EP2892798B1

EP2892798B1 - Method and module for the installation of equipment on a ship

Info

Publication number: EP2892798B1
Application number: EP13766122.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antti SALOVUORI; Juhani RAINIO; Janne WECKMAN
Original assignee: Meyer Turku Oy
Current assignee: Meyer Turku Oy
Priority date: 2012-09-04
Filing date: 2013-09-03
Publication date: 2016-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2033-09-03
Also published as: EP2892798A1; CN104797492A; JP2015530307A; HRP20170140T1; KR20150052256A; JP6214659B2; CN104797492B; PL2892798T3; FI124115B; WO2014037612A1; KR102061110B1; FI20125912A

Description

The invention relates to a solution for the delivery and installation of equipment units within the interior of a ship to be installed in shipbuilding. More specifically, the invention relates to a method and module for the installation aboard a ship of pre-assembled equipment units, such as for example air conditioning systems and engine room equipment.
The construction of a ship comprises typically a multitude of different operations, such as for example manufacturing ship hull segments, assembling a hull from the segments, as well as several different fitting-out operations dependent on the hull assembling schedule all the way to a completion of the ship. The number of diverse components to be installed in various fitting-out operations is enormous, which is why, as known in the art, these operations have been facilitated and streamlined by coming up with various types of modular solutions for various facilities and applications. Such modules are typically prefabricated and fitted-out separately from the ship hull building process and schedule and are delivered to the shipyard at an appropriate time for the installation aboard a ship. One example of typical modules to be installed in a ship are ship cabins.
Document WO 2010/076814 is considered as the closest prior art and discloses the preamble of claims 1 and 7.
Modular solutions have also been used in the installation of miscellaneous structurally heavier objects, such as aggregates, machines, equipment and entities made up thereof aboard a ship, for example in ship fan rooms and engine facilities. Regarding the utilization of a modular structure, however, these structurally heavier projects have resulted in considerable problems from the standpoint of shipbuilding, such as for example a substantial weight of the modular framework, final connections becoming more difficult due to space demanded by the modular framework, maintenance operations becoming more difficult, cramped conditions for the end user, as well as a considerable increase of hot works and installation hours in the process of installing the module in place. Hence, the benefits provided in these projects by modularization have actually reversed into additional costs, extra weight, and increased space demand with respect to conventional shipbuilding. These drawbacks are the reason why there has been hardly any use of modularization in these projects since early experiments
In particular, the modularization of such aggregates and equipment entities is problematic in application projects, in which the module of an aggregate and/or equipment entity extends in a vertical direction over two or more superimposed decks, which is typically the case e.g. with air conditioning units to be installed in ship fan rooms. A similar situation may also occur in the case of a ship's so-called engine shaft. Thus, said modularization problems of such projects become multiplied.
The solution according to the present invention provides a capability of eliminating completely or at least mitigating substantially the above-described modularization problems of prior known heavy aggregate and/or equipment entities.
In a solution according to the invention, the machine, aggregate and/or other type of equipment entity is modularized in such a way that, during the prefabrication of a module, the equipment and machines are attached to the module frame. At this prefabrication stage, the module frame is a self-supporting structure, including typically horizontal brace members as well as vertical brace members. The process of moving, especially lifting a module onto a ship comprises removing the lowest section components of a module frame, i.e. components making up the frame bottom, as well as components connecting the frame bottom in vertical direction with the next section or platform or sections or platforms. During the prefabrication of a module, the lowermost equipment unit of the module has been mounted with a suspension attachment on the highest or next platform of the module frame, whereby, after dismantling the lowest section components of the module frame, the lowermost equipment unit is left hanging from the remaining upper framework of the module. In addition, the module frame is constructed in such a way that, after installing the module aboard a ship, the vertically extending frame components of the module frame, including possible diagonal braces, can be removed.
This enables the space occupied by the module frame in an anchored module to be minimized, thus providing room around a securely installed equipment unit for necessary retrofitting operations as well as equipment maintenance. In addition, by virtue of the removable components of a module frame, it is possible to minimize the extra weight added by the module to a ship's total weight.
The removable frame components of a module according to the invention are also preferably secured in place on the module frame by means of bolts or screws with flange connections, said flange connections being preferably set in a plane inclined relative to the vertical plane of the module. This provides a capability of minimizing hot works needed in relation to the installation of a module and disadvantages caused thereby and, in addition, the flange connections set in an inclined plane make it easier to dismantle the removable module frame components from a securely installed module. Removable components are also suitable for re-use in the prefabrication of subsequent similar modules.
In a solution according to the invention, the module frame is preferably constructed in such a way that it extends in a vertical direction to a plurality of ship deck surfaces, the module frame is fitted with machines and equipment included in several different cover structures, and the module structure is formed with lightened horizontal plane structures, which are adapted to settle in flushness with ship decks once the module has been installed in place. Hence, the module structure according to the invention can also be used in the building of machines and equipment for engine rooms extending to multiple ship decks. In addition, the lightened horizontal flat structures of the module are structurally lighter than a conventional ship deck structure, which enables a further reduction in the module weight.
A module according to the invention, which extends to multiple ship deck surfaces, is fixed in its position preferably in such a way that, during the course of placing a module, in its position, the module has its horizontal flat structures set on top of protrusions extending from the ship's structure substantially in flushness with decks, and the module has its horizontal flat structures secured to these protrusions. Such anchoring of a module facilitates and expedites fixing the module in place, especially when a module is lowered into its allocated position inside a ship.
The lowermost suspended equipment entity of a module according to the invention is preferably secured to a deck structure constituting the bottom of a space allocated for the module, thus enabling at least a partial removal of frame components used in the suspended attachment of the lowermost equipment entity.
More specifically, the characterizing features for a method according to the invention are presented in claim 1, and the characterizing features of a module according to the invention are presented in claim 7.
The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, in which

