Floating structures

Abstract

To provide a floating body structure capable of securing an enough space for installing a facility.SOLUTION: A floating body structure includes: a body floating on water; three or more structures arrayed in the longer direction of the body with a predetermined between-structure distance; a plurality of between-structure regions sandwiched by adjacent structures; and a central facility positioned in part of the between-structure region out of the plurality of between-structure regions. The between-structure distance corresponding to the between-structure region where the central facility is positioned is larger than the between-structure distance corresponding to the between-structure region where the central facility is not positioned.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a floating structure equipped with a liquefied gas tank.

Background Art

[0002] In floating structures such as liquefied gas carriers, structures such as a plurality of liquefied gas tanks and tank covers are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the main body (ship hull) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In view of the navigation performance and manufacturing cost, it is considered desirable that the overall dimensions of the floating structure as described above be small. Therefore, it is not easy to secure a space for installing equipment in the vicinity of structures such as liquefied gas tanks and tank covers.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a floating structure having sufficient space for installing equipment in the vicinity of a structure.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A floating structure according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a main body floating on water, three or more structures arranged at a predetermined structural interval in the longitudinal direction of the main body, a plurality of structural intermediate regions sandwiched between adjacent structures, and a central facility located in a part of the plurality of structural intermediate regions, and the structural interval corresponding to the structural intermediate region where the central facility is located is larger than the structural interval corresponding to the structural intermediate region where the central facility is not located.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a floating structure with sufficient space for installing equipment near the structure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the floating structure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the floating structure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The floating structure 100 according to this embodiment will be described below. Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the floating structure 100, and Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the floating structure 100. As shown in Figure 1, the floating structure 100 according to this embodiment comprises a main body 11, four liquefied gas tanks 21 to 24, four tank covers 31 to 34, three inter-cover regions 41 to 43, and a central facility 51. These components will be described in order below.

[0010] <Main body> The floating structure 100 according to this embodiment is a liquefied gas carrier that transports liquefied gas. The main body 11 is the part that floats on the water, and in this embodiment, the hull corresponds to the main body 11. The floating structure 100 is not limited to a liquefied gas carrier, but may also be a floating production storage and offloading facility (FPSO), a floating LNG storage and regasification facility (FSRU), a floating production and offloading facility (FPO), a floating storage and offloading facility (FSO), etc.

[0011] The concept of direction in the following explanation corresponds to the concept of direction when viewed from the direction in which the passengers on the floating structure 100 are sailing (to the right of the page in Figures 1 and 2). Furthermore, in the following, the front-to-back direction of the main body 11 will be referred to as the "longitudinal direction," and the left-to-right direction of the main body 11 will be referred to as the "width direction."

[0012] The rear portion of the main body 11 contains a living quarters 12, which includes living quarters for the crew. Below the living quarters 12 is an engine room 13 that houses the main engine. However, the locations of the living quarters 12 and engine room 13 are not limited to those described above, and the floating structure 100 does not necessarily have to have living quarters 12 and an engine room 13. Furthermore, the longitudinal central and forward portions of the main body 11 have upper decks 14 that are exposed to the outside.

[0013] <Liquefied gas tank> In this embodiment, the floating structure 100 is equipped with a first liquefied gas tank 21, a second liquefied gas tank 22, a third liquefied gas tank 23, and a fourth liquefied gas tank 24 in the longitudinal central portion of the main body 11, and these liquefied gas tanks 21 to 24 are arranged in the above order from the front. In other words, each of the liquefied gas tanks 21 to 24 is lined up in a row along the longitudinal direction of the main body 11. However, the number of liquefied gas tanks equipped with the floating structure 100 is not limited to four. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the floating structure 100 is equipped with three or more liquefied gas tanks.

[0014] Furthermore, each liquefied gas tank 21-24 is spherical or ellipsoidal in shape, with its upper portion positioned above the upper deck 14. However, the shape and position of each liquefied gas tank 21-24 are not limited to those described above. For example, each liquefied gas tank 21-24 may be a rectangular tank.

[0015] Furthermore, each of the liquefied gas tanks 21-24 stores liquefied gas. Specifically, each of the liquefied gas tanks 21-24 stores liquefied hydrogen. However, each of the liquefied gas tanks 21-24 may also store liquefied gases other than liquefied hydrogen, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The liquefied gas stored in each of the liquefied gas tanks 21-24, and the gas produced when this liquefied gas vaporizes, can be removed through the dome section 25 located at the top of each of the liquefied gas tanks 21-24.

