An LNG fuelled ship

Abstract

The application discloses an LNG fuel ship and belongs to the technical field of ships. The ship comprises a tank connecting space, an LNG film enclosure system, pipelines and a first deck, a second deck and a third deck from top to bottom; the first deck is an outer deck; the LNG film enclosure system is installed below the third deck; the LNG film enclosure system comprises a sealing layer and a heat insulation layer arranged from inside to outside; the heat insulation layer is installed below the third deck through fasteners or adhesives; the tank connecting space is entirely located above the first deck; there is an isolation space between the second deck and the third deck; one end of the pipeline is located in the LNG film enclosure system, the other end of the pipeline extends to the tank connecting space from a dome of the LNG film enclosure system, and a valve is further arranged on the pipeline and located in the tank connecting space. The application solves the problems of direct impact on the tank connecting space caused by abnormal leakage of the film tank and life safety problems caused to the ship staff.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of shipbuilding technology, and more specifically to an LNG-fueled ship. Background Technology

[0002] Ships that use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel typically have a complex LNG fuel supply system. According to the International Code for the Safety of the Use of Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels in Ships, fuel tank connections, fittings, flanges, and valves, if not located on an open deck, must be enclosed in an airtight tank connection space (TCS). This space must be able to safely contain any leaks that may occur at the fuel tank connections to prevent LNG or vapors from spreading to other areas of the ship's hold.

[0003] In existing technologies, tank connection spaces are typically located on the load-bearing bulkhead of the cargo tanks of LNG-fueled vessels. However, with this arrangement, facilities such as manual maintenance access routes must also be installed on the cargo tank load-bearing bulkhead. If a leak occurs in the cargo tank, on the one hand, the leaked LNG or cryogenic vapors will directly affect the cargo tank load-bearing bulkhead and the tank connection space located thereon. This could not only compromise the airtightness of the tank connection space but also expose the load-bearing bulkhead structure to the risk of cryogenic embrittlement, endangering the overall structural safety of the vessel. On the other hand, the manual maintenance access routes located on the load-bearing bulkhead will be in the same hazardous space as the leak area, which will affect the personal safety of maintenance personnel.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an LNG-fueled vessel with a tank connection space arrangement structure that can overcome the above-mentioned defects. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an LNG-fueled vessel that can ensure that the fuel connection point is not affected by fuel tank leakage by setting an isolation space between the fuel connection point and the fuel tank, thereby improving the safety of the LNG-fueled vessel.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides an LNG-fueled vessel, comprising a tank connection space, an LNG membrane containment system, pipelines, and a first deck, a second deck, and a third deck arranged from top to bottom; the first deck is the outer deck; the LNG membrane containment system is installed below the third deck; the LNG membrane containment system includes a sealing layer and an insulation layer arranged from the inside out, the insulation layer being installed below the third deck by fasteners or adhesives; the entire tank connection space is located above the first deck; an isolation space exists between the second and third decks; one end of the pipeline is located within the LNG membrane containment system, and the other end extends from the dome of the LNG membrane containment system into the tank connection space; valves are also installed on the pipelines, and the valves are located within the tank connection space.

[0007] According to this implementation, a second deck is added between the first deck (outer deck) and the third deck, forming an isolation space between the first deck and the second deck. By setting the tank connection space above the first deck (outer deck), the isolation space acts as a buffer when the membrane tank leaks, preventing the leaked natural gas from directly impacting the tank connection space.

[0008] In one possible implementation described above, the LNG-fueled vessel also includes auxiliary equipment rooms, with a first space existing between the first deck and the second deck; all of the auxiliary equipment rooms are located within the first space.

[0009] In one possible implementation described above, the LNG-fueled vessel also includes an auxiliary equipment room, with a first space between the first deck and the second deck; the auxiliary equipment room is partially located within the first space.

[0010] In one possible implementation described above, the LNG-fueled vessel also includes auxiliary equipment rooms, all of which are located above the first deck.

[0011] In one possible implementation described above, the isolation space is provided with multiple first partitions, which divide the isolation space into multiple chambers.

