System and Method

Abstract

A system including a pressure containment assembly having a body with a first side and a second side. The assembly further includes a gas permeable membrane coupled to the body and configured to allow gas to permeate therethrough, thereby enabling movement from the first side to the second side. The assembly also includes a pressure relief valve coupled to the body, the pressure relief valve being biased to a closed position to substantially block the flow of gas therethrough and moving to an open position when a predetermined pressure differential exists, being configured to allow gas passing therethrough to move from the first side to the second side. The pressure containment assembly is configured to maintain its structural integrity after being exposed to a temperature of about 500 °C.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to a pressure-storage assembly, and more particularly to a pressure-storage assembly capable of accommodating relatively high pressures and / or temperatures. [Background technology]

[0002] Pressure relief assemblies are used to accommodate pressure differences across different spaces. More specifically, pressure relief assemblies can be used with sealed casings that house chemical reactors such as electric batteries and fuel cells. In certain situations, components placed within the casing may experience thermal runaway events that generate high pressure and / or temperature. Many existing pressure relief assemblies are unable to accommodate such high pressure and / or temperature. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a pressure relief assembly that can effectively accommodate pressure differences and / or high temperatures, and more specifically, can withstand pressures and / or temperatures associated with thermal runaway events and maintain its function. In one embodiment, the present invention is a system comprising a pressure accommodation assembly having a body having a first side and a second side. The assembly further comprises a gas-permeable membrane coupled to the body and configured to allow gas to pass through it and move from the first side to the second side. The assembly also comprises a pressure relief valve coupled to the body, the pressure relief valve being biased to a closed position to generally block the flow of gas through it and moving to an open position when there is a given pressure difference to allow gas to pass through it and move from the first side to the second side. The pressure accommodation assembly is configured to maintain its structural integrity after being exposed to temperatures of about 500°C. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0004] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a casing containing a chemical reactor, within which a pressure-settling assembly is incorporated.

[0005] [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view of the assembly in Figure 1, shown in relation to a portion of the casing.

[0006] [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the assembly and casing from Figure 2 with the valve in the closed position.

[0007] [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a side view of the component shown in Figure 3.

[0008] [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows the assembly from Figure 4 with the valve in the open position and part of the casing missing.

[0009] [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the assembly shown in Figures 2 through 5.

[0010] [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a bottom perspective view of the central hub and flapper components of the assembly shown in Figure 6.

[0011] [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a bottom view of the assembly shown in Figures 2 to 4.

[0012] [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the film of the assembly shown in Figures 2 to 6.

[0013] [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the pressure-storage assembly.

[0014] [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a front perspective partial cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the pressure containment assembly.

[0015] [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a front perspective partial cross-sectional view of yet another alternative embodiment of the pressure containment assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a system generally designated 10 can include a sealed or closed, or generally sealed or closed, casing 12 having or defining an inner cavity 14 and having a chemical reactor 16 (such as a battery, fuel cell, etc.) disposed within the inner cavity. In some cases, the casing 12 can be disposed within an automobile or considered part of an automobile. In this or other cases, the chemical reactor 16 can be electrically and / or operationally coupled to the automobile and / or its various subsystems via various cables, wires, etc. (not shown) that are electrically coupled to the chemical reactor 16 and pass through the casing 12 in a sealed manner.

[0017] Since the casing is sealed or generally sealed, it may be desirable to provide a pressure balance with the ambient environment 18. For example, the chemical reactor 16 can generate heat (and thus the pressure can increase), and / or there can be changes in ambient pressure or temperature, etc. that need to be accommodated to avoid damage to the casing 12 and / or the chemical reactor 16. Accordingly, a pressure relief assembly generally designated 20 can be provided within, coupled to, or form part of the casing 12 to provide a pressure balance inside and outside the casing 12.

[0018] The pressure relief assembly 20 may include a body 22 and a membrane 24 pressure relief valve 26 coupled to the body 22. The body 22 can be sealed and fitted into an opening 28 of the casing 12. The assembly 20 and / or body 22 may include, in one case, a first side, i.e., an inner 30, which is in fluid communication with an inner cavity 14, and in the other case, a second side, i.e., an outer 32, which is in fluid communication with the ambient / ambient environment or atmosphere 18. In this way, both the pressure relief assembly 20, more specifically, the membrane 24 and the valve 26, are located in or in fluid communication with the inner cavity 14 on the inner 30 and in or in fluid communication with the ambient environment 18 on the outer 32.

