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A container has a pair of opposing heads, and a wall section between the heads has a square cross-section and planar side walls joined together by rounded corners. The side walls tend to deflect outwardly while under pressure, but are supported externally by a support system such as the walls of a c

A container has a pair of opposing heads, and a wall section between the heads has a square cross-section and planar side walls joined together by rounded corners. The side walls tend to deflect outwardly while under pressure, but are supported externally by a support system such as the walls of a cargo hold. Another container comprises an outside tank and a flexible membrane tank inside the outside tank, an annular space being defined in between, where a first fluid is charged into the membrane tank and a second fluid is charged into the annular space in order to discharge the first fluid. In another embodiment, a long tube having a square cross-section is coiled in a support structure and made gas-tight for holding a compressed fluid, and adjacent coils and the support structure limit expansion of the tube.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for storage and/or transport of a fluid cargo, comprising: a container for holding the fluid cargo under pressure at a specified normal operating pressure that is at least 0.15 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure,the container having a pair of opposing heads and a wall section betw

1. An apparatus for storage and/or transport of a fluid cargo, comprising: a container for holding the fluid cargo under pressure at a specified normal operating pressure that is at least 0.15 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure,the container having a pair of opposing heads and a wall section between the heads,the wall section defining a non-circular cross-section and comprising at least two adjacent and substantially planar sides joined together by a rounded corner,wherein the opposing heads and the wall section are formed into an integral unit that has an interior surface that defines an internal volume of the container and an exterior surface that defines an outermost surface of the container,wherein the sides are a single-layer and/or a multiple-layer membrane,wherein the sides have a wall thickness between the interior and exterior surfaces,wherein the sides are made of a material, and wherein the sides and the outermost surface of the container at the sides can expand outwardly by at least the amount of the wall thickness while the container contains the fluid cargo at a pressure that exceeds 10% of the specified normal operating pressure and while the container is not constrained by an external structure or by an external pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure without exceeding the elastic limit of the material. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container is sufficiently rigid to be self supporting when empty. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the container is adapted for a specified normal operating temperature below 0° C. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the container is adapted to hold the fluid cargo under pressure at a specified normal operating pressure that is at least 0.25 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid cargo is compressed natural gas, and wherein the container is adapted to hold the fluid cargo under pressure at a specified normal operating pressure that is at least 0.50 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-circular cross-section of the wall section is a rectangle. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the container is adapted to allow the sides to expand outwardly by at least three times the amount of the wall thickness when the container contains the fluid cargo at the specified normal operating pressure. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-circular cross-section of the wall section is essentially a rectangle with four substantially planar sides joined together by four rounded corners, wherein each side has a length LS and each rounded corner has a radius of curvature RC, and wherein the ratio LS/RC is between about 2 and about 6. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-circular cross-section of the wall section is essentially a square with four substantially planar sides joined together by four rounded corners, wherein each side has a length LS and each rounded corner has a radius of curvature RC, and wherein the ratio LS/RC is between about 3 and about 4. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the container is adapted to hold the fluid cargo under pressure at a specified normal operating pressure that is at least 1.0 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure, and wherein the container is adapted for a specified normal operating temperature as low as about minus 160° C. 11. A system for storage and/or transport of a compressed gas, comprising: a plurality of containers designed to hold the compressed gas at a specified operating pressure of at least about 0.25 MPa above atmospheric pressure, each container having opposing end caps and a wall section disposed between the end caps, the wall section having a non-circular cross-section and comprising at least two adjacent and substantially planar sides joined together by a rounded corner, wherein the end caps and the wall section are formed into an integral unit having an interior surface that defines an interior space for receiving the compressed gas, wherein the sides have a wall thickness and are made of a material that is flexible and strong enough to expand outwardly the amount of the wall thickness without exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the container exceeds 10% of the specified operating pressure above atmospheric pressure without external support for the sides, wherein the sides require external support to avoid expanding to the point of exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the container is at about the specified operating pressure,wherein each container is located proximate to at least one other container so that at least a portion of the wall section of each container presses directly or indirectly against the wall section of at least one other container while filled with the compressed gas so that one side of a first container provides external support for one side of an adjacent second container; anda structural enclosure surrounding the plurality of containers, wherein the wall section of some portion of the containers press directly or indirectly against the structural enclosure whereby the structural enclosure provides external support for the containers, wherein the wall section of that portion of the containers that press against the structural enclosure would expand outwardly while under the specified operating pressure were it not for a counterforce provided by the structural enclosure. