Independent liquid tank support

Abstract

The invention discloses an independent liquid tank support which comprises an upper support component, the upper surface of the upper support component is of a semi-arc structure and corresponds to a tank body structure, the bottom of the upper support component is a horizontal plane, and tank body fixing devices are arranged at the two ends of the upper support component. The upper surface of the lower support component is connected with the upper support component, the upper surface of the lower support component is a horizontal plane and is provided with a panel, and the lower surface of the lower support component is fixed on a deck of a ship body and is arranged according to the curvature of a girder arch of the deck. The independent liquid tank support is used for supporting and limiting a C-shaped liquid tank LNG fuel tank and has the advantages of being low in manufacturing difficulty, small in part number, simple in installation process and reasonable in structural strength distribution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of ship independent liquid tank structure, and relates to a space limiting device for a ship C-type independent liquid tank, specifically an independent liquid tank support. Background Technology

[0002] IMO-defined Type C independent liquid tanks, such as marine LNG fuel tanks, are structurally separate from the ship's main structure from a structural mechanics perspective. They are only connected to the hull through a relatively small contact interface, ensuring that the independent liquid tank does not physically detach from the ship's main body during operation.

[0003] Generally, ships are constantly in motion at sea, and all kinds of large equipment on board need to be secured to prevent excessive relative displacement between the equipment and the hull, which could affect the equipment's original function. This is especially true for independent liquid tanks; a typical deck fuel tank can be over 30 meters long, and its overall size is much larger than conventional marine equipment. Moreover, there are a large number of pipes and cables connecting the deck fuel tank to the engine room. As a component of the fuel supply system, the fuel tank will also have cryogenic liquid flowing through its pipelines. Therefore, minimizing relative displacement is essential.

[0004] From a structural perspective, the independent liquid tank is supported by a support between itself and the hull. This support needs to provide displacement constraints on the liquid tank in the x, y, and z dimensions of the ship's coordinate system.

[0005] For large open-air C-type LNG fuel tanks, the existing design schemes mostly adopt integral structure schemes for the supports, which use a large number of steel plates and skeletons to form a three-dimensional space frame through welding. The number of parts is large, the welding workload is large, there is a lack of a unified reference surface in the manufacturing process, and the manufacturing precision requirements of the product are high in order to facilitate loading onto ships. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides an independent liquid tank support for supporting and limiting the C-type liquid tank LNG fuel tank.

[0007] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution: an independent liquid tank support, comprising: The upper support component has a semi-circular arc structure on its upper surface, which corresponds to the tank structure. The bottom of the upper support component is horizontal, and tank fixing devices are provided at both ends of the upper support component.

[0008] The lower support component has its upper surface connected to the upper support component. The upper surface of the lower support component is horizontal and has a panel. The lower surface of the lower support component is fixed to the ship's deck and is set according to the curvature of the deck beam.

[0009] Preferably, the upper support member and the lower support member are connected by welding, or a panel is provided on the lower surface of the upper support member and connected by bolts.

[0010] Preferably, at least two mortise and tenon structures are provided between the upper support member and the lower support member. Among them, a mortise groove is provided on the lower surface of the upper support member, and a corresponding tenon protrusion point is provided on the upper surface of the lower support member.

[0011] Preferably, the mortise and tenon structure between the upper support member and the lower support member is a through-length mortise and tenon penetrating the x-direction of the support, or a through-length mortise and tenon penetrating the y-direction of the support, or a mixed form of the above two.

[0012] Preferably, the upper support member includes: The first bending resistance support component and the second bending resistance support component are respectively arranged on both sides of the semi-circular structure of the upper support component. The first bending resistance component and the second bending resistance component are symmetric left and right, and the set length is greater than or equal to the pure bending resistance area of the support.

[0013] The pressure-bearing component is the bottom surface of the semi-circular structure of the upper support component, and is respectively connected to the first bending resistance component and the second bending resistance component at both ends. The length of the pressure-bearing component is set to be less than or equal to the pure pressure-bearing area of the support.

[0014] Preferably, the first bending resistance support component and the second bending resistance support component are steel plate-frame welded three-dimensional structures, with the main web as the core component, a strong longitudinal girder is arranged along the bending resistance direction, and a panel is arranged along the free boundary.

[0015] Preferably, the pressure-bearing component is a single-component made by die casting process, and fin-type divergent structures are distributed on both sides of the main web of the pressure-bearing component.

