Heat insulation sealed storage tank and manufacturing method of heat insulation module in heat insulation sealed storage tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat insulation sealed storage tank and a manufacturing method of a heat insulation module in the heat insulation sealed storage tank, the heat insulation sealed storage tank comprises a tank body, the heat insulation module is laid on the inner wall of the tank body, the heat insulation module comprises a heat preservation layer and a structure enhancement layer, and an insert is embedded in the heat insulation module. The near end of the insert is provided with a brim abutting against the surface of the structure reinforcing layer, the side wall of the insert is provided with a deformation part, the deformation part and the brim can jointly clamp the structure reinforcing layer through radial expansion deformation, mechanical interlocking is formed between the deformation part and the structure reinforcing layer, and the insert partially extends to the heat preservation layer in the mechanical interlocking state. Threaded holes are formed in the inserts and used for being matched with fasteners to fix external components such as corrugated plates and bridging blocks. Mechanical interlocking fixing is achieved through radial expansion deformation of the insert, no adhesive is needed, the connecting strength is not attenuated in the extremely low temperature environment, the good tolerance capacity is achieved for the size precision of the mounting hole, and the overall reliability and construction efficiency of a heat insulation sealed storage tank enclosure system are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of liquefied natural gas storage and transportation equipment, and in particular to insulated and sealed storage tanks and methods for manufacturing insulation modules in insulated and sealed storage tanks. Background Technology

[0002] Membrane-type containment systems are widely used in liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships and onshore storage facilities. The core structure of these systems consists of insulation modules laid on the inner wall of the tank. These modules are typically composed of a thermal insulation layer and a structural reinforcement layer. The insulation layer generally uses low thermal conductivity materials such as polyurethane foam or perlite to achieve thermal insulation, while the structural reinforcement layer typically uses plywood to provide the necessary mechanical strength and rigidity. Various functional components, such as corrugated plates, welded rails, and bridging blocks, are also installed on the inner surface of the insulation modules. The reliable fixing of these components directly affects the long-term service safety of the containment system under extremely low temperature conditions.

[0003] In existing technologies, the aforementioned functional components are typically fixed by screwing directly into the plywood layer or by adhesive bonding. However, screwing directly into the plywood results in insufficient holding force. Plywood is a layered wood material, and screws are prone to loosening or even coming out under repeated thermal cycling and vibration loads. This problem is further exacerbated by material shrinkage and deformation in the extremely low-temperature environment of liquefied natural gas. While adhesive bonding can provide a certain degree of connection strength, adhesives are prone to embrittlement and failure at extremely low temperatures. Furthermore, the adhesive bonding process has stringent requirements for the construction environment and a long curing time, which is not conducive to efficient on-site construction.

[0004] To address these issues, the industry has attempted to embed metal inserts within the insulation module, using threaded holes on the inserts to engage with fasteners to secure external components. However, existing insert installation methods largely rely on interference fit or adhesive bonding. Interference fit requires extremely high dimensional accuracy of the mounting holes; even slight deviations can lead to insert loosening or plywood cracking. Adhesive bonding, on the other hand, faces the same risk of low-temperature failure. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an insert fixing solution that can achieve reliable mechanical locking within the structural reinforcement layer of the insulation module, is adhesive-free, and has good tolerance for installation accuracy, thereby improving the overall reliability and construction efficiency of insulated and sealed tank enclosure systems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, this application provides a heat-insulated and sealed storage tank and a method for manufacturing the heat insulation module in the heat-insulated and sealed storage tank. This method enables the insert to form a mechanical interlock in the structural reinforcement layer of the heat insulation module through radial expansion deformation, achieving a reliable anchoring connection without relying on adhesives, and has good tolerance for the dimensional accuracy of the mounting holes.

[0006] This application is achieved through the following technical solution: A heat-insulated and sealed storage tank, including a tank body, the inner wall of which is lined with a heat-insulating module, the heat-insulating module including a heat-insulating layer and a structural reinforcement layer, an insert embedded in the heat-insulating module, the proximal end of the insert having a cap that rests against the surface of the structural reinforcement layer, and the side wall having a deformable portion; the deformable portion of the insert can clamp the structural reinforcement layer together with the cap through radial expansion deformation, and form a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer, and the insert partially extends into the heat-insulating layer when mechanically interlocked with the structural reinforcement layer; the insert has a threaded hole for cooperating with a fastener to fix external components.

[0007] By adopting the above technical solution, an insert capable of radial expansion and deformation is embedded in the insulation module. After expansion, the insert forms a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer, fundamentally changing the traditional method of fixing inserts that relies on adhesives or interference fit. The mechanical interlock connection is a form fit, and its connection strength is unaffected by temperature changes. Even in the extremely low-temperature environment of liquefied natural gas, the locking relationship between the insert and the structural reinforcement layer remains stable and reliable, unlike adhesives which fail due to low-temperature embrittlement. Simultaneously, during radial expansion, the insert can adaptively fill the gap between the mounting hole and the insert, significantly reducing the dimensional accuracy requirements of the mounting hole and effectively avoiding problems such as plywood cracking or insert loosening caused by improper tolerance control in the interference fit method. Furthermore, the insert partially extends into the insulation layer when mechanically interlocked with the structural reinforcement layer, extending the stress-bearing support area of ​​the insert beyond the thickness of the structural reinforcement layer towards the insulation layer. This increases the contact area and anchoring depth between the insert and the insulation module, significantly improving the insert's resistance to tensile and shear loads. The threaded holes on the inserts provide standardized connection interfaces for external components such as corrugated plates, welded rails, and bridging blocks. This allows the installation of external components to be completed simply by screwing fasteners into the threaded holes, making the construction operation simple and quick and improving the overall assembly efficiency of the enclosure system.

