Disposable Tankerpack Inserts for Contaminant-Free Liquid Cargo Transshipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The sequential transshipment of different types of liquid cargo in typical tankers is time-consuming and costly, leading to environmental pollution due to the need for extensive cleaning and the use of chemical agents, which are often disposed of at sea.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using flexible inserts called 'Removable coating Tankerpacks' with upper inlet and outlet openings, attached to cargo tank hatches, and a temporary cargo system with portable hoses and submersible pumps for efficient loading and unloading through upper hatches, eliminating the need for extensive cleaning and reducing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If onboard cargo system is used for sequential transshipment of different liquid cargo types, then cargo loading and unloading can be performed, but cargo tanks and pipelines become contaminated requiring extensive cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable flexible inserts (Tankerpacks) that are placed inside cargo tanks for each cargo type. These inserts are discarded after use, eliminating the need to clean the cargo tanks and onboard pipelines between different cargo shipments. This resolves the contradiction by accepting the cost of disposable inserts in exchange for eliminating time-consuming cleaning operations and reducing turnaround time.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible inserts act as an intermediary barrier between the cargo and the cargo tank/pipeline system. By placing this intermediate layer, the cargo contaminants are contained within the insert rather than directly contaminating the tank and pipelines, thus eliminating the need for extensive cleaning while maintaining operational efficiency.
2Reliability
If extensive cleaning with chemical agents is performed, then cargo tanks and pipelines are cleaned for next loading, but environmental pollution occurs due to disposal of cargo remnants and chemicals at sea
Solution Approach 1:
By using disposable flexible inserts, the patent eliminates the need for chemical cleaning agents and the subsequent disposal of contaminated chemicals and cargo remnants at sea. The inserts contain all contaminants within themselves, which are then disposed of as solid waste rather than liquid pollution, significantly reducing environmental harm while ensuring cargo tank cleanliness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of cargo contamination into a beneficial outcome by containing all contaminants within the disposable insert. What would otherwise be pollution (liquid cargo remnants and chemicals discharged at sea) is transformed into contained waste within the insert, which can be disposed of in a controlled manner, thus eliminating environmental pollution while maintaining tank cleanliness.
3Ease of operation
If cleaning operation is performed at sea, then cargo system is prepared for next loading, but high costs are incurred including fuel consumption and cleaning expenses
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable inserts eliminate the need for costly and time-consuming sea-based cleaning operations. By simply removing the used insert and installing a new one, the cargo system is prepared for the next loading immediately at the port, eliminating fuel consumption for going to sea and the expenses associated with professional cleaning services, thus dramatically reducing turnaround time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cleaning function from the operational process by removing all contaminants through the removal of the disposable insert itself, rather than performing active cleaning operations. This extraction of the contamination problem from the system allows immediate reuse of the cargo tank without additional time or cost for cleaning operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of transshipping liquid cargo in a tanker, including loading and unloading. Before loading, inserts are arranged in cargo tanks, with inlet and outlet openings of the inserts attached at corresponding openings of hatches, after which the inserts are unfolded. A temporary cargo system is assembled, including a pipeline with adapters and portable hoses, which are lowered into the openings of the inserts. The cargo is loaded into the tanks at a port of origin through the hatches into the inserts. After loading, the cargo system is disassembled. For unloading, the cargo system is assembled, with submersible pumps attached to ends of the hoses, the hoses with the pumps are lowered into the inserts, and the cargo is unloaded from the tanks to reservoirs at a port of destination using the pumps. The cargo system is disassembled and the inserts are removed from the tanks and sent for disposal.