[0019] As best shown in Figure 6, the body 22 includes a central portion 34 having or defining a central / main opening 36, and a pair of lugs 38 coupled to the central portion 34 and spaced circumferentially around it. A lug opening 39 may be formed through each lug 38. The body 22 further includes membrane tabs 40 coupled to the sides of the central portion 34, with a membrane opening 42 located within the membrane tabs 40. The central portion 34 of the body 22 further includes a generally flat, circumferentially extending valve seat 44, a central hub 46 having coupling openings 48 positioned through it, and a pair of radially extending, circumferentially spaced vanes 50 coupled to the hub 46 to position the hub 46 in a desired location.

[0020] The body 22 further includes a pair of circumferentially spaced spacer tabs 52 extending upward. The assembly 20 may include a protective cover 54 positioned on or coupled to the spacer tabs 52. The cover 54 is coupled to the spacer tabs 52 by interference fit, press fit, etc., to protect the valve 26, but the cover 54 and spacer tabs 52 may be omitted if necessary. The body 22 and / or cover 54 can be made from a wide range of materials, including, but not limited to, high-temperature resistant thermoplastics such as nylon, polysulfone, polyetherimide, polyphenylsulfone, polyphthalamide, polyphenylene sulfide, and glass-filled composites.

[0021] The body 22 can be coupled to the casing 12 by any of the various desired mechanisms, in which case fasteners (not shown) are passed through the lug openings 39 of the lugs 38 to secure the body 22 / assembly 20 in place. In other embodiments, the body 22 can be coupled to the casing 12 by snap fitting, bayonet-type mounting (e.g., 1 / 2 turn or 1 / 4 turn bayonet attachment), screwing the body 22 directly into place, or by other methods / means. If necessary, a body seal 56, generally having a shape corresponding to the shape of the body 22, is placed between the body 22 and the casing 12 to seal the space between them.

[0022] The membrane 24 can be placed within and / or cover and / or span within the membrane opening 42 located in the membrane tab 40. The membrane 24 may be permeable and semipermeable, in that respect, the membrane 24 may generally allow all or certain gases to pass through, but generally be impermeable to liquids (more specifically, generally impermeable to water in some cases) and can prevent liquids (e.g., water in some cases) from passing through, in particular into the inner cavity 14. Thus, the membrane 24 may be permeable (e.g., air and / or certain gases) so that air and other gases can pass through the membrane 24 to maintain or attempt to maintain the pressure balance between the inner cavity 14 and the surrounding environment 18.

[0023] Referring to Figure 9, in one embodiment, the film 24 includes a central or intermediate film layer 60 positioned between an internal (bottom or cavity-facing) protective layer 62 and an external (top or periphery-facing) protective layer 64, or is composed of three layers. The film layer 60 may, in some cases, be a layer that primarily controls the permeability of gases and / or the absence of liquid permeability throughout the film 24. The film layer 60 may be made from or contain synthetic fluoropolymers such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), but may also be made from or contain metals such as sintered metals, or other polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene and / or thermoplastic polymers and / or fluorinated polymers, or ceramics such as ceramic wafers and ceramic-coated cloths.

[0024] The semipermeable nature of the membrane layer 60 may, in some cases, result from gaps, pores, or channels between polymer chains or other materials of the membrane layer 60. The membrane layer 60 (and / or the entire membrane 24) can have various airflow velocities, and in some cases, the membrane layer 60 (and / or the entire membrane 24) has an airflow of, in some cases, at least about 0.25 L / min, or in other cases less than about 5 L / min, or in some cases between about 0.25 L / min and about 5 L / min, at all differential pressures ranging from about 40 mbar to about 100 mbar. The membrane layer 60 (and / or the entire membrane 24) may, in some cases, have an airflow of at least about 0.5 L / min / 0.785 cm at 40 mbar. 2 It can have a void ratio or pressure equalization ratio, and in another case, approximately 5 L / min / 0.785 cm at 70 mbar. 2 Less than 40 mbar, or approximately 0.5 L / min / 0.785 cm³ 2 At 70 mbar, approximately 5 L / min / 0.785 cm³ 2 (This is approximately 0.5 L / min / 0.785 cm at 40 mbar) 2 At 70 mbar, approximately 5 L / min / 0.785 cm³ 2 The two values ​​are a range enclosed in parentheses that can represent two data points on the graph, and it is understood that this range includes all values ​​that fall within the region defined by the line between the two data points and the upper limit of that line / upper limit, and all values ​​that fall within the region below that line / upper limit. ) may have the void ratio or pressure equalization ratio between them.

