Internally cooled pressure containment system

Abstract

An internally cooled pressure vessel includes a high pressure cylinder having an inner shell, and a shrink-fit, floating liner. The movement of the liner is restrained by the axial friction force between the liner and the shell. The liner is removable and has cooling grooves that can be cleaned and inspected in site. The end load is restrained by a tie rod frame, including tie rods and end flanges that are positioned at both ends of the cylinder. Pressure is introduced through separate top and bottom manifolds. To cool the vessel, water is pumped into the bottom manifold, travels through the cooling grooves, and flows out the top manifold.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pressure vessel comprising: 
 a pressure containment with a top end and a bottom end and side walls, forming a pressure chamber, said top end and said bottom end being open; said containment having a shell and a liner,    a top manifold having a top section, a bottom section, and a side wall, said side wall having a plurality of ports, said bottom section contacting said top end of said shell,    a bottom manifold having a top section, a bottom section, and a side wall, said side wall having a plurality of ports, said top section contacting said bottom end of said shell,    a retainer contacting said bottom end of said liner,    a retainer spring supporting said retainer so as to maintain a space between the liner and said bottom manifold,    a top end flange contacting said top end also contacting said top manifold at top section of said containment, and    a bottom end flange having a recess for mating with said lower manifold at the bottom section of said manifold,    said end flanges having portions defining a plurality of holes, and    a plurality of tie rods with each one of said tie rods residing simultaneously within one of said top flange holes and one of said bottom flange holes.    
     
     
         2 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 1  in which a removable flange is located at the top of said lower manifold of the said pressure chamber of said containment.  
     
     
         3 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 2  in which said removable flange is held in place by at least one removable screw.  
     
     
         4 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 1  in which the said liner is a floating liner held in place by an interference between the larger outside diameter of the said liner and the smaller inside diameter of said shell.  
     
     
         5 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 4  in which spacers are placed longitudinally between said liner and said shell.  
     
     
         6 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 4  in which grooves are formed into the interior surface of said shell.  
     
     
         7 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 4  in which grooves are formed into the exterior surface of said liner.  
     
     
         8 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 7  in which said grooves are aligned in an axial direction.  
     
     
         9 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 7  in which said grooves are aligned in a helical direction.  
     
     
         10 . A pressure vessel comprising: 
 a pressure containment with a top end and a bottom end and side walls, forming a pressure chamber, said top end and said bottom end being open; said containment having an shell and a liner,    a top manifold having a top section, a bottom section, and a side wall, said side wall having a plurality of ports, said bottom section contacting said top end of said shell,    a bottom manifold having a top section, a bottom section, and a side wall, said side wall having a plurality of ports, said top section contacting said bottom end of said shell,    a retainer contacting said bottom end of said liner,    a retainer spring supporting said retainer so as to maintain a space between the liner and said bottom manifold,    a top end flange contacting said top end and having a recess for mating with said top manifold said top end flange defining a plurality of holes,    a bottom end flange substantially annular having a recess for mating with lower manifold said bottom flange defining a plurality of holes    a bottom closure engaging said bottom end flange, and    a plurality of tie rods with each one of said tie rods residing simultaneously within one of said top end flange holes and one of said bottom flange holes, at least one spherical washer at the each end of said each of said tie rods.    
     
     
         11 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 10  in which the said liner is a floating liner held in place by a interference between the larger outside diameter of the said liner and the smaller inside diameter of said shell.  
     
     
         12 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 11  wherein a removable flange is located at the top of said lower manifold of said containment.  
     
     
         13 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 12  in which said removable flange is held in place by at least one removable screw.  
     
     
         14 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 12  wherein said bottom closure is fully threaded.  
     
     
         15 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 12  wherein said bottom closure is interruptedly threaded.  
     
     
         16 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 15  in which spacers are placed longitudinally between said liner and said shell.  
     
     
         17 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 15  in which grooves are formed into the inner surface of said shell.  
     
     
         18 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 15  in which grooves are formed into the exterior surface of said liner.  
     
     
         19 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 18  in which said grooves are aligned in an axial direction.  
     
     
         20 . A pressure vessel according to  claim 18  in which said grooves are aligned in a helical direction.  
     
     
         21 . A method of inspecting and cleaning a pressure vessel said vessel comprising: 
 a pressure containment with a top end and a bottom end and side walls, forming a pressure chamber, said top end and said bottom end being open; said containment having a shell and a liner wherein said liner is a floating liner held in place by a interference between the larger outside diameter of the said liner and the smaller inside diameter of said shell.    wherein grooves are formed into said liner,    a top manifold having a top section, a bottom section, and a side wall, said side wall having a plurality of ports, said bottom section contacting said top end,    a bottom manifold having a top section, a bottom section, and a side wall, said side wall having a plurality of ports, said bottom section contacting said bottom end,    a removable flange located the top of said lower manifold,    a retainer contacting said bottom end of said liner,    a retainer spring supporting said retainer so as to maintain a space between the liner and said bottom manifold,    a top end flange contacting said top end and having a recess for mating with said top manifold at top section of said containment said top end flange defining a plurality of holes,    a bottom end flange substantially annular having a recess for mating said bottom manifold at the bottom end of said containment, said bottom flange defining a plurality of holes    a bottom closure engaging said bottom end flange, and    a plurality of tie rods with each one of said tie rods residing simultaneously within one of said top end flange holes and one of said bottom flange holes, at least one spherical washer at the each end of said each of said tie rods, wherein said method comprises:    removing said bottom closure,    removing said bottom manifold,    removing said removable flange,    inserting an inspection device into said grooves, and    inserting a cleaning device into said grooves.    
     
     
         22 . The method of inspection and cleaning of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 heating said containment,  
 dropping said liner from within said shell and  
 inspecting and cleaning said liner and said containment.