Cryogenic Pressure Vessel Dynamic Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure vessels operate significantly below their maximum operating pressure during steady-state cryogenic conditions due to design based on material strength at higher temperatures, leading to inefficient use of material and increased weight.
Innovation Solution
The design of pressure vessels is optimized to operate near the maximum operating pressure during steady-state conditions by using control systems that determine the maximum operating pressure as a function of temperature and incorporate modulated valves to vent hydrogen during transient operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure vessels are designed based on material strength at higher temperatures, then safety is ensured during transient operations, but the vessels operate significantly below maximum operating pressure during steady-state cryogenic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pressure control by adjusting valve positions based on real-time temperature measurements. The system transitions from static design margins to dynamic operation, where the maximum operating pressure is continuously adapted to match actual material strength at current temperatures, enabling full pressure utilization during cryogenic steady-state conditions while maintaining safety during transient operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter from fixed design pressure to variable pressure based on temperature. By monitoring temperature and adjusting pressure accordingly, the system exploits the temperature-dependent strength characteristics of materials to operate at higher pressures during cryogenic steady-state conditions while maintaining safety margins during transient operations.
2Strength
If pressure vessels are designed with sufficient thickness for maximum allowable working pressure, then structural integrity is maintained, but the vessels become significantly heavier and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic pressure control to optimize the thickness requirement. Instead of designing for maximum pressure under all conditions, the system dynamically adjusts operating pressure based on temperature, allowing thinner walls during cryogenic steady-state conditions when material strength is highest, while maintaining adequate thickness for transient operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the design approach from conservative fixed-pressure design to variable-pressure design based on temperature. This allows the vessel to operate at higher pressures during cryogenic conditions where materials are strongest, reducing the required wall thickness and overall weight while maintaining structural integrity through real-time pressure control.
3Strength
If pressure vessels operate at lower pressures during steady-state conditions, then material strength is conserved, but the vessels are oversized and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pressure adjustment based on temperature measurements to optimize material strength utilization. During cryogenic steady-state conditions, the system increases operating pressure to match the enhanced material strength, eliminating the need for oversized vessels designed for conservative pressure operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating pressure parameter to match actual material strength conditions. By monitoring temperature and adjusting pressure accordingly, the system fully utilizes material strength during cryogenic operations, allowing for more efficient, smaller vessel designs rather than oversized vessels designed for conservative pressure margins.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for pressure control systems in pressure vessels are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a cryogenic tank, a valve fluidly coupled to the cryogenic tank, machine readable instructions, and programmable circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine readable instructions to determine, based on a temperature of the cryogenic tank and a property of the cryogenic tank, a threshold pressure of the cryogenic tank, compare a pressure of the cryogenic tank to the threshold pressure, and after determining the pressure of the cryogenic tank does not satisfy the threshold pressure, actuate the valve until the pressure satisfies the threshold pressure.