Shipping container and method of use

Abstract

A shipping container for transportation of metal hydrides includes a sealable certified outer pressure vessel comprising: a pressure resistant shell capable of sustaining a pressure from within of at least 5000 psig. The shipping container has one or more chambers within a pressure resistant shell defining one or more chambers. One or more uncertified devices or dangerous goods can be inserted in to the chambers through a closable access lid. The shipping container can include a pressure relief device installed through the pressure resistant shell for providing emergency pressure relief. The shipping container is in accordance with the relevant governing authorities for shipment of Dangerous Goods classified under UN 3468, according to the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations.

1 . A shipping container comprising: 
 a. a shell with at least one chamber to contain an object;    b. at least one closable access port secured to the shell providing access into the chamber; and    wherein the shipping container is adapted to contain a worst case failure of the object in the pressure resistant shell.    
   
   
       2 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is a pressure resistant shell.  
   
   
       3 . The shipping container of  claim 2 , further comprising a pressure relief device installed through the pressure resistant shell.  
   
   
       4 . The shipping container of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure relief device is selected from the group comprising: fusible trigger, fusible plugs, rupture disks, diaphragms, or re-sealable type pressure relief devices such as spring-loaded pressure relief valves, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a substance with is either classified as a dangerous good according to United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations, or would be classified as a dangerous good if tested according to United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria.  
   
   
       6 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises: a device, an uncertified device, an uncertified device containing a substance classified as a dangerous good, a substance classified as a dangerous good, a device comprising a dangerous good, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises: a sealable container containing a dangerous good in the container; a laboratory sample container containing a measured amount of a dangerous good, a component of an electrical device using a dangerous good as a fuel; a component of a fuel cell with a fuel plenum containing a dangerous good; a component of a fuel cell with a dangerous good in communication with the fuel plenum; a component of a compact chemical reactor with a plenum containing a dangerous good; a portion of a fuel plenum for a fuel cell containing a dangerous good; a portion of a fuel plenum for a fuel cell layer containing a dangerous good; or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the object contains a substance selected from the group comprising: methanol, ethanol, formic acid, compressed hydrogen gas, liquid hydrogen, hydrogen in a metal hydride storage system, hydrogen occluded in a hydrogen storage material, chemical hydrides, borohydride compounds, butane, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one chamber is maintained in an inert environment during use.  
   
   
       10 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one frame disposed within the chamber for removably holding at least one object securely within the chamber.  
   
   
       11 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of closable access ports each in communication with a chamber within the shell.  
   
   
       12 . The shipping container of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure resistant shell is capable of sustaining a pressure from within of at least 1800 psig.  
   
   
       13 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the closable access port is closed using a lid clamped to the shell, threadably attached to the shell, or bolted to the shell, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping container is transportable by rail, road, air, or sea or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , further comprising an identification number disposed on the shipping container.  
   
   
       16 . A shipping container comprising: 
 a. a sealable outer pressure vessel comprising: 
 i. a pressure resistant shell;  
 ii. at least one chamber within the pressure resistant shell to contain at least one object;  
 iii. at least one closable access port that provides access to the chamber for inserting the uncertified object into the chamber; and  
 iv. a pressure relief device installed through the pressure resistant shell operable to provide emergency pressure relief when temperature or pressure inside the chamber exceed preset limits,  
 wherein the shipping container is adapted to contain a worst case failure of the object in the pressure resistant shell.  
   
   
   
       17 . A shipping container for transportation of metal hydrides comprising: 
 a. a sealable certified outer pressure vessel comprising: 
 i. a pressure resistant shell capable of sustaining a pressure from within of at least 1800 psig;  
 ii. at least one chamber within the pressure resistant shell comprising at least some metal hydride;  
 iii. at least one closable access port secured to the chamber through which the at least one uncertified device with at least some metal hydride is inserted; and  
 iv. a pressure relief device installed through the pressure resistant shell for providing emergency pressure relief when temperatures, pressures or both temperatures and pressures inside the chamber exceed preset limits;  
 wherein the shipping container is adapted to contain a worst case failure of the device in the pressure resistant shell.  
   
   
   
       18 . The shipping container of  claim 17 , further comprising an identification number on the sealable certified outer pressure vessel.  
   
   
       19 . A method for transporting substances classified as dangerous goods using a pressure vessel comprising: 
 a. acquiring a pressure vessel approved by the relevant governing body to use as a shipping container;    b. inserting at least one object comprising a substance classified as a dangerous good into the pressure vessel;    c. closing the pressure vessel with at least one object inside;    d. delivering the pressure vessel to a common carrier for transport.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the substance classified as a dangerous good is hydrogen in a metal hydride storage system