[0012] In one possible implementation described above, the tank connection space is not located directly above the dome of the LNG membrane enclosure system, the top of the dome is located below the second deck, and the other end of the pipeline extends out from the dome; a through hole is opened on the first partition, and the pipeline includes one or more pipes, at least one of which passes through the through hole in the isolation space and extends from one chamber to another.

[0013] In one possible implementation described above, the LNG-fueled vessel further includes a fuel preparation compartment, wherein the entire fuel preparation compartment is located within the first space and a dike is provided outside the fuel preparation compartment;

[0014] The fuel preparation room and the tank connection space are connected by a pipeline, with the two ends of the pipeline located in the fuel preparation room and the tank connection space, respectively.

[0015] In one possible implementation described above, the LNG-fueled vessel further includes a fuel preparation room, wherein the fuel preparation room is partially located within the first space and a dike is provided outside the fuel preparation room;

[0016] The fuel preparation room and the tank connection space are connected by a pipeline, with the two ends of the pipeline located in the fuel preparation room and the tank connection space, respectively.

[0017] In one possible implementation described above, the LNG-fueled vessel further includes a fuel preparation bay, all of which are located above the first deck.

[0018] The fuel preparation room is connected to the tank connection space via a pipeline;

[0019] The two ends of the pipeline are located in the fuel preparation room and the tank connection space, respectively.

[0020] In one possible implementation described above, a gas detector is installed in the isolated space.

[0021] In one possible implementation described above, a dike is provided around the outer perimeter of the tank connection space. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the double-hulled LNG-fueled ship of the present invention.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0024] 1. First deck; 100 tank connection space;

[0025] 2. Second deck; 200 LNG membrane enclosure system;

[0026] 3. Third deck; 300 pipelines;

[0027] 4 isolation spaces; 400 auxiliary equipment rooms;

[0028] 5. First partition; 500 fuel preparation room;

[0029] 6. First space; 600 piping. Detailed Implementation

[0030] This application provides an LNG-fueled vessel, which exhibits significant safety and reliability.

[0031] To clearly describe the technical features of this application, specific embodiments and accompanying drawings are provided below for detailed explanation. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. This repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or settings discussed. It should be noted that the components illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques and processes are omitted in this application to avoid unnecessarily limiting the scope of this application. References Figure 1 The diagram shows a schematic representation of a multimodal early warning embodiment of a membrane compartment in an LNG carrier according to the present invention.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 An LNG-fueled vessel is shown, including a tank connection space 100, an LNG membrane containment system 200, pipelines 300, and a first deck 1, a second deck 2, and a third deck 3.

[0033] Understandable, such as Figure 1 As shown, the tank connection space is a sealed space used to store joints, pipelines 300, fittings, flanges, and valves of the LNG ship's fuel tank pipelines. In this embodiment, the entire tank connection space 100 is located above the first deck 1.

[0034] In some embodiments, a dike is also provided around the outer periphery of the tank connection space 100. The dike is a liquid-blocking structure provided around the bottom of the tank connection space to collect and contain any LNG or condensate that may leak, preventing cryogenic liquid from overflowing into adjacent areas, thereby protecting the ship structure and personnel safety.

[0035] In some embodiments, the material of the cofferdam may include stainless steel, aluminum alloy or other low-temperature resistant composite materials, and the shape may be ring-shaped, rectangular or polygonal, which is not limited herein.

[0036] Understandable, such as Figure 1 As shown, the fuel tank can be constructed using an LNG membrane enclosure system 200, wherein the LNG membrane enclosure system 200 on the top wall of the fuel tank is installed below the third deck 3, and the LNG membrane enclosure system 200 may include a sealing layer and a heat insulation layer arranged from the inside out.

[0037] It is understood that in some embodiments, the sealing layer is typically made of stainless steel corrugated sheet, which can seal the insulation layer to prevent LNG from directly contacting the insulation layer; the insulation layer is typically filled with polyurethane blocks to keep the LNG cold and reduce LNG evaporation.

[0038] It is understood that the aforementioned insulation layer can be installed below the third deck 3 using fasteners or adhesives. Fasteners may include bolts, and adhesives may include resin putty; this application does not limit the specific type of fastener.

