Thermal insulation retractable support for large hot tanks

Abstract

The application relates to a heat-insulating retractable support of a large heat tank, which comprises a heat-insulating layer arranged outside the tank body, a protective layer outside the heat-insulating layer, and a retractable lever structure arranged in the heat-insulating layer. The retractable lever structure comprises a first support beam, a second support beam, a third support beam and a connecting rod. One end of the first support beam is hinged to the tank body; one end of the second support beam is hinged to the protective layer, and the middle part of the second support beam is hinged to the other end of the first support beam; one end of the third support beam is hinged to the middle part of the first support beam; and the two ends of the connecting rod are respectively hinged to the middle part of the third support beam and the end of the second support beam away from the protective layer, so that the four parts form a four-bar hinged structure which can rotate relative to each other. The heat tank thermal expansion displacement is converted into the angle change of the connecting rod structure, the heat displacement is absorbed to keep the protective layer static, and the protective layer is prevented from expanding and cracking. Meanwhile, the heat-insulating layer can be combined with a support film to layer-carrying heat-insulating materials, the self-weight settlement of the heat-insulating layer is prevented, and the structural safety and heat-insulating effect of the heat tank are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of energy storage equipment technology, and in particular to a thermally insulated and retractable thermal support for a large hot tank. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of solar thermal power generation and thermal energy storage technologies, the individual capacity and volume of thermal storage equipment such as molten salt tanks and hot water tanks are constantly increasing. In order to reduce heat loss, the outer surface of large thermal tanks is usually covered with a thick insulation layer, and a metal protective layer (such as aluminum alloy plate, color steel plate or stainless steel plate) is installed on the outside of the insulation layer. The insulation layer and the protective layer are often connected and fixed internally by rigid support plates or pins.

[0003] However, existing thermal insulation support structures have the following drawbacks in actual operation: First, large thermal tanks experience significant temperature differences between storage and non-storage conditions, leading to dramatic radial thermal expansion of the tank body. Because the outer protective layer is at a lower temperature, it cannot expand synchronously with the tank body, and the immense expansion thrust of the tank body is directly transferred to the protective layer through rigid support components. This rigidity can easily cause internal connecting pins to break and the outer protective layer to crack and deform. Once the protective layer is damaged, rainwater and humid air can penetrate the insulation layer, causing a rapid decline or even failure in insulation performance, resulting in severe heat loss and economic losses.

[0004] Secondly, the insulation layers of large hot tanks (such as rock wool, aluminum silicate, etc.) are usually thick and heavy, making it difficult for traditional insulation nails to provide effective support from all directions. Under the influence of gravity, loose insulation materials are prone to sinking and accumulating over a long period of time, resulting in uneven distribution of the insulation layer and causing severe local heat loss. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above problems, this application provides a shrinkable insulation support for a large hot tank. The radial expansion displacement of the hot tank is converted into the angle change of the mechanical linkage through a four-bar hinge structure, thereby achieving displacement decoupling between the inner and outer layers and avoiding the outer protective layer from cracking due to the thermal expansion thrust of the tank.

[0006] The large hot tank insulation retractable insulation support provided in this application includes an insulation layer disposed on the outside of the tank body, a protective layer disposed on the outside of the insulation layer, and a retractable lever structure connecting the tank body and the protective layer. The retractable lever structure is installed inside the insulation layer, and the retractable lever structure includes a first support beam, a second support beam, a third support beam, and a connecting rod; One end of the first support beam is hinged to the tank body; One end of the second support beam is hinged to the protective layer, and the middle part of the second support beam is hinged to the other end of the first support beam; One end of the third support beam is hinged to the middle of the first support beam; One end of the connecting rod is hinged to the middle of the third support beam, and the other end of the connecting rod is hinged to the other end of the second support beam away from the protective layer; The first support beam, the second support beam, the third support beam, and the connecting rod form a four-bar hinge structure that allows relative rotation.

[0007] Preferably, a first clamp and a second clamp are fixedly provided on the rod of the second support beam, the second clamp being disposed between the first clamp and the protective layer; the end of the first support beam away from the tank body is hinged to the second clamp; the end of the connecting rod away from the third support beam is hinged to the first clamp.

[0008] Preferably, the distance between the hinge point of the first support beam and the second support beam and the hinge point of the connecting rod and the second support beam is 0.1 to 0.2 times the total length of the second support beam.

[0009] Preferably, it further includes a guide ring horizontally arranged around the outer wall of the tank; the end of the third support beam away from the first support beam is provided with a through hole, the guide ring passes through the through hole, and the inner diameter of the through hole is larger than the outer diameter of the guide ring.

[0010] Preferably, a safety gap is reserved between the inner side of the guide ring and the outer wall of the tank.