[0016] <Tank cover> The floating structure 100 according to this embodiment includes a first tank cover 31 covering a first liquefied gas tank 21, a second tank cover 32 covering a second liquefied gas tank 22, a third tank cover 33 covering a third liquefied gas tank 23, and a fourth tank cover 34 covering a fourth liquefied gas tank 24. Each tank cover 31 to 34 is hemispherical and covers the upper portion of the corresponding liquefied gas tank 21 to 24. However, each tank cover 31 to 34 does not have to be hemispherical. The number of tank covers provided by the floating structure 100 is not limited to four. For example, one tank cover may cover multiple liquefied gas tanks. However, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the floating structure 100 has three or more tank covers.

[0017] Furthermore, each tank cover 31 to 34 is arranged with different distances between them. Here, "different distances between covers" includes not only cases where all distances between covers are different, but also cases where all distances between covers are the same except for some. In the following, the distance between the first tank cover 31 and the second tank cover 32 will be referred to as "first distance between covers D1", the distance between the second tank cover 32 and the third tank cover 33 will be referred to as "second distance between covers D2", and the distance between the third tank cover 33 and the fourth tank cover 34 will be referred to as "third distance between covers D3".

[0018] In this embodiment, the second cover distance D2 is greater than the first cover distance D1 and also greater than the third cover distance D3. In other words, the second cover distance D2 is greater than any of the other cover distances D1 and D3. However, the first cover distance D1 and the third cover distance D3 may be the same or different. Furthermore, the dimension of the second cover distance D2 is at least three times the smaller of the first cover distance D1 and the third cover distance D3.

[0019] <Inter-tank area> The floating structure 100 according to this embodiment includes a first inter-cover region 41, a second inter-cover region 42, and a third inter-cover region 43. The first inter-cover region 41 is a region sandwiched between the first tank cover 31 and the second tank cover 32. The second inter-cover region 42 is a region sandwiched between the second tank cover 32 and the third tank cover 33. The third inter-cover region 43 is a region sandwiched between the third tank cover 33 and the fourth tank cover 34. Note that the number of inter-tank regions provided in the floating structure 100 is not limited to three. However, in this embodiment, a case where the floating structure 100 includes two or more inter-tank regions is assumed.

[0020] Each of the inter-cover regions 41 to 43 is a three-dimensional region and is a region located between the tank covers 31 to 34 when viewed from the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the inter-cover regions 41 to 43 are regions that overlap the front tank covers 31 to 34 when viewed from the front. Also, each of the inter-cover regions 41 to 43 has a volume corresponding to the size of the corresponding inter-cover distance D1 to D2. In other words, by adjusting each of the inter-cover distances D1 to D3, the size of each of the inter-cover regions 41 to 43 can be set. In this embodiment, since the second inter-cover distance D2 is larger than the first inter-cover distance D1 and the third inter-cover distance D3, the second inter-cover region 42 corresponding to the second inter-cover distance D2 is larger than the first inter-cover region 41 and the third inter-cover region 43.

[0021] <Central equipment> The central equipment 51 is equipment located near the liquefied gas tanks 21 to 24, that is, at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body 11. The central equipment 51 of this embodiment is transfer equipment located on the upper deck 14. That is, the central equipment 51 of this embodiment is equipment for transferring liquefied hydrogen between external cargo handling equipment located on land or at sea. Note that "on the upper deck 14" includes not only a position in contact with the surface of the upper deck 14 but also a position above the upper deck 14. The central equipment 51 of this embodiment includes a hydrogen pipe 52 and a manifold 53. Note that the hydrogen pipe 52 may be arranged from the starboard side to the port side of the main body 11.

[0022] The hydrogen pipe 52 is a pipe for transporting liquefied hydrogen or hydrogen gas. The hydrogen pipe 52 connects the manifold 53 and the dome portions 25 of the respective liquefied gas tanks 21 to 24 through the region 42 between the second covers. Here, since the temperature of liquefied hydrogen is lower than that of LNG or the like, the hydrogen pipe 52 through which liquefied hydrogen and hydrogen gas pass needs to be a vacuum double pipe or to have a very thick heat insulation material attached thereto. Therefore, the outer diameter of the hydrogen pipe 52 tends to be large. Thus, in order to install the central facility 51 including the hydrogen pipe 52, it is necessary to secure a particularly large installation space.

