Inverted method for large storage tanks

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Inverted installation method for large storage tanks – China Anti-Corrosion Equipment Network, January 8, 2009. Publicly available information. The inverted installation method is currently the commonly used approach for installing large storage tanks. There are various processes and associated equipment available, but the most advanced, reliable, and effective among them is the hydraulic lifting technology used in the inverted installation method. This technology was developed in 1993 by the Beijing China State Construction Building Science and Technology Research Institute (formerly the Research Institute of China State Construction First Engineering Bureau). That same year, it passed the technical evaluation conducted by China State Construction Corporation, which concluded that the step-type hydraulic lifting device for storage tanks was a first in China, while the hydraulic lifting devices and related processes used for installing large storage tanks at inverted positions were at an internationally advanced level. In 1994, this technology was listed as a key project for promotion of scientific and technological achievements by the Ministry of Construction ； In 1995, it was listed again as a key project for the promotion of **-level scientific and technological achievements. Through years of application and promotion, construction techniques such as the \"hydraulic lifting complete set technology for large storage tanks using the inverted method\" and the \"integral hydraulic lifting construction technology for communication towers spanning two buildings\" have been developed. 　　The complete set of hydraulic lifting technology for constructing large storage tanks (or steel masts, communication towers, and steel spires, etc.) is based on the SQD—160—100s.f jack with a lifting capacity of 16 tons and a hydraulic stroke of 100 mm. It is supplemented by various types of hydraulic pump stations and hydraulic piping systems as additional components, thereby forming a complete set of equipment for hydraulic lifting of large storage tanks (or steel masts, communication towers, and steel spires, etc.). This technology can be used for lifting and constructing large storage tanks such as arch top tanks, floating roof tanks, and internal floating roof tanks, as well as steel masts, communication towers, and steel spires. 　　Principle of hydraulic lifting: Hydraulic lifting devices (complete sets of equipment) are arranged evenly around the inner circumference of the storage tank. First, the tank top and the uppermost layer of wall panels of the tank are lifted, and then the wall panels of the tank are welded together layer by layer. A hydraulic lifting machine composed of a self-locking hydraulic jack, a lifting frame, and a lifting rod is used; when fluid is supplied to the hydraulic jack, its clamping device grips the components and lifts the lifting rod and expansion ring, thereby lifting the tank body (including the tank top) upward ； As the jack retracts its oil, the clip on it moves back along with the piston rod; at this point, the clip at the bottom automatically grips the lifting rod to prevent it from sliding down. The jack repeats this motion, causing the lifting rod to lift the tank upward until the desired height is reached (the height required to make room for the next layer). After the next layer of wall panels is joined and welded, the upper and lower locking devices of the hydraulic jack are released; the upper and lower clamps are undone, allowing the lifting rod and expansion ring to be lowered to the underside of the next layer of wall panels in order to tighten and weld the load-transferring plates, after which lifting resumes. This process is repeated to lift the already welded tank body upward, until the welding of the final layer of wall panels is completed, thereby finishing the installation of the entire storage tank. 　　Features of hydraulic lifting The use of the inverted method for hydraulic lifting of large storage tanks has the following advantages: 1. Hydraulic lifting is smooth, safe, and reliable. Thanks to the unified hydraulic control, which allows for adjustments on a single basis or locally (for several units), the entire lifting process is relatively smooth. The structural features of the Sunka-type jack ensure good self-locking capability, preventing the tank or heavy objects from sliding or falling down in the event of a power outage; thus, the hydraulic lifting process is safe and reliable. 　　2. The construction quality is guaranteed. Since the Sokka-type jack has an adjustable (gradual lowering) function, the lifting height can be controlled with high precision. For the above reasons, the welding quality of the tank is guaranteed. 　　3. The equipment is easy to operate, the working environment is good, and productivity is high. 　　4. The equipment has strong adaptability. By increasing or decreasing the number of hydraulic lifters (i.e., wedge jacks, lifting frames, lifting rods, etc.), this complete set of equipment can be used for the hydraulic lifting of large storage tanks (or steel masts, communication towers, and steel spires) with capacities ranging from several thousand cubic meters to tens of thousands of cubic meters. 　　The hydraulic pump station can be installed in a suitable location based on the actual operating conditions. For large storage tanks, the hydraulic pump station can be placed inside the tank, or outside the tank or between two tanks (when two tanks are installed and controlled by a single pump station) for construction control. 　　Hydraulic pump stations come in manual and automatically controlled types, and their strong adaptability in construction along with an excellent cost-performance ratio are very notable features. 　　5. Short construction period, low cost, and good economic efficiency. Due to the high level of modernization and rapid improvement of the complete sets of equipment, the construction cost is low, resulting in good economic benefits. 　　In summary, this technology indeed offers the advantages of convenient centralized control, simple operation, safety and reliability (no dropping), precise control over the weld gap and the height of the load lifting rod. It ensures the quality of construction projects, while also saving labor and reducing costs, resulting in significant economic benefits. 　　Overview of promotion and application: The complete set of hydraulic lifting construction techniques for large storage tanks using the inverted method, which has reached international advanced levels, is highly welcomed by industries such as petroleum, chemicals, China State Construction, and oil construction. Since 1993, it has been widely used for the hydraulic lifting construction of thousands of storage tanks of various types, with capacities ranging from a few thousand cubic meters to tens of thousands of cubic meters, at sites such as Beijing Dongfang Chemical Plant, Nanjing Yangzi Petrochemical Company, Tianjin JinGuo Petroleum Storage and Transportation Company, Shanghai Gaoqiao Chemical Plant, Shanghai International Airport, Shanghai Refinery, Jiujiang Petrochemical Corporation, Dalian West Pacific Petrochemical Company, Liaohe Oil Field, as well as in cities and provinces including Shenyang, Shenzhen, Yumen, Daqing, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan, and Shaanxi. It has also been employed in countries such as Sri Lanka and Singapore. This technology can be applied not only to the installation of new storage tanks but also to the renovation of existing ones. It can also be used for the hydraulic lifting of steel masts or spires in high-rise buildings, as well as communication towers. 　　Hydraulic lifting device (complete set) The hydraulic lifting complete set consists of the following three parts: 1. BY160 type hydraulic lifter — composed of an SQD—160—100s.f socket jack, a lifting frame, and a lifting rod (Ф32 round steel) ； 　　II. Hydraulic control system—composed of a hydraulic control cabinet (pump station), high-pressure rubber hose assemblies, and hydraulic system accessories ