Cryogenic Container Insulation via Magnetic Levitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic containers face challenges in minimizing heat losses and mechanical stress while maintaining secure suspension of the inner shell within the outer shell, often requiring complex assemblies and additional insulating layers that increase manufacturing costs and difficulties.
Innovation Solution
The use of two-piece insulating shells attached to the outer or inner shells via independent positioning elements, such as bolts or spring elements, which maintain a constant distance and prevent direct contact, allowing for minimal heat transfer and simplified assembly without the need for superinsulating layers or multi-layer insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the inner shell is strongly insulated from the outer shell using multiple insulating layers and radiation shields, then heat losses are reduced, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates complex insulating layers, radiation shields, and supporting structures from the cryogenic container design. By using magnetic levitation to suspend the inner shell without physical contact, all these unnecessary components are removed, achieving both thermal insulation and structural support simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical support system (cross-struts, insulating layers, radiation shields) with a magnetic field-based suspension system. Permanent magnets mounted on the outer shell create magnetic repulsion forces that levitate the inner shell, eliminating the need for mechanical contact and complex thermal insulation structures.
2Reliability
If structural elements are added between the inner shell and outer shell for mounting purposes, then the inner shell is securely mounted, but thermal bridges are formed and heat losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical mounting elements with magnetic field-based suspension. Permanent magnets on the outer shell create magnetic repulsion that securely mounts the inner shell without physical contact, eliminating thermal bridges while maintaining mounting stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the inner and outer shells. This magnetic field acts as a non-contact mediator that provides both mounting stability and thermal isolation, preventing direct thermal conduction paths.
3Loss of energy
If multiple insulating shells are used to reduce heat losses, then thermal insulation is improved, but the assembly process becomes more difficult and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates multiple insulating shells from the design. By using magnetic levitation for support and insulation, the need for multiple concentric insulating shells is removed, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining thermal insulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of structural support and thermal insulation into a single magnetic field-based system. The permanent magnets on the outer shell simultaneously provide mechanical support and thermal isolation, eliminating the need for separate insulating shell components.
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
This design effectively reduces heat losses and mechanical stress, simplifies the assembly process, and lowers manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for complex insulating layers, while maintaining secure positioning of the inner shell within the outer shell.
Implementation Method 1
For the temperature insulation of a container for cryogenic media, in the following referred to as a cryotank, it is suitable to insulate the inner shell as strongly and as completely as possible in order to avoid heat losses as much as possible.
Implementation Method 2
heat losses will inevitably occur via those mounting elements
Implementation Method 3
each insulating shell has at least a two-piece design and is attached to the outer shell and/or to the device and/or to the inner shell via positioning elements which are independent of the fastening elements, with the insulating shell being spaced apart in a contactless manner
Data Source
AI summary
A container for receiving cryogenic media and/or units which are to be stored at low temperatures, having an outer shell (1) and an insulating shell (10) which is connected directly or indirectly to said outer shell (1) in a positionally stable manner and is optionally surrounded by one or more further insulating shells (10), wherein an inner shell (2) for storing cryogenic media is connected to the outer shell (1) via fastening elements (3) in a positionally stable manner. Each insulating shell (10) is of at least two-part configuration and is fastened to the outer shell (1) and/or to the inner shell (2) by positioning elements (11, 26, 27) which are independent of the fastening elements (3), wherein the insulating shell (10) is spaced apart without contact from the outer or inner shell (1,2) or from a further insulating shell (10) with the formation of a gap (15).