Fig. 1 shows schematically a triple level embodiment of a module according to the invention, and
Fig. 2 shows schematically a double level embodiment of a module according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a triple level embodiment for a module 1 according to the invention relating to a fan room unit intended for air conditioning equipment and extending in a vertical direction to three ship decks.
The module 1 has its framework 2 consisting of three superimposed horizontal flat structures, i.e. a bottom structure 3 and cover structures 4 and 5 for the framework, and upright beams 6 and 7 connecting these horizontal flat structures to each other. On top of each horizontal flat structure 3, 4 and 5 is mounted a respective air conditioning unit 8, 9 and 10.
The process of manufacturing a module 1 according to the invention as shown in Fig. 1 comprises constructing first the bottom structure 3 for the framework 2, on top of which is placed the lowermost air conditioning unit 10. This bottom structure 3 for the framework 2 of the module 1 is preferably made up of just a few horizontally extending beams of pipes, which provide necessary supporting points for lifting the lowermost air conditioning unit 10 along with the rest of the module's framework, as well as framework bracing beams 16 extending horizontally around the edges of the bottom structure of the module's framework.
This is followed by installing in place the next cover structure 4 included in the framework 2 of the module 1. The cover structure 4 is preferably assembled as a single entity with the lowest vertically extending upright beam 6, as well as with the bracing beams 16 extending in a horizontal plane of the bottom structure 3 and connecting the bottom ends of these upright beams to each other, said integral entity being then lifted on top of and around the lowermost air conditioning unit 10 and the underlying bottom structure 3
Once the cover structure 4 included in the framework 2 of the module 1, and its support structure along with its upright beams 6, as well as its bracing beams 16 extending at floor level, are in position, the support structure underneath the lowermost air conditioning unit 10 and in flushness with the bottom structure 3 is connected with the cover structure 4 by means of vertically extending suspension beams 11. In addition, on top of the cover structure 4 is mounted the middlemost air conditioning unit 9.
Next, the highest cover structure 5 included in the framework 2 of the module 1, as well as the upright beams 7 fixing the same to the module's framework, are installed in place, which is followed by mounting the uppermost air conditioning unit 8 in its position on the highest cover structure.
Once the framework 2 of the module 1 is completed, the installations of the air conditioning units 8, 9 and 10 can be finished, as well as the necessary installation of accessories can be finished, as well as the module 1 can be fitted with necessary accessories and components.
The middle cover structure 4 and the highest cover structure 5 included in the framework 2 of the module 1 of the invention are provided with necessary platforms for working on top of these cover structures. In addition, the cover structures 4 and 5 have their edges provided with protrusions 12 and 13 in the form of horizontally extending beam ends.
The process of moving a completed prefabricated module 1 onto a ship comprises lifting the module 1 first to a suitable height, such as for example to the height of about ¼ meter, from lifting lugs 14 of the highest cover platform. When the module 1 is hanging in the air, the module has its framework 2 stripped of the lowest upright beams 6, as well as of the bracing beams 16 extending horizontally at the bottom edges of these upright beams. Consequently, the lowermost air conditioning unit of the module 1 is set hanging through the intermediary of the suspension beams 11 and the remaining bottom structure 3 from the middle cover structure 4 of the module.
Once the framework 2 of the module 1 has its lowest supporting structure removed, the module is lifted aboard a ship into a space allocated therefor. In the latter stages of lifting the module into its place, the protrusions 12 and 13 extending from the edges of the cover structures 4 and 5 of the module's framework 2 are parked on top of protrusions jutting out of the walls of a space allocated for the module, said wall protrusions being substantially flush with the levels of respective ship deck structures.
Once the module 1 is in its position on board in a space allocated therefor, the protrusions 12 and 13 of the module's framework 2 are welded to the attachment with the protrusions jutting out of the ship's structure and the upright braces 7 are removed from the module's framework. In addition, the lowermost air conditioning unit 10 is fixed in place to the ship's deck structure establishing the floor of a space allocated for the module 1, after which the suspension beams 11 are disengaged from the module's framework 2, and the support system left in the bottom structure 3 of the module's framework is removed.
Hence, the module 1 has been successfully set in its place and connections can be made for manifolds of the air conditioning units 8, 9 and 10 with those of the ship.
In the framework 2 of the module 1 according to the invention, the attachments of the upright beams 6, 7 and the suspension beams 11 to the framework's horizontally extending cover structures 3, 4 and 5 are preferably established by way of inclined flange connections 15 with bolts. Accordingly, the disengagement of the upright beams 6, 7, horizontal beams 16 and suspension beams 11 from the rest of the framework 2 is carried out without problems, even if the upright beams were supporting for example loads resulting from tolerances after the installation of a module. Thus, the need for hot works in the process of disengaging the upright beams 6, 7, horizontal beams 16 and suspension beams 11 can be preferably eliminated.
