Patent Application
20110211916
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to storage vessel deployment and, more particularly, to an apparatus for deploying a storage vessel.
Renewable energy (RE) sources offer an alternative to conventional power sources in an age of dwindling non-renewable energy sources and high carbon emissions. However, RE sources are often not fully exploited because many forms of renewable energy are not available when the peak electricity demand is present. For instance, RE sources may be most available during undesirable off-peak hours, or may be located in areas that are remote from population centers or locations where power is most needed, having to share the grid during peak hours along with all the other peak power sources.
RE sources may include hydro power, geothermal, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), as examples. Hydro power, for instance, when combined with a reservoir is one RE source that can be throttled up and down to match or load-follow the varying power loads. Geothermal and OTEC are also good baseload RE resources; however, locations viable for their use tend to be limited. It is to be understood that an ocean thermal energy converter, while traditionally utilized across the thermocline of an ocean, can additionally apply to fresh bodies of water that have a temperature difference between surface water and deep water. RE sources may also include solar, wind, wave, and tidal, as examples. However these sources tend to be intermittent in their ability to provide power. Energy storage is thus desired for those sources to substantially contribute to the grid energy supply.
For instance, wind energy may be cost effective per kWh but often may not produce energy during peak demand. Wind energy is intermittent, varying uncontrollably with the wind speed, limiting its adoption as a primary power source for the grid. This problem can get worse as more intermittent RE sources of all kinds are added to the grid—as long as cost-effective storage is unavailable. Above 20% renewable energy fraction, electrical power grids often lose stability without energy storage to modulate energy supply and demand.
Cost-effective storage for the electrical grid has been sought from the beginning of electrical service delivery but is not yet available. The variation in power demand throughout a day, and season to season, requires generation assets that sit idle much of the time, which can increase capital, operations, and maintenance costs for assets used at less than full capacity. Also some generation assets are difficult to throttle or shut down and are difficult to return to full power in short periods of time. Energy storage can provide a buffer to better match power demand and supply allowing power sources to operate at higher capacity and thus higher efficiency.
Cost parameters of several leading storage technologies may be considered for large-scale energy systems and each technology has its own cost drivers. Pumped hydroelectric storage, for example, has been used for many decades and is often considered the standard by which other grid energy storage ideas are judged. It is efficient from an energy capacity standpoint, consumes no fuel upon harvesting the stored energy, but can only be deployed in limited locations and has high capital cost per unit power. Two nearby reservoirs with a substantial elevation change between then are typically required.
Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is an attractive energy storage technology that overcomes many drawbacks of known energy storage technologies. A conventional approach for CAES is to use a customized gas turbine power plant to drive a compressor and to store the compressed air underground in a cavern or aquifer. The energy is harvested by injecting the compressed air into the turbine system downstream of the compressor where it is mixed with, or heated by, natural gas-fired combustion air and expanded through the turbine. The system operates at high pressure to take advantage of the modest volume of the cavern or aquifer. The result is a system that operates with constant volume and variable pressure during the storage and retrieval process, which results in extra costs for the compressor and turbine system because of the need to operate over such a wide range of pressures. Underground CAES suffers from geographic constraints. Caverns may not be located near power sources, points of load or grid transmission lines. In contrast, a large majority of the electrical load in the industrialized world lies within reach of water deep enough for underwater CAES to be practical. Underwater CAES removes many of the geographic constraints experienced by underground CAES.
Also, an important factor for efficient compression and expansion of a fluid is dealing with the heat generated during compression and the heat required during expansion. Conventional CAES reheats air with natural gas (often by absorbing heat from the gas turbine exhaust) and gives up the heat of compression to the ambient environment. Such systems can include a thermal storage device to enable adiabatic operation. Such systems also often have separate equipment for compression and expansion phases, and therefore have a greater capital expense, as well as higher operating cost and complexity due to the use of natural gas. The result is that the power plant, when utilizing purchased off-peak power to charge the air reservoir can generate power during periods of peak demand, but with additional equipment and higher fuel costs.
