An enclosure system for a cryogenic liquid cargo tank

Abstract

This invention discloses an enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks, relating to the field of cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks. The enclosure system comprises, from the inside out: a main shielding layer, a main insulation layer, a secondary shielding layer, and a secondary insulation layer. Both the main and secondary insulation layers are composed of insulation modules, and both the main and secondary shielding layers are formed by splicing corrugated plates, with each corrugated plate having multiple corrugated segments. This invention divides the foamed filling material within the insulation modules into several independent filling units through supporting components, breaking the limitations of the homogeneity of traditional monolithic foamed filling blocks. This allows each filling unit to be independently configured with density and / or hardness parameters according to the impact load requirements of its location, achieving a spatially gradient design of insulation performance and structural strength. This optimizes the lightweight and economic efficiency of the low-impact zone while ensuring a safety margin in the high-impact zone.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cryogenic liquid cargo storage tank technology, specifically to an enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks. Background Technology

[0002] In the storage and transportation of cryogenic liquids such as liquefied natural gas, the tank enclosure system is a crucial barrier for maintaining the cryogenic environment and withstanding the impact of sloshing liquid. Existing enclosure systems typically employ sandwich-structured insulation modules, with a single piece of polyurethane foam sandwiched between upper and lower plywood panels as the insulation layer. However, in actual operating conditions, the impact load from sloshing liquid varies significantly across different areas of the tank's inner wall; for example, the impact force at the edges of a planar surface is much greater than that at the center.

[0003] Traditional monolithic polyurethane structures, due to their uniform density and hardness, make it difficult to differentiate performance for different impact zones. Using high-density materials uniformly increases weight and cost, while using low-density materials uniformly makes edge areas prone to crushing failure. In addition, the corrugated sections on the surface of the metal shielding layer require effective local support to transfer loads and prevent buckling deformation. Existing insulation modules lack built-in support components that precisely match the corrugation shape, resulting in poor stress conditions in the corrugated sections and affecting the structural integrity and sealing reliability of the shielding layer. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to provide precise support for the corrugated section of the metal shielding layer, this application provides an enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks.

[0005] This invention is implemented as follows: An enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks, the enclosure system comprising, from the inside to the outside: a main shielding layer, a main insulation layer, a secondary shielding layer and a secondary insulation layer, wherein the main insulation layer and the secondary insulation layer are both composed of insulation modules, and the main shielding layer and the secondary shielding layer are both formed by splicing corrugated plates, and the corrugated plates have multiple corrugated segments. The insulation module, from the outside to the inside, includes a bottom support plate, a foam filling material, and a top support plate. The insulation module also includes a support member corresponding to the corrugated section. The support member is fixed to the bottom support plate. The height of the support member is determined according to the orientation of the corrugated section. The support member divides the foamed filling material and the top support plate into several independent filling units.

[0006] Furthermore, the density and / or hardness of the foamed filler material in at least two of the filling units are different.

[0007] By adopting the above technical solution, the originally integral foamed filling material and top support plate are physically divided into several independent filling units through supporting components, making each filling unit an independent mechanical load-bearing and thermal insulation functional body. Since each filling unit is isolated from each other, foamed filling materials with different densities and / or hardness can be filled in during manufacturing. This allows for precise configuration of the thermal insulation material performance parameters at corresponding locations based on the actual impact load distribution in different areas of the tank's inner wall. At the same time, the height of the supporting components is determined according to the orientation of the corrugated sections, providing a directional support foundation for the main shielding layer and the secondary shielding layer.

[0008] Furthermore, the support width of the support member corresponds to the width of the corrugated section cross-section, and the strength of the support member is greater than the strength of each filling unit.

[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, the width of the support member is matched with the cross-sectional width of the corrugated section, ensuring that the support force is stably applied to the corrugated section and avoiding stress concentration. At the same time, the strength of the support member is higher than that of the filling unit, so that it takes the lead in bearing the main load when subjected to the compression and shear loads transmitted by the liquid cargo sloshing, protecting the relatively weak foam filling material from premature failure and ensuring the overall stability of the structure.

[0010] Furthermore, the corrugated plate of the main shielding layer has corrugations facing the inside of the storage tank, and the height of the supporting member is equal to the height of the upper surface of the top support plate of each filling unit from the bottom support plate.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, for the inner corrugated configuration, the top of the support member is flush with the upper surface of the top support plate. After the metal shielding layer is laid, the lower end of the concave corrugated section can directly contact the support member. The support member provides stable support and constraint to the corrugated section, preventing it from deforming under alternating loads.

[0012] Furthermore, a corrugated support is provided between the supporting member and the corrugated section.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, a special corrugated support is added between the support component and the inner corrugated section to fill the assembly gap between the two, making the contact surface fit the corrugated surface better, increasing the effective support area, and at the same time transforming point contact or line contact into surface contact, reducing local pressure and preventing the metal shielding layer from wearing or fatigue cracking under high-frequency vibration.

[0014] Furthermore, the corrugated plate of the secondary shielding layer has corrugations facing outwards from the storage tank, and the supporting member supports the corrugated section. The height of the supporting member is less than the height of the upper surface of the top support plate of each filling unit from the bottom support plate.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, for the outer corrugated configuration, since the corrugated protrusions face outwards, the supporting components do not need to be flush with the top supporting plate. Instead, they support the root area of ​​the corrugated section from below at a lower height. This height difference design ensures effective support for the outer corrugations while avoiding excessively high supporting components that could interfere with the flatness of the top supporting plate, thus ensuring that the flatness of the upper surface of the insulation module meets construction requirements.

[0016] Furthermore, a U-shaped buffer is provided between the corrugated section and the supporting member.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, the elastic deformation capacity of the U-shaped buffer can absorb the assembly tolerance and dynamic displacement between the outer corrugated section and the supporting component. The buffer wraps around the lower part of the corrugated section to form a flexible transition, providing damping energy dissipation when the corrugated section is slightly deformed due to the impact of liquid cargo, reducing noise and structural damage caused by rigid collisions, and extending the service life of the shielding layer.

[0018] Furthermore, the support member is fixed to the bottom support plate, and the cross-sectional shape of the support member is rectangular.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, the rectangular section is easy to process, has a large bonding area with the plate, and is suitable for areas with uniform load.

[0020] Furthermore, the insulation layer is disposed in the planar area of ​​the cryogenic liquid cargo storage tank, wherein the density and / or hardness of the foamed filling material in the filling unit of the insulation module near the edge of the planar area is greater than that of each filling unit far from the edge area.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solution, based on the engineering principle that the impact energy of liquid sloshing at the edge of the tank's planar area is significantly higher than that in the central area, higher-density or higher-hardness foamed materials are used in the filling units corresponding to the edges to improve the crush resistance and shear resistance of this area. Meanwhile, lower-density materials are used in the central area to reduce weight and cost, thereby achieving an optimal match between thermal insulation performance and structural strength throughout the entire planar area.

[0022] Furthermore, each of the filling units is provided with several sets of support columns, which abut against the bottom support plate and the top support plate.

[0023] By adopting the above technical solution, a support column is added inside the filling unit to serve as an auxiliary pressure-bearing element to share the vertical compressive load. Especially for low-density foam filling units, the support column can effectively suppress the deformation of the foam material under long-term static load or cyclic dynamic load, maintain the stability of the insulation module thickness, and prevent fatigue failure caused by local suspension of the metal shielding layer due to the compression of the insulation layer.

[0024] Furthermore, the top support plate of the secondary insulation layer is provided with a metal connector for connecting the secondary shielding layer, and the metal connector is fixedly connected to the secondary insulation layer.

[0025] By adopting the above technical solution, the secondary shielding layer can be directly welded and fixed to the metal connectors on the secondary insulation layer.

