LOADING ARM DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RETROFITTING A LOADING ARM DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a loading arm device for loading liquids. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for converting a loading arm device for loading highly explosive liquids, in particular liquid hydrogen.

[0002] Loading arm devices are used for filling transport tanks on ships. Typical loading arm devices have a base element anchored to the seabed. A main arm, usually rotatably connected to the base element, is then connected to the main arm. An outer arm, preferably pivotally connected, is then connected to the main arm, and the outer arm may be multi-sectioned. The individual sections of the outer arm are preferably articulated to one another. A guide hose is supported by both the main arm and the outer arm. Fluids can be transported to or pumped out of the transport tank on the ship through this guide hose. Such loading arm devices are described, for example, in EP2757067 B1. However, known loading arm devices are not suitable for loading, i.e., transporting, liquid hydrogen.

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a loading arm device that is also suitable for transporting / conveying highly explosive liquid gases, in particular liquid hydrogen. Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide a method for converting a loading arm device for transporting / conveying such highly explosive liquids.

[0004] According to the invention, the problem is solved by a conveying arm device having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 13.

[0005] The loading arm device has a base element that is anchored to the ground. A main arm is rotatably connected to the base element. In particular, rotation about a vertical axis is possible. Additionally, pivoting of the main arm about a horizontal axis is optionally possible. An outer arm is connected to the main arm. The connection is preferably such that the outer arm is pivotably connected to the main arm. The outer arm can have several arm sections, each of which is preferably pivotably connected to one another. Optionally, a rotatable connection between the individual arm sections and between the outer arm and the main arm is also possible. A counterweight is typically connected to a free end of the outer arm. A guide tube is supported by the main arm and the outer arm.This guide hose can be used to transport / convey fluids such as ammonia, but it is not suitable for transporting liquid hydrogen. The main problem here is that the liquid hydrogen must be transported at a temperature of -253°C. Hydrogen is highly explosive when it comes into contact with oxygen. It is particularly important to consider that, due to the extremely low transport temperature of the liquid hydrogen, oxygen would also liquefy at these temperatures. This increases the risk of explosion.

[0006] According to the invention, the loading arm device comprises a hose assembly arranged within the guide hose. The hose assembly has an inner hose suitable for transporting liquid gases, in particular liquid hydrogen. The inner hose is surrounded by an outer hose, the outer hose being arranged essentially concentrically to the inner hose. A vacuum can be applied in the space between the inner and outer hoses. This vacuum space serves to insulate the inner hose. Applying a vacuum to this space allows for very good insulation, enabling the transport of liquid hydrogen at a correspondingly low temperature. According to the invention, several cuffs are arranged on the outer hose. Guide elements are provided on the cuffs for guiding and / or supporting the hose assembly within the guide hose.

[0007] The loading arm device according to the invention has the particular advantage that existing loading arm devices can be retrofitted for transporting / conveying highly explosive liquids such as liquid hydrogen. This is possible because an existing loading arm device has a guide hose that is initially suitable for conveying / transporting liquids such as ammonia or the like. To retrofit such an existing loading arm device, the hose assembly is preferably inserted into the guide hose, as described in detail below with reference to the method according to the invention.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the loading arm device according to the invention features a specially designed hose assembly that allows for easy insertion of the hose assembly into the guide hose. Preferably, the hose assembly has guide elements on the sleeves designed to include rolling and / or sliding elements. These rolling and / or sliding elements are arranged at a distance from one another on the sleeve and are distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction of the sleeve. Such rolling and / or sliding elements facilitate the easy insertion of the hose assembly into the guide hose.

[0009] Preferably, at least some, and in particular all, guide elements each have two roller and / or sliding elements. These are preferably each attached to a support arm. In particular, the attachment rolls on the free end of the support arm, so that when the hose assembly is drawn into the guide hose, the roller and / or sliding elements bear against an inner wall of the guide hose, or slide or roll along it. The support arms carrying the roller and / or sliding elements have an angle of preferably 45° to 135° to each other. In particular, the two support arms are rigidly connected to each other and are especially preferably formed in one piece. Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that the support arms are pivotably arranged on the sleeve. In particular, a pair of support elements, preferably formed in one piece, is pivotably held together on the sleeve.This makes it possible, in particular, to overcome bends in the guide hose when pulling the hose assembly into it, without damage or the like. The hose assembly can thus be pulled into a guide hose that remains mounted on the main arm and outer arm of the loading arm device. In a preferred embodiment, the guide hose does not need to be removed to pull the hose assembly into it. To ensure the most uniform force distribution possible, it is preferred that at least three guide elements are arranged around the circumference of the sleeve, preferably at equal intervals.