[0025] The inner 62 and outer 64 protective layers may be permeable, allowing gases to flow generally freely through them, and in some cases, they may not have a measurable effect on the flow of gas (and possibly liquid) through them and / or through the membrane 24. The inner 62 and / or outer 64 protective layers may be configured to provide one or more of the membrane layer 60 with abrasion / impact protection, thermal protection, or water / moisture protection. In some cases, the inner 62 and outer 64 protective layers may be made of the same material and / or have the same properties, but layers 62, 64 may be made of different materials and / or have different properties as needed. In some cases, one or both of the inner 62 and outer 64 layers may be a compact woven aramid material with extreme high temperature resistance (in some cases above 500°C), such as NOMEX® material, but may be made of other woven materials such as polyamide-imide, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and nonwoven materials such as perfluoroelastomer compounds such as PTFE, FFKM, or alternatively. In another embodiment, the two protective layers 62, 64 can be positioned immediately adjacent to each other on the inside of the film 24 (facing the inner cavity 14), and layer 60 is positioned as the top layer of the film 24 and is directly exposed to the ambient environment 18. This configuration can provide significant thermal protection to the film 24 / layer 60 from high temperatures within the inner cavity 14.

[0026] As outlined in more detail below, the protective layers 62, 64 can provide thermal shielding properties. Furthermore, the protective layers 62, 64 can also have hydrophobic properties by the inherent material from which they are manufactured and / or by surface treatment (such as chemical vapor deposition of a fluorinated polymer like PTFE) applied to the protective layers 62, 64 to protect the film layer 60 from moisture intrusion. Thus, the film 24 (and / or its individual layers 60, 62, 64) is hydrophobic and can resist moisture intrusion but can permeate air freely or generally freely (e.g., there is negligible or no barrier to the flow of air or gas; in some cases, it has an equalization ratio at least 5 times greater than that of the film layer 60, in other cases at least 10 times greater, or in yet another embodiment at least 25 times greater), allowing the passage of air or gas to enable pressure equalization.

[0027] As shown in Figure 9, the film 24 may include and / or be bonded to a mounting ring 66 which can be made of a variety of materials such as thermoplastic and / or corrosion-resistant metal and / or the materials described above for the body 22. The layers 60, 62, 64 of the film 24 may be bonded to the ring 66 on their outer circumference and / or be bonded to each other planarly by ultrasonic welding, mechanical bonding or other means or methods, and / or not be bonded to each other planarly otherwise.

[0028] The membrane 24 allows air or gas to permeate, but the membrane 24 can have a limited velocity for the air or gas passing through it. Therefore, if relatively high pressure is present in the inner cavity 14 (and / or, possibly, in the ambient environment 18), the valve 26 can equalize the pressure passing through it. For example, in the case of a thermal runaway event in the chemical reactor 16, the pressure in the inner cavity 14 can increase significantly in a short period of time. In this case, the valve 26 can be opened to allow a rapid flow of air or gas passing through it.

[0029] The valve 26 may be a check valve or another unidirectional (or bidirectional) valve that opens with a sufficient or predetermined pressure difference, or may take the form thereof. In some cases, the valve 26 may take the form of an umbrella valve comprising a typical "mushroom" shaped flapper component 70 having a central stem 72 and a diaphragm 74 coupled thereto. The central stem 72 may have a barbed wire shape at its distal / lower end and pass through a coupling opening 48 of a central hub 46 to secure the flapper component 70 in place, or be coupled by various other mechanisms or means. The diaphragm 74 is typically a generally disc-shaped component with an outer circumference that contacts the valve seat 44. The diaphragm 74 / valve 26 is molded and / or configured to be biased to its closed or sealed position (Figures 3 and 4), and the diaphragm 74 engages with the valve seat 44 to substantially close or seal the central / main opening 36 of the body 22, preventing dust, particles, moisture, etc. from entering the inner cavity 14 and blocking the outflow of gas from the cavity 14. The diaphragm 74 can be configured to be substantially convex when in the closed position.

