Gas Injection Ring for Cryogenic Tank Membrane Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for checking the tightness of sealed and corrugated membranes in storage tanks storing fluids below −50°C are difficult to implement, unreliable, and costly due to structural complexity and adaptation issues.
Innovation Solution
A gas injection system with a circular pipe and nozzles is used to inject gas beneath the corrugated membrane, allowing for efficient tightness checking and inerting by distributing gas through the insulation volume using a distribution ring and supply pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tightness checking methods are used for sealed corrugated membranes, then the membrane tightness can be verified, but the process becomes difficult to implement, expensive, and unreliable due to structural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by injecting gas through nozzles into the insulation volume to create positive pressure for tightness testing. The gas injection system uses pneumatic pressure to force gas through potential leaks in the corrugated membrane, making the leak detection process more reliable and easier to implement compared to traditional methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and pressure parameters of the testing medium. By injecting gas at controlled pressures into the insulation volume and monitoring pressure changes or gas detection in the inner volume, the system achieves reliable tightness checking through parameter measurement rather than complex structural arrangements
2Measurement precision
If gas is injected into the insulation volume for tightness checking, then leak detection becomes more reliable, but the system requires complex injection and distribution mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning nozzles at specific locations within the insulation volume to target specific corrugation areas. The gas injection is localized to where it is most needed for detecting leaks in the corrugated membrane, rather than requiring a complex system that distributes gas uniformly throughout the entire tank
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gas as an intermediary medium to transfer information about membrane integrity. The injected gas acts as a mediator that reveals leaks by escaping through the membrane into the inner volume, where it can be detected by sensors, simplifying the overall detection system
3Reliability
If traditional inerting methods are used for storage tanks, then the process can be performed, but it shows poor reliability and requires expensive equipment adaptation
Solution Approach 1:
The gas injection system serves multiple functions: it can perform tightness checking of the corrugated membrane, conduct inerting of the storage tank, and potentially detect leaks in the thermal insulation barrier. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment for each operation, reducing manufacturing costs and improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be adaptable and dynamic, allowing the same injection system to serve different purposes (tightness testing, inerting, leak detection) by adjusting operational parameters such as gas pressure, flow rate, and detection sensitivity, rather than requiring fixed dedicated equipment for each function
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 system ensures reliable tightness checking and inerting processes with improved efficiency and reduced costs by uniformly filling the insulation volume, enabling leak detection and gas renewal.
Implementation Method 1
the gas injection system comprises at least one nozzle linked, flow-wise, to the circular pipe and in such a way that the at least one nozzle injects gas beneath the corrugations of the sealed and corrugated membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A storage tank containing a fluid, the liquefaction temperature of which is lower than −50° C. under atmospheric pressure and having a cylindrical shape around an axis of revolution, the storage tank includes at least one thermal insulation barrier covered with a sealed and corrugated membrane which is made of a plurality of corrugations. These corrugations delimit a space between the corrugations and at least one thermal insulation barrier. The storage tank includes at least one system injecting gas into the space, the gas injection system including at least one circular pipe spreading around the axis of revolution of the storage tank and a nozzle linked to the circular pipe.