[0026] Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention divides the foamed filling material within the insulation module into several independent filling units through supporting components, breaking the limitations of the homogeneity of traditional monolithic foamed filling blocks. This allows each filling unit to be independently configured with density and / or hardness parameters according to the impact load requirements of its location, achieving a spatial gradient design of insulation performance and structural strength. While ensuring the safety margin in the high-impact zone, it optimizes the lightweight and economy of the low-impact zone. Furthermore, the height of the supporting components is precisely matched to the convex direction of the corrugated section of the metal shielding layer, and combined with intermediate media such as corrugated supports or U-shaped buffers, it provides effective support and buffering for different corrugated configurations, improving the stress state of the corrugated section, suppressing buckling, slippage, and fatigue damage under dynamic loads, and enhancing the stability and reliability of the shielding layer. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the main insulation layer, the secondary shielding layer, and the secondary insulation layer in combination in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Front view of the device shown; Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the secondary shielding layer in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the main shielding layer and the main insulation layer in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] In the figure: 1. Bottom support plate; 2. Foamed filling material; 3. Top support plate; 4. Supporting component; 41. Corrugated support component; 42. U-shaped buffer component; 100. Main shielding layer; 200. Main insulation layer; 300. Secondary shielding layer; 400. Secondary insulation layer; 401. Metal connector. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention.

[0031] This embodiment provides an enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks. The enclosure system, arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside, includes: a main shielding layer 100, a main insulation layer 200, a secondary shielding layer 300, and a secondary insulation layer 400. The main insulation layer 200 and the secondary insulation layer 400 are both composed of insulation modules. The main shielding layer 100 and the secondary shielding layer 300 are both formed by splicing corrugated plates, and the corrugated plates have multiple corrugated segments. The insulation modules, from the outside to the inside, include a bottom support plate 1, a foamed filling material 2, and a top support plate 3. The insulation modules also include support members 4 corresponding to the corrugated segments. The support members 4 are fixed to the bottom support plate 1, and their height is determined according to the orientation of the corrugated segments. The support members 4 divide the foamed filling material 2 and the top support plate 3 into several independent filling units, with at least two filling units having different densities and / or hardnesses of the foamed filling material 2. The top support plate 3 of the secondary insulation layer 400 is provided with a metal connector 401 for connecting the secondary shielding layer 300. The metal connector 401 is fixedly connected to the secondary insulation layer 400. The metal connector 401 facilitates the direct welding and fixing of the secondary shielding layer 300 to the metal connector 401 on the secondary insulation layer 400.

[0032] Specifically, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The primary shielding layer 100, acting as a barrier directly in contact with the cryogenic liquid cargo, is typically made of Invar steel or stainless steel. The secondary shielding layer 300, serving as a further protective barrier, is mostly made of cryogenic alloys such as stainless steel. Its surface is not perfectly flat but has multiple corrugated sections. These corrugated sections can be grooves recessed inwards from the tank or ridges protruding outwards from the tank, used to absorb thermal expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes and dynamic displacement caused by the sloshing of the liquid cargo. The insulation module, as the core component supporting the shielding layer and blocking heat transfer, is tightly fitted to the shielding layer. The two are relatively fixed together using adhesives or mechanical connectors.

[0033] Reference Figure 2The insulation module consists of a bottom support plate 1, a foamed filler material 2, and a top support plate 3, forming a typical sandwich structure from the outside in. The bottom support plate 1 and the top support plate 3 are typically made of plywood or other composite materials with a certain degree of rigidity and toughness, serving as the mounting reference surface and load transfer surface, respectively. The foamed filler material 2 is located between the two support plates, primarily responsible for thermal insulation and energy absorption.

