Cryogenic Tank Insulation Using Microspheres for Vacuum Loss Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic tank insulation systems, such as those using multilayer insulation and thermal insulation mats with vacuums, suffer significantly reduced thermal insulation performance if there is an accidental loss of vacuum.
Innovation Solution
A tank design incorporating thermal insulation mats with enhanced vacuum levels and microspheres distributed around them, along with multiple insulating layers and a fluid-tight intermediary volume filled with additional microspheres, maintains insulation performance even in the event of vacuum loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If vacuum insulation is used in the intermediary volume, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to performance loss if vacuum is accidentally lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces microspheres into the intermediary volume to provide thermal insulation through a different physical mechanism (radiation and conduction barriers) than vacuum. This parameter change in the insulation medium allows the system to maintain acceptable thermal performance even when vacuum is lost, as the microspheres continue to provide insulation through their spherical structure and material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite insulation system combining vacuum (in the thermal insulation mat) and microspheres (in the intermediary volume) to achieve redundant insulation mechanisms. This composite approach ensures that if one insulation mechanism fails (vacuum loss), the other (microspheres) continues to provide thermal protection, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing thermal performance.
2Loss of energy
If thermal insulation mats with vacuum are used, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the insulation system into distinct segments: thermal insulation mats with enhanced vacuum levels for primary insulation, and microspheres distributed in the intermediary volume for secondary insulation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system design by clearly defining the function of each element.
Solution Approach 2:
The microspheres act as an intermediary element between the interior and exterior barriers, providing a buffer that maintains insulation performance even when the primary vacuum insulation degrades. This intermediary layer simplifies the system's response to vacuum loss by automatically providing backup insulation without requiring complex control mechanisms.
3Loss of energy
If enhanced vacuum levels are used in thermal insulation mats, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that thermal insulation mats be pre-manufactured with enhanced vacuum levels before assembly into the tank system. This preliminary action allows the vacuum insulation to be created under controlled manufacturing conditions, ensuring consistent high performance while simplifying the final assembly process, as the mats arrive ready-to-install with their vacuum already established.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the vacuum parameter from standard vacuum levels to enhanced vacuum levels (lower pressure) within the thermal insulation mats. This parameter change improves thermal insulation performance by reducing gas molecule density and thus heat transfer, while the use of pre-manufactured mats with sealed wrappers makes achieving and maintaining this enhanced vacuum more manageable during manufacturing.
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 ensures sustained thermal insulation performance by utilizing microspheres outside the insulation mats to maintain vacuum integrity and offsetting gaps between layers, reducing the impact of vacuum loss and enhancing insulation properties beyond traditional multilayer insulation systems.
Implementation Method 1
an enhanced level of vacuum is established in the intermediary volume and in each thermal insulation mat
Implementation Method 2
the intermediary volume contains microspheres outside of the thermal insulation mats
Data Source
AI summary
A tank suitable for storing a product at a cryogenic temperature, including a fluid tight interior barrier, a fluid tight exterior barrier, surrounding the first interior barrier, an intermediary volume interposed between the interior and exterior barriers and at least one insulating layer positioned in the intermediary volume and including at least one thermal insulation mat, with very low thermal conductivity. The intermediary volume contains microspheres outside of the thermal insulation mats and has an enhanced level of vacuum. This solution makes it possible to maintain satisfactory performance in terms of thermal insulation even in the event of a loss of vacuum in the intermediary volume.