US-12624789-B2 - Thermally insulated transfer line

Abstract

A thermally insulated transfer line for a deep-cooled fluid. The thermally insulated transfer line includes a process line for conduction of the deep-cooled fluid, an insulation envelope lying radially outside the process line and extending in a longitudinal direction of the process line, and an insulation space between the process line and the insulation envelope. The process line and the insulation envelope, at least in portions along a length in a longitudinal direction of the thermally insulated transfer line, have a U-shape, or a V-shape, or meandering form, or a helical form.

Inventors

• Claudio KOTNIG
• Rainer Puchleitner

Assignees

• MAGNA ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS GESMBH

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230213

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A thermally insulated transfer line for a deep-cooled fluid, the thermally insulated transfer line comprising: a process line for conduction of the deep-cooled fluid; an insulation envelope lying radially outside the process line and extending in a longitudinal direction of the process line; an insulation space between the process line and the insulation envelope; a protective envelope extending radially outside along a length of the insulation envelope; and a damping material arranged between the protective envelope and the insulation envelope, wherein the process line and the insulation envelope, at least in portions along a length in a longitudinal direction of the thermally insulated transfer line, have a U-shape, or a V-shape, or a meandering form, or a helical form.
2. 2 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , wherein: the process line, at least in portions thereof, comprises a corrugated tube, or the insulation envelope, at least in portions thereof, comprises a corrugated tube.
3. 3 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , wherein the process line and the insulation envelope are arranged concentrically to one another.
4. 4 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum arranged in the insulation space.
5. 5 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , further comprising an absorbent material arranged in portions of the insulation space.
6. 6 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , further comprising solid insulation arranged in the insulation space.
7. 7 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , further comprising an inert gas arranged in the insulation space.
8. 8 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , further comprising a thermally reflective layer arranged in the insulation space.
9. 9 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , wherein the protective envelope comprises at least two protective envelope sections that are connected to each other in a manner that enables axially movable relative to one another, the at least two protective envelope sections being radially nested to enable one protective envelope section to slide radially inside or outside another protective envelope section in an overlap portion.
10. 10 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , wherein the process line comprises a helical form extending along its longitudinal length, and an end sleeve extending in a longitudinal direction from the helical form.
11. 11 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , wherein the insulation envelope comprises a helical form extending along its longitudinal length, an end piece extending in a longitudinal direction from the helical form, and a bellows extending in a longitudinal direction from the end piece.
12. 12 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling element arranged at both ends of the thermally insulated transfer line to connect the thermally insulated transfer line to a cryogenic tank.
13. 13 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 12 , wherein the coupling element comprises a union nut which is configured such that the process line is attached to a cryogenic tank process line to establish a fluid-conductive connection between the process line and the cryogenic tank process line.
14. 14 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 12 , wherein: the coupling element comprises an end piece, and the insulation envelope of the transfer line transforms into the end piece.
15. 15 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 14 , wherein the coupling element comprises a connecting sleeve arranged concentrically to and radially on an outside surface of the end piece for connection to the end piece.
16. 16 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 14 , wherein: the coupling element comprises a sliding coupling sleeve arranged concentrically radially on an outside of the end piece, or the connecting sleeve and is axially movable relative to the end piece and/or the connecting sleeve, and a nut is arranged concentrically radially on the outside of the connecting sleeve to push the sliding coupling sleeve axially against a stop of the connecting sleeve and/or axially against a connecting flange of the cryogenic tank.
17. 17 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 14 , wherein the end piece, in an axial portion in which the end piece is surrounded by the connecting sleeve, is at least partially formed by a bellows.
18. 18 . The thermally insulated transfer line of claim 14 , wherein the end piece comprises a vacuum connector to establish a vacuum in the insulation space.