[0008] Optionally, the insert is cylindrical in the uninstalled state, the brim expands radially, and the sidewalls are evenly distributed with several deformation slots; the sidewalls of the insert form deformation portions between adjacent deformation slots; the edges of the deformation portions are provided with notches; when an axial force is applied externally, the notches guide the insert to undergo radial expansion deformation, causing the middle part of the deformation portion to bulge outward and form a petal-shaped abutment structure to clamp the structural reinforcement layer with the brim.

[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, the insert is cylindrical in its uninstalled state, facilitating smooth insertion into the prefabricated mounting holes of the structural reinforcement layer without requiring a large insertion force, making the installation process simple and efficient. The visor near the end naturally rests against the surface of the structural reinforcement layer after the insert is inserted into the mounting hole, serving as an axial limit and bearing force to prevent the insert from slipping into the hole under external loads. The circumferentially distributed deformation slots on the sidewall divide the sidewall of the insert into several independent deformation sections. Each deformation section can independently undergo radial expansion deformation under axial force. This segmented deformation method makes the expansion process more uniform and controllable, avoiding the problem of monolithic sidewalls being difficult to deform or exhibiting uneven deformation due to excessive stiffness. The notches on the edges of the deformation sections serve as stress concentration guides. When an external axial force is applied, plastic deformation occurs first at the notches, guiding the middle of the deformation section to bulge radially outward, ultimately forming a segmented abutment structure. The lobed abutment structure and the near-end cap apply clamping forces from both sides of the structural reinforcement layer, like the upset head and head of a rivet, firmly holding the reinforcement layer in the middle to form a stable double-sided locking state. The connection strength of this locking method depends mainly on the yield strength of the insert material and the compressive strength of the structural reinforcement layer, rather than friction or adhesive force, thus exhibiting excellent anti-loosening performance under alternating load conditions such as vibration and thermal cycling.

[0010] Optionally, the sidewall of the insert is provided with an anti-rotation structure, which is embedded in the structural reinforcement layer after the insert undergoes radial expansion deformation to prevent the insert from rotating relative to the insulation module.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, an anti-rotation structure is provided on the sidewall of the insert. This anti-rotation structure embeds itself into the structural reinforcement layer after the insert completes radial expansion deformation, effectively preventing the insert from rotating circumferentially relative to the insulation module. In actual use, when the fastener is screwed into the threaded hole of the insert, a torque is applied to the insert. If the insert lacks anti-rotation measures, it may rotate with the fastener, resulting in the fastener not being able to be tightened effectively, or even causing the interlocking relationship between the insert and the structural reinforcement layer to be destroyed. The anti-rotation structure provides reliable torsional resistance through its shape fit with the structural reinforcement layer, ensuring that the insert remains fixed during the fastener screwing process, thereby ensuring the reliability of external component installation and the convenience of operation.

[0012] Optionally, the anti-rotation structure is a stop portion provided on the deformable part, the deformable part having a partition groove formed on the upper edge of the stop portion, and the inner wall of the root of the stop portion having a deformation groove; when the deformable part is squeezed and deformed, the stop portion flips toward the structural reinforcement layer to embed into the structural reinforcement layer.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, the anti-rotation structure is achieved by using a stop portion set on the deformable part. A partition groove is formed on the upper edge of the stop portion. This design connects the stop portion and the main body of the deformable part only through the lower edge, forming a cantilever-like structure. When the deformable part is compressed and deformed under axial force, the middle part of the deformable part bulges outward. The stop portion, connected below the recess of the deformable part, creates a relative movement tendency between itself and the main body of the deformable part due to the presence of the partition groove. Driven by the bulging process of the deformable part, the stop portion flips around its lower edge connection towards the structural reinforcement layer and bends at the deformation groove, embedding itself into the wood fibers of the plywood like a miniature flap. This flipping and embedding method creates a barb-like anchoring effect between the stop portion and the structural reinforcement layer. The flipped end of the stop portion penetrates deep into the structural reinforcement layer, forming a reliable mechanical barrier in the circumferential direction. Even under a large torque, the insert cannot rotate relative to the structural reinforcement layer. The entire anti-rotation structure is formed simultaneously with the expansion and deformation of the insert, requiring no additional processing steps or parts, simplifying the installation process of the insert and reducing manufacturing and construction costs.

[0014] Optionally, the insert includes a cold-end metal segment, a thermal break segment, and a hot-end metal segment in sequence along the axial direction; the thermal break segment is made of thermal insulation material and is fixed to the cold-end metal segment and the hot-end metal segment by mechanical interlocking or bonding, respectively; the cold-end metal segment is provided with a radial expansion structure to form a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer, and the hot-end metal segment is provided with the threaded hole.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, the insert is divided into three functional sections along the axial direction: a cold-end metal section, a thermal break section, and a hot-end metal section. The thermal break section, made of insulating material, effectively isolates the cold-end and hot-end metal sections in the heat conduction path. In the liquefied natural gas (LNG) containment system, the cold-end metal section of the insert is located near the cryogenic liquefied cargo and structural reinforcement layer inside the tank, while the hot-end metal section is located further away from the cargo and deeper into the insulation layer. If the insert were entirely made of metal, the high thermal conductivity of the metal would create a thermal bridge channel penetrating the insulation module at the insert, allowing a large amount of cold energy to be transferred from inside the tank to the outside. This would not only increase the evaporation loss of LNG but could also lead to excessively low local temperatures on the outer wall of the tank, causing structural safety issues. The thermal break section cuts off this thermal bridge channel, blocking the heat conduction path between the cold and hot ends with a low thermal conductivity material, significantly reducing heat leakage through the insert. The cold-end metal section is equipped with a radial expansion structure to form a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer, ensuring the anchoring reliability of the insert. The hot-end metal segment is equipped with threaded holes for connecting external components, ensuring connection strength and thread durability. The thermal break segment is fixed to the cold-end and hot-end metal segments respectively by mechanical interlocking or bonding, ensuring that the connection between the three segments will not detach under extremely low temperatures and vibration conditions.

