Ship Gas-Fueled Engine Pressure Vessel Mounting
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing configuration of compressed gas pressure vessels on ships above the uppermost watertight deck poses a risk of damage during operation, necessitating a safer location below deck with secure fixation and protection against lateral and vertical movements due to changing gas pressure and external forces.
Innovation Solution
The pressure vessels are housed in tank storage rooms below the uppermost watertight deck, with gas-tight mounting flanges and linear bearings to prevent sideway movements, and a safety control system monitors gas pressures and leaks, quickly closing valves to prevent hazardous gas leaks into the hull.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pressure vessels are located above the uppermost watertight deck, then accessibility and ease of operation are improved, but safety deteriorates due to risk of damage during ship operation
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure vessels are moved from a vertically accessible position (above deck) to a horizontally accessible position (below deck in tank storage room), changing the spatial dimension of accessibility while improving safety. The connection end protruding through the separation wall provides the necessary access interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation wall acts as an intermediary structure that separates the tank storage room from the tank connection space, allowing the pressure vessels to be protected below deck while still enabling connection and operation through the wall opening.
2Reliability
If pressure vessels are located below the uppermost watertight deck in tank storage room, then safety is improved, but accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Accessibility is maintained through a different spatial arrangement: the connection end protrudes through the separation wall into the tank connection space, allowing operational access from above deck while the vessel body remains protected below deck.
3Stability of the object's composition
If pressure vessels are fixed against sideway movements using fixing means and linear bearing, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation functions are extracted into separate, specialized components: fixing means for lateral stability and linear bearing for longitudinal movement accommodation, allowing each component to be optimized independently.
4Reliability
If pressure vessels are secured against movements due to changing gas pressure and temperature, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional fixation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
Different fixation functions are separated into specialized components: fixing means for lateral stability and linear bearing for longitudinal expansion/contraction accommodation, simplifying the design of each individual component.
Solution Approach 2:
The linear bearing allows the pressure vessel to dynamically adjust its position in the longitudinal direction in response to changing gas pressure and temperature, accommodating thermal expansion and pressure-induced length changes while maintaining lateral stability.
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 configuration ensures the safe storage and operation of high-pressure gas vessels by preventing damage and detecting leaks, maintaining the integrity of the gas supply system and preventing flammable gas-air mixtures from igniting.
Implementation Method 1
changes in the length of the pressure vessels due to changing gas pressure in the pressure vessels and/or changing temperature of the gas in the pressure vessels
Implementation Method 2
changes in the length of the pressure vessels due to changing gas pressure in the pressure vessels
Implementation Method 3
the connection end of the tank comprises fixing means to fix the connection end gas-tight against a separation wall between the tank storage room and a tank connection space
Implementation Method 4
The ship further comprises a safety control system that prevents hazardous gas leaks into the hull of the ship
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a ship (1) comprising a hull (6) with an uppermost watertight deck (3), a gas fueled engine (9) for driving a propulsion means, the gas fueled engine includes a gas supply system, the ship further comprises pressure vessels (7) for storing compressed gas and fuel piping for connecting the pressure vessels to the gas supply system, the pressure vessels are cylindrical and have a connection end and a support end. In accordance with the invention the pressure vessels are located in a tank storage room (17) that is below the uppermost watertight deck, the connection end of the tank comprises fixing means to fix the connection end gas-tight against a separation wall (15) between the tank storage room and a tank connection space (14) and the support end comprises a support that is mounted in a linear bearing located in the tank storage room.