RU2357148C2 - Support unit and system for semi-insulated reservoirs - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: machine building. ^ SUBSTANCE: support unit for connection of wall or top of semi-insulated reservoir with surrounding support structure comprises the first element, which is fixed to surrounding support structure, and the second element, which is fixed to wall or top of reservoir. The first and second elements include mutually blocked complementary slope ramp surfaces, which are engaged with the possibility of sliding that provides for displacement of the second element relative to the first element in direction parallel to axis of slope surfaces and that prevents displacement of the second element in direction perpendicular to slope surfaces. Support system for flat walls of semi-insulated reservoir provides for at least one point of thermal stability for every wall and comprises vertically passing support structure that surrounds the reservoir, and group that includes multiple 2D support units distanced on external surface of every wall, which connect the wall to surrounding support structure and are horizontally distanced from point of thermal stability and oriented horizontally. The second elements are diverged from specified point, thus, vertical support is provided for every wall, and it becomes possible for the second elements to move perpendicularly to wall plane horizontally in direction of slope surface, parallel to wall plane. ^ EFFECT: increased efficiency of manufacturing and installation of reservoirs. ^ 24 cl, 9 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to systems for supporting the side walls and tops of semi-insulated tanks used to store and transport liquids at temperatures substantially different from ambient temperatures, including but not limited to liquids such as liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and anhydrous ammonia that can be stored and transported at temperatures substantially below ambient temperature. The invention can also be applied to semi-insulated reservoirs for liquids that are stored and transported at temperatures substantially above ambient temperatures.

Semi-insulated tanks are self-sustaining. Their side walls require support from the surrounding support structure. US 5,727,492 describes semi-insulated tanks having sidewall structures in the form of curved plates, although flat plate designs with relatively light stiffeners can also be used for semi-insulated tanks. In any case, a surrounding support structure is required. As described in US Pat. No. 5,727,492, the support structure may include an inner frame of a double-frame tanker or a beam grid supporting the reservoir, for example, in a land-based warehouse. The sides and the upper side of the tank are connected to the surrounding support structure through insulating supports or supporting structures.

The bottom of the tank is usually flat in structure and rests on a supporting insulation, which, in turn, rests on a basic support structure. The bottom of the tank and the supporting insulation can be flat, both in one horizontal plane parallel to the base support structure, and in several inclined planes oriented to the base point to facilitate drainage. Typically, the bottom of the tank shrinks and expands around a specified base point, which is usually located at its geometric center or at another point vertically aligned with an expansion cap on the upper side of the tank. Such a base point is usually held in a fixed position by a combination of structural keys attached to the outer surface of the tank bottom. The keys extend radially from the base point and mate with the keyways in the carrier insulation, usually oriented along the transverse and longitudinal axes of the tank. As the temperature changes during filling and emptying of the tank, its bottom shrinks and expands, sliding along the load-bearing insulation, which is held by gravity.

The temperature of the side walls and the top of the tank also deviates significantly from the temperature of the surrounding supporting structure, under normal conditions equal to the ambient temperature, when filling the tank. This thermal deflection causes shrinkage if the tank is used for cold liquid, and tends to expose the tank to significant thermal stresses. The support method between the tank and the surrounding support structure significantly affects the level and distribution of these thermal stresses.

Insulation systems are usually attached directly to the surfaces of the tank after the completion of its manufacture. Insulated support systems for semi-insulated tanks are usually connected directly to the surrounding support structures, which, when installed on board a vessel, are combined with a longitudinal and transverse structure.

US Published Patent Application No. 2003/0066834 A1 describes a group of support assemblies for use in a support system for semi-insulated tanks. The nodes are components located between the walls of the tank and the surrounding support structure. The nodes according to the application include three elements or blocks: a first block rigidly connected to the tank wall, a second block rigidly connected to the surrounding support structure, and a third block intermediate between the first two. The third block slidably engages with the first block, allowing sliding movement along the first line, parallel to the plane of the tank wall, and the third block slidably engages with the second block, allowing sliding movement along the second line perpendicular to the first, also parallel to the plane of the tank wall. In combination, two sliding movements allow orthogonal movement in the plane of the tank wall, the tank wall relative to the supporting structure. The support system prevents movement in and out, perpendicular to the side walls and top of the tank.

If we consider a rectangular tank with four side walls, top and bottom, it should be taken into account that unstressed temperature compression resulting from low temperatures causes each of these six elements to compress in its plane. In essence, the reservoir tends to become smaller by moving inward from the surrounding support structure with which it is connected by the support system. At least the base points of the walls of the tanks should be aligned with a fixed expansion cap protruding through the top. In addition, the walls and the top, which do not provide their own support, must have a vertical support, and the walls should also have a support perpendicular to their respective planes. The support system, for example, according to published patent application US 2003/0066834 A1, provides only compression in the plane of each wall and prevents movement inward from the support structure. Some support nodes are fixed against vertical movement of the walls and, therefore, support the walls of the tank. The restriction of movement perpendicular to the plane of each wall causes significant thermal stresses at the edges where the walls of the tank are joined with the top, bottom or other wall. These intersections must therefore be both flexible enough to adapt to compression, and strong enough to withstand the acceptable stress levels in the structural material of the tank. Compliance is usually achieved by using edges having substantially rounded cross-sectional shapes that are capable of perceiving significant distortion upon compression of the reservoir. The radius of curvature should be large enough to allow such distortion without reaching an unacceptable voltage. The thickness of the structural material of the rounded edges should be large enough and strong to prevent bending and maintain acceptable stress levels in any temperature conditions caused by a full, empty or partially full state of the tank. The rounded edges of a small radius of relatively light construction are not suitable for this purpose due to the magnitude of the voltage levels.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a support device for the walls and top of semi-insulated tanks, providing a thermally insulated structural connection between the tank and the surrounding support structure, without the disadvantages of existing devices and improving the efficiency of manufacture and installation of such tanks.

