Abstract:
A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel is formed as a series of closely packed tubes fitted into a pair of opposing end caps. The end caps have individual receptacles sized and shaped to receive the tube ends that are secured with adhesive or radio frequency welding. At least one end cap has a passageway for connection of the vessel. The vessel may be formed in a variety of useful shapes and the tubes may have various internal and external cross-sections. The end caps may be filled with sintactic foam with canals leading to the passageway. Microtubes through the syntactic foam may connect the tubes to the passageway. The vessel is further strengthened by overwrapping with high-strength braiding material, hoop winding or by overlayment with high-strength fabric. The vessel is further strengthened by coating with plastic resin. Apparatus and methods for forming the cellular reservoir flexible vessels are described.
Abstract:
A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel is formed as a series of closely packed tubes fitted into a pair of opposing end caps. The end caps have individual receptacles sized and shaped to receive the tube ends that are secured with adhesive or radio frequency welding. At least one end cap has a passageway for connection of the vessel. The flexible pressure vessel has a pressure relief device comprising a reduction in thickness of one end cap at a predetermined location. When subjected to overpressure it fails at the predetermined location. Other pressure relief devices include: a projecting member on the vessel surface, a weakened section of the passageway, a weakening or an absence of braiding material or hoop winding at a predetermined location on the vessel surface or along the passageway, a weakening or spreading of fibers in either the reinforcing panels or the flexible blankets covering the vessel.
Abstract:
The development of polymer composite liquid oxygen (LOX) tanks is a critical step in creating the next generation of launch vehicles. A composite LOX tank will weigh significantly less than conventional metal tanks. This benefit of reduced weight is critical to enable future launch vehicles to meet required mass fractions. The high strength and low weight of a composite tank allows for a lighter weight craft and/or higher payload capacity which results in lower costs per pound to place an object in orbit. The unique, nontraditional idea described here is to use resin-based composite materials to make such a composite tank or other oxygen carrying component such as a feedline. Polymer composites have traditionally been regarded as being more flammable than metals and therefore deemed not oxygen compatible. However, several halogenated composites have been tested for their ability to withstand ignition in the presence of oxygen, and have shown to be resistant to ignition. A halogenated composite material is a fiber reinforced composite that contains an element or elements from column 7A in the Periodic Table of Elements.
Abstract:
A beverage chilling and insulating device comprising an insulated sleeve for accepting a beverage container such as a beer or soda can. The insulated sleeve is secured at a bottom end to an insulated hollow base which defines a chilling chamber, the chilling chamber in communication with the sleeveway. A cartridge receptacle hole is located upon the insulated hollow base and extends inward into the insulated hollow base to form a cylindrical cartridge chamber. A needle valve protrudes from the cartridge chamber into the chilling chamber. A pressurized refrigerant cartridge which contains a volume of pressurized refrigerant such as freon or liquid nitrogen is inserted into the cartridge chamber until the needle valve punctures the cartridge, allowing the pressurized refrigerant contents to escape from the cartridge, through the needle valve into the chilling chamber and sleeveway. The refrigerant then lowers the temperature of the beverage container which is encapsulated within the sleeveway, the beverage container maintained at this decreased temperature for an extended period of time by the insulative properties of the insulated wall.
Abstract:
A container includes one or more hollow shell assemblies, each assembly having a first hollow shell including a first inner surface to cover a portion of a pressure vessel (PV) and a second hollow shell including a second inner surface attachable to the first hollow shell. The first and/or second hollow shells may include a fiber layer that may be at least partially impregnated with resin, and an energy dissipating material that is substantially concentric with the inner surfaces of the respective shells. The first and second hollow shells are attachable to one another to define a volume for at least partially enclosing the PV, and may be overwrapped via filament winding.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention relate to compressed gas storage units, which in certain applications may be employed in conjunction with energy storage systems. Some embodiments may comprise one or more blow-molded polymer shells, formed for example from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Embodiments of compressed gas storage units may be composite in nature, for example comprising carbon fiber filament(s) wound with a resin over a liner. A compressed gas storage unit may further include a heat exchanger element comprising a heat pipe or apparatus configured to introduce liquid directly into the storage unit for heat exchange with the compressed gas present therein.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention relate to compressed gas storage units, which in certain applications may be employed in conjunction with energy storage systems. Some embodiments may comprise one or more blow-molded polymer shells, formed for example from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Embodiments of compressed gas storage units may be composite in nature, for example comprising carbon fiber filament(s) wound with a resin over a liner. A compressed gas storage unit may further include a heat exchanger element comprising a heat pipe or apparatus configured to introduce liquid directly into the storage unit for heat exchange with the compressed gas present therein.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a conformal tank for adsorbent storage of gas. The tank includes a body having a substantially flat top wall, a substantially flat bottom wall and a pair of opposing sidewalls that join the top wall and bottom wall to form an open-ended cuboid having a first open end and an opposing second open end. The tank additionally includes a first end cap connected to the top wall, bottom wall and sidewalls at the first open end, and a second end cap connected to the top wall, bottom wall and sidewalls at the second open end, thereby defining an internal cavity in which gas can be removably stored. The tank further includes a plurality of wall supports connected the top and bottom walls to prevent deformation of the tank. The wall supports are structured to allow gas to move throughout the entire internal cavity of the tank.