[0016] Optionally, the insert is a bimetallic composite structure, comprising an inner layer and an outer layer; the tensile strength of the inner layer material is not less than 400 MPa to form the threaded hole, and the elongation after fracture of the outer layer material is not less than 30% to undergo radial expansion deformation; the inner layer and the outer layer are fixed by metallurgical bonding or mechanical bonding.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, the insert employs a bimetallic composite structure, organically combining a high-strength inner layer material with a highly ductile outer layer material, thus resolving the contradiction that a single metal material cannot simultaneously meet the requirements of thread strength and expansion deformation capability. The tensile strength of the inner layer material is not less than 400 MPa, providing sufficient load-bearing capacity for the threaded hole and ensuring that the threads do not strip or deform during repeated tightening and loosening of the fastener. The elongation after fracture of the outer layer material is not less than 30%, possessing excellent plastic deformation capability, and can smoothly undergo radial expansion deformation under axial force, forming a reliable mechanical interlocking structure without cracking or breaking due to insufficient ductility. The inner and outer layers are fixed together by metallurgical bonding or mechanical bonding. Metallurgical bonding can form an atomic-level diffusion connection between the two metal layers, resulting in extremely high bonding strength. Mechanical bonding uses methods such as rolling and pressing to ensure a tight fit between the two metal layers, both of which ensure that the inner and outer layers will not separate during the expansion deformation of the insert and during long-term service.

[0018] Optionally, the insert includes a large end, a deformable part, and a small end in sequence along the axial direction. The inner diameter of the large end is larger than the inner diameter of the small end. A first threaded hole is provided on the inner wall of the large end. A second threaded hole is provided on the inner wall of the small end. The deformable part can clamp the structural reinforcement layer through radial expansion deformation.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, the insert has a large end and a small end with different inner diameters along the axial direction, and a deformation section is set between them. The larger inner diameter of the large end provides a larger nominal thread diameter for the first threaded hole, which can withstand higher tensile and shear loads, and is suitable for fixing external components such as corrugated plates that bear large working loads. The smaller inner diameter of the small end provides a connection interface of different specifications for the second threaded hole, which is suitable for fixing auxiliary components such as shielding membrane strips that bear smaller loads, and can also serve as an anchor point for expansion tools to apply axial compressive force to the insert, causing the sidewall of the insert to undergo radial expansion deformation. The two different specifications of threaded holes on the same insert allow one insert to meet the fixing requirements of multiple external components, reducing the number of inserts and mounting holes on the insulation module, which helps maintain the integrity of the insulation layer and structural reinforcement layer of the insulation module, and reduces the risk of local strength weakening and increased thermal bridging caused by excessive openings.

[0020] Optionally, the inner surface of the insulation module is provided with a shielding film and a corrugated plate; the corrugated plate is laid on top of the shielding film and is fixed to the insulation module by fasteners engaging with the threaded holes of the insert.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solution, a shielding film and a corrugated plate are sequentially laid on the inner surface of the insulation module. The corrugated plate is fixed by fasteners engaging with the threaded holes of the inserts. This fixing method ensures that the installation points of the corrugated plate precisely correspond to the preset positions of the inserts, and each installation point has a reliable anchoring foundation. Under the sloshing loads and thermal shrinkage stresses of liquefied natural gas cargo, the corrugated plate will not experience local detachment or warping. Compared to the traditional method of directly screwing screws into the plywood, fixing through the threaded holes provided by the inserts results in higher connection strength and better consistency. It avoids the problem of fluctuations in the holding force of screws due to differences in the direction of wood fibers within the plywood, thus improving the overall reliability and uniformity of the corrugated plate fixing.

[0022] Optionally, the external component further includes a bridging block that connects two adjacent insulation modules and is secured by a pressure plate fixed to the insert by screws.

[0023] By adopting the above technical solution, the bridging block connects two adjacent insulation modules and is fixed by a pressure plate that is screwed onto the insert. The bridging block serves to fill gaps and provide a transition connection between adjacent insulation modules. The pressure plate presses the bridging block against the edges of the two insulation modules from above. Screws pass through the pressure plate and are screwed into the threaded holes of the insert, forming a complete force transmission link between the bridging block, pressure plate, screws, and insert. This fixing method allows the installation and removal of the bridging block to be completed by operating the screws, facilitating adjustment and maintenance during the construction of the enclosure system. At the same time, the clamping force of the pressure plate is reliably transmitted to the structural reinforcement layer through the insert, ensuring the positional stability of the bridging block during service. Of course, external components also include auxiliary tools such as welding rails for welding corrugated plates and other structures.