[0016] Preferably, the lower support member includes: The first lower support component is an integrally cast "rich" - shaped plate-frame structure, and the upper surface of the first lower support component is connected to the lower surface of the upper support member.

[0017] The second lower support component and the third lower support component are respectively connected to both sides of the first lower support component; panels and end soft toes are provided at the ends of the second lower support component and the third lower support component.

[0018] Preferably, the length range of the first lower support component is set to select the maximum length that meets the pressure setting.

[0019] Preferably, strengthening fins are provided on both sides of the main web of the first lower support component, aligned with the hull deck stiffeners or distributed radially along the tank body.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: The present invention provides an independent liquid tank support for supporting and limiting C-type liquid tank LNG fuel tanks. It has the advantages of low manufacturing difficulty, few parts, simple installation process, and reasonable distribution of structural strength. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the independent liquid tank support structure of the tank body in this invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the upper support component structure in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the lower support component structure in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a top view of the lower support component structure in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the upper support component in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the lower support component in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] In the figure, 1 is the upper support component; 2 is the lower support component; 3 is the tank body; 4 is the ship deck; 5 is the first bending support assembly; 6 is the second bending support assembly; 7 is the pressure-bearing assembly; 8 is the first lower support assembly; 9 is the second lower support assembly; 10 is the third lower support assembly; 11 is the mortise groove; and 12 is the tenon protrusion. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention, and not all of the structures.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, the technical solution of the present invention provides an independent liquid tank support, which includes: The upper support component 1 has a semi-circular arc structure on its upper surface, which corresponds to the structure of the tank body 3. The bottom of the upper support component 1 is a horizontal plane, and tank body fixing devices are provided at both ends of the upper support component 1. The lower support component 2 has its upper surface connected to the upper support component 1. The upper surface of the lower support component 2 is a horizontal plane and is provided with a panel. The lower surface of the lower support component 2 is fixed to the ship's deck 4 and is set according to the curvature of the deck beam.

[0025] In this embodiment, the upper support component 1 and the lower support component 2 are separated by a horizontal plane, which also serves as the final installation contact surface. The lower support component 1 has no panel on its bottom surface. The lower support component 2 has a panel on its top surface. When loading onto the ship, the lower support component 2 can be loaded onto the ship in sections along with the hull, while the upper support component 1 can be loaded onto the ship before the independent liquid tank is installed.

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, the upper support component 1 and the lower support component 2 are connected by welding, or a panel is provided on the lower surface of the upper support component 1 and connected by bolts. Specifically, the final connection between the upper support component 1 and the lower support component 2 is mainly by welding. When the dimensions of the tank body 3 are suitable, a panel can also be added to the bottom of the upper support component 1, and the two can be connected by bolts.

[0027] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, at least two mortise and tenon structures are provided between the upper support component 1 and the lower support component 2. The lower surface of the upper support component 1 has a mortise groove 11, and the upper surface of the lower support component 2 has a corresponding tenon protrusion 12. The mortise and tenon are shaped to match, providing automatic guidance and positioning during the installation of the upper support component 1 onto the lower support component 2. The mortise and tenon shape can be triangular, arc-shaped, or other structural forms that achieve a smooth transition at the boundary. The mortise and tenon shape can be a continuous tenon extending through the x-direction of the support, a continuous tenon extending through the y-direction of the support, or a combination of both. The number of mortise and tenon areas can be two or more, depending on the overall dimensions of the support. The positioning of the mortise and tenon structural points is determined by the overall dimensions of the support and is not subject to any mandatory convention.

[0028] like Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the upper support component 1 includes: The first bending support assembly 5 and the second bending support assembly 6 are respectively arranged on both sides of the semi-circular structure of the upper support assembly 1. The first bending support assembly 5 and the second bending support assembly 6 are symmetrical from left to right, and the length is greater than or equal to the pure bending zone of the support. The pressure-bearing component 7 is the bottom surface of the semi-circular structure of the upper support component 1, with its two ends connected to the first bending-resistant component 5 and the second bending-resistant component 6, respectively. The length of the pressure-bearing component 7 is set to be less than or equal to the pure pressure-bearing area of ​​the support. In this embodiment, the upper support component 1 is further subdivided into three component areas: left, middle, and right. The component range is determined based on mechanical strength calculations. The middle component is a cast structure area, and its range should be less than or equal to the pure pressure-bearing area of ​​the support. The left and right components are welded structures, and their range should be greater than or equal to the pure bending-resistant area of ​​the support.

