Thermally coupled liquid oxygen and liquid methane storage vessel
US7568352B2 · kind B2 · utility
9Cited by
11References
19Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 22, 2006 |
| Grant date | Aug 4, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF17C2270/0194
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A cryogenic propellant storage tank system and method are disclosed that thermally couple LO2 and LCH4 tanks together by using either a single tank compartmentalized by a common tank wall or two separate tanks that are coupled together with one or more thermal couplers having high thermal conductivity. Cryogenic cooling equipment may be located only in the LO2 tank while the LCH4 is cooled by the LO2 tank interface. Embodiments of the invention may employ both LO2 and LCH4 liquid acquisition devices (LADs) for low-gravity use. In further embodiments, only the LO2 LADs may be integrated with thermal cooling equipment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.