[0024] A method for manufacturing an insulation module in a heat-insulating and sealed storage tank as described in any one of the above methods includes the following steps:

[0025] S1: Machine insert mounting holes at predetermined positions in the structural reinforcement layer;

[0026] S2: Insert the insert into the mounting hole in its unexpanded, straight cylindrical state;

[0027] S3: An axial force is applied to the distal end of the insert using an expansion tool, causing the sidewall of the insert to be compressed and undergo radial expansion deformation, with the middle part bulging outward to clamp the structural reinforcement layer and form a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer;

[0028] S4: The structural reinforcement layer and the insulation layer after the insert installation are completed are combined to form an insulation module;

[0029] S5: Lay a shielding film on the inner surface of the insulation module.

[0030] By adopting the above technical solution, the manufacturing method of the insulation module follows a sequence of steps: first, machining the mounting hole; then, inserting the insert; next, expanding and locking; then, bonding with the insulation layer; and finally, laying the shielding film. Each step has a clear logical progression. In step S2, the insert is inserted into the mounting hole in its unexpanded cylindrical state. At this time, the outer diameter of the insert is smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole. No pressure is required during insertion, making the operation quick and easy without damaging the structural reinforcement layer. In step S3, the expansion tool applies axial force through the threaded hole of the insert. This design allows the expansion operation to be completed from the front of the insert, eliminating the need to operate from the back of the structural reinforcement layer, greatly facilitating actual construction. Under the axial force, the insert undergoes radial expansion deformation, bulging outwards from the center to clamp the structural reinforcement layer and form a mechanical interlock. The entire expansion and locking process is completed within seconds, far exceeding the hours of curing time required for adhesive bonding. Step S4 involves bonding the structural reinforcement layer and insulation layer after the insert installation is complete. At this point, the insert is firmly locked within the structural reinforcement layer, and the pressure and temperature during the bonding process do not affect the locking state of the insert. Step S5 is the final step, where a shielding film is laid on the inner surface of the insulation module. This ensures that the shielding film covers the surface of the insulation module after all internal installations have been completed, preventing damage to the shielding film in subsequent processes. The entire manufacturing method does not use adhesives to fix the inserts, eliminating the strict temperature and humidity requirements during adhesive curing. This significantly reduces the dependence of the insulation module manufacturing on environmental conditions, which is beneficial for stable production in shipyards with varying climatic conditions.

[0031] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0032] 1. This application achieves a reliable anchoring connection without relying on adhesives by embedding an insert capable of radial expansion and deformation in the insulation module, thereby forming a mechanical interlock between the insert and the structural reinforcement layer. The connection strength does not decrease in extremely low temperature environments, and it has good tolerance for the dimensional accuracy of the mounting holes, which significantly improves the overall reliability and construction efficiency of the thermal insulation and sealing tank enclosure system.

[0033] 2. This application effectively isolates the cold end metal segment from the hot end metal segment in the heat conduction path by setting a thermal insulation bridge section in the insert, which greatly reduces the amount of heat leakage through the insert and reduces the evaporation loss of liquefied natural gas.

[0034] 3. This application achieves the integration of anti-rotation function and expansion locking function by setting a stop part with a partition groove on the deformable part, so that the stop part can be flipped and embedded into the structural reinforcement layer during the expansion deformation of the insert, without the need for additional anti-rotation parts or processes. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the heat-insulated and sealed storage tank described in Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the insert described in Embodiment 1 of this application in its uninstalled state;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the insert described in Embodiment 1 of this application in its uninstalled state with the thermal insulation module;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the insert described in Embodiment 1 of this application after it has been installed in the structural reinforcement layer and completed radial expansion deformation;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the petal-shaped abutment structure described in Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the arrangement structure of the heat insulation module, shielding film, and corrugated plate described in Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the arrangement structure of the insulation module, bridging block, and pressure plate described in Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0042] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the insert described in Embodiment 2 of this application in its uninstalled state;

[0043] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the deformation groove described in Embodiment 2 of this application;

[0044] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the insert described in Embodiment 2 of this application after it has been installed in the structural reinforcement layer and completed radial expansion deformation;

[0045] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the insert described in Embodiment 3 of this application in its uninstalled state with the thermal insulation module;

[0046] Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional view of the insert described in Embodiment 4 of this application in its uninstalled state with the thermal insulation module.

[0047] In the diagram: 1. Tank body; 11. Inner wall; 2. Insulation module; 21. Insulation layer; 22. Structural reinforcement layer; 221. Mounting hole; 3. Insert; 31. Cap; 32. Large end; 321. First threaded hole; 33. Deformation slot; 331. Deformation part; 3311. Notch; 3312. Petal-shaped abutment structure; 3313. Stop part; 3314. Partition groove; 3315. Deformation groove; 34. Small end; 341. Second threaded hole; 35. Cold end metal section; 36. Thermal insulation bridging section; 37. Hot end metal section; 38. Inner layer; 39. Outer layer; 4. Shielding film; 5. Corrugated plate; 6. Fastener; 7. Bridging block; 8. Pressure plate. Detailed Implementation

[0048] The technical solutions of various embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0049] Example 1

[0050] Reference Figures 1 to 3 This application discloses a heat-insulated and sealed storage tank, including a tank body 1, with an insulation module 2 laid on the inner wall 11 of the tank body 1. The insulation module 2 includes a thermal insulation layer 21 and a structural reinforcement layer 22. The thermal insulation layer 21 is made of polyurethane foam, and the structural reinforcement layer 22 is made of plywood. An insert 3 is embedded in the insulation module 2. The proximal end of the insert 3 has a cap 31 that rests on the surface of the structural reinforcement layer 22, and the side wall has a deformable part 331. The deformable part 331 of the insert 3 can clamp the structural reinforcement layer 22 together with the cap 31 through radial expansion deformation, and form a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer 22. When the insert 3 is mechanically interlocked with the structural reinforcement layer 22, it partially extends into the thermal insulation layer 21. The insert 3 has a threaded hole for cooperating with a fastener 6 to fix external components.

