Adjustable Tower Holding Ring for LNG Pump Component Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complex and time-consuming process of installing and dismantling the loading and unloading towers for liquefied gas tanks on ships, particularly due to the need for precise alignment of pump components, results in significant operational costs and vessel unavailability.
Innovation Solution
A holding device with a dissociable arm and adjustable positioning, featuring a ring and segments that can be moved relative to each other, simplifies the installation and maintenance of components on the tower by allowing precise adjustment and secure fixing, thereby reducing installation time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional brackets are used to secure pump components to the loading and unloading tower, then the components can be firmly fixed, but the installation process becomes lengthy and complex due to precise alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is divided into multiple segments (first segment, second segment, third segment) that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows each segment to be aligned separately, significantly reducing the complexity and time of the overall alignment process while maintaining secure fixing of the pump component.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm segments are designed with adjustable positioning capabilities, allowing dynamic adjustment during installation. The segments can be moved relative to each other to achieve proper alignment, and then fixed in position. This dynamic adjustment feature eliminates the need for complex precise alignment procedures while ensuring reliable component securing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the loading and unloading tower is permanently installed on the ship, then structural stability is ensured, but vessel downtime increases during maintenance and troubleshooting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is segmented into separable components (drive motor, suction element, arm segments) that can be independently removed. The suction element can be extracted through the drive motor without removing the entire tower structure, enabling quick maintenance while preserving overall structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction element is designed to be extractable through the drive motor housing. This extraction capability allows the suction element to be removed for maintenance or replacement without dismantling the entire pump assembly or tower structure, significantly reducing vessel downtime while maintaining structural integrity.
3Ease of repair
If the drive motor and suction element are separated by a large distance in a deepwell pump configuration, then maintenance access is improved, but the complexity of securing components to the tower increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting arm is divided into multiple segments that can be independently adjusted and positioned. This segmentation simplifies the process of securing components at different locations on the tower, as each segment can be aligned and fixed separately, reducing overall complexity despite the large distance between motor and suction element.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm segments are designed with universal mounting capabilities that can accommodate different pump component configurations. The segments can be adjusted to various positions and angles, providing a flexible solution for securing both the drive motor and suction element at different locations on the tower without requiring complex custom fabrication.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4a
Figure 4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a retaining device (9) for at least one component on a loading and/or unloading tower (5) of a tank (2) of a ship (1) intended to contain a liquefied gas, the retaining device (9) comprising at least one ring (91), through which the component passes, and at least one arm (92) which comprises at least a first segment (921, 924) carrying the ring (91) and a second segment (922, 925) carrying a fixing interface (923) of the retaining device (9) on the loading and/or unloading tower (5), and in that the first segment (921, 924) and the second segment (922, 925) are configured to be moved relative to each other in at least two directions contained in the same plane (100, 400).