Large cryogenic tanks prodn. - from sandwich panels of FRP and hard foam, enabling conventional filament winding technique to be used

摘要

Cylindrical tanks for cryogenic services are mfd. from a sandwich structure consisting of two layers of FRP with an intermediate layer of foam, such as hard polyurethane foam. For mfg. tanks of a large dia. (>=12m), the cylindrical wall is built up of panels of the above material joined together. The inner and outer layer of each panel is mfd. on a madrel of smaller dia, e.g. 4m, using the filament winding technique. The cylinders so formed are then cut open and then cut open and laid onto a form of a shape corresponding to the wall shape of the large tank to be fabricated. The foam layer and then the inner layer of reinforced plastics are glued in place which fixes the new radius of the panel. The individual panels are then butt-jointed together using joint lapping plates which are glued to the surface of the panels on both sides of the joint. To harden the glue, clamps are pressed against the joints, the clamps being in the form of a channel in which there is a flexible tube which may be filled with air or, if a higher temp. is required for curing purposes, with hot water.