Abstract:
The present invention provides a method for producing a pressure tank for holding a pressurized fluid, comprising the steps of providing a shaped body; arranging one or more elements of a textile sheet material of reinforcing fibers on the shaped body; impregnating the reinforcing fibers, before or after the arrangement of the element or elements on the shaped body, with a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin; and curing the resin to form a composite fiber material surrounding the shaped body. The invention also provides a pressure tank for holding a pressurized fluid, comprising a hollow body which defines a storage space for the fluid, and a composite fiber material surrounding the hollow body which comprises one or more elements of a textile sheet material. The invention further provides a pressure tank group comprising a plurality of such pressure tanks.
Abstract:
Articulated tug and barge arrangements and methods for transportation, storage and regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG) aboard barge units and for ballasting the barge units are provided. A barge unit includes a type C tank for the containment of LNG under pressure and a regasification unit fluidly coupled to the type C tank for regasification of LNG aboard the barge unit for offloading natural gas. The barge unit is adapted for loading LNG directly from a liquefaction plant, for transporting LNG by operatively coupling to a tug unit, as well as for storing LNG at a destined off board facility, and for fueling a floating power production facility. The arrangements and methods provide a transport terminal ring. The arrangements and methods provide for the circulation of seawater through the regasification unit and into ballast tanks for ballasting of the barge unit while offloading natural gas.
Abstract:
A liquid-tight tank liner for use with elongate tanks with rounded end walls is disclosed. The liner is configured to carry the hydrostatic pressure loading which would otherwise be applied to longer side walls of the tank when the tank is filled with water or other liquid.
Abstract:
Composite tanks are desirable for aerospace applications since they are much lighter than comparable metal tanks. Various polymeric compositions satisfy the requirements to make a Lox compatible tank.
Abstract:
An electrochemically active hydrogen diffusion barrier which comprises an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an intermediate electrolyte layer, which is conductive to protons and substantially impermeable to hydrogen. A catalytic metal present in or adjacent to the anode layer catalyzes an electrochemical reaction that converts any hydrogen that diffuses through the electrolyte layer to protons and electrons. The protons and electrons are transported to the cathode layer and reacted to form hydrogen. The hydrogen diffusion barrier is applied to a polymeric substrate used in a storage tank to store hydrogen under high pressure. A storage tank equipped with the electrochemically active hydrogen diffusion barrier, a method of fabricating the storage tank, and a method of preventing hydrogen from diffusing out of a storage tank are also disclosed.
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:
Improved joints for cryogenic liquid-containing tanks are disclosed. The joints include a support plate, a lower arm mounted on the support plate, an upper arm mounted on the support plate spaced from the lower arm, and tank skins extending into the space between the lower and upper arms. Sealing layers are provided between the tank skins and the joint arms. The joints are particularly useful for space launch vehicle cryogenic liquid propellant tanks, which must be lightweight, withstand high structural loads and maintain leak-free conditions.
Abstract:
A plastic vessel for a pressurized fluid, having an upper end wall and a lower end wall and an intermediate part with an outer wall and internal partition walls. The internal partition walls are placed in such a way in respect of each other and the outer wall that at least two longitudinal compartments for pressurized fluid are formed, which compartments are communicating with each other and run between the end walls. The vessel is non-circular. The outer wall between each pair of partition walls has a curve, with a radius adapted in such a manner that the tensions arising in the outer wall when the vessel is filled with a pressurized fluid will mainly be transformed solely to tensile stress in the partition walls which are joined to the outer wall. The partition walls are joined to the outer wall in the border lines where two such curves meet.
Abstract:
A pressure vessel made of plastic consists of an intermediate tubular part closed at each end by an integral end wall. The vessel includes an internally centered tubular part interconnected to said intermediate part by radially extending partition walls. The walls form a plurality of interconnected fluid compartments. The internal walls receive and transmit axial forces operating on the end walls into all walls of the vessel.
Abstract:
A unitary reservoir (100) in FIG. 1 made of plastic, preferably made by blow molding, comprises a plurality of hollow bulbs (110), (140) and (170) with centers along a curved line in a plane, at least one bulb being a mounting bulb (140) having a mounting tower (144) or (176) extending from said bulb, said mounting tower comprising a solid portion enabling mounting of the reservoir (100) and a hollow portion that communicates with the interior of said mounting bulb and acting to resist bending of the solid portion.