[0034] Furthermore, the insulation module also includes a support member 4 corresponding to the corrugated section. The support member 4 is fixed to the bottom support plate 1, and its height is adapted to the protruding direction of the corrugated section. The support member 4 divides the foamed filling material 2 and the top support plate 3 into several independent filling units. Specifically, the support member 4 is a key force-transmitting component connecting the bottom support plate 1 and the corrugated section of the shielding layer. Its bottom is firmly installed in a preset position on the bottom support plate 1 by means of adhesive bonding, screw fastening, or riveting, while its top directly or indirectly abuts against the bottom of the corrugated section of the shielding layer. The height of the support member 4 is determined according to the orientation of the corrugated section, meaning that the vertical dimension of the support member 4 is not a fixed value, but is dynamically determined according to the positional relationship of the corrugated section relative to the top support plate 3: when the corrugated section is recessed towards the inside of the tank, the height of the support member 4 is usually equal to or close to the total thickness of the filling unit, so as to embed in the corrugated groove to provide lateral restraint. When the corrugated section protrudes towards the outside of the tank, the height of the support member 4 is less than the total thickness of the filling unit, providing support only to the root of the corrugation without interfering with the flatness of the top support plate 3. This adaptable design ensures that regardless of the corrugation shape, the support member 4 can accurately transfer the external load to the bottom support plate 1 while maintaining the flatness requirements of the upper surface of the insulation module.

[0035] More importantly, the support member 4 physically separates the originally continuous foamed filling material 2 and the top support plate 3 into several independent, unconnected filling units. This division is not merely a geometrical partition, but also achieves decoupling of mechanical behavior: each filling unit becomes an independent load-bearing body, and the stress transfer between adjacent units is effectively blocked by the support member 4, thereby preventing the rapid propagation of cracks caused by local overload within the entire insulation module. At the same time, the support member 4 itself constitutes a rigid skeleton, significantly improving the overall compressive and shear resistance of the insulation module.

[0036] Within each individual filling unit, the density and / or hardness of the foamed filler material 2 are not entirely the same. This inconsistency includes situations where all filling units have different material parameters, as well as mixed configurations where some units are identical while others are different. The core principle is to break the limitations of traditional homogeneous monolithic foam, giving the insulation module a spatial performance gradient. Specifically, density differences can be achieved by adjusting the amount of foaming agent, catalyst ratio, or curing process. For example, high-density polyurethane foam (e.g., 60-80 kg / m³) has higher compressive strength and modulus, suitable for areas subjected to larger impact loads; low-density polyurethane foam (e.g., 30-40 kg / m³) has better insulation performance and lighter weight, suitable for areas with smaller loads. Hardness differences reflect more the material's ability to resist localized indentation deformation, are related to density but not entirely equivalent, and can be adjusted by changing the polymer crosslinking degree or adding rigid fillers. In practical applications, based on the analysis results of the liquid sloshing impact spectrum of various regions of the tank's inner wall, high-density or high-hardness materials can be configured in the filling units corresponding to high-impact areas (such as plane edges and corners), while low-density materials can be configured in low-impact areas (such as the center of the plane). This achieves an optimal match between thermal insulation performance and structural strength, minimizing weight and reducing material costs while ensuring safety margins. For example, in a typical insulation module, the two filling units near the edge can use high-strength polyurethane with a density of 70 kg / m³, while the three filling units in the middle use standard polyurethane with a density of 35 kg / m³. The two are physically isolated and their performance transitions are achieved through the intermediate support member 4.

[0037] It is important to emphasize that the enclosure system described in this embodiment is a general-purpose infrastructure. Its core innovation lies in achieving the independence of the filling units and the differentiated configuration of performance parameters through the support member 4. This architecture is not limited to a specific orientation or shape of the corrugated section of the shielding layer. Whether it is an inner corrugated configuration or an outer corrugated configuration, or whether the corrugated section is in the form of a straight line, a cross shape, or other complex curved surface, it can be adaptively adjusted based on the principles of this embodiment.

