Tank Container Armature Segmentation for Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tank containers for liquefied hydrocarbon gases and petrochemicals have low throughput capacity and are not universally compatible with different tank loading rack configurations, limiting their application in intermodal transportation and requiring lengthy filling and discharge operations.
Innovation Solution
A tank container design with a reservoir featuring a bottom-mounted liquefied hydrocarbon gas filling and discharge stub duct, a top-mounted steam and gas phase drainage branch pipe, and safety valve, along with two independent lockable armature compartments for flexible operation on both top and bottom discharge systems, allowing simultaneous liquid phase filling and discharge through multiple stub ducts and branch pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single top stub duct is used for filling and discharge operations, then the tank container can be used with existing loading racks, but the throughput capacity is limited and filling/discharge time is lengthy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single filling/discharge function into multiple independent stub ducts (top and bottom) with separate control valves. This segmentation allows simultaneous or alternating use of multiple connection points, increasing throughput capacity while maintaining compatibility with existing single-duct loading racks through selective activation of appropriate ducts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a vertical dimension to the connection system by providing both top and bottom stub ducts. This spatial arrangement enables flexible connection options (top-only, bottom-only, or simultaneous top-bottom operations) thereby increasing productivity without compromising adaptability to existing infrastructure.
2Device complexity
If a single top stub duct is used for filling and discharge, then the structure is simple, but the filling and discharge operations take comparatively much time
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into multiple independent stub ducts with individual valves, allowing parallel filling or discharge operations through multiple connection points. This reduces the total time required for operations while the modular valve-and-duct design keeps the added complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
By providing multiple stub ducts that can operate simultaneously or alternately, the system eliminates idle time between connection/disconnection operations. The continuous availability of multiple connection points ensures that filling or discharge operations can proceed without interruption, reducing overall time loss.
3Ease of manufacture
If tank containers are designed for either top or bottom filling only, then the design is specialized, but they cannot be used in docks with different configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the tank container with both top and bottom stub ducts, making it universally compatible with loading racks of any configuration (top-only, bottom-only, or both). This multi-functional design allows the same container to operate at diverse docks without modification, achieving versatility while maintaining relatively simple construction.
4Reliability
If one charge-discharge unit is used for liquid phase and another for vapor phase, then the system is dedicated, but the throughput capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charge-discharge system into multiple independent stub ducts with individual valves for liquid and vapor phases. This allows simultaneous operation of multiple ducts for the same phase or different phases, increasing throughput while maintaining the reliability of phase-specific control through dedicated valves and connection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple stub ducts (top and bottom, liquid and vapor phase) into a single integrated tank container system. This merging allows flexible configuration where multiple ducts can operate simultaneously for liquid phase, or coordinate between phases, thereby increasing throughput capacity while maintaining phase-specific operational reliability through proper valve control.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The tank container for liquefied hydrocarbon gas transportation by a transportation means does comprise a reservoir (1) with the liquefied hydrocarbon gas level gauge filling and disharge duct stub (9) for liquefied hydrocarbon gas with shutoff valves placed in the bottom part of the reservoir. A branch pipe (8) for drainage of the liquefied hydrocarbon gas steam and gas phase with shutoff valves is placed in the top part of the reservoir. A safety valve (3) located in the top part of the reservoir (1). The reservoir (1) is equipped with asecond filling and discharge duct stub (6) with shutoff valves and with a second branch pipe (10) for drainage of the liquefied hydrocarbon gas steam and gas phase with shutoff valves. The filling and discharge duct stubs with shutoff valves and banch pipes for drainage of the liquefied hydrocarbon gas steam and gas phase with shutoff valves are grouped into two independent blocks where one of them is located in the top part of the reservoir, and the second one in the bottom part of the reservoir, accordingly. In the top and bottom part, lockable armature compartments (4,5) are arranged. The top compartment (4), the branch pipe (8) for drainage of liquefied hydrocarbon gas steam and gas phase with shutoff valves and the second filling and discharge duct stub (6) with shutoff valves is placed, and in the bottom compartement (5), the filling and discharge duct stub (9) with shutoff valves and the second branch pipe (10) for drainage of liquefied hydrocarbon gas steam and gas phase with shutoff valves is placed. The liquefied hydrocarbon gas level gauge is equipped with warning device (11) located in the bottom armature compartment (5), and the branch pipes(8,10) for drainage of liquefied hydrocarbon gas steam and gas phase with shutoff valves are equipped with the pressure gauges(12,13) mounted on them.The design of this thank container enables a quicker filling and discharging, and on top it allows to be connected to existing filling and discharge racks of different standards as used in the CIS countries on the one side, and in Western Europe and elsewhere on the other side. The high established saftety standards are neverthless being maintained.