[0030] When there is a sufficient pressure difference across the valve 26 / flapper component 70 (for example, positive pressure in the cavity 14 in some cases), the outer portion of the diaphragm 74 bends / moves upward away from the valve seat 44, as shown in Figure 5, allowing gas to flow through it. Once the pressure difference has sufficiently dissipated, the valve 26 / diaphragm 74 returns to its closed position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The valve 26 / diaphragm 74 can be designed to have a variety of different opening and closing pressures as desired, but in some cases the valve 26 / diaphragm 74 has an opening pressure between about 20 mbar and about 50 mbar, or in some cases greater than about 5 mbar, or in other cases greater than about 20 mbar, or in other cases less than about 100 mbar, or in yet another case less than about 50 mbar. The valve 26 can be designed to have a relatively low opening pressure, which allows the valve 26 to respond quickly in response to the internal pressure of the casing 12. When opened, valve 26 can provide an airflow of at least about 2,000 L / min in some cases, at least about 6,000 L / min in other cases, and less than about 10,000 L / min in yet other cases.

[0031] The flapper component 70 / diaphragm 74 can be made from any of a wide variety of materials, including elastomer materials such as silicone, fluorosilicone, fluorocarbon, and / or thermosetting rubber. The diaphragm 74 can have various sizes and dimensions, but in some cases it may have an outer diameter of about 30 mm to about 50 mm and a thickness that tapers to about 2 to 4 mm in the center and about 1 to 3.5 mm in the outer diameter.

[0032] The entire assembly 20, and / or the valve 26 and / or membrane 24, together or separately, can be configured to resist the ingress or passage of water or moisture (in one case, into the inner cavity 14) with a water pressure of at least about 0.1 m² in one case, at least about 0.5 m² in another case, at least about 1 m² in yet another case, or at least about 3 m² in yet another case. The entire assembly 20, and / or the valve 26 and / or membrane 24, together or separately, can be configured to resist the ingress or passage of dust (in one case, into the inner cavity 14) in a manner that satisfies the IP69K rating based on an ingress protection evaluation system, in accordance with IEC standard 60529 issued by IEC Technical Committee 70 (more specifically, IEC 60529:1989+A1:1999+A2:2013, which is incorporated hereby by reference).

[0033] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-10, the membrane 24 is offset laterally from the valve 26 in an offset direction O (FIG. 5) generally perpendicular to the direction of flow of the gas F through the valve 26 (which in some cases is aligned with the central axis of the valve 26). In some cases, the membrane 24 is completely offset laterally from the valve 26 so that no portion of the membrane 24 overlaps the valve 26 in the flow direction F. The assembly 20 can include a channel 78 that extends at least partially in the offset direction O and provides a fluid communication path between the membrane 24 and the inner cavity 14 of the casing 12. The channel 78 can be at least partially defined / formed by a closed or generally closed body channel portion 80 formed on the lower side of the body 22. In this way, when the body 22 is properly fitted onto the casing 12, the body channel portion 80 and the upper surface of the casing 12 together define the channel 78. However, if desired, the channel 78 can be formed completely within the body 22, such as by a bore / channel completely formed within the body 22, so that the channel 78 has a completely defined outer perimeter by the body 22. The body channel portion 80 can be closed / sealed or generally closed / sealed at two open ends, fluidly communicating with the membrane 24 at one end and with the valve 26 at the other end, thereby providing a direct fluid communication between the membrane 24 and the valve 26.

[0034] The channel 78 can, if desired, have a relatively small cross-section, for example, at the narrowest point in some cases, and / or less than about 20% of the surface area of the central / main opening 36 in some cases, or less than about 10% in another case, or less than about 5% in another case, and / or greater than about 0.1% in some cases, or greater than about 1% in yet another case, and / or can have an average cross-sectional area. Alternatively, the channel 78 can be between about 100 mm 2 and about 300 mm 2 and can have a minimum and / or average cross-sectional area less than about 400 mm 2 in some cases.

[0035] The channel 78 provides a meandering path and / or connection between the membrane 24 / membrane opening 42 and the inner cavity 14 to protect the membrane 24. In particular, in the case of a thermal runaway event, the limited size of the channel 78 can limit the amount of pressure difference that can rapidly propagate through the channel 78 to provide pressure protection to the membrane 24. Furthermore, the meandering path / lateral offset of the channel 78 can help protect the membrane 24 from any debris or particles that may be rapidly propelled (e.g., in the flow direction F) in the case of a thermal runaway event. Thus, there is no direct path from the inner cavity 14 to the membrane 24 in a direction parallel to the direction of flow through the valve 26. In contrast, in some cases, the valve 26 may be in direct fluid communication with the inner cavity 14 such that there is a direct path from the inner cavity 14 to the valve 26 in a direction parallel to the flow direction F, allowing for rapid discharge of gas. Furthermore, the valve 26 may be more robust than the membrane 24 and therefore can withstand high pressure and / or projectiles well.

