METHOD OF TRANSPORTING AN ASSEMBLY FORMED OF AN ENCLOSURE WITH AT LEAST ONE PANEL AND ENCLOSURE TO BE TRANSPORTED USING THIS METHOD
A method of transporting at least one panel intended to form part of a distillation apparatus in which a first, possibly partial, enclosure is built to contain an element of a distillation apparatus that is to operate at a temperature other than ambient temperature, at least one panel is attached to the first enclosure, the first enclosure attached to the at least one panel is transported to an erection site, the at least one panel is detached from the first enclosure and used to finish building the first or to build the second enclosure or to build a completely different element of the plant.
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This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (a) and (b) to French patent application No. FR1660183, filed Oct. 20, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a method of transporting panels intended to form part of an insulated enclosure.
It also relates to an enclosure used for the method of transport.
BACKGROUNDDistillation columns that are to operate at temperatures other than ambient temperature, for example at cryogenic temperatures, are generally installed inside an insulated enclosure. It is also known practice to install within an insulated enclosure elements such as a heat exchanger and/or a storage facility and/or a collection of pipes.
This assembly of insulated enclosure and elements mentioned hereinabove is commonly referred to as a cold box.
There are (at least) two ways of designing cold boxes:
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- i) “stick built” which are erected on site, or
- ii) “package unit” where packages are prefabricated at the workshop.
A package is generally a rectangular parallelepiped. The packages are generally transported with their longitudinal axis parallel to the ground, so that one of the sides of the package corresponds to one of the short dimensions of the parallelepiped, for example the width, the second side of the packet corresponds to one of the short dimensions of the parallelepiped, for example the height, and finally the third side of the package corresponds to the long dimension of the parallelepiped, for example the length. Upwards of a certain size (a side length of about 6 m) it is difficult to transport packages because they may reach dimensions that can be transported only with difficulty if at all.
In such cases, the element, for example a column, has to be transported separately and the enclosure has to be built around the element once it has arrived on the site, and the insulation has to be installed afterwards.
That entails having labour available on site and may entail the use of expensive cranes. In addition, it is necessary to transport the column and the enclosure, generally as two different lots.
DE102013012606 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,956 describe an enclosure comprising panels fixed against the walls of the enclosure during transport and which turn on hinges once they have arrived on site to create new enclosed spaces attached to the enclosure. The use of hinges limits the utility of this principle because the panel remains constantly attached to the enclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the invention, provision is made to mount at least one element inside a first, possibly partial, enclosure, the element being intended to form part of an apparatus comprising at least one insulated enclosure. Next, enclosure panels, intended to surround another element, for example another element of the same apparatus, are attached to the first enclosure and transported later onto site with the first enclosure. After transport, they are removed from the first enclosure and used to build a second enclosure or another part of the first enclosure. The element may for example be a distillation column, a phase separator, a heat exchanger or a collection of pipes.
According to one subject matter of the invention, there is provided a method for transporting an assembly formed of an enclosure with at least one panel, the assembly being intended to form part of a distillation apparatus in which a first, possibly partial, enclosure is built to contain an element of a distillation apparatus that is to operate at a temperature other than ambient temperature, for example a cryogenic temperature, at least one panel, which may be a panel of a second insulated enclosure intended to form part of the apparatus or a panel of another part of the first enclosure, is attached to the first enclosure, the first enclosure attached to the at least one panel is transported to an erection site, the at least one panel is completely detached from the first enclosure, or even all the panels are completely detached from the first enclosure, and used to finish building the first or to build the second enclosure or to build a completely different element of the plant.
According to one optional aspect of the invention:
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- the first enclosure is intended to form part of a plant.
- The first enclosure is transported containing at least one element of the apparatus that may be at least a distillation or scrubbing column and/or at least a heat exchanger and/or at least a storage facility and/or at least a collection of pipes.
- The first enclosure is transported with a temporary face closing the enclosure during transport and the rest of the first enclosure is built on site using at least one panel transported attached to the first enclosure during transport.
- The first enclosure is transported with a temporary face closing the enclosure during transport and the rest of the first enclosure is built on site using at least one panel transported attached to the first enclosure during transport.
- At least one panel transported by the first enclosure has substantially the same length and the same width as the wall of the first enclosure to which it is attached.
- The first enclosure is a partial enclosure during transport and the rest of the walls of the enclosure are made up of at least one panel, or even three panels, transported attached to the first enclosure during transport.