Therefore, it would be desirable to design an apparatus capable of deploying a storage vessel for use in systems such as compressed air or compressed fluid systems in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a plow for deployment of a flexible vessel includes a body having an outer wall and an inner wall extending along a bore passing through the body. The body also has an intermediate wall extending between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein a vessel cavity is formed between the inner and outer walls that is configured to receive the flexible vessel in a pre-deployment configuration.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing a vessel deployment apparatus includes forming a first wall member to surround a bore volume and coupling a second wall member about the first wall member such that a vessel volume is formed between the first and second wall member portions that is capable of receiving a flexible vessel therein for deployment thereof. The method also includes coupling a third wall member to the first and second wall members.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a vessel deployment apparatus having a bore extending therethrough includes a first wall member portion positioned at least about a section of the bore and includes a second wall member portion positioned about the first wall, wherein a volume between the first and second wall member portions is capable of receiving a flexible vessel therein for deployment of the flexible vessel. A third wall member portion is coupled between to the first and second wall member portions.
Various other features and advantages will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings.
The drawings illustrate embodiments presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.
In the drawings:
Embodiments of the invention include a deployment apparatus for installation of storage vessels on land or on a floor of a body of water. Such bodies of water may include, for example, an ocean, sea, lake, reservoir, gulf, harbor, inlet, river, or any other manmade or natural body of water. As used herein, “sea” refers to any such body of water, and “sea floor” refers to the floor thereof “Sediment” (e.g., “sea floor sediment”), as used herein, refers to marine material from the bottom or sea floor of the sea and may include, by way of example, gravel, sand, silt, clay, mud, organic or other material settled onto the floor of the sea. Embodiments of the invention include apparatus useful for deploying storage vessels within a ballast material such as a sea floor or land.
A towing apparatus 22 is coupled to plow 2 to allow a towing force to be transferred thereto. In one embodiment, towing apparatus 22 may include a plurality of tow members, such as members 24, 26, and 28, joined together at a tow point 30. Members 24-28 may be, for example, chains, wires, solid metal bars, or other structural element with sufficient cross section to carry requisite tensile loads or in some instances compressive loads. Tow point 30 may be coupled to a tow cable or line (not shown) for towing plow 2 through land or through a sea floor. A device 32 such as a turnbuckle or linear actuator may be coupled to one or each of members 24-28 to direct the vertical or horizontal steering of plow 2. For example, when coupled to member 24, device 32 may be manipulated to change a length of member 24 between tow point 30 and plow 2, which may be used to vary a pitch or vertical steering of plow 2 so that the depth of plow 2 may be increased or decreased. In another example, when coupled to member 26 or member 28, device 32 may be manipulated to change a length thereof between tow point 30 and plow 2, which may be used to vary a yaw or horizontal steering of plow 2.
It is contemplated that inner wall 4, outer wall 8, and intermediate wall 14 may be constructed of a rigid material such as metal and/or plastic. Using materials with a low coefficient of friction helps plow 2 to move more easily through ballast material such as land or sea floor sediment. To help reduce friction caused by moving plow 2 through ballast material, plow 2 may include a fluid injection system 34 for injecting a fluid in between the ballast material and the inner wall 4, outer wall 8, or intermediate wall 14. Fluid injection system 34 includes an inlet port 36 (shown coupled to outer wall 8) coupled to a plurality of outlet ports 38 via one or more conduits 40. It is contemplated that each outlet port 38 may be coupled to a respective conduit 40 or that all outlet ports 38 may be coupled to a single conduit. Stronger fluid injection may be used on the leading edge of the plow to cut through the sediments as the system is deployed.
Inner wall 58 and outer wall 62 include elongated portions 66, 68 forming a kerf shovel 70. An intermediate wall 72 extends between elongated portions 66, 68 to form a passageway 74 for material to flow as plow 56 is translated therethrough. In one embodiment, the depth of passageway 74 from a leading edge 76 of elongated portions 66, 68 increases as passageway 74 extends away from a central portion 78 thereof. That is, a first depth 80 may exist at the central portion 78, and a second depth 82, greater than first depth 80, may exist at an exit 84 of passageway 74. Passageway 74 allows for displacing a portion of the kerf material on the surface of the material through which plow 56 is translated. Depositing the kerf material on the surface in this manner allows for displacing the material while reducing the need to compress such material within the kerf or within the storage vessel. According to an embodiment of the invention, the distance between inner wall 58 and outer wall 62 at central portion 78 may also be smaller than the distance between inner wall 58 and outer wall 62 at exit 84.
