Abstract:
Mobile fire-fighting systems and a method of producing breathable fire-suppression compositions are provided for extinguishing fires in buildings, and other human occupied structures, being also effective in suppressing fires under ruins of collapsed buildings. The systems employ a transportable high-pressure container having the breathable composition or nitrogen gas, or a liquid nitrogen container, vaporizer and a mixing chamber, wherein a vaporized nitrogen gas is mixed with an ambient air in order to produce said breathable fire-suppression composition. Refilling stations are provided for refilling the mobile systems with said composition, nitrogen gas or liquid nitrogen, all being generated at site from the ambient air. The method of producing said composition at a fire site employs mixing of nitrogen gas with ambient air or, alternatively, vaporizing of liquid nitrogen in necessary quantities and mixing it with ambient air in provided proportions. A method of delivery of the breathable fire-suppressive composition inside a building on fire is provided as well. The systems are also suitable for installation as a stationary fire-suppression system for a building or other structure. A breathable fire-suppression composition is provided for use in said mobile systems, said composition having an oxygen content below 16% or from 10% to 12% for the majority of civil applications.
Abstract:
A canister assembly includes a canister, a plug enclosure, a vent mechanism, a delivery valve mechanism, and a protective handle. The plug enclosure may be attached to the canister at an opening and forms a pressurized seal of the interior cavity of the canister. The vent mechanism automatically reduces pressure when pressure inside the canister exceeds a preset level. The delivery valve mechanism can be automatically and remotely activated subject to a user's control to provide gaseous flow from the canister. The protective handle is fastened to the canister and includes the handle docking element. A docking assembly includes a canister assembly, a manifold assembly, a docking station, and a docking mechanism. The docking mechanism includes a handle docking element and a port docking element. The manifold assembly includes a manifold and at least one port attached to the manifold. The docking station includes a canister bay, protective housing, and the port docking element.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for producing a displacement gas to be used in displacing a pressurized liquefied gas from one or more containers. A portion of the liquefied gas to be displaced is further pressurized and it is then separated into a first fraction and a second fraction. The first fraction is expanded by a suitable expansion means, and the expanded fraction is passed to a separation means to produce a liquid stream and a gas stream. The second fraction is heated to covert it to a vaporous product stream. A portion of the vaporous product stream is withdrawn, expanded, and passed to the separation means. A gas stream produced by the separation means is expanded, and it is then available for use as a displacement gas for displacing liquefied gas from one or more containers.
Abstract:
An improved cryogenic liquid storage tank features a main tank containing a ullage tank. The top portion of the main tank communicates with the bottom portion of the ullage tank through a pipe segment and an opening in the ullage tank. The pipe segment is dimensioned and positioned so that the main tank fills with incoming cryogenic liquid while the ullage tank remains primarily empty. The restricted flow into the ullage tank causes the flow of cryogen into the main tank to decrease when the main tank is nearly full. This decrease in flow is utilized to terminate the filling of the tank. Removal of product from the main tank decreases the pressure and the liquid level therein so that liquid flows out of the ullage tank and is unable to return.
Abstract:
A pressure vessel for holding a pressurized fluid such as compressed natural gas ("CNG") includes two end cells and zero or more interior cells. The cell geometry ensures that the cells meet one another at tangential circular surfaces, thereby reducing the tendency of adjacent cells to peel apart. A web secured about the cells includes two sheets that are tangent to the cells. Unused volumes between the cells and the web contain wedges of foam or rubber. A valve provides fluid communication between the interior of the pressure vessel and a pressurized fluid line. The filled weight of one pressure vessel does not exceed the filled weight of a conventional gasoline tank that occupies substantially the same space as the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel may be configured with exterior recesses for engaging conventional gasoline tank straps.
Abstract:
A reinforced composite structure (29) is disclosed. The structure is formed by opposed layers of material extending over a core and continuous bundles stitched in a repeating pattern through the opposed layers (30, 32) and the intermediate core (28) to form the reinforced composite structural member (29).
Abstract:
A seamless steel-body cylinder, suitable for storing ultra-high purity gases, has an inert metal lining. The cylinder lining is preferably nickel and completely covers the interior surface of the steel cylinder body, preventing the stored gas from making any contact and reacting with the steel cylinder body. The surface of the inert metal lining is conditioned to be smooth, preferably to 15 R.sub.a or better. The cylinder body is preferably externally threaded to secure end closure devices to the cylinder body. A process for making the cylinder comprises the steps of cutting a seamless steel pipe to form a cylinder body, conditioning the surface of the cylinder body, optionally thermomechanically working the cylinder body ends to altered diameters, descaling the interior surface, electroplating an inert metal layer on the cylinder interior, heat treating, machining threads into the exterior surface at the cylinder ends, machining the inside diameters of the cylinder ends, conditioning the inert metal surface to smoothen it and sealing the cylinder ends with end closure devices which are secured by securing devices to the threads on the exterior of the cylinder body.
Abstract:
A compact storage system for fluids is provided by multitudes of closely spaced parallel planes of adsorptive material (88) that is contained within a substantially impervious barrier layer (2). In normal pressure-containing embodiments, reinforcement (4) is wrapped upon the impervious barrier layer (2) to increase the burst strength of the assembly that results. In higher pressure containing embodiments, material (88) provides reinforcement of barrier layer (2).
Abstract:
A road tanker for carrying two or more separate cryogenic liquids in which the inner tank of the vacuum insulated system is divided by a sheet of material of similar thermal expansion properties to those of the tank. This allows the cryogenic liquids to equilibrate in temperature. Also provided, external or internal to the tank, is a variable inline mixing system so that the appropriate mixture of cryogenic liquids can be dispensed upon delivery.
Abstract:
A gas storage system formed of a continuous pipe wound in plural layers, each layer having plural loops. The pipe may be distributed within a container, which may serve as a carousel for winding the pipe and as a gas containment device. When containers, each containing a continuous pipe are stacked upon each other, the weight of upper containers may be born by the walls of lower containers, thus preventing lower layers of pipe from suffering stresses due to crushing by upper layers. A method of transporting gas to a gas distribution facility including obtaining a supply of gas at a gas supply point remote from the gas distribution facility, injecting the gas into a continuous pipe bent to form plural layers, each layer including plural loops of pipe, transporting the continuous pipe along with the gas to the gas distribution facility preferably in a ship and discharging the gas at the gas distribution facility. It is preferred that cooling of the pipe during discharging of the gas be conserved so that during subsequent filling the pipe is initially cool. Also, in a further aspect of the invention, during filling, the gas pressure should be maintained as constant as possible for example by controlled release of an incompressible liquid from the pipe as the pipe is filled with gas. Energy from the incompressible liquid may then be recovered or dissipated outside of the pipes.