- Several panels are assembled with one another, one edge of one panel being contiguous with one edge of another panel, so that a right angle is formed between two panels, to form an assembly and the assembly is attached to the first enclosure, the first enclosure attached to the assembly of at least two walls is transported to an erection site, the assembly is detached from the first enclosure and used to finish building the first or to build the second enclosure or to build a completely different element of the plant.
- The assembly is dimensioned so that each panel of the assembly is attached against the first enclosure.
- The panel is a metallic element.
- The panel is made up of a metallic rectangular frame covered with metal sheeting.
- At least two panels are transported on the first enclosure and the at least two panels are attached to one another after having been detached from the first enclosure to finish building the first or to build the second enclosure or to build a completely different element of the plant.
Another subject of the invention is an enclosure for an element of a distillation apparatus intended to operate at a temperature other than ambient temperature, designed to be transported according to the method described hereinabove, comprising a framework in the form of a parallelepiped, at least six faces of which are covered with metal sheeting completely or partially covering each face and comprising at least one enclosure panel attached temporarily against at least one piece of metal sheeting.
According to other optional aspects, the enclosure comprises:
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- at least one element of the apparatus is at least a distillation or scrubbing column and/or at least an exchanger and/or at least a storage facility and/or at least a set of pipes.
- At least one element of the apparatus is at least a distillation column and/or a heat exchanger and/or a storage facility and/or a set of pipes which is to operate at a cryogenic temperature.
- Insulation around the at least one element.
- At least one wall attached against the metal sheeting of a face of the enclosure and at least one wall attached against the metal sheeting of another face of the enclosure, the panels potentially being attached to one another to form an assembly of panels.
- The panels are attached to one another to form an assembly of panels which is attached against at least two faces of the enclosure.
- The at least one enclosure panel is not attached to the enclosure by a hinge.
- The first enclosure is transported with the at least one panel, or even all the panels, in a vertical position.
The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the figures which show the successive steps in the method of transportation with various cross sections through an enclosure.
This partial enclosure A has a parallelepepidal shape and comprises two lateral walls 2, 4, two frontal walls 3, 5, possibly a partition 6 parallel to the lateral walls 2 and 4, and only a floor which may comprise at least four legs, or only a roof, or a floor and a roof (this (these) latter not being illustrated because the cross section is taken mid-way up the height of the enclosure). The three walls 4, 3, 5 are frameworks, for example of the metal framework type, completely or partially covered with metal sheeting, and are intended to constitute walls of the definitive enclosure. The wall 6, when present, is a framework, for example of the metal framework type, which is partially or completely not covered with metal sheeting. By contrast, the wall 2 is a framework that is not covered, or is completely covered or partially covered, with a temporary metal sheeting and/or definitive metal sheeting which affords not only mechanical protection, but also protection against the weather, to the elements inside this partial enclosure while it is being transported.
Inside the partial enclosure 1 are arranged elements 7, 8, 9 that are to be insulated in the definitive positions that they will have in the operating distillation apparatus. During operation, they are surrounded with insulation 10, which may be perlite or Rockwool, but during transport, the space 10 is empty.
The enclosure contains at least one element of the apparatus 7, 9 that may be at least a distillation column and/or at least an exchanger and/or at least a storage facility and/or at least a collection of pipes. It may also contain at least a valve 8 and/or at least a turbine and/or at least a compressor.
During the manufacture of the enclosure A one panel 3A is temporarily attached to the wall 3, one panel 4A to the wall 4 or 2 and one panel 5A to the wall 5, for example using bolts. The panels are laid flat each against the surface of a wall. The three panels 3A, 4A, 5A are frameworks, for example of the metal framework type, covered with metal sheeting.
At least one panel may potentially be attached to one or more walls of the partial enclosure. In the example, the panels 3A, 4A, 5A have substantially the same lengths and widths as the walls 3, 4, 5 to which they are attached.
The panel 4A may be attached to the wall 2 but it is possible for the panel 4A also to be attached to the edges of the walls 3 and 5 and for it to completely or partially replace the temporary and/or definitive sheeting of the wall 2 so that when the panel 4A is removed, the wall 2 of the partial enclosure A is completely or partially open.
As the walls 3, 4, 5 are used to support the panels 3A, 4A and 5A, the panels 3A, 4A and 5A can be made relatively lightweight because they are stiffened by the supports 3, 4 and 5.
