Liquid-Displacement Gas Storage for Constant-Pressure Capacity Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas storage systems face inefficiencies in utilizing the full capacity of storage containers due to varying gas pressures, leading to increased material costs and reduced fatigue life of pressure vessels.
Innovation Solution
A system using immiscible gas and liquid to maintain a constant pressure in a sealed storage container, where gas is displaced by liquid volume changes to match pressure fluctuations, utilizing underground or above-ground pressure vessels with grouted construction to distribute strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If gas pressure is allowed to vary in storage containers, then material costs are reduced, but storage capacity utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary liquid phase is introduced between the gas storage system and the external environment. This liquid acts as a buffer that absorbs pressure variations, allowing the gas storage container to operate at constant pressure while still enabling variable gas withdrawal. The liquid-gas interface moves to accommodate volume changes, maintaining pressure equilibrium without requiring complex pressure control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter from variable to constant by introducing a liquid phase. The liquid's incompressibility provides a natural pressure equalization mechanism, where the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column maintains constant gas pressure regardless of gas volume changes. This parameter transformation resolves the contradiction by decoupling storage capacity utilization from pressure variation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pressure vessels undergo cyclic stress from pressure fluctuations, then operational flexibility is improved, but fatigue life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid phase serves as a mediator that isolates the pressure vessel from cyclic stress. While gas withdrawal and injection operations create operational flexibility, the liquid absorbs these pressure fluctuations, preventing them from being transmitted to the pressure vessel walls. This protects the vessel structure from fatigue while maintaining system operational versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid column acts as a pre-established cushion against pressure variations. Before any gas operation occurs, the liquid is already in place to buffer pressure changes. This beforehand cushioning prevents stress transmission to the pressure vessel, extending its fatigue life while allowing flexible gas storage operations.
3Quantity of substance
If constant pressure is maintained in storage containers, then storage capacity is maximized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid-gas interface system provides self-service pressure regulation without external control mechanisms. As gas is withdrawn or injected, the liquid level automatically adjusts to maintain constant gas pressure. This self-regulating mechanism achieves constant pressure storage capacity maximization without requiring complex active control systems, sensors, or actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic principles with an incompressible liquid to achieve pneumatic pressure stabilization for gas storage. The hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column naturally maintains constant gas pressure, leveraging fundamental fluid mechanics rather than complex mechanical or electronic pressure control systems. This approach maximizes storage capacity while minimizing system 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
This approach maximizes storage capacity and reduces material costs by maintaining constant pressure, extending the life of pressure vessels through reduced cyclic stress, allowing nearly full utilization of the container volume.
Implementation Method 1
the gas and the liquid are immiscible so that the gas fills a space in the storage container over the liquid surface
Implementation Method 2
A system using immiscible gas and liquid to maintain a constant pressure in a sealed storage container, where gas is displaced by liquid volume changes to match pressure fluctuations
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method of storing useful gas comprising respective sources of a gas and a liquid. a sealed storage container. gas inlet and outlet means of the storage container, liquid inlet and outlet means of the storage container, and control means including a pressure monitoring device to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the storage container by control of the amount of the gas and liquid being transferred to and withdrawn from the storage container by way of the respective inlet and outlet means, wherein the gas and the liquid are immiscible so that the gas fills a space in the storage container over the liquid surface.