Cryotank Outer-Casing Heat Exchanger for Space-Saving Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic tank devices face a challenge in providing efficient heating of the cryogenic medium while maintaining a large storage volume due to the large installation space required by conventional heat exchangers, which reduces the available space for the cryogenic medium.
Innovation Solution
Integrate the heat exchanger into the outer casing of the cryogenic tank, utilizing the outer casing as the heat transfer surface, with the cryogenic medium flowing inside and the temperature control medium flowing outside, forming a compact and integrated design that minimizes space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional heat exchanger is used to heat the cryogenic medium, then the heating function is achieved, but the installation space increases and the storage volume for the cryogenic medium decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is merged with the outer casing of the cryogenic tank. The outer casing serves dual purposes: as the structural boundary of the tank and as the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger. This integration eliminates the need for a separate heat exchanger component, thereby maximizing the storage volume for the cryogenic medium while maintaining the heating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer casing is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the containment structure for the cryogenic medium, provides thermal insulation support, and serves as the heat transfer surface for heating the cryogenic medium. This multi-functionality reduces the overall space requirement and increases the effective storage volume.
2Temperature
If a conventional heat exchanger is used, then the cryogenic medium can be heated, but the installation space required reduces the space available for other components
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger functionality is combined with the outer casing structure. The cold flow line is positioned inside the outer casing while the hot flow line is positioned outside, with the outer casing wall serving as the heat transfer surface. This eliminates the need for additional space dedicated to a separate heat exchanger unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer occurs through the wall thickness dimension of the outer casing, utilizing the radial direction for heat flow. This allows the heat exchanger function to be embedded within the existing structural dimension of the outer casing rather than requiring additional lateral space.
3Temperature
If the heat exchanger is located inside the insulation chamber or outside the outer casing, then heat transfer can occur, but the risk of contamination of the vacuum chamber or insulation chamber increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hot flow line carrying the temperature control medium is extracted from the insulation chamber and positioned outside the outer casing. This separation ensures that the temperature control medium does not come into contact with the vacuum or insulation environment, eliminating the contamination risk while maintaining effective heat transfer through the outer casing wall.
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 configuration allows for efficient heating of the cryogenic medium while maximizing storage volume and reducing the risk of contamination, with the outer casing serving as a heat transfer surface, thus optimizing space utilization and reducing the risk of vacuum chamber contamination.
Implementation Method 1
the cold flow line and the hot flow line are in contact with each other, in particular thermally connected, and/or are arranged adjacent to each other along a heat transfer surface such that heat transfer occurs between the temperature control medium and the cryogenic medium via the heat transfer surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A cryogenic tank device comprising an inner container (1) for holding a cryogenic medium, in particular hydrogen, and an outer casing (2) surrounding the inner container (1), wherein an insulation space (3) is provided between the inner container (1) and the outer casing (2), wherein the cryogenic tank device comprises at least one heat exchanger (4), wherein the heat exchanger (4) comprises at least one cold flow line (5) configured for the flow of the cryogenic medium contained in the inner container (1), wherein the heat exchanger (4) comprises at least one hot flow line (6) configured for the flow of a temperature control medium, wherein the cold flow line (5) and the hot flow line (6) are in contact with each other and/or adjacent to each other along a heat transfer surface such that heat transfer occurs between the temperature control medium and the cryogenic medium via the heat transfer surface.wherein the cold current line (5) is arranged on the inside of the outer casing (2) and the hot current line (6) is arranged on the outside of the outer casing (2), such that a section of the outer casing (2) acts as a heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger (4).