CryoPan vacuum insulation

Technology

The CryoPan hexagonal vacuum panel, how panels are welded into vacuum structures and fixed to the tank, and how the vacuum is managed and monitored.

CryoVac insulation panel – CryoPan

Labelled diagram of the CryoPan panel: stainless steel top plate, clips, radiation barrier, two vacuum voids, stainless steel bottom plate and connecting wedge

Render of the CryoPan panel in exploded view, showing the plates, spacer layers and clips

Hexagonal shaped panel – providing structural flexibility
Divided in two identical sections separated by a radiation barrier (details are simplified in the animated introduction)
A top and bottom plate defines the shape and size of the panel
The plates are equipped with a connecting wedge
Top and bottom plates including connecting wedges as well as clips are all made from stainless steel
Note – the CryoPan is open, i.e. no vacuum possible

A number of hexagonal spacers are distributed evenly between the respective plates and the radiation barrier – arranged as a paper / fiber sheet.

Panels connected to form vacuum structures

A number of hexagonal panels are welded together, connecting wedge against connecting wedge on both sides, forming a structure capable of absorbing movement.

A standard structure for a 15,000 m³ tank consists of:

28 standard hexagonal panels (standard panel size 0.723 m²)
14 adjusted trapezoid panels
4 adjusted pentagon panels
2 adjusted square panels

The standard section totals 27.2 m² and is shown in the figures.

The structure has a circumferential band (0.3 mm stainless steel) defining the vacuum zone. For complex shapes such as corners, tailored configurations of the panel types above are used.

Drawing of a standard structure of welded hexagonal panels, 11,880 mm long and 2,286 mm wide, with section marks D and F

Section drawing: top connecting wedges welded together, a strut connecting the structures to the adjacent surface, e.g. tank or bulkhead

Structure assembly and attachment

Connecting wedges provide flexibility and movement
Panels are welded together using the connecting wedge to form structures
Structures are fixed to the surface applying a stud arrangement
All steel structures in the panel share the same coefficient of thermal expansion, eliminating thermal stresses

Section E–E at scale 1:10 with details of the panel edge and connecting wedge

Section showing two panels joined by welded connecting wedges

Vacuum management and monitoring

Vacuum is applied to the individual structures and to the internal void between the tank surface and the insulation structure. Each structure connects to the vacuum management system via piping; to reduce piping, structures are grouped onto a common manifold feeding the vacuum control and management system.

Leakage evacuation system

The vacuum management system also functions as a leakage control and collection system
Capacity requirement for IMO type B: 200 l/hour
Collection points erected (gas)
Collection points, tank well arrangement

Plan of structures grouped onto a common manifold, with red manifold, blue pipeline to the vacuum control system and orange pipelines; dimensions 5,544, 11,880 and 6,336 mm, 23,760 mm in total

Red:: Manifold connecting a group of structures.
Blue:: Connecting pipeline – Vacuum Control System.
Orange:: Connecting pipeline – structures to manifold.

Schematic: structure section 1 of 100 m² connected to vacuum management and a vacuum pump, with sections 2 and 3 — Example: vacuum control and monitoring connecting point, structures group

System and panel renders

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