According to the invention, there is provided a support assembly for connecting a wall or top of a semi-insulated tank with an surrounding support structure, comprising a first element fixedly attached to the surrounding supporting structure and a second element fixedly attached to the wall or top of the tank, wherein the first and second elements include lockable complementary inclined sloping surfaces, engaged with the possibility of sliding, providing movement of the second element relative to the first element in systematic way, parallel to the axis of the inclined surfaces and prevents movement of the second member in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surfaces.

The inclined surfaces can be engaged in a sliding manner to prevent the second element from moving relative to the first element in a direction transverse to the inclined surfaces.

The inclined surfaces can be engaged in a sliding manner to allow the second element to move relative to the first element in a direction transverse to the inclined surfaces.

The second element may be rigidly connected to the wall or top by means of load-bearing insulation. The carrier insulation may be a block containing two parts attached to each other. The carrier insulation may have a recess consistent with the shape of the mounting structure protruding outward from the wall or top of the tank. The carrier insulation may have a recess consistent with the shape of the mounting structure protruding outward from the wall or top of the tank.

The second element may be adapted to attach insulating panels to the tank.

According to the invention, a support system for the flat walls of a semi-insulated tank is created, providing at least one point of thermal stability for each wall and containing a vertically extending support structure surrounding the tank and a group including a plurality of two-dimensional support nodes spaced along the outer surface of each wall, connecting the wall to the surrounding supporting structure, horizontally spaced from at least one point of thermal stability and horizontally oriented, moreover, the second elements are deviated from the specified at least one point, thus providing a vertical support for each wall and allowing the second elements to move perpendicular to the plane of the wall and horizontally in the direction of the inclined surface, parallel to the plane of the wall, with each two-dimensional support node for connecting the wall or top of the semi-insulated tank with the surrounding support structure and comprises a first element fixedly attached to the surrounding support structure, and the second element, fixedly attached to the wall or top of the tank, the first and second elements include mutually interlocking complementary inclined pitched surfaces that are slidingly engaged so that the second element can move relative to the first element in a direction parallel to the axis of the inclined surfaces and prevent movement the second element relative to the first element in a direction perpendicular and transverse to inclined surfaces.

The indicated group of support nodes may further include a plurality of three-dimensional support nodes intended for connecting the wall or top of the semi-insulated tank to the surrounding support structure and containing, each, the first element fixedly attached to the surrounding supporting structure, and the second element fixedly attached to the wall or at the top of the tank, while the first and second elements include mutually interlocking complementary inclined ramps that can be chipped pressure, providing the movement of the second element relative to the first element in a direction parallel to the axis of the inclined surfaces, and the direction transverse to the inclined surfaces, and preventing the movement of the second element in the direction perpendicular to the inclined surfaces.

Each wall can have one point of thermal stability that does not have a rigid connection connecting the wall of the tank with the surrounding support structure. The thermal stability point of each wall can be located approximately at its horizontal midpoint and near its vertical lower point, and the group of support nodes spaced along the outer surfaces of each wall includes many two-dimensional support nodes radially spaced from the thermal stability point and located so that they deviate from her.

The support nodes can be located so that their second elements are deviated from the line passing vertically through at least one point of thermal stability.

supporting nodes can be rigidly connected to the walls by means of bearing insulation.

These walls may have a design of curved plates, with horizontally extending bends between the bent plates, and this group consists of support nodes located along these bends.

Support nodes can be located to form vertical columns of support nodes.

The support system may further comprise vertically oriented structural beams, each of which is fixedly connected to the second element of at least two support nodes in a vertical column of support nodes.

The tank may have a top, and the surrounding support structure has a horizontally extending upper support structure above the top of the tank, and there is a group of support nodes spaced radially from the top surface and providing a thermal stability point, the first elements of the support nodes being rigidly connected to the surrounding support structure, and the second supporting elements are connected with the top, and the inclined surfaces are oriented radially from the point of rigid connection.

The second elements can be rigidly connected to the top by means of bearing insulation.

The tank may include a top, and the surrounding support structure includes a horizontally extending upper support structure above the top of the tank, and there is a rigid connection for attaching the top point to the support structure, and the support nodes are grouped on top in a grid.

The support system may further include vertical keys and engageable keyways associated with two or more parallel side walls and their corresponding surrounding support structure.

The support system may further include vertical keys and engageable keyways associated with two or more parallel side walls and their corresponding surrounding support structure.

The support nodes can be rigidly connected to the wall by means of supporting insulation.

