Fuel tank for liquefied natural gas
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorThomas K. DeLay
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A storage tank is provided for storing liquefied natural gas on, for example, a motor vehicle such as a bus or truck. The storage tank includes a metal liner vessel encapsulated by a resin-fiber composite layer. A foam insulating layer, including an outer protective layer of epoxy or of a truck liner material, covers the composite layer. A non-conducting protective coating may be painted on the vessel between the composite layer and the vessel so as to inhibit galvanic corrosion.
Claims12
A storage tank for storing liquefied natural gas, said storage tank comprising:
- a metal liner vessel;
- a resin-fiber composite layer covering the liner vessel;
- a sprayed-on polyurethane foam insulating layer covering the composite layer on the liner vessel;
- and
- a sprayed-on outer protective layer covering the insulating layer, said outer protective layer comprising a polyurethane/polyurea copolymer.
In combination, an automotive motor vehicle including an engine fueled by liquefied natural gas, and a storage tank located on the vehicle for storing liquefied natural gas for use by the vehicle engine, said storage tank comprising:
- a metal liner vessel;
- a resin-fiber composite layer covering the liner vessel;
- a non-conducting protective coating on said vessel between the composite layer and the vessel;
- a sprayed-on foam insulating layer covering the composite layer on the liner vessel;
- and
- a sprayed-on outer protective polyurethane/polyurea copolymer layer covering the foam insulating layer.
A storage tank for storing liquefied natural gas, said storage tank comprising:
- a metal liner vessel;
- a resin-fiber composite layer covering the liner vessel;
- a non-conducting protective coating on said vessel between the composite layer and the vessel, said protective coating comprising a non-conductive paint;
- a sprayed-on polyurethane foam insulating layer covering the composite layer on the liner vessel;
- and
- a sprayed-on outer protective layer covering the insulating layer, said outer protective layer comprising a polyurethane/polyurea copolymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.