Self-sealing pressure vessel systems and methods
AssigneeNoble Gas Systems, Inc.
InventorChristopher T. Kondogiani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compressed gas storage system that includes a pressure vessel. The pressure vessel includes a first vessel portion and a second vessel portion in fluid communication with the first vessel portion. The pressure vessel includes a third vessel portion in fluid communication with the second vessel portion. The compressed gas storage system includes a first valve positioned between the first vessel portion and the second vessel portion and a second valve positioned between the second vessel portion and the third vessel portion. The first valve allows and impedes fluid flow between the first and the second vessel portions. The second valve allows and impedes fluid flow between the second and the third vessel portions.
Claims20
A compressed gas storage system, comprising:
- a pressure vessel device including a first vessel portion in fluid communication with a second vessel portion;
- and
- a valve separating the first vessel portion and the second vessel portion, the valve comprising:
- a first wall defining a first opening;
- a second wall defining a second opening;
- and
- a flow impeder connected with an inner surface of the pressure vessel device and configured to block the first opening or the second opening depending on a state of fluid flow between the first vessel portion and the second vessel portion.
A compressed gas storage system, comprising:
- a first vessel portion;
- a second vessel portion;
- and
- a bent portion that fluidly connects the first and second vessel portions, the bent portion comprising:
- a chamber that connects with the first vessel portion at a first opening and with the second vessel portion at a second opening;
- a first flow impeder disposed within the chamber at a location proximate to the first opening and configured to selectively move in and out of a first blocking position that closes the first opening;
- and
- a second flow impeder disposed within the chamber at another location proximate to the second opening and configured to selectively move in and out of a second blocking position that closes the second opening,
- wherein the first and second flow impeders are configured to prevent fluid communication through the chamber between the first and second vessel portions when in the first and second blocking positions at the respective first and second openings.
A compressed gas storage system, comprising:
- a first pressure vessel configured to contain fluids;
- a second pressure vessel configured to contain fluids;
- a third pressure vessel configured to contain fluids;
- an outlet in fluid communication with and configured to release fluid from the first, second, and third pressure vessels;
- and
- a manifold in fluid communication with the outlet and the first, second, and third pressure vessels;
- a first valve positioned within the manifold at a location between the first and second pressure vessels and configured to block fluid communication between the first and second pressure vessels when pressure drops in either of the first or second pressure vessels;
- a second valve positioned within the manifold at a location between the first and third pressure vessels and configured to block fluid communication between the first and third pressure vessels when pressure drops in either of the first or third pressure vessels;
- and
- a third valve positioned within the manifold at a location between the second and third pressure vessels and configured to block fluid communication between the third and second pressure vessels when pressure drops in either of the third or second pressure vessels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.