WO2018065485A1

WO2018065485A1 - Sealing panel

Info

Publication number: WO2018065485A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/075249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sven HALVORSEN
Original assignee: Torgy Lng Holding As
Priority date: 2016-10-04
Filing date: 2017-10-04
Publication date: 2018-04-12
Also published as: GB2554863A; GB201616857D0

Abstract

A sealing panel (100) for sealing between two or more insulating panels (4, 5) for insulating a hold (2) from a hull or a wall of the hold or hull (3), the panel (100) comprising a kink (110, 120, 130).

Description

SEALING PANEL

The invention relates to a sealing panel for sealing between two or insulating panels for insulating a hold from a hull or a wall of the hold or the hull, and a method of manufacturing a sealing panel.

It is known to transport or store media in a tank at temperatures below ambient temperature, for example liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquid ethylene, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), or liquid nitrogen. It is common to transport such media by ship and there is an increasing interest in storing such media in floating offshore storage units. A hold of such a ship or storage unit may be insulated from a hull or a wall of the hold or the hull using an array of insulating panels which cover largely the entire surface area of the hull or wall. Between adjacent insulating panels gaps are intentionally left to allow the hull or wall to thermally expand and contract due to changing temperatures within the hold. The insulating panels may comprise foam. It is desirable to seal the insulating panels and the hull/wall from the hold so as to prevent any liquid in the hold from being absorbed by the foam or being trapped between the insulating panels and the hull/wall. Liquid in such areas would reduce the efficiency and lifespan of the insulating panels, and may damage the hull/wall. Thus, whilst the tank in the hold/hull provides a primary barrier to store the media in the tank, there is a need for a secondary barrier between the primary barrier and the hull/wall.

Prior attempts to provide such a seal have included covering substantially all of the interior surfaces of the insulating panels, and the gaps therebetween, with an inelastic sealing material. One such system is the Mark III system produced by Gaztransport et Technigaz (GTT). In this system insulating panels are covered with a material called Triplex and a further strip of Triplex is used to seal the gap between adjacent insulating panels. Whilst these attempts may make an adequate seal, over time, after many thermal expansions and contractions of the hull, the sealing material (e.g. the Triplex) can be weakened and can fail in the region where it covers the gaps. Further, a large area of sealing material (e.g. Triplex) is used to cover the entire area of the hull. This leads to an increased cost of the insulating system.

The present invention provides a sealing panel for sealing between two or more insulating panels for insulating a hold from a hull or a wall of the hold or the hull, the panel comprising a kink.

The sealing panel may be suitable for accommodating relative movement between the insulating panels.

The kink may be configured such that at least one dimension of the sealing panel in the general plane thereof may increase or decrease when a force is applied in the general plane, preferably across the kink. In use, by positioning the kink over a gap between adjacent insulating panels, the kink can allow the size of the gap to vary, e.g. in response to temperature changes, whilst the sealing function of the sealing panel is maintained. The gap between adjacent insulating panels may increase or decrease due to thermal expansion and contraction of the hull/wall. This may occur when cold cargo, such as LNG, is added to, and removed from, the hold. The sealing panel may extend from an interior face of one insulating panel to an interior face of another adjacent insulating panel across the gap. The interior face of the insulating panels is the face of the panels which is on the hold side, rather than the hull/wall side, of the insulating panels when the insulating panels are attached to the hull/wall.

Relative movement of adjacent insulating panels is advantageously allowed for. Further, the sealing panel of the present invention need only be applied over gaps between adjacent insulating panels. Thus, it may be used to seal an insulating system comprising a plurality of insulating panels and gaps therebetween, without having to cover the entirety of the insulating system.

The sealing panel may be generally flat and planar, or may comprise a curve in order to follow the general shape of the inner hull/wall. However, locally, at least, the sealing panel may be described in terms of a general plane.

The hold and the hull may be part of a floating unit, such as a ship, transport unit or a storage unit. Such floating units may be stationary or moveable floating units.

The sealing panel may have a reduced thickness in the region of the kink which allows the kink to be provided within the thickness of adjacent portions of the sealing panel.

However, in certain embodiments, the kink protrudes out of the general plane of the sealing panel. This out of general plane profile allows for movement in a planar direction. The out of plane profile may have a depth. The depth may be perpendicular to the general plane of the panel. The kink may be deformable to change the at least one dimension of the sealing panel, or to allow a change of the gap between adjacent insulating panels. This deformation may be in the form of an increase or decrease in the depth. An increase in depth

accommodates a decrease in the at least one dimension of the panel, or a decrease in the gap. A decrease in depth accommodates an increase in the at least one dimension, or an increase in the gap.

