OA16381A - Process for separating and recovering ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from LNG. - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for extracting heavier components, e.g., NGL from liquid/fluid streams such as Rich LNG (RLNG) stream(s) with the streamlined economy. The process involves heating the RLNG stream in heat exchanger(s) (LNGX) against column overhead vapour stream; not requiring separation of Feed streams into feed and reflux by splitting either pre- or post- of heat LNGX. The source liquid RLNG is processed producing liquid NGL and at same time returning purified Lean LNG (LLNG) product in its Liquid LNG form. The process operates essentially without the need for compression equipment. The process further provides without compressors vaporized natural gas at pipeline pressure and specifications. This is a system that can flexibly change product compositions and specifications of product NGL/Lean LNG/Pipeline Gas and operate in both Pipeline Specification deep 99% Ethane (C2) Extraction and Ethane (C2) Rejection NGL recovery modes with economy of equipment and energy requirements.

Description

ASSEMBLABLE DISPOSABLE SHUTTERING FOR CONSTRUCTING MODULAR

FORMWORKS FOR MAKING CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS.

DESCRIPTION

Field of application

The présent invention regards an assemblable disposable shuttering for constructing modular fonn-works for holding and modelling shallow concrète foundation castings.

Prior art

In the field of civil construction there are various types of shallow foundations, i.e. foundations which transfer the weight of the building to the ground for direct contact; the various types of foundations are used depending on the characteristics of the ground and of the type of construction. There are isolated plinth, ground beam, strip foundations while the piles and/micropiles are usually intended for deep foundations.

The invention subject of the présent patent application finds the main application thereof in the field of ground beam foundations; these structures are frequently used for shallow foundations, particularly indicated in cases where there are problems related to differential settlement.

The ground beams are usually made of concrète, generally in form of long paralielepipeds underlying the walls.

Concrète is often reinforced using iron rods, preferably of the improved adhérence type.

The thickness of the ground beam is basically related to the amount of shear stresses, while the width is correlated to the bearing capacity of the ground and to the amount of loads coming from the elevated structure.

In order to meet the design heights, the foundation ground beam is usually provided over an oversite concrète, which consists of a horizontal layer of concrète, generally without a métal reinforcement, unless in particular cases, with low cernent content, called lean concrète positioned at the trench height, established by the designer.

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In the reinforced concrète construction process the foundation beam is provided by preparing a formwork, generally wooden, at times metallic, by providing a longitudinal reinforcement made of structural steel rods, both at the top strip and at the bottom strip, with the function of supporting the flexure actions.

Such bars are arranged at suitable positions, with respect to the concrète cover.

The longitudinal reinforcement is then reintegrated by brackets. The arrangement thereof compiles with the general provisions according to the tensile fibres search. Hence, for a beam fixed at the ends, the reinforcements shall be în proximity to the top strip of the centreline section and in proximity to the bottom strip at the fixed end.

Generally, particularly for the seismic areas, the foundation beams of any structure are warped in the two directions and, together, they form the so-called foundation grillage.

Only when the beams are too close, in order to reduce the structural expenses, it is preferred to provide a single casting, which is extended over the entire laying surface, called foundation slab, or even bed.

The concrète casting technique has been known over time and it generally provides for the use of a formwork, which has the aim of holding concrète until it hardens enough and thus acquires structural résistance characteristîcs.

The formworks may be divided into two main categories: reusable formworks, which are generally constituted by fiat panels made of wood or métal or any other suitable material and disposable form-works. A formwork is referred to as a disposable formwork when material is cast into a formwork and the latter is not then removed but remains intégral with the hardened cernent.

In the building industry, there are two examples of structures obtained using disposable formworks, among which various types of bearing piles and bearing walls; further known are modular éléments, called shutterings, each having dimensions substantially smaller than those of the product to be made and such shutterings being composed to obtain form-works of the required dimensions.

Both patent EP0256959 and DE 3436690 are examples of modular disposable shutterings, for ground beam foundations for levelled bedding layer.

These disposable modular shutterings are generally made in such a manner to be assembled together leaving passages from one shuttering to the other inside them.

Said passages allow the cernent mixture to spread among the adjacent shutterings, so as to allow an efficient pouring of the concrète into the formworks.

Said passages are also required for the laying of the reinforcernent irons.

However, these solutions are uncomfortable to use in that they require transporting large éléments, while, for example EP0935028 shows a disposable shuttering that may be stacked to 10 reduce overall dimensions during transport.