In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the cover structures 4 and 5 included in the framework 2 of the module 1 remain as a part of the ship's deck structure. With such modularization, the cover structures 4 and 5 of the module 1 can be readily and economically provided with a construction which is lighter than the rest of the ship's deck structures.
Fig. 2 shows schematically a double level embodiment for a module 21 of the invention relating to a fan room unit intended for air conditioning equipment and extending in vertical direction to two ship decks.
This embodiment visualizes more clearly vertical suspension beams 26, which provide a suspended attachment for an air conditioning unit 25 mounted on top of a floor structure 23 included in a framework 22 of the module 21 and which are separate from vertical upright beams 27 of the module's framework, said upright beams being dismantled from the module's framework at the early stage of moving the module to its destination.
Regarding the embodiments according to the invention as shown in the figures and discussed above, it should be noted that the invention is by no means limited thereby. The modular solution according to the invention is equally applicable in the process of installing on board equipment entities other than air conditioning units, such as for example equipment assemblies for elevators and engine rooms. The modular solution according to the invention is also modifiable in a multitude of ways obvious for a person skilled in the art, within the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A method for the installation of equipment units (8, 9, 10, 25) aboard a ship, said method comprising constructing first a framework (2, 22) for a module (1, 21) for mounting thereon the machines and devices of an equipment unit, and said method comprising moving a prefabricated module aboard a ship into a space allocated for the module, characterized in that, as the prefabricated module (1, 21) is being delivered onto a ship, the module framework (2, 22) has its lowest section components (6, 16, 27) dismantled for setting a lowermost equipment unit (10, 25) of the module in suspension from a remaining framework of the module, and in that the placing and securing of a module aboard a ship is followed by removing at least some of vertically extending components (7, 11, 26) of the module framework.
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the framework (2, 22) of the module (1, 21) is constructed to extend in vertical direction to a plurality of ship deck platforms, the module is fitted with the equipment units (8, 9, 10, 25) of several different deck platforms, and the module's framework is formed with lightened cover structures (4, 5, 24), which cover structures settle in flushness with the ship decks once the module has been set in its position.
A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover structures (4, 5, 24) of the fixedly mounted module (1, 21) are secured to a ship's structure substantially in line with the ship decks by way of protrusions extending out of the ship's hull structure.
A method according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the lowermost suspended equipment unit (10, 25) of the module (1, 21) is secured to a ship deck structure, and a module framework (3, 11, 23, 26), which enabled the suspension of the lowermost equipment unit of the module, is removed at least partially.
A method according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the components (6, 7, 11,16, 26, 27) to be dismantled from the framework (2, 22) of the module (1, 21) are attached to the module framework with bolt connections, preferably by way of inclined flange connections (15).
A method according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the components (3, 6, 7, 11, 16, 23, 26, 27) dismantled from the framework (2, 22) of the module (1, 21) are reused in the frameworks of new modules.
A module (1, 21) for the installation of equipment (8, 9, 10, 25) aboard a ship, said module comprising a framework (2, 22) with the machines and devices of an equipment unit attached to said framework of the module, characterized in that the framework (2, 22) of the module (1, 21) comprises a lowest framework section (6, 16, 27) to be removed before setting the module in place, a suspension attachment (11, 26) of the lowermost equipment unit (10, 25) to a top or next cover surface (4, 24) of the module framework, and vertically extending components (7, 11, 26) of the module framework to be removed at least partially after setting the module in place.
A module (1, 21) according to claim 7, characterized in that the module (1, 21) has its framework (2, 22) extending in vertical direction to a plurality of ship deck surfaces (4, 5, 24), the module is fitted with the equipment (8, 9, 10, 25) for several different deck surfaces, and the module framework comprises lightened cover structures, said cover structures being adapted to settle in flushness with the ship decks once the module has been set in place.
A module (1,21) according to claim 8, characterized in that the module (1, 21) has its cover structures (4, 5, 24) adapted to be supported by a ship's structure on protrusions extending from the ship's hull structure substantially in alignment with the ship decks.
A module (1, 21) according to any of claims 7-9, characterized in that a section (3, 11, 23, 26) of the module framework (2, 22), which has enabled a suspended attachment for the lowermost equipment unit (10, 25) of the module (21), is adapted to be at least partially removable after the lowermost equipment unit is secured in place to the ship's structure.
A module (1, 21) according to any of claims 7-10, characterized in that the components (3, 6, 7, 11, 16, 23, 26, 27) to be removed from the framework (2, 22) of the module (1, 21) are attached to the framework with bolt connections, preferably by way of inclined flange connections (15).