Also shown in
A towing apparatus 110 is coupled to plow 90 to allow a towing force to be transferred thereto. In one embodiment, towing apparatus 110 may include a plurality of tow members, such as a solid bar 112 and chains 114, 116, joined together at a tow point 118. Tow point 118 may be coupled to a tow cable or line (not shown) for towing plow 90 through land or through a sea floor. Tow apparatus 110 may include length manipulation devices such as devices 32 illustrated in
To help reduce friction caused by moving plow 90 through ballast material, plow 90 may include a fluid injection system 120 for injecting a fluid into the ballast material as it slides along inner wall 92, outer wall 96, or intermediate wall 102. Fluid injection system 120 includes an inlet port 122 (shown coupled to outer wall 96) coupled to a plurality of outlet ports 124 via one or more conduits 126. It is contemplated that each outlet port 124 may be coupled to a respective conduit 126 or that all outlet ports 124 may be coupled to a single conduit.
A roller assembly 142 positioned within vessel cavity 98 is designed to engage torus 136 and provide stiffness to the storage vessel packaged as a torus. Roller assembly 142 includes a first assembly of wheels or rollers 144 rolled together with storage vessel 128 such that first assembly 144 is positioned within torus 136. A second assembly of wheels or rollers 146 is coupled to plow 90 and engages the inward-rolled torus 136 on a first side 148 thereof. A retainer or tension assembly 150 has one or more rollers 152, 154 that engage torus 136 on a second side 156 thereof and acts to ensure engagement of second assembly 146 with torus 136. In one embodiment, tension assembly 150 applies tension via a spring force. As storage vessel 128 is deployed, the size of torus 136 diminishes due to an unwinding of torus 136. Unwinding torus 136 in this manner allows for a reduction of that number of wrinkles and other folds that appear in the deployed vessel.
Annular dredge 162 includes a towing apparatus 172 for pulling or towing annular dredge 162 through the sea floor. Towing apparatus 172 includes a plurality of wires or solid metal bars coupled to the body 174 of annular dredge 162. A turnbuckle 176 allows for pitch compensation. In addition, one or more depth controlling devices 178 such as a pair of fins on opposite sides of body 174 may be used to maintain the depth level of annular dredge 162.
As annular dredge 162 is towed forward, a biasing apparatus (cattle guard) 180 having teeth or guard pieces causes annular dredge 162 to dig into the ground or sea floor. As dirt, silt, or other materials pass through annular dredge 162, storage vessel 158 is filled with the dirt or sediment including silt and other materials, and the toroid section 160 unrolls as the head end 166 of storage vessel 158 stays in place. In one embodiment, the depth of annular dredge 162 is set such that storage vessel 158 is filled half way with dirt or sediment. However, the level of vessel filling can be adjusted based on design requirements. Deployment of storage vessel 158 ends when the vessel material making up toroid section 160 finishes at its tail end. During deployment, a section of storage vessel 158 leading up to and including the tail end may be inserted deeper into the dirt or sediment than the rest of storage vessel 158 to introduce a localized slope in the last part of the air vessel 158.
Depth controlling devices 178, which may resemble that shown in
It is contemplated that elements or portions of the embodiments described herein may be interchanged with one another. For example, any of the embodiments may include a vessel cavity capable of receiving one or all of the accordion-style, the inner-rolled torus, or the outer-rolled torus pre-deployment configurations. Likewise, any of the embodiments may incorporate one of the intermediate wall configurations detailed herein.
In addition, it is contemplated that the shape of the bore extending through the deployment apparatus embodiments described above may be other than that illustrated in the figures. That is, a cross-sectional bore shape other than a circle is envisioned. As an example, an oval or square cross-sectional bore shape or the like may be used.
Embodiments of the storage vessel deployment apparatus described herein are beneficial in the installation of renewable energy systems or other systems that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, energy systems that compress and store air or other fluid may incorporate an array of storage vessels that can benefit from the storage vessel installation apparatus embodiments described herein.
Referring to
Also, system 182 is not limited to the aforementioned power sources, but applicable to any power source, including intermittently available power sources, or sources from which may be drawn during low-cost or off-peak hours and sold during a period that is desirable, such as during a peak electrical load or generating-plant outage. Further, system 182 is not limited to a single input power 184 but may include multiple sources which may be coupled thereto. In other words, multiple and combined power sources may be included in a single system as input power 184. Input power 184 is coupled to mechanical power 186 to compress fluid from a fluid inlet 188.
