Cryogenic Storage Tank Injection Rail for Uniform Gas Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic fluid storage systems face issues with non-uniform gas reinjection velocity leading to increased heat exchange and disturbance of the liquid/gas interface, which affects the pressurization capacity and temperature stability of the cryogenic liquid.
Innovation Solution
The device features a rail with varying spacing, diameter, and orientation of gas outlet orifices along its length to achieve uniform gas flow rates, minimizing heat exchange and reducing convection cells, thereby improving stratification and reducing pressurization time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If gas is reinjected into the tank to pressurize the liquid, then the pressurization capacity is improved, but the heat exchange at the liquid/gas interface increases and the temperature of the liquid rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the orifice characteristics (diameter, spacing, orientation) at different positions along the rail. The orifices are designed with different properties in different regions to optimize gas distribution, concentrating heat addition at the top of the gas dome where it is most effective for pressurization while minimizing overall heat exchange with the liquid.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the orifices (diameter, spacing, orientation) to control gas flow characteristics. By adjusting these parameters, the system optimizes the reinjection velocity field to achieve uniform distribution and minimize harmful heat exchange effects while maintaining effective pressurization.
2Productivity
If the reinjection velocity is increased to improve pressurization efficiency, then the pressurization speed is improved, but the heat exchange at the liquid/gas interface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gas reinjection system into multiple orifices distributed along the rail. This segmentation allows the total gas flow to be distributed across multiple injection points, achieving uniform reinjection velocity field that improves pressurization efficiency while minimizing the disturbance to the liquid/gas interface and associated heat exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The orifices are designed with different local characteristics (diameter, spacing, orientation) to optimize the reinjection velocity field. This local optimization ensures uniform gas distribution that enhances pressurization efficiency while minimizing the harmful heat exchange effects at the liquid/gas interface.
3Device complexity
If the orifices are uniformly spaced and sized, then the device complexity is reduced, but the gas flow rates leaving the orifices are non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the orifices have different characteristics at different positions along the rail. The orifice diameter, spacing, and orientation are varied locally to compensate for pressure and flow variations along the rail, ensuring uniform gas flow rates exit all orifices despite the increased design complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the orifices (diameter, spacing, orientation) along the length of the rail to achieve uniform flow distribution. This parameter variation ensures that despite the increased complexity, the gas flow rates leaving all orifices are uniform, improving overall system performance.
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 results in uniform gas reinjection, reducing heat transfer at the liquid/gas interface, maintaining temperature stability, and enhancing pressurization efficiency with reduced liquid usage and heating effects.
Implementation Method 1
an atmospheric heater is placed under the tank to make it possible to pressurize part of the liquid contents of the storage tank by vaporizing it
Implementation Method 2
The reinjected gas tends however to heat the cryogenic liquid present in the tank, reducing the pressurizing capacity of the expansion space
Implementation Method 3
at least one of the spacing between the orifices, the diameter of the orifices and the number of the orifices is different in the longitudinal direction between a first end through which the gas enters the rail and an opposite second end of the rail and configured to render the flow rates leaving the orifices of the rail uniform in the longitudinal direction
Data Source
AI summary
A device for storing cryogenic fluid comprising a tank extending in a longitudinal direction and suitable for containing liquefied gas in equilibrium with a gas phase, a device for pressurizing the tank, the pressurization device comprising a pressurized gas generator and a rail for injecting the pressurized gas extending in the longitudinal direction in the upper portion of the tank, the injection rail comprising a plurality of gas outlet orifices spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, characterized in that at least one of the spacing between the orifices, the diameter of the orifices and the number of the orifices is different in the longitudinal direction between a first so end through which the gas enters the rail and an opposite second end of the rail and configured to render the flow rates leaving the orifices of the rail uniform in the longitudinal direction.