Batten Joint for Internal Floating Roof Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional internal floating roof arrangements for fluid tanks face issues with inadequate sealing at panel joints, difficulty in controlling periphery fires, and lack of attachment measures for appurtenances, leading to safety hazards and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a batten joint and butt joint system with adjustable retainers, fasteners, and gaskets for improved sealing, along with a panel aperture bracket for secure attachment of appurtenances, addresses the sealing and attachment issues, and incorporates a foam dam for fire control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If full contact floating roof is used to eliminate vapor space, then safety hazard from vapor space is reduced, but panel joint sealing becomes inadequate allowing vapor seepage
Solution Approach 1:
The floating roof is divided into multiple panels that can be separately manufactured and assembled. Each panel is connected through modular joint assemblies, allowing the system to achieve both full contact sealing and structural integrity. The segmentation enables precise sealing at joints while maintaining the overall vapor space elimination goal.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing intermediary component is introduced at the panel joints to bridge the gap between adjacent panels. This intermediary sealing element ensures vapor-tight connections while allowing for manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion, thus maintaining reliable sealing without compromising the full contact design.
2Device complexity
If conventional panel joining method is used, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing efficiency becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sealing functions are merged into a single integrated joint assembly that combines mechanical connection, sealing, and adjustment capabilities. This merged design achieves high sealing efficiency without proportionally increasing overall device complexity, as the joint assembly serves multiple purposes simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel joint assembly is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: mechanical fastening, vapor sealing, thermal expansion accommodation, and manufacturing tolerance compensation. This multi-functionality maintains relatively simple device architecture while achieving superior sealing efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed panel retainer spacing is used, then manufacturing precision requirement is reduced, but manufacturing tolerances cause roof distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The panel retainer spacing is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the spacing to be dynamically modified during assembly to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. This dynamic adjustment capability maintains the floating roof's geometric stability without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing parameter of the panel retainers is made variable through adjustable mounting mechanisms. By allowing the spacing parameter to be changed during assembly, the system can accommodate manufacturing tolerances and prevent roof distortion while maintaining structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A batten joint for an internal floating roof of a fluid tank. The floating roof has at least a first panel having a first panel edge and a second panel having a second panel edge. The batten joint comprises a first panel retainer or retaining means adapted for retaining the first panel edge, a second panel retainer or retaining means adapted for retaining the second panel edge, and at least one batten engaging the first and second panel retainer or retaining means in a spaced apart configuration.