Movable Anchoring for Insulating Tank Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally insulating tanks with membrane structures face challenges in constructing a multilayer insulation barrier over polyhedral surfaces, particularly at edges where corner structures and flat panels intersect, leading to space constraints and difficulties in standardizing insulating block dimensions due to high dimensional tolerances in large load-bearing structures.
Innovation Solution
A sealed and thermally insulating tank design featuring a multilayer structure with anchoring members that allow for easy placement and retention of insulating elements, including movable support elements that can be deployed to engage with adjacent rows, facilitating the use of non-standardized insulating panels and maintaining thermal insulation continuity despite spacing between blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If corner structures are placed along edges first, then sealing and insulation at edges are improved, but space for placing flat insulating panels is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is designed to be movable between a retracted position (allowing easy placement of insulating panels) and a deployed position (providing retention). This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adapt its configuration based on the operational phase: during installation, the support element is retracted to maximize accessibility; during operation, it is deployed to ensure retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element is pre-positioned in a retracted state before the insulating panels are installed. This preliminary configuration ensures that the placement space is fully accessible during the installation phase, and only after the panels are in place does the support element need to be deployed for retention, thus resolving the spatial conflict.
2Adaptability or versatility
If insulating blocks are made to measure according to actual dimensions, then adaptability to dimensional tolerances is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different quality requirements to different parts of the system. The majority of insulating panels can be standardized blocks, while only specific localized areas (where support elements are deployed) require custom adjustment. This local differentiation maintains high adaptability where needed while preserving standardization for the bulk of the insulation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation system is segmented into modular insulating panels that can be standardized, with the support elements providing the adaptive function. This segmentation allows the retention mechanism to be separated from the insulating panels themselves, enabling standardization of the panels while maintaining adaptability through the independent support element system.
3Reliability
If support elements protrude to engage with insulating elements, then retention reliability is improved, but placement space availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support element transitions from a non-intrusive retracted state during installation to an intrusive deployed state during operation. This dynamic behavior ensures that the support element only occupies space when needed for retention, eliminating the conflict between retention and placement space availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element undergoes periodic state changes: retracted during the placement phase, then deployed during the retention phase. This periodic action between two functional states resolves the contradiction by ensuring that at any given time, the support element optimizes for the current operational requirement without compromising the other phase.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulating tank in which the insulating barrier comprises insulating elements arranged in a plurality of parallel rows, in which an anchoring member comprises a bearing element (50) mounted on the support surface between two insulating elements (30) of a first of said parallel rows and movable with respect to the support surface transversely to said first row between: a retracted position in which the bearing element (50) is housed entirely between the two insulating elements (30) so as to leave free the location (99) of a second of said parallel rows, the second row being adjacent to the first row, and a deployed position in which the bearing element projects over the location (99) of the second row and is in engagement with at least one insulating element of the second row in order to retain said insulating element of the second row on the support surface.