24R.

[0031] (Hydrogen storage alloy) As an example, a hydrogen storage alloy 40 is contained in the internal space 24 of the container section 20. More specifically, hydrogen storage alloy 40 is contained (filled) in each of the multiple storage chambers 24R. This hydrogen storage alloy 40 is an alloy capable of reversibly absorbing and releasing hydrogen gas.

[0032] Specifically, hydrogen gas is absorbed into the hydrogen storage alloy 40 by cooling and pressurizing it. Conversely, hydrogen gas is released from the hydrogen storage alloy 40 by heating and depressurizing it.

[0033] Here, the hydrogen storage alloy 40 is capable of storing hydrogen gas at high density at room temperature and low pressure, compared to, for example, compressed hydrogen or liquid hydrogen. Furthermore, the hydrogen storage alloy 40 can release hydrogen by, for example, heating it from room temperature. Note that the properties of the hydrogen storage alloy 40 vary depending on the type of alloy that makes up the hydrogen storage alloy 40.

[0034] (Method for manufacturing a torus-shaped tank) Next, an example of a method for manufacturing a torus-shaped tank according to this embodiment will be described.

[0035] In this embodiment, as an example, a torus-shaped tank 10 is manufactured by WAAM (Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing). WAAM is a three-dimensional printing technology using metal, in which a metal wire is melted by an arc heat source, and a three-dimensional shape is formed by layering the molten metal.

[0036] As shown in Figure 3(A), the manufacturing apparatus 50 for the torus-shaped tank 10 includes a rotary table 52 and a welding torch 60 that melts metal wire and deposits the molten metal onto the rotary table 52.

[0037] The rotary table 52 is initially positioned approximately horizontally. A rotation axis 54 extending horizontally is provided at one end of the rotary table 52. Around this rotation axis 54, the rotary table 52 can rotate downward from its initial position, as indicated by arrow b.

[0038] The welding torch 60 is supported by a robotic arm or the like (not shown). The welding torch 60 is rotatable about a rotation axis O along the vertical direction, as indicated by arrow a.

[0039] Here, as shown in Figure 3(A), when manufacturing (forming) the torus-shaped tank 10, a welding torch 60 is rotated (arrow a) on the rotary table 52 around the rotation axis O, and a metal wire (not shown) is melted by the welding torch 60. As a result, the molten metal 62 hardens in a cylindrical state on the mounting surface 52U of the rotary table 52, and a part of the container part 20 is formed. In addition, by moving the welding torch 60 horizontally, a part of the multiple heat conduction fin parts 30 (see Figure 2) is formed.

[0040] In this process, as shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B), the rotary table 52 is gradually rotated downward (arrow b) around the rotation axis 54. As a result, the cylindrical stacked metal 62 (container portion 20) is curved into a torus shape around the rotation axis 54.

[0041] Through the above process, for example, a piece representing a portion of the torus-shaped tank 10 (for example, 1 / 2 or 1 / 4 of the torus-shaped tank 10) is fabricated. Then, by combining and joining multiple fabricated pieces, the torus-shaped tank 10 is manufactured.

[0042] Furthermore, the manufacturing method of the torus-shaped tank 10 is not limited to WAAM and can be changed as appropriate. The hydrogen storage alloy is, for example, housed in the container portion 20 of the torus-shaped tank 10 through a mounting hole for the valve 12 (not shown) formed in the inner circumferential wall portion 20A of the container portion 20 of the torus-shaped tank 10.

[0043] (action) Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0044] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the torus-shaped tank 10 according to this embodiment comprises a torus-shaped container portion 20 and a heat-conducting fin portion 30 extending from the container portion 20 into the internal space 24 of the container portion 20. The container portion 20 contains a hydrogen storage alloy 40.

[0045] Here, when storing hydrogen in the hydrogen storage alloy 40, for example, hydrogen gas is supplied from the valve 12 into the container section 20 of the torus-shaped tank 10, while the container section 20 of the torus-shaped tank 10 is cooled from the outside to adjust the hydrogen storage alloy 40 to a predetermined temperature.

