Cryogenic Pressure Vessel Mounting for Vacuum Stability and Heat Dissipation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic pressure vessels face challenges related to cost, structural space, weight, robustness, and operating characteristics, particularly due to the complexity and expense of heat exchangers and the need for robust barrier layers.
Innovation Solution
The pressure vessel design incorporates a pot-shaped connecting end piece, a fiber-reinforced inner tank mounting, and a barrier layer with a length compensation device, which reduces structural space requirements, improves vacuum stability, and allows for more efficient heat dissipation and fuel storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat exchanger is used to warm the fuel, then the fuel can be heated efficiently, but the pressure vessel becomes heavier, larger, more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat exchanger component from the pressure vessel system entirely. Instead of using a dedicated heat exchanger, the invention utilizes the connecting end piece and inner tank mounting as heat dissipation paths, eliminating the need for separate heating components and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting end piece serves multiple functions: it mechanically connects the inner vessel to the outer vessel, provides structural support, and acts as a heat dissipation path. The inner tank mounting similarly serves both mechanical support and thermal management functions, eliminating the need for dedicated single-function components
2Temperature
If fiber-reinforced pipes are arranged one inside the other to form a heat dissipation path, then heat can be dissipated, but a relatively large amount of structural space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested construction where the inner tank mounting is positioned within the connecting end piece structure. The fiber-reinforced layers are integrated into the mounting structure itself rather than being separate components, allowing heat dissipation functionality to be achieved within the existing structural volume without requiring additional space
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heat dissipation function with the mechanical support structure. The connecting end piece and inner tank mounting that provide structural support also serve as heat dissipation paths, combining multiple functions into unified components rather than separate elements
3Reliability
If a barrier layer is added to prevent constituents escaping from the plastics material layer, then vacuum stability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material construction where the inner tank mounting incorporates multiple fiber-reinforced layers (carbon fiber and/or glass fiber) embedded in a plastics matrix. This composite structure inherently provides both mechanical strength and barrier properties, eliminating the need for separate barrier layers while maintaining vacuum stability
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting end piece features an asymmetric pot-shaped design with a peripheral wall and face wall that create an internally situated face side spaced apart from the fiber-reinforced layer. This asymmetric configuration provides both structural support and a natural barrier function, preventing constituent passage without requiring additional symmetric barrier 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 achieves a more efficient use of structural space, reduces weight and cost, enhances robustness, and improves operating characteristics by minimizing heat transfer to the fiber-reinforced layer and maintaining long-term insulation integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The cryogenic pressure vessel preferably comprises an at least partially evacuated space with an absolute pressure in the range from 10−9 mbar to 10−1 mbar
Implementation Method 2
an at least partially evacuated space...arranged at least in certain regions between the inner vessel and the outer vessel
Implementation Method 3
a barrier layer (150) is arranged at least in certain regions between the plastics material layer and the evacuated space V; wherein the barrier layer (150) is configured and arranged so as to at least reduce the passage of constituents escaping from the plastics material layer into the evacuated space V
Implementation Method 4
The inner vessel may comprise at least one fiber-reinforced layer. The fiber-reinforced layer may surround a liner at least in certain regions, preferably entirely. The fiber-reinforced layer is often also referred to as laminate or casing or reinforcement. As a fiber-reinforced layer, use is generally made of fiber-reinforced plastics, for example carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics and/or glass-fiber-reinforced plastics
Implementation Method 5
The connecting element (in particular the fiber-reinforced pipe) is expediently formed as a heat dissipation path such that, in the installed state, at least 70% or at least 80% or at least 95% or at least 99% of the heat that is introduced into the connecting element at the outer vessel is not transmitted through the connecting element to the inner vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure vessel, in particular a cryogenic pressure vessel, has an inner vessel, an outer vessel and a chamber that can be evacuated at least partly. A motor vehicle includes such a pressure vessel.