And Subsequently Used To Cool Receptacle Patents (Class 62/48.3)
  • Patent number: 11859765
    Abstract: A storage tank for liquid hydrogen comprises first and second shells each constructed of laminate material, the second shell being disposed outwardly of the first shell with respect to the centre of the storage tank. The first and second shells are mechanically connected by a first plurality of pins each of which passes through at least some layers of the second shell and at least some layers of the first shell. The storage tank may be constructed using a simpler manufacturing process involving less tooling and fewer process steps than is the case for known tanks for storing liquid hydrogen. The storage tank has also has a lower mass and reduced thermal losses compared to tanks of the prior art. The plurality of pins allows for the shells to be thinner, and hence lighter, than similar shells in tanks of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Robert C. Backhouse
  • Patent number: 11480302
    Abstract: An assembly for storing and transporting compressed fluid, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) that includes; a plurality of hexagonally stacked pipe stored in a cargo hold in or on a vessel, such as a ship or barge, that includes a lower support, side supports and a forcing mechanism that presses so strongly down on the pipes that they cannot move relative to themselves or relative to the vessel on which they are placed in any service situation. The friction between each of the pipes causes the plurality of pipes to act as part of the vessel in terms of its structure. Each of the pipes in the plurality of pipes is connected to a manifold system to allow or the loading and unloading of the compressed fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: GEV TECHNOLOGIES PTY. LTD.
    Inventor: Patrick John Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 10788269
    Abstract: A cooling system for a mobile bulk tank that includes a heat exchanger disposed to remove heat from a top wall of the mobile bulk tank. A flow system that is configured to move coolant through the heat exchanger to cool the bulk tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven McWilliams
  • Patent number: 10731792
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method of storing various quantities of cryogenic material with lower cost than systems found in prior art. Novel feature of the system is the ability to use minimum amounts of different types of energy to maintain various quantities of cryogenic material. An additional novel feature is the use of common components and materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: Mark Cann
  • Patent number: 10584828
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen fueled aircraft. The tank has a wall made of layers of aerogel sections around a hard shell layer, sealed within a flexible outer layer, and having the air removed to form a vacuum. The periphery of each layer section abuts other sections of that layer, but only overlies the periphery of the sections of other layers at individual points. The wall is characterized by a thermal conductivity that is lower near its gravitational top than its gravitational bottom. The tank has two exit passageways, one being direct, and the other passing through a vapor shield that extends through the wall between two layers of aerogel. A control system controls the relative flow through the two passages to regulate the boil-off rate of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander N. Brooks, Bart D. Hibbs, David R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10422478
    Abstract: A novel tank cryogenic-compatible composite pressure vessel that beneficially utilizes Vapor Cooled Shielding (VCS) is introduced to minimize thermal gradients along support structures and reduces heat loads on cryogenic systems. In particular, the configurations and mechanisms to be utilized herein include: providing for a desired number of passageways and a given thickness of the VCS, reducing the thermal conductivity of the VCS material, and increasing the cooling capacitance of the hydrogen vapors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jacob William Leachman, Patrick Marshall Adam
  • Patent number: 10281204
    Abstract: A cryogenic installation unit comprises at least one item of equipment to be thermally insulated, a structure for containing the at least one item of equipment, a main insulation contained in the structure and, associated with this main insulation, a secondary insulation of lower thermal conductivity than the main insulation, said secondary insulation consisting of a vacuum insulation panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Denis Clodic, Fabrice Delcorso, Jean-Pierre Tranier, Golo Zick
  • Patent number: 9777889
    Abstract: A novel tank cryogenic-compatible composite pressure vessel that beneficially utilizes Vapor Cooled Shielding (VCS) is introduced to minimize thermal gradients along support structures and reduces heat loads on cryogenic systems. In particular, the configurations and mechanisms to be utilized herein include: providing for a desired number of passageways and a given thickness of the VCS, reducing the thermal conductivity of the VCS material, and increasing the cooling capacitance of the hydrogen vapors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Jacob William Leachman, Patrick Marshall Adam
  • Patent number: 9664317