[0011] Preferably, the first support beam is connected to the tank body via a first positioning component, one end of which is fixed to the outer wall of the tank body; the second support beam is connected to the protective layer via a second positioning component, one end of which is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the protective layer.

[0012] Preferably, both the first positioning component and the second positioning component include two parallel connecting plates, and the two connecting plates are provided with coaxial pin holes; the ends of the first support beam and the ends of the second support beam are respectively inserted between the corresponding two connecting plates, and are connected by bolts passing through the pin holes to form a hinge structure.

[0013] Preferably, the retractable lever structure is provided in multiple layers along the height direction of the tank; in the same layer, the multiple retractable lever structures are arranged in a circular array with the center of the cross-section of the tank as the center.

[0014] Preferably, it further includes a support membrane, which is laid horizontally above each layer of the retractable lever structure; the insulation layer is divided into multiple insulation layers by multiple layers of the support membrane, and the support membrane transfers the gravity of the insulation layer to the retractable lever structure.

[0015] Preferably, the outer wall of the tank is further fixed with multiple insulation nails, and the insulation layer is hung on the insulation nails; the support membrane is a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane; the protective layer is composed of multiple protective plates spliced ​​together, and the protective plates are one of aluminum alloy plates, aluminum sheets, stainless steel sheets or galvanized iron sheets; it also includes long pins, and the protective plates are connected to the insulation layer through the long pins.

[0016] The thermally insulated and retractable support for large hot tanks provided in this application utilizes a four-bar hinged structure composed of support beams and connecting rods. This structure converts the thermal expansion displacement of the tank body into changes in the hinge angle, absorbing thermal displacement and keeping the protective layer stationary to prevent cracking and rainwater intrusion. The hinge points of the first and second support beams are located close to the connecting rods, reducing the range of motion of the connecting rods and increasing the vertical load-bearing stiffness. In conjunction with the support membrane, the weight of the insulation material is transferred to the support mechanism in layers, preventing uneven distribution and heat loss caused by material settling. The guide ring restricts the deformation trajectory, ensuring the overall structural stability. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of this application will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only for illustrating preferred embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the insulated and retractable thermal support for a large hot tank provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional arrangement of the retractable lever structure provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Sectional view at point AA.

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Enlarged diagram of point B in the middle.

[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 Enlarged diagram of point C in the middle.

[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 Enlarged diagram of point D in the middle.

[0023] The components include: tank body 1, insulation layer 2, protective layer 3, telescopic lever structure 4, first support beam 5, second support beam 6, third support beam 7, connecting rod 8, first clamp 9, second clamp 10, guide ring 11, third positioning component 13, first positioning component 14, second positioning component 15, connecting plate 16, bolt 18, support membrane 19, insulation nail hook 20, and long pin 22. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0025] It should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this application.

[0026] In its terminology, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in this specification and claims are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly specifying the number, particular order, or primary / secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. Furthermore, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0027] In terms of spatial orientation, the technical terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. This is only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0028] Regarding connection relationships, the technical terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can refer to the internal connection of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0029] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the thermally shrinkable insulation support for large thermal tanks provided in this embodiment is mainly used to solve the problem of insulation structure damage caused by thermal expansion under drastic temperature differences in large thermal storage equipment. The support system mainly includes an insulation layer 2 disposed on the outside of the tank body 1, a protective layer 3 disposed on the outside of the insulation layer 2, and a retractable lever structure 4 connecting the tank body 1 and the protective layer 3.

[0030] Specifically, the retractable lever structure 4 is inserted within the insulation layer 2, serving as a transmission and load-bearing framework. Understandably, the insulation layer 2 has at least enough space for the retractable lever structure 4 to deform. In this embodiment, the retractable lever structure 4 includes a first support beam 5, a second support beam 6, a third support beam 7, and a connecting rod 8. One end of the first support beam 5 is hinged to the tank body 1, and one end of the second support beam 6 is hinged to the protective layer 3. Simultaneously, the middle portion of the second support beam 6 is hinged to the other end of the first support beam 5, and one end of the third support beam 7 is hinged to the middle portion of the first support beam 5. To form a closed-loop motion mechanism, one end of the connecting rod 8 is hinged to the middle portion of the third support beam 7, and the other end of the connecting rod 8 is hinged to the other end of the second support beam 6 away from the protective layer 3.