[0010] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, receiving elements for pull cables are arranged on the at least one cuff. This makes it possible to easily pull the hose assembly into the guide hose without excessive force acting on the inner or outer hose of the hose assembly. Furthermore, the preferably several cuffs, arranged at a distance from one another, can be connected to each other via pull cables to ensure that the force transmission when pulling the hose assembly into the guide hose occurs exclusively via the pull cables and the cuffs.

[0011] Preferably, the receiving elements are arranged between the guide elements on the cuffs. This eliminates the need for additional cuffs, for example.

[0012] In particular, the hose assembly has several cuffs arranged at a distance of approximately 30 cm to 70 cm, and especially 40 cm to 60 cm, from each other. The hose preferably has a diameter of 8 inches.

[0013] The inner hose of the hose assembly is preferably made of stainless steel and, in a particularly preferred embodiment, is manufactured from stainless steel.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the outer hose of the hose assembly is made of stainless steel and is in particular manufactured from stainless steel.

[0015] A gap is provided between the inner and outer hoses. This gap is necessary to create a space, particularly an annular one, as a vacuum is generated in this area to insulate the inner hose. Spacers, such as metal inserts, especially stainless steel, can be used for this purpose.

[0016] The hose device described above, particularly in preferred embodiments, represents a separate invention independent of the loading arm device.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for converting a loading arm device for loading, i.e., for conveying / transporting highly explosive fluids, in particular liquid hydrogen. For this purpose, a hose assembly is inserted into a guide hose that is supported by a loading arm device, in particular a main arm and an outer arm. As described above with reference to the loading arm device, the hose assembly has an inner hose surrounded by an outer hose, with a vacuum space formed between the inner and outer hoses. The hose assembly also has several cuffs surrounding the outer hose, on which guide elements are arranged. According to the method of the invention, it is therefore possible to insert the hose assembly into the existing guide hose.It is preferred that the guide elements bear against the inner wall of the guide hose. In particular, the guide elements have rolling and / or sliding elements that slide and / or unroll along the inner wall of the guide hose when the hose assembly is drawn into the guide hose.

[0018] Preferably, according to the inventive method for converting a loading arm device, the hose device is used as described above, particularly in preferred embodiments.

[0019] When using a hose assembly in a preferred embodiment in which receiving elements for pull ropes are arranged on at least one sleeve, at least one pull rope is attached to the receiving elements according to the inventive method in order to then pull the hose assembly into the guide hose. Since the sleeve in a preferred embodiment has several receiving elements, several pull ropes can preferably be used to pull the hose assembly into the guide hose. Since, in a further preferred embodiment, several sleeves are provided in the longitudinal direction of the hose assembly, it is particularly preferred, in order to avoid excessive stress on the inner or outer hose during pulling, to connect the receiving elements of adjacent sleeves with pull ropes.

[0020] Furthermore, it is preferred that the space between the outer hose of the hose assembly and the guide hose be utilized. This space offers the advantage of providing additional insulation. Preferably, it is also possible to use this space for degassing. Should small amounts of hydrogen escape, for example at connecting parts, it can be extracted directly through this space.

[0021] In some cases, the guide hose may need to be modified to be suitable, particularly for conveying gaseous hydrogen. For example, connecting elements, swivel joints, or similar components may need to be replaced with hose sections.

[0022] With the inventive method for converting a loading arm device, it is particularly possible to insert a hose device into a guide hose, which may have a length of more than 10 m, and thus to easily convert an existing loading arm device for loading highly explosive fluid, in particular liquid hydrogen.