[0046] However, in this case, for example, the temperature in the center of the container 20 is less likely to drop than in the outer periphery, and variations in the temperature distribution within the container 20 are more likely to occur.

[0047] Furthermore, when releasing hydrogen from the hydrogen storage alloy 40, the container portion 20 of the torus-shaped tank 10 is heated from the outside to adjust the hydrogen storage alloy 40 to a predetermined temperature. In this case as well, the temperature in the center of the container portion 20 is less likely to rise than in the outer periphery, and variations in the temperature distribution within the container portion 20 are more likely to occur.

[0048] In contrast, in this embodiment, the container portion 20 is provided with a plurality of heat conduction fin portions 30. The plurality of heat conduction fin portions 30 extend from the container portion 20 into the internal space 24. As a result, for example, when the container portion 20 of the torus-shaped tank is heated or cooled from the outside, heat is transferred to the internal space 24 of the container portion 20 via the heat conduction fin portions 30.

[0049] Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the variation in the temperature distribution within the container portion 20 of the torus-shaped tank, that is, the variation in the temperature distribution of the hydrogen storage alloy 40 stored in the container portion 20.

[0050] Furthermore, the multiple heat-conducting fins 30 extend from the container portion 20 into the internal space 24, reaching the center of the internal space 24. As a result, when the container portion 20 of the torus-shaped tank is heated or cooled from the outside, heat is transferred to the center of the internal space 24 via the multiple heat-conducting fins 30.

[0051] Furthermore, the multiple heat-conducting fin portions 30 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the container portion 20 in a cross-sectional view of the container portion 20, and each extends from the inner circumferential surface 24S inside the container portion 20 toward the center of the internal space 24, where they are connected to each other. As a result, when the container portion 20 of the torus-shaped tank is heated or cooled from the outside, heat is transferred to the hydrogen storage alloy 40 almost uniformly via the multiple heat-conducting fin portions 30.

[0052] Therefore, in this embodiment, variations in the temperature distribution of the hydrogen storage alloy 40 stored in the container portion 20 of the torus-shaped tank can be reduced more efficiently.

[0053] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, multiple torus-shaped tanks 10 can be installed stacked, for example, in the axial direction (Z direction in Figure 2). Therefore, the required installation space for multiple torus-shaped tanks 10 can be reduced.

[0054] Furthermore, for example, by arranging a heater 70 on one axial side of a plurality of torus-shaped tanks 10 arranged in the axial direction, the heater 70 can send heated air F to each of the plurality of torus-shaped tanks 10 through the through holes 22. Therefore, the plurality of torus-shaped tanks 10 can be heated efficiently.

[0055] Furthermore, although not shown in the diagram, by installing a cooler such as a fan on one axial side of the multiple torus-shaped tanks 10 instead of the heater 70, cooling air can be sent to each of the multiple torus-shaped tanks 10 through the through holes 22, similar to the heating air F. Therefore, the multiple torus-shaped tanks 10 can be cooled efficiently.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the valve 12 of the torus-shaped tank 10 is provided on the inner circumferential wall portion 20A of the container portion 20. This makes it possible to suppress damage to the valve 12, for example, when the torus-shaped tank 10 tips over.

[0057] (modified version) Next, a modified example of the above embodiment will be described.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the container portion 20 is provided with a plurality of heat conduction fin portions 30. However, the container portion 20 can be provided with at least one heat conduction fin portion 30. Furthermore, the shape and arrangement of the heat conduction fin portions 30 can be changed as appropriate.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the wall thickness t of the container portion 20 is assumed to be approximately constant. However, the wall thickness t of the container portion 20 is not limited to constant and may vary.

