LNG Loading Arm Automation With 3D Vision and Gravity Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LNG large-caliber shore-based loading and unloading systems are monopolized by foreign companies, suffer from high equipment costs, long delivery periods, untimely service, high labor intensity, low automation, and lack intelligent management and control, leading to instability and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
An LNG large-caliber shore-based intelligent loading and unloading system featuring a loading and unloading arm with a 3D intelligent management and control platform, including a security operation and maintenance predicting subsystem, automatic engagement, and emergency disengagement capabilities, along with a counterweight system for balance and a low-temperature pipeline system for stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If foreign companies monopolize LNG large-caliber shore-based loading and unloading systems, then equipment price is high and delivery period is long, but service timeliness deteriorates and service cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves self-service through automatic engagement and disengagement of the loading and unloading arm with the LNG ship, eliminating dependence on foreign manual operations. The control platform automatically controls the loading and unloading process, reducing service cost and improving timeliness while maintaining high efficiency
2Productivity
If manual engagement operation is used, then labor intensity is high and engagement efficiency is low, but automation level remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical engagement operations with an automated control platform that controls the loading and unloading arm through computer vision and automated control algorithms, significantly reducing labor intensity while improving engagement efficiency and accuracy
3Reliability
If the loading and unloading arm lacks intelligent management and control, then operation simplicity is maintained, but system stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control platform implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring the loading and unloading process in real-time, adjusting the arm position and engagement actions based on sensor data and computer vision feedback, thereby ensuring system stability while maintaining manageable complexity through automated control
4Productivity
If automation level is increased, then engagement efficiency improves and labor intensity reduces, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control platform achieves multi-functionality by integrating computer vision, automated control, real-time monitoring, and emergency disengagement capabilities into a single system, improving engagement efficiency while managing complexity through unified multi-functional architecture
Data Source
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AI summary
An LNG large-caliber shore-based intelligent loading and unloading system. The system comprises a loading and unloading arm and a 3D intelligent management and control platform. The loading and unloading arm is configured for implementing automatic engagement and emergency disengagement of between an LNG ship and an LNG passage at LNG terminal storage tanks, and the 3D intelligent management and control platform is configured for implementing real-time online management and control on a loading and unloading process of the loading and unloading arm. According to the loading and unloading system, by means of vision-based automatic engagement and real-time intelligent management and control, the automation and intelligence levels of the LNG large-caliber shore-based intelligent loading and unloading system are greatly improved. The loading and unloading arm maintains gravity balance at all rotation positions, thereby greatly reducing unbalanced inertia force in movement of the system, reducing the load of a driving mechanism, and improving the stability of movement of the system. The problems that a loading and unloading arm management and control platform for a ship at a wharf is weak in function, single in system, dispersed in management, scattered in data management, poor in visual display capability, lack of 3D vision-based accurate imaging and intelligent automatic engagement, low in loading and unloading operation efficiency, etc. are solved.