Liquefied Gas Storage Container Sealing Layer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquefied gas storage tanks face high manufacturing and assembly costs due to the need for special shaped segments and cumbersome L-shaped tabs for sealing, which also compromise thermal insulation and structural strength.
Innovation Solution
A storage container design using standard parts with regular shapes for sealing layers, including annular sections with alternating first and second sealing plates and universal connectors that allow for thermal expansion and contraction, reducing thermal conductivity and improving heat preservation without requiring additional processing steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If L-shaped tabs with folded edges are used to connect metal plates for sealing, then sealing connection is achieved, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase due to required edge rolling processing
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is divided into separate components: a sealing plate with sealing edge and a sealing connector. The sealing plate can be a simple rectangular plate without edge rolling, while the sealing connector handles the connection function. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simpler processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing connector acts as an intermediary component between the sealing plate and the base layer. It includes a connecting portion that connects to the sealing plate and a fixing portion that fixes to the base layer, mediating the connection and eliminating the need for complex edge rolling on the sealing plate itself.
2Shape
If special shaped segments are used to adapt to thermal insulation structure plane, then thermal insulation structure is adapted, but machining, manufacturing, and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is divided into separate components: a sealing plate with sealing edge and a sealing connector. The sealing plate can be a simple rectangular plate without edge rolling, while the sealing connector handles the connection function. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simpler processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing connector is designed as a universal component that can be used to connect sealing plates of different shapes and sizes to various base layers. The connecting portion and fixing portion design allows it to adapt to different thermal insulation structure configurations without requiring custom-shaped sealing plates.
3Reliability
If sealing layers are made thicker to improve sealing, then sealing effect is improved, but thermal conductivity increases reducing heat preservation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is divided into separate components: a sealing plate with sealing edge and a sealing connector. The sealing plate can be a simple rectangular plate without edge rolling, while the sealing connector handles the connection function. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simpler processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing connector includes a connecting portion that can be made thin and flexible, allowing it to provide effective sealing while maintaining low thermal conductivity. The thin film structure reduces the thermal bridge effect compared to thick rigid sealing structures.
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
The design reduces manufacturing costs, minimizes damage to thermal insulation, and enhances the structural integrity of the storage container while improving heat preservation by using standard parts and universal connectors that accommodate thermal expansion.
Implementation Method 1
some sealing connectors of the present disclosure also have certain thermal expansion and contraction, which can provide a certain amount of cold shrinkage deformation for the sealing layers
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a storage container for liquefied gas, for example, a storage cabin for marine equipment such as ships. A bottom wall of a storage container includes a bottom wall sealing layer including a central section and at least one annular section. The annular section includes a plurality of first sealing plates and a plurality of second sealing plates, which are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction. The first sealing plates have a circumferential size gradually reduced in a radially inward direction, and the second sealing plates have a circumferential size gradually expanded in the radially inward direction. The sealing layer of the storage container of the present disclosure may be made of standard parts with regular shapes, without requiring special shaped segments, which is simple to process and saves materials. Further, sealing connectors serving as universal parts may also be used between adjacent standard parts, and some sealing connectors of the present disclosure also have certain thermal expansion and contraction, which can provide a certain amount of cold shrinkage deformation for the sealing layers.