Vessel Cargo Hold Void Space for Safe Bulkhead Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vessel cargo holds require emptying all four neighboring cargo holds to prevent fires and explosions during maintenance or repair, leading to inefficient use of storage space and increased ballast water flow to compensate for reduced cargo, resulting in decreased production yield and work efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A void space structure is installed at the intersections of longitudinal and transverse bulkheads, forming an empty space that allows for safe repair of intersections by emptying only two or three cargo holds, while reinforcing the bulkheads and reducing the need for additional reinforcing members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all four neighboring cargo holds are emptied to prevent fire and explosion during repair, then safety is improved, but storage space is reduced and productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo hold is divided into multiple independent compartments by longitudinal and transverse bulkheads. The void space structure is installed at the intersection of these bulkheads to create a separate safety zone. This segmentation allows that only the cargo holds adjacent to the void space need to be emptied during repair, rather than all four neighboring cargo holds, thus maintaining safety while improving productivity.
2Reliability
If all four neighboring cargo holds are emptied for repair, then safety is improved, but the amount of ballast water required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo hold is divided into multiple independent compartments by longitudinal and transverse bulkheads. The void space structure is installed at the intersection of these bulkheads to create a separate safety zone. This segmentation allows that only the cargo holds adjacent to the void space need to be emptied during repair, rather than all four neighboring cargo holds, thus maintaining safety while improving productivity.
3Ease of repair
If a void space structure is installed at the intersection of bulkheads, then repair efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The void space structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a safety barrier to prevent fire and explosion propagation, provides a working space for repair operations, and reinforces the bulkhead intersection structure. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The void space structure is installed in advance before repair operations begin. This preliminary action creates a pre-prepared safety zone and working space, eliminating the need for complex temporary measures during actual repair work and simplifying the overall repair process.
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo hold having a plurality of spaces, which are formed by a longitudinal bulkhead and a transverse bulkhead intersecting each other and store crude oil, comprises a void space located at least one corner among corners formed by intersection of the longitudinal bulkhead and the transverse bulkhead, wherein the void space is formed of a void space structure having one side end and the other side end sealed by and fixed to the longitudinal bulkhead and the transverse bulkhead, respectively, thereby forming an empty space inside the bulkheads. The vessel cargo hold prevents a danger, such as fire and explosion, which may occur during the maintenance or repair of the vessel cargo hold for storing crude oil, and decreases work or the like required for the maintenance or repair of the cargo hold.