Fluid compression 190 may be from a device that can both compress and expand a fluid, depending on direction of rotation, such as a Wankel-type compressor/expander (C/E). However, the invention is not so limited, and any compressor that uses mechanical power to compress a fluid may be implemented according to embodiments of the invention, and any expander that decompresses a fluid to generate mechanical energy may be implemented according to embodiments of the invention. In embodiments of the invention the C/E is capable of generating between 0.2 MW and 3 MW of power; however, the invention is not so limited and may be capable of generating any range of power commensurate with system requirements that may include a power as low as 0.0001 MW and a power as high as 5 MW or greater. Thus, fluid compression 190 occurs as a result of mechanical power 186 using fluid input 188. Fluid compression 190 may occur in one or multiple cycles, and cooling may be introduced via pumps and heat exchangers, between stages, as is known in the art. Cooling may also be achieved through direct contact between the compressed fluid and a cooling fluid. Fluid from fluid compression 190 is conveyed to compressed fluid storage 192 via a fluid input 194. Also, compressed fluid storage 192 may be a vessel or other conformal fluid containment device that may be ballasted within a body of water such as a lake, reservoir (natural or man-made), or sea, using sediment as ballast, and at a depth to which fluid may be compressed and stored for later extraction. As such, the volume of fluid is stored nearly isobarically as a function of the amount of fluid therein and as a function of its depth within the body of water.
The fluid storage vessels or tubes may be rated to 50° C. In one compressor design according to an embodiment of the invention, where the heat of compression is recovered and stored, the expected exit temperature of the fluid from the expander into the fluid hose is only about 5-10° C. above the water temperature. Where only ambient water is used to cool the compression stages and there is no heat exchanger after the final stage, the temperature of the fluid into the fluid hose may be 30° C. above ambient, or 45° C. in the case of a 15° C. surface ocean temperature. If the tube temperature limit is exceeded for any reason, a temperature alarm can shut down the compressor. One or more temperature sensors may be positioned along the length of a fluid storage tube in a CAES system such that the temperature of the fluid storage tube may be monitored. For example, a temperature alarm may indicate to a system operator that a temperature limit has been reached or exceeded. In addition, an alarm shutdown on the system compressor may cause the compressor to stop supplying compressed fluid to the affected fluid tube to lessen or prevent damage to the fluid storage tube or to the fluid hose connected to the affected fluid storage tube. The vessel experiences constant pressure due to the variable-volume design and thus no additional heating occurs within the vessel.
When it is desirable to draw stored energy from system 182, compressed fluid may be drawn from compressed fluid storage 192 via fluid output 196 and fluid expansion 198 occurs. As known in the art, fluid expansion 198 results in available energy that may be conveyed to, for instance, a mechanical device, which may extract mechanical power 200 for electrical power generation 202, which may be conveyed to a grid or other device where it is desirable to have electrical power delivered. Outlet fluid 204 is expelled to the environment at generally standard or ambient pressure. In embodiments of the invention, mechanical power 200 may be produced from, as an example, a Wankel-type expander. Further, as will be discussed, mechanical power 186 for fluid compression 190 and mechanical power 200 derived from fluid expansion 198 may be via the same device (i.e., a compression/expansion or “C/E” device) or via a different or separate device within system 182.
In principle, a C/E may be used in an isothermal operation, an adiabatic operation, or a combination thereof. In another example, a C/E may be implemented that does not use a distinct heat exchanger and does not use a thermal reservoir. As is known in the art, when a fluid is compressed, it heats, and when a fluid is expanded, it cools. As such, embodiments of the invention include forced-convection cooling 206 to cool the fluid from fluid compression 190 and forced-convection heating 208 to heat the fluid from fluid expansion 198. Because fluid storage occurs at generally ambient temperature and pressure (i.e., at depth within the body of water as discussed), both cooling 206 for fluid compression 190 and heating 208 after fluid expansion 198 may be performed using the vast amount of fluid that surrounds system 182 (i.e., lake or seawater) or with a constructed body of water for implementations where the thermal storage on land is preferred. As such, system 182 may be operated, in some embodiments, in a generally isothermal manner that cools the fluid to near ambient during compression stage(s) and heats the fluid to near ambient during expansion stage(s). In other embodiments, system 182 may be operated in a generally adiabatic manner where energy from compression is stored via a controlled heat transfer process to a thermal storage tank, and energy to heat the fluid after expansion is likewise drawn from the energy stored in the storage tank, having relatively little heat exchange with the surrounding environment. In such fashion, the system includes a way to modulate or recover the sensible heat in the compressed fluid. However, in either case, pumps and heat exchangers may be employed to cool at desired locations in the system, as understood in the art.
