Compartmentalized Header Tank for Marine Multi-Engine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional header tank arrangements for multi-engine systems cannot meet the safety regulations requiring independent venting for each engine, leading to increased components, piping, and installation space due to the need for individual cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A compartmentalized header tank with laterally fluid-impermeable partitions for each engine, allowing independent venting of gaseous content while sharing a common coolant system, using separate tank gas outlets with gas detectors to identify and manage gaseous content from each engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a shared header tank is used for multiple engines, then the number of components and piping is reduced, but independent venting for each engine cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The header tank is divided into multiple compartments using laterally extending fluid impermeable partitions, with each compartment serving a specific engine. This segmentation allows independent venting for each engine while maintaining a shared tank structure, thus reducing overall complexity while ensuring safety compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
Each compartment within the header tank is equipped with its own gas outlet and gas detector, providing localized venting and monitoring capabilities. This local quality approach enables independent venting for each engine while the overall tank structure remains shared and compact.
2Reliability
If individual cooling systems are provided for each engine to meet safety regulations, then independent venting is achieved, but the number of components, piping, and installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual cooling systems are merged into a single shared header tank with compartmentalized structure. The tank consolidates the coolant storage and venting functions for multiple engines, reducing the number of separate components and piping while maintaining independent venting through partitioned compartments with individual gas outlets.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared header tank performs multiple functions: it serves as a common coolant reservoir for all engines, provides individual venting pathways for each engine through partitions, and enables centralized monitoring through gas detectors. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while meeting safety requirements.
3Device complexity
If gaseous content is vented from a shared header tank, then the tank structure is simplified, but the source of gaseous content cannot be identified
Solution Approach 1:
The header tank is segmented into compartments with individual gas outlets for each engine, allowing gaseous content to be vented separately from each compartment. This segmentation enables identification of the gas source while maintaining a simplified shared tank structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Gas detectors are installed at each compartment's gas outlet to provide feedback about the presence and source of gaseous content. This feedback mechanism enables identification of which engine is generating gas while the overall tank structure remains simplified and shared.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables independent venting of each engine while reducing the number of components, piping, and installation space by using a shared cooling liquid header tank, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Implementation Method 1
a first engine coolant outlet (12) of the first engine (10) is in liquid communication with a first tank coolant inlet (5) of the container (2) corresponding to the first partition (3)
Implementation Method 2
any gaseous contents entrained with the liquid coolant rises to the top of the partition corresponding to the engine from which the gaseous contents originates from
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The disclosure concerns a compartmentalized header tank (1) for liquid coolant, comprising a container (2) having an upper portion (2a) and a lower portion (2b) on an inside thereof. The upper portion (2a) is laterally divided into fluid impermeable partitions by at least one downwardly extending divider element (3), said partitions being open towards the lower portion (2b). The lower portion (2b) being defined by the inside of the container below the at least one divider element (3). The header tank comprises at least two tank gas outlets (4), positioned in respective partitions of the upper portion (2a), at least two tank coolant inlets (5) corresponding to respective tank gas outlets (4) and positioned below thereof in the respective partition, and a tank coolant outlet (6) positioned in a lower portion of the container. An associated header tank arrangement, power plant and marine vessel are also concerned.