Deflection Element for Insulating Vessel Corners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealed and thermally insulating tanks face challenges in maintaining low pressure within thermally insulating barriers, particularly at the corners of the tank, leading to significant pressure drops and potential insulation defects that can compromise the integrity of the tank and efficiency of thermal insulation.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a deflection element with a series of elbow channels at the intersection of tank walls, allowing gas flow while following isothermal lines to minimize convection and pressure drops, and utilizing materials like expanded polystyrene or polyurethane for the deflection element to enhance thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the cross section of gas phase flow spaces is increased to reduce pressure drops, then pressure drops are reduced, but local convection zones are created which are detrimental to thermal insulation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The gas flow space is segmented into multiple separate flow channels instead of a single large cross-section. The deflection element creates multiple serpentine flow paths that distribute gas flow throughout the corner region, reducing pressure drops while maintaining small local cross-sections that prevent convection zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas flow path is extended into the third dimension by creating serpentine channels that follow the isothermal lines. Instead of increasing cross-section in the radial direction, the flow is directed along the tangential direction following isothermal surfaces, thereby reducing pressure drops without creating convection zones.
2Loss of energy
If gas phase is maintained under low pressure to increase insulating power, then thermal insulation efficiency is improved, but significant local pressure drops occur at corner areas
Solution Approach 1:
The corner region is segmented into multiple flow channels through the deflection element, distributing the gas flow to reduce local pressure drops while maintaining overall low pressure for thermal insulation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path geometry is changed to follow isothermal lines, transforming the pressure distribution pattern. By aligning flow paths with isothermal surfaces, pressure drops are minimized while maintaining the low pressure condition necessary for vacuum insulation performance.
3Stress or pressure
If a deflection element is added to promote gas flow at corners, then pressure drops are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection element merges multiple functions into a single component: it directs gas flow along isothermal lines, provides structural support for the insulation barrier, and defines multiple flow channels. This integration reduces the number of separate parts needed while achieving the desired flow distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection element serves multiple purposes: it acts as a flow distributor, a structural support, and a thermal barrier component. By making the deflection element multi-functional, the overall device complexity is minimized while still achieving effective gas flow management at the corners.
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
This configuration promotes gas flow within the thermally insulating barrier without creating insulation faults, effectively managing pressure drops and maintaining efficient thermal insulation, suitable for storing cryogenic fluids like LNG in both onshore and floating structures.
Implementation Method 1
by distributing the bent channels in the direction of thickness of the walls of the tank, the bent channels substantially follow the isothermal lines within the thermally insulating barrier so that natural and forced convection is limited within the deflection element
Implementation Method 2
Thanks to the presence of the deflection element at the intersection between two walls of the vessel, the circulation of gas at the level of the angles of the vessel is favored. In addition, by distributing the bent channels in the direction of thickness of the walls of the tank, the bent channels substantially follow the isothermal lines within the thermally insulating barrier so that natural and forced convection is limited within the deflection element and the pressure drops are limited
Implementation Method 3
It is known to maintain the gas phase of one and / or the other of the thermally insulating barriers under an absolute pressure lower than the ambient atmospheric pressure, that is to say at a negative relative pressure, in order to increase the insulating power of said thermally insulating barriers
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention concerns a sealed and thermally insulating vessel for storing a fluid, comprising a thermally insulating barrier comprising: a plurality of insulating elements disposed along the walls of the vessel, arranged to allow the flow of fluid, such as a gas, within said thermally insulating barrier; and a corner arrangement, disposed at the intersection between first and second walls (3, 4) of the vessel, the corner arrangement comprising: a deflection element (19) comprising a first face (20a) facing the supporting structure of the second wall (4), a second face (20b) facing the supporting structure of the first wall (3) and a plurality of curved channels (21) extending between the first face (20a) and the second face (20b) of the deflexion element (19) to allow the flow of fluid, such as a gas, through the corner arrangement, the plurality of curved channels (21) comprising at least a series of curved channels spaced apart from each other in the thickness direction of the walls (3, 4) of the vessel.