Thus, the kink may be considered to be a raised portion in the panel. This portion may protrude out of the general plane of the panel. The term "raised" is merely a relative term (i.e. it could also be described as a "lowered" portion), and it is not intended to be limited to a particular direction. The thickness of the raised portion may be substantially the same as the thickness of the adjacent portion of the sealing panel. The sealing panel may be configured to accommodate an increase or decrease in the at least one dimension of the sealing panel, or the gap between adjacent insulating panels, of ±10mm, ±Smm, or ±2mm. The force applied to the panel may be compressive or tensile to decrease or increase the dimension respectively.

The sealing panel may comprise a material that is of sufficient rigidity for the kink to hold its shape when no external force is applied to the sealing panel. The material may be sufficiently flexible (i.e. of sufficiently low stiffness) so that the kink can be deformed.

However, the material may be sufficiently rigid (i.e. of sufficiently high stiffness) so that the kink holds shape when no external forces (other than gravity) are acting. The material may not stretch (i.e. it may have low elasticity and a large Young's modulus, E). The material may be Triplex.

The material may be a composite material comprising alternating layers of glass cloth and metal sheets, preferably aluminium sheets, adhered together. Layers of rubber material may be position between the glass cloth and metal sheets. The material may be the barrier sheet as disclosed in US 2013/0098931. The material may be Triplex, preferably flexible Triplex.

The sealing pane! may have a thickness of 0.5 - 10mm, preferably 0.5 - 5mm, preferably 1— 3mm.

The kink may extend linearly.

The linear kink may extend in a direction perpendicular to the at least one dimension of the sealing panel, i.e. the dimension which is increased or decreased when the kink deforms.

The linear kink may extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the increase or decrease of the gap. The linear kink may extend between two generally parallel edges of a first pair of adjacent insulating panels.

The kink may be a first kink and the sealing panel may comprise a second kink, the first and second kinks intersecting one another. With this arrangement, the first and second kinks may allow at least two dimensions of the sealing panel to change when a force is applied across the kinks, and/or allow the sealing panel to accommodate a change in two different gaps between adjacent pairs of insulating panels. In certain embodiments, the first and second kinks may intersect substantially at right-angles. This may be particularly advantageous when the sealing panel is to be placed at a corner region of the insulating panels (a corner region is where the corners of four adjacent insulating panels meet), since the insulating panels may typically be rectangular when viewed in plan.

The kink may comprise a bulb-shaped portion. The bulb-shaped portion may have an approximately circular shape when viewed in plan and may extend out of the genera! plane in a rounded shape. This rounded shape may be a bowl-shape. The bulb-shaped portion may extend to a maximum depth, the profile of the bulb-shaped portion being approximately flat at the position of maximum depth.

The bulb-shaped portion may be situated at the intersection of the first and second kinks. At the location of the bulb-shaped portion, the bulb-shaped portion may be provided in addition to the first and second kinks, i.e. the bulb-shaped portion may also comprise the linear kinks passing therethrough. The depth of the bulb-shaped portion and the depth of kink may be in the same direction. The bulb-shaped portion may allow for an additional increase/decrease of the at least one dimension, the at least two dimensions, the gap or the gaps. The depth of the bulb-shaped portion may be approximately equal to the depth of the first and second kinks. The depth of the bulb-shaped portion may be less than the depth of the first and second kinks. The depth of the bulb-shaped portion may be greater than the depth of the first and second linear kinks.

The sealing panel may have a rectangular shape when viewed in plan, possibly square. In this configuration, the (first) linear kink may extend parallel to two of the edges of the rectangle, e.g. it may extend the length of the rectangle, and may approximately bisect the width of the rectangle. This allows the sealing panel to seal between linear edges of adjacent insulating panels, and may seal between adjacent pairs of adjacent insulating panels. The second linear kink may extend across the width of the rectangular sealing panel, and further second linear kinks may intersect the first linear kink at different positions along the length of the first linear kink. The length of the rectangle may be approximately the length of one of the edges of the insulating panels.

The sealing panel may have an L-shape when viewed in plan. The L-shaped sealing panel may comprise a first section having a rectangular plan and a second section having a rectangular plan. The first and second sections may be perpendicular to one another and may meet at a corner section. The first kink may extend the length of the first rectangular section and the second kink may extend the length of the second rectangular section. The first and second kinks may intersect in the corner section. The first and/or second sections may have a length approximately equal to a length of the insulating panels. This may enable the sealing panel to efficiently seal all of the gaps in an array of insulating panels.

