Undulating Membrane Caps for Thermal Stress Relief in Sealed Tanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tank designs with undulating membranes face challenges in accommodating thermal contractions and extensions, requiring flexibility in membrane connections to avoid stress concentrations and precise alignment of undulations for sealing, which complicates assembly and increases stress on fastening zones.
Innovation Solution
A sealed and thermally insulated tank design featuring intersecting undulations on two metal membranes with caps and notches that allow for independent production and alignment-free connection, maintaining flexibility and sealing integrity by using caps with terminal undulation portions and notches to absorb stresses and facilitate assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If undulating membranes are used to accommodate thermal contractions and extensions, then flexibility is improved, but precise alignment of undulations is required for sealing which increases assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is divided into multiple undulating sections with caps at each end. These segmented sections can be independently manufactured and assembled, eliminating the need for precise alignment of continuous undulations while maintaining flexibility through the cap connections.
Solution Approach 2:
Caps are introduced as intermediary elements between membrane sections. These caps serve as mediators that connect the undulating membranes without requiring precise alignment, thereby simplifying assembly while preserving the flexibility needed for thermal movements.
2Strength
If undulating membranes are used to absorb membrane deformations, then stress concentration is reduced, but connection zones require heavy reinforcement which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The caps are designed with specific local geometries that distribute stresses uniformly at the connection zones. By optimizing the local structure of the caps, the solution reduces stress concentrations without requiring heavy reinforcement throughout the entire connection area, thus reducing overall complexity.
3Device complexity
If flat connections are used instead of undulating membranes, then assembly is simplified, but thermal contractions create excessive stress which reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane transitions from a static flat connection to a dynamic undulating structure that can adapt its shape in response to thermal contractions and extensions. This dynamic capability allows the membrane to absorb thermal stresses while maintaining sealing integrity, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing assembly simplicity.
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
This design simplifies the assembly of undulating membranes by allowing for independent production and alignment-free connection, maintaining flexibility and sealing integrity while reducing stress concentrations and assembly complexities, thus enhancing the tank's mechanical strength and thermal performance.
Implementation Method 1
the closure of the membrane requires a degree of flexibility in order to accept the thermal contractions and the extensions of the beam of the tanker
Implementation Method 2
the waves can absorb the membrane deformations under thermal loading and elongation loading of the tanker beam
Implementation Method 3
each undulation of the first series of undulations of the first membrane being closed in a sealed manner by a cap of the first plurality of caps
Implementation Method 4
the assembly edge of the first membrane being welded in a sealed manner to the anchoring member
Implementation Method 5
an insulating barrier which is retained on the carrier structure, the insulating barrier covering an inner surface of the carrier structure
Data Source
AI summary
A Sealed and thermally insulated tank has a tank wall on a carrier structure. The tank wall has an insulating barrier, sealed barrier and an anchoring member. The sealed barrier has a first undulating metal membrane and a second undulating metal membrane which are located at one side and the other of the anchoring member, along an assembly edge which is oriented parallel with a longitudinal direction of the anchoring member. The first and the second membrane undulate with a first series of undulations which intersect with the assembly edge Terminal undulation portions which are associated with the first series of undulations of the first membrane extend in a direction transverse to the assembly edge in the direction of the second membrane, beyond the terminal undulation portions which are associated with the first series of undulations of the second membrane.