Segmented vacuum jacketed tank system and method of using the same

An aircraft, comprising:

• a fuselage with a plurality of fuselage barrel sections, and an outer aero skin at a fuselage mold line;
• and
• a segmented vacuum jacketed tank system, comprising:
• a segmented structurally integrated vacuum tank integrated with the fuselage, the segmented structurally integrated vacuum tank having a vacuum tank main portion extending between vacuum tank end portions, the vacuum tank main portion comprising:
• a vacuum tank skin having an outer surface and an inner surface, the vacuum tank skin comprising a plurality of vacuum tank skin segments, and having a longitudinal cross section with a profile geometry configured for buckling prevention for the vacuum tank skin under external pressure loads;
• and
• one or more multipurpose stringers, each coupled between two of the plurality of vacuum tank skin segments and each coupled to the outer aero skin, the one or more multipurpose stringers configured to carry in an interior of one or more of the one or more multipurpose stringers one or more of one or more system transport lines, a liquid fuel, or a nitrogen gas;
• a pressure tank mounted within the segmented structurally integrated vacuum tank, the pressure tank configured to store a cryogenic fluid and comprising a pressure tank main portion extending between pressure tank end portions, the pressure tank main portion comprising a pressure tank skin having an outer surface and an inner surface;
• and
• a vacuum cavity formed between the segmented structurally integrated vacuum tank and the pressure tank.

A method of using a segmented vacuum jacketed tank system in a structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing the segmented vacuum jacketed tank system comprising:
• a segmented structurally integrated vacuum tank integrated with the structure, the segmented structurally integrated vacuum tank having a vacuum tank main portion extending between vacuum tank end portions, the vacuum tank main portion comprising:
• a vacuum tank skin having an outer surface and an inner surface, the vacuum tank skin comprising a plurality of vacuum tank skin segments, and having a longitudinal cross section with a profile geometry configured for buckling prevention for the vacuum tank skin under external pressure loads;
• and
• one or more multipurpose stiffener members, each coupled between two of the plurality of vacuum tank skin segments;
• and
• a pressure tank mounted within the segmented structurally integrated vacuum tank, the pressure tank storing a cryogenic fluid and comprising a pressure tank main portion extending between pressure tank end portions, the pressure tank main portion comprising a pressure tank skin having an outer surface and an inner surface;
• and
• a vacuum cavity formed between the segmented structurally integrated vacuum tank and the pressure tank;
• adding in and through an interior of one or more of the one or more multipurpose stiffener members one or more of one or more system transport lines, a liquid fuel, or a nitrogen gas;
• and
• using the segmented vacuum jacketed tank system to carry one or more of the one or more system transport lines, the liquid fuel, or the nitrogen gas, in the structure, and to maximize a volume of the cryogenic fluid stored in the pressure tank.