Cryogenic storage and expulsion means

Claim 2

Cryogen storage and delivery means comprising a cryogen storage vessel having a single storage chamber therein, means for establishing and maintaining cryogen in said vessel in a pressurized condition, heat exchanger means disposed in heat transfer relation to the exterior of said storage vessel, means for controllably communicating the interior of said vessel with said heat exchanger means so cryogen can flow out from the vessel into and through said heat exchanger means, means for isenthalpically reducing the pressure of the cryogen flowing out from the interior of said vessel into said heat exchanger means, means for alternatively circulating a coolant substance through the heat exchanger means, means for controllably injecting heat into said stored cryogen, and other means for delivering pressurized cryogen out of said vessel.

Claim 3

The means defined in claim 1 including means for communicating said heat exchanger means to an external source of coolant.

Claim 4

The means defined in claim 1 including valve means responsive to the pressure of said stored cryogen, said valve means controlling the flow of said cryogen to the heat exchanger means to vary the flow thereof in relation to changes in pressure of the stored cryogen.

Claim 5

The means defined in claim 1 including means responsive to the pressure of the stored cryogen, said means being connected to said heat injecting means to control the operation thereof in a manner to maintain the stored cryogen in a super-critical state, said heat injecting means including pump means which when operating cause some agitation of the stored cryogen preventing stratification thereof.

Claim 6

The means defined in claim 1 wherein said means for controllably injecting heat into said cryogen include heat conductive means positioned inside said vessel immersed in said stored cryogen, said conductive means operating to evenly distribute heat throughout said stored cryogen thereby preventing stratification of the cryogen.

Claim 7

Means for storing cryogen in a liquid-gas or a super-critical state comprising a storage vessel having a single storage chamber therein, means for feeding cryogen into said storage chamber, means responsive to a condition of the stored cryogen to controllably inject heat into said stored cryogen to raise and maintain sufficient pressure in said vessel chamber to cause at least some of the cryogen therein to go from a gas-liquid state to a super-critical state, means insulating said vessel, said insulation means including tensioned truss members having spaced locations thereon where they are in contact with the vessel to permit some heat leakage thereinto, heat exchanger means positioned adjacent to the exterior of said storage vessel to intercept heat leaking into said vessel, primary means for establishing a flow of coolant from an external source through said heat exchanger means, other means for alternatively venting cryogen contained in said vessel through said heat exchanger means, said other means including means for isenthalpically expanding said venting cryogen.

Claim 8

Means for storing cryogen in a liquid-gas or a super-critical state comprising a storage vessel having a single storage chamber therein, means for feeding cryogen into said storage chamber, means responsive to a condition of the stored cryogen to controllably inject heat into said stored cryogen to raise and maintain sufficient pressure in said vessel chamber to cause at least some of the cryogen therein to go from a gas-liquid state to a super-critical state, means insulating said vessel, said insulation means including tensioned truss members having spaced locations thereon where they are in contact with the vessel to permit some heat leakage thereinto, heat exchanger means positioned adjacent to the exterior of said storage vessel to intercept heat leaking into said vessel, primary means for establishing a flow of coolant from an external source through said heat exchanger means, other means for alternatively venting cryogen contained in said vessel through said heat exchanger means, said other means including means for isenthalpically expanding said venting cryogen.

Claim 9

The means defined in claim 6 wherein said means for injecting heat into said stored cryogen include conduit means communicating with the interior of said storage vessel, pumping means connected to said conduit means for circulating cryogen through said conduit means and said storage vessel, and heater means connected to said conduit means to inject heat into said cryogen circulated through said conduit means by said pumping means.

Claim 10

The means defined in claim 6 including pressure responsive means located outside said storage vessel, said pressure responsive means being in communication with said stored cryogen and responsive to the pressure thereof, said pressure sensitive means being connected to energize said heat injecting means to inject heat into said cryogen when the pressure of the cryogen is below a predetermined pressure.

Claim 11

The means defined in claim 6 including pressure responsive means located oUtside of said storage vessel, said pressure responsive means being in communication with the stored cryogen and responsive to the pressure thereof, said pressure responsive means being operatively connected to said cryogen venting means to cause venting of isenthalpically expanded cryogen through said heat exchanger means to take place when the pressure of said stored cryogen is above a predetermined pressure.

Claim 12

The means defined in claim 6 including heat insulating support means for said storage vessel, said support means including a truss formed of connected support members constructed of materials having low heat conductivity characteristics and connected to the storage vessel in such a fashion as to assure said support members are maintained in tension, said truss engaging the vessel at spaced locations thereon.