[0051] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 5The insert 3, in its uninstalled state, is cylindrical and made of stainless steel. The near end of the insert 3 has a radially expanding brim 31, which is annular and flange-shaped, with an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the mounting hole 221 on the structural reinforcement layer 22. The sidewalls of the insert 3 are circumferentially distributed with several deformation slots 33, which extend axially along the insert 3, dividing the sidewalls into several deformation portions 331. Each deformation portion 331 has a notch 3311 at its center edge, which is an arc-shaped notch recessed inward along the edge of the deformation portion 331. When an expansion tool applies axial force from the threaded hole of the insert 3, stress concentration and plastic deformation occur first at the notch 3311, guiding the center of the deformation portion 331 to bulge radially outward, ultimately forming a petal-shaped abutment structure 3312. The petal-shaped abutment structure 3312 and the brim 31 apply clamping forces from both sides of the structural reinforcement layer 22, firmly clamping the structural reinforcement layer 22 in the middle to form a stable mechanical interlock.

[0052] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 5 The insert 3 includes, along its axial direction, a large end 32, a deformable portion 331, and a small end 34. The large end 32 is located at the end of the insert 3 closest to the structural reinforcement layer 22, and its inner diameter is larger than that of the small end 34. The inner wall of the large end 32 is provided with a first threaded hole 321. The nominal diameter of the thread in the first threaded hole 321 is relatively large, which can withstand higher tensile and shear loads. It is suitable for fixing external components such as the corrugated plate 5, which bear large working loads, through fasteners 6. The small end 34 is located at the end of the insert 3 closest to the insulation layer 21, and its inner diameter is smaller than that of the large end 32. The inner wall of the small end 34 is provided with a second threaded hole 341. The nominal diameter of the thread in the second threaded hole 341 is relatively small, which is suitable for fixing auxiliary components such as the shielding film 4 pressure strip, which bear smaller loads. The deformable portion 331 is located between the large end 32 and the small end 34. The side wall of the deformable portion 331 is provided with a deformable slot 33 and a notch 3311, which can clamp the structural reinforcement layer 22 through radial expansion deformation.

[0053] refer to Figure 6 The inner surface of the insulation module 2 is provided with a shielding film 4 and a corrugated plate 5. The shielding film 4 is laid on the inner surface of the structural reinforcement layer 22, and the corrugated plate 5 is laid on top of the shielding film 4 and fixed to the insulation module 2 by fasteners 6 engaging with the threaded holes of the insert 3. The fasteners 6 are self-tapping screws or machine screws, which pass through the mounting through holes on the corrugated plate 5 and are screwed into the threaded holes of the insert 3, firmly pressing the corrugated plate 5 on top of the shielding film 4.

[0054] refer to Figure 7The external components also include bridging blocks 7, which connect two adjacent insulation modules 2 and are fixed by pressure plates 8 fixed to inserts 3 by fasteners 6, which can be screws. The pressure plates 8 are metal plates that span above the bridging blocks 7. Both ends of the pressure plates 8 are screwed into the threaded holes of the inserts 3 at the edges of the corresponding insulation modules 2, pressing and fixing the bridging blocks 7 at the joint between the two insulation modules 2. Of course, the external components also include welding tracks, which are fixed to the inserts 3 by fasteners 6 and are used to support and fix the welding connection area between adjacent corrugated plates 5.

[0055] The implementation principle of this embodiment is as follows: the insert 3 is inserted into the mounting hole 221 of the structural reinforcement layer 22 in an unexpanded straight cylindrical state, and the brim 31 rests against the inner surface of the structural reinforcement layer 22. An expansion tool applies axial force from the threaded hole of the insert 3, and the notch 3311 guides the middle part of the deformation part 331 to bulge outward to form a petal-shaped abutment structure 3312, which, together with the brim 31, clamps the structural reinforcement layer 22, forming a mechanical interlock. At the same time, the stop part 3313 flips and embeds into the structural reinforcement layer 22 during the deformation process, providing an anti-rotation function. After the insert 3 is installed, its distal part extends into the insulation layer 21, increasing the anchoring depth. External components such as corrugated plate 5 and bridging block 7 are fixed by fasteners 6 screwed into the threaded holes of insert 3. The entire connection system does not rely on adhesives and maintains reliable connection performance in extremely low temperature environments. Furthermore, two different sizes of threaded holes are provided on the same insert 3: the first threaded hole 321 at the larger end 32 is used to fix the main external components such as corrugated plate 5, and the second threaded hole 341 at the smaller end 34 is used to fix auxiliary components such as shielding membrane 4 and pressure strip. One insert 3 can meet the fixing requirements of multiple external components, reducing the number of inserts 3 and mounting holes 221 on the insulation module 2, which helps maintain the integrity of the insulation layer 21 and structural reinforcement layer 22 of the insulation module 2. It should be noted that the insulated and sealed storage tank and its insulation module provided in this application can be applied to onshore liquefied natural gas storage tanks, as well as to cargo tank containment systems on ships, and other storage containers requiring extremely low temperature insulation and sealing.

[0056] Example 2

[0057] Reference Figures 8 to 10 The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the sidewall of the insert 3 is provided with an anti-rotation structure.

