A methanol fuel ship's methanol barge transportation system

Abstract

The application discloses a methanol fuel ship's methanol transfer system, containing a methanol storage cabin, a methanol daily use cabin, a vent pipe, a tee joint, a backflow pipe and a methanol transfer pipe, the methanol daily use cabin is arranged below the methanol storage cabin, one end of the vent pipe is connected with the venting port on the upper end of the methanol storage cabin, the other end of the vent pipe is connected with the first port of the tee joint, one end of the backflow pipe is connected with the second port of the tee joint, the other end of the backflow pipe is connected with the backflow port on the upper end of the methanol daily use cabin, one end of the methanol transfer pipe is connected with the transfer port on the lower end of the side of the methanol storage cabin, the other end of the methanol transfer pipe is connected with the third port of the tee joint, and the tee joint is located on the upper side of the highest liquid level of the methanol storage cabin. Through reasonable pipeline design, the methanol flow problem caused by the siphon principle after the methanol transfer pump stops is solved, and the design cost is reduced as a whole.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a barge transport system, and more particularly to a methanol barge transport system for methanol-fueled ships, belonging to the field of marine technology. Background Technology

[0002] Methanol fuel for methanol-fueled ships needs to be transferred from the methanol storage tank to the methanol day tank. Methanol transfer is one of the key technologies for methanol-fueled ships. In order to achieve more reliable safety and optimal economy in the transfer process, a methanol transfer system needs to be designed to meet the usage requirements of methanol-fueled ships.

[0003] The existing methanol transshipment system is mainly designed in the following two ways: The first method involves installing a deep-well pump inside the methanol storage tank. Methanol fuel is then transferred from the top of the storage tank to the daily use tank via this pump. This design is inconvenient for the routine maintenance of the deep-well pump, and the pump manufacturers are relatively limited, resulting in higher costs.

[0004] The second option is to set up a dedicated pump room. Methanol fuel is transported from the bottom of the methanol storage tank to the methanol daily use tank via a methanol transfer pump in the pump room through a pipeline running through the bottom of the methanol storage tank. This design requires mechanical ventilation, gas and liquid detection, and sewage treatment in the pump room, which is more expensive. In addition, there is a risk of methanol leakage due to the difference in liquid level between the methanol storage tank and the methanol daily use tank.

[0005] Existing designs, if equipped with deep well pumps, would not only increase costs but also make daily maintenance inconvenient; if equipped with dedicated pump rooms, they would not only increase costs but also pose a certain risk of leakage. Moreover, current technologies typically employ simple transfer circuits, and after the methanol transfer pump stops operating, methanol continues to transfer within the pipeline due to the siphon principle, causing problems with the timely shutdown of methanol transfer. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a methanol barge transportation system for methanol fuel ships, which is low in cost and solves the methanol barge siphon problem.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A methanol transport system for a methanol-fueled ship includes a methanol storage tank, a methanol day tank, a vent pipe, a tee connector, a return pipe, and a methanol transport pipe. The methanol day tank is located below the methanol storage tank. One end of the vent pipe is connected to the vent at the top of the methanol storage tank, and the other end of the vent pipe is connected to the first port of the tee connector. One end of the return pipe is connected to the second port of the tee connector, and the other end of the return pipe is connected to the return port at the top of the methanol day tank. One end of the methanol transport pipe is connected to the transport port at the lower side of the methanol storage tank, and the other end of the methanol transport pipe is connected to the third port of the tee connector. The tee connector is located above the highest liquid level in the methanol storage tank.

[0008] Furthermore, the methanol storage tank is surrounded by isolated empty compartments, the methanol daily use compartment is located inside the methanol fuel equipment preparation room, and the methanol fuel equipment preparation room is located below the methanol storage tank.

[0009] Furthermore, a methanol transfer pump is installed on the methanol transfer pipe and the methanol transfer pump is located in the methanol fuel equipment preparation room.

[0010] Furthermore, the methanol transfer pipe is equipped with a transfer remote control valve, which is located in the methanol fuel equipment preparation room.

[0011] Furthermore, one end of the methanol transfer pipe extends into the methanol storage tank from the lower side of the methanol storage tank, and an emergency remote control valve is installed on the methanol transfer pipe and is located inside the methanol storage tank.

[0012] Furthermore, the methanol daily use tank is equipped with a high liquid level sensor and a low liquid level sensor. The high liquid level sensor is located at the highest liquid level in the methanol daily use tank, and the low liquid level sensor is located at the lowest liquid level in the methanol daily use tank.