[0036] The valve 26 may also be configured to withstand / respond to relatively high pressures. For example, the vanes 50 and the central hub 46 may be configured to exhibit relatively low resistance to the fluid. For example, in some cases, the vanes 50 and the central hub 46 together constitute and / or block a surface area of ​​less than about 10% in some cases and less than about 5% in other cases of the surface area defined within the central portion 34 of the hub (for example, defined by the periphery of the central / main opening 36 of the body 22 when viewed in the flow direction F).

[0037] In this way, the configuration and arrangement of the membrane 24 (including the lateral offset provided by the channel 78), the material of the membrane 24 (including at least the inner 62 and / or outer 64 protective layers), and the configuration of the valve 26 enable the assembly 20 as a whole, and / or the valve 26 and / or membrane 24 together or separately, to withstand the high pressures and / or temperatures and / or gas flows associated with thermal runaway events while maintaining structural integrity. Therefore, in some cases, the assembly 20 as a whole, and / or the valve 26 and / or the membrane 24, together and / or separately, can maintain their structural integrity after exposure to a temperature of about 500°C, in some cases for at least or about 1 second, or in other cases for at least or about 10 seconds, or in other cases for at least or about 60 seconds, and / or a pressure difference of about 33 mbar, in some cases for at least or about 1 second, or in other cases for at least or about 5 seconds, or in other cases for at least or about 60 seconds, and / or a pressure difference of about 250 mbar, in some cases for at least or about 1 second, or in other cases for at least or about 5 seconds, or in other cases for at least or about 60 seconds, and / or a pressure difference of about 500 mbar, in some cases for at least or about 1 second, or in other cases for at least or about 5 seconds, or in other cases for at least or about 60 seconds.

[0038] Furthermore, the assembly 20 as a whole, and / or the valve 26 and / or membrane 24, can maintain their structural integrity after being exposed, together and / or separately, to a gas flow of approximately 2,000 L / min in some cases, or approximately 6,000 L / min in other cases, for at least approximately 1 second in some cases, at least approximately 5 seconds in other cases, or at least approximately 60 seconds in yet another case (e.g., the entire valve 26 and / or mainly penetrating it). In some cases, the assembly 20 (and its individual components) may need to withstand high temperatures for longer periods than high pressures, because thermal runaway events typically exhibit a relatively strong but short-lived pressure burst followed by a longer-lasting high temperature.

[0039] In some cases, “maintaining structural integrity” means that the assembly 20 as a whole, and / or the valve 26 and / or the membrane 24, can continue to operate together or separately as designed and described herein, as necessary. For example, in some cases this means that the assembly 20 (including the membrane 24) remains generally sealed and has not ruptured, and / or that gas can continue to permeate therethrough, and / or that the valve 26 has not ruptured and remains movable between a closed position that generally seals the central / main opening 36 and an open position that allows gas to flow therethrough.

[0040] Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment of assembly 20' which has substantially the same structure and operation as the embodiments in Figures 1 to 9, except that a diaphragm valve 84 is positioned in fluid communication with channel 78 and / or diaphragm opening 42 to selectively allow / block gas flow through channel 78 / diaphragm 24. The diaphragm valve 84, like the valve 26 described above, can be an umbrella valve and can be biased to the closed position and configured to open when there is a sufficient pressure difference across it (higher pressure of the ambient environment 18 in the illustrated embodiment). In this case, the diaphragm valve 84 can generally block the entry of gas through the diaphragm 24 into the cavity 14 unless a predetermined pressure difference is achieved. If necessary, the orientation and / or position of the diaphragm valve 84 relative to the diaphragm 24 can be reversed to block the entry of gas from the cavity 14 through the diaphragm 24 unless a predetermined pressure difference is achieved. Therefore, depending on the position and orientation of the diaphragm valve 84, the diaphragm valve 84 can allow the system in Figure 10 to maintain either an increased pressure (relative to the ambient pressure as shown in the embodiment of Figure 10) or a decreased pressure (relative to the ambient pressure) within the casing 12, because certain chemical reactors can function better at lower and / or higher pressures.