Disposable shutterings not made in a single piece, but intended to be mounted on site before being suitably arranged on the oversite concrète to provide formworks intended to receive and confer a shape to the foundation casting, were devised in order to overcome- this drawback; an example of this type of disposable shuttering is provided in GB2240350A.

Shutterings of the type described up to now are however expensive to implement, given that they require prior préparation of the oversite concrète.

Objects and summary of the invention

Thus, the main object of the présent invention is that of providing a modular shuttering, that is easy to use and inexpensive to make, capable of allowing obtaining formworks for reinforced 20 concrète ground beam foundations, of desired shapes and dimensions, also allowing an easy positioning of the reinforcement irons and the passage of the cernent mixture between the shutterings and the partial outlet of the concrète up to the filling of the trench, without requiring laying a preliminary oversite concrète, thus allowing considérable réduction of costs and execution times.

Furthermore, the disposable shuttering subject of the présent invention, allows quickly obtaining the formworks which hâve the purpose of holding and arranging the reinforcement rods as well as conferring to the casting the desired géométrie shape and dimensions.

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Another object of the présent invention is that of providing disposable shutterings that may be assembled - on site, slightly before laying in the trenches thereof to obtain the formwork, hence reducing the space required in the means of transport.

From another point of view a further advantage of the présent invention lies in providing 5 formworks provided with a top profile having means for connecting the walls in élévation.

This, and other objects and advantages, that shall be clear to those skilled in the art after reading the text that follows, are substantially obtained using a modular framework obtained by using a plurality of disposable shutterings.

The single disposable shuttering, preferably obtained made of plastic material, is configured as 10 the surface of a parallelepiped, in said surface, there are two latéral faces, a top face and a bottom face; and two coupling faces, opposite with respect to each other, intended to be coupled to coupling faces of other identical shutterings.

In ail types of shutterings subject of the présent invention, the latéral faces and the top and bottom faces hâve perforations, while the coupling faces are substantially entirely open.

Due to this embodiment the concrète may drop from the top towards the bottom and progressively fill ail the shutterings that form the formwork; in order to facilitate the progressive filling of the entire formwork each of the at least two coupling faces of each shuttering hâve at least one hole to allow the cernent mixture to flow even horizontally and not only vertically.

The external latéral faces hâve a plurality of holes from which, during castîng, the cernent 20 mixture exits, ending up filling the entire trench.

After the shutterings are arranged to form the modular formwork and before the concrète casting starts, the improved adhérence iron rods, brackets, and possible pipes for the discharge passages, as well as cable ducts for the electric System, may be laid in the formwork.

In order to avoid using the oversite concrète the shutterings subject of the présent invention must 25 be preliminarily aligned; the shuttering being provided with the positioning height définition means for this purpose.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention said means for defining the height are constituted by a nut rigidly connected to the shuttering and by a screw cooperating with said nut.

In order to make the production and transport of the shutterings easier and less expensive, the shutterings may be obtained by assembling - on site - different pièces together, by means of 5 suitable connection means; otherwise, the shutterings may be obtained by assembling a smaller number of pièces provided with laminar hinges or other means for facilitating folding and connection thereof.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the présent invention also allows transporting the shutterings to the worksite in a particularly inexpensive and convenient manner, occupying little 10 space for transport with respect to the overall volume of the finished formworks.

This resuit is obtained by making each disposable shuttering as one or more moulded éléments made of plastic material, each element being substantially flat-shaped, comprising one or more of the various faces of the latéral surface.

In particular, the shuttering subject of the présent invention may be obtained from a flat-moulded 15 element, comprising the four faces of the latéral surface of the parallelepiped, aligned and arranged two by two, connected to each other by laminar hinges obtained during the moulding.

At the worksite the different disposable shutterings are first assembled and then they are joined to other shutterings to obtain the formwork.

It should be observed that, as previously mentioned, in order to reduce the dimensions of the 20 pièces to be moulded, the présent invention may be obtained by moulding smaller pièces to be joined together through suitable connection means. By way of non-limiting example it is indicated that said connection means may be constituted by self-tapping métal screws and, bolts made of plastic material, hooks, clamps, brackets, etc.

The advantages and the technical characteristics shall be clear from the detailed description of an 25 embodiment, provided by way of non- limiting example, that follows.