[0023] The manifold 53 is a device for connecting to external cargo handling facilities. A part of the manifold 53 near the center in the width direction of the main body 11 is located in the region 42 between the second covers. Also, the manifold 53 is located on the upper deck 14. The height position of the manifold 53 is determined by the height of the connection part in the external cargo handling facilities. Therefore, it is practically impossible to make the position of the manifold 53 infinitely high to avoid interference with the liquefied gas tanks 21 to 24. That is, in the present embodiment, it is necessary to secure a space for installing the manifold 53 near the upper surface of the upper deck 14.

[0024] As described above, the central equipment 51 (a portion of the hydrogen piping 52 on the manifold 53 side and a portion of the manifold 53) is located in the second cover area 42. In other words, the second cover area 42 is the installation space for the central equipment 51. On the other hand, the central equipment 51 is not located in the first cover area 41 and the third cover area 43. And, as mentioned above, since the second cover area 42 is larger than the first cover area 41 and the third cover area 43, sufficient space for installing the central equipment 51 can be secured in this embodiment. In other words, the second cover distance D2 is adjusted so that the central equipment 51 can be installed in the second cover area 42. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a portion of the central equipment 51 is located in the second cover area 42 and the remaining portion is located outside the second cover area 42, but the entirety of the central equipment 51 (the entirety of the hydrogen piping 52 and the entirety of the manifold 53) may also be located in the second cover area 42. In other words, the term "central equipment located in the inter-coverage area" in this disclosure includes both "central equipment partially located in the inter-coverage area" and "central equipment entirely located in the inter-coverage area."

[0025] Furthermore, if the distance between the second cover D2 is made larger than the distance between the first cover D1 and the distance between the third cover D3, as in this embodiment, the longitudinal dimension of the main body 11 increases. Conventionally, it was thought that if the main body 11 became larger, the navigation performance would decrease and the manufacturing cost would increase. However, even if the length of the main body 11 in the longitudinal direction increases, the frontal projected area of ​​the main body 11 remains the same, and the impact on navigation performance is small. Also, if the distance between the second cover D2 is not made larger and remains narrow, even if the central equipment 51 can be arranged, it will have to be a complex structure, and this will result in a considerable increase in manufacturing cost. Therefore, the structure of the floating structure 100 according to this embodiment does not have the problems that were previously a concern and overturns conventional wisdom.

[0026] <Variation> In the above embodiment, the central equipment 51 was located in the second inter-cover area 42, but the central equipment 51 may be located in an inter-cover area other than the second inter-cover area 42. For example, the central equipment 51 may be located in the third inter-cover area 43. In this case, the third inter-cover distance D3 corresponding to the third inter-cover area 43 should be made larger than the first inter-cover distance D1 and the second inter-cover distance D2. This makes it possible to secure installation space for the central equipment 51.

[0027] Furthermore, the central equipment 51 may be located in other cover areas in addition to the second cover area 42. For example, the central equipment 51 may be located in both the second cover area 42 and the third cover area 43. In this case, the second cover distance D2 and the third cover distance D3 should be made larger than the first cover distance D1. This ensures sufficient space for the central equipment 51. Note that the second cover distance D2 and the third cover distance D3 may be the same or different.

[0028] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the central equipment 51 was a transfer facility, but the central equipment 51 may be equipment other than a transfer facility. For example, the central equipment 51 may be cargo equipment. In this case, the central equipment 51 includes hydrogen piping 52 and cargo equipment instead of manifold 53. Cargo equipment includes equipment for pressurizing hydrogen gas that has naturally vaporized or been forcibly vaporized from the liquefied hydrogen stored in the liquefied gas tanks 21-24, a vaporizer for forcibly vaporizing liquefied hydrogen, a heat exchanger for temperature control of the hydrogen gas, a nitrogen gas generator, a cargo handling pump, and fresh water pumps, seawater pumps, lubricating oil pumps, etc., for operating these devices. Also, the central equipment 51 may include both transfer facilities and cargo equipment. For example, the transfer facilities may be located mainly to the right of the center in the width direction of the second cover area 42, and the cargo equipment may be located mainly to the left of the center in the width direction of the second cover area 42.