The sealing panel may have a cross-shape when viewed in plan. The cross-shaped sealing panel may comprise a first section having a rectangular plan and a second section having a rectangular plan. The first and second sections may be perpendicular to one another and may meet at a crossing section. The first kink may extend the length of the first rectangular section and the second kink may extend the length of the second rectangular section. The first and second kinks may intersect in the crossing section. The first and/or second sections may have a length approximately equal to a length of the insulating panels. This may enable the sealing panel to efficiently seal all of the gaps in an array of insulating panels. The first and/or second sections may have a length substantially shorter than a length of the insulating panels. Such a cross-shaped sealing panel may be used to seal a corner region of two adjacent pairs of adjacent insulating panels.

The present invention also provides a secondary barrier for insulating a hold from a hull or a wall of the hold or the hull, the secondary barrier comprising: a plurality of adjacent insulating panels attached to the hull or wall and arranged with their edges spaced apart by a gap; and a sealing panel as discussed above, the sealing panel being attached to two or more adjacent insulating panels to seal between the adjacent insulating panels and the sealing panel extending from an interior face of one insulating panel to an interior face of another adjacent insulating panel across said gap, the kink being positioned over the gap.

The secondary barrier may comprise a plurality of sealing panels, each being attached to two or more adjacent insulating panels.

The secondary barrier may comprise a foam, which is preferably provided by layers of the foam stacked on top of one another. The stacked foam layers may comprise an outer layer and an inner layer provided on top of the outer layer. The outer layer is nearer to the hull/wall than the inner layer. The foam may comprise polyurethane foam. A plywood layer may be provided on top of the foam. An aluminium layer may be provided on top of the plywood layer. In plan view, the insulating panels may be rectangular, and preferably square.

The insulating panels may be attached to the hull/wall. This may be achieved via fixing means which is secured in the insulating panel, e.g. in the foam. Preferably, the fixing means extends from the hull/wall through the outer layer. Further preferably, the fixing means extends partially through the inner layer. The insulating panel, e.g. the inner layer, may comprise a recess where the fixing means terminates and where the fixing means is fixed to the insulating panel. The fixing means may be a bolt and may be fixed to the insulating panel using a nut, although any suitable fixing means may be used. The recess may be filled around the fixing means with a polyurethane plug.

The foam may be approximately 300mm thick. This thickness may provide sufficient insulating properties for the purpose of storing LNG. The outer layer may be approximately 200mm and the inner layer may be approximately 100mm thick. Two layers are used since moulding foam to a thickness of 300mm is difficult to achieve effectively. The thickness of the plywood may be approximately 9mm.

The layer of aluminium may form the interior face of the insulating panel, and may function to seal the insulating panel and to provide insulating properties. Using aluminium for this purpose is advantageous since it is relatively cheap.

A plurality of such insulating panels may be fixed to the hull/wall. The plurality of insulating panels may form an array. The gap is formed between adjacent insulating panels. The insulating panels may be arranged such that corners of four adjacent panels meet at a corner region, and they may be arranged such that the gaps form a grid when viewed in plan. The gaps between adjacent insulating panels may be in a range between 10mm and 30mm, preferably between 15mm and 25mm, for example 20mm. The gap is preferably at least 5mm. The gap is preferably no greater than 30mm. The gap allows the insulating panels to move relative to one another when the hull/wall expands and contracts due to thermal movement.

The sealing panel of the present invention may be used to seal between adjacent insulating panels in order to form a membrane of the secondary barrier. The membrane is a completely sealed skin, which comprises the sealing panel(s) and, optionally, the interior surfaces of the insulating panels. The membrane therefore protects the insulating panels and the hull/wall from any leaks which may occur within the hold. The membrane may be considered to be a second hull.

A plurality of sealing panels, in any of the above-described configurations, may be used to seal the gaps. The material of the sealing panel may cover the entirety of the interior surface of the insulating panels. However, this is not necessary. Rather, the width of the sealing panels may only be large enough to cover the gap and an area of the insulating panels such that a sufficient seal may be formed therebetween. The overlap between the sealing panel and the insulating panels may be between 10mm and 200mm, preferably between 20mm and 100mm, preferably around 50mm. The material of the sealing panel may be more expensive than the aluminium and/or plywood layers of the insulating panel.

The sealing panel may be sealed to the insulating panels using an adhesive. The adhesive may be a liquid adhesive or a film adhesive. The adhesive may be an epoxy adhesive. The adhesive may be Bostik.

Due to the presence of the kink, the sealing panel reliably accommodates relative movement between adjacent insulating panels. Without such a kink, the sealing panel could weaken and fail (e.g. tear) when used over time. This failing would render the membrane ineffective, which would lead to damage of the insulating panels, and so would reduce the insulating system's insulating properties.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing the sealing panel, comprising cutting a sealing material to a desired plan shape; and stamping the sealing material using a dye to form the kink. These steps can be performed in any order.

The method may further comprise a preceding step of forming the dye such that it will form the kink when it is used to stamp the sealing material. The shape of dye may be complimentary to that of the finished kink.

At least in its preferred embodiments, the invention provides a sealing panel for sealing between two or more insulating panels for insulating a hold from a hull, or from a wall of the hold, or from a wall of the hull, the panel comprising a kink. At least in its preferred embodiments, the invention provides a method of manufacturing such a sealing panel, the method being as described herein. At least in its preferred embodiments, the invention also provides a secondary barrier as described herein, the secondary barrier being for insulating a hold from a hull, or from a wall of the hold, or from a wall of the hull.

Certain preferred embodiments will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 show schematic views of an insulating system comprising a sealing panel;

Figures 3 to 9 show schematic views exemplary embodiments of a sealing panel.

Referring to Figure 1 , this shows a cross-section view of insulating system 1 for insulating a hold 2 from a wall of a hull 3. The insulating system 1 comprises a plurality of adjacent insulating panels 4, 5 attached to the wall 3 and arranged with their edges 6, 7 spaced apart by a gap 8. The insulating system 1 also includes a sealing panel 100. The sealing panel 100 is attached to two or more adjacent insulating panels 4, 5 to seal between the adjacent insulating panels 4, 5. The sealing panel 100 extends from an interior face 9 of one insulating panel 4 to an interior face 10 of another adjacent insulating panel 5 across the gap 8. A kink 110 in the sealing panel 100 is positioned over the gap 8.

The insulating panels 4, 5 include foam, which is provided by layers 11 , 12 of the foam stacked on top of one another. The stacked foam layers 11 , 12 comprise an outer layer 11 and an inner layer 12 provided on top of the outer layer 11. A plywood layer 13 is provided on top of the foam. An aluminium layer 14 is provided on top of the plywood layer 13.

The insulating panels 4, 5 are attached to the wall 3. This is achieved via fixing means 15 which is secured in the foam. The fixing means 15 extends from the hull 3 through the outer layer 11 and partially through the inner layer 12. The inner layer 12 includes recesses 16 where the fixing means 15 terminate and where the fixing means 15 are fixed to the insulating panel 4, 5. The recess may be filled around the fixing means with a polyurethane plug 17.

As is shown in the plan view of Figure 2, a plurality of insulating panels 4, 5 are fixed to the wall, forming an array of insulating panels. The gap 8 is formed between adjacent insulating panels. The insulating panels 4, 5 are arranged such that comers of four adjacent panels meet at a corner region, and they are arranged such that the gaps 8 form a grid when viewed in plan. In plan view, the insulating panels 4, 5 have a rectangular shape.

The sealing panel 100 of the present invention is used to seal between adjacent insulating panels 4, 5 in order to form a membrane. The membrane is a completely sealed skin, which comprises the sealing panel(s) 100 and the interior surfaces 9, 10 of the insulating panels 4, 5. The membrane therefore protects the insulating panels 4, 5 from any leaks which may occur within the hold 2.

Figures 3 to 9 show various embodiments of the sealing panel 100. In each of these embodiments the sealing panel 100 comprises a kink 110, 120, 130.

As can be seen from Figures 3, 4 and 5 the kink 110, 120, 130 protrudes out of the general plane of the sealing panel 100, more particularly out of the plane of the surface of the sealing panel adjacent to the kink, this surface being on the same side of the sealing panel as the protruding direction of the kink. This out of general plane profile allows for movement in a planar direction. The out of plane profile has a depth d. The depth d is perpendicular to the general plane of the panel. The depth d is the perpendicular dimension extending between the surface of the sealing panel adjacent to the kink (the surface being on the same side of the sealing panel as the protruding direction of the kink) and the maximum extent of protrusion of the kink. The kink 110, 120, 130 is deformable to change at least one dimension of the sealing panel 100, or to allow a change of the gap 8 between adjacent insulating panels 4, 5. This deformation may be in the form of an increase or decrease in the depth d. An increase in depth d accommodates a decrease in the at least one dimension of the panel 100, or a decrease in the gap 8. A decrease in depth d accommodates an increase in the at least one dimension, or an increase in the gap 8. The thickness of the material of the panel at the kink is substantially equal to the thickness of the material of the panel adjacent to the kink.