[0041] The incoming gas passes through the membrane 24, which can block contaminants and thus provide a favorable operating environment for the chemical reactor 16. In contrast, any exhaust gas can pass through the valve 26 (instead of the membrane 24 or the membrane 24 and valve 26), and generally there is less concern about emitting any contaminants. This is because 1) the environment inside the casing 12 is generally clean and therefore free of contaminants to begin with, and 2) the valve 26 exhausts contaminants into the surrounding environment 18 where it is not necessary or practical to keep them clean. The membrane valve 84 also allows the assembly 20 to more precisely control the pressure inside the casing 12 by regulating the opening pressure across the valve 26 and controlling the flow of air or gas into the casing 12. This effectively seals the casing 12 and restricts the intrusion of air or gas until a predetermined differential pressure across the membrane valve 84 is reached. The pressure range for opening the membrane valve 84 is, in some cases, in the range of about 20 mbar to about 500 mbar and can be selected to meet the optimal operating pressure requirements of the cells of the chemical reactor 16. Furthermore, when the membrane valve 84 is positioned between the membrane 24 and the inner cavity 14 in the flow direction (as shown in Figure 10), the membrane valve 84 can thereby provide thermal protection, pressure protection and / or protection from particulate matter in the event of thermal runaway events, etc.

[0042] Figure 11 shows an embodiment of assembly 20'' that is functionally somewhat similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 10. In particular, assembly 20'' includes a diaphragm valve 84 positioned and configured to selectively allow / block gas flow through the diaphragm 24. The diaphragm valve 84 may be an umbrella valve biased to the closed position and configured to open when there is a sufficient pressure difference across it, thus providing similar functionality to that provided by the diaphragm valve 84 in Figure 10. In the embodiment of Figure 11, the upper surface of the diaphragm 24 is covered by a portion of the body 22 and is in direct fluid communication with the upper surface of the valve 26 / flapper component 70 (and thus in fluid communication with the ambient environment 18). Furthermore, in the embodiment of Figure 11, the flapper component 70 is coupled to the lower surface of the cover 54 via a central stem 72, and the cover 54 is integrated with the body 22. It should be noted that these structures / configurations may be used in any other embodiments disclosed herein. The embodiment in Figure 11 provides a relatively high flow rate through assembly 20'' while minimizing limitations and reducing the size / footprint of assembly 20''.

[0043] In the embodiments described above, the membrane 24 is offset laterally from the valve 26 and / or fluid-coupled to the inner cavity 14 and / or valve 26 via the channel 78. However, in the embodiment of assembly 20'' shown in Figure 12, the membrane 24 is positioned inside the valve 26 and aligned with the valve 26 (with respect to the flow direction F, if any). In this case, the central stem 72 of the flapper component 70 includes a membrane opening 42'' located therein. This embodiment eliminates the need for a separate membrane opening, and in addition, the channel 78 is not utilized. The embodiment in Figure 12 may provide a more compact assembly 20'' that is easier to manufacture, but does not necessarily have the protective features provided by the offset and channel 28 as described above.

[0044] Although the present invention is shown and described in relation to specific embodiments, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications will occur after reading and understanding the specification, and the present invention includes all such modifications.

Claims

1. A system including a pressure-receiving assembly, The pressure housing assembly is A body having a first side and a second side, A gas permeable membrane is coupled to the main body and configured to allow gas to permeate through it and move from the first side to the second side. A pressure relief valve coupled to the body, wherein the pressure relief valve is biased to a closed position to block the flow of gas passing through it, and moves to an open position when there is a predetermined pressure difference, allowing gas to pass through it from the first side to the second side, Includes, The pressure-retaining assembly is configured to maintain its structural integrity after being exposed to a temperature of 500°C for at least one second. system.

2. The pressure-receiving assembly is configured to maintain its structural integrity after being exposed to a pressure difference of 250 mbar (25 kPa) for at least 5 seconds. The system according to claim 1.

3. The pressure relief valve is configured to accommodate a gas flow of 6000 L / min for at least one second, and thereafter maintain structural integrity. The system according to claim 1.

4. The gas permeable membrane and the pressure relief valve are configured to be simultaneously exposed to a first pressure on the first side and to be simultaneously exposed to a second pressure on the second side. The system according to claim 1.