[0029] In the above embodiment, "tank covers 31-34", "inter-cover regions 41-43", and "inter-cover distances D1-D3" correspond to "structure", "inter-structure region", and "inter-structure distance" in this disclosure.

[0030] <If there is no tank cover, etc.> In the above embodiment, the upper portions of each liquefied gas tank 21-24 were located above the upper deck 14, but each liquefied gas tank 21-24 may be located entirely below the upper deck 14. In other words, the floating structure 100 does not need to have tank covers 31-34. In this case, since there are no tank covers 31-34, the "distance between covers" and "area between covers" in the above embodiment can be read as "distance between tanks" and "area between tanks," respectively. In other words, in this case, the central equipment 51 is located in a part of the area between tanks among the multiple areas between tanks, and the distance between tanks corresponding to the area between tanks where the central equipment 51 is located is greater than the distance between tanks corresponding to the area between tanks where the central equipment 51 is not located.

[0031] Similarly, in cases where one tank cover covers multiple liquefied gas tanks, resulting in no inter-cover area or only one inter-cover area, or where the central equipment 51 is located below the upper deck 14, "inter-cover distance" and "inter-cover area" can be reinterpreted as "inter-tank distance" and "inter-tank area," respectively. The central equipment 51 located below the upper deck 14 includes, for example, an access passage that passes through the inter-tank area in the width direction, ballast tanks for storing seawater to adjust the draft and inclination of the floating structure 100, anti-rolling tanks for dampening the rolling of the floating structure 100, fuel oil tanks for storing fuel oil, a fire extinguishing equipment room, and an equipment room.

[0032] In the above-described case, the dimension of the tank-to-tank distance corresponding to the tank-to-tank area where the central equipment 51 is located is 1.5 times or more the dimension of the smallest tank-to-tank distance corresponding to the tank-to-tank area where the central equipment 51 is not located.

[0033] In the above modified examples, "liquefied gas tanks 21-24," "inter-tank region," and "inter-tank distance" correspond to "structure," "inter-structure region," and "inter-structure distance" in this disclosure.

[0034] <Summary> The floating structure described above comprises a main body that floats on the water, three or more structural elements arranged at predetermined structural distances along the longitudinal direction of the main body, a plurality of inter-structural regions sandwiched between adjacent structural elements, and a central facility located in some of the inter-structural regions among the plurality of inter-structural regions, wherein the inter-structural distance corresponding to the inter-structural region where the central facility is located is greater than the inter-structural distance corresponding to the inter-structural region where the central facility is not located.

[0035] This configuration allows for ample space to install the central equipment due to the large inter-structure area where the central equipment is located. Furthermore, it facilitates access to the central equipment, reducing maintenance costs and maintenance periods.

[0036] Furthermore, the floating structure according to this embodiment further comprises three or more liquefied gas tanks arranged in the longitudinal direction of the main body, the three or more structures are three or more tank covers that cover at least one of the three or more liquefied gas tanks and are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the main body with a predetermined distance between covers, the plurality of inter-structure regions are a plurality of inter-cover regions sandwiched between adjacent tank covers, the central equipment is located in a portion of the inter-cover regions of the plurality of inter-cover regions, and the inter-cover distance corresponding to the inter-cover region where the central equipment is located is greater than the inter-cover distance corresponding to the inter-cover region where the central equipment is not located.

[0037] This configuration allows for ample space to install the central equipment due to the large area between covers where the central equipment is located. Furthermore, it facilitates access to the central equipment, reducing maintenance costs and maintenance periods.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the floating structure includes an upper deck, each tank cover is located above the upper deck, and the central equipment is located on the upper deck.

[0039] In such configurations, it is generally not easy to secure space for installing central equipment. However, even in such cases, it is possible to secure sufficient space for installing central equipment.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the floating structure includes liquefied hydrogen storage in each liquefied gas tank, and the central facility includes hydrogen piping for transporting liquefied hydrogen or hydrogen gas.

[0041] Installing central equipment, including hydrogen piping, requires a large installation space. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to secure sufficient space for installing the central equipment.

[0042] Furthermore, in the floating structure according to this embodiment, the central equipment is either a transfer facility including a manifold that connects to external cargo handling equipment, or cargo equipment including cargo pressurizing equipment for hydrogen gas.

