Microporous Polymer Container Walls for Cryogenic Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic storage containers made of polymer materials face challenges with insulation integration, as external insulation layers can lead to gaps and increased heat transfer, and existing solutions require additional labor and risk material leakage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating microporous granulates as an inorganic filler within the container wall, utilizing materials like pyrogenic silica and alumina, which provide insulation as part of the wall, reducing thermal conductivity and maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an external insulation layer is arranged separately from the container wall, then the insulation layer can be pure rather than a composite, but this requires extra labour force for assembly and risks gaps that increase heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the insulation function with the container wall structure by incorporating microporous granulate as a filler within the polymer material of the wall itself. This merging eliminates the need for separate external insulation layers, thereby removing assembly complexity while maintaining insulation effectiveness through the integrated microporous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes microporous granulate material with controlled pore structures to provide insulation directly within the container wall. The porous nature of this material creates thermal barriers that reduce heat transfer, achieving reliable insulation performance while being integrated into the wall structure to avoid assembly issues.
2Strength
If particulate fillers are added to polymer material to improve properties, then material performance is enhanced, but viscosity and processing properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs microporous granulate instead of fine particulate fillers. The granular form with controlled porosity provides the necessary insulation and mechanical performance while maintaining better flow characteristics and processability compared to fine particles, thus balancing material performance with manufacturing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the filler material by using microporous granulates with specific size distributions and pore structures. This parameter optimization allows the filler to provide enhanced material performance while minimizing the negative impact on viscosity and processing properties.
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 integration of microporous granulates enhances insulation performance while maintaining the structural integrity of the container, reducing heat transfer and minimizing the risk of material leakage, even at cryogenic temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a microporous granulate is present as a filler... Microporous materials are known for their low thermal conductivity at a wide range of temperatures
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
The storage container provided with a container wall (10) comprising polymer material (52) in which an inorganic filler is present, characterized in that a microporous granulate (51) is present as a filler. 12. Said polymer material (52) embedding the microporous granulate (51) is at an outer side of the container wall (10). It may be applied by providing a semi-manufactured storage container provided with at least one polymer layer (15); arranging a cavity around said semi-manufactured storage container (10); inserting the microporous granulate (51) into said cavity, and applying the polymer material (52) or a precursor thereof into the cavity, therewith embedding the microporous granulate (51) into the polymer material (52).