Abstract A multilayered pressure vessel for handling hydrogen gas wherein the inner layer of the vessel is formed of a material resistant to hydrogen embrittlement. Individual sections of the inner layer and of the outer layers are welded together at circular joints. The welded joint for the inner layer is formed of a material which is resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, however, the weld material joining the outer layers is not resistant to hydrogen embrittlement. In constructing the vessel the welded joints securing the outer layers are displaced from and are out of contact with the welded joint securing the individual sections of the inner layer. Additionally, outlet holes extend from the outer surface of the vessel through each of the outer layers to the outer surface of the inner layer. The outlet holes are located in the area adjacent the welded joint securing the individual sections of the outer layers. Where the inner layer is secured to the outer layers as the final step in constructing the pressure vessel, a hole is bored through the innermost of the outer layers extending from the outer surface of the inner layer to the inner surface of the next outer layer. Further, where a solid flange member is secured at one or both ends of the vessel the welded joint securing the flange to the inner layer and the welded joint securing the flange to the outer layers are spaced from one another so that they are not in contact and outlet holes are provided in the region of the welded joint securing the flange to the outer layers. In the outlet holes hydrogen gas at the interface between the inner layer and the innermost of the outer layers is prevented from diffusing into the deposited metal and the outer layers of the vessel are protected from failures due to hydrogen embrittlement.
A multilayered vessel, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a solid flange member is secured to at least one end of said vessel, said monolithically formed inner layer of said vessel and said flange integrally secured together by a circumferentially extending welded joint formed of a weld material resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, said outer layers of said vessel integrally secured to said solid flange by a circumferentially extending welded joint formed of material not resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, said welded joint securing said outer layers and said solid flange together spaced in an axial direction of said vessel from and out of contact with the welded joint securing said inner layer and said solid flange together, and an outlet hole formed on each side of said circumferentially extending welded joint securing said outer layer to said flange member, said outlet holes extending from the outer surface of said vessel inwardly to the outer surface of said inner layer with one said outlet hole extending through said outer layers and the other said outlet hole extending through said flange member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
365 words
A multilayered vessel construction arranged to avoid hydrogen embrittlement comprising an inner layer forming the interior surface of the vessel, said inner layer formed of a material resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, said inner layer formed of separate cylindrically-shaped monolithic circumferentially endless wall sections integrally joined together by circumferentially extending welded joints, said inner layer being of a single thickness for its axial length, said welded joints formed of a material resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, a multiplicity of concentrically arranged contacting outer layers disposed about said inner layer and with the inner surface of the innermost outer layer being in contact with the outer surface of said inner layer, said outer layers formed of a material not resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, said outer layers formed of separate cylindrically-shaped circumferentially endless sections integrally joined together by circumferentially extending welded joints, said welded joints securing said sections of said outer layers together being spaced in the axial direction of the vessel from an out of contact with said welded joints securing the sections of said inner layer together, an outlet hole formed through said outer layers on each side of said welded joints which secure said cylindrically-shaped outer layers together and the inner end of said outlet holes terminating at and communicating with the outer surface of the vessel each of said outlet holes being located adjacent the welded joints securing the sections of said outer layers together and the adjacent welded joint securing said inner layer sections together, a second outlet hole being formed through at least the innermost outer layer communicating with the outer surface of said inner layer, said second oUtlet hole being located on the opposite side of the welded joint between said inner layer section from said outer hole extending to the outer surface of said vessel, and a pad of welding material being inserted between the sections forming the innermost layer of said outer layers and in contact with the outer surface of said inner layer, the dimension of said pad of material is greater in the direction between the adjoining sections of said innermost layer which it joins than in the direction of the thickness of the sections which it separates.