[0039] Understandable, such as Figure 1 As shown, the pipeline may include a liquid fuel pipeline or a gaseous fuel pipeline, wherein the liquid fuel pipeline can be used to transport LNG, and the gaseous fuel pipeline can be used to transport vaporized LNG.

[0040] In some embodiments, one end of the pipeline 300 is located inside the LNG membrane enclosure system 200, and the other end extends from the dome of the LNG membrane enclosure system 200 into the tank connection space 100. A valve is also provided on the pipeline 300, and the valve is located inside the tank connection space 100.

[0041] It is understood that the above-mentioned pipelines can be connected by butt welding or flanges, and the above-mentioned valves can include one or more of the following: shut-off valves, check valves, flow regulating valves or emergency shut-off valves, which are not limited herein.

[0042] Understandable, such as Figure 1 As shown, the first deck 1, the second deck 2, and the third deck 3 are the decks arranged from top to bottom in an LNG-fueled ship.

[0043] The first deck (1) is the outer deck, used to support deck machinery or mooring equipment required for ship navigation and operations, and to provide a platform for daily inspections and maintenance by the crew, while also protecting the LNG fuel tank from external factors such as waves. The third deck (3) is the inner deck, used as a load-bearing wall for installing the top wall of the membrane tank.

[0044] It is understandable that for ship personnel, conducting maintenance or inspections directly on the third deck could present the following problems. First, as the supporting wall of the membrane-type LNG fuel tank, the surface temperature of the third deck is significantly reduced due to the low temperature of the LNG fuel inside, posing a risk of frostbite to ship personnel upon direct contact. Second, if an LNG fuel tank leaks, it will rapidly vaporize and spread, forming a cloud of low-temperature flammable gas. The surface and adjacent areas of the third deck, as the supporting wall of the membrane-type LNG fuel tank, will become the primary accumulation and vaporization zone for leaked LNG, leading to a sharp decrease in oxygen concentration and a risk of flammable gas accumulation. If ship personnel are conducting maintenance or inspections on the third deck at this time, they will be directly exposed to the dangerous environment of low-temperature asphyxiation and flammable gas explosion, seriously threatening their lives and hindering the timely detection and emergency response to leaks.

[0045] Therefore, this application adds a second deck 2 between the first deck 1 and the third deck 3, thus forming a sealed isolation space 4 between the second deck 2 and the third deck 3. It is understood that since the top wall of the fuel tank constructed by the LNG membrane containment system 200 can be installed on the third deck 3, and since the tank connection space 100 is entirely located above the first deck 1, this isolation space 4 can serve as a buffer space in the event of a leak in the LNG membrane containment system 200, reducing the direct impact of leaked LNG on the tank connection space and personnel, and improving the safety of ship operation.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 The LNG-fueled vessel shown also includes an auxiliary equipment room 400. This auxiliary equipment room 400 houses other auxiliary equipment required for the operation of the LNG-fueled vessel, such as a nitrogen supply system for supplying inert gas to the insulation layer of the LNG membrane containment system 200 to maintain an inert atmosphere within the space.

[0047] In some embodiments, since a gas detector is provided in the isolation space 4, a gas monitoring and alarm device is also provided in the auxiliary equipment room 400, which can be used to monitor the concentration of combustible gas in the tank connection space 100 and the auxiliary equipment room 400 in real time, and issue an alarm signal when an abnormality is detected.

[0048] Furthermore, the auxiliary equipment room 400 also includes a ventilation device for forced ventilation of the tank connection space 100 and the auxiliary equipment room 400 to prevent the accumulation of combustible gases in the aforementioned space.

[0049] In some embodiments, a first space 6 exists between the first deck 1 and the second deck 2. The auxiliary equipment room 400 is wholly or partially located within the first space 6, or the auxiliary equipment room 400 is entirely located above the first deck 1.

[0050] It is understood that since the auxiliary equipment room 400 is connected to the tank connection space 100 through pipelines, the specific location of the auxiliary equipment room 400 can be selected from the above two methods according to the specific pipeline process, and this application does not limit it here.

