Segmented Pressure Tank for Cryogenic Vacuum Insulation Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum jacketed tank systems pose a safety concern as warm ambient air can rush into the vacuum cavity and mix with cryogenic fluids if the vacuum tank is breached, potentially leading to a volatile mixture that can ignite easily.

Innovation Solution

A tank system with a pressure tank mounted within a vacuum tank, where the pressure tank has one or more segments with a total circumference less than a complete circle, creating longitudinal gaps. These gaps are controlled by mechanisms that allow the pressure tank segments to move between retracted and fully extended positions, ensuring contact with the vacuum tank skin in emergency conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a radial gap is maintained between the pressure tank and vacuum tank to prevent heat transfer, then thermal insulation is improved, but safety is worsened because warm air can rush into the vacuum cavity and mix with cryogenic fluids if the vacuum tank is breached

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transferVSAvoidsafety risk from warm air mixing with cryogenic fluids

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure tank is divided into multiple skin segments with circumferential gaps between them. These segments can independently move radially to either maintain the insulating gap or contact the vacuum tank skin to block warm air ingress, resolving the contradiction between thermal insulation and safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure tank skin segments are made dynamically adjustable between two states: retracted to maintain radial gap for thermal insulation, and extended to contact the vacuum tank skin for safety. This dynamic capability allows the system to switch between optimizing thermal performance and ensuring safety based on operational conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If the pressure tank skin segments are kept retracted to maintain thermal insulation, then energy efficiency is improved, but safety is compromised in emergency conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulation efficiencyVSAvoidsafety in emergency conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure tank skin segments are pre-positioned in a retracted state during normal operation to maintain optimal thermal insulation. In the event of a vacuum tank breach, they can be rapidly extended to contact the vacuum tank skin and block warm air ingress, thus preliminarily preparing for both thermal efficiency and safety needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the pressure tank is designed as a complete circle to maximize storage volume, then productivity is improved, but safety is worsened because there are no gaps for the skin segments to move and contact the vacuum tank skin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage volumeVSAvoidsafety mechanism functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure tank is segmented into multiple skin segments with circumferential gaps, sacrificing minimal storage volume to enable the safety mechanism. The gaps allow segments to move radially and contact the vacuum tank skin during emergencies, resolving the contradiction between storage volume and safety functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 prevents warm air from entering the vacuum cavity and mixing with cryogenic fluids, thereby eliminating the risk of a volatile mixture forming and reducing the risk of explosion.

Implementation Method 1

The radial gap is under vacuum to prevent convective heat transfer from the vacuum tank to the pressure tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum insulation: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

the radial gap between the two tanks defines a vacuum cavity that thermally insulates the pressure tank from relatively warm ambient air surrounding the vacuum tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

one or more gap control mechanisms configured to control a width of the one or more longitudinal gaps in a manner facilitating movement of the one or more pressure tank skin segments between at least the following positions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical movement:

Data Source

PatentUS12287065B2System and method of controlling the circumference of a pressure tank mounted within a vacuum tank

Publication Date: 2025.04.29 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A tank system includes a vacuum tank having a vacuum tank skin, and a pressure tank mounted within the vacuum tank having one or more pressure tank skin segments having a total circumference that is less than that of a complete circle, resulting in one or more longitudinal gaps respectively between the one or more pressure tank skin segments. The tank system includes one or more gap control mechanisms configured to control a width of the one or more longitudinal gaps in a manner facilitating movement of the one or more pressure tank skin segments between at least the following positions: a retracted position in which there is a radial gap between each pressure tank skin segment and the vacuum tank skin, and a fully extended position in which at least a portion of each pressure tank skin segments is in contact with the vacuum tank skin.