Multi-Sheet Container Wall for Fluid Flow Impedance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current containment vessels for fluid substances, particularly for alternative energy fuels like hydrogen, lack advanced safety features to prevent catastrophic failures and chain reactions during unexpected events, with little innovation since the 1980s despite advancements in materials and methods.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a multi-sheet layer structure within container walls that deforms to impede fluid flow in the event of a breach, featuring cavities between sheets to redirect and restrict flow, enhancing safety and containment capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional single-layer container walls are used, then the container structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the safety during breach events is insufficient and catastrophic failures can occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety during breachVSAvoidcontainer wall structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container wall is divided into multiple discrete sheets (first sheet, second sheet, third sheet) separated by spacing, creating a multi-layer segmented structure. This segmentation allows each sheet to independently deform and absorb energy during breach events, preventing catastrophic failure while maintaining overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-sheet structure is nested within the container wall assembly, with spacing layers positioned between the functional sheets. This nested arrangement integrates the safety mechanism within the existing container wall structure without requiring external additions, achieving enhanced safety with minimal increase in overall wall thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multi-sheet layer structures with spacing are implemented, then flow impeding capability during breach is enhanced, but the container wall complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow during breachVSAvoidcontainer wall assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Each sheet in the multi-sheet structure is designed as a flexible thin film that can deform under pressure differentials. The flexibility of these thin films allows them to dynamically respond to breach events by deforming into positions that impede fluid flow, while maintaining ease of manufacturing through simple sheet fabrication and assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The spacing between sheets is pre-established during manufacturing, creating a cushioning gap that allows for controlled deformation during breach events. This pre-configured spacing acts as a cushion that absorbs energy and enables the sheets to deform into flow-impeding configurations without requiring complex real-time control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If sheets are spaced apart to allow deformation, then flow impeding effectiveness is improved, but the volume of the container is reduced due to the spacing taking up space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow impeding effectivenessVSAvoidcontainer contents volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The spacing between sheets is optimized to provide sufficient deformation room for flow impeding effectiveness while minimizing the volume consumed by the spacing itself. By carefully controlling the dimensional parameters of the spacing in the wall thickness direction, the design achieves effective flow impeding without significantly reducing the container's contents volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution significantly reduces fluid flow during breaches, preventing catastrophic events and improving the safety and economic efficiency of fluid containment, while allowing unimpeded filling and normal operation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the one or more flow impeding structures is a multi-sheet layer that deforms to impede flow in a failure of the container wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS10578247B2Fluid container

Publication Date: 2020.03.03 H2SAFE

AI summary

A container that provides for control of fluid flow in the event of a failure of the container is disclosed. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a container is presented that includes a container wall; and one or more flow impeding structures coupled to the container wall, wherein at least one of the one or more flow impeding structures is a multi-sheet layer that deforms to impede flow in a failure of the container wall. In some embodiments, the multi-sheet layer includes cavities formed between individual sheets.