[0023] It is particularly preferred to monitor the vacuum prevailing in the vacuum space of the hose assembly, especially continuously. This has the significant advantage that if a fluid, particularly liquid hydrogen, were to escape from the inner hose, this would be detected immediately. It is then possible to interrupt the hydrogen transport and, for example, inertize the inner hose with nitrogen.

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings.

[0025] They show: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a loading arm device, Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a hose device to be inserted into a guide tube, and Figure 3 is a sectional view through a guide tube of the loading arm device with the hose device inserted.

[0026] A loading arm, such as the one used in Figure 1 The illustrated embodiment has a base element 10. This is anchored in the ground. A main arm 12 is connected to the base element 10. In the illustrated embodiment, this main arm is designed as a vertical main arm. In the illustrated embodiment, the main arm is rotatably connected to the base element 10, with the rotation occurring about a vertical axis 14 extending longitudinally along the main arm.

[0027] An outer arm 14, 16 is connected to the main arm 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer arm 14, 16 has two arm sections 14 and 16. The arm section 14 of the outer arm is pivotably connected to the main arm 12 via a joint 18. The pivot axis runs horizontally or perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Figure 1 .

[0028] The arm section 16 of the outer arm is pivotally connected to the arm section 14 via a further joint 20, the pivot axis again running horizontally or perpendicular to the drawing plane. A counterweight 22 is arranged at the free end of the arm section 14 of the outer arm.

[0029] A guide hose 24 is supported by the main arm 12 and by the outer arms 14, 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide hose 24 has several flexible hose elements 26. Furthermore, the guide hose 24 has several rigid hose elements 28 designed as tubes. The individual hose elements 26, 28 are connected to each other via flanges 30.

[0030] With such a loading arm device, it is possible to load liquids or gases, such as ammonia, via the guide hose, i.e., to remove or fill a transport tank provided on a ship.

[0031] To use a loading arm device, such as those found in Figure 2 As shown, the invention also allows the device to be used for loading highly explosive fluids, such as liquid hydrogen in particular. According to the invention, a hose assembly, as shown below in particular with reference to the following, is integrated into the guide hose 24. Figure 2and 3 as described, withdrawn.

[0032] Within the guide tube 24 ( Figure 3 ) the hose assembly 32 is arranged or retracted.

[0033] The hose assembly 32 has an inner hose 34. The inner hose 34 runs in Figure 3 Perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, liquid hydrogen can be conveyed through this inner tube 34. An outer tube 36 is provided concentrically to the inner tube 34. A longitudinally extending tubular cavity with an annular cross-section is thus formed between the inner tube 34 and the outer tube 36. This is a vacuum space 38. A vacuum pump is connected to this space to generate a vacuum. The vacuum prevailing in the vacuum space 38 serves to insulate the inner tube 34, which transports the liquid hydrogen.

[0034] The outer hose 36 is surrounded by several cuffs 40. An intermediate ring 42 is arranged between the cuffs 40 and the outer hose 36, which can be a separate ring or a part of the cuff 40. The outer hose 36 is arranged between the cuffs 40, wherein, in a preferred embodiment, the outer hose 36 is, as shown in Figure 2 depicted, featuring a grid or similar structure, ensuring good flexibility while maintaining high stability.

[0035] Guide elements 44 are provided on the cuffs 40, which are arranged between the cuffs 40 and the guide hose when the hose assembly is retracted.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, six guide elements 44 are arranged regularly around the circumference of the cuff 40. In the illustrated embodiment, each guide element 44 has two retaining arms 46 ( Figure 2) wherein the retaining arms 46 are formed in one piece in the illustrated embodiment.

[0037] The retaining arms 46 are at an angle of 45°–135° to each other. Roller elements 48 are provided at the ends of the retaining arms 46. When the hose assembly 32 is pulled into the guide hose 34, the roller elements 48 roll against an inner wall 50 of the guide hose ( Figure 3 The retaining arm pairs 46, which in the illustrated embodiment are formed in one piece, are pivotably connected to the cuff via fastening elements 52. The pivoting direction is essentially aligned in the longitudinal direction of the guide hose 24.

