Cryogenic Cold Box Enclosure for Fire and Leak Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cold boxes used in cryogenic operations lack protection against external fires and secondary leakage, particularly in limited spaces such as marine environments, where they also face challenges with material brittleness and heat leakage.
Innovation Solution
A primary enclosure made from a low temperature alloy with a vapor venting system and fire retardant agent, optionally surrounded by a secondary enclosure, provides enhanced protection against fires and leaks, with a sloped floor and perforated plate for hydrocarbon drainage and insulation, and structural support from materials resistant to cryogenic temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If bulk fill insulation is used to prevent heat leakage, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but the container volume increases due to minimum insulation thickness requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining bulk fill insulation (perlite) with a reflective insulation layer (aluminized barrier). This composite insulation system provides superior thermal performance per unit thickness, reducing the minimum insulation thickness required while maintaining effective heat leakage prevention. The reflective layer reduces radiative heat transfer, allowing thinner overall insulation packaging.
2Ease of manufacture
If carbon steel material is used for container fabrication, then manufacturing ease is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to brittle failure at cryogenic temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by specifying low temperature alloy materials (such as stainless steel grades 304L or 316L) that maintain ductility and structural integrity at cryogenic temperatures. This material parameter change ensures reliability in cold box operations while still allowing for practical fabrication through welding and assembly processes.
3Loss of energy
If current cold box design is used, then heat leakage protection is improved, but safety deteriorates due to lack of fire protection and secondary leakage protection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the containment system into multiple independent barriers: the cold box enclosure, the skid platform, and the marine vessel structure. This segmentation provides secondary containment, where if one barrier fails (e.g., cold box leakage), other barriers prevent catastrophic failure. The skid acts as an intermediate containment layer between the cold box and the vessel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by designing the skid platform with fire-resistant materials and insulation that can withstand fire exposure for a specified duration. This provides a time buffer in case of fire, allowing for safe shutdown procedures. The fire-resistant design cushions against the harmful effect of fire before it can compromise the cryogenic equipment.
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 offers additional safety by safely disposing of flammable materials and protecting equipment from external fires, while maintaining structural integrity and reducing heat leakage, thus enhancing safety and operational reliability in cryogenic environments.
Implementation Method 1
Bulk fill insulation, ordinarily in particulate form, is introduced into the container to provide insulation. Such bulk fill insulation, for example perlite, inhibits both convective and radiative heat transfer
Implementation Method 2
Such bulk fill insulation, for example perlite, inhibits both convective and radiative heat transfer
Implementation Method 3
Such bulk fill insulation, for example perlite, inhibits both convective and radiative heat transfer and constrains the heat transfer occurring through conduction
Implementation Method 4
a fire retardant agent applied to the exterior surface of the primary enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to cryogenic fluids. In another aspect, the present invention relates to additional protection of an apparatus containing equipment capable of operating at cryogenic temperatures and containing cryogenic materials. An apparatus includes: (a) a primary enclosure defining an internal volume, wherein the primary enclosure includes primary walls, a primary ceiling, a primary floor, and a vapor venting system, wherein the primary enclosure is fabricated from a low temperature alloy, wherein at least a portion of the primary floor forms a slope, wherein the slope from a hydrocarbon outlet, wherein a perforated plate is located on top of the hydrocarbon outlet, wherein the perforated plate is fabricated from a low temperature alloy; and (b) a fire retardant agent applied to the exterior surface of the primary enclosure.