[0013] Furthermore, the high liquid level sensor, low liquid level sensor, methanol transfer pump, and transfer remote control valve are electrically connected to the controller. The controller receives the liquid level signals from the high liquid level sensor and the low liquid level sensor and controls the opening and closing of the methanol transfer pump and the transfer remote control valve.

[0014] Furthermore, the methanol transfer pump is a centrifugal pump.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and effects: The present invention solves the leakage risk caused by excessive design pressure of methanol daily use tank and valve failure due to static pressure difference caused by the methanol daily use tank being located below the methanol storage tank through reasonable pipeline design and by using the principle of U-shaped pipe connector. It also solves the problem of methanol transfer stoppage caused by siphon principle, and reduces the overall design cost. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of a methanol barge transport system for a methanol-fueled ship according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To illustrate in detail the technical solutions adopted by the present invention to achieve the intended technical objectives, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Furthermore, the technical means or technical features in the embodiments of the present invention can be replaced without creative effort. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, a methanol transfer system for a methanol-fueled ship according to the present invention includes a methanol storage tank 1, a methanol day use tank 2, a vent pipe 3, a tee connector 4, a return pipe 5, and a methanol transfer pipe 6. The methanol day use tank 2 is located below the methanol storage tank 1. The vent pipe 3 is arranged in an inverted U-shape, with a vent at the upper end of the methanol storage tank 1. One end of the vent pipe 3 is connected to the vent at the upper end of the methanol storage tank 1, and the other end is connected to the first port of the tee connector 4. The tee connector 4 is arranged vertically, with the upper end of the tee connector 4 as the first port, the lower end of the tee connector 4 as the second port, and the side of the tee connector 4 as the third port. One end of the return pipe 5 is connected to the second port of the tee connector 4, and the other end of the return pipe 5 is connected to the return port at the upper end of the methanol day use tank 2. One end of the methanol transfer pipe 6 is connected to the transfer port at the lower end of the side of the methanol storage tank 1, and the other end of the methanol transfer pipe 6 is connected to the third port of the tee connector 4. The tee connector 4 is located above the highest liquid level of the methanol storage tank 1.

[0019] The methanol storage tank 1 is surrounded by an isolation compartment 7, which separates the methanol storage tank 1 from other ship compartment structures. The methanol day use tank 2 is located within the methanol fuel equipment preparation room 8, which is located below the methanol storage tank 1.

[0020] A methanol transfer pump 9 is installed on the methanol transfer pipe 6 and is located within the methanol fuel equipment preparation room 8. The methanol transfer pump 9 is a centrifugal pump. Due to the low viscosity of the methanol solution, a centrifugal pump is used, directly positioned within the methanol fuel equipment preparation room 8, avoiding the drawbacks of using a fully submersible centrifugal pump that would hinder the crew's daily maintenance. Furthermore, the methanol fuel equipment preparation room 8 is a Class I hazardous location, meeting the required ventilation and gas detection standards, thus avoiding the increased costs associated with setting up an additional pump room.

[0021] A remote control valve 10 is installed on the methanol transfer pipe 6 and the remote control valve 10 is located in the methanol fuel equipment preparation room 8.

[0022] One end of the methanol transfer pipe 6 enters the methanol storage tank 1 from the lower side of the methanol storage tank 1. An emergency remote control valve 11 is installed on the methanol transfer pipe 6 and is located inside the methanol storage tank 1. In this invention, the methanol transfer pipe 6 does not penetrate the top of the methanol storage tank 1 through the tank wall, but rather penetrates the bottom side of the methanol storage tank 1 through the tank wall, which facilitates the arrangement of the methanol transfer pipe 6 and the flow of materials in the pipeline. The emergency remote control valve 11 is designed to be normally open, and will only be shut off in an emergency after the methanol transfer safety system is triggered, avoiding the risk of leakage or malfunction caused by frequent operation of the emergency remote control valve 11. Furthermore, the fact that the emergency remote control valve 11 is located inside the methanol storage tank 1 avoids the risk of leakage due to malfunction of the emergency remote control valve 11.

[0023] The methanol daily use tank 2 is equipped with a high-level sensor 12 and a low-level sensor 13. The high-level sensor 12 is located at the highest liquid level in the methanol daily use tank 2, and the low-level sensor 13 is located at the lowest liquid level in the methanol daily use tank 2. The high-level sensor 12, the low-level sensor 13, the methanol transfer pump 9, and the transfer remote control valve 10 are electrically connected to the controller. The controller receives the liquid level signals from the high-level sensor 12 and the low-level sensor 13 and controls the opening and closing of the methanol transfer pump 9 and the transfer remote control valve 10. When a low-level switch signal is detected from the low-level sensor 13, the transfer remote control valve 10 is automatically opened, and the signal indicating that the transfer remote control valve 10 is open then restarts the methanol transfer pump 9. When a high-level switch signal is detected from the high-level switch 12, the methanol transfer pump 9 is automatically stopped, and the signal indicating that the methanol transfer pump 9 is stopped then automatically closes the transfer remote control valve 10.