[0031] During operation, the first support beam 5, the second support beam 6, the third support beam 7, and the connecting rod 8 form a four-bar hinged structure capable of relative rotation. When the tank 1 stores a high-temperature medium and undergoes radial thermal expansion, the outer wall of the tank 1 pushes the first support beam 5 outward. This four-bar hinged structure mechanically folds by adaptively changing the angles of each internal hinge point, thereby converting the linear expansion displacement of the tank 1 into an angular change in the linkage mechanism. This structure effectively absorbs the outward pushing amount, keeping the end of the second support beam 6 connected to the protective layer 3 relatively stationary, completely decoupling the physical linkage between the thermal expansion of the tank 1 and the protective layer 3, fundamentally preventing the protective layer 3 from cracking and deforming.

[0032] In some embodiments, to facilitate on-site assembly and improve connection strength, a first clamp 9 and a second clamp 10 are fixedly disposed on the shaft of the second support beam 6, with the second clamp 10 positioned between the first clamp 9 and the protective layer 3. The end of the first support beam 5 away from the tank body 1 is hinged to the second clamp 10, and the end of the connecting rod 8 away from the third support beam 7 is hinged to the first clamp 9. The first clamp 9 and the second clamp 10 can be welded to the second support beam 6, providing a robust load-bearing base for the hinge points.

[0033] In some embodiments, the distance between the hinge point of the first support beam 5 and the second support beam 6 and the hinge point of the connecting rod 8 and the second support beam 6 is set to 0.1 to 0.2 times the total length of the second support beam 6. This allows the second support beam 6 to form an asymmetrical lever ratio of a long outer cantilever and a short inner transmission arm. This small-distance transmission design not only absorbs huge thermal expansion displacements with a very small range of motion of the connecting rod, preventing the mechanism from being excessively folded and jammed, but also significantly shortens the suspended load-bearing section of the second support beam 6, effectively improving the bending stiffness of the entire support structure in the vertical direction.

[0034] In some embodiments, to ensure the consistency of the motion trajectory and overall structural stability of the retractable lever structure 4 under stress and deformation, this embodiment further includes a guide ring 11 horizontally arranged around the outer wall of the tank 1. A through hole is provided at the end of the third support beam 7 away from the first support beam 5, and the guide ring 11 passes through the through hole, with the inner diameter of the through hole being larger than the outer diameter of the guide ring 11. During thermal expansion, the end of the third support beam 7 can slide along the guide ring 11, which connects the circumferentially distributed retractable lever structures 4 into a single unit, preventing local mechanisms from deflecting or twisting under pressure. Furthermore, a safety gap is reserved between the inner side of the guide ring 11 and the outer wall of the tank 1. The specific value of this safety gap is determined based on the maximum radial expansion of the tank 1 at the highest design operating temperature, ensuring that the outer wall of the tank 1 will not directly collide with the guide ring 11 under any extreme high-temperature conditions, providing sufficient structural safety margin.

[0035] In some embodiments, regarding the specific implementation of the hinge node, such as Figure 5 , Figure 6As shown, the first support beam 5 is connected to the tank body 1 via a first positioning component 14, one end of which is fixed to the outer wall of the tank body 1. In this embodiment, the end of the third support beam 6 away from the first support beam 5 can be hinged to the outer wall of the tank body via a third positioning component 13, which has the same structure as the first positioning component 14. The second support beam 6 is connected to the protective layer 3 via a second positioning component 15, one end of which is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the protective layer 3. Specifically, the first positioning component 14, the second positioning component 15, and the third positioning component 13 each include two parallel connecting plates 16, with coaxial pin holes on the two connecting plates 16. The ends of the first support beam 5 and the second support beam 6 are respectively inserted between the corresponding two connecting plates 16, and bolts 18 pass through the pin holes to form a hinged structure. This double-ear plate hinged design can effectively withstand radial thrust and vertical shear force, ensuring a smooth and reliable transmission process.

[0036] In some embodiments, in terms of overall spatial layout, multiple retractable lever structures 4 are provided, and the multiple retractable lever structures 4 are arranged in multiple layers along the height direction of the tank body 1. In the same layer, the multiple retractable lever structures 4 are distributed in a ring array with the center of the cross-section of the tank body 1 as the center, constructing a comprehensive three-dimensional support network.

[0037] In some embodiments, to address the issue of large-volume insulation material settling under gravity over extended periods, this embodiment further includes a support membrane 19, which is laid horizontally above each layer of the retractable lever structure 4. The insulation layer 2 is divided into multiple independent insulation layers by the multiple layers of the support membrane 19. The support membrane 19 evenly transfers the weight of each insulation layer 2 to the retractable lever structure 4 below, ultimately borne by the tank body 1. The support membrane 19 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which possesses excellent high-temperature resistance and high tensile strength, enabling it to maintain stable support under high-temperature conditions for extended periods, preventing the insulation layer 2 from settling and accumulating, thus preventing localized heat loss.