[0038] Reference Figure 4The corrugated plate of the main shielding layer 100 has corrugations facing inwards towards the tank, and a structural adaptation has been made for the specific working condition of the shielding layer being a corrugated plate with corrugations facing inwards towards the tank. Specifically, when the corrugated section is recessed into the tank, it not only bears compressive loads perpendicular to the plate surface, but is also highly susceptible to slippage or local buckling instability under the alternating stress caused by liquid sloshing. Therefore, in this embodiment, the height of the support member 4 is set to be equal to the height of the upper surface of the top support plate 3 of each filling unit from the bottom support plate 1. This flush height design ensures that the top of the support member 4 and the upper surface of the top support plate 3 are on the same horizontal reference plane. When the shielding layer is laid above the insulation module, the inwardly recessed corrugated section can be accurately fixed to the head of the support structure. At this time, the side wall of the support member 4 directly fits the side of the corrugated section, forming a rigid lateral constraint boundary to prevent it from torsional deformation or fatigue damage under dynamic loads. It should be understood that although this embodiment emphasizes that the height is "equal" to the total height of the filling unit, in actual engineering applications, considering manufacturing tolerances and assembly clearances, a small negative deviation (e.g., 0-2mm) is allowed in this height, as long as the top of the support member 4 is sufficient to form an effective limiting effect on the side wall of the corrugated section.

[0039] In one implementation, the support width of the support member 4 corresponds to the width of the corrugated section cross-section, and the strength of the support member 4 is greater than the strength of each filling unit. Specifically, "the support width corresponds to the width of the corrugated section cross-section" means that the width of the bearing surface at the top of the support member 4 should match the width of the cross-section at the bottom or root of the corrugated section, for example, both widths should be equal, to ensure that the support reaction force can be evenly distributed throughout the entire stress area of ​​the corrugated section, avoiding stress concentration due to excessively narrow support or encroachment on the effective insulation area of ​​adjacent filling units due to excessively wide support. At the same time, requiring the strength of the support member 4 to be greater than the strength of the filling unit means that, in terms of material selection, the support member 4 should be made of a material with a modulus and yield strength significantly higher than that of the foamed filling material 2, such as glass fiber reinforced plastic, rigid polyurethane composite material, or lightweight metal profile, while the filling unit uses soft insulation materials such as low-density polyurethane foam. This strength gradient design establishes the supporting component 4 as the main load-bearing skeleton, enabling it to take the lead in bearing the load transmission path when subjected to the compression and shear loads transmitted by the liquid cargo impact, protecting the relatively fragile foam filling material 2 from premature crushing, thereby ensuring the overall structural integrity and dimensional stability of the insulation module.

[0040] Furthermore, to optimize the mechanical transmission performance at the support interface, a corrugated support member 41 is provided between the support member 4 and the corrugated section. Specifically, refer to... Figure 4Because the curved shape of the corrugated metal section and the flat surface of the top of the support member 4 are often difficult to perfectly fit geometrically, direct contact can easily lead to point or line contact, resulting in excessive local pressure and causing wear or fatigue cracks in the shielding layer. The corrugated support member 41, as an intermediate medium, is usually made of materials with certain elasticity and wear resistance, such as high-density polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or rubber-based composite materials. Its shape is pre-formed to conform to the concave curved surface of the corrugated section. During installation, the corrugated support member 41 is placed between the top of the support member 4 and the inner wall of the corrugated section, filling the assembly gap between them. This transforms the original rigid point / line contact into a flexible surface contact, significantly increasing the effective support area and reducing the peak contact stress. Furthermore, the elastic deformation capacity of the corrugated support member 41 can absorb small relative displacements caused by temperature changes or vibrations, acting as a damping buffer and further extending the service life of the shielding layer.

[0041] Reference Figure 2 The corrugated plate of the secondary shielding layer 300 has corrugations facing outwards from the tank. This embodiment provides another insulation module structure for the specific working condition where the shielding layer is a corrugated plate with corrugations facing outwards from the tank. Specifically, when the corrugated section protrudes outwards from the tank, its stress mode is fundamentally different from that of the inner corrugation: the raised ridge of the outer corrugation directly bears the load or assembly pressure from above, the support member 4 supports the corrugated section, and the height of the support member 4 is less than the height of the upper surface of the top support plate 3 of each filling unit from the bottom support plate 1. This low-height design allows the support member 4 to provide an upward lifting force only to the root area of ​​the corrugated section, without extending to the top or sidewall of the corrugated section, thereby ensuring effective load bearing while completely avoiding interference of the support member 4 with the flatness of the top support plate 3.

