Cryogenic Tank Cable Feedthrough Using Mineral-Insulated Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tank systems face challenges in simplifying and ensuring reliable transmission of signals and energy through the shell of cryogenic containers, particularly due to complex assembly requirements and the need for feedthrough components that meet tightness, pressure resistance, and durability in cryogenic storage environments.
Innovation Solution
The use of a mineral-insulated line comprising an inner conductor, insulating sheath, and outer sheath, guided through a sleeve element welded to the double-walled sheath, eliminates the need for feedthrough components by forming an uninterrupted line feedthrough, ensuring stability and corrosion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional feedthrough components with contact elements are used, then signal transmission through the shell is achieved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex feedthrough component with contact elements from the system. Instead, a mineral-insulated cable is used that passes directly through the shell, removing the intermediate complex component while maintaining signal transmission functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mineral-insulated cable serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical signal transmission, thermal insulation, and mechanical protection in one integrated component, eliminating the need for separate feedthrough components and contact elements.
2Ease of operation
If feedthrough components are used to guide cables through the shell, then signal transmission is enabled, but assembly effort and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex feedthrough component is removed from the system. The mineral-insulated cable is simply guided through the shell, dramatically simplifying the assembly process while maintaining signal transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable routing path is prepared in advance by creating a simple opening in the shell, allowing the cable to be installed directly without requiring complex assembly operations during the manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If conventional cable arrangements are used, then electrical connections are established, but tightness and pressure resistance in cryogenic environments are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mineral-insulated cable combines multiple materials with complementary properties: the mineral insulation provides thermal insulation and electrical isolation, the metal braid provides mechanical strength and electromagnetic shielding, and the overall construction maintains tightness and pressure resistance in cryogenic environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable construction uses homogeneous materials throughout its structure that are all compatible with cryogenic environments, ensuring uniform performance and reliability across the entire cable assembly without weak points from material incompatibility.
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 simplifies assembly, reduces complexity at transition points, and ensures robust and reliable signal transmission in high-stress environments, such as liquid hydrogen tanks, while maintaining structural integrity and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a mineral-insulated line which comprises at least one inner conductor made of metal, an insulating sheath made of a mineral material surrounding the at least one inner conductor
Implementation Method 2
an insulating sheath made of a mineral material surrounding the at least one inner conductor
Implementation Method 3
the outer sheath of the mineral-insulated line is welded directly or indirectly to the sleeve element
Data Source
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AI summary
A tank system comprises a cryogenic container for storing a liquefied gas, which has a double-walled shell enclosing a storage space for the liquefied gas, a control, evaluation, and/or power supply unit located outside the storage space, and an electrical wiring arrangement for transmitting signals and/or power between the storage space and the control, evaluation, and/or power supply unit. The electrical wiring arrangement comprises a mineral-insulated cable comprising at least one inner conductor made of metal, an insulating sheath made of a mineral material enclosing the at least one inner conductor, and an outer sheath made of metal enclosing the insulating sheath.The tank system comprises a metal sleeve element welded to the double-walled shell or to a metal component passing through the at least double-walled shell and having a through-channel, wherein the mineral-insulated pipe is passed through the through-channel and the outer sheath of the mineral-insulated pipe is welded to the sleeve element.