In this description and the appended claims, certain terms have the following meanings.

"Wall" means the vertically oriented side wall of a semi-insulated tank. The walls of the tanks are made in the form of a geometric figure, for example, the tank is rectangular, trapezoidal, hexagonal or cylindrical. The walls of such tanks are flat if made of flat plates, or close to a plane if made of curved plates. Such walls are referred to in this application as “flat”. The cylindrical tank has one continuous wall forming a cylinder.

“Wall plane” means the main flat outer surface at ambient temperature, walls with straight sides for a flat plate structure, or a vertical plane passing through the inflection points connecting curved plates in such a wall.

“Top plane” means the main flat outer surface of the tank top at ambient temperature.

"Surrounding support structure" is a structure with which support nodes are connected outside the tank. The surrounding support structure may or may not be combined with an external holding structure, such as the surrounding structure of the vessel. Alternatively, the surrounding support structure may be a lifting frame, a frame in which to collect the tank. The surrounding support structure may be provided with vertical keys that engage with keyways combined with said external holding structure, or vice versa, when lowering the tank to its final position.

An “external holding structure” is a structure outside the surrounding support structure if they are not the same. For walls in a tank installation, this is usually an internal longitudinal hull structure and a transverse hull bulkhead structure including stiffeners associated with them, and the top deck is usually the main deck of a double-frame tanker. The outer retaining structure for the walls in the shore installation is usually a frame of mutually intersecting beams extending upward from the concrete base on the ground.

“Slope” means an angled surface that extends outward from the reservoir and slides in a sliding manner with a complementary surface resting on the surrounding support structure. This surface may be flat or may have one degree of curvature, with an axis parallel to the inclined surface. Moving “along an inclined surface” means moving up or down an inclined surface parallel to the center line of the inclined surface. Moving in the direction transverse to the inclined surface means moving parallel to the inclined surface, but in a direction perpendicular to the center line of the inclined surface, if this surface is flat, or parallel to the chord of the surface arc, if the surface is curved. Moving up or down an inclined surface can be divided into two perpendicular components of Cartesian coordinates, for example, a component along the x axis and a component along the y axis. If the inclined surface is placed horizontally on a vertical surface, then one component of the movement parallel to the inclined surface is horizontal and parallel to the wall plane, and the other component is also horizontal but perpendicular to the wall plane, and the movement across the inclined surface is vertical and parallel to the wall plane. If the slope is placed vertically on a vertical surface, then one component of the displacement parallel to the inclined surface is vertical and parallel to the plane of the wall or cylinder axis, if the tank is cylindrical, and the other component is horizontal but perpendicular to the plane of the wall or cylinder axis; and moving across the inclined surface horizontally and parallel to the plane of the wall or tangent to the cylindrical wall.

"Deviated" from a point or line on the wall or at the top of the tank means for the support node that the element associated with the wall or top of the tank has an inclined surface located at an acute angle to this point or line.

“Supporting assembly” means an assembly unit of mutually interlocking structural components or elements spaced between a wall or top of the tank and the surrounding supporting structure, which together allow the wall or top to be attached to the surrounding supporting structure.

The support nodes according to this invention allow the wall or top of the tank to move relative to the surrounding support structure in at least two directions, namely in one direction perpendicular to the plane of the wall, top or axis of the cylinder of the cylindrical wall, that is, inward from the support structure when the tank shrinks and outward, to the supporting structure, when expanding the tank; and at least in one direction parallel to the plane of the wall or top or axis of the cylindrical wall, that is, to a fixed point or line on the plane of the wall or to the axis of the cylinder when the wall or top shrinks and from such a point when the tank expands. The movement in two directions is carried out by means of a "two-dimensional" support node, which is located at an angle relative to these two directions of movement and allows movement along an inclined surface. When the wall or top shrinks in the plane of the wall or top, or when the cylindrical wall shrinks, the inclined surface associated with the wall or top translates progressively relative to its complementary surface, thus deflecting the inclined surface inward perpendicular to the plane of the wall or top or to the axis of the cylindrical the walls. When choosing the correct angle of inclination of the inclined surface, the correct deviation inward allows minimizing stress at points that would otherwise be subjected to the highest thermal stresses. Thus, the inclined surface near the base point, for example, the midpoint of the length of the flat wall, will move a shorter distance in the wall plane and thus deviate a shorter distance perpendicular to the plane than the inclined surface located farther outward from the specified base point , thus adapting to a larger deflection of the latter during shrinkage of the tank. In this way, forcing the wall or top of the tank toward the inside of the tank away from the surrounding support structure is maintained when the tank shrinks and expands, while preventing the wall or top from moving outward due to mechanical forces such as side roll or ship pitching or liquid load pressure, at any temperature. The calculation of the angles of inclination of the inclined surface is the subject of development, based on the thermal characteristics of the wall or top and the geometry of a particular tank, and lies within the framework of this technical field. When placed horizontally, two-dimensional support nodes provide vertical support for the tank wall.

Other support nodes according to this invention additionally allow movement in the plane of the wall or top perpendicular to the first direction. These nodes, therefore, allow orthogonal movement in the plane of the wall or top, as well as movement perpendicular to the plane of the wall or top. An additional degree of freedom of movement is provided by a “three-dimensional” support unit.