[0042] As one implementation, a U-shaped buffer 42 is provided between the corrugated section and the supporting member 4. Specifically, refer to... Figure 2Because the outer corrugated section will experience periodic small vertical displacements and lateral expansions and contractions under the influence of liquid sloshing or temperature changes, if it is in direct rigid contact with the supporting member 4, the shielding layer is easily thinned or even perforated due to repeated friction and wear. At the same time, unavoidable manufacturing tolerances during assembly will also cause some corrugated sections to be suspended or over-pressurized. The U-shaped buffer 42, as a flexible intermediate medium, is usually made of materials such as EPDM rubber, silicone rubber, or polyurethane elastomer. Its cross-section is U-shaped or groove-shaped, which can wrap around the lower contour of the corrugated section. During installation, the U-shaped buffer 42 is fitted between the root of the corrugated section and the top of the supporting member 4, using its own elastic deformation ability to fill the gap between the two, transforming the rigid point contact into a flexible surface contact. Under dynamic loads, the U-shaped buffer 42 absorbs vibration energy through the material's hysteresis effect, acting as a damping energy dissipator and significantly reducing the peak impact stress transmitted to the shielding layer. Simultaneously, its compression-rebound characteristics automatically compensate for assembly tolerances, ensuring that each corrugated segment receives uniform and appropriate support preload, preventing fatigue failure caused by localized support deficiencies. For example, in a -163℃ low-temperature environment, using a silicone rubber U-shaped buffer 42 with excellent low-temperature resistance ensures sufficient elasticity without glass transition brittleness, providing reliable cushioning protection throughout its entire lifespan. It should be understood that the structural form of the U-shaped buffer 42 is not limited to a standard U-shaped groove; it can also be a custom-shaped pad or a multi-layered composite elastomer tailored to the curvature of the corrugated segment, as long as it achieves flexible transition and tolerance absorption.

[0043] In the embodiments of this application, the support member 4 is fixed to the bottom support plate 1, and the cross-sectional shape of the support member 4 is rectangular. Specifically, the cross-sectional geometry of the support member 4 directly determines its mechanical transmission efficiency and structural stability. The rectangular cross-section support member 4 has the characteristic of equal width at the top and bottom, and its bonding area with the bottom support plate 1 and the top support plate 3 is equal. It is easy to process and has low mold cost, and is suitable for conventional areas with relatively uniform load distribution and small lateral shear force, and can provide stable vertical compressive stiffness.

[0044] In one implementation, the insulation layer is located in the planar area of ​​the cryogenic liquid cargo storage tank. The density and / or hardness of the foamed filler material 2 in the filling units of the insulation modules near the edge of the plane is greater than that of the filling units further away from the edge. This design is based on the internal hydrodynamic characteristics of the cryogenic liquid cargo storage tank: during the sloshing of the liquid cargo, the peak impact pressure experienced by the planar edge area is typically 2 to 3 times that of the central area due to boundary and corner effects. If a homogeneous material is used throughout the plane, either the edge area will collapse due to insufficient strength, or the central area will suffer from over-design, resulting in wasted weight and cost. By constructing a density / hardness gradient decreasing from the edge to the center, precise matching of performance and load can be achieved. The density of the filling units in the intermediate transition area can gradually change linearly or stepwise to avoid stress concentration caused by abrupt changes in stiffness between adjacent units. This gradient configuration not only improves the resistance to damage in high-impact areas but also reduces the average density of the entire insulation layer by 15% to 25%, significantly reducing the tank's weight and lowering material costs. It should be noted that the gradient change direction of density and hardness is not limited to decreasing from the edge to the center. Under certain special working conditions (such as near the support point of local equipment), local high-density strengthening can also be carried out according to the actual load spectrum. This application does not limit this.