    Abstract: A connection having at least one double-walled pipe of stainless steel connected to an LNG tank is disclosed, the LNG tank having an inner shell of stainless steel and an outer shell spaced at a distance from the inner shell, the inner and outer shells defining an isolation space therebetween. The at least one double-walled pipe includes a common outer wall and at least one inner pipe. The outer wall of the pipe is connected to the inner shell of the tank in such a way that the outer wall and/or a pipe fitting of cold resistant material between the inner shell and the outer wall is arranged to compensate for changes in the length of the outer wall of the pipe and/or of the pipe fitting due to temperature differences between the outer wall of the pipe and the inner shell of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: WARTSILA FINLAND OY
    Inventor: Sören Karlsson
  • Patent number: 9212782
    Abstract: A cryostat has a cryogen vessel retained within an outer vacuum container, the cryogen vessel being provided with a vent path allowing cryogen gas to escape from the cryogen vessel, the cryostat further having a thermal radiation shield interposed between the cryogen vessel and the outer vacuum container. The vent path is arranged such that escaping cryogen gas is directed through a conduit, which forms an integral part of a thermal radiation shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens PLC
    Inventors: Nicholas John Clayton, Richard Gowland, Edgar Charles Malcolm Rayner
  • Patent number: 8950194
    Abstract: In order to minimize the loss of cryogen during transportation of superconductive magnet systems, or indeed at any time that the refrigerator is turned off, part of the boil-off gas is directed from the cryogen vessel through the refrigerator interface and past the refrigerator to cool the refrigerator. Some of the heat conducted along the refrigerator into the system is intercepted and removed by that part of the boil-off gas. The heat load onto the cryogenic vessel is thereby reduced, which in turn reduces the boil-off of cryogen from the cryogenic vessel. This part of the boil-off gas is then vented from the system along with the remainder of the boil-off gas, for example to leave the cryogenic liquid vessel via the access neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens PLC
    Inventors: Timothy John Hughes, Stephen Paul Trowell, Keith White
  • Patent number: 8925334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cryogenic storage device and to a method for operating a cryogenic storage device, particularly for cryogenic storage of biological samples, comprising a sample carrying device that is set up to accommodate samples, a cryogenic container that is set up to accommodate the sample carrying device, a container cooling device with which the cryogenic container can be cooled, an intermediate storage container that is set up for intermediate storage of the sample carrying device, a transport device with which the sample carrying device can be moved between the cryogenic container and the intermediate storage container and a sensor device with which at least one operating parameter of the cryogenic storage device can be registered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Heiko Zimmermann, Uwe Schoen, Guenter R. Fuhr, Dirk Leuthold, Marianne Belke
  • Patent number: 8650887
    Abstract: A cryogenic storage tank comprises a partition that divides a cryogen space into a main storage space and an auxiliary space. A valve disposed inside the cryogen space is associated with a first fluid passage through the partition. The valve comprises a valve member that is actuatable by fluid forces within the cryogen space. A second fluid passage through the partition comprises a restricted flow area that is dimensioned to have a cross-sectional flow area that is smaller than that of a fill conduit such that there is a detectable increase in back-pressure when the main storage space is filled with liquefied gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Charles Harper, Adrian Post
  • Patent number: 8525023
    Abstract: A cooled current lead for conducting electrical current into a cooled vessel. The current lead comprises an electrical conductor (22) comprising a region (29) which, in use, is heated by electrical current flowing through it; a cooled component (31) situated above a the region (29) and which is provided with a path for removal of heat; and a thermo-siphon comprising a cavity (35) in thermal contact with both the region of the electrical conductor and the cooled component, said cavity containing a fluid (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens plc
    Inventors: Neil Charles Tigwell, Stephen Paul Trowell
  • Patent number: 8238988
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet assembly and method of cooling a superconducting magnet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner
  • Patent number: 7721557
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for extracting propane vapors from a propane storage tank, and condensing the extracted vapors to form a useable liquid propane product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: John Stearns
  • Publication number: 20100050661
    Abstract: A cryogenic apparatus is provided having a nested thermally insulating structure, thermal links, a vacuum shroud, and a cryo-cooler. The nested thermally insulated structure holds a sample to be cooled while dampening the external vibrations caused by the cryo-cooler, the surrounding environment or cryo-cooler mounting surface. The thermal link is made of thermally conductive wires which connect the nested thermally insulated structure and the cryo-cooler thereby allowing the apparatus to reduce vibrations inherent in the operation of the cryo-cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: David Snow, Michael Chase, Alex Woidtke, Luke Mauritsen, Isaac Henslee, Peter B. Sellin, Kris Merkel