The support units of the present invention may be included in groups of supports between the walls or the top of the tank and the surrounding support structure. Each group for a flat wall or top includes a point of thermal stability, which is a point of rigid connection or a point in which there is no thermal deformation. The thermal stability point for each such wall has a normal height above the bottom of the tank and horizontally at the base point at the top formed by the expansion cap, namely the center point of the cap. Each group for a planar wall includes a number of support nodes extending horizontally from the center of thermal stability in both directions. Each support node in this row is a two-dimensional support node, which allows movement only along the inclined surface, and the inclined element is rigidly connected to the reservoir, while the surface of the inclined surface is oriented horizontally from the base point, i.e., moving up the inclined surface is a movement from the center of the thermal stability. Each support node in this row provides vertical support for the tank wall, since the vertical movement of the wall relative to the supporting structure is unacceptable. Each group for a cylindrical wall includes multiple thermal stability points, preferably located at or near the bottom of the wall. Each group for a cylindrical wall includes a plurality of two-dimensional and three-dimensional support nodes arranged vertically, according to a pattern, on a wall surface, preferably along a sequence of vertical lines spaced around a wall.

Each row for a flat wall or top also includes additional support nodes according to this invention. These additional nodes can be two-dimensional reference nodes, while the inclined surfaces are oriented radially from the center of thermal stability, or three-dimensional reference nodes, while the inclined surfaces are arranged in horizontal rows and oriented horizontally from a vertical line passing through the thermal stability point. Similar groups can be used for the top of the tank.

Details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, drawings, and claims.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 depicts a perspective view with a spatial separation of the details of the embodiment of a two-dimensional reference node of two elements according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a three-dimensional support assembly of two elements according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view with a spatial separation of the details of an embodiment of a three-dimensional reference node of three elements according to the invention.

4 is a vertical projection showing a preferred embodiment for interlocking a two-dimensional support assembly or three-dimensional support assembly to a wall or top of the tank and the surrounding support structure, and means for securing installed insulation panels between flanges holding the support assemblies relative to the tank and flanged bushings attached to these nodes.

5 is a side view of a semi-insulated tank, the surrounding support structure and the first embodiment of the group of support nodes according to the invention.

6 is a side view of a semi-insulated tank, the surrounding support structure and the second embodiment of the group of support nodes according to this invention.

7 is a top view of a semi-insulated tank surrounding the supporting structure, according to an embodiment including a radial group of supporting nodes for the top of the tank.

Fig. 8 is a top view of wall nodes of a preferred embodiment of the surrounding support structure associated with the outer element of several support nodes aligned in a single line, and the vertical keys connected to the surrounding support structure for the side walls and engaged with the vertical keyways combined with the outer retaining by a structure such as a ship.

Fig. 9 is a vertical projection of yet another embodiment of interconnecting a two-dimensional support assembly or three-dimensional support assembly to a wall or top of the reservoir and the surrounding support structure.

Similar reference numerals in various figures indicate like elements.

Detailed description

The support systems of the present invention include groups of support assemblies, preferably two-dimensional support assemblies distributed over the top and each side wall and connecting each wall or top to the surrounding support structure by a sliding engagement so as to allow each point of such engagement of an assembly member associated with the specified wall or top, move inward, perpendicular to the plane of the wall or top, and to the center of thermal stability in the plane of the specified wall or top when the tank is cooled, m ambient temperature to a temperature below ambient temperature, - a cold reservoir such as a reservoir of liquefied natural gas, or from a heating temperature to ambient temperature, - the hot reservoir. This group may, but not necessarily, include a fixed support in which each wall or top is rigidly connected to the surrounding support structure. Depending on the layout of the group and the orientation of the support nodes, the individual nodes have one or two degrees of freedom parallel to the plane of the wall or top to allow the required movement. At least some of the support nodes, which necessarily have only one such degree of freedom, provide the vertical support required for each wall. The upper parts of the reservoirs most often have a thermal stability point located in the geometric center of the top, where the expansion cap enters the reservoir.

Figure 1 shows the support node 1 according to this invention. The support node 1 is a two-dimensional support. It maintains a rigid support between the tank wall and the top, while simultaneously allowing the wall to be thermally deformed relative to the surrounding supporting structure only along the inclined surface, which, as explained earlier, includes a displacement component perpendicular to the plane of the wall or top of the tank, and a displacement component along the line in the plane of the wall or top of the tank parallel to the axis of the inclined surface. The support unit 1 is shown in disassembled form. It includes a first element 2 and a second element 3, which can be engaged in sliding engagement. One of the elements 2, 3 can be fixedly connected to the structure 7 of the top or wall of the tank, and the second of the elements 2, 3 can be fixedly connected to the surrounding supporting structure 8. The connection can be direct or through the supporting insulation.

Element 2 is a three-dimensional elongated solid T-shaped piece in which the upper portion 4 of elongated T is deflected outward from element 8, as shown, or, alternatively, from element 1 (not shown). The elongated portion 4 includes inclined surfaces 5 and 6. Element 3 is a continuous piece that is complementary to element 2. It includes an elongated, T-shaped inclined recess 9, which is tilted outward from element 7, as shown, or, in alternatively, from element 8 (not shown). The recess 9 has an upper surface 10, which is in sliding engagement with the surface 5 of the element 2, and lower surfaces 11, which are in sliding engagement with the surfaces 6, whereby section 4 can move along an inclined surface inside the recess 9. The recess 9 has elongated side walls 12, which enter into sliding engagement with the elongated side walls 13 of section 4.

