Thermally Insulating Tank With Flexible Sealing Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally insulating tank designs for liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and transport face challenges in maintaining sealing and flexibility due to construction tolerances, particularly at corners formed by vessel walls with non-uniform spacing, which complicates the use of standardized elements and affects the tank's ability to handle thermal and mechanical stresses.
Innovation Solution
A thermally insulating tank design featuring a secondary sealing membrane with undulations and closure caps that allow for flexibility and sealing at corners, using standardized metal sheets and corrugations with adjustable spacing to accommodate varying construction tolerances, ensuring effective sealing and stress management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standardized metal sheets with regular spacing corrugations are used for the secondary sealing membrane, then manufacturing simplicity and standardization are improved, but the ability to accommodate construction tolerances and maintain sealing at corners with non-uniform spacing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing a singular corrugation at specific locations (corners and edges) where the spacing differs from the regular pattern. This singular corrugation is specifically positioned to accommodate non-uniform spacing at corners formed by vessel walls, allowing the majority of the membrane to use standardized regular spacing while locally adapting to tolerance variations without compromising sealing.
2Reliability
If the secondary sealing membrane is made rigid to maintain sealing, then sealing capability is improved, but the ability to deform under thermal stresses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible shells and thin films by using a corrugated secondary sealing membrane that can deform elastically under thermal stresses. The corrugations allow the membrane to expand and contract while maintaining sealing, and the singular corrugation at corners provides additional flexibility to accommodate non-uniform spacing and stress distribution without compromising the sealing capability.
3Reliability
If corner structures with extended insulating panels and metal corner sheets are used, then sealing at corners is improved, but the complexity of assembling standardized elements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of sealing and flexibility by integrating the singular corrugation directly into the standardized metal sheets at corner locations. This combines the sealing capability of the corrugated membrane with the flexibility needed at corners, eliminating the need for separate corner structures and metal corner sheets, thereby simplifying assembly while maintaining reliable sealing.
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 design enables rapid and simple production of thermally insulating tanks with improved flexibility and sealing capabilities, effectively managing thermal and mechanical stresses, even in areas with non-uniform spacing, thus enhancing the tank's performance and ease of construction.
Implementation Method 1
The secondary sealing membrane has two sets of perpendicular corrugations projecting outwards from the tank, allowing it to deform under the thermal stresses generated by the fluid stored in the tank
Implementation Method 2
a secondary thermally insulating barrier retained to the supporting structure, a primary thermally insulating barrier resting against the secondary sealing membrane
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Sealed and thermally insulating tank comprising a first tank wall (1) and a second tank wall (2). A sealing membrane of the first tank wall (1) comprising a first series of corrugations (7, 10) which are parallel with an even separation pitch (8), the sealing membrane of the second tank wall (2) comprising a second series of corrugations (12, 14, 15) which are parallel with the said even separation pitch (8), each corrugation (7, 10) of the first series of corrugations (7, 10) being extended by a corresponding corrugation (12, 14) of the second series of corrugations (12, 14, 15), the sealing membrane of the first tank wall (1) further comprising an individual corrugation (9) spaced away from a last corrugation (10) of the first series of corrugations (7, 10) by an individual separation (11), the sealing membrane of the second tank wall (2) further comprising an individual corrugation (18) extending the individual corrugation (9) of the first tank wall (1) and comprising a first corrugation-closure cap(18), a last corrugation (15) belonging to the second series of corrugations (12, 14, 15) and offset from the individual corrugation (16) of the second tank wall (2) comprising a second closure cap (21) sealing closed the said last corrugation (15) of the second series of corrugations (12, 14, 15).