LNG tank

Abstract

An LNG tank as disclosed can include an inner shell of stainless steel and an outer shell spaced at a distance from the inner shell, the inner and outer shells defining an isolation space therebetween. A double-walled pipe of stainless steel connected to the LNG tank can include an inner pipe. The outer wall of the pipe can be connected to the inner shell by a bellows-like pipe fitting welded to the outer wall of the pipe(s) and to the inner shell of the tank. The inner pipe for extending into a tank room can be connected to a valve in a valve block, and the outer wall of the pipe extending into the tank room can be welded to the valve block to provide a continuous secondary barrier for the inner pipe between the inner shell of the tank and the valve block.

Claims

1. An LNG tank, comprising: an inner shell of stainless steel; an outer shell spaced at a distance from the inner shell, the inner and outer shells defining an isolation space therebetween; at least one double-walled pipe of stainless steel connected to the LNG tank, the at least one double-walled pipe including: a common outer wall, and at least one inner pipe, the at least one double-walled pipe being configured for extending into a tank room associated with the tank, wherein an end of the at least one inner pipe being configured to extend into the tank room, and is connected to a valve in a valve block, and an end of the outer wall of the double-walled pipe being configured for extending into the tank room is connected to the valve block to provide a continuous secondary barrier for the at least one inner pipe between the inner shell of the LNG tank and the valve block wherein the tank room is an enclosed space connected to the LNG tank and is configured to contain LNG and natural gas.

2. The LNG tank of claim 1, wherein the valve block comprises: a built-in secondary valve barrier.

3. The LNG tank of claim 1, wherein the valve block is connected to a second valve block to prevent leakage of liquid or compressed gas to the tank room in case of failure of the valve of the valve block.

4. The LNG tank of claim 1, wherein the tank room includes equipment for converting the LNG into a gas for delivery to an engine.

5. The LNG tank of claim 1, wherein the tank room is made of stainless steel or carbon steel.

6. The LNG tank of claim 1, wherein the tank room is welded to the LNG tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Features and advantages disclosed herein will be described more fully with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic vertical cross-section of a ship using LNG as fuel;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic vertical cross-section of a part of an LNG tank and a tank room associated therewith according to an exemplary embodiment disclosed herein;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exemplary schematic vertical cross-section of a part of an LNG tank and a tank room associated therewith according to another exemplary embodiment disclosed herein; and

(5) FIG. 4 is an exemplary schematic vertical cross-section of a part of an LNG tank and a tank room associated therewith according to still another exemplary embodiment disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) An LNG tank is disclosed which can have an improved secondary barrier for the pipes extending from the LNG tank to the tank room. This can be achieved by an LNG tank having an inner shell of stainless steel and an outer shell spaced at a distance from the inner shell, the inner and outer shells defining an isolation space therebetween, the LNG tank being provided with at least one double-walled pipe of stainless steel connected to the LNG tank, the at least one double-walled pipe having a common outer wall and at least one inner pipe, the outer wall of the pipe being connected to the inner shell of the tank by means of a bellows-like pipe fitting of cold resistant material welded to the outer wall of the pipe(s) and to the inner shell of the tank, the at least one double-walled pipe extending into a tank room associated with the tank. According to exemplary embodiments, an end of the at least one inner pipe extending into the tank room can be connected to a valve means in a valve block, and an end of the outer wall of the pipe extending into the tank room can be connected to the valve block to provide a continuous secondary barrier for the at least one inner pipe between the inner shell of the tank and the valve block.

(7) The valve block is for example provided with built-in secondary valve barrier means or connected to a second valve block acting as secondary valve barrier means to inhibit and/or prevent leakage of liquid or compressed gas to the tank room in case of failure of the valve means of the first valve block. By connecting (e.g., by welding) the end of the outer wall of the pipe extending into the tank room to the valve block, the at least one inner pipe is inside a secondary barrier continuously from the inner shell of the LNG tank to the valve block, and any leakage from the inner pipe is contained within this secondary barrier. If there is only one inner pipe, one valve with built-in secondary valve barrier means or two successive valves can be sufficient. Thus, in this application the term valve block is intended to cover, for example, both a single valve and several valves in a common block.