In yet another embodiment, energy from fluid compression 190 is not stored per se, but water is selectively drawn into system 182 by taking advantage of the natural temperature difference between the surface water temperature and the temperature in the depths. In such an embodiment, cooling 206 during fluid compression 190 may be performed using relatively cold water obtained from the depths (i.e., well below water surface), and heating 208 during fluid expansion 198 may be performed using relatively warm water obtained from near the water surface. Utilizing this temperature difference in this manner is actually adding a heat engine cycle on top of the energy storage cycle, thus making it conceivable that more energy would be extracted than was stored, due to the thermal energy input of the water body.
System 182 includes a controller or computer 210 which may be controllably linked to components of system 182.
Referring now to
Thus,
Each C/E 214 is coupled to a fluid storage tube assembly 224, which, as will be further discussed, is positioned at depth and is configured to receive compressed fluid from a respective C/E 214. According to embodiments of the invention, each C/E 214 may be coupled to multiple fluid storage tube assemblies 224 via a tube or pipe 226. As such, a single C/E 214 may be coupled to a vast number of fluid-storage assemblies 224 and may be limited by the number of feed lines and the terrain on which the fluid storage tube assemblies 224 are positioned, as examples. Operation of overall system 212 may be controlled via a computer or controller 228, and one skilled in the art will recognize that each system 182 may include control valves, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, and the like, distributed throughout. Controller 228 is configured to pressurize fluid and direct the pressurized fluid to pass from C/E 214 or stages thereof to fluid storage tube assemblies 224 when power is available from the power source, and direct the pressurized fluid to pass from fluid storage tube assemblies 224 to C/E 214 or stages thereof and expand the pressurized fluid when power is selectively desired to be drawn from fluid storage tube assemblies 224.
As such, overall system 212 may be deployed in a modular fashion having multiple systems 182 (only two of which are illustrated in
Further, because of the modularity of overall system 212, additional systems 182 may be added incrementally thereto, or additional storage may be added to each system 182 during operation. Thus, as power demands change over time (i.e., population growth or decrease in a given service area), power and/or storage capacity may be added or removed in a modular fashion consistent with that illustrated in
Additionally, systems 182 of overall system 212 may be operated in separate fashions from one another simultaneously. For instance, in one portion of an array of systems 182, one of the systems 182 may be exposed to a high wind and thus operated in compression mode to store energy therefrom in its respective fluid storage tube assembly 224. However, at the same time, another one of the systems 182 may be in an area receiving little or no wind and thus operated in expansion mode to draw energy from its respective fluid storage tube assembly 224.
As such, overall system 212 may be operated in a flexible fashion that allows multiple modes of operation, and also may be configured in a modular fashion to allow portions thereof to be temporarily shut down for maintenance, repair, and operation, or permanently decommissioned, without having to shut down the overall system 212.
Further, configuration and operation of overall system 212 is in no way limited to the examples given. For instance, instead of wind energy, systems 182 may be coupled to a wave energy source or a water current source, as further examples. Systems 182 may each employ multiple C/Es 214, or C/Es 214 may be configured to share fluid storage therebetween. Thus, in one example, an auxiliary feed line 230 may be positioned and configured to separately couple one C/E 232 of one system 182 with fluid storage tube assemblies 234 of another system. In such fashion, storage capacity of fluid storage tube assemblies 234 may be used during, for instance, repair or maintenance of one C/E 232. In addition, rerouting, an example of which is shown in feed line 230, enables the cooperative use of multiple C/E's 214 and 232 to additional advantage, including modularity, system resilience, incremental expandability of power capacity, field-swappability of C/E units, and the ability to operate one C/E in compression mode and another C/E in expansion mode. These advantages result in a system with graceful degradation, no single point of failure of the entire system, and flexibility to add capability as power and storage requirements increase. It also enables a flow-through mode of operation where energy from a prime mover (such as a wind generator, a wave power generator, a current power generator, a tidal power generator, and an ocean thermal energy converter, as examples) passes through a first C/E, compressing fluid, is optionally stored, and passes through a second C/E in expansion mode, generating energy for the grid. Such an embodiment eliminates ramp/up and ramp/down time for the system, enabling a standby mode of operation that is ready to absorb power or deliver it on demand without delay.
