Thermal Insulation Tank with Anti-Convective Filling Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermosiphon phenomena in sealed and thermally insulating tanks for liquefied gas storage and transportation lead to ineffective insulation and potential damage to the outer structure due to the propagation of extreme temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating corrugated metal plates with filling elements that create pressure loss in the circulation channels, obstructing the flow of gas and preventing the establishment of thermosiphon effects by forcing the gas to pass through a belt of filling elements, thereby reducing natural convection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If corrugated metal plates are used to form circulation channels for gas in the thermal insulation barrier, then the sealing and insulation structure is simplified, but the thermosiphon phenomenon occurs causing ineffective insulation and potential damage to the outer structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces filling elements (such as perlite, vermiculite, or expanded polystyrene beads) into the circulation channels formed by the corrugated metal plates. These porous filling materials obstruct the gas flow paths while maintaining the structural integrity of the insulation barrier, thereby eliminating the thermosiphon effect and restoring effective thermal insulation without complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling elements act as intermediary substances placed within the circulation channels. They serve as a mediator that blocks the convective gas flow responsible for the thermosiphon phenomenon while allowing the corrugated plate structure to remain in place for sealing and structural purposes, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and insulation reliability.
2Reliability
If filling elements are added to obstruct circulation channels and prevent thermosiphon effect, then thermal insulation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filling elements are selected from porous materials such as perlite, vermiculite, or expanded polystyrene beads that can be easily poured or injected into the circulation channels. These materials naturally obstruct gas flow due to their porous structure, providing effective thermosiphon prevention while maintaining relatively simple installation procedures and avoiding complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and flow characteristics of the gas in the circulation channels by introducing filling elements that alter the hydraulic radius and flow resistance parameters. This parameter change effectively stops the convective flow responsible for thermosiphon while the filling elements themselves are chosen to be lightweight and easy to install, minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 solution significantly reduces the thermosiphon effect, ensuring effective thermal insulation and preventing damage to the tank structure by minimizing the flow of gas through circulation channels, achieving a pressure loss of at least 80% and inhibiting the thermosiphon phenomenon.
Implementation Method 1
filling elements with pressure loss, which are disposed in the corrugations of the first series of corrugations so as to obstruct the circulation channel of said corrugations
Implementation Method 2
circulation of a gas (or gas mixture) undergoing cooling, therefore descending with respect to the vertical direction, between the primary sealing membrane and the primary thermally insulating barrier (in the channels formed by the corrugations) and circulation of a gas undergoing heating, therefore rising with respect to the vertical direction
Implementation Method 3
it was found that a thermosiphon phenomenon was taking place in the inclined walls forming an angle with a horizontal direction
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a tank (71) for storing a liquefied gas, wherein the tank (71) includes peripheral walls (1), the peripheral walls (1) including a sealing membrane and at least one thermal insulation barrier,wherein the sealing membrane includes corrugated metal plates comprising a first series of parallel corrugations, extending along a direction x and a second series of parallel corrugations extending along a direction y, the direction x being a direction of greater slope, wherein the peripheral walls (1) comprise filling elements with pressure loss, which are disposed in the corrugations of the first series of corrugations so as to form a belt (16) of filling elements extending all round the tank (71), the belt being formed of at least one obstruction part (17) and of at least one discontinuation part (18), the belt including at most one discontinuation part (18) per peripheral wall (1).