[0058] Reference Figures 8 to 10The anti-rotation structure consists of a stop portion 3313 provided on each deformation portion 331. A partition groove 3314 is formed on the upper edge of the stop portion 3313 in the deformation portion 331. The partition groove 3314 extends circumferentially, so that the stop portion 3313 and the main body of the deformation portion 331 are connected only by the lower edge, forming a cantilever structure. A deformation groove 3315 is provided on the inner wall of the root of the stop portion 3313. This deformation groove 3315 has a V-shaped structure, with its two sides arranged at right angles, to form a sharp-angle stress concentration area under force, guiding the stop portion 3313 to bend.

[0059] Reference Figures 8 to 10 The deformation groove 3315 is located axially below the notch 3311, and the two are arranged vertically correspondingly on the same side wall area of ​​the deformation part 331. The notch 3311 is located at the middle of the edge of the deformation part 331 and is used to guide the middle of the deformation part 331 to bulge outward; the deformation groove 3315 is located inside the root of the stop part 3313 and is used to guide the root of the stop part 3313 to bend when the deformation is transmitted to the stop part 3313.

[0060] Reference Figures 8 to 10 When the deformable part 331 is compressed and deformed under the action of axial force, the deformation process is divided into the following three stages:

[0061] The deformation part bulges in the middle: Under the action of axial extrusion force, stress concentration and plastic deformation occur first at the notch 3311, which guides the middle part of the deformation part 331 to bulge outward along the radial direction, forming a petal-shaped abutment structure 3312.

[0062] Overall deflection of the stop portion: As the middle of the deformable portion 331 bulges outward, the deformed bending edge near the insulation layer 21 is displaced. Since the stop portion 3313 is connected to the main body of the deformable portion 331 through its lower edge, the stop portion 3313 follows the deformed bending edge and deflects, and the whole portion moves toward the structural reinforcement layer 22.

[0063] The root of the stop is bent and flipped into place: While the stop 3313 is deflected as a whole, the deformation groove 3315 located on the inner wall of its root and in a V-shape with its two sides arranged at right angles forms an acute angle stress concentration area when subjected to force, which guides the root of the stop 3313 to bend accordingly, so that the stop 3313 is further flipped into the structural reinforcement layer 22 and finally embedded in the plywood fiber of the structural reinforcement layer 22, forming an anchoring effect similar to barbs.

[0064] Through the above three stages, the stop part 3313 completes the flipping and embedding simultaneously during the expansion and deformation of the deformation part 331, preventing the insert 3 from rotating relative to the insulation module 2.

[0065] The implementation principle of this embodiment is as follows: the anti-rotation structure is implemented by a stop portion 3313 provided on the deformable part 331. A partition groove 3314 is formed on the upper edge of the stop portion 3313, so that the stop portion 3313 and the main body of the deformable part 331 are connected only by the lower edge, forming a cantilever structure. When the deformable part 331 is squeezed and deformed under the action of axial force, the notch 3311 guides the middle part of the deformable part 331 to bulge outward. The stop portion 3313 is connected below the notch 3311 of the deformable part 331 and deflects along the deformed bending edge close to the insulation layer 21, and the whole displacement moves towards the structural reinforcement layer 22. Meanwhile, the V-shaped deformation groove 3315, located on the inner wall of the root of the stop portion 3313 and arranged at right angles on both sides, forms a sharp-angle stress concentration area under stress, guiding the root of the stop portion 3313 to bend accordingly, causing the stop portion 3313 to further flip towards the structural reinforcement layer 22 and embed itself into the plywood fibers of the structural reinforcement layer 22. The notch 3311 and the deformation groove 3315 are arranged vertically and vertically in the axial direction, respectively serving to guide the bulging of the middle part of the deformation portion 331 and guide the bending of the root of the stop portion 3313. The two work together during the deformation process to achieve the flipping and embedding of the stop portion 3313 into the structural reinforcement layer 22. After the stop portion 3313 is flipped, its end penetrates deep into the interior of the structural reinforcement layer 22, forming a mechanical barrier in the circumferential direction to prevent the insert 3 from rotating relative to the structural reinforcement layer 22. The formation of the entire anti-rotation structure is completed simultaneously with the expansion and deformation of insert 3, without the need for additional processing steps or additional parts, which simplifies the installation process of insert 3 and reduces manufacturing and construction costs.

[0066] Example 3

[0067] Reference Figure 11 The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the insert 3 includes, along the axial direction, a cold end metal segment 35, a thermal break segment 36, and a hot end metal segment 37.

[0068] Reference Figure 11 The cold end metal section 35 is made of stainless steel and is located on the side of the insert 3 near the structural reinforcement layer 22. It has a radial expansion structure, namely the aforementioned deformation slot 33, deformation part 331 and notch 3311, which are used to form a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer 22. The cap 31 is located at the near end of the cold end metal section 35.

[0069] Reference Figure 11The thermal break section 36 is made of thermal insulation material; in this embodiment, reinforced polyamide material is used. The thermal break section 36 is located between the cold-end metal section 35 and the hot-end metal section 37, separating the two metal sections in the heat conduction path. The thermal break section 36 is fixed to the cold-end metal section 35 by mechanical interlocking. Specifically, an annular groove can be provided on the end face of the cold-end metal section 35, and an annular flange on the corresponding end of the thermal break section 36 can be embedded in the groove. The thermal break section 36 is also fixed to the hot-end metal section 37 by mechanical interlocking.

[0070] Reference Figure 11 The hot end metal section 37 is made of stainless steel and is located on the side of the insert 3 near the interior of the insulation layer 21. It has threaded holes for use with fasteners 6 to fix external components such as the corrugated plate 5.