Element 3 surrounds the area 4 of element 2. The side walls 12 of element 3 prevent movement across the inclined surface. The lower surfaces 11 are mutually engaged with the lower surfaces 6 in order to prevent the relative movement of the elements 2, 3 perpendicular to the inclined surface, that is, perpendicular to the plane of the wall or top of the tank, except when sliding along the inclined surface.

You can use other means for mutual engagement of elements 2, 3, preventing their separation perpendicular to the inclined surface. A preferred means of mutual engagement, such as that shown in FIG. 1, directly interlocks the elements 2, 3. Another similar means could include, for example, T-shaped inclined surfaces not only for element 2, but also for element 3 , flanges protruding outwardly from each pivot member 4 and slidingly engaged U-shaped members that engage with each other with the flanges of member 2 and the flanges of member 3. A less preferred means of mutual engagement may be indirect connected to elements 2, 3, for example, a screed, inclined between the wall or top structure 7 and the surrounding supporting structure 8 and rotatably attached to them to hold the elements 2, 3 together, but if necessary rotate so as not to impede movement along the inclined surface of the element 3 relative to the element 2. When installing U-shaped additional elements or when installing a coupler or other indirectly connected additional element, an effective aimnoe engaging elements 2, 3.

It is important that the walls and top of the tank are thermally isolated from the surrounding support structure and any other retaining structure to prevent heat flow into the cooled tank or from the hot tank. Thermal paths are minimized or, in preferred embodiments, eliminated to the extent possible. To this end, the support nodes can be made of insulating material, such as, for example, wood or wood composite material. Element 2, 3 may be made of insulating material. However, the areas of the elements 2, 3, in particular the inclined surfaces 5, 6, 10, 11, can preferably be metal, such as aluminum, steel or stainless steel. It is only necessary that there is insulation that blocks the heat transfer path between the tank and the surrounding supporting structure. Otherwise, heat-conducting materials can be used without threat to thermal insulation.

Figure 2 shows the support node 21 according to this invention. The node 21 is a three-dimensional reference node of two elements with mutual engagement. It has the same design as the support unit 1 (Fig. 1), and it also works, with one exception, namely, the recess 9 is expanded so that the elongated side walls 22 do not interfere, but rather allow movement across the inclined surface to degrees, if necessary, calculated by the designer, taking into account thermal compression and expansion of the tank. Thus, they provide orthogonal movement in the plane of the wall or top of the tank. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is, as claimed, a three-dimensional support assembly consisting of two elements. The movement across the inclined surface can also be achieved by the third element. Such an assembly according to the invention is shown in FIG. The support node 31 contains elements 2, 3, as in FIG. 1, except that the element 3 further includes, in the vicinity of its inclined surface, grooves 33 and flanges 36 that protrude on opposite sides in the direction of the axis of the inclined surface . To element 7, as shown, or to element 8 (not shown), a third element 34 is fixedly mounted, which includes spaced apart, inwardly extending protrusions 35 to create a transverse groove 37 for slidingly accommodating element 33, including flanges 36. Element 3, thus, they allow movement within the element 34, parallel to the plane of the wall or top of the tank, only in the direction transverse to the inclined surface.

Elements 3 may be adapted for attaching, in whole or in part, insulation panels to the walls of the tank. One such device is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a section through a support assembly 41, which may be a two-dimensional support assembly, as shown in FIG. 1, or a three-dimensional support assembly, as shown in FIG. 2. The three-dimensional support node (Fig. 3), which consists of three elements, can also be replaced by a two-dimensional support node 41. The element 2 of the node 41 is attached to the surrounding support structure 8, for example, by welding or bolting. The area of the base 42 of the element 3 has a shape including flanges 43 protruding outward parallel to the wall or top 7. Outside of the wall or top 7 of the reservoir, retainers 44 protrude, which include protrusions or flanges 45 protruding inward to accommodate the base flanges 43, in according to which the element 3 can be fixedly attached to the wall or top 7. The latches 44 may contain, for example, a one-piece surrounding element 3 to prevent it from moving relative to the wall or top 7 in any direction. The surrounding element 3 is a U-shaped groove for receiving rigid or semi-rigid insulation panels 46. In this embodiment, the U-shaped groove comprises a sleeve 47 with a flange attached to the element 3 in cooperation with the element 3 itself as a bottom and flanges (or flange ) 43 gutters. With this tool, panels 46 are held outside the wall or top of the tank and parallel to its plane. Other devices for fixing insulating panels using elements 3 are known in the art.

