Insulated vessel for storing cold fluids and insulation method

Abstract

An insulated vessel for storing cryogenic liquids and other cold fluids features an inner tank and an outer jacket with spherical aerogel particles positioned in the insulation space formed there between. The insulation material is installed by fluidizing the spherical aerogel particles with dry gaseous nitrogen and subjecting them to a slight positive pressure. A vacuum is simultaneously pulled on the insulation space of the vessel through a filter by a vacuum pump so that the spherical aerogel particles are transferred into the insulation space. The insulation space is then evacuated by the vacuum pump.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An insulated vessel for storing a cold fluid comprising: 
 a. an inner tank adapted to contain the fluid;    b. an outer jacket surrounding the inner tank so that an insulation space is formed there between; and    c. insulation disposed within the insulation space, said insulation including a plurality of spherical aerogel particles.    
     
     
         2 . The insulated vessel of  claim 1  wherein the insulation space is evacuated to a pressure below atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         3 . The insulated vessel of  claim 2  wherein the insulated space is a vacuum.  
     
     
         4 . The insulated vessel of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of spherical aerogel particles are generally uniform in diameter.  
     
     
         5 . The insulated vessel of  claim 1  wherein diameters of said plurality of spherical aerogel particles are larger than 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         6 . The insulated vessel of  claim 1  wherein diameters of said plurality of spherical aerogel particles range from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The vessel of  claim 1  further comprising an evacuation port formed in the outer jacket and in communication with the insulation space.  
     
     
         8 . The vessel of  claim 1  further comprising an insulation fill port formed in the outer jacket and in communication with the insulation space.  
     
     
         9 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the inner tank is supported within the outer jacket by non-conductive supports.  
     
     
         10 . A method for insulating a vessel having an inner tank, an outer jacket and an insulation space formed there between comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a supply of spherical aerogel particles;    b. fluidizing the spherical aerogel particles; and    c. evacuating gas from the insulation space of the vessel so that the spherical aerogel particles are transferred thereto.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of evacuating the insulation space after it is filled with the spherical aerogel particles.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of pressurizing the supply of spherical aerogel particles.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of providing a supply of pressurized nitrogen gas and using the pressurized nitrogen gas to pressurize the supply of spherical aerogel particles.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of providing a supply of nitrogen gas and using the nitrogen gas in step b to fluidize the spherical aerogel particles.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of pre-processing the spherical aerogel particles by evacuating them in a storage container prior to step b.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein diameters of said supply of spherical aerogel particles are larger than 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein diameters of said supply of spherical aerogel particles range from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.  
     
     
         18 . A system for installing insulation in a vessel for storing cold fluids where the vessel includes an inner tank, an outer jacket with an evacuation port and an insulation fill port formed therein and an insulation space disposed between the inner tank and the outer jacket comprising: 
 a. a storage silo containing a supply of spherical aerogel particles and adapted to communicate with the insulation fill port of said vessel;    b. a tank containing a supply of a pressurized gas, said tank in communication with said silo so that said spherical aerogel particles are fluidized and said storage silo is pressurized;    c. a filter adapted to be positioned between the evacuation port and the insulation space of the vessel; and    d. a vacuum pump adapted to communicate with the evacuation port of the vessel and evacuate gas from the insulation space of the vessel through said filter so that the spherical aerogel particles are transferred into the insulation space.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the pressurized gas is nitrogen.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the filter is a sintered metal filter.