[0038] In addition, multiple insulation hooks 20 are fixed on the outer wall of the tank 1. The insulation layer 2 is hung on the insulation hooks 20, forming a vertical and horizontal bidirectional insulation fixing system with the support membrane 19. The protective layer 3 is composed of multiple protective plates spliced ​​together. The protective plates are one of aluminum alloy plates, aluminum sheets, stainless steel sheets, or galvanized iron sheets to meet different industrial corrosion protection and cost requirements. This embodiment also includes long pins 22, through which the protective plates are connected to the insulation layer 2, further enhancing the structural integrity and windproof and anti-fall-off capabilities between the protective layer 3 and the insulation layer 2.

[0039] The thermally insulated and shrinkable support for large hot tanks provided in this application embodiment uses a four-bar hinged structure composed of support beams and connecting rods to convert the thermal expansion displacement of the tank body into changes in the hinge angle. This absorbs the thermal displacement, keeping the protective layer stationary and preventing it from cracking and rainwater intrusion. The hinge points of the first and second support beams are located close to the connecting rods, reducing the range of motion of the connecting rods and improving the vertical load-bearing stiffness. In conjunction with the support membrane, the weight of the insulation material is transferred to the support mechanism in layers, preventing uneven distribution and heat loss caused by material settling. The guide ring restricts the deformation trajectory, ensuring the overall structural stability.

[0040] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not 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; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this application.

[0041] In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments of this application can be combined in any way. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A retractable insulated support for a large hot water tank, characterized in that, It includes an insulation layer disposed on the outside of the tank body, a protective layer disposed on the outside of the insulation layer, and a retractable lever structure connecting the tank body and the protective layer; The retractable lever structure is installed inside the insulation layer, and the retractable lever structure includes a first support beam, a second support beam, a third support beam, and a connecting rod; One end of the first support beam is hinged to the tank body; One end of the second support beam is hinged to the protective layer, and the middle part of the second support beam is hinged to the other end of the first support beam; One end of the third support beam is hinged to the middle of the first support beam; One end of the connecting rod is hinged to the middle of the third support beam, and the other end of the connecting rod is hinged to the other end of the second support beam away from the protective layer; The first support beam, the second support beam, the third support beam, and the connecting rod form a four-bar hinge structure that allows relative rotation.

2. The insulated and retractable thermal support for a large hot tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, A first clamp and a second clamp are fixedly installed on the body of the second support beam, with the second clamp located between the first clamp and the protective layer; the end of the first support beam away from the tank body is hinged to the second clamp; the end of the connecting rod away from the third support beam is hinged to the first clamp.

3. The insulated and retractable thermal support for a large hot tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance between the hinge point of the first support beam and the second support beam and the hinge point of the connecting rod and the second support beam is 0.1 to 0.2 times the total length of the second support beam.

4. The insulated and retractable thermal support for a large hot tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a guide ring horizontally arranged around the outer wall of the tank; the end of the third support beam away from the first support beam is provided with a through hole, the guide ring passes through the through hole, and the inner diameter of the through hole is larger than the outer diameter of the guide ring.

5. The insulated and retractable thermal support for a large hot tank according to claim 4, characterized in that, A safety gap is reserved between the inner side of the guide ring and the outer wall of the tank.

6. The insulated and retractable thermal support for a large hot tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first support beam is connected to the tank body via a first positioning component, one end of which is fixed to the outer wall of the tank body; the second support beam is connected to the protective layer via a second positioning component, one end of which is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the protective layer.

7. The insulated and retractable thermal insulation support for a large hot tank according to claim 6, characterized in that, Both the first positioning component and the second positioning component include two parallel connecting plates, and the two connecting plates are provided with coaxial pin holes; the ends of the first support beam and the ends of the second support beam are respectively inserted between the corresponding two connecting plates, and are connected by bolts passing through the pin holes to form a hinge structure.

8. The insulated and retractable thermal support for a large hot tank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The retractable lever structure is provided in multiple layers along the height direction of the tank; in the same layer, the retractable lever structure is distributed in a ring array with the cross-sectional center of the tank as the center.

9. The insulated and retractable thermal support for a large hot tank according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a support membrane, which is laid horizontally above each layer of the retractable lever structure; the insulation layer is divided into multiple insulation layers by multiple layers of the support membrane, and the support membrane transfers the gravity of the insulation layer to the retractable lever structure.

10. A retractable insulating support for a large hot water tank according to claim 8, characterized in that, The outer wall of the tank is also fixed with multiple heat-insulating nails, and the heat-insulating layer is hung on the heat-insulating nails; the supporting membrane is a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane; the protective layer is spliced ​​together from multiple protective plates, and the protective plates are one of aluminum alloy plates, aluminum sheets, stainless steel sheets or galvanized iron sheets; it also includes long pins, and the protective plates are connected to the heat-insulating layer through the long pins.

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