Cellular Vessel for Compressed Gas Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vessels for compressed gas transportation are limited by large container sizes, which prevent unloading at ports and delivery to consumers, requiring additional processes and energy for gas transfer, and can only transport gas under pressure up to 100 kg/sq cm due to non-optimal design and steel construction.
Innovation Solution
The vessel is designed with a hull divided into cells with vertical guides, standard containers stacked horizontally, and connected to a shipboard compressed gas loading system, allowing for gas receipt, control, and discharge through pipeline systems, enabling transportation by shallow-draft vessels, road, or railway without extra energy, and simplifying tank repair and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If large high-pressure cylinders are used for compressed gas storage, then gas storage capacity is improved, but the cylinders cannot be unloaded at ports and delivered to consumers, requiring additional pipeline infrastructure and energy for gas transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel is divided into multiple compartments, each containing standard-sized cylinders instead of one large cylinder. This segmentation allows the cylinders to be standard shipping containers that can be easily unloaded at ports and delivered to consumers using existing infrastructure, while collectively providing sufficient gas storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pressure parameter to operate at lower pressures (up to 100 kg/sq cm) compared to traditional high-pressure storage. This parameter change enables the use of standard cylinders that can be easily handled and transported, eliminating the need for specialized high-pressure infrastructure while maintaining adequate gas storage through optimized cylinder design and arrangement.
2Strength
If steel construction is used for cylinders, then strength is improved, but the pressure capacity is limited to 100 kg/sq cm and additional cooling energy is required to maintain gas parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs composite materials for cylinder construction, combining materials with different properties to achieve both high strength and high pressure capacity. This composite construction allows the cylinders to withstand pressures up to 250 kg/sq cm without requiring excessive cooling energy, as the material properties are optimized for both mechanical strength and thermal characteristics.
3Ease of manufacture
If non-optimal container design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the pressure capacity is limited and additional processes are required for gas transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention designs cylinders that serve multiple functions: they are standard shipping containers that can be easily manufactured, handled, and transported using existing infrastructure, while simultaneously providing efficient gas storage capacity. These universal cylinders can be used across different applications and transportation modes, eliminating the need for specialized manufacturing processes or additional gas transfer operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vessel for transporting compressed gas, comprising cargo holds with tanks for storing gas during transportation arranged in said cargo holds equipped with pipelines, signaling sensors, a shutoff fitting and a connecting fitting, and compressors, wherein the hull of the vessel is divided into cells with vertical guides, at least one bulkhead in said cells is impermeable to water and gas, and unified containers with the tanks for compressed gas arranged horizontally therein are mounted one on top of the other in the guides, said containers being connected to a vessel system for compressed gas transfer, wherein the hull of the vessel is divided into the cells in such a way that, in the zone of at least one bulkhead delimiting the cell, a distance of from 0.8 to 2 metres is ensured, and collectors for distributing the compressed gas, the pipelines with the shutoff valves, the compressor and accident monitoring and control equipment are arranged in this space.