Gas storage and recovery system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorJoseph S. Cook, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for recovering and recycling gases is disclosed having, in one aspect, inlet and outlet flow lines and controllers with an inflatable enclosure which, in one aspect, has a series of one or more inflatable rib stiffeners which, in one aspect, are inflatable by the gas to be stored. In one aspect the system does not present gas at an undesirable back pressure to the gas source. In one aspect a filtering relief valve is employed which prevents environmental airborne contamination from flowing back into the system when the relief valve is closing. In one aspect the system is for storing and re-using helium.
Claims18
A gas storage system comprising
- an inflatable variable volume enclosure for holding the gas,
- the enclosure having an inlet through which gas flows into the enclosure from a gas source,
- a pressure maintenance means comprising a venting relief valve between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas on the inlet from the enclosure, and
- the enclosure having an outlet through which gas stored in the enclosure flows from the enclosure.
A gas storage system comprising
- an inflatable variable volume enclosure for holding the gas,
- the enclosure having an inlet through which gas flows into the enclosure from a gas source,
- a pressure maintenance means between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas on the inlet from the enclosure,
- the enclosure having a plurality of stiffening elements formed therein or secured thereto, and
- the enclosure having an outlet through which gas stored in the enclosure flows from the enclosure.
A gas storage system comprising
- an inflatable variable volume enclosure for holding the gas,
- the enclosure having an inlet through which gas flows into the enclosure from a gas source,
- a pressure maintenance means between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas on the inlet from the enclosure,
- control means for controlling volume of the enclosure and back pressure at the inlet, and
- the enclosure having an outlet through which gas stored in the enclosure flows from the enclosure.
A gas storage system for storing helium gas, the system comprising
- an inflatable variable volume enclosure generally semi-cylindrical in shape with a gas inlet through which gas flows from a gas source having a plurality of stiffening ribs secured thereto, each rib having a gas flow opening and inflatable by gas flowing into the enclosure through the inlet, the enclosure having a metallized plastic liner,
- a pressure maintenance means between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas in the enclosure, the pressure maintenance means comprising a venting relief valve,
- a gas manifold intercommunicating with the enclosure and with gas storage tanks, and through which gas flows to and from the ribs,
- control means for controlling volume of the enclosure and back pressure at the gas inlet and disposed in a gas flow line from the enclosure to the gas storage tanks, and for controlling gas flow to and from the ribs, the control means having a pressure transducer for sensing interior pressure in the enclosure and control valves for regulating gas flow to and from the ribs, the control valves selectively permitting gas flow either to the gas manifold from the storage tanks or from the gas manifold to the enclosure, and
- the enclosure having an outlet for gas flow from the enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.