Insulated Tank Corner Anchoring for Membrane Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealed and thermally insulating tanks for liquefied gases face challenges in managing thermal deformations and stresses during loading, unloading, and transportation, which can lead to degradation of sealing characteristics and mechanical stress on the insulating barriers.
Innovation Solution
A sealed and thermally insulating tank design featuring a polyhedral support structure with angle irons that connect the waterproof membranes of vessel walls to the load-bearing walls without exerting significant shear stresses on the insulating barriers, using anchoring rods to transmit tensile forces directly to the load-bearing walls, thereby maintaining the integrity of the seals and reducing mechanical stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the waterproof membrane is anchored to the load-bearing structure using anchor couplers in the zone where longitudinal walls join transverse walls, then the sealing characteristics are maintained, but significant shear stresses are exerted on the insulating barriers
Solution Approach 1:
An angle iron is introduced as an intermediary element between the waterproof membrane and the load-bearing structure. The angle iron is anchored to the load-bearing walls while the waterproof membrane is fixed to it, thereby mediating the force transmission and preventing direct shear stress application to the insulating barriers through the corner blocks
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring system is segmented into distinct functional components: the angle iron handles mechanical anchoring to the load-bearing structure, while the waterproof membrane is separately fixed to the angle iron. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without transmitting harmful stresses to the insulating barriers
2Strength
If composite beams are fixed to internal faces of insulating boxes to link waterproof membranes to couplers, then the membrane anchoring is achieved, but the insulating barriers are subjected to mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The angle iron serves as a mediator that is anchored to the load-bearing walls and carries the waterproof membrane. This intermediary structure bears the mechanical loads, preventing these forces from being transmitted to the insulating barriers, thus protecting them while maintaining strong membrane anchoring
3Strength
If angle irons are directly coupled to load-bearing walls with anchoring rods, then the rigidity and mechanical stress handling are improved, but the complexity of the anchoring system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The angle iron performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural rigidity, serves as an anchoring point for the waterproof membrane, transmits tensile forces to the load-bearing walls, and protects the insulating barriers from shear stresses. This multi-functionality consolidates several components into one, reducing overall system complexity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A watertight and thermally insulating tank integrated into a polyhedral load-bearing structure, the tank comprising a plurality of tank walls including a thermally insulating barrier and a watertight membrane, a first load-bearing wall (2) and a second load-bearing wall (3) forming an edge (1), the thermally insulating barrier of a first tank wall comprising a row of edge blocks (5), a row of anchor strips anchored to the second load-bearing wall (3) by a row of anchor rods (12), a first and a second of said edge blocks (5) each comprising a groove (32) formed in the thickness of said edge block (5), a first and a second of said anchor rods (12) being housed respectively in the groove (32) of the first and second edge block (5), an anchor strip of the row of anchor strip is carried to overlap the first edge block (5) and the second edge block (5),said anchoring band being coupled to the first anchoring rod (12) and to the second anchoring rod (12).