초록 ▼

A storage system useful for storing cryogenic liquids is disclosed. The storage system includes a storage vessel, insulation surrounding the storage vessel and a flexible vacuum jacket enclosing them both. The flexible vacuum jacket can be made from a flexible plastic film such as polyimide. Polyimi

A storage system useful for storing cryogenic liquids is disclosed. The storage system includes a storage vessel, insulation surrounding the storage vessel and a flexible vacuum jacket enclosing them both. The flexible vacuum jacket can be made from a flexible plastic film such as polyimide. Polyimide is preferred due to its ability to remain flexible at cryogenic temperatures. The inner volume of the flexible vacuum jacket is placed under vacuum such that the insulation is maintained under vacuum. The flexible vacuum jacket can collapse against and conform to the insulation when it is evacuated, saving substantially on volume. A fitting for combining multiple passageways is also disclosed, so that multiple passageways can proceed through the vacuum jacket through a single penetration.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A storage system comprising a storage vessel, thermal insulation disposed outside said storage vessel, a flexible vacuum jacket substantially enclosing said storage vessel and said thermal insulation and defining a vacuum space between said jacket and said vessel, and a fitting fitted in an openi

1. A storage system comprising a storage vessel, thermal insulation disposed outside said storage vessel, a flexible vacuum jacket substantially enclosing said storage vessel and said thermal insulation and defining a vacuum space between said jacket and said vessel, and a fitting fitted in an opening in said vacuum jacket, said fitting accommodating a fluid passageway for delivering a fluid to and/or from said storage vessel, a vent passageway for venting overpressure from said storage vessel, and a vacuum passageway in fluid communication with said vacuum space, wherein each of said passageways passes through said fitting. 2. The storage system of claim 1, said flexible vacuum jacket comprising a flexible plastic film that is collapsible against said insulation upon drawing a vacuum in said vacuum space. 3. The storage system of claim 2, said flexible plastic film comprising polyimide film. 4. The storage system of claim 3, said polyimide film having a thickness of 0.003 to 0.005 inch. 5. The storage system of claim 3, said polyimide film having a thickness of about 0.005 inch. 6. The storage system of claim 2, said flexible plastic film being effective to withstand repeated cycles of cooling to a cryogenic temperature less than 200K and reheating to a temperature of 298K without cracking. 7. The storage system of claim 2, said flexible plastic film being flexible at a cryogenic temperature less than 200K. 8. The storage system of claim 2, said flexible plastic film being flexible at a cryogenic temperature less than 100K. 9. The storage system of claim 1, said vacuum jacket being substantially collapsed against said insulation under the influence of a vacuum drawn within said vacuum space. 10. The storage system of claim 9, wherein a gas pressure within said vacuum space is not more than 0.2 torr. 11. The storage system of claim 1, said thermal insulation substantially enclosing said storage vessel. 12. The storage system of claim 1, said insulation comprising a plurality of alternating metalized plastic film layers and intermediate spacer layers, said spacer layers having a thermal conductivity of or less than 0.3 W/m-K. 13. The storage system of claim 1, said insulation comprising a plurality of alternating thermally-reflective layers and intermediate aerogel layers. 14. The storage system of claim 13, said intermediate aerogel layers comprising silica aerogel and having a thermal conductivity on the order of 0.01 W/m-K. 15. The storage system of claim 1, said fitting comprising a fitting body having a bore extending therethrough and a male end that extends axially from a seating face of the fitting body, said male end having an axial groove therein, an O-ring gasket fitted over said male end, and a washer having a radial projection also fitted over said male end such that said radial projection is received in said axial groove, said male end extending through said opening in the vacuum jacket with a portion of the vacuum jacket surrounding said opening being sealed in between said seating face and said O-ring gasket via a tightening force applied against said O-ring gasket by said washer, wherein the radial projection of said washer extending in said axial groove inhibits rotation of said washer during tightening. 16. The storage system of claim 15, said seating face having an annular groove therein, a sealing ring being disposed in said annular groove and partially protruding therefrom above said seating face, said portion of the vacuum jacket being sealed between said sealing ring and said O-ring gasket. 17. The storage system of claim 15, said bore through the fitting body having an inner diameter extending at least through said male end, the system further comprising a vent tube defining said vent passageway and extending into the fitting body through said male end, said vent tube having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said bore such that the vent tube and said inner diameter define a vacuum space for said vacuum passageway therebetween, a vacuum port provided through the fitting body and in fluid communication with said vacuum space, and a fill tube defining said fluid passageway extending through said vent tube within said fitting body. 18. The storage system of claim 15, said fitting body being at least partially embedded in said insulation. 19. The storage system of claim 15, further comprising a reinforcing film secured to said portion of said vacuum jacket surrounding the opening therein. 20. The storage system of claim 17, said fitting body having another male end opposite the aforementioned male end, said vent tube extending from said aforementioned male end, through the fitting body and emerging from said other male end thereof. 21. A fitting comprising a fitting body having a bore extending therethrough and a male end that extends axially from a seating face of the fitting body, said male end having an axial groove therein, an O-ring gasket fitted over said male end, a washer having a radial projection also fitted over said male end such that said radial projection is received in said axial groove thereby inhibiting rotation of said washer over said male end, said bore through the fitting body having an inner diameter extending at least through said male end, a vent tube extending into the fitting body through said male end, said vent tube having an outer diameter smaller than said inner diameter of said bore such that the vent tube and said inner diameter define an annular vacuum space therebetween, a vacuum port provided through the fitting body and in fluid communication with said annular vacuum space, and a fill tube extending through said vent tube within said fitting body. 22. The fitting of claim 21, said seating face having an annular groove therein, a sealing ring being disposed in said annular groove and partially protruding therefrom above said seating face. 23. The fitting of claim 22, further comprising a flexible film having an opening therein fitted over said male end such that the male end of the fitting extends through said opening, said flexible film being sealed between said sealing ring and said O-ring gasket.