Pressure tank

Abstract

A pressure tank includes a liner separated into a cap and a main body. A shell covers the outer surface of the liner. The shell is formed of a fiber reinforced plastic. A heat exchanger is arranged in the liner. A header is connected to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is supported on the liner by fastening the header to the cap or the main body.

1 . A pressure tank comprising: 
 a hollow liner the liner being separable into at least two separate bodies;    a shell for covering the outer surface of the liner, the shell being formed of a fiber reinforced plastic;    a heat exchanger arranged in the liner; and    a header connected to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being supported on the liner by fastening the header to one of the separate bodies, and    wherein one of the separate bodies and the header respectively have engaging portions, and the fastening of the header to one of the separate bodies is performed by engaging the two connecting portions to each other.    
     
     
         2 . A pressure tank comprising: 
 a hollow liner, the liner being separable into at least two separate bodies;    a shell for covering the outer surface of the liner, the shell being formed of a fiber reinforced plastic;    a heat exchanger arranged in the liner; and a header connected to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being supported on the liner by fastening the header to one of the separate bodies, and,    wherein the liner includes a mounting hole, and the header includes a small diameter portion, which is enabled to be inserted in the mounting hole, and a large diameter portion, which is disabled to be inserted in the mounting hole, and the header is fastened to one of the separate bodies when the small diameter portion of the header is inserted in the mounting hole and the large diameter portion is arranged in the liner.    
     
     
         3 . The pressure tank of  claim 2 , wherein the header includes a stepped surface between the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion, the pressure tank further comprising a seal ring pressed against both the stepped surface and the inner surface of the liner when the header is fastened to one of the separate bodies, the seal ring preventing gas from flowing between the exterior of the pressure tank and the interior of the liner.  
     
     
         4 . The pressure tank of  claim 2 , wherein the small diameter portion includes a male thread, and the liner includes a female thread on a surface of the liner that defines the mounting hole, the male thread engaging the female thread when the header is fastened to one of the separate bodies.  
     
     
         5 . The pressure tank of  claim 2 , further comprising a nut having a female thread, and the small diameter portion extending from the interior of the liner to the exterior of the liner through the mounting hole, a male thread formed on a part of the small diameter portion projecting into the exterior of the liner, the nut being attached to the part of the small diameter portion projecting from the mounting hole to engage the female thread of the nut with the male thread of the small diameter portion when the header is fastened to one of the separate bodies.  
     
     
         6 . The pressure tank of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure tank is cylindrical and has a first end and a second end in the axial direction of the pressure tank, and the liner is separated into the two separate bodies at a portion of the liner corresponding to the first end of the pressure tank, and the mounting hole is located in a portion of the liner corresponding to the second end of the pressure tank.  
     
     
         7 . A pressure tank comprising: 
 a hollow liner, the liner being separable into at least two separate bodies;    a shell for covering the outer surface of the liner, the shell being formed of a fiber reinforced plastic; a heat exchanger arranged in the liner; and a header connected to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being supported on the liner by fastening the header to one of the separate bodies,    wherein the liner includes a passage connecting the interior of the liner to the exterior of the pressure tank, and the header includes a flow passage extending through the header, the header being fastened to one of the separate bodies such that the flow passage is connected to the passage, and the heat exchanger includes a heat transfer tube for circulating a heat transfer medium inside the tube, the heat exchanger being connected to the header such that the inside of the heat transfer tube is connected to the flow passage, and, wherein the separate body to which the header is fastened is formed of resin.    
     
     
         8 . The pressure tank of  claim 7 , wherein 
 the at least two separate bodies includes a main body having an opening and a cap for closing the opening, the separate body to which the header is fastened being the cap.    
     
     
         9 . A pressure tank comprising: 
 a hollow liner, the liner being separable into a main body having an opening and a cap for closing the opening,    wherein the cover has a thick portion;    a shell for covering the outer surface of the liner, the shell being formed of a fiber reinforced plastic;    a heat exchanger arranged in the liner, the heat exchanger including a heat transfer tube for circulating a heat transfer medium in the tube, the heat exchanger being supported by the liner by fastening the heat transfer tube to the thick portion of the cap.    
     
     
         10 . The pressure tank of  claim 9 , wherein 
 the pressure tank is cylindrical and has a first end and a second end in the axial direction of the pressure tank, and the heat transfer medium is supplied to the heat transfer tube at the first end of the pressure tank and discharged from the heat transfer tube at the same first end.    
     
     
         11 . The pressure tank of  claim 10 , wherein 
 gas enters and exits at the second end of the pressure tank when gas is charged into the pressure tank and when gas is discharged from the pressure tank.    
     
     
         12 . The pressure tank of  claim 9 , wherein 
 the heat exchanger further includes at least one other heat transfer tube for circulating a heat transfer medium in the tube, the at least one other heat transfer tube is fastened to the thick portion of the cap.