[0051] Specifically, the auxiliary equipment room 400 can be entirely or partially located in the first space 6 above the first deck 1, according to the overall layout requirements of the ship. This makes full use of the enclosed or semi-enclosed space above the first deck 1, allowing auxiliary equipment such as nitrogen supply, ventilation, gas monitoring, and electrical control to be located close to the tank connection space 100, shortening the laying distance of control cables and instrument pipelines, and improving system integration. The fuel preparation room 500 is entirely located above the first deck 1, placing it in an open / semi-open environment in the outer deck or superstructure area. This facilitates the rapid dilution of potentially leaked combustible gases using natural or forced ventilation, reducing the risk of combustible gas accumulation. At the same time, it provides an open and easily accessible emergency response space for LNG vaporization, heating, pressure regulation, and other process operations.

[0052] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 The isolation space 4 of the LNG-fueled ship shown is also equipped with multiple first partitions 5, which divide the isolation space 4 into multiple chambers.

[0053] It is understood that the aforementioned first bulkhead 5 can be arranged laterally along the LNG-fueled vessel, and the upper and lower ends of each first bulkhead 5 are fixedly connected to the second deck 2 and the third deck 3, respectively, to form a vertical structure for the isolation space 4. The multiple first bulkheads 5 divide the isolation space 4 into multiple independent chambers.

[0054] In some embodiments, the tank connection space 100 may be located directly above the dome of the LNG membrane enclosure system 200. In this case, no through-hole is required on the first partition 5, and the pipeline 300 can be directly connected from the dome to the tank connection space 100.

[0055] In other embodiments, the tank connection space 100 is not located directly above the dome of the LNG membrane enclosure system 200, with the top of the dome located below the second deck 2, and the other end of the pipeline 300 exiting from the dome.

[0056] Thus, in this configuration, a through-hole is also provided on the first partition 5, and the pipeline 300 includes one or more pipes, at least one of which passes through the through-hole in the isolation space 4, extending from one chamber to another. This prevents the pipeline 300 from extending into the first space 6, improving the compactness and safety of the pipeline 300 arrangement.

[0057] It is understandable that by setting multiple first partitions 5, on the one hand, the structural rigidity and load-bearing capacity between the second deck 2 and the third deck 3 are improved, effectively transferring the load on the top of the LNG membrane enclosure system 200; on the other hand, by dividing the isolation space 4 into multiple independent chambers, the zonal arrangement of pipelines with different media and functions is realized, avoiding cross-interference between pipelines. Furthermore, in the event of an LNG leak in a certain chamber, the leak range can be effectively limited, preventing the large-scale diffusion of cryogenic liquid or vaporized gas within the isolation space 4, facilitating rapid location of the leak source and emergency response. This further improves the sealing and safety of the isolation space 4.

[0058] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 The LNG-fueled vessel shown also includes a 500-room fuel preparation room.

[0059] The fuel preparation room 500 is located entirely or partially within the first space 6 and a dike is provided outside the fuel preparation room 500, or the fuel preparation room 500 is entirely located above the first deck 1.

[0060] In some embodiments, the fuel preparation room 500 is located between the gas consuming equipment and the tank connection space 100, and is connected to the tank connection space 100 via a pipe 600. The two ends of the pipe 600 are located within the fuel preparation room 500 and the tank connection space 100, respectively.

[0061] It is understood that the fuel preparation room 500 can be used to receive LNG from the tank connection space 100 and process the LNG through processes such as gasification, pressurization, heating and temperature regulation to convert the LNG into natural gas fuel that meets the inlet parameters of the gas consumption equipment, and then transport the processed natural gas fuel to the gas consumption equipment.

[0062] It is understood that the fuel preparation room 500 is connected to the pipeline 300 within the tank connection space 100 via a fuel supply pipeline, and a fuel control valve assembly is installed on the fuel supply pipeline. The fuel preparation room 500 is equipped with an LNG vaporizer, a fuel heater, a pressure regulating device, and a fuel metering device, which can vaporize liquefied LNG into gaseous natural gas. The fuel heater is used to regulate the temperature of the vaporized natural gas to prevent low-temperature natural gas from directly entering the gas-consuming equipment and causing equipment damage or reduced combustion efficiency. The pressure regulating device is used to regulate the natural gas pressure to the required inlet pressure range for the gas-consuming equipment. The fuel metering device is used to monitor and measure the flow rate of natural gas supplied to the gas-consuming equipment.

