Double Shell Tank Adsorbent Cooling via Metal Sheet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional double-shell tanks face high costs due to the need for melt-fusing adsorbents to thermal insulation films and inadequate cooling of adsorbents, leading to suboptimal gas adsorption ability and thermal stratification issues within the tank.
Innovation Solution
A double-shell tank design featuring a metal sheet mounted to the inner shell with adsorbents placed on it, covered by thermal insulation sheets that do not contact the outer shell, allowing for efficient cooling of the adsorbents to the inner shell's temperature without the need for melt-fusion, thus reducing costs and enhancing adsorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the adsorbent is interposed between the thermal insulation films, then the adsorbent is protected from direct cooling, but the adsorbent's adsorption ability is insufficient due to inadequate cooling
Solution Approach 1:
A metal sheet is introduced as an intermediary thermal conduction member between the inner shell and the adsorbent. The metal sheet has high thermal conductivity and is in direct contact with both the inner shell and the adsorbent, serving as a mediator to efficiently transfer cold from the inner shell to the adsorbent, solving the problem of insufficient cooling while maintaining protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal insulation structure is segmented into multiple layers: the inner shell, metal sheet, adsorbent layer, and thermal insulation films. This segmentation allows the adsorbent to be positioned in a specific zone where it receives controlled cooling through the metal sheet while being protected from direct contact with the cryogenic environment by the insulation films.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the adsorbent is melt-fused to the thermal insulation films, then the adsorbent is securely positioned, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The metal sheet serves as a support structure and thermal conduit that simplifies the overall assembly process. Instead of requiring complex melt-fusion operations to attach adsorbent to insulation films, the adsorbent is placed on the metal sheet which is already securely mounted to the inner shell, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal sheet provides localized structural support and thermal conduction exactly where needed - at the interface between the inner shell and adsorbent. This localized approach eliminates the need for expensive melt-fusion processes across the entire insulation structure, reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining adsorbent positioning stability.
3Temperature
If the adsorbent is brought into close contact with the bottom surface of the inner shell, then the adsorbent is cooled to the lowest temperature, but gravitational force causes the adsorbent to detach
Solution Approach 1:
The metal sheet acts as a mediator that is firmly attached to the bottom surface of the inner shell and provides a supported platform for the adsorbent. This intermediary structure transfers the mechanical support function from the adsorbent-to-shell contact to the metal sheet, allowing the adsorbent to be cooled effectively while preventing detachment due to gravity.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal sheet can be designed as a thin, flexible yet structurally sound component that conforms to the inner shell's bottom surface and provides adequate support for the adsorbent layer. This thin-film approach maintains thermal efficiency while providing the necessary mechanical support to counteract gravitational forces.
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 solution effectively cools adsorbents to the inner shell's temperature, improving gas adsorption ability while maintaining structural integrity and reducing costs, thereby enhancing the vacuum retention capacity of the tank.
Implementation Method 1
the adsorbent adsorbs gas molecules by physisorption
Implementation Method 2
gas molecules are concentrated on a fixed surface (the adsorbent) by van der Waals force
Implementation Method 3
a thermal insulator covering the inner shell and the metal sheet
Implementation Method 4
a vacuum space is formed between the inner shell and the outer shell
Data Source
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AI summary
A double-shell tank includes: an inner shell storing liquefied gas; an outer shell surrounding the inner shell, the outer shell forming a vacuum space between the inner shell and the outer shell; at least one metal sheet mounted to the inner shell, such that the metal sheet faces at least a bottom surface of the inner shell; an adsorbent placed on the metal sheet, the adsorbent adsorbing gas molecules by physisorption; and a thermal insulator covering the inner shell over the metal sheet.