[0071] The implementation principle of this embodiment is as follows: the cold-end metal segment 35 of the insert 3 forms a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer 22 through radial expansion deformation, and the hot-end metal segment 37 is fixed to the external component through threaded holes and fasteners 6. The thermal break segment 36 cuts off the metal heat conduction path between the cold-end metal segment 35 and the hot-end metal segment 37, significantly reducing the amount of heat leakage through the insert 3. When the tank is filled with low-temperature liquefied natural gas, the cold energy is effectively blocked after being conducted from the cold-end metal segment 35 to the thermal break segment 36, and will not continue to be conducted to the hot-end metal segment 37 and the outer wall of the tank 1, avoiding the increased evaporation loss and local low temperature problem on the outer wall of the tank 1 caused by the thermal bridge effect.

[0072] Example 4

[0073] Reference Figure 12 The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the insert 3 is a bimetallic composite structure, including an inner layer 38 and an outer layer 39.

[0074] The inner layer 38 is made of carbon steel with a tensile strength of not less than 400 MPa. In this embodiment, 45 steel is selected, with a tensile strength of approximately 600 MPa. The inner layer 38 forms the inner wall surface of the insert 3. The threaded hole is machined on the inner layer 38. The high-strength material of the inner layer 38 ensures that the threaded hole has sufficient load-bearing capacity, and the threads will not strip or deform during repeated tightening and loosening of the fastener 6.

[0075] The outer layer 39 is made of a ductile metal material with an elongation after fracture of not less than 30%. In this embodiment, pure copper is selected, with an elongation after fracture of approximately 45%. The outer layer 39 covers the outer side of the inner layer 38, forming the outer wall surface of the insert 3. Deformation slots 33, deformation portions 331, and notches 3311 are all provided on the outer layer 39. The highly ductile material of the outer layer 39 ensures that the deformation portion 331 can smoothly undergo radial expansion deformation under axial force, forming a reliable petal-shaped abutment structure 3312, without cracking or breaking due to insufficient ductility.

[0076] The inner layer 38 and the outer layer 39 are fixed together by metallurgical bonding. In this embodiment, a hot-press diffusion welding process is used to form an atomic-level diffusion connection layer at the interface of the two metal layers. The bonding strength is extremely high, and the inner and outer layers will not separate during the expansion deformation of the insert 3 and during long-term service.

[0077] The implementation principle of this embodiment is as follows: the outer layer 39 of the insert 3 completes radial expansion deformation due to its excellent plastic deformation capacity, forming a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer 22. The inner layer 38 provides a reliable load-bearing foundation for the threaded hole due to its high strength. The bimetallic composite structure solves the contradiction that a single metal material cannot simultaneously meet the requirements of thread strength and expansion deformation capacity, enabling the insert 3 to have excellent threaded connection performance while ensuring anchoring reliability.

[0078] Example 5

[0079] This application also discloses a method for manufacturing an insulation module in any of the above-described heat-insulating and sealed storage tanks, the method comprising the following steps:

[0080] S1: Insert mounting holes 221 are machined at preset positions on the structural reinforcement layer 22. According to the design drawings of the insulation module 2, circular mounting holes 221 are machined at preset positions on the plywood structural reinforcement layer 22 using a drilling machine. The diameter of the mounting hole 221 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the insert 3 in its unexpanded state to ensure smooth insertion of the insert 3. The positions of the mounting holes 221 correspond to the mounting points of subsequent external components such as the corrugated plate 5, welding rails, and bridging blocks 7.

[0081] S2: Insert the insert 3 into the mounting hole 221 in its unexpanded, straight cylindrical state. At this time, the outer diameter of the insert 3 is smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole 221, and the insert 3 can be easily inserted into the mounting hole 221 from the inner surface side of the structural reinforcement layer 22 until the brim 31 rests against the inner surface of the structural reinforcement layer 22. No pressure is applied during the insertion process, and no damage is caused to the structural reinforcement layer 22.

[0082] S3: An axial force is applied from the distal end of the insert 3 using an expansion tool, causing radial expansion deformation of the sidewall of the insert 3 under pressure. The middle part bulges outward to clamp the structural reinforcement layer 22 and form a mechanical interlock with it. The expansion tool is a dedicated hydraulic or pneumatic riveting tool. Its working head extends into the insert 3 through the threaded hole, applying axial tension to the distal end of the insert 3 or axial pressure to the interior of the insert 3. Under the action of the axial force, plastic deformation occurs first at the notch 3311, guiding the middle part of the deformed part 331 to bulge outward to form a petal-shaped abutment structure 3312. The petal-shaped abutment structure 3312 and the brim 31 together clamp the structural reinforcement layer 22, forming a mechanical interlock. At the same time, the stop part 3313 flips and embeds into the structural reinforcement layer 22 during the deformation process, completing the anti-rotation function. The entire expansion and locking process can be completed within a few seconds.

[0083] S4: The structural reinforcement layer 22 with the installed insert 3 is combined with the insulation layer 21 to form the insulation module 2. The insulation layer 21, made of polyurethane foam material, is bonded to the structural reinforcement layer 22 with the installed insert 3. During the bonding process, the distal part of the insert 3 extends into the insulation layer 21 and is encased by the material of the insulation layer 21. After bonding, the insert 3 is firmly anchored in the insulation module 2, and its threaded hole is exposed from the inner surface of the insulation module 2, facilitating the subsequent installation of external components.

[0084] S5: A shielding film 4 is laid on the inner surface of the insulation module 2. The shielding film 4, made of aluminum foil or stainless steel foil, is laid on the inner surface of the insulation module 2, covering the inner surface of the structural reinforcement layer 22. Through holes are pre-drilled at the corresponding positions of the threaded holes in the insert 3, or the film is punctured when installing external components. The shielding film 4 serves to prevent direct contact between the insulation layer 21 material and liquefied natural gas.

