Method for fixing an item of equipment to a wall and corresponding tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for fixing an item of equipment to the inner surface of a wall of a cryogenic fluid line or a tank and in particular a tank intended to contain liquid oxygen, the method being characterized in that a layer of porous material is interposed between the wall and the item of equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid oxygen tank comprising a fluid storage volume delimited by a wall and a device fixed to the surface of said wall forming the internal tank surface, the device comprising at least one out of:
 a piping element;   a deflecting wall;   a measuring appliance selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a level sensor, and a pressure sensor; and   a structural element chosen from a support or a reinforcement, wherein the device is fixed to the wall indirectly via a layer of porous material interposed between the wall and the device, the layer of porous material comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, filament polytetrafluoroethylene, and sintered polytetrafluoroethylene, the layer of porous material being fixed to the wall by bonding by an inorganic resin, the device being fixed to the layer of porous material by bonding by means of the inorganic resin.   
     
     
         2 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of porous material is flexible. 
     
     
         3 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of porous material has a thickness of preferably between 2 and 20 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the device is secured and mechanically attached to the wall only via the intermediate layer of porous material. 
     
     
         5 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the device is fixed to the wall via the intermediate layer of porous material. 
     
     
         6 . The tank of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic resin is an aqueous solution of sodium silicate and/or an aqueous solution of potassium silicate. 
     
     
         7 . A space launcher including the liquid oxygen tank of  claim 1 .