As is shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 9, the kink 110, 120 extends linearly. The linear kink 110, 120 extends in a direction perpendicular to the at least one dimension of the sealing panel, i.e. the dimension which is increased or decreased when the kink deforms.

The linear kink 110, 120 extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the increase or decrease of the gap. The linear kink 110, 120 may extend between two generally parallel edges 6, 7 of a first pair of adjacent insulating panels 4, 5. Further, the linear kink 110, 120 may extend between two generally parallel edges of a second pair of adjacent insulating panels, the second pair of insulating panels being adjacent to the first pair in the direction of the linear kink. In this manner, the sealing panel and the linear kink may extend across a region where corners of four insulating panels meet.

As is shown in Figures 5 to 9, the sealing panel 100 comprises a first kink 110 and a second kink 120, the first and second kinks 110, 120 intersecting one another substantially at right-angles. The sealing panel 100 also comprises a kink with a bulb-shaped portion 130 situated at the intersection of the first and second kinks 110, 120. The bulb-shaped portion 130 has an approximately circular shape when viewed in plan and extends out of the general plane in a rounded shape (i.e. a bowl-shape). The bulb-shaped portion extends to a maximum depth d, the profile of the bulb-shaped portion 130 being approximately flat at the position of maximum depth. At the location of the bulb-shaped portion 130, the bulb-shaped portion is provided in addition to first and second kinks 110, 120.

As is shown in Figures 3 to 7, the sealing panel 100 has a rectangular shape 140 when viewed in plan. The first linear kink 110 extends the length of the rectangle and may approximately bisect the width of the rectangle. The second linear kink 120 extends across the width of the rectangular sealing panel.

As is shown in Figure 8, the sealing panel 100 has an L-shape 150 when viewed in plan. The L-shaped sealing panel 100 comprises a first section 151 having a rectangular plan and a second section 152 having a rectangular plan. The first and second sections are perpendicular to one another and meet at a corner section 153. The first kink 110 extends the length of the first rectangular section 151 and the second kink 120 extends the length of the second rectangular section 152. The first and second kinks 110, 120 intersect in the corner section 153.

As is shown in Figure 9, the sealing panel 100 has a cross-shape 160 when viewed in plan. The cross-shaped sealing panel 100 comprises a first section 161 having a rectangular plan and a second section 162 having a rectangular plan. The first and second sections 161 , 162 are perpendicular to one another and meet at a crossing section 163. The first kink 110 extends the length of the first rectangular section 161 and the second kink 120 extends the length of the second rectangular section 162. The first and second kinks 110, 120 intersect in the crossing section 163.

Claims

Claims:

1. A sealing panel for sealing between two or more insulating panels for insulating a hold from a hull or a wall of the hold or the hull, the panel comprising a kink.

2. A sealing panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the kink protrudes out of the general plane of the sealing panel.

3. A sealing panel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing panel comprises a material that is of sufficient rigidity for the kink to hold its shape when no external force is applied to the sealing panel.

4. A sealing panel as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the kink extends linearly.

5. A sealing panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the kink is a first kink and the sealing panel comprises a second kink, the first and second kinks intersecting one another.

6. A sealing panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the kink comprises a bulb- shaped portion.

7. A sealing panel as claimed in claim 5 and 6, wherein the bulb-shaped portion is

situated at the intersection of the first and second kinks.

8. A sealing panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sealing panel has a rectangular shape when viewed in plan.

9. A sealing panel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sealing panel has an L-shape when viewed in plan.

10. A sealing panel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sealing panel has a cross-shape when viewed in plan.

11. A secondary barrier for insulating a hold from a hull or wall of the hold or the hull, the secondary barrier comprising:

a plurality of adjacent insulating panels attached to the hull or wall and arranged with their edges spaced apart by a gap; and a sealing panel as claimed in any preceding claim, the sealing panel being attached to two or more adjacent insulating panels to seal between the adjacent insulating panels, and the sealing panel extending from an interior face of one insulating panel to an interior face of another adjacent insulating panel across said gap, the kink being positioned over the gap.

12. A method of manufacturing a sealing panel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, comprising:

cutting a sealing material to a desired plan shape; and

stamping the sealing material using a dye to form the kink.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a preceding step of forming the dye such that it will form the kink when it is used to stamp the sealing material.

14. A sealing panel, an insulating system or a method of manufacturing a sealing panel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.