Figure 5 shows a semi-insulated tank 51 in a cold state, having a bottom 52, facing forward and protruding side 53 and top 54. The edges 55 of the sides and top are shown for the purpose of illustration, as they would be at ambient temperature. As shown in FIG. 5, the walls 53 are joined to each other, with a bottom 52 and a top 54 with rounded ribs 56, the intersections of which are rounded corners. Curve 60 represents the curvature of the rounded rib 56 in the cold state in the middle of the length of the protruding wall. The bottom 52 of the tank is supported by a supporting insulation 57. The surrounding support structure includes vertical elements 58 extending outward from the walls 53 and horizontal elements 59 extending outward from the top 54. The surrounding support structure also includes horizontal elements, which for clarity of illustration not shown. The horizontal rows passing around the sides 53 of the tank 51, shows the support nodes connecting the sides 53 with the vertical support elements 58. One row, in this embodiment, the bottom row, consists of two-dimensional support nodes 1 (Fig. 1) placed horizontally and deviating from the vertical midline of the wall that runs down from the midpoint of expansion cap 61. At nodes 1, cross-hatching indicates the extent to which element 2 is offset from element 3 due to cooling of the tank. The nodes closest to the midline of the wall have the smallest offset, and the nodes farthest from the midline have the greatest offset. A number of nodes 1, passing around the circumference around the tank, provides vertical support for each wall of the tank. The X sign represents the thermal stability point 62 of the forward facing wall 53. These are three-dimensional nodes 21 (FIG. 2), also placed with a horizontal inclination from the midline, that is, a vertical line passing through the thermal stability point. In addition to the displacement of the elements 2, 3 along the inclined surface, as shown by cross-hatching, the nodes 21 provide thermal deformations in the direction transverse to the inclined surface (not shown). Above the tank, a series of support elements 21 are shown connecting the top 54 with horizontal support elements 59 arranged vertically and deviating from the midline of the top 54 through the center of the expansion cap. The offset between the elements 2, 3 at the periphery of the tank exceeds their offset near the line passing through the point of stability of the top, in this case, the center of the expansion cap 61. The support nodes for the top 54 of the tank can be grouped in the form of a mesh diagram similar to that shown for the front walls 53. In this case, the support nodes along the perpendicular lines passing through the stability point will be nodes 1, passing, deviating from this point. Additional support nodes will be nodes 21, similar to the device shown for the forward facing wall 53.

6 shows an alternative embodiment of a group of support nodes for the wall 53 of the reservoir 51 in the cold state. This embodiment, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, includes a number of support nodes 1 that are horizontal and deviate from the stability point 62. This embodiment also includes additional support nodes 1, thus oriented that they deviate from stability point 62 in a radial manner. Although the support nodes 1 prevent movement across the inclined surface, the radial orientation shown in FIG. 6 causes the movement along the inclined surface to have both a horizontal component and a vertical component parallel to the wall plane, thereby allowing the wall 53 to compress as vertically and horizontally to the stability point 62. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the rounded ribs 56 of the top 51 of the tank are generally uniform, and there is no pronounced creep in the middle of the length of the walls visas 60, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. Instead, in this embodiment, the profile of the protruding back wall 53 in the middle of its length is shown by line 63.

6 also shows a preferred method of constructing a group of support nodes for a cylindrical tank. Figure 6 shows a vertical column of vertically arranged support nodes 1 extending upward from point 62. For a cylindrical tank, the circle of thermal stability is a circle extending horizontally around the wall of the tank, approximately through point 62. The vertical column of support nodes 1 can be replenished with an additional vertically located support node at point 62 or just above it. All other supporting nodes in Fig.6 can be replaced by additional vertical columns of the supporting nodes 1, spaced around the tank wall.

7 shows a group of support nodes 1 on the upper side 54 of the tank in a cold state. The group shown in FIG. 7 has nodes 1 radially deflected from a stability point 62, which is the center of the expansion dome 61. Also shown in Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the upper row of support nodes 21 (Fig. 5). In this regard, an increasing displacement of the elements 2, 3 at the edges of the wall 53 of the tank is seen in comparison with the middle line of the walls. The group shown in FIG. 7 is also suitable for the round top of a cylindrical tank.

The number of support nodes shown in FIGS. 5-7 is not necessarily the number that will be used for the present tank. The number and placement of nodes will vary depending on the design requirements.

On Fig shows one side wall 53 with the surrounding support structure 58 and mutually connected support nodes 21 (or 1), suitable for building outside the outer retaining structure 80. The preliminary assembly of the semi-insulated vessel, the surrounding support structure and mutually connected support nodes can be raised with a crane and lowered into an external holding structure, such as an internal hull compartment of a tanker for liquefied natural gas. Fig. 8 shows an external holding structure 80 provided with a plurality of vertical keyways 82. Although the structure 80 is shown schematically in the form of a wall with keyways, it should be appreciated that the structure 80 can also be multi-component, such as a housing or beam, from which the vertical supporting elements having keyways 82 protrude inwardly to the surrounding supporting structure 58. FIG. 8 also shows a series of vertically extending keys 81 fixedly attached to the surrounding supporting structure and 58. FIG. 8 shows one key / keyway pair aligned with the center of thermal stability, but this is not required. Our preferred design is that the keys 81 are themselves vertical elements of the support structure 58. For ease of installation, it is preferable that the keyways 82 and the complementary keys 81 are tapered, i.e. larger at the top of the tank. The keys and keyways can be interchanged, that is, the keys can be on the external holding structure, and the keyways can be on the surrounding support structure. The keys and keyways can be interconnected in a variety of ways that are known in the art. A system of keys and keyways is provided for at least two opposite flat side walls. It can be provided for some or all additional walls. For a cylindrical wall, a system of keys and keyways is provided for at least two opposite arc sections of the wall, and it can be provided for the entire periphery of the wall.

