TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to pressure vessels and methods of manufacturing pressure vessels.

BACKGROUND

Pressure vessels are containers configured to hold gases or liquids at a pressure different from the ambient pressure. Pressure vessels can have different shapes and usually include sections of spheres, cylinders, and cones. For example, a pressure vessel may have a spherical shape, a cylindrical shape with hemispherical or dished end caps, a rectangular shape with rounded ends, and so forth.

Conventional vessels for storing liquids or gases under pressure have a sealed outer wall with a valve and an inner supporting structure of the outer wall. Other conventional pressure vessels have a support connection created by a central supporting element inside the outer wall. However, constructing the supporting structures inside the pressure vessels is time-consuming and otherwise complicates the vessel manufacturing process. Additionally, the supporting structures require additional material and occupy space inside the pressure vessels, thereby reducing the space inside the pressure vessels that would otherwise be available for accommodating gases or liquids.

SUMMARY

This section is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description section. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, a pressure vessel is provided. The pressure vessel may include a spherical portion and a conical portion connected to the spherical portion. The conical portion may extend from the spherical portion and have an opening for pumping in and pumping out a pressurized gaseous substance. The pressurized gaseous substance may include one of the following: oxygen gas, helium gas, and nitrogen gas. An angle between a generatrix of the conical portion and a symmetry axis of the conical portion may be between 10 degrees and 50 degrees.

The spherical portion and the conical portion can be made in a single technological cycle. For example, the spherical portion and the conical portion can be made from a powdery substance by an additive manufacturing. The powdery substance may include a nickel-based metal powder for the additive manufacturing.

The spherical portion may have a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion. The first portion may include a lower hemisphere of the spherical portion. The second portion may include an upper truncated hemisphere of the spherical portion.

The thickness δ1of a wall of the first portion of the spherical portion may be constant and may be determined based on a predetermined operating pressure P, a radius R1of the spherical portion, and an allowable stress [σ] of a material of the spherical portion. For example, the thickness δ1of the wall of the first portion of the spherical portion may be determined by a formula

δ1=P⁢R12⁢[σ].

The thickness δ1,2of a wall of the second portion of the spherical portion may change linearly from the thickness δ1to a thickness δ2. The thickness δ2can be determined based on the predetermined operating pressure P, a radius R2of a base of the conical portion, the allowable stress [σ], and an angle α between a generatrix of the conical portion and a symmetry axis of the conical portion. For example, the thickness δ2of the wall of the second portion of the conical portion can be determined by a formula

δ2=3⁢P⁢R22⁢[σ]⁢⁢cos⁢⁢α.

The thickness δ2,3of a wall of the conical portion may change linearly from the thickness δ2to a thickness δ3. The thickness δ3may be determined based on the predetermined operating pressure P, a radius R3of the opening of the conical portion, the allowable stress [σ], and the angle α between the generatrix of the conical portion and the symmetry axis of the conical portion. For example, the thickness δ3of the wall of the conical portion may be determined by a formula

δ3=3⁢P⁢R32⁡[σ]⁢⁢cos⁢⁢α.

Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the examples will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