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the structural enclosure comprises a land-based vehicle or a marine vessel adapted to receive the plurality of containers, said land-based vehicle or marine vessel having a plurality of internal support members, wherein the internal support members define one or more cargo holds, and wherein a portion of the internal support members provide external support for the wall section of that portion of the containers that press against the structural enclosure. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the structural enclosure comprises an ISO container box, and wherein the containers have a substantially square cross-section and rounded corners. 14. The system of claim 11, wherein each side of each container receives external support from the structural enclosure and/or from a side of an adjacent container. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the structural enclosure comprises an ISO container box, wherein the ISO container box has substantially the shape of a cube, wherein the containers have a substantially square cross-section and rounded corners, and wherein the rounded corners do not have and do not require external support. 16. A marine vessel for storing and/or transporting a compressed fluid, comprising: a hull having a bow, a stern and opposing vessel-sides connecting the bow to the stern;one or more longitudinal support vessel-walls extending between the bow and the stern;one or more transverse support vessel-walls extending between the vessel-sides,wherein a plurality of cargo holds is defined by the vessel-sides, the one or more longitudinal support vessel-walls, and the one or more transverse support vessel-walls; andat least one apparatus according to claim 1 received in each cargo hold for holding the compressed fluid,wherein the wall section of the apparatus is supported externally by the vessel-sides, the one or more longitudinal support vessel-walls, and/or the one or more transverse support vessel-walls to limit outward movement of the wall section of the container. 17. The marine vessel of claim 16, wherein at least two containers are received in one cargo hold, and wherein a portion of the wall sections of said at least two containers rest against each other for support. 18. The marine vessel of claim 16, wherein the container is sufficiently rigid to be self supporting when empty. 19. The marine vessel of claim 18, wherein the wall section of each container includes at least four relatively straight sidewall panels joined by rounded corners. 20. The marine vessel of claim 19, wherein said at least one apparatus is adapted to hold compressed natural gas at a temperature of less than about minus 10° C. and at a specified normal operating pressure of at least about 0.75 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure, and wherein the pressure of the compressed natural gas provides a pressure force that tends to move the sidewall panels of the wall section of the apparatus outward and the vessel-sides, the one or more longitudinal support vessel-walls, and/or the one or more transverse support vessel-walls provide a force that restricts outward movement of the sidewall panels of the wall section of the apparatus. 21. An apparatus for storing and/or transporting a compressed fluid, the apparatus comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of support members, wherein a portion of the plurality of support members define a void space; anda tank received in the void space, wherein the tank comprises: a pair of opposing heads and a wall section between the heads, wherein the opposing heads and the wall section are formed into an integral unit that has an interior surface that defines an internal volume of the tank and an exterior surface that defines an outermost surface of the tank,wherein the wall section comprises four substantially planar sides joined together by four rounded corners,wherein the sides have a wall thickness and are made of a material that is flexible and strong enough to allow a center span outward deflection of the sides of at least one wall thickness without exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the tank exceeds 10% of the specified operating pressure without external support for the sides,wherein the sides require external support to avoid expanding outwardly to a point of exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the tank is at about the specified operating pressure,wherein the rounded corners do not require external support when the pressure inside the tank is at about the specified operating pressure, andwherein the tank is sufficiently rigid to be self supporting when emptywherein a portion of the wall section rests against one or more support members in said portion of the plurality of support members that define the void space,wherein said one or more support members provide external support to said portion of the wall section of the tank that rests against said one or more support members for limiting outward expansion of said portion of the wall section, andwherein the frame is designed for holding the tank when the compressed fluid is in the interior space of the tank at a specified normal operating pressure of at least 0.15 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure and preventing the sides from expanding outwardly to an extent that would exceed the elastic limits of the material. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the specified normal operating pressure is at least 0.25 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure, and wherein the apparatus comprises a marine vessel, a land-based vehicle or a storage container. 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the frame is adapted to be joined to an adjacent and essentially identical frame to create a standard-sized ISO shipping container. 24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each side has a length LS and each rounded corner has a radius of curvature RC, and wherein the ratio LS/RC is between about 2 and about 6. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the ratio LS/RC is between about 3 and about 4. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the specified normal operating pressure is at least 0.50 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure, wherein the void space in the frame is defined by frame walls, and wherein the support members lie within the frame walls, further comprising insulation around the tanks. 