Composite Cuff Suspension for Cryogenic Tank Heat Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic fluid storage units face challenges in maintaining thermal insulation and mechanical stability of the suspension system, which is subjected to road stresses and must last for 15 to 25 years without failure.
Innovation Solution
A suspension system using a composite material cuff with tapered bearing surfaces and metallic components for the internal and external reservoirs, ensuring secure clamping and minimal heat transfer, while providing mechanical strength and light weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel is used for the suspension, then mechanical strength is ensured, but thermal conductivity is high causing excessive heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension link is made from a composite material comprising carbon fibers embedded in a polymer matrix, combining the high strength of carbon fibers with the low thermal conductivity of the polymer matrix. This resolves the contradiction by providing both mechanical strength and thermal insulation properties simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by selecting a polymer matrix with specifically low thermal conductivity and high adhesion properties, and carbon fibers with appropriate strength characteristics. The fiber orientation and distribution are optimized to achieve the required mechanical properties while maintaining low thermal conductivity.
2Reliability
If the suspension is designed to withstand road stresses and accidents, then reliability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension link is designed as a modular composite structure with distinct fiber reinforcement zones and matrix regions, allowing different areas to be optimized for specific stress conditions. This segmentation enables the structure to handle various loading scenarios without requiring an overly complex overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention varies the fiber concentration, orientation, and distribution within different regions of the suspension link to match the expected stress patterns from road conditions and potential impacts, achieving high reliability through material parameter optimization rather than structural complexity.
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 composite material cuff with tapered bearing surfaces effectively reduces heat conduction and maintains mechanical integrity, ensuring long-term thermal insulation and structural stability under vehicle stresses.
Implementation Method 1
composite materials have extremely low thermal conductivity. In particular, this thermal conductivity is much lower than the thermal conductivity of steel
Implementation Method 2
The use of a cuff made of a composite material drastically reduces conductive heat transfer from the external to the internal reservoir
Implementation Method 3
The cooperation of the two tapered bearing surfaces prevents them from being pulled loose under axial stress
Implementation Method 4
The force is distributed over the entire surface of the cuff's proximal axial end
Data Source
AI summary
The storage unit comprises an internal reservoir, an external reservoir, and a suspension suspending the internal reservoir from the external reservoir; Thesuspension comprises a link that includesa cuff made of a composite material with a central axis,a proximal link of a proximal axial end of the cuff to the internal reservoir; anda distal link of a distal axial end of the cuff to the external reservoir. Theproximal link comprisesa body closing the proximal axial end of the cuff, the body having an external surface defining an external tapered bearing surface coaxial with the central axis and engaged inside the proximal axial end. The proximal link further comprisesa ring connected to the internal reservoir, the ring having an internal surface defining an internal tapered bearing surface coaxial with the central axis and surrounding the proximal axial end, the proximal axial end of the cuff is clamped between the external tapered bearing surface and the internal tapered bearing surface.