| 摘要 |
<p>A container and a method for storage and/or transport of a compressed flu id such as compressed natural gas are provided. The container has a pair of opposing heads and a wall section between the heads, the wall section defini ng a square cross-section comprising substantially planar sides joined toget her by rounded corners. The container is designed for the side walls to defl ect outwardly while under pressure, but to be supported externally by a supp ort system that restricts outward expansion of the side walls. The support s ystem can be provided as the walls of a cargo hold in a marine or land trans port vessel, an ISO shipping container or an underground shaft. Multiple con tainers can be located side by side in the external support system so that t he sides of adjacent containers rest against each other for support while un der pressure. In one embodiment, a container comprises an outside tank and a flexible membrane tank inside the outside tank, an annular space being defi ned in between, where a first fluid is charged into the membrane tank and a second fluid is charged into the annular space in order to discharge the fir st fluid. In another embodiment, a long tube having a square cross-section i s coiled in a support structure and made gas-tight for holding a compressed fluid. The walls of the tube would tend to expand while under pressure, but adjacent coils and the support structure limit the expansion.</p> |