[0038] Between the guide elements 44, receiving elements 54 are arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, six receiving elements 54 are also arranged at equal intervals between adjacent guide elements 44. The receiving elements 54 have connecting eyelets 56 or other connecting elements for connecting to pull ropes or the like.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving elements are provided on connecting tabs 58, 60. The connecting tabs 58, 60 serve to connect adjacent ring-segment-shaped parts 62 ( Figure 2 ) the cuff 40.

Claims

1. Loading arm device for transporting / conveying fluids, comprising a base element (10), a main arm (12) rotatably connected with the base element (10), an outer arm (14, 16) pivotally connected with the main arm (12), a guide hose (24) supported by the main arm (10) and the outer arm (14, 16), characterized by a hose means arranged inside the guide hose (24), comprising an inner hose (34), in particular for transporting / conveying liquid gases, in particular liquid hydrogen, an outer hose (36) surrounding the inner hose (34) in a substantially concentric manner, a vacuum gap (38) formed between the inner hose (34) and the outer hose (36), in which a vacuum can be applied for thermal insulation of the inner hose (34), a plurality of sleeves (40) surrounding the outer hose (36), and guide elements (44) arranged on the sleeves (40) for guiding and / or supporting the hose means in the guide hose.

2. Loading arm according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide elements (44) comprise rolling and / or sliding elements (48) arranged at a distance from the sleeve (40).

3. Loading arm device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a part, in particular all guide elements (44) each have two rolling and / or sliding elements.

4. Loading arm device according to claim 3, characterized in that two rolling and / or sliding elements (48) are fastened to one holding arm (46), respectively, the holding arms (46) being at an angle with respect to one another which preferably is in a range from 45° to 135°.

5. Loading arm device according to claim 4, characterized in that the two holding arms (46) are fixedly connected with each other, in particular formed integrally.

6. Loading arm device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the two holding arms (46) are pivotally arranged on the sleeve (40), in particular in a jointly pivotable manner.

7. Loading arm device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least three guide elements (44) are arranged at the circumference of the sleeve (40), in particular equidistantly.

8. Loading arm device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that receiving elements (54) for pull cables are arranged on the sleeve (40).

9. Loading arm device according to claim 8, characterized in that the receiving elements (54) are arranged between guide elements (44), the number of receiving elements (54) preferably being equal to the number of guide elements (44).

10. Loading arm device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the inner hose (34) comprises stainless steel.

11. Loading arm device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the outer hose (36) comprises stainless steel.

12. Loading arm device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that spacers / a spacer fabric is provided between the inner hose (34) and the outer hose (36).

13. Method for retrofitting a loading arm device for transporting / conveying of highly explosive fluids, in particular liquid hydrogen, wherein a hose means is drawn into a guide hose (24) which is supported by the loading arm device, in particular a main arm (10) and an outer arm (14, 16) of the loading arm device, wherein the hose means comprises an inner hose (34), in particular for transporting / conveying liquid gases, in particular liquid hydrogen, an outer hose surrounding the inner hose (34) in a substantially concentric manner, a vacuum gap (38) formed between the inner hose (34) and the outer hose (36), in which gap a vacuum may be applied for thermal insulation of the inner hose (34), a plurality of sleeves (40) surrounding the outer hose (36) and guide elements (44) arranged on the sleeves (40) for guiding and / or supporting the hose means in the guide hose.

14. Method for retrofitting a loading arm according to claim 13, wherein prior to drawing in the hose means (32), the guide hose (24) is retrofitted for guiding gases, in particular liquid hydrogen, wherein in particular hinges and the like of the guide hose (24) are replaced with hose elements.

15. Method for retrofitting a loading arm according to claim 13 or 14, wherein during the pull-in operation, the guide elements (44) slide and / or roll along an inner wall (50) of the guide hose (24).

16. Method for retrofitting a loading arm according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the hose means (32) is configured according to claims 2 to 12.

17. Method for retrofitting a loading arm according to claim 16, wherein for pulling in the hose means (32), pull cables are fastened at the receiving elements (54) arranged on the sleeve (40).

18. Method for retrofitting a loading arm according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein a gap formed between the guide hose (24) and the outer hose (36) of the hose means (32) is used for degassing.