[0029] As a further optimization of the above embodiments, the first bending-resistant support assembly 5 and the second bending-resistant support assembly 6 are steel plate-frame welded three-dimensional structures. With the main web as the core component, strong longitudinal girders are arranged along the bending-resistant direction, and panels are arranged along the free boundary. The pressure-bearing assembly 7 is a single-piece assembly made by die-casting process. Finned divergence structures are distributed on both sides of the main web of the pressure-bearing assembly 7. In this embodiment, the left and right components of the upper support member 1 are both steel plate-frame welded three-dimensional structures, composed of multiple parts. With the main web as the core component, strong longitudinal girders are arranged along the bending-resistant direction, and appropriate panels are arranged along the free boundary. The middle component of the upper support member 1 is a single-piece assembly made by die-casting process. The basic form is an integrally cast "Feng"-shaped plate-frame structure, and finned divergence structures are distributed at a certain interval on both sides of the main web. The diverging fins are mainly along the radial direction of the independent liquid tank, and vertical distribution is also possible. When manufacturing the upper support member 1, the horizontal division plane between the above components is used as the construction reference plane. In this embodiment, the middle component of the upper support member 1 corresponds to the pressure-bearing assembly 7, and the left and right components correspond to the first bending-resistant support assembly 5 and the second bending-resistant support assembly 6.

[0030] As Figure 6 shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, the lower support member 2 includes: The first lower support assembly 8, which is an integrally cast "Feng"-shaped plate-frame structure, and the upper surface of the first lower support assembly 8 is connected to the lower surface of the upper support member 1; The second lower support assembly 9 and the third lower support assembly 10 are respectively connected to both sides of the first lower support assembly 8; panels and end soft toes are provided at the ends of the second lower support assembly 9 and the third lower support assembly 10. The upper top surface of the lower support member 2 is horizontal, and the lower top surface takes into account the deck beam camber curvature. The lower support member 2 is further subdivided into left, middle, and right three component areas. The component range is determined according to the die-casting equipment capacity. Within the permitted range, the middle component range is expanded as much as possible. The left and right components of the lower support member 2 are both steel plate-frame welded three-dimensional structures, composed of multiple parts. And appropriate panels and end soft toes are provided at the ends to ensure a smooth transition between the overall support and the hull structure. The middle component of the lower support member 2 is a single-piece assembly made by die-casting process. The basic form is also an integrally cast "Feng"-shaped plate-frame structure, and each strengthening fin is kept as vertical as possible and aligned with the hull deck stiffeners. Of course, distribution along the radial direction of the liquid tank is also possible. When manufacturing the lower support member, the horizontal division plane between the above components is used as the construction reference plane. The structural thickness distributions of all parts and casting components in the whole support are not consistent, but different thicknesses are given according to the results of mechanical strength calculations. In this embodiment, the middle component of the lower support member 2 corresponds to the first lower support assembly 8, and the left and right components correspond to the second lower support assembly 9 and the third lower support assembly 10.

[0031] As Figure 3As shown, in a specific embodiment of the present invention, the tenon and mortise joint can be along the X direction, or it can be changed to a transversely continuous form along the Y direction of the support. For independent liquid tanks with relatively small volumes, such as less than 200 cubic meters, then... Figure 1 The connection between the upper and lower support components shown can be changed from welding to bolting. The specific bolt dimensions and hole locations are determined by mechanical calculations verifying the structural strength. The independent liquid tank support provided in this embodiment is not limited to the above-described implementation. Regardless of any changes in shape or structure, any C-type liquid tank support device formed using similar welding or casting assembly structures, mortise and tenon positioning interfaces, or variable plate thickness designs falls within the protection scope of this invention. Furthermore, modifications to materials, adjustments to the perimeter structure, and adjustments to the connection method are all variations of this invention and should be considered within its protection scope. The cargo contained in the independent liquid tank is not limited to LNG; it can be any liquid, such as LPG or ethane.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, the support provided in the embodiments of the present invention has the following advantages: 1. The support adopts an upper and lower component form, and each component has a stable horizontal reference surface, which reduces the overall manufacturing difficulty.

[0033] 2. The upper and lower support components can be installed on the ship at different stages of ship construction, which improves the flexibility of the operation process and the installation accuracy of each component.