27. A method for storing and/or transporting a fluid, comprising the steps of: providing a support structure;providing an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wall section has a wall portion that has an outer surface; andlocating the apparatus adjacent to the support structure so that the support structure is adjacent to the outer surface of the wall portion, wherein the wall portion rests against the support structure while the container is filled with the fluid and operating at a pressure of at least about 0.15 MPa above atmospheric pressure, andwherein the support structure provides a counter-force to a force caused by the pressure of the fluid acting to expand the wall portion of the wall section of the apparatus. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the support structure is part of a marine vessel. 29. The method of claim 27, wherein the support structure is part of a railroad car or part of a truck. 30. The method of claim 27, wherein the support structure comprises a concrete-lined hole in the earth. 31. The method of claim 27, wherein the fluid is compressed natural gas having a temperature between about minus 160° C. and about 30° C. and a pressure greater than about 1 MPa above atmospheric pressure. 32. The method of claim 27, wherein the fluid comprises a hydrate. 33. A method for storing and/or transporting compressed natural gas with a marine vessel or with a land-based vehicle, each of the marine vessel and the land-based vehicle having a cargo support structure that defines a cargo hold, the method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus according to claim 1;locating the apparatus within the cargo hold such that a portion of the wall section is adjacent to a portion of the cargo support structure; andloading compressed natural gas into the container, wherein the compressed natural gas is at a pressure at least about 1 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure, the pressure of the compressed natural gas providing an outward pressure force on the wall section,wherein said portion of the cargo support structure provides a reactive force to limit outward movement of said portion of the wall section of the apparatus, andwherein said portion of the wall section of the apparatus would move outwardly due to the pressure force of the compressed natural gas were it not supported by the support structure. 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising: providing a tank for holding compressed natural gas, the tank having a pair of end caps and a wall section between the end caps, the wall section having a rectangular cross-section with four rounded corners and substantially planar sidewall panels between the rounded corners;locating the tank in the cargo hold adjacent to the apparatus such that a portion of the wall section of the tank is adjacent to a second portion of the wall section of the apparatus; andloading said compressed natural gas into the tank, the pressure of the compressed natural gas providing an outward pressure force on the wall section of the tank,wherein said second portion of the wall section of the apparatus provides a reactive force to limit outward movement of said portion of the wall section of the tank, andwherein said portion of the wall section of the tank would move outwardly due to the pressure force of the compressed natural gas were it not supported by said second portion of the wall section of the apparatus. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the apparatus and the tank are each a pressure vessel that is sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting while empty and outside of the cargo hold. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein each cargo hold contains more than two pressure vessels, wherein the wall section of each pressure vessel is supported externally by either or both of an adjacent pressure vessel or the cargo support structure. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the wall section of the apparatus and the tank each comprise four substantially planar sides joined together by four rounded corners, wherein each side has a length LS and each rounded corner has a radius of curvature RC, and wherein the ratio LS/RC is between about 2 and about 5. 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising applying a compressive pre-stress to the wall section of the tank longitudinally between the end caps so that the ratio LS/RC can be greater than about 6. 39. A method for storing a compressed fluid in the earth, comprising: providing a hole in the earth, the hole being defined by an inside wall;installing an apparatus according to claim 1 in the hole,wherein the outermost surface of the container is adjacent to the inside wall that defines the hole in the earth;filling the container with the compressed fluid to a specified normal operating pressure that is at least about 1 MPa above atmospheric pressure; andallowing the wall section of the container to expand outwardly at least an amount equal to the wall thickness due to the pressure force of the compressed fluid until the wall section expands no further due to forces within the wall section and/or due to a reactive force exerted by the earth. 40. A tank for holding a compressed gas at a specified operating pressure of at least 0.25 MPa above atmospheric pressure at a specified normal operating temperature below 0° C., comprising: a pair of opposing heads and a wall section between the heads, wherein the opposing heads and the wall section are formed into an integral unit that has an interior surface that defines an internal volume of the tank and an exterior surface that defines an outermost surface of the tank,wherein the wall section comprises four substantially planar sides joined together by four rounded corners,wherein the sides have a wall thickness and are made of a material that is flexible and strong enough to allow a center span outward deflection of the sides of at least one wall thickness without exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the tank exceeds 10% of the specified operating pressure without external support for the sides,wherein the sides require external support to avoid expanding outwardly to a point of exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the tank is at about the specified operating pressure,wherein the rounded corners do not require external support when the pressure inside the tank is at about the specified operating pressure, andwherein the tank is sufficiently rigid to be self supporting when empty. 41. An apparatus for storage and/or transport of a compressed gas, comprising: a plurality of the tanks defined in claim 40; anda structural enclosure surrounding the plurality of tanks, wherein a side of some or all of the tanks presses directly or indirectly against the structural enclosure, wherein the structural enclosure provides external support for said sides, andwherein each tank is adjacent to another tank such that at least one side of each tank presses directly or indirectly against one side of another tank. 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the structural enclosure comprises an ISO container box. 43. An ISO shipping container, comprising at least two of the apparatus of claim 41 joined together.