A modular subsea fluid storage unit comprises a variable-volume inner tank having a rigid top panel and a peripheral wall that is flexible by virtue of concertina formations. The peripheral wall is extensible and retractable vertically while the horizontal width of the tank remains substantially unchanged. A side wall of a lower housing part surrounds and is spaced horizontally from the peripheral wall of the inner tank to define a floodable gap between the peripheral wall and the side wall that surrounds the tank. An upper housing part extends over and is vertically spaced from the top panel of the inner tank and overlaps the side wall to enclose the inner tank. The floodable gap and the upper housing part enhance thermal insulation and trap any fluids that may leak from the inner tank.

A pressure vessel and a method of manufacturing the pressure vessel is provided that reduces leaks in type IV pressure vessels having a liner with a corrugated section. The method includes providing a liner having a tubular portion having a corrugated section with circumferential corrugations providing alternating ridges and grooves arranged from one end to an opposing end of the corrugated section, applying a barrier to an outer surface of the corrugated section from one end to an opposing end of the corrugated section such that air voids are formed in annular cavities between the liner and the barrier; and applying resin to an outer surface of the barrier. The barrier prevents intrusion of the resin between the barrier and the liner in the corrugated section.

A pressure vessel disclosed herein comprises a chamber. The pressure vessel also comprises a passageway extending from an exterior wall of the pressure vessel to the chamber. A one-way valve is disposed in the passageway. The one-way valve is normally closed and is in fluid communication with the chamber. A plug is disposed within the passageway and is accessible from outside of the pressure vessel.

A modular subsea fluid storage unit has a variable-volume inner tank having a rigid top panel and a peripheral wall that is flexible by virtue of concertina formation. The peripheral wall is extensible and retractable vertically while the horizontal width of the tank remains substantially unchanged. A side wall of a lower housing part surrounds and is spaced horizontally from the peripheral wall of the inner tank to define a floodable gap between the peripheral wall and the side wall that surrounds the tank. An upper housing part extends over and is vertically spaced from the top panel of the inner tank and overlaps the side wall to enclose the inner tank. The floodable gap and the upper housing part enhance thermal insulation and trap any fluids that may leak from the inner tank.

A set of fittings for a fuel tank including an elongated stem and a ferrule. The stem includes an elongated coupling body at one end configured to couple within a cavity defined by an end of a fuel tank liner. The ferrule includes a ferrule body having a first ferrule end and a second ferrule end; a lip defining a coupling orifice at the first ferrule end with the stem being operable to extend though the coupling orifice and engaging the lip, and a ferrule cavity defined by the ferrule body that extends between the first and second ferrule ends and opening to the coupling orifice at the first ferrule end and a ferrule opening at the second ferrule end, the ferrule cavity configured to surround the end of the fuel tank liner.

A Venturi filling system having a first filling coupler configured to be coupled to a first set of fittings disposed at a first tank end of a tank; a second filling coupler configured to be coupled to a second set of fittings disposed at a second tank end of the tank; and a Venturi assembly that includes: a Venturi mixing chamber, the Venturi mixing chamber communicating with the first filling coupler; a Venturi nozzle configured to introduce a first flow of fluid from a fluid source to the Venturi mixing chamber of the Venturi assembly; and an suction inlet communicating with the second filling coupler and coupled with the Venturi chamber and configured to receive a second flow of fluid originates from the second filling coupler such that the second flow of fluid flows into the Venturi chamber and mixes with the first fluid flow within the Venturi mixing chamber.

A vessel for storing fluid, the vessel including a liner having a liner body that defines: a liner cavity; a plurality of flexible connector portions that include a corrugated length that provides for flexibility of the respective connector portions, the connector portions having a first maximum diameter; a plurality of elongated tubing portions between the respective flexible connector portions, the elongated tubing portions having a second minimum diameter that is larger than the first maximum diameter of the flexible connector portions; and a plurality of taper portions coupling adjoining flexible connector portions and tubing portions configured to provide a transition between a smaller diameter of the connector portion and a larger diameter of the tubing portion.

A system is provided. The system includes one or more of a first bellows assembly, which includes a first bellows block, a second bellows block, a first pumping bellow, and first and second seals. The first bellows assembly includes a master fluid inlet port configured to receive a fluid and route the fluid to a first coupling. The second bellows block includes a master fluid outlet port and configured to route the fluid in a pressurized state from a second coupling to the master fluid outlet port. The first pumping bellow includes first and second bellow ports, the first pumping bellow oriented between the first and second couplings and coupled to a pump configured to pressurize the fluid. The first seal is disposed between the first coupling and the first bellow port and the second seal is disposed between the second coupling and the second bellow port.

A pressure vessel disclosed herein comprises a chamber. The pressure vessel also comprises a passageway extending from an exterior wall of the pressure vessel to the chamber. A one-way valve is disposed in the passageway. The one-way valve is normally closed and is in fluid communication with the chamber. A plug is disposed within the passageway and is accessible from outside of the pressure vessel.

A device for transferring liquid helium into a usage helium tank of a usage cryostat includes a reservoir cryostat with a vacuum-insulated reservoir helium tank configured to store liquid helium available for filling the usage helium tank, a supply line for liquid helium, and a gaseous helium return line. The supply line proceeds from the vacuum-insulated reservoir helium tank and is connected to the usage helium tank. The gaseous helium return line leads into the vacuum-insulated reservoir helium tank and is connected to the usage helium tank. The device further includes a conveying device configured to convey liquid helium from the vacuum-insulated reservoir helium tank through the supply line into the usage helium tank and further configured to convey gaseous helium from the usage helium tank through the return line into the vacuum-insulated reservoir helium tank.