Fig.9 depicts a section of the support node 92, 93, 94, that is, a construction alternative to that shown in Fig.4. This may be a two-dimensional reference node, such as shown in FIG. 4, or a three-dimensional reference node, such as shown in FIG. 2. You can also use a three-dimensional reference node (figure 3) of. three elements. A two-dimensional reference assembly is shown. The support unit comprises a first element 92, which, like element 2 in FIG. 4, is fixedly attached to the surrounding support structure, in this case, the structure 105, which may be the inner hull of a double-hulled tanker or a support structure element, such as element 58 (FIG. .5); and a second element 93, which, like element 3 in FIG. 4, is fixedly attached to the outer part of the tank shown in FIG. 9, as the side 97 of the tank is made of curved plates, through the supporting insulating block 94. The interface between the elements 92 and 93 is an inclined surface similar to the inclined structure shown in side view in FIG. The support unit member 93 is fixedly attached to the insulation block 94 with one or more bolts 95. A pair of corner brackets 96 are connected to the insulation block 94 to receive rigid or semi-rigid insulation panels 102.

The support assembly shown in FIG. 9 is particularly suitable for use with semi-insulated tanks consisting of curved plates described in US Pat. No. 5,727,492. Figure 9 shows a portion of the vertical wall of the tank of curved plates, or side 97, including a bend 98, forming a joint between two horizontally arranged sections of curved plates. Outwardly from the bend 98, it passes and forms a single unit with it or a shaped fastening structure that is fixedly engaged with the insulating block 94 is fixedly attached to it, and in this embodiment, this shaped structure is a T-shaped strip 99, for connecting the second element 93 to the wall 97 in bend 98. Optionally, block 94 may consist of two parts, with a dividing line 106 shown in Fig. 9, attached to one another by a series of bolts, such as bolt 95.

In the embodiment of the curved plates shown in Fig. 9, the support nodes are two-dimensional support nodes, since the curved sections of the tank wall 97 can be bent to relieve stress in the vertical direction (chords of the curved sections). Each horizontally extending bend attached to the outer support structure 105 by two-dimensional support nodes that move inward, outward, and sideways is thus similar to the bottom row of nodes 1 in FIG. 5, and, like nodes 1, they provide vertical support for the wall 97 of the tank . Each wall 94 of the four-sided reservoir of curved plates thus has a thermal stability point in the area near each bend 98, usually in the horizontal center of the wall, in other words, point 62 (Fig. 5) in each row of support nodes, forming a vertical sequence of points 62. In each row, the support nodes are arranged so as to have directions of the inclined surface, as shown for the lower row in FIG.

Instead of using the lateral walls of the element 93 covering the inclined surface to limit the vertical movement of the bend 98 and compensate for the vertical compression and expansion by changing the radius of the curved plates (the side walls of the two-dimensional nodes are shown as elements 12 in FIG. 1 and discussed above in the description of this figure), the alternative is to maintain a vertical separation between successive rows of support nodes by other means. Figure 9 shows a beam 103, for example, an I-beam or a wide-flange beam of I-section, which passes through the hole 104 in the element 93 and vertically through the holes in the elements 93 in the column of nodes, in bends above and below the bend 98 (not shown). The beam 103 is fixedly connected with the elements 93 of the column nodes. The additional beams 103 are likewise arranged passing through the other columns of the nodes (see FIG. 5) and are connected with them such that there is a series of beams 103 extending along each wall of the tank.

The beams 103 interfere with the vertical movement of the bends 98 in relation to each other, thereby causing the curved plates in the wall 97 to adapt to thermal expansion in the vertical direction. As you should take into account, this will simplify the structure covering the inclined surface, shown in figures 1 and 9, since in this connection there is no need to prevent movement across the inclined surface.

A series of beams 103 extending along each wall of the tank also provides means for lifting the wall of the tank using a lifting device. An example of a lifting system is to provide each beam 103 with a hole 107 in its upper part such that a pipe can be passed through holes 107 on each side of the tank. The pipe (not shown) preferably forms a removable element of the lifting device, but it can be slidably connected to the beams 103. Using the preferred embodiment, it is possible to fabricate and completely assemble the tank, support nodes and beams 103 outside the supporting structure. Elements of the node 92 can be tilted inwardly to the wall of the tank 97, providing mounting clearance. The entire assembly can be lowered into the support structure, after which the elements 92 are engaged with the external support elements 105 and attached to them, for example, by welding.

