Thermal barrier system for liquefied gas tank
AssigneeFrigitemp Corporation
InventorJohn G. Androulakis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Heat barrier components and improved thermal insulation techniques are provided for an external tank insulation system of ships carrying liquefied natural gas, propane, ammonia, etc. Reduction of liquid boil-off rate or initial cost of insulation through the reduction of radiant heat leak is accomplished by a composite insulation system including a high reflectance component material on the external surface of insulation and/or interior surface of the ship facing the tank. Further, refrigeration in tank boil-off is used to cool a radiation shield located between the tank insulation and surrounding enclosure, and to cool the skirt support.
Claims5
In a tanker vessel containing a tank for storing and transporting cryogenic fluids, said tank having exterior surface insulation thereon and being supported in the vessel on a skirt member;
- a thermal barrier system comprising high reflectance material positioned between the tank and the interior surfaces of said vessel;
- high reflectance shield means positioned above the top of said tank;
- and means for circulating boil-off from said tank about said shield means and about said skirt member.
An LNG tanker containing a spherical tank for storing and transporting LNG, said tank being supported in said tanker on a skirt member wherein the improvement comprises high reflectance material positioned on the outer surface of said tank, and the inner surfaces of said tanker viewed by the tank having a high reflectance coating thereon;
- a hemispherical shield positioned above said tank;
- conduit means for directing boil-off from said tank into thermal contact with said shield and said skirt member, whereby heat is removed therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.