Four-lobe cargo tank design for CO2 transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transporting and storing captured CO2 are inefficient and economically unfeasible for long distances, particularly between locations like South Korea and the USA or Persian Gulf, as they do not effectively utilize cargo transport capacity in both directions.
Innovation Solution
A four-lobe cargo tank design with four main lobes, each with a cylinder sector outer shell and main lobe axis, joined by web frames and diagonally arranged perforated bulkheads, allows for efficient transportation and storage of liquefied gases, enabling the carriage of high-density pressurized cargo and cryogenic temperatures, facilitating a lucrative and environmentally friendly cross-trade of CO2 and LNG.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a conventional single-chamber tank is used for CO2 transport, then the tank structure is simple, but the cargo transport capacity is insufficient for long-distance efficient transport
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is divided into multiple independent lobes (typically three or four) arranged around a central axis, with each lobe capable of holding cargo independently. This segmentation increases the total cargo capacity while maintaining a compact overall structure that fits within the vessel hull.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-chamber linear arrangement to a multi-lobed radial arrangement around a central axis. This dimensional reorganization allows the tank to utilize three-dimensional space more efficiently, increasing cargo capacity without proportionally increasing the tank's external dimensions.
2Quantity of substance
If the tank volume is increased to improve cargo capacity, then more CO2 can be transported, but the vessel footprint and stability are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the tank into multiple lobes arranged radially, the design achieves high cargo volume within a compact footprint. The lobes are positioned around a central axis, creating a space-efficient configuration that maximizes volume without requiring a large external area.
Solution Approach 2:
The lobes are designed with curved, spherical-like surfaces that efficiently enclose volume. This curvature allows the tank to achieve maximum cargo capacity within minimum external dimensions, reducing the vessel footprint while maintaining high transport volume.
3Strength
If the tank structure is reinforced to increase strength for high-density pressurized cargo, then the tank can safely transport pressurized CO2, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lobes are designed with curved surfaces that naturally distribute stress more evenly compared to flat surfaces. This geometric feature enhances the structural strength of the tank walls, allowing them to withstand high internal pressures of stored CO2 without requiring excessive reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank employs composite construction with an inner shell for cargo containment and an outer shell for structural support, separated by an insulating layer. This composite structure provides the necessary strength and pressure resistance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular assembly.
4Quantity of substance
If a multi-lobe tank design is implemented to increase cargo capacity, then the transport efficiency improves, but the center of gravity shifts affecting vessel stability
Solution Approach 1:
The number of lobes is typically chosen as three or four, creating an asymmetric configuration around the central axis. This asymmetric arrangement, combined with strategic positioning of cargo within lobes, allows for optimization of the center of gravity to maintain vessel stability while maximizing cargo capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A four-lobe cargo tank for transporting and/or storage of liquefied gases includes four main lobes, each with a cylinder sector outer shell and main lobe axis. The four main lobes are arranged with the four main lobe axis axial-parallel with and about a common main central axis, such that the four main lobes are joined by four web frames with four corresponding diagonally arranged perforated bulkheads directed outwardly from the main central axis. The tank includes a first and a second end cover. Each end cover includes four quarter spherical shell portions, each forming an end portion of the cylinder sector outer shell. The quarter spherical shell portions of the first and second end covers, respectively, are joined and closing toward the main central axis by a first and a second four diagonally arranged cylindrical 45-degree cut pipe portions, which are each arranged with its axis transverse to the main axis.