Multilayered panel for machinery enclosure

Abstract

A panel for machinery enclosure, particularly for turbomachine enclosures. More specifically, a multilayered panel including several different layers each performing a specific function. In particular, the multilayered panel is capable to provide high levels of jet fire and fire/blast protection together with high performances in term of noise abatement with a lighter structure with respect to the panels of the prior art.

Claims

1. A multilayer panel for turbomachine enclosure comprising: a soundproof layer; a first structural layer arranged directly onto the soundproof layer; an insulation core layer arranged directly onto the first structural layer; a second structural layer arranged directly onto the insulation core layer; and a perforated layer arranged onto the soundproof layer on the opposite face of the soundproof layer with respect to the first structural layer, wherein the soundproof layer further comprises an additional laminate layer floating thereinside.

2. The multilayer panel according to claim 1, further comprising an external protective layer provided at the opposite face of the panel with respect to the soundproof layer or to the perforated layer.

3. The multilayer panel according to claim 1, further comprising: a second insulation core layer arranged onto the structural layer; a third structural layer arranged onto the insulation core layer.

4. The multilayer panel according to claim 3, further comprising an ablative layer arranged onto the third structural layer.

5. The multilayer panel according to claim 4, wherein the ablative layer is arranged between the protective layer and the third structural layer, the ablative layer being in direct contact with the protective layer and the third structural layer.

6. The multilayer panel according to claim 1, wherein the additional laminate layer is made of metallic material.

7. The multilayer panel according to claim 1, wherein the soundproof layer comprises rock wool.

8. The multilayer panel according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer comprises a gel coat.

9. The multilayer panel according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the first, the second, and the third structural layers are made of a composite material.

10. The multilayer panel according to claim 1, wherein the insulation core layer comprising ceramic or polymeric foam.

11. The multilayer panel according to claim 1, wherein the ablative layer comprises a fire resistant coating.

12. The multilayer panel according to claim 1, wherein the overall thickness of the panel is between 50 mm and 150 mm.

13. A turbomachine enclosure comprising multilayer panels according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further details and specific embodiments will refer to the attached drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an enclosure for machinery, specifically of an enclosure for a turbomachine;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section view of a panel for enclosure of the known type;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of the panel for enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The following description of exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The following detailed description does not limit embodiments of the invention. Instead, the scope of embodiments of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

(6) Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

(7) With reference to FIG. 3, the panel for machinery enclosure, in particular for turbomachine enclosure, has a multilayer composite structure comprising discrete layers of different materials each one performing a specific action, thus increasing the overall panel performances.

(8) The layers, substantially parallel to each other, are, in an embodiment, designed and distributed into the whole panel thickness thus providing a reduction of sound transmission from the internal side to the external side of the enclosure walls and, at the same time, protecting the machinery and the equipment housed into the enclosure by blast and fire potentially coming from the surrounding area.

(9) More in detail, the multilayer panel for turbomachine enclosure according to embodiments of the present invention comprises at least a soundproof layer 1, a first structural layer 2 arranged directly onto said soundproof layer 1, a first insulation core layer 3 arranged directly onto the first structural layer 2, and a second structural layer 4 arranged directly onto said first insulation core layer 3, a second insulation layer 5 arranged between structural layer 4 and a third structural layer 6.

(10) The first structural layer 2, the insulation core layer 3 and the second structural layer 4 are grouped together to form a sandwich structure 11.

(11) The sandwich structure 11 can be double comprising a further insulation layer (the second insulation layer 5) and a further structural layer (the third structural layer 6).

(12) The first structural layer 2 is arranged directly onto the soundproof layer 1, thus a first face of the first structural layer 2 adheres to a first face of the soundproof layer 1.

(13) The first insulation core layer 3 is arranged directly onto the first structural layer 2, thus a first face of the first insulation core layer 3 adheres to a second face of first structural layer 2.

