Damping Device for Sealed Insulating Tank Sloshing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealed and thermally insulating tanks integrated into supporting structures, such as ship hulls, suffer from deterioration due to sloshing and degradation of both primary and secondary sealing and thermal insulation barriers, leading to damage and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A double-walled tank design with a damping device comprising a layer of damping material between two walls, where the secondary sealing barrier is located and the primary sealing barrier rests, and a depression movement means is arranged between the walls to enhance shock absorption, using materials like fir plywood or composite materials with lower modulus of elasticity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional metallic sealing barriers and thermal insulation modules are used, then the tank provides basic sealing and insulation functions, but the tank suffers deterioration from sloshing and degradation of sealing and insulation barriers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetank sealing reliabilityVSAvoidsloshing damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a damping device between the primary and secondary sealing barriers that absorbs sloshing energy before it can damage the sealing barriers. The damping material is positioned to intercept and dissipate the energy of liquid movement, preventing direct impact on the sealing structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The damping device serves as an intermediary element between the sloshing liquid and the sealing barriers. It mediates the harmful effects by absorbing and dissipating mechanical energy, thereby protecting both the primary and secondary sealing barriers from deterioration while maintaining the integrity of the tank structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If thermal insulation modules with rigid plates are used, then the tank provides thermal insulation, but the thermal insulation layer and rigid plate suffer degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulation performanceVSAvoidthermal insulation barrier durability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the thermal insulation structure by replacing rigid plates with a flexible damping device made of elastomeric material. This parameter change allows the insulation barrier to accommodate sloshing movements without degradation, maintaining both thermal insulation performance and structural durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If additional damping structures are added to reduce sloshing damage, then shock absorption improves, but the structural complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock absorptionVSAvoidtank structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the damping function with the thermal insulation barrier by combining the elastomeric damping material with the insulation layer. This merging allows a single component to provide both shock absorption and thermal insulation functions, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining effective protection against sloshing damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution significantly improves shock absorption, reducing damage to the tank by at least three times compared to current structures, while minimizing structural modifications and costs.

Implementation Method 1

a damping device consisting of a layer of damping material disposed between two walls

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscous damping: Viscous Damping

Implementation Method 2

at least one thermal insulation barrier made integral with the load-bearing structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3156714B1Improvement for a sealed, thermally insulating tank built into a carrier structure

Publication Date: 2020.03.25 GAZTRANSPORT & TECHNIGAZ SA

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AI summary

A watertight and thermally insulated tank comprising: a secondary thermally insulating barrier surmounted by the secondary sealing barrier (5) and a primary thermally insulating barrier disposed on the secondary sealing barrier (5), the primary sealing barrier (10) resting on the primary thermally insulating barrier, each of the thermally insulating barriers being made in the form of juxtaposed modules, a module of the secondary thermally insulating barrier comprising a first plywood plate (3) surmounted by a first layer of thermal insulation (4), characterized in that the module of the primary thermally insulating barrier comprises a second layer of thermal insulation (6) which itself carries a damping device (7) consisting of a sandwich assembly on which the primary sealing barrier (10) rests, the sandwich assembly comprising a first wall (8) made of plywood or composite material,a second wall (9) made of plywood or composite material and a layer of damping material (11) disposed between the first and second walls.