(8) Exemplary constructions of the valve means can guarantee that a secondary barrier function is built in. For example, by using a double block and bleed valve construction with monitoring of the condition of the first and the secondary barrier, it is possible to guarantee that any leakage from the inner pipe before the valve or in the first barrier of the valve will not lead to the whole LNG content being emptied into the tank room and causing damage to the instruments inside the tank room. The safety of the system is increased and the material costs for manufacturing the tank room are reduced since the tank room can be made less rigid as it need not be designed to carry the load of the tank room fully filled with liquid LNG.

(9) The materials used for the bellows can be stainless steels, for example austenitic type steels. By using a bellows of stainless steel as a pipe fitting between the inner shell of the LNG tank and the outer wall of the pipe it is possible to absorb relative movement in the piping system due to a difference in temperature between the outer wall of the pipe and the inner shell of the tank.

(10) Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an exemplary LNG tank 1 can include an inner shell 2 and an outer shell 3 defining an isolation space 14 therebetween. The isolation space 14 is under vacuum and/or filled with isolation material, such as perlite or vermiculite. A tank room 4 containing equipment for converting the liquid into a gas for safe delivery to the engines is associated with the tank 1, the equipment being in fluid connection with the tank via double-walled pipes to the tank.

(11) In the schematic illustrations of FIGS. 2 and 3, two inner pipes 8 and a common outer wall 9 therefore are shown. The inner pipes 8 are spaced apart from each other as well as from the outer wall 9 defining an isolation space 15 therebetween. The isolation space 15 can be, similar to the isolation space 14 of the tank 1, under vacuum and/or filled with isolation material, such as perlite or vermiculite.

(12) At one end, the pipes 8 and the outer wall 9 penetrate the tank room and extend over a length inside thereof. The pipes 8 are connected to the valve means of a valve block 20 and the end 9a of the outer wall 9 is welded to the valve block 20 enclosing the pipes 8 inside the outer wall 9. The valve block 20 is, for example, provided with built-in secondary valve barrier means (not specifically shown in the drawings) or alternatively, as shown schematically in FIG. 3, two valve blocks 20a, 20b are arranged successively to provide the secondary barrier means. An exemplary duct mast for ventilation is shown schematically by reference sign 6.

(13) At its other end, the common outer wall 9 of the pipes can be provided with a first connection flange 11 to which a bellows 10 is connected by welding. The bellows 10 is welded at its other end to the inner shell 2 of the tank 1. The inner pipes 8 are welded directly to the inner shell 2 of the tank.

(14) The outer shell 3 of the tank can be provided with a feedthrough opening for the pipe and along the periphery of the opening with a second connection flange 12 extending outwardly from the outer shell 3. The first and second connection flanges can be aligned and provided with an isolation and/or sealing member 13 therebetween when connected together, e.g. by bolts.

(15) The bellows 10 and inner pipes 8 and outer wall 9 can be of cold resistant materials, such as stainless steels, but the material for the outer shell 3 of the tank 1 may be carbon steel due to the use of the protective bellows of stainless steel around the pipe feedthrough to the inside of the tank. The use of carbon steel for the outer shell can substantially reduce the manufacturing costs.

(16) The tank room 4 can also be made of, for example, carbon steel due to the welded connection of the outer wall 9 of the pipes to the valve block 20 and the construction of the valve block including secondary barrier means.

(17) In FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment having only one inner pipe 8 inside the outer wall 9. The inner pipe is connected to a valve seat of the first valve 20c and the outer wall 9 is connected, for example, by welding, to the body of the first valve 20c to provide a continuous secondary barrier for the inner pipe 8 between the inner shell 2 of the tank 1 and the first valve 20c.

(18) A second valve 20d can be connected to the first valve to provide secondary barrier means for the valve means. It is also possible to provide the first valve 20c with built-in secondary barrier means to omit the second valve 20d.

(19) Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range and equivalence thereof are intended to be embraced therein.