# US 10,480,716 B2 · Cryogenic storage vessel

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,480,716 B2
- Document ID: US10480716B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/316,068
- Filed: 2015-05-29
- Published: 2017-04-13
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2014-06-03
- Assignees: Westport Power Inc.
- Applicants: Westport Power Inc.
- Inventors: Robbi L. McDonald; Ankur H. Vayeda; Kenneth W. Kratschmar; Michael Ebbehoj
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480716B2

## CPC

- F17C 3/00: Vessels not under pressure
- F17C 13/001: {Thermal insulation specially adapted for cryogenic vessels (vessels not under pressure with insulation F17C3/02; thermal insulation in general F16L59/00)}
- F02M 21/0221: {Fuel storage reservoirs, e.g. cryogenic tanks}
- F17C 3/04: by insulating layers (F17C3/08 takes precedence)
- F17C 3/08: by vacuum spaces, e.g. Dewar flask (for household use A47J41/02)
- F17C 7/00: Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass
- F17C 13/025: {having the pressure as the parameter}
- F17C 2201/0109: with exteriorly curved end-piece
- F17C 2201/035: with substantially horizontal main axis
- F17C 2201/054: medium (>1 m3)
- F17C 2203/032: Multi-sheet layers
- F17C 2203/0391: by vacuum
- F17C 2203/0604: Liners
- F17C 2203/0629: Two walls
- F17C 2205/0326: electrically actuated
- F17C 2205/0335: Check-valves or non-return valves
- F17C 2205/0364: flexible or articulated, e.g. a hose
- F17C 2221/014: Nitrogen
- F17C 2221/033: Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
- F17C 2223/0153: Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
- F17C 2223/0161: cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
- F17C 2223/033: Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
- F17C 2225/0123: gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
- F17C 2227/0135: Pumps
- F17C 2227/0178: in the vessel
- F17C 2227/0311: Air heating
- F17C 2227/039: on the pipes
- F17C 2227/0397: characterised by fins
- F17C 2250/043: Pressure
- F17C 2250/0626: Pressure
- F17C 2265/025: different fluids
- F17C 2270/0105: Ships
- F17C 2270/0168: by vehicles
- F17C 2270/0171: Trucks
- F17C 2270/0173: Railways
- F17C 2270/0754: Fire extinguishers
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)
- F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF

## Abstract

Draining a cryogenic storage vessel to remove a pump is timing consuming, expensive and can result in increased greenhouse gas emissions. A cryogenic storage vessel comprises an inner vessel defining a cryogen space and an outer vessel spaced apart from and surrounding the inner vessel, defining a thermally insulating space between the inner and outer vessels. A receptacle comprises an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve, and defines passages for delivery of liquefied gas from the cryogen space to outside the cryogenic storage vessel. The outer sleeve intersects opposite sides of the inner vessel, with the opposite ends of the outer sleeve defining an interior space in fluid communication with the thermally insulating space that is sealed from the cryogen space. The inner sleeve has an open end supported from the outer vessel, and extends into the interior space defined by the outer sleeve, and a closed end opposite the open end, defining a receptacle space that is fluidly isolated from the thermally insulating space. A fluid communication channel extends from the cryogen space to the receptacle space, and can be selectively closed to allow the pump to be removed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cryogenic storage vessel comprising:
an inner vessel defining a cryogen space;
an outer vessel spaced apart from and surrounding the inner vessel, defining a thermally insulating space between the inner vessel and the outer vessel;
a receptacle defining passages for delivery of liquefied gas from the cryogen space to outside the cryogenic storage vessel; the receptacle comprising:
an elongated outer sleeve intersecting opposite sides of the inner vessel and defining an interior space that is fluidly sealed from the cryoqen space and in fluid communication with the thermally insulating space;
an elongated inner sleeve with an open end supported from the outer vessel, the elongated inner sleeve extending into the interior space defined by the elongated outer sleeve, the elongated inner sleeve having a closed end opposite the open end, thereby defining a receptacle space that is fluidly isolated from the thermally insulating space; and
a fluid communication channel extending between the elongated outer sleeve and the elongated inner sleeve and fluidly connecting the cryogen space to the receptacle space.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 1, further comprising a valve located in the fluid communication channel operable between an open position and a closed position to control fluid flow between the cryogen space and the receptacle space.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 2, wherein the valve is automatically opened when a pump is installed inside the receptacle, and the valve is automatically closed when the pump is removed from the receptacle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 2, further comprising a valve actuator disposed outside the cryogenic storage vessel and a link operatively connected with the valve actuator and the valve.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 4, further comprising
a conduit disposed between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve extending between the valve actuator and the valve and fluidly isolated from the thermally insulating space and the interior space, wherein the link extends through the conduit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 4, wherein the link comprises a rod and a cable, and the rod is operatively connected with the valve actuator and the cable is operatively connected with the valve.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 4, further comprising a sensor to detect the position of the cryogenic storage vessel, and a severing mechanism operatively connected with the sensor to sever the connection between one of (a) the link and the valve and (b) the link and the valve actuator, when the sensor detects a position that is an emergency condition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 2, wherein the valve is a check valve that is biased to stop fluid from flowing out of the cryogen space unless it is actuated into an open position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 2, wherein the valve is a wafer-type check valve.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is vertically oriented with a lower end, the lower end and the fluid communication channel both located near the bottom of the cryogen space, and further comprising a pump disposed inside the receptacle space with an inlet near the lower end.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 1, wherein the fluid communication channel has a flexible construction that allows movement of the elongated inner sleeve relative to the elongated outer sleeve.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 11, wherein the flexible construction comprises a bellows arrangement.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 1, wherein the closed end of the elongated inner sleeve is supported by a guide that constrains movement in directions transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongated inner sleeve.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 13, wherein the guide further constrains at least one of axial movement of the elongated inner sleeve and rotational movement of the elongated inner sleeve.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 1, further comprising a pump assembly, wherein the elongated inner sleeve and the pump assembly have cooperating surfaces that seal against each other when the pump assembly is installed within the elongated inner sleeve, thereby limiting the height within the elongated inner sleeve into which the liquefied gas can rise.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 15, wherein the cooperating surfaces are formed by a collar that forms a ledge inside the elongated inner sleeve and a flange associated with the pump assembly.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 1, further comprising a well extending below a floor of the outer vessel into which the receptacle space and the fluid communication channel extend, and a valve for selectively fluidly connecting the cryogen space with the receptacle space through the fluid communication channel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 1, further comprising:
a collar extending around an inner surface of the receptacle and fluidly dividing the receptacle into a warm end and a cold end when a pump assembly is installed in the receptacle;
a purge valve in fluid communication with a supply of pressurized purging gas;
a first purge conduit fluidly connecting the purge valve with the warm end;
a second purge conduit fluidly connecting the purge valve with the cold end;
a drain valve in fluid communication with one of a second storage vessel and the cryogen space;
a first drain conduit fluidly connecting the drain valve with the warm end; and
a second drain conduit fluidly connecting the drain valve with the cold end.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 18, further comprising a sensor detecting the concentration of gaseous fuel downstream from the drain valve.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The cryogenic storage vessel of claim 18, further comprising a pressure sensor detecting the pressure downstream from the drain valve.