Adjustable Corner Structure for Insulated Tank Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealed and thermally insulating tanks for low-temperature liquid storage or transport, such as LPG and LNG, face challenges in adapting corner structures to varying thicknesses of thermal insulation barriers, leading to inefficiencies in sealing and mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
A corner structure comprising anchoring wings and connecting pieces that allow adjustable positioning of sealing angles, enabling adaptation to different insulation barrier thicknesses and ensuring a leak-tight seal, with corrugated connections and slots to manage mechanical stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed corner structure is used, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the structure cannot adapt to different insulation barrier thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The corner structure incorporates adjustable connecting pieces that can be positioned at different locations along the anchoring wings, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that can adapt to varying insulation thicknesses. The connecting pieces can be moved or repositioned to accommodate different distances between the load-bearing walls, enabling the same corner structure to work with different insulation barrier thicknesses without requiring custom-designed components for each thickness variation.
2Reliability
If the sealing angle position is fixed, then the assembly is simpler, but the sealing integrity cannot be optimized for different insulation thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The corner structure is divided into separate modular components: anchoring wings, connecting pieces, and sealing angles. The sealing angle is positioned and secured through the connecting pieces that attach to the anchoring wings. This segmentation allows the sealing angle to be independently adjusted to the optimal position for each insulation thickness while maintaining a relatively simple assembly process through standardized connection interfaces.
3Strength
If rigid connections are used in the corner structure, then the structural strength is higher, but the mechanical stresses on welds increase
Solution Approach 1:
The corner structure utilizes slots with specific dimensional parameters that allow for controlled movement and stress distribution. The connecting pieces are positioned within these slots at optimized locations that balance structural strength with stress reduction. By carefully selecting the slot dimensions, positions, and orientations, the structure achieves sufficient strength while allowing minor movements that reduce concentrated stresses on the welds during thermal expansion and contraction cycles.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A sealed and thermally insulated tank for storing a fluid, comprising, at an edge (100) between the load-bearing structure (5) of a first wall (1) and the load-bearing structure (25) of a second wall (2), an angle structure (10), the angle structure comprising a sealing angle (13) fixed, on the one hand, to a first anchoring flange (11) by means of a first connecting piece (12), and on the other hand, to a second anchoring flange (211) by means of a second connecting piece (212), the sealing angle (13) being connected in a sealed manner to the sealing membrane (27) of the first wall and to the sealing membrane (7) of the second wall.