[0085] The implementation principle of this application embodiment is as follows: the entire manufacturing method follows the sequence of first machining the mounting hole 221, then inserting the insert 3, then expanding and locking, then bonding it with the insulation layer 21, and finally laying the shielding film 4. No adhesive is used during the installation of the insert 3, eliminating the strict temperature and humidity requirements during adhesive curing. The expansion and locking process is completed within seconds, far more efficient than the hours of curing time required for adhesive fixation. After the insert 3 is installed on the structural reinforcement layer 22, it is then bonded to the insulation layer 21, allowing the distal end of the insert 3 to naturally extend into the insulation layer 21, increasing the anchoring depth and eliminating the need to separately machine the insert 3 installation structure on the insulation layer 21.

[0086] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A heat-insulated and sealed storage tank, comprising a tank body (1), wherein the inner wall (11) of the tank body (1) is provided with a heat-insulating module (2), the heat-insulating module (2) comprising a heat-insulating layer (21) and a structural reinforcement layer (22), characterized in that, An insert (3) is embedded in the insulation module (2). The near end of the insert (3) is provided with a brim (31) that rests on the surface of the structural reinforcement layer (22), and the side wall is provided with a deformation part (331). The deformation part (331) of the insert (3) can clamp the structural reinforcement layer (22) together with the brim (31) through radial expansion deformation, and form a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer (22). The insert (3) extends to the insulation layer (21) in the state of forming a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer (22). The insert (3) is provided with a threaded hole, which is used to cooperate with a fastener (6) to fix the external component.

2. The insulated and sealed storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insert (3) is cylindrical in the uninstalled state, the brim (31) expands radially, and the sidewall is evenly distributed with several deformation slots (33); the sidewall of the insert (3) forms the deformation portion (331) between adjacent deformation slots (33); the edge of the deformation portion (331) is provided with a notch (3311); when an axial force is applied externally, the notch (3311) guides the insert (3) to undergo radial expansion deformation, causing the middle part of the deformation portion (331) to bulge outward and form a petal-shaped abutment structure (3312) to clamp the structural reinforcement layer (22) with the brim (31).

3. The insulated and sealed storage tank according to claim 2, characterized in that, The sidewall of the insert (3) is provided with an anti-rotation structure. The anti-rotation structure is embedded in the structural reinforcement layer (22) after the insert (3) expands and deforms radially, so as to prevent the insert (3) from rotating relative to the insulation module (2).

4. The insulated and sealed storage tank according to claim 3, characterized in that, The anti-rotation structure is a stop (3313) provided on the deformable part (331). The deformable part (331) has a partition groove (3314) formed on the upper edge of the stop (3313). The inner wall of the root of the stop (3313) is provided with a deformation groove (3315). When the deformable part (331) is squeezed and deformed, the stop (3313) flips toward the structural reinforcement layer (22) to embed into the structural reinforcement layer (22).

5. The insulated and sealed storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insert (3) includes, in sequence along the axial direction, a cold end metal segment (35), a thermal break segment (36), and a hot end metal segment (37); the thermal break segment (36) is made of thermal insulation material and is fixed to the cold end metal segment (35) and the hot end metal segment (37) by mechanical interlocking or bonding, respectively; the cold end metal segment (35) is provided with a radial expansion structure to form a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer (22), and the hot end metal segment (37) is provided with the threaded hole.

6. The insulated and sealed storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insert (3) is a bimetallic composite structure, including an inner layer (38) and an outer layer (39); the tensile strength of the inner layer (38) material is not less than 400 MPa to form the threaded hole, and the elongation after fracture of the outer layer (39) material is not less than 30% to undergo radial expansion deformation; the inner layer (38) and the outer layer (39) are fixed by metallurgical bonding or mechanical bonding.

7. The insulated and sealed storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insert (3) includes a large end (32), a deformable part (331) and a small end (34) in sequence along the axial direction. The inner diameter of the large end (32) is larger than the inner diameter of the small end (34). A first threaded hole (321) is provided on the inner wall of the large end (32). A second threaded hole (341) is provided on the inner wall of the small end (34). The deformable part (331) can clamp the structural reinforcement layer (22) through radial expansion deformation.

8. The insulated and sealed storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner surface of the insulation module (2) is provided with a shielding film (4) and a corrugated plate (5); the corrugated plate (5) is laid on top of the shielding film (4) and is fixed to the insulation module (2) by fasteners (6) cooperating with the threaded holes of the insert (3).

9. The insulated and sealed storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The external component also includes a bridging block (7), which connects two adjacent insulation modules (2) and is fixed by a pressure plate (8) that is fixed to the insert (3) by screws.

10. A method for manufacturing an insulation module in a heat-insulating and sealed storage tank as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Insert mounting holes (221) are machined at preset positions in the structural reinforcement layer (22); S2: Insert the insert (3) into the mounting hole (221) in a straight, unexpanded state; S3: An axial force is applied to the distal end of the insert (3) by an expansion tool, causing the sidewall of the insert (3) to be compressed and undergo radial expansion deformation, and the middle part bulges outward to clamp the structural reinforcement layer (22) and form a mechanical interlock with the structural reinforcement layer (22); S4: The structural reinforcement layer (22) with the completed insert (3) installation is combined with the insulation layer (21) to form an insulation module (2); S5: A shielding film (4) is laid on the inner surface of the insulation module (2).

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