Referring now to
One skilled in the art will recognize that system 182 of
A fluid hose or pipe, or pressurized-fluid conveyance system 250 connects fluid storage vessel assembly 242 with the C/E 246 at or near the surface of sea 238. The C/E 246 is coupled to generator 248, which in one embodiment is the same generator used by a wind turbine, with a clutch (not shown). The generator 248 can act as a motor as well to drive the C/E 246 in compressor mode when storing energy, or if the wind is blowing, the wind power can be put into the generator 248. Thus, when full power from the system is desired, for example during peak demand periods on the grid, the stored fluid expanding through the C/E 246 augments the torque to the generator 248. In embodiments, generator 248 is an (alternating current) A/C generator, and in other embodiments, generator 248 is a (direct current) DC generator.
DC power transmission is not often used for land-based transmission because of the cost of conversion stations between transmission lines. However, the efficiency of DC transmission lines can be greater than A/C lines, particularly under salt water. Other advantages of DC power transmission include a clearer power flow analysis and no requirement to synchronize between independent grid sections connected by the DC line. Additional benefits of DC transmission may be realized when the lines are run underwater due to capacitance of the transmission line. Thus, many DC transmission systems are in existence today.
C/E 246 provides the ability to both compress and expand fluid. In one embodiment, C/E 246 is a single component that includes the ability to compress fluid when work is input thereto and to expand fluid to extract work therefrom. In such an embodiment, a single fluid hose or pipe 250 is positioned between fluid storage tube assembly 242 and C/E 246, and fluid is pumped to and from fluid storage tube assembly 242 using fluid hose or pipe 250. Thus, when power is input 252 to C/E 246, C/E 246 operates to compress fluid, convey it to fluid storage tube assembly 242 via fluid hose or pipe 250, and store the energy therein. Power 252 may be provided via a renewable source such as wind, wave motion, tidal motion, or may be provided via the generator 248 operated as a motor which may draw energy from, for instance, a power grid. Also, C/E 246 may be operated in reverse by drawing compressed stored energy from fluid storage tube assembly 242 via fluid hose or pipe 250. Thus, by reversing its motion, C/E 246 may be caused to alternatively compress or expand fluid based on a direction of operation or rotation. Note that the generator 248 provides electrical power in one embodiment. Alternatively, mechanical power may be utilized directly from the expander without the use of generator 248.
However, in another embodiment, compressor and expander functionalities of C/E 246 are separated. In this embodiment, an expander 254 is coupled to fluid storage tube assembly 242 via fluid hose or pipe 250, and a compressor 256 is coupled to fluid storage tube assembly 242 via the same fluid hose 250, or, alternatively, a separate fluid hose, pipe, or piping system 258. Thus, in this embodiment, power may be input 252 to compressor 256 via, for instance, a renewable energy source that may be intermittent-providing compressed fluid to fluid storage tube assembly 242 via separate fluid hose or pipe 258. In this embodiment, energy may be simultaneously drawn from fluid storage tube assembly 242 via fluid hose or pipe 250 to expander 254. Thus, while providing the system flexibility to simultaneously store and draw power, this embodiment does so at the expense of having separate compressor 256 and expander 254 (additional compressor and expander not illustrated).
Therefore, according to an embodiment of the invention, a plow for deployment of a flexible vessel includes a body having an outer wall and an inner wall extending along a bore passing through the body. The body also has an intermediate wall extending between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein a vessel cavity is formed between the inner and outer walls that is configured to receive the flexible vessel in a pre-deployment configuration.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for manufacturing a vessel deployment apparatus includes forming a first wall member to surround a bore volume and coupling a second wall member about the first wall member such that a vessel volume is formed between the first and second wall member portions that is capable of receiving a flexible vessel therein for deployment thereof. The method also includes coupling a third wall member to the first and second wall members.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a vessel deployment apparatus having a bore extending therethrough includes a first wall member portion positioned at least about a section of the bore and includes a second wall member portion positioned about the first wall, wherein a volume between the first and second wall member portions is capable of receiving a flexible vessel therein for deployment of the flexible vessel. A third wall member portion is coupled between to the first and second wall member portions.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/309,415 filed Mar. 1, 2010, to U.S. Provisional Application 61/364,364 filed Jul. 14, 2010, and to U.S. Provisional Application 61/364,368 filed Jul. 14, 2010, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61309415 | Mar 2010 | US | |
| 61364364 | Jul 2010 | US | |
| 61364368 | Jul 2010 | US |