[0063] It should be noted that in the examples and description of this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0064] The reference to "some embodiments" or "embodiments" in the specification means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one exemplary implementation or technology disclosed according to embodiments of this application. The appearance of the phrase "some embodiments" in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0065] Furthermore, the language used in this specification has been primarily chosen for readability and instructional purposes and may not have been selected to depict or limit the disclosed subject matter. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in this application are intended to illustrate, rather than limit, the scope of the concepts discussed herein. The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments provided to fully illustrate the invention, and the scope of protection of the invention is not limited thereto. Equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art based on the invention are all within the scope of protection of the invention. The scope of protection of the invention is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. An LNG-fueled ship, characterized in that, The system includes a tank connection space (100), an LNG membrane enclosure system (200), pipelines (300), and a first deck (1), a second deck (2), and a third deck (3) arranged from top to bottom. The first deck (1) is the outer deck. The LNG membrane enclosure system (200) is installed below the third deck (3). The LNG membrane enclosure system (200) includes a sealing layer and an insulation layer arranged from the inside to the outside. The insulation layer is installed below the third deck (3) by fasteners or adhesives. The tank connection space (100) is entirely located above the first deck (1). There is an isolation space (4) between the second deck (2) and the third deck (3). One end of the pipeline (300) is located inside the LNG membrane enclosure system (200), and the other end extends from the dome of the LNG membrane enclosure system (200) into the tank connection space (100). A valve is also installed on the pipeline (300), and the valve is located inside the tank connection space (100). The isolation space (4) is provided with a plurality of first partitions (5), which divide the isolation space (4) into a plurality of chambers; the tank connection space (100) is not located directly above the dome of the LNG membrane enclosure system (200), the top of the dome is located below the second deck (2), and the other end of the pipeline (300) extends out from the dome; through holes are opened on the first partitions (5), and the pipeline (300) includes one or more pipes, at least one of the pipes passing through the through hole in the isolation space (4) and extending from one chamber to another; A gas detector is installed in the isolation space (4).

2. The LNG-fueled ship according to claim 1, characterized in that, The LNG-fueled vessel also includes an auxiliary equipment room (400), and a first space (6) exists between the first deck (1) and the second deck (2); the auxiliary equipment room (400) is entirely located within the first space (6).

3. The LNG-fueled ship according to claim 1, characterized in that, The LNG-fueled vessel also includes an auxiliary equipment room (400), and a first space (6) exists between the first deck (1) and the second deck (2); the auxiliary equipment room (400) is partially located within the first space (6).

4. The LNG-fueled ship according to claim 1, characterized in that, The LNG-fueled vessel also includes an auxiliary equipment room (400), all of which are located above the first deck (1).

5. The LNG-fueled ship according to claim 1, characterized in that, The LNG-fueled vessel also includes a fuel preparation room (500), and a first space (6) exists between the first deck (1) and the second deck (2); wherein the fuel preparation room (500) is entirely located within the first space (6) and a dike is provided outside the fuel preparation room (500); the fuel preparation room (500) is connected to the tank connection space (100) via a pipeline (600), and the two ends of the pipeline (600) are located within the fuel preparation room (500) and the tank connection space (100) respectively.

6. The LNG-fueled ship according to claim 1, characterized in that, The LNG-fueled vessel also includes a fuel preparation room (500), and a first space (6) exists between the first deck (1) and the second deck (2); wherein, the fuel preparation room (500) is partially located within the first space (6) and a dike is provided outside the fuel preparation room (500); the fuel preparation room (500) is connected to the tank connection space (100) via a pipeline (600), and the two ends of the pipeline (600) are located within the fuel preparation room (500) and the tank connection space (100) respectively.

7. The LNG-fueled ship according to claim 1, characterized in that, The LNG-fueled vessel also includes a fuel preparation room (500), which is located entirely above the first deck (1); the fuel preparation room (500) is connected to the tank connection space (100) via a pipeline (600); the two ends of the pipeline (600) are located in the fuel preparation room (500) and the tank connection space (100) respectively.

8. The LNG-fueled ship according to claim 1, characterized in that, A dike is provided around the outer perimeter of the tank connection space (100).

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