19. 19 . A thermally insulated transfer line for a deep-cooled fluid, the thermally insulated transfer line comprising: a process line for conduction of the deep-cooled fluid, the process line including a helical form extending along its longitudinal length, and an end sleeve extending in a longitudinal direction from the helical form; an insulation envelope lying radially outside the process line and extending in a longitudinal direction of the process line, the insulation envelope including a helical form extending along its longitudinal length, an end piece extending in a longitudinal direction from the helical form, and a bellows extending in a longitudinal direction from the end piece; an insulation space arranged between the process line and the insulation envelope; a protective envelope extending radially outside along a length of the insulation envelope; and a damping material arranged between the protective envelope and the insulation envelope.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority 35 U.S.C. § 119 to European Patent Publication No. EP 22158910.4 (filed on Feb. 22, 2022), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments relate to a thermally insulated transfer line for a deep-cooled fluid, in particular, a transfer line for connection to a cryogenic tank. BACKGROUND Cryogenic tanks for storing deep-cooled fluids, in particular, for storing hydrogen, are well known. Cryogenic tanks may also be used in mobile installations, for example, for transporting fuel in vehicles and aircraft. In order to transfer the stored medium of a cryogenic tank, for example, into another cryogenic tank, transfer lines may be used which may consist of two concentric pipelines with a vacuum between the pipelines. Such transfer lines are normally used for static applications and are not suitable for absorbing dynamic loads. Owing to their rigid construction mode which is a result of the necessity of a superinsulation with a vacuum and, for example, a multi-layer insulation (MLI) between two pipelines, axial and rotary forces acting on the line cannot be readily absorbed. Movements in the longitudinal direction, or flexural movements, can indeed be compensated for by the use of bellows, but bellows have disadvantages such as, for example, a low mechanical load-bearing capability and the fact that said bellows are incapable of absorbing high torsional moments and associated twisting. Therefore, the known solutions are barely suitable for mobile applications of transfer lines. SUMMARY Embodiments are operable to enhance thermally insulated transfer lines of said type in this respect, and in particular, to provide a thermally insulated transfer line which is suitable for mobile applications and is also able in particular, to effectively absorb axial forces and/or torsion moments. Embodiments relate to a thermally insulated transfer line for a deep-cooled fluid, comprising a radially inner process line for conduction of the fluid, a preferably concentric insulation envelope lying radially outside the process line and running in the longitudinal direction of the process line, wherein an insulation space, for example a vacuum space, is formed between the process line and the insulation envelope, wherein the process line and the insulation envelope together, at least in portions along their extent in the longitudinal direction of the transfer line, have a U-shape or a V-shape or a meandering form or a helical form. In accordance with embodiments, a transfer line, more precisely, both the process line directly conducting the fluid and the insulation envelope surrounding the process line, have a U-shape or a V-shape or a meandering form or a helical form along their longitudinal direction. Here, a “U-shape” or “V-shape” means that one, preferably more, at least two, U-shaped or V-shaped protrusions are provided axially one behind the other. The U-shape, V-shape, meandering and helical forms may be more rounded, i.e., as bends, or also more angular, e.g. as corners. Instead of a linear connection between the start and end of the process line and insulation envelope, thus bulges are provided which must then turn back in. Thus a longer line length may be obtained which is formed two-dimensionally, e.g. as a meander or U-shape or V-shape, or three-dimensionally so that adjacent meanders or U-shapes or V-shapes are twisted relative to one another and/or form a helix, in order to be able to better absorb axial forces and/or torsion moments. Thus for example, relative movements between two tanks connected by the transfer line, in particular, torsional and/or axial movements, can be better absorbed in the transfer line. The transfer line is therefore preferably preformed, preferably substantially as a meander or helix, e.g. forms a spring, in particular, a cylinder spring. Preferably, the process line at least in portions is a corrugated tube or corrugated hose, and particularly preferably, the insulation envelope is also at least in portions a corrugated tube or corrugated hose. The insulation envelope may also be concentrically surrounded by further insulation envelopes, which may again each be formed as corrugated tubes or corrugated hoses, so that in each case insulation spaces, e.g. vacuum spaces, are formed between the insulation envelopes. Preferably, the process line and the insulation envelope together, at least substantially over the entire extent in the longitudinal direction of the transfer line, have a U-shape or a V-shape or a meandering form or a helical form, or over at least 40%, preferably at least 60%, particularly preferably at least 80% of their extent in the longitudinal direction of the transfer line. Preferably, the entire transfer line, at least the process line, insulation envelope and insulation space arranged in between, has the U-shape or V-shape or meandering form or helical form ov