Metallic Foil Insulation for LNG Cargo Tank Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insulation structures in LNG carrier cargo tanks face issues with sealing integrity due to high viscosity adhesives and thermal expansion differences between materials, leading to potential gas leaks.
Innovation Solution
The use of metallic foils with adhesive films and surface treatments, such as sandblasting and priming, to enhance adhesive strength and thermal resistance, replacing traditional composite triplex materials, and employing a method of attaching these foils using a pressing and heating process to ensure secure bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional supple triplex is used to seal gaps between insulation panels, then sealing continuity is provided, but adhesive viscosity causes sealing effect to drop and thermal expansion differences cause cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional supple triplex to metallic foil material, which fundamentally alters the thermal expansion characteristics and adhesive bonding properties. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by providing a material that maintains sealing integrity without suffering from adhesive viscosity limitations and thermal expansion mismatch cracks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of metallic foil combined with adhesive film, creating a hybrid material system that leverages the advantages of both materials. The metallic foil provides thermal stability and structural integrity, while the adhesive film ensures strong bonding to insulation panels, together resolving the sealing and strength contradiction.
2Reliability
If conventional triplex materials are used, then insulation structure is formed, but construction time is extended due to complex assembly processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function and insulation function into a single integrated metallic foil component that can be directly attached to insulation panels. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate sealing operations and complex multi-step assembly processes, thereby reducing construction time while maintaining sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive film is pre-attached to the metallic foil before installation, performing the bonding preparation in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need for on-site adhesive application and curing time, significantly reducing construction time while ensuring consistent sealing quality.
3Strength
If metallic foils with adhesive films are used, then adhesive strength and thermal resistance are enhanced, but surface treatment processes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies surface treatment to modify the physical and chemical parameters of the metallic foil surface, increasing surface roughness and chemical reactivity. This parameter change enhances adhesive bonding strength without requiring complex treatment processes, as standard sandblasting or chemical etching suffices to achieve the desired surface properties.
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 solution improves sealing integrity and thermal load resistance, reducing the risk of gas leaks and shortening construction time by using pre-attached adhesive films on metallic foils.
Implementation Method 1
a second metal foil 150 for sealing continuity is installed on the first metal foil 140
Implementation Method 2
surface treatments, such as sandblasting and priming, to enhance adhesive strength
Implementation Method 3
employing a method of attaching these foils using a pressing and heating process to ensure secure bonding
Data Source
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AI summary
An insulation structure of a cargo tank in an LNG carrier and a method of constructing the insulation structure are disclosed. By providing an insulation structure of a cargo tank in an LNG carrier and a method of constructing the insulation structure, which includes a first metal foil attached and installed in between the top insulation panel and the bottom insulation panel, a second metal foil attached to and installed on the first metal foil that is positioned on an upper side of a gap formed between the bottom insulation panels, and a top bridge panel attached to and installed on an upper side of the second metal foil, the sealing integrity of the cargo tank can be improved.