[0043] If the central equipment consists of transfer equipment and cargo equipment, the installation location will be somewhat limited. Even in such cases, it is possible to secure sufficient space for installing the central equipment.

[0044] Furthermore, in the floating structure according to this embodiment, the dimension of the distance between covers corresponding to the area between covers where the central equipment is located is at least three times the dimension of the smallest distance between covers corresponding to the area between covers where the central equipment is not located.

[0045] This configuration allows for sufficient space to install the central equipment.

[0046] Furthermore, in a floating structure according to a modified example of this embodiment, the three or more structures are three or more liquefied gas tanks arranged in the longitudinal direction of the main body with a predetermined distance between tanks, the plurality of inter-structure regions are plurality of inter-tank regions sandwiched between adjacent liquefied gas tanks, the central equipment is located in a portion of the plurality of inter-tank regions, and the inter-tank distance corresponding to the inter-tank region where the central equipment is located is greater than the inter-tank distance corresponding to the inter-tank region where the central equipment is not located.

[0047] This configuration allows for ample space to install the central equipment due to the large area between tanks where the central equipment is located. Furthermore, it facilitates access to the central equipment, reducing maintenance costs and maintenance intervals.

[0048] Furthermore, in the floating structure according to a modified example of this embodiment, the dimension of the tank-to-tank distance corresponding to the tank-to-tank region where the central equipment is located is 1.5 times or more the dimension of the smallest tank-to-tank distance corresponding to the tank-to-tank region where the central equipment is not located.

[0049] This configuration allows for sufficient space to install the central equipment. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 11 Main unit 14 Upper Deck 21. First liquefied gas tank 22. Second liquefied gas tank 23. Third liquefied gas tank 24. Fourth Liquefied Gas Tank 31. First tank cover 32 Second Tank Cover 33 Third Tank Cover 34. Tank Cover No. 4 41. First Inter-Coverage Area 42 Second Inter-Coverage Area 43 Third Inter-Coverage Area 51 Central equipment 52 Hydrogen piping 53 Manifold 100 Floating structures

Claims

1. The main body floats on the water, Three or more liquefied gas tanks arranged in the longitudinal direction of the main body, Three or more tank covers cover at least one of the three or more liquefied gas tanks, and are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the main body with a predetermined distance between covers, Multiple cover-interval areas sandwiched between adjacent tank covers, A central facility located in a portion of the aforementioned multiple inter-cover regions, A floating structure in which the distance between covers corresponding to the area between covers where the central equipment is located is greater than the distance between covers corresponding to the area between covers where the central equipment is not located.

2. The aforementioned main body includes the upper deck, Each tank cover is located above the upper deck. The floating structure according to claim 1, wherein the central equipment is located on the upper deck.

3. Each liquefied gas tank stores liquefied hydrogen. The floating structure according to claim 2, wherein the central equipment is a transfer facility including a manifold that connects to external cargo handling equipment, and includes hydrogen piping for transporting liquefied hydrogen or hydrogen gas.

4. The floating structure according to claim 3, wherein the hydrogen piping connects the manifold and the dome portions of the three or more liquefied gas tanks through the inter-cover region where the central equipment is located.

5. The floating structure according to claim 2, wherein the central equipment is cargo equipment equipment including cargo equipment for pressurizing liquefied gas.

6. The floating structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the dimension of the distance between covers corresponding to the area between covers where the central equipment is located is three times or more the dimension of the smallest distance between covers corresponding to the area between covers where the central equipment is not located.

7. A body that floats on the water, The main body comprises three or more liquefied gas tanks arranged in the longitudinal direction with a predetermined distance between them, Multiple tank-to-tank areas sandwiched between adjacent liquefied gas tanks, A central facility located in a portion of the inter-tank regions among the plurality of inter-tank regions, A floating structure in which the distance between tanks corresponding to the area between tanks where the central equipment is located is greater than the distance between tanks corresponding to the area between tanks where the central equipment is not located.

8. The floating structure according to claim 7, wherein the dimension of the tank-to-tank distance corresponding to the tank-to-tank region where the central equipment is located is 1.5 times or more the dimension of the smallest tank-to-tank distance corresponding to the tank-to-tank region where the central equipment is not located.

Images