[0034] 3. The upper and lower support components are equipped with a mortise and tenon structure that can automatically guide positioning, which greatly reduces the technical difficulty requirements for the installation of the support itself.

[0035] 4. The upper support component is symmetrical from left to right, which helps to improve production speed and reduce manufacturing difficulty.

[0036] 5. The core components in both the upper and lower support components are made of integral casting, with only one part in each component, achieving the ultimate reduction in the number of parts.

[0037] 6. The upper support components are further subdivided according to the load-bearing capacity of the structure. The cast components share the compressive strength, while the plate frame components bear the bending strength, giving full play to the mechanical advantages of their respective materials and structural forms.

[0038] 7. The integrated casting components adopt a high-tonnage pressure casting method, and the output products have better mechanical properties than traditional gravity casting parts.

[0039] 8. The internal structure distribution of the integrated casting components can be optimized and adjusted according to the results of mechanical calculations. The local plate thickness can be flexibly adjusted according to different loads, thus fully realizing the optimal matching of mechanical properties and weight distribution.

[0040] Within the integrated casting assembly of each support component, the cast fins can be freely arranged and combined along the radial direction of the liquid tank or along the vertical coordinate direction, giving full play to the structural strength.

[0041] The above are preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An independent liquid tank support, characterized in that: The independent liquid tank support includes: An upper support component (1) with its upper surface being a semi-circular arc structure corresponding to the structure of the tank body (3). The bottom of the upper support component (1) is a horizontal plane, and tank body fixing devices are provided at both ends of the upper support component (1). A lower support component (2) with its upper surface connected to the upper support component (1). The upper surface of the lower support component (2) is a horizontal plane and is provided with a panel. The lower surface of the lower support component (2) is fixedly connected to the ship's deck (4) and is set according to the deck camber curvature.

2. The independent liquid tank support as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The upper support component (1) and the lower support component (2) are connected by welding, or a panel is provided on the lower surface of the upper support component (1) and they are connected by bolts.

3. The independent liquid tank support as described in claim 1, characterized in that: At least two mortise and tenon structures are provided between the upper support component (1) and the lower support component (2). Among them, a mortise groove (11) is provided on the lower surface of the upper support component (1), and a corresponding tenon protrusion point (12) is provided on the upper surface of the lower support component (2).

4. The independent liquid tank support as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The mortise and tenon structure between the upper support component (1) and the lower support component (2) is a through-long mortise and tenon in the x-direction of the support, or a through-long mortise and tenon in the y-direction of the support, or a mixed form of the above two.

5. The independent liquid tank support as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The upper support component includes: A first bending resistance support component (5) and a second bending resistance support component (6), which are respectively arranged on both sides of the semi-circular structure of the upper support component (1). The first bending resistance component (5) and the second bending resistance component (6) are symmetric left and right, and the set length is greater than or equal to the pure bending resistance area of the support. A pressure-bearing component (7), which is the bottom surface of the semi-circular structure of the upper support component (1), and is respectively connected to the first bending resistance component (5) and the second bending resistance component (6) at both ends. The length of the pressure-bearing component (7) is set to be less than or equal to the pure pressure-bearing area of the support.

6. The independent liquid tank support as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The first bending resistance support component (5) and the second bending resistance support component (6) are steel plate-frame welded three-dimensional structures with the main web as the core component, with strong longitudinal girders arranged along the bending resistance direction and panels arranged along the free boundary.

7. The independent liquid tank support as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The pressure-bearing component (7) is a single-component made by die-casting process, and fin-type divergent structures are distributed on both sides of the main web of the pressure-bearing component (7).

8. The independent liquid tank support as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The lower support component (2) includes: A first lower support component (8), which is an integrally cast "丰”-shaped plate-frame structure, and the upper surface of the first lower support component (8) is connected to the lower surface of the upper support component (1). A second lower support component (9) and a third lower support component (l0), which are respectively connected to both sides of the first lower support component (8); panels and end soft toes are provided at the ends of the second lower support component (9) and the third lower support component (10).

9. The independent liquid tank support as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The length range of the first lower support component (8) is set to select the maximum length that meets the pressure setting.

10. An independent liquid tank support as described in claim 8, characterized in that: Reinforcing fins are provided on both sides of the main web of the first lower support component (8), which are aligned with the ship's deck (4) stiffeners or distributed radially along the tank body (3).

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