Ship Fluid Loading Arm Rotation for Twist-Free Hose Movement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing loading arm devices for fluid transfer between a pier and a ship are limited in lateral movement, causing torsional stress on flexible lines and reducing their service life, especially during dynamic ship movements.
Innovation Solution
The loading arm is designed to rotate about its longitudinal axis, allowing the flexible line to move horizontally without twisting or kinking, with a second flexible line arranged in a U-bend to absorb movements, ensuring no torsional moments are applied to either line, and incorporating double-walled, vacuum-insulated pipes with spacers and reflective foil for efficient and safe cryogenic fluid transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the loading arm performs lateral movements to follow ship movements, then the lateral reach is improved, but torsional moments are introduced into the flexible hose causing damage and reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The loading arm is designed with dynamic rotational capability about its longitudinal axis, allowing it to adapt its orientation to follow ship movements. The first support can rotate about its longitudinal axis, and the second and third supports can pivot in vertical planes, enabling the loading arm to dynamically adjust its position and maintain proper hose orientation during lateral movements, thereby preventing torsional damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a rotational degree of freedom about the longitudinal axis of the first support, transforming the loading arm from a two-dimensional vertical plane mechanism into a three-dimensional structure. This additional dimensional capability allows the loading arm to perform lateral movements and orient itself properly, enabling the flexible hose to move without twisting or kinking during ship-following operations.
2Reliability
If the flexible hose is made more rigid to prevent kinking, then the minimum bending radius is increased, but the flexibility and ease of movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Guide elements are introduced as intermediary components that actively manage the flexible hose's path during loading arm movements. These guide elements ensure the hose follows a controlled trajectory with adequate bending radius, preventing kinking and damage while allowing the hose to remain flexible and movable. The guide elements mediate between the hose's need for rigidity and its need for flexibility.
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 design enables a larger lateral range for fluid loading and refueling, preventing damage to flexible lines and ensuring safe, dynamic fluid transfer operations with cryogenic or combustible fluids.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible conduits and the rigid pipe section are double-walled and vacuum-insulated. For example, spacers and a reflective film are located between the two walls. Cryogenic conduits, in particular, can be advantageously used for the energy-efficient and safe handling of very cold media, since no external heat penetrates to the media
Implementation Method 2
spacers and a reflective film are located between the two walls
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A device (1) for loading a fluid from a docking stage onto a ship is specified. The device (1) comprises an articulated supporting structure (2) which has at least one first support (3), one second support (4) and one third support (5) which are pivotably connected to one another by means of at least one pivot joint (6, 7) and which each have a longitudinal axis, wherein the first support (3) is fixed to the docking stage such that its longitudinal axis is substantially vertical and the first support (3) is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and wherein the second and third supports (4, 5) are pivotable in a vertical plane. The device (1) further comprises at least one guide element (8), which is fixed to the supports (3, 4, 5) or to the at least one pivot joint (6, 7), and a first flexible line (9) which is supported by means of the guide element (8) and guided substantially in the vertical plane. The device additionally comprises a second flexible line (10) which is arranged substantially in a horizontal plane around the first support (3) and connected to the first support (3) by means of a rigid tubular portion (13) connected fixedly to the first support (3).