Abstract A tank for storing a low-temperature liquefied gas in which the internal pressure on a thin film inner vessel composed of a sidewall and a bottom wall and an open top is supported by an outer vessel having a rigid, fluidtight construction and inside of which a heat-insulating layer is installed. Deformation of the inner vessel caused by the change of temperature or liquid pressure is absorbed by a change of curvature of a curved shoulder of an upper end portion of the sidewall of the inner vessel and by a sliding movement of the inner vessel wall allowed by a curved or arcuate corner of the lower end portion of the sidewall of the inner vessel. The strength of the inner vessel is maintained and at the same time leakage of liquid is prevented by suspending the pipes leading into the inner vessel through a trunk mounted on the top structure of the outer vessel.
A tank for storing low-temperature liquefied gas according to claim 1, in which the sidewall of said inner vessel is corrugated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tank for storing low-temperature liquefied gas according to claim 1, in which said heat-insulating layer comprises a compression-resistant material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tank for storing low-temperature liquefied gas according to claim 1, in which said outer vessel includes a trunk in said top structure and conduits extending through said trunk into said inner vessel and into said upper space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A tank for storing low-temperature liquefied gas according to claim 1, in which said outer vessel top structure and said upper marginal portion of said inner vessel defines a space between it said top structure as a continuation of said annular space and in communication with said upper space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tank for storing low-temperature liquefied gas according to claim 1, in which said inner vessel is made of thin steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tank for storing low-temperature liquefied gas according to claim 6, in which said thin steel has a thickness in the order of 3 millimeters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tank for storing low-temperature liquefied gas according to claim 1, in which said upper marginal portion and said top structure define a space therebetween as a continuation of said annular space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A tank for storing low-temperature liquefied gas according to claim 8, in which said deformable lower portion cooperates with said deformable upper marginal portion and is responsive to deformation thereof to deform in cooperation with deformation of said marginal portion and allow flexing of said upper marginal portion so that it can assume a straightened configuration in radial cross section and said arcuate configuration in radial cross section.