5. The gas permeable membrane is aligned with the pressure relief valve with respect to the direction of the gas flow passing through the pressure relief valve. The system according to claim 1.

6. The device further includes a membrane valve coupled to the main body, The diaphragm valve is biased to a closed position to block the flow of gas passing through it, preventing the gas that has permeated the gas permeate membrane from flowing through the pressure housing assembly, and moves to an open position when a predetermined pressure difference is present, allowing the gas that has permeated the gas permeate membrane to flow through the pressure housing assembly. The system according to claim 1.

7. The pressure-retaining assembly is configured to continue operating after being exposed to a temperature of 500°C for at least one second, and after exposure, the gas permeable membrane selectively allows gas permeation, and the pressure relief valve remains biased to the closed position and moves to the open position when it experiences a predetermined pressure difference. The system according to claim 1.

8. The gas permeable membrane includes a microporous thermoplastic layer disposed between the inner protective layer and the outer protective layer. The aforementioned gas permeable membrane is impermeable to liquids. The system according to claim 1.

9. The aforementioned microporous thermoplastic layer is polytetrafluoroethylene, Both the inner protective layer and the outer protective layer are made of densely woven aramid material. The system according to claim 8.

10. The gas permeable membrane is offset laterally from the pressure relief valve in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow passing through the pressure relief valve. The system according to claim 1.

11. The body includes, or defines, at least partially in the lateral direction, a closed body channel portion that provides fluid communication between the gas permeable membrane and the pressure relief valve. The system according to claim 10.

12. It further includes a sealed casing having an internal cavity, The pressure-retaining assembly is tightly coupled to the sealed casing so as to allow gas to pass through it and provide pressure balance to the sealed casing. The system according to claim 1.

13. The gas permeable membrane is fluidly coupled to the inner cavity by a meandering path. The system according to claim 12.

14. At least one of the main body or the casing includes or defines a channel portion that provides at least partially lateral fluid communication between the gas permeable membrane and the inner cavity, As a result, there is no direct path from the inner cavity to the gas permeable membrane in a direction parallel to the flow through the pressure relief valve. The system according to claim 12.

15. The pressure relief valve is in direct fluid communication with the inner cavity such that a direct path exists from the inner cavity to the pressure relief valve in a direction parallel to the flow passing through the pressure relief valve. The system according to claim 12.

16. The casing further includes a chemical reactor located within the casing. The system according to claim 12.

17. It is a method, Accessing a pressure housing assembly which includes a body having a first side and a second side, a gas permeable membrane coupled to the body, and a pressure relief valve coupled to the body and biased to a closed position to block the flow of gas passing through it, Allowing the gas to pass through the gas permeable membrane and move from the first side to the second side, When a predetermined pressure difference is experienced, the pressure relief valve moves to the open position, allowing the gas to pass through it and move from the first side to the second side. Includes, The pressure-retaining assembly is exposed to a temperature of 500°C or higher for at least one second, and thereafter maintains its structural integrity. method.

18. The pressure-retaining assembly is sealed and coupled to a sealed casing having an inner cavity, through which gas passes to balance the pressure in the sealed casing. A chemical reactor is placed inside the aforementioned inner cavity. The method according to claim 17.

19. A system including a pressure-receiving assembly, The pressure housing assembly is A body having a first side and a second side, A gas permeable membrane is coupled to the main body and configured to allow gas to permeate through it and move from the first side to the second side. A pressure relief valve coupled to the main body, which is biased to a closed position to block the flow of gas passing through it, and moves to an open position when there is a predetermined pressure difference to allow gas to pass through it, Includes, The gas permeable membrane is offset laterally from the pressure relief valve in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow passing through the pressure relief valve. The main body at least partially defines a channel portion in the lateral direction that provides fluid communication between the gas permeable membrane and the pressure relief valve, The pressure-retaining assembly is configured to maintain structural integrity after being exposed to a temperature of 500°C for at least one second. system.

20. It further includes a sealed casing having an internal cavity, The pressure-retaining assembly is sealed and coupled to the sealed casing so as to allow gas to pass through it and provide pressure balance to the casing. The pressure-retaining assembly is configured such that there is no direct path from the inner cavity to the gas permeable membrane in a direction parallel to the gas flow through the pressure relief valve. The system according to claim 19.

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