A hydrogen tank assembly is provided for use in vehicles, such as aircraft. The hydrogen tank assembly has an inner tank wall, an outer tank wall, and an inert gas source. The inner tank wall defines a hydrogen tank volume that is surrounded by a shroud volume which is defined by the outer tank wall. The hydrogen tank volume is filled with cryogenic hydrogen and has a higher pressure than the shroud volume that is filled with an inert gas, such as helium. The counter-pressure of the inert gas prevents micro-cracks in the inner tank wall and increases the in-service life.

A storage tank for liquid hydrogen comprises first and second shells each constructed of laminate material, the second shell being disposed outwardly of the first shell with respect to the centre of the storage tank. The first and second shells are mechanically connected by a first plurality of pins each of which passes through at least some layers of the second shell and at least some layers of the first shell. The storage tank may be constructed using a simpler manufacturing process involving less tooling and fewer process steps than is the case for known tanks for storing liquid hydrogen. The storage tank has also has a lower mass and reduced thermal losses compared to tanks of the prior art. The plurality of pins allows for the shells to be thinner, and hence lighter, than similar shells in tanks of the prior art.

A tank suitable for storing a product at a cryogenic temperature, including a fluid tight interior barrier, a fluid tight exterior barrier, surrounding the first interior barrier, an intermediary volume interposed between the interior and exterior barriers and at least one insulating layer positioned in the intermediary volume and including at least one thermal insulation mat, with very low thermal conductivity. The intermediary volume contains microspheres outside of the thermal insulation mats and has an enhanced level of vacuum. This solution makes it possible to maintain satisfactory performance in terms of thermal insulation even in the event of a loss of vacuum in the intermediary volume.

A tank suitable for storing a product at a cryogenic temperature, including a fluid tight interior barrier, a fluid tight exterior barrier, surrounding the first interior barrier, an intermediary volume interposed between the interior and exterior barriers and at least one insulating layer positioned in the intermediary volume and including at least one thermal insulation mat, with very low thermal conductivity. The intermediary volume contains microspheres outside of the thermal insulation mats and has an enhanced level of vacuum. This solution makes it possible to maintain satisfactory performance in terms of thermal insulation even in the event of a loss of vacuum in the intermediary volume.

Method for thermal insulation of an evacuable container comprising an inner container, an outer container and a cavity disposed between the inner container and the outer container, wherein said method comprises a) using a vacuum pump to reduce a pressure in the cavity and after achieving a first value of the pressure interrupting the connection to the vacuum pump, b) subsequently making a connection from a reservoir container of the thermally insulating particulate material to a filling opening provided in the region of the cavity, c) setting the evacuable container into motion, wherein the thermally insulating particulate material flows into the cavity according to a) and the pressure in the cavity increases due to the air introduced with the thermally insulating particulate material, d) terminating the filling at a second value of the pressure by interrupting the connection from the cavity to the reservoir container, e) repeating step a), wherein the output of the vacuum pump with which the cavity is deaerated is controlled such that the profile over time of the mass flow exiting from the cavity of air introduced with the thermally insulating particulate material is at a maximum, f) subsequently repeating steps b)-e) up to the desired degree of filling and g) as the final step sealing the evacuated cavity.

The liquefied gas tank for storage and distribution of liquefied gas is designed so that the outer 1 and inner tank 2 touch only through a fixed joint 5 and a sliding bearing 6 where the space 3 between the outer 1 and the inner tank 2 is filled with a material consisting of hollow microspherical particles of sodium borosilicate and synthetic silicon.

Method for thermal insulation of an evacuable container comprising an inner container, an outer container and a cavity disposed between the inner container and the outer container, wherein said method comprises a) using a vacuum pump to reduce a pressure in the cavity and after achieving a first value of the pressure interrupting the connection to the vacuum pump, b) subsequently making a connection from a reservoir container of the thermally insulating particulate material to a filling opening provided in the region of the cavity, c) setting the evacuable container into motion, wherein the thermally insulating particulate material flows into the cavity according to a) and the pressure in the cavity increases due to the air introduced with the thermally insulating particulate material, d) terminating the filling at a second value of the pressure by interrupting the connection from the cavity to the reservoir container, e) repeating step a), wherein the output of the vacuum pump with which the cavity is deaerated is controlled such that the profile over time of the mass flow exiting from the cavity of air introduced with the thermally insulating particulate material is at a maximum, f) subsequently repeating steps b)-e) up to the desired degree of filling and g) as the final step sealing the evacuated cavity.

A hydrogen tank assembly is provided for use in vehicles, such as aircraft. The hydrogen tank assembly has an inner tank wall, an outer tank wall, and an inert gas source. The inner tank wall defines a hydrogen tank volume that is surrounded by a shroud volume which is defined by the outer tank wall. The hydrogen tank volume is filled with cryogenic hydrogen and has a higher pressure than the shroud volume that is filled with an inert gas, such as helium. The counter-pressure of the inert gas prevents micro-cracks in the inner tank wall and increases the in-service life.

A storage container for cryogenic liquids comprising an inner container which encloses a volume for receiving a fluid medium, an outer container which encloses a volume in which the inner container is arranged, with the result that an interspace is formed between the inner container and the outer container, and wherein the outer container has at least one outerfoot by means of which the storage container can be supported on an underlying surface, wherein the at least one outerfoot takes the form of a hollow body, and wherein the inner container has at least one inner foot for supporting the inner container that projects into the interior of the at least one outer foot.

A connection having at least one double-walled pipe of stainless steel connected to an LNG tank is disclosed, the LNG tank having an inner shell of stainless steel and an outer shell spaced at a distance from the inner shell, the inner and outer shells defining an isolation space therebetween. The at least one double-walled pipe includes a common outer wall and at least one inner pipe. The outer wall of the pipe is connected to the inner shell of the tank in such a way that the outer wall and/or a pipe fitting of cold resistant material between the inner shell and the outer wall is arranged to compensate for changes in the length of the outer wall of the pipe and/or of the pipe fitting due to temperature differences between the outer wall of the pipe and the inner shell of the tank.