[0045] Furthermore, each unit is equipped with several sets of support columns, which abut against the bottom support plate 1 and the top support plate 3. Specifically, although the foamed filling material 2 itself has a certain pressure-bearing capacity, under long-term static load or cyclic dynamic load, especially low-density foam units, it is prone to creep deformation, leading to thickness reduction, which in turn causes local suspension of the shielding layer, deterioration of stress, or even fatigue cracking. As a rigid auxiliary pressure-bearing element, the support columns are usually made of glass fiber reinforced plastic, hardwood, or lightweight metal. Their elastic modulus is much higher than that of the foamed filling material 2, which can share most of the vertical compressive load, effectively suppress the creep tendency of the foam material, and maintain the dimensional stability of the insulation module throughout its entire life cycle. In terms of installation, the support columns can be pre-fixed in a preset position on the bottom support plate 1 before the filling unit is assembled. Their upper ends are tightly abutted against the lower surface of the top support plate 3 or fixed with adhesive to ensure a continuous and reliable load transmission path. The number and layout of the support columns can be determined based on the unit area and expected load. For example, in a 1m×1m low-density filling unit, 4 to 6 support columns with a diameter of 20mm to 30mm can be arranged in a staggered pattern. It should be understood that the support columns are not necessarily independent components. In other embodiments, they can be reinforcing ribs, honeycomb core materials, or integrally formed protruding structures pre-embedded inside the foamed filling material 2. As long as they can achieve the function of supporting the upper and lower support plates and limiting excessive compression of the foam, they should be considered as equivalent alternatives in this application. In addition, the arrangement of the support columns can also be coordinated with the aforementioned density gradient design, that is, more or thicker support columns can be added in low-density units to compensate for their own insufficient strength, while support columns can be reduced or eliminated in high-density units to simplify the process, thereby achieving the overall optimization of structural performance and manufacturing cost.

[0046] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks, characterized in that, The enclosure system is arranged from the inside to the outside as follows: a main shielding layer, a main insulation layer, a secondary shielding layer, and a secondary insulation layer. The main insulation layer and the secondary insulation layer are both composed of insulation modules. The main shielding layer and the secondary shielding layer are both formed by splicing corrugated plates, and the corrugated plates have multiple corrugated segments. The insulation module, from the outside to the inside, includes a bottom support plate, a foam filling material, and a top support plate. The insulation module also includes a support member corresponding to the corrugated section. The support member is fixed to the bottom support plate. The height of the support member is determined according to the orientation of the corrugated section. The support member divides the foamed filling material and the top support plate into several independent filling units.

2. The enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks according to claim 1, characterized in that, The density and / or hardness of the foamed filler material in at least two of the filling units are different.

3. The enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support width of the support member corresponds to the width of the corrugated section cross-section, and the strength of the support member is greater than the strength of each filling unit.

4. The enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks according to claim 1, characterized in that, The corrugated plate of the main shielding layer has corrugations facing the inside of the storage tank, and the height of the supporting member is equal to the height of the upper surface of the top support plate of each filling unit from the bottom support plate.

5. The enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks according to claim 4, characterized in that, A corrugated support is provided between the supporting member and the corrugated section.

6. The enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks according to claim 1, characterized in that, The corrugated plate of the secondary shielding layer has corrugations facing outwards from the storage tank. The supporting member supports the corrugated section, and the height of the supporting member is less than the height of the upper surface of the top support plate of each filling unit from the bottom support plate.

7. The enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks according to claim 6, characterized in that, A U-shaped buffer is provided between the corrugated section and the supporting member.

8. The enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-sectional shape of the supporting member is rectangular.

9. The enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks according to claim 2, characterized in that, The primary insulation layer and the secondary insulation layer are disposed in the planar area of ​​the cryogenic liquid cargo storage tank, wherein the density and / or hardness of the foamed filling material in the filling unit of the insulation module near the edge of the planar area is greater than that of each filling unit far from the edge area.

10. The enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each filling unit is provided with several sets of support columns, which abut against the bottom support plate and the top support plate.

11. The enclosure system for cryogenic liquid cargo storage tanks according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top support plate of the secondary insulation layer is provided with a metal connector for connecting the secondary shielding layer, and the metal connector is fixedly connected to the secondary insulation layer.

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