(14) The second structural layer 4 is arranged directly onto the first insulation core layer 3, thus a first face of the second structural layer 4 adheres to a second face of first insulation core layer 3.

(15) Attaching together the soundproof layer 1, the first structural layer 2, the first insulation core layer 3 and the second structural layer 4, the overall weight of this assembly is reduced, as well as the thickness, without reducing the structural resistance of the panel.

(16) Said first insulation core layer 3 is, in an embodiment, made of a ceramic insulation core or any other suitable material. Examples of possible materials for said first insulation core layer 3 are: ceramic (Al.sub.2O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2) foam, phenolic foam, polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam, expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS) or rigid polyurethane foam.

(17) According to an embodiment of the invention, said soundproof layer 1 is both a thermal and noise insulation layer.

(18) Even if materials suitable to realize a noise reduction function are already known in the field, in an embodiment, said noise insulation layer may be made of rock-wool or of any other mineral wool insulation material.

(19) According to embodiments of the invention, the structural function is provided by the first 2, the second 4 and the third 6 structural layers, which, in an embodiment, are laminated layers made of composite material comprising fiberglass or other suitable materials. Examples of possible resins for said composite material are: Orthopthalic Resin, Isopthalic Resin, Bisphenolic Resin, Therephtalic resin, Vinyl ester Resin, Epoxy resin, Fire Retardant Resin. Examples of possible fibers for said composite material are: Glass fibers, Carbon fibers, Aramid fibers.

(20) The multilayer panel according to embodiments of the present invention further comprises a perforated sheet 10 arranged onto said first soundproof layer 1 on the opposite face of said soundproof layer 1 with respect to the first structural layer 2.

(21) Additionally, in order to increase the fire and blast protection performances of the panel according to embodiments of the present invention it further comprises an ablative layer 8 arranged onto the third structural layer 6.

(22) In an embodiment, said ablative layer 8 is arranged onto the third structural layer 6 on the opposite face with respect to the insulation core layer 5. The ablative layer 8 is arranged externally with respect to the other layers because it's the sacrificial layer in case of fire.

(23) Examples of possible materials for said ablative layer 8 are: fire resistant coatings, fire resistant gelcoat, fireproof paints, ceramic insulation paints, geopolymers and ablative elastomers.

(24) In an embodiment, in order to protect the layers of the multilayer panel of embodiments of the present invention, and in particular for protecting the last layer facing the hazardous, external, side of the enclosure once the panel is installed, i.e. the third structural layer 6 or the ablative layer 8 if provided, a protective layer 7 is further provided.

(25) In an embodiment, said protective layer 7 is made of resin, more particularly, it is made of gel coat or any other suitable material, and is arranged onto said third structural layer or onto said ablative layer 8 if provided.

(26) Examples of possible materials for said protective layer 7 are: fire resistant coatings, fire resistant gelcoat, fireproof paints, ceramic insulation paints, geopolymers, intumescent paint, ablative elastomer.

(27) According to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the ablative layer 8 is arranged between the protective layer 7 and the third structural layer 6.

(28) The multilayer panel according to embodiments of the invention further comprises a second insulation core layer 5.

(29) More particularly, said second insulation layer 5 is arranged in an intermediate position between the second 4 structural layer and third structural layer 6.

(30) According to an embodiment of the present invention, said first 2, second 4, and third 6 structural layers are made of a composite material, more particularly composite material comprising fiberglass.

(31) According to an embodiment of the present invention, said first soundproof layer 1 further comprises an additional laminate layer 9.

(32) More particularly, said laminate layer 9 is made of metallic material, in order to provide a further noise reduction absorbing sound waves having a different wave length with respect to the one absorbed by the first soundproof layer 1 into which it is inserted.

(33) More particularly, said laminate layer 9 is not rigidly fixed but is floating inside the panel.

(34) The layers of the multilayer panel can be glued each other.

(35) According to an embodiment of the present invention, the multilayer panel has an overall thickness comprised between 50 mm and 150 mm.

(36) This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.