Cryofluid Container Strut Polygon for Thermal Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic containers face challenges in supporting inner containers with significant thermal contraction due to extreme low temperatures, requiring a support structure that prevents cold bridges and accommodates length changes while withstanding radial and torsional forces.
Innovation Solution
A support structure comprising a polygon of struts with ends connected to the outer container's concave cap and middle regions connected to the inner container's convex cap, providing axial mobility, radial stability, and torsional rigidity, with intrinsic elasticity to decouple temperature and accommodate thermal changes, and optionally using sliding bearings for additional flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a floating bearing is used to accommodate thermal expansion, then the inner container can move axially, but the structure becomes complex and difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into multiple struts (at least three) forming a polygon, with each strut independently connected to the inner and outer containers. This segmentation allows the structure to accommodate thermal expansion through distributed movement while maintaining overall stability, avoiding the complexity of a single complex floating bearing.
Solution Approach 2:
The strut polygon serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides axial mobility to accommodate thermal expansion, ensures radial stability to prevent container loosening, and offers torsional rigidity to resist rotational forces. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing overall structural complexity.
2Strength
If the inner container is firmly supported to withstand radial and torsional forces, then structural stability is improved, but thermal decoupling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The struts act as intermediary elements between the inner and outer containers. They are designed with thermal insulation properties to decouple temperature while mechanically transmitting radial and torsional forces. This intermediary function allows simultaneous achievement of thermal isolation and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The struts are made from composite materials or materials with specific properties that combine mechanical strength for force resistance with thermal insulation capabilities. This allows the same component to fulfill both structural support and thermal decoupling functions without compromise.
3Reliability
If the support structure is made rigid to prevent container loosening, then reliability is improved, but the ability to accommodate thermal contraction is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates dynamic characteristics through the strut polygon configuration, allowing controlled movement and deformation in response to thermal contraction while maintaining overall stability. The structure adapts to thermal changes rather than resisting them rigidly, ensuring both reliability and adaptability.
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 effectively decouples thermal expansion from structural integrity, ensuring the inner container remains securely attached and thermally isolated, maintaining the cryofluid's energy density and operational stability during vehicle movements.
Implementation Method 1
The struts establish a temperature gradient across their length to thermally decouple the inner and outer containers
Implementation Method 2
the inner vessel experiences a significant thermal expansion or contraction during filling
Implementation Method 3
Due to the intrinsic elasticity of the struts, changes in the length of the inner container can be compensated
Data Source
Figure 1~6
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A container (1) for receiving a cryofluid comprises an inner container (2) with at least one outwardly convex cap (7) and an outer container (3) with at least one inwardly concave cap (10), wherein the inner container (2) is located in the outer container (3) at a distance on all sides, the convex cap (10) projects into the concave cap (10), and the inner container (2) is supported on the outer container (3) by a first support structure (13) which engages the convex cap (7), and a second support structure (14) which engages the inner container (2) diametrically opposite the first support structure (13), and wherein the first support structure (13) has at least three struts (21 - 24) forming a polygon, the ends of which are each connected to the concave cap (10) and the central regions (26) of which are each connected to the convex cap (7).