[0060] For example, in the modified example shown in Figure 5, the wall thickness t1 of the inner circumferential wall portion 20A of the container portion 20 is thicker than the wall thickness t2 of the outer circumferential wall portion 20B of the container portion 20. In this case, in the torus-shaped container portion 20, the curvature of the inner circumferential wall portion 20A is greater than the curvature of the outer circumferential wall portion 20B, so stress concentrates in the inner circumferential wall portion 20A.

[0061] In contrast, in this modified example, as mentioned above, the wall thickness t1 of the inner circumferential wall portion 20A of the container portion 20 is made thicker than the wall thickness t2 of the outer circumferential wall portion 20B of the container portion 20. This makes it possible to efficiently reinforce the torus-shaped container portion 20.

[0062] Furthermore, in the modified examples shown in Figures 6 and 7, a ground contact surface forming portion 80 is provided on the outer peripheral wall portion 20B of the container portion 20. The ground contact surface forming portion 80 forms a ground contact surface 80S along the axial direction (Z direction) of the container portion 20. This ground contact surface forming portion 80 gives the outer peripheral portion of the torus-shaped tank 10 a tire-like shape.

[0063] Specifically, the contact surface forming portion 80 is formed, for example, from an elastic material such as rubber or resin. Furthermore, the contact surface forming portion 80 is provided around the entire circumference of the outer peripheral wall portion 20B of the container portion 20.

[0064] The ground contact surface forming section 80 has, in a cross-sectional view, a pair of shoulder portions 80A arranged on both sides in the axial direction of the torus-shaped tank 10, and a connecting portion 80B connecting the pair of shoulder portions 80A. The outer surfaces of this pair of shoulder portions 80A and the connecting portion 80B form the ground contact surface 80S. The ground contact surface 80S is formed in the shape of the side surface of a cylinder with the axial direction of the torus-shaped tank 10 as its central axis.

[0065] When transporting the torus-shaped tank 10, for example, the torus-shaped tank 10 is placed upright, and its contact surface 80S is brought into contact with the running surface G, such as the ground or floor. This allows the torus-shaped tank 10 to roll stably like a tire. Therefore, the transportability of the torus-shaped tank 10 can be improved.

[0066] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the torus-shaped tank 10 is made of metal. However, the torus-shaped tank 10 is not limited to metal; for example, it may be made of resin or the like. Also, the manufacturing method of the torus-shaped tank 10 can be appropriately changed depending on the material of the torus-shaped tank 10.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the torus-shaped tank 10 is a hydrogen storage alloy tank that contains the hydrogen storage alloy 40. However, the torus-shaped tank 10 is not limited to a hydrogen storage alloy tank; for example, it could be a gas tank for storing compressed gas or a liquid tank for storing liquid.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the valve 12 is provided on the inner circumferential wall portion 20A of the container portion 20 of the torus-shaped tank 10. However, the valve 12 is not limited to the inner circumferential wall portion 20A of the container portion 20, but may also be provided on the outer circumferential wall portion 20B of the container portion 20, or on the side wall portion on one axial side of the container portion 20.

[0069] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications may be used in appropriate combinations with one embodiment, and of course, the invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0070] 10 Torus-shaped tank 20 Container section 20A Inner peripheral wall 20B Outer wall 24 Interior space 30 Heat conduction fin section 40 Hydrogen storage alloys 80 Ground plane formation part 80S ground plane t1 Wall thickness (wall thickness of the inner circumferential wall of the container) t2 Wall thickness (wall thickness of the outer perimeter wall of the container)

Claims

1. A torus-shaped container section, A heat conduction fin portion extending from the container portion into the internal space of the container portion, A torus-shaped tank equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

2. The wall thickness of the inner circumferential wall portion of the container portion is greater than the wall thickness of the outer circumferential wall portion of the container portion. The torus-shaped tank according to claim 1.

3. The container portion is provided on the outer circumferential wall and includes a contact surface forming portion that forms a contact surface along the axial direction of the container portion, A torus-shaped tank according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The container portion contains a hydrogen storage alloy. The torus-shaped tank according to claim 1.

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