[0024] When the methanol transfer pump 9 is stopped, the return pipe 5 is connected to the methanol storage tank 1 to maintain pressure balance with the methanol storage tank 1, thereby blocking the "siphoning" phenomenon of methanol solution and ensuring that the methanol flow between the methanol storage tank 1 and the methanol daily use tank 2 is cut off due to the liquid level difference when the methanol transfer pump 9 is stopped.

[0025] Methanol daily use tank 2 serves as a structural compartment of the ship. Because the return pipe 5 is positioned higher than the highest liquid level in methanol storage tank 1, the return pipe 5 is empty when the methanol transfer pump 9 is not operating. The methanol level in the transfer pipeline between methanol storage tank 1 and the return pipe 5 remains the same as that in methanol storage tank 1. Therefore, as long as the design pressure of methanol storage tank 1 meets the structural strength requirements, it avoids the situation where increasing the design pressure would increase the structural weight of methanol daily use tank 2, thereby increasing costs. It also reduces the risk of direct leakage from methanol storage tank 1 to methanol daily use tank 2.

[0026] This invention solves the leakage risks caused by excessive design pressure of methanol daily use tank and valve failure due to static pressure difference caused by the methanol daily use tank being located below the methanol storage tank through reasonable pipeline design and by using the principle of U-shaped pipe connector. It also solves the problem of methanol transfer stoppage caused by siphon principle, and reduces the overall design cost.

[0027] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, based on the technical essence of the present invention and within the spirit and principles of the present invention, shall still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A methanol barge transport system for a methanol-fueled ship, characterized in that: It includes a methanol storage tank, a methanol daily use tank, a vent pipe, a tee connector, a return pipe, and a methanol transfer pipe. The methanol daily use tank is located below the methanol storage tank. One end of the vent pipe is connected to the vent at the top of the methanol storage tank, and the other end of the vent pipe is connected to the first port of the tee connector. One end of the return pipe is connected to the second port of the tee connector, and the other end of the return pipe is connected to the return port at the top of the methanol daily use tank. One end of the methanol transfer pipe is connected to the transfer port at the lower side of the methanol storage tank, and the other end of the methanol transfer pipe is connected to the third port of the tee connector. The tee connector is located above the highest liquid level in the methanol storage tank.

2. The methanol barge transportation system for a methanol-fueled ship according to claim 1, characterized in that: The methanol storage tank is surrounded by an isolated empty compartment. The methanol daily use compartment is located inside the methanol fuel equipment preparation room, which is located below the methanol storage tank.

3. The methanol barge transport system for a methanol-fueled ship according to claim 2, characterized in that: The methanol transfer pipeline is equipped with a methanol transfer pump, which is located in the methanol fuel equipment preparation room.

4. The methanol barge transportation system for a methanol-fueled ship according to claim 3, characterized in that: The methanol transfer pipe is equipped with a transfer remote control valve, which is located in the methanol fuel equipment preparation room.

5. The methanol barge transportation system for a methanol-fueled ship according to claim 3, characterized in that: One end of the methanol transfer pipe extends into the methanol storage tank from the lower side of the methanol storage tank. An emergency remote control valve is installed on the methanol transfer pipe and is located inside the methanol storage tank.

6. The methanol barge transport system for a methanol-fueled ship according to claim 4, characterized in that: The methanol daily use tank is equipped with a high liquid level sensor and a low liquid level sensor. The high liquid level sensor is located at the highest liquid level in the methanol daily use tank, and the low liquid level sensor is located at the lowest liquid level in the methanol daily use tank.

7. A methanol barge transport system for a methanol-fueled ship according to claim 6, characterized in that: The high liquid level sensor, low liquid level sensor, methanol transfer pump, and transfer remote control valve are electrically connected to the controller. The controller receives the liquid level signals from the high liquid level sensor and low liquid level sensor and controls the opening and closing of the methanol transfer pump and transfer remote control valve.

8. A methanol barge transport system for a methanol-fueled ship according to claim 3, characterized in that: The methanol transfer pump is a centrifugal pump.

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