Claim 13

The means defined in claim 6 wherein said heat exchanger means include a cooling coil wrapped around said storage vessel and connected to conduct said venting cryogen having passed through said isenthalpic expanding means about said storage vessel, said cooling coil also being connected to said secondary means to conduct said coolant about said storage vessel, a junction between said primary and secondary means and said cooling coil, and a check valve adjacent said junction in said secondary means oriented to prevent vented cryogen from flowing through said secondary means.

Claim 14

The means defined in claim 6 wherein said heat injecting means include means to distribute heat relatively uniformly throughout the stored cryogen to prevent stratification thereof.

Claim 15

The means defined in claim 6 wherein said insulation means include a first layer of insulation material substantially surrounding said storage vessel to reduce conduction heat leak thereinto, and at least one secondary layer of insulation material substantially surrounding said storage vessel to reduce radiant heat leak thereinto.

Claim 16

The means defined in claim 13 wherein said first layer of insulation material is foam insulation material and wherein said insulation means include a layer of resilient spacer material positioned between said storage vessel and said foam layer.

Claim 17

Super-critical fluid storage and delivery means comprising a fluid storage vessel having a single storage chamber therein, a heat exchanger adjacent the exterior of said vessel, a throttling valve outside said vessel, said valve having an inlet communicating with the interior of said vessel and an outlet communicating with said heat exchanger, heater means and pressure responsive means in communication with said stored fluid, said pressure responsive means being operatively connected to said heater means to energize said heater means in response to predetermined pressure conditions of the fluid whereby said heating means deliver heat to the stored fluid to increase the pressure thereof, means associated with said heater means operable in conjunction therewith to prevent stratification of the contents of the storage vessel, and fluid conduit means for delivery of said stored fluid from said vessel.

Claim 18

Super-critical fluid storage and delivery means comprising a fluid storage vessel having a single storage chamber therein, a heat exchanger adjacent the exterior of said vessel, a throttling valve outside said vessel, said valve having an inlet communicating with the interior of said vessel and an outlet communicating with said heat exchanger, heater means and pressure responsive means in communication with said stored fluid, said pressure responsive means being operatively connected to said heater means to energize said heater means in response to predetermined pressure conditions of the fluid whereby said heating means deliver heat to the stored fluid to increase the pressure thereof, means associated with said heater means operable in conjunction therewith to prevent stratification of the contents of the storage vessel, and fluid conduit means for delivery of said stored fluid from said vessel.

Claim 19

Means for storing cryogen in a liquid-gas or a super-critical state comprising a storage vessel, means for feeding cryogen to said storage vessel, means to controllably inject heat into said stored cryogen to raise and maintain sufficient pressure in said vessel to cause the cryogen to go from a gas-liquid state to a super-critical state, means insulating said vessel, said insulation means permitting some heat leak therethrough, heat exchanger means positioned adjacent to the exterior of said storage vessel to intercept heat leaking into said vessel, primary means for establishing a flow of coolant through said heat exchanger means including means for venting cryogen contained in said vessel through said heat exchanger means and means for isenthalpically expanding said venting cryogen, secondary means for establishing a flow of coolant from an external source through said heat exchanger means at predetermineD times, and cryogen density sensitive means located within said storage vessel to measure the density of the cryogen therein when the cryogen is in a super-critical state and hence the amount of the cryogen stored within said vessel, said density sensitive means including means to generate information signals as to the amount of cryogen remaining in said storage vessel.

Claim 20

Means for storing cryogen in a liquid-gas or a super-critical state comprising a storage vessel, means for feeding cryogen to said storage vessel, means to controllably inject heat into said stored cryogen to raise and maintain sufficient pressure in said vessel to cause the cryogen to go from a gas-liquid state to a super-critical state, means insulating said vessel, said insulation means permitting some heat leak therethrough, heat exchanger means positioned adjacent to the exterior of said storage vessel to intercept heat leaking into said vessel, primary means for establishing a flow of coolant through said heat exchanger means including means for venting cryogen contained in said vessel through said heat exchanger means and means for isenthalpically expanding said venting cryogen, secondary means for establishing a flow of coolant from an external source through said heat exchanger means at predetermineD times, and cryogen density sensitive means located within said storage vessel to measure the density of the cryogen therein when the cryogen is in a super-critical state and hence the amount of the cryogen stored within said vessel, said density sensitive means including means to generate information signals as to the amount of cryogen remaining in said storage vessel.

Claim 21

The means defined in claim 16 wherein said density sensitive means include a capacitive probe.