Brief description of the drawings

-Fig. I shows the bottom component (l) of the disposable shuttering, with the reliefs (9) for fixing the stiffening transverse séparation éléments (2 ).

-Fig. 2 shows stiffening means constituted by transverse séparation éléments (2) arranged inside the shuttering.

-Fig. 3 shows the latéral side (5) with the reliefs (8) for fixing the stiffening transverse séparation éléments (2).

-Fig. 4 shows a partly assembled shuttering.

-Fig. 5 shows an entirely assembled shuttering, with the means for adjusting the heîght and the planarity constituted by screws (10) directed to the trench, cooperating with nuts (U) intégral with the assembled shuttering.

-Fig. 6 shows a shuttering with said top piece (3) shaped in such a manner to obtain formworks having a top profile having means for receiving the bottom part of the walls în élévation.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

The présent invention regards an innovatîve shuttering of the type assemblable at the worksite, particularly suitable for constructing formworks for casting reinforced concrète foundations of the ground beam type ,

In particular, the shuttering subject of the présent invention allows obtaining a formwork and casting the foundation without requiring previously constructing the so-called oversite concrète”.

The shuttering subject of the présent invention is substantîally configured as the latéral surface of a parallelepiped having - on the latéral faces - a plurality of openings suitable to release, during the filling casting, a part of the cernent mixture, so that the cernent mixture completely fi Ils the foundation trench.

ln a particularly advantageous embodiment, the disposable shuttering subject of the présent patent application comprises means for accurately defining the vertical position and the planarity, so as to obtain well alîgned and substantially horizontal formworks.

According to a preferred implémentation aspect of the présent invention, said means for defining 5 the vertical position and planarity are constituted by-screws (10) cooperating with nuts (11) intégral with the assembled shuttering.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the disposable shuttering subject of the présent patent application is obtained starting from one or more moulded components made of plastic material, substantially planar-shaped.

In order to reduce the number of moulds, an advantageous embodiment provides for that the two moulded pièces used for the bottom (1) and for the top (3) be identical to each other and also that the pièces (5) used for the sides be identical to each other.

In an advantageous embodiment, the top piece (3) of the disposable shuttering subject of the présent invention is shaped in a manner such to obtain formworks having a top profde provided 15 with means for receiving the bottom part of the walls în élévation.

Claims (16)

1. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks for shallow foundation castings, substantially configured as the latéral surface of a parallelepîped, characterised in that it has - on the latéral faces - a plurality of openings suitable to release, during the filling casting, a part of the cernent mixture into the foundation trench.

2. Disposable shuttering according to the preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises means for defining the height and planarity thereof in the foundation trench.

3. Disposable shuttering according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised în that said means for defining the height and planarity are arranged in proximity to the corners of said shuttering.

4. Disposable shuttering according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said means for defining the height and planarity are constituted, by screws (10) directed to the trench, cooperating with nuts (il) intégral with the assembled shuttering.

5. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the preced-ing claims, characterised in that it is obtained starting from one or more moulded pièces made of substantially planar-shaped plastic material.

6. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said one or more moulded pièces comprise a piece for the bottom (1 ) and one for the top (3).

7. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said pièces for the bottom (1) and for the top (3) are identical to each other.

8. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said one or more moulded pièces comprise pièces (5) for forming the sides .

9. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the 5 preceding claims, characterised in that said pièces (5) for forming the sides are two and they are identical to each other.

10. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the preced- ing claims, characterised in that at least one of said one or more moulded pièces made of substantially planar-shaped plastic material comprises a plurality of latéral faces, connected to

10 each other by means of laminar hinges.

11. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said one or more moulded pièces made of substantially planar-shaped plastic material comprise suitable connection means for keeping the shuttering assembled after mounting thereof.

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12. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises suitable stiffening means.

13. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said suitable stiffening means are constituted by transverse séparation éléments (2) arranged inside said shuttering .

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14. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the internai part of the sides (5) and of the bottom (1 ) and top (3) pièces hâve suitable reliefs (8, 9) for holding said stiffening transverse séparation éléments (2) in position.

15. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the 25 preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises means for reinforcing the connection between the various éléments of the shuttering, for example through self-tapping screws, brackets, hooks or the like.

16. Disposable shuttering for constructing modular formworks, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said top part (3) is shaped in such a manner to obtain formworks provided with a top profile having means for receiving the bottom part of the walls in élévation.