The enclosure will be mounted on a means of transport, such as a lorry or a boat, with the longitudinal axis of the panels and of the walls 2, 3, 3A, 4, 4A, 5, 5A in a horizontal position and ideally supported by the wall 2, namely with their longitudinal axis oriented at 90° to the orientation it will have when definitively installed on site.
Nevertheless, if transport constraints so permit, the longitudinal axis of the enclosure A and the entirety of the walls and panels 2, 3, 3A, 4, 4A, 5, 5A may be oriented and transported vertically.
Thus, a single package allows not only the enclosure A but also the panels 3A, 4A and 5A, to be transported.
Before closing the reconstructed definitive new enclosure, at least one element that is to be insulated 1 will be installed in the other partial enclosure B and insulation 10 will be added. The at least one element to be installed 1 will be at least a distillation column and/or at least an exchanger and/or at least a storage facility and/or at least a collection of pipes and/or valves.
In this way, it becomes possible to plan the build with greater flexibility. The element 1, for example a column, may be delivered to site at the last minute, the various parts of the enclosure having themselves already been in situ on the final construction site.
In addition, it thus becomes possible to transport a partial package comprising elements prefabricated at the workshop, smaller in size than those of the definitive cold box, and thereby similarly limit the activities on the erection site as compared with an entirely stick-built cold box solution.
It is also possible for the panels 3A, 4A, 5A to be used to build an enclosure independent of the partial enclosure A. The partial enclosure A may also itself be a definitive enclosure which will be set down on site once the panels 3A, 4A, 5A have been detached.
Nevertheless, it is advantageous for the detachable panels to be handled, on the erection site for moving them into their definitive place, in a vertical position, after definitive placement of the partial support enclosure, so as to reduce the lifting and handling operations required for putting these in place.
Indeed, the flat panels 3A, 4A and 5A will have better mechanical behaviour in this position and their design may be optimised, limiting the mass of the walls, so as, in engineering terms, to only meet their overall mechanical strength requirement once the definitive enclosure has been reconstructed, and not meet an additional handling-stress requirement since they are effectively not subjected to bending during the phases of tilting them from their horizontal position during transport into their definitive vertical position as could have been the case had they been handled from initially having been laid on the ground.
According to certain embodiments of the invention, the panels may be transported also on an enclosure in a vertical position during transport and will not be pivoted during installation on site where they will be placed in their vertical definitive position. Nevertheless, certain embodiments of the invention apply to the far more frequent scenario in which the panels are transported on the enclosure in a horizontal position.
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These panels are transported with the enclosure and then detached and used, preferably on site.
It is also possible for the panels 3A, 4A, 5A to be used to build an enclosure independent of the definitive enclosure made up of the partial enclosure A and of the partial enclosure B, for example an enclosure C, or to be used for other purposes elsewhere in the plant.
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These panels are transported with the enclosure and then detached and used, preferably on site.
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After transport, the assembly 20B is detached from the partial enclosure A in order to build, on site, a definitive enclosure by combining the partial enclosure A and the assembly 20B as. The erection procedure is similar to the one described in
In any event, the insulation 10 is added on site. This is generally a pulverulent insulation, for example perlite.
This concept applies to superposed columns just as it does to side by side columns.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. The present invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. Furthermore, if there is language referring to order, such as first and second, it should be understood in an exemplary sense and not in a limiting sense. For example, it can be recognized by those skilled in the art that certain steps can be combined into a single step.
The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
“Comprising” in a claim is an open transitional term which means the subsequently identified claim elements are a nonexclusive listing (i.e., anything else may be additionally included and remain within the scope of “comprising”). “Comprising” as used herein may be replaced by the more limited transitional terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of” unless otherwise indicated herein.
“Providing” in a claim is defined to mean furnishing, supplying, making available, or preparing something. The step may be performed by any actor in the absence of express language in the claim to the contrary.
Optional or optionally means that the subsequently described event or circumstances may or may not occur. The description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not occur.
Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular value, and/or to about another particular value. When such a range is expressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value, along with all combinations within said range.
All references identified herein are each hereby incorporated by reference into this application in their entireties, as well as for the specific information for which each is cited.
