Dry vapor cryogenic container with absorbent core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic storage containers face challenges in minimizing liquid cryogen loss during shipping and maintaining effective absorption and vaporization rates, with existing technologies requiring extended times for saturation and compromising structural integrity and contents stability.
Innovation Solution
A dry vapor cryogenic storage container featuring a thermally insulated absorbent core with fluid channels, made from porous materials like calcium silicate, which increases absorption surface area and reduces saturation time, while maintaining contents stability and structural integrity through a stacked panel configuration and holder system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a porous material is employed to absorb liquid cryogen into walls facing a storage cavity, then liquid cryogen loss is minimized and contents stability is maintained, but the saturation time is extended and absorption rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fluid channels that create three-dimensional pathways through the absorbent core, transforming the absorption process from a two-dimensional surface phenomenon to a three-dimensional volumetric process. This dimensional change allows liquid cryogen to penetrate deeper into the core simultaneously, reducing saturation time while maintaining effective absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent core is segmented into multiple sections with fluid channels creating distinct absorption zones. This segmentation divides the absorption process into parallel pathways, allowing liquid cryogen to be absorbed simultaneously through multiple channels rather than relying on slow diffusion through a single mass of porous material.
2Strength
If the absorbent core is made as a single solid structure, then structural integrity is maintained, but absorption surface area is limited and saturation time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent core is divided into multiple panels that are stacked together to form the complete core structure. Each panel contains fluid channels, and when stacked, these channels align to create continuous three-dimensional pathways. This segmentation increases the total absorption surface area while maintaining structural integrity through the stacked configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked panel configuration adds a vertical dimension to the absorption surface area. Instead of a single flat surface, the liquid cryogen can access absorption surfaces at multiple heights and locations simultaneously, effectively multiplying the available absorption area without compromising the overall structural integrity of the core.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the contents container is held stationary in the storage cavity, then contents stability is maintained during orientation changes, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder structure is merged with the absorbent core itself, rather than being a separate independent component. The holder is integrated into the panel structure of the core, utilizing the same material and manufacturing processes. This merging reduces overall design complexity while still providing the necessary contents stabilization function during orientation changes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces the time required for the absorbent core to become saturated with cryogenic liquid, maintaining contents stability during orientation changes and shipping, and enhances temperature preservation for cryogenic materials.
Implementation Method 1
a porous material that absorbs a cryogenic material in liquid form and releases the cryogenic material in vapor form as the absorbed liquid evaporates
Implementation Method 2
releases the cryogenic material in vapor form as the absorbed liquid evaporates
Implementation Method 3
one or more thermally insulated walls
Data Source
AI summary
A dry vapor cryogenic storage container includes an absorbent core made from a porous material that absorbs a liquid cryogen and releases the cryogen in vapor form as the absorbed liquid evaporates. Fluid channels are formed in the absorbent core to increase the available surface area through which the liquid cryogen can be absorbed. The core can absorb the cryogenic liquid much faster with inclusion of the fluid channels. The absorbent core can be made by cutting a cavity and drilling holes in a stack of calcium silicate panels. The cavity holds a contents container or an inner core. The inner core can be part of an extractor and made from porous material including fluid channels for absorbing liquid cryogen. Contents containers can be housed in the inner core.