Liquefied Gas Tank Pump Tower Support for Vertical Movement Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The structural stability of pump towers in liquefied gas storage tanks is compromised due to their vertical suspension, leading to potential instability and movement issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a lower rotary bearing portion with constraining portions radially disposed around a vertical center, allowing horizontal movement constraint while permitting vertical movement, and incorporating seating portions and reinforcing structures to stabilize the pump tower's lower end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pump tower is vertically suspended with only the upper end fixed to the dome, then vertical movement is allowed for contraction/expansion, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is divided into multiple guide arms that are radially disposed around the pump tower. Each guide arm independently constrains horizontal movement while allowing vertical movement, providing distributed support that enhances overall structural stability without restricting the necessary vertical contraction and expansion of the pump tower
Solution Approach 2:
The constraint mechanism transitions from vertical-only suspension to a three-dimensional arrangement where guide arms extend radially outward from the pump tower in horizontal directions. This multi-dimensional configuration provides horizontal constraint forces while maintaining vertical freedom of movement
2Ease of operation
If the lower end of the pump tower is not fixed to the guide structure, then vertical movement is allowed, but horizontal stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide arms are positioned at specific radial locations around the pump tower, with each arm providing localized horizontal constraint at its contact point. This distributed local constraint approach maintains overall horizontal stability while allowing the pump tower to move vertically without fixed connections
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a liquefied gas storage tank and a ship including the same, the liquefied gas storage tank including: a wall configured to form a storage space for accommodating liquefied gas and having a dome formed on its upper surface for inflow and outflow of the liquefied gas; a pump tower having an upper end fixed to the dome and provided with a pipe configured to load and unload liquefied gas and a discharge pump configured to unload liquefied gas; and a lower rotary bearing portion provided on the wall forming a bottom of the storage space and configured to constrain a lower end of the pump tower.