Pressure vessel for storing cryogen fuel

摘要

A double skinned thermally insulating fuel tank for cryogenic fuel is assembled from two sets of half shells, but inner and outer, joined in a vertical or near vertical plane (2) and with matching concave profiles in both inner and outer skins to maintain an insulating spacing. Flexible tapes are strung across the inner concave profiles and around the outside of the tank to form simple spacers with a low thermal conduction. The tape spacers replace conventional fixed spacers and do not require any significant welded connections to the shells. The space between the skins is evacuated and/or filled with a thermally insulating material.