EP-4735788-A1 - HEATING SYSTEM FOR A CRYOGENIC STORAGE VESSEL

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a heating system for use with a cryogenic storage vessel and a cryogenic vessel including a heating system. The heating system has a heating element configured to heat contents contained or held inside the cryogenic storage vessel, an energising element configured to energise the heating element, and a power source configured to provide power to the energising element. The energising element is distant from or located remotely from the heating element and the heating element is configured to be wirelessly energised by the energising element.

Inventors

• GLASSON, Neil David

Assignees

• Fabrum IP Holdings Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240626

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A heating system for use with a cryogenic storage vessel, the heating system comprising: a heating element configured to heat the contents contained or held inside the cryogenic storage vessel; an energising element configured to energise the heating element; and, a power source configured to provide power to the energising element; wherein, the energising element is distant from or located remotely from the heating element and the heating element is configured to be wirelessly energised by the energising element.
2. 2. The heating system of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is spaced apart from an inner wall of the cryogenic storage vessel.
3. 3. The heating system of claim 2, comprising support or suspension member(s) configured to connect the heating element to the inner wall.
4. 4. The heating system of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is a liner provided on an inner wall of the cryogenic storage vessel.
5. 5. The heating system of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is embedded or is integral with an inner wall and/or an enclosed volume provided between the inner wall and an outer wall of the cryogenic storage vessel.
6. 6. The heating system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the energising element is spaced apart from an/the outer wall of the cryogenic storage vessel.
7. 7. The heating system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the energising element is embedded or is integral with an/the outer wall and/or an/the enclosed volume provided between the inner wall and the outer wall of the cryogenic storage vessel.
8. 8. The heating system of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heating element and the energising element are configured to provide at least one of the following heating mechanism: inductive heating; resonance heating; piezoelectric heating; resistance heating; mechanical heating; wireless electrical transmission with Joule heating; microwave heating; and, radiant heating.
9. 9. A cryogenic apparatus comprising: the heating system of any one of claims 1 to 7; and, a cryogenic storage vessel comprising at least one wall defining a containment volume for containing a cryogenic fluid and an external periphery for the cryogenic storage vessel.
10. 10. The cryogenic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one wall comprises: an inner wall defining the containment volume within the inner wall for containing the cryogenic fluid; an outer wall defining the external periphery of the cryogenic storage vessel; the inner wall spaced inwardly from the outer wall; and an enclosed volume between the outer wall and inner wall.
11. 11 . The cryogenic apparatus of claim 9 or 10, wherein the containment volume is configured to entrap at least some cryogenic vapours or gases released by the cryogenic liquid: upon contact of the cryogenic liquid with the at least one wall or the inner wall; and/or, receipt or storage by the at least one wall or the inner wall; and/or, upon heating of the cryogenic liquid by the heating system.
12. 12. The cryogenic apparatus of claim 1 1 , comprising a first port, the first port being a first exit port configured to facilitate dispensing of the cryogenic vapours or gases out of the cryogenic storage vessel at a specific rate.
13. 13. The cryogenic apparatus of any one of claims 9 to 12, comprising at least one second port, the second port comprising one of: a fill port configured to facilitate filling of the containment volume with the cryogenic liquid; and/or, a second exit port configured to facilitate dispensing of the cryogenic liquid out of the cryogenic storage vessel.
14. 14. The cryogenic apparatus of any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the cryogenic storage vessel is made of or comprises a non-electrically conductive material.
15. 15. The cryogenic apparatus of claim 14, wherein the heating system comprises a wireless energy transfer mechanism.
16. 16. The cryogenic apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wireless energy transfer mechanism is configured to implement one of: inductive heating, resonance heating, mechanical heating, resistance, wireless electrical transmission with Joule heating, piezoelectric heating, microwave heating, and radiant heating.
17. 17. The cryogenic apparatus of any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the cryogenic storage vessel is made of or comprises an electrically conductive material.
18. 18. The cryogenic apparatus of claim 17, wherein the heating system comprises a wireless energy transfer mechanism.
19. 19. The cryogenic apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wireless energy transfer mechanism is configured to implement at least radiant heating.
20. 20. The cryogenic apparatus of any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the cryogenic storage vessel is generally made of or generally comprises an electrically conductive material and further comprises features made of or comprising a non-electrically conductive material.

Description

HEATING SYSTEM FOR A CRYOGENIC STORAGE VESSEL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a heating system for a cryogenic storage vessel. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cryogenic systems are used for producing, maintaining and storing cryogenic liquids or cryogens, which are liquified gases, and other substances at very low temperatures. Cryogens are produced by liquefying gases by cooling them until they change state to liquid. Cryogenic systems are now widely spread in a number of different industries as they have proven to be useful in many different processes and for many different applications. Cryogenic systems typically have cryogenic liquid storage systems comprising a storage for the cryogenic liquid. A product of cryogenic systems is boil-off gas, which are vapourised gases from the cryogenic liquid in the storage vessel. Boil-off gas is produced in a cryogenic storage vessel due to natural evaporation of the cryogenic liquid as some heat is inevitably transferred to the cryogenic liquid. Cryogenic storage often requires controlled heat addition for the evaporation and pressurisation of the cryogenic gas at a rate that matches the intended application. Cryogenic gases may be flammable, combustible or oxidising. Accordingly, any ignition source, must be kept out of contact with such cryogenic gases and/or liquids. It will be understood that a heat source may be an ignition source. As a result, it is difficult to provide a heat source for the cryogenic gases and/or liquids that efficiently and safely transfers heat to the cryogenic gases and/or liquids. It is an object of the invention to provide a heating system for a cryogenic storage vessel and/or a method for heating cryogenic liquids in a cryogenic storage vessel which overcomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the abovementioned drawbacks or which at least provides the public with a useful choice. In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art. For the purpose of this specification, where method steps are described in a sequence, the sequence does not necessarily mean that the steps are to be chronologically ordered in that sequence, unless there is no other logical manner of interpreting the sequence. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect, the invention may be said to broadly comprise of a heating system for use with a cryogenic storage vessel, the heating system including: a heating element configured to heat the contents contained or held inside the cryogenic storage vessel; an energising element configured to energise the heating element; and, a power source configured to provide power to the energising element; wherein, the energising element is distant from or located remotely from the heating element and the heating element is configured to be wirelessly energised by the energising element. In some configurations the heating element may be spaced apart from an inner wall of the cryogenic storage vessel. The heating system may comprise support or suspension member(s) configured to connect the heating element to the inner wall. In some configurations the heating element may be a liner provided on an inner wall of the cryogenic storage vessel. In some configurations the heating element may be embedded or may be integral with an inner wall and/or an enclosed volume provided between the inner wall and an outer wall of the cryogenic storage vessel. In some configurations the energising element may be spaced apart from an/the outer wall of the cryogenic storage vessel. In some configurations the energising element may be embedded or may be integral with an/the outer wall and/or an/the enclosed volume provided between the inner wall and the outer wall of the cryogenic storage vessel. In some configurations the heating element and the energising element may be configured to provide at least one of the following heating mechanism: inductive heating; resonance heating; piezoelectric heating; resistance heating; mechanical heating; wireless electrical transmission with Joule heating; microwave heating; and, radiant heating. According to another aspect, the invention may be said to broadly comprise of a cryogenic apparatus including: the heating system as defined hereinabove; and, a cryogenic storage vessel comprising at least one wall defining a containment volume for containing a cryogenic fluid and an external periphery for the cryogenic storage vessel. In some configurations the at least one wall may comprise: an inner wall defining the containment volume within the inner wall for