US 11,346,501 B2 · Cryogenic liquid tank

Abstract

A hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen fueled aircraft. The tank has a wall made of layers of aerogel sections around a hard shell layer, sealed within a flexible outer layer, and having the air removed to form a vacuum. The periphery of each layer section abuts other sections of that layer, but only overlies the periphery of the sections of other layers at individual points. The wall is characterized by a thermal conductivity that is lower near its gravitational top than its gravitational bottom. The tank has two exit passageways, one being direct, and the other passing through a vapor shield that extends through the wall between two layers of aerogel. A control system controls the relative flow through the two passages to regulate the boil-off rate of the tank.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for regulating the boil-off rate of a cryogenic fluid, in liquid form in a storage tank, to a desired rate, wherein the storage tank has an inner layer that defines and substantially surrounds a fluid storage space for the cryogenic fluid, comprising:

providing a first set of one or more tubes, extending around one or more portions of the inner layer to form a vapor shield around the one or more portions of the inner layer, the first set of one or more tubes forming a first passageway extending from within the fluid storage space to outside of the fluid storage space;
providing a second set of one or more tubes, forming a second passageway extending from within the fluid storage space to outside of the fluid storage space;
and
controlling the relative flow of fluid from the first and second passageways such that the boil-off rate of the cryogenic fluid is regulated to a desired rate as the fluid is drawn from the first and second passageways.

1 more element

A storage tank including a system for regulating the boil-off rate of a cryogenic fluid, in liquid form in the storage tank, to a desired rate, comprising:

an inner layer of the storage tank, the inner layer defining and substantially surrounding a fluid storage space for the cryogenic fluid;
a first set of one or more tubes, extending around one or more portions of the inner layer, forming a vapor shield around the one or more portions of the inner layer, the first set of one or more tubes forming a first passageway extending from within the fluid storage space to outside of the fluid storage space;
a second set of one or more tubes, forming a second passageway extending from within the fluid storage space to outside of the fluid storage space;
a switching device controlling the relative flow of fluid from the first and second passageways;
and
a controller programmed to direct the switching device to control the relative flow of fluid from the first and second passageways such that the boil-off rate of the cryogenic fluid is regulated to the desired rate as the fluid is drawn from the first and second passageways.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cryogenic liquid tank

Life of this patent

Cryogenic liquid tank

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20