Several embodiments of the invention have been described. However, it should be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, signs such as loose fit between mutually engaged elements of the support unit, adjustable inclination of sliding surfaces or other means to adapt to manufacturing tolerances or temperature gradients between different places inside the tank, the manufacture of mating surfaces of inclined surfaces of metal associated with supporting insulating blocks, all are potential changes that lie within the framework of possible alternative options, which is easily understood by a specialist in the art. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (24)

1. A support assembly for connecting a wall or top of a semi-insulated tank to a surrounding support structure, comprising a first element fixedly attached to the surrounding supporting structure, and a second element fixedly attached to the wall or top of the tank, the first and second elements include mutually interlocking complementary inclined pitched surfaces that are engaged with the possibility of sliding, providing movement of the second element relative to the first element in a direction parallel to the axis inclined surfaces, and preventing the movement of the second element in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surfaces. 2. The support node according to claim 1, in which the inclined surfaces are engaged in a sliding manner to prevent the movement of the second element relative to the first element in the direction transverse to the inclined surfaces. 3. The support node according to claim 1, in which the inclined surfaces are engaged in a sliding manner to ensure the movement of the second element relative to the first element in the direction transverse to the inclined surfaces. 4. The support node according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the second element is rigidly connected to the wall or top by means of bearing insulation. 5. The support node according to claim 4, in which the carrier insulation is a block containing two parts attached to each other. 6. The support node according to claim 4, in which the carrier insulation has a recess, consistent with the shape of the mounting structure, protruding outward from the wall or top of the tank. 7. The support node according to claim 5, in which the carrier insulation has a recess, consistent with the shape of the mounting structure, protruding outward from the wall or top of the tank. 8. The support node according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the second element is adapted for attaching insulating panels to the tank. 9. The support node according to claim 4, in which the second element is adapted for attaching insulating panels to the tank. 10. The support system for the flat walls of a semi-insulated tank, providing at least one point of thermal stability for each wall and containing a vertically extending support structure surrounding the tank, and a group including many two-dimensional support nodes spaced on the outer surface of each wall connecting a wall with a surrounding supporting structure, horizontally spaced from at least one point of thermal stability and horizontally oriented, the second elements open they are from the indicated at least one point, thus providing a vertical support for each wall and allowing the second elements to move perpendicular to the plane of the wall and horizontally in the direction of the inclined surface, parallel to the plane of the wall, with each two-dimensional support node designed to connect the wall or the top of a semi-insulated tank with an surrounding support structure and contains a first element fixedly attached to the surrounding supporting structure, and a second element fixedly connected to the wall or top of the tank, wherein the first and second elements include mutually interlocking complementary inclined ramps that are slidingly engaged to allow the second element to move relative to the first element in a direction parallel to the axis of the inclined surfaces and to prevent the second element from moving relative to the first element in a direction perpendicular and transverse to inclined surfaces. 11. The support system of claim 10, wherein said group of support nodes further includes a plurality of three-dimensional support nodes for connecting the wall or top of the semi-insulated tank to the surrounding support structure and comprising, each, a first element fixedly attached to the surrounding support structure and a second element fixedly attached to the wall or top of the tank, wherein the first and second elements include mutually interlocking complementary inclined ramps, Heated with the possibility of sliding, providing the movement of the second element relative to the first element in a direction parallel to the axis of the inclined surfaces and the direction transverse to the inclined surfaces, and preventing the movement of the second element in the direction perpendicular to the inclined surfaces. 12. The support system according to claim 11, in which each wall has one thermal stability point that does not have a rigid connection connecting the tank wall to the surrounding support structure. 13. The support system according to item 12, in which the thermal stability point of each wall is approximately at its horizontal midpoint and near its vertical lower point, and the group of support nodes spaced on the outer surfaces of each wall includes a plurality of two-dimensional support nodes, radially spaced from the point of thermal stability and located so that they deviate from it. 14. The support system according to any one of paragraphs.10-13, in which the support nodes are located so that their second elements are deviated from the line passing vertically through at least one point of thermal stability. 15. The support system according to any one of claims 10 to 13, in which the support nodes are rigidly connected to the walls by means of load-bearing insulation. 16. The support system of claim 10, in which these walls have a design of curved plates with horizontally extending bends between the bent plates, said group consisting of support nodes located along these bends. 17. The support system according to clause 16, in which the support nodes are located, forming vertical columns of the support nodes. 18. The support system of claim 17, further comprising vertically oriented structural beams, each of which is fixedly connected to the second element of at least two support nodes in a vertical column of support nodes. 19. The support system according to any one of paragraphs.10-13, 16-18, in which the tank has a top and the surrounding support structure has a horizontally extending upper support structure above the top of the tank, and there is a group of support nodes spaced radially from the top surface and providing point of thermal stability, the first elements of the support nodes are rigidly connected to the surrounding support structure, and the second support elements are connected to the top, and the inclined surfaces are oriented radially from the point of rigid connection. 20. The support system according to claim 19, in which the second elements are rigidly connected to the top by means of bearing insulation. 21. The support system according to any one of paragraphs.10-13, 16-18, in which the reservoir includes a top and the surrounding support structure includes a horizontally extending upper support structure above the top of the tank, and there is a rigid connection for attaching the top point to the support structure, and supporting nodes are grouped on top in the form of a lattice. 22. The support system according to any one of claims 10, 11, 13, 16-18, further comprising vertical keys and engageable keyways associated with two or more parallel side walls and their corresponding surrounding support structure. 23. The support system according to claim 19, further comprising vertical keys and engageable keyways associated with two or more parallel side walls and their corresponding surrounding support structure. 24. The support system according to 14, in which the support nodes are rigidly connected to the wall by means of supporting insulation.

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