A pressure vessel and a system of a vehicle with such a pressure vessel, wherein the pressure vessel is suitable for storage of pressurized fluids, comprising a housing which extends along a longitudinal axis. The housing defines an inner volume. The shape of the housing, in longitudinal cross-section, is defined by the circumference of a set of circles. The set of circles comprises a central circle, with a center point which is defined by the longitudinal axis, and four primary peripheral circles each of which intersects with the central circle at two points. The primary peripheral circles are axially distributed on the central circle in opposing pairs.

A large volume natural gas storage tank comprises rigid tubular walls having closed tubular cross-sections that are interconnected at opposing ends with two other rigid tubular walls such that interiors of the rigid tubular walls define an interior fluid storage chamber. The storage tank also includes bulkheads positioned in the interior fluid storage chamber across intermediate segments of the rigid tubular walls and closure plates connected between exterior surfaces of successive interconnected rigid tubular walls to define sides of the storage tank. Interior surfaces of the closure plates and exterior surfaces of the rigid tubular walls define an auxiliary fluid storage chamber. The storage tank also includes exterior support structures extending through the closure plates and between the exterior surfaces of the rigid tubular walls on some of the sides of the storage tank to reinforce the storage tank against dynamic loading from fluid in the interior fluid storage chamber.

A bunkering marine vessel has an elongated, multi-deck accommodation structure extending along a portion of the length of one hull side and spaced apart from a centerline extending from bow to stern. Positioned within the vessel hull is at least one LNG pressure vessel filling at least 50% of the hull volume and extending from adjacent a lowermost deck to adjacent the main deck. At least one marine gasoil tank is positioned along an opposing hull side to counter the weight of the accommodation structure, The bow and stern ends of the vessel are substantially the same in shape, and each end includes a marine propulsion system.

Composite tank apparatus and methods of making and using same. An array of flat-sided co-dependent cells with relatively thin skins made of metallic or non-metallic materials. Each cell has at least two flat wall panel portions connected by radiused sections arranged such that all of the flat wall panel portions are either in flush contact with each other or in flush contact with flat supporting panels of an enclosing structure or thermal insulating material lining an interior thereof. The cells are sealed with each other around a perimeter of at least one pair of matching lightening through-wall holes provided in adjacent pairs of the wall panel portions of the cells to resist relative movement and prevent leakage of fluid therefrom. The composite tank apparatus may include an enclosing structure, and optionally, one or more layers of thermally insulating material lining the interior surface or the exterior surface of the enclosing structure.

A reservoir assembly includes one or more pressure vessels each having a non-circular cross-sectional shape including a rounded rectangle having four generally flat sides with rounded corners. The pressure vessels may be formed of extruded metal, such as aluminum, and have a generally constant cross-section. The pressure vessels include stiffening ribs and varying wall thicknesses to improve strength and to minimize stresses when pressurized, such as during operation when filled with compressed gas. The stiffening ribs meet in the center of each of the pressure vessels and divide the interior volumes into four equal sections. A cap of stamped aluminum is fitted and fully welded to enclose each end of the pressure vessels. One or both of the caps on each of the pressure vessels has a pressure fitting. Two or more pressure vessels extend parallel to one another and are attached together to form the reservoir assembly.

A pressure vessel assembly includes a vessel including a wall defining a chamber and a circumferentially continuous lip projecting into the chamber from the wall. The lip defines a through-bore in fluid communication with the chamber. A nozzle assembly including a tube and a flange projecting radially outward from the tube. The tube includes a first portion projecting from the flange and through the through-bore and an opposite second portion projecting outward from the flange. The flange is in contact with the wall and the first portion includes an outer surface having a contour configured to produce sealing friction between the lip and the outer surface.

The invention relates to a sealed tank wall used to form a sealed tank for storing a fluid, the wall comprising: a flat frame (3) including a perimeter (4) and longitudinal stiffening members (5) arranged inside the perimeter (4) in a longitudinal direction such that each longitudinal stiffening member extends from one side of the perimeter (4) to an opposite side of the perimeter (4), the perimeter (4) and the longitudinal stiffening members (5) being designed to form openings in the frame (3), lobed walls fastened to the frame (3) by welding about said openings to close said openings, such as to project into a thickness direction orthogonal to the frame (3) and towards the outside of the tank to be formed.

A large volume natural gas storage tank comprises rigid tubular walls having closed tubular cross-sections that are interconnected at opposing ends with two other rigid tubular walls such that interiors of the rigid tubular walls define an interior fluid storage chamber. The storage tank also includes bulkheads positioned in the interior fluid storage chamber across intermediate segments of the rigid tubular walls and closure plates connected between exterior surfaces of successive interconnected rigid tubular walls to define sides of the storage tank. Interior surfaces of the closure plates and exterior surfaces of the rigid tubular walls define an auxiliary fluid storage chamber. The storage tank also includes exterior support structures extending through the closure plates and between the exterior surfaces of the rigid tubular walls on some of the sides of the storage tank to reinforce the storage tank against dynamic loading from fluid in the interior fluid storage chamber.

A pressure vessel assembly includes a vessel having a wall defining a chamber and a circumferentially continuous lip projecting into the chamber from the wall. The lip defines a through-bore that is in fluid communication with the chamber. A nozzle assembly of the pressure vessel assembly includes a tube projecting at least in-part into the through-bore, and an o-ring disposed between, and in sealing contact with, the tube and the lip.

An exemplary bilobe or multilobe tank for storing liquefied natural gas includes at least two tank sections, each tank section having a curved upper surface and curved bottom surface, the tank sections being joined to each other so that the tank has an undulating upper surface and an undulating lower surface. Each tank section is connected to an adjacent tank section with at least one connecting duct so that a horizontal flow path is formed between the lowermost points of the adjacent tank sections or between the uppermost points of the adjacent tank sections.