Collapsible Cryogenic Vessel Using Flexible Shells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid cryogenic fluid storage vessels face limitations in transport, storage, and mobility due to size constraints, susceptibility to stress and thermal expansion, and inefficient use of space, particularly in industries requiring large volumes and frequent movement.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible cryogenic storage vessel made from multiple layers of flexible materials, including a protective outer layer, insulation, a structural restraint, and a thermally welded bladder, which can be shaped and configured to fit various applications, and equipped with a skeletal framework for larger sizes, allowing for efficient transport and use in diverse environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid materials are used for cryogenic storage vessels, then structural strength and stress resistance are improved, but transportability and mobility are worsened due to size constraints and weight limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible shells and thin films by constructing the storage vessel from flexible materials that can be collapsed into a compact configuration for transport and deployed to full size during operation. The flexible wall structure maintains sufficient strength to contain cryogenic fluids while enabling collapsibility for improved transportability and mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by designing a vessel that transitions between static rigid-like operational state and dynamic collapsed transport state. The flexible materials allow the vessel to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements, providing both structural integrity during use and compactness during transport.
2Volume of stationary object
If rigid vessels are used for large volume storage, then storage capacity is improved, but area required for storage and infrastructure modifications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible vessel provides large storage capacity when deployed while occupying minimal space when collapsed. This dynamic configuration allows the vessel to be stored in small areas and transported efficiently, eliminating the need for large dedicated storage facilities and reducing infrastructure requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsed configuration of the flexible vessel allows it to be nested or compacted into a small volume for storage and transport. Multiple vessels can be efficiently packed together, maximizing space utilization and reducing the area required for storage facilities.
3Strength
If rigid vessels are used for transport, then structural integrity is improved, but stress and thermal expansion issues worsen due to repeated temperature excursions
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible materials used in the vessel change their physical parameters in response to temperature variations, allowing thermal expansion and contraction without generating stress. This parameter change capability enables the vessel to withstand repeated temperature excursions while maintaining structural integrity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vessel utilizes composite material structures that combine flexible materials with insulation layers to create a thermally responsive system. The composite construction allows the vessel to accommodate thermal effects while maintaining both structural integrity and thermal insulation performance.
4Stress or pressure
If rigid vessels are used for cryogenic storage, then pressure containment is improved, but flexibility to modify internal volume during use is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible wall structure of the vessel allows for volume modification while maintaining pressure containment. The flexible materials can be inflated or deflated to adjust internal volume, and the wall structure adapts to maintain structural integrity and pressure containment throughout the volume adjustment process.
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 collapsible vessel offers significant operational and economic benefits by reducing the need for costly infrastructure modifications, minimizing environmental impact, and enabling the use of larger tanks with reduced transportation costs, while maintaining structural integrity and safety at cryogenic temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
The wall of the inflatable vessel is made from an assembly of multiple layers of flexible materials... The next layer, which is also the innermost layer of the assembly, is the bladder. It is made from a film, coated fabric, or laminate of materials that is thermally welded or bonded together.
Implementation Method 2
The insulation layer protects the cryogenic fluid in the vessel from warming and evolving into a gas.
Data Source
AI summary
A design and construction method for a Collapsible Cryogenic Storage Vessel can be used for storing cryogenic liquids. The vessel provides the ability to be packed for transport in a compact state and erected at the point of use. The vessel can be used multiple times. The vessel's volume can also be adjusted during use to minimize or eliminate head space in the vessel.