  • Publication number: 20090107151
    Abstract: A cryostat has a cryogen vessel retained within an outer vacuum container, the cryogen vessel being provided with a vent path allowing cryogen gas to escape from the cryogen vessel, the cryostat further having a thermal radiation shield interposed between the cryogen vessel and the outer vacuum container. The vent path is arranged such that escaping cryogen gas is directed through a conduit, which forms an integral part of a thermal radiation shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Nicholas John Clayton, Richard Gowland, Edgar Charles Malcolm Rayner
  • Publication number: 20080155995
    Abstract: In order to minimize the loss of cryogen during transportation of superconductive magnet systems, or indeed at any time that the refrigerator is turned off, part of the boil-off gas is directed from the cryogen vessel through the refrigerator interface and past the refrigerator to cool the refrigerator. Some of the heat conducted along the refrigerator into the system is intercepted and removed by that part of the boil-off gas. The heat load onto the cryogenic vessel is thereby reduced, which in turn reduces the boil-off of cryogen from the cryogenic vessel. This part of the boil-off gas is then vented from the system along with the remainder of the boil-off gas, for example to leave the cryogenic liquid vessel via the access neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS MAGNET TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Timothy John Hughes, Stephen Paul Trowell, Keith White
  • Publication number: 20040182090
    Abstract: The invention relates to feeding a gas terminal with energy from a ship transporting liquefied gas while said liquefied gas is being transferred between a tank of the ship and a tank of the gas terminal, wherein a portion of the energy produced by the propulsion system of the ship is delivered to the gas terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: SNECMA MOTEURS
    Inventor: Damien Feger
  • Patent number: 6532750
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for densifying liquids, specifically the densification of cryogenic propellants. A preferred system of the present invention subcools and densifies liquid propellants by utilizing a countercurrent gas or liquid flow. The countercurrent flow preferably utilizes a gas having a lower boiling point than the propellants. A packed tower may then be used, at or above atmospheric pressure, to introduce the countercurrent flow to the propellant. This methodology avoids the costs and problems associated with subatmospheric operation. A preferred embodiment is directed toward the densification of liquid oxygen, with a similar embodiment directed toward the simultaneous densification of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. Systems and methods of the present invention may also be used to densify other liquids in similar fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: PHPK Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Charles B. Hood
  • Patent number: 6442948
    Abstract: A liquid helium circulation system capable of recycling helium gas has a liquid helium reservoir 1 and refrigerator 5 where helium gas boil-off recovered from the reservoir is refrigerated and liquefied, and is designed to have the helium gas refrigerated or liquefied with the refrigerator returned to the reservoir. The system is equipped with line 9c that supplies high-temperature helium gas heated up inside the liquid helium reservoir to the refrigerator, where the helium gas is made into refrigerated helium gas, and supplies the refrigerated helium gas to the upper part inside the reservoir, lines 9b and 9a that supply low-temperature helium gas in the vicinity to the surface of liquid helium inside the liquid helium reservoir to the refrigerator, where the low-temperature gas is liquefied, and supply the liquefied helium to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Tsunehiro Takeda
  • Publication number: 20010042377
    Abstract: Liquefied natural gas is stored in an insulated tank, typically forming part of an ocean going tanker. Boiled off vapor is compressed in a compressor and at least partially condensed in a condenser. The resulting condensate is returned to the tank. The vapor is mixed with liquefied natural gas in a mixing chamber upstream of the compressor. The liquefied natural gas so mixed with the vapor in the mixing chamber is taken from the condensate or from the storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventor: Josef Pozivil
  • Patent number: 6220051
    Abstract: A compact rapid chilling system comprises: a liquefied-gas cylinder (1) filled with a liquefied gas; a cylinder holder (2) for holding the liquefied-gas cylinder (1); and, a control box (3) mounted on the cylinder holder (2). The control box (3) is provided with a nozzle (23) for issuing a jet of the liquefied gas through an electromagnetic valve, which liquefied gas is supplied from the liquefied-gas cylinder (1). The control box (3) is further provided with a control switch (25) for controlling the jet of the liquefied gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Cool Pack System Corp.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Takasugi