Claims
1. A method for transporting and erecting a cold box assembly at a second location distal from a first location, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the cold box assembly at the first location, wherein the cold box assembly comprises a first enclosure defined by a set of walls, wherein the cold box assembly further includes a set of panels removably attached to an outer periphery of the set of walls and a distillation element disposed within the first enclosure;
- transporting the cold box assembly in a horizontal position;
- erecting the cold box assembly from the horizontal position to a vertical position at the second location and then removing the set of panels from the outer periphery of the set of walls while in the vertical position;
- forming a second enclosure using the set of panels;
- installing a second distillation element within the second enclosure while at the second location; and
- installing insulation within the volume of the first enclosure and the second enclosure
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first location is a fabrication shop and the second location is an installation site.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of panels are made of a different material than the set of walls, wherein the total mass of the set of panels is less than the total mass of the set of the walls.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of walls are configured to provide structural support for the first enclosure in both the horizontal position and the vertical position.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the set of panels are configured to provide structural support for the second enclosure only in the vertical position, wherein the set of walls are configured to provide structural support for the set of panels in the horizontal position.
6. A method for transporting an assembly formed of an enclosure with at least one panel, the assembly configured to form part of a distillation apparatus in which a first enclosure is built to contain an element of a distillation apparatus that is to operate at a temperature other than ambient temperature, at least one panel, which may be a panel of a second insulated enclosure intended to form part of the apparatus or a panel of another part of the first enclosure, is attached to the first enclosure, the first enclosure attached to the at least one panel is transported to an erection site, the at least one panel is completely detached from the first enclosure, or even all the panels are completely detached from the first enclosure, and used to finish building the first or to build the second enclosure or to build a completely different element of the plant.
7. The method according to claim 6, in which the first enclosure is transported containing at least one element of the apparatus selected from the group consisting of a distillation column, a scrubbing column, a heat exchanger, a storage facility, a collection of pipes, and combinations thereof.
8. The method according to claim 7, in which the first enclosure is transported with a temporary face closing the enclosure during transport and the rest of the first enclosure is built on site using at least one panel transported attached to the first enclosure during transport.
9. The method according to claim 8, in which at least one panel transported by the first enclosure has the same length and the same width as the wall of the first enclosure to which it is attached.
10. The method according to claim 6, in which the first enclosure is a partial enclosure during transport and the rest of the walls of the enclosure are made up of at least one panel, or even three panels, transported attached to the first enclosure during transport.
11. The method according to claim 6, in which several panels are assembled with one another, one edge of one panel being contiguous with one edge of another panel, so that a right angle is formed between two panels, to form an assembly and the assembly is attached to the first enclosure, the first enclosure attached to the assembly of at least two walls is transported to an erection site, the assembly is detached from the first enclosure and used to finish building the first or to build the second enclosure or to build a completely different element of the plant.
12. The method according to claim 11, in which the assembly is dimensioned so that each panel of the assembly is attached against the first enclosure.
13. The method according to claim 6, in which no part of the at least one panel remains is attached to the first enclosure by a hinge.
14. The method according to claim 6, in which at least two panels are transported on the first enclosure and the at least two panels are attached to one another after having been detached from the first enclosure to finish building the first or to build the second enclosure or to build a completely different element of the plant.
15. An enclosure for an element of a distillation apparatus intended to operate at a temperature other than ambient temperature, designed to be transported according to the method of claim 1, comprising a framework in the form of a parallelepiped, at least six faces of which are covered with metal sheeting completely or partially covering each face and comprising at least one enclosure panel attached temporarily against at least one piece of metal sheeting.
16. The enclosure according to claim 15 comprising at least one element of the apparatus that may be at least a distillation or scrubbing column and/or at least a heat exchanger and/or at least a storage facility and/or at least a collection of pipes.
17. The enclosure according to claim 15 containing insulation around the at least one element.
18. The enclosure according to claim 15 having at least one wall attached against the metal sheeting of a face of the enclosure and at least one wall attached against the metal sheeting of another face of the enclosure.
19. The enclosure according to claim 18, in which the panels are attached to one another to form an assembly of panels which is attached against at least two faces of the enclosure.
20. The enclosure according to claim 15, in which the at least one enclosure panel is not attached to the enclosure by a hinge.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 18, 2017
Publication Date: Apr 26, 2018
Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude (Paris)
Inventors: Patrice CAVAGNE (Le Perreux Sur Marne), Franck LEMAIRE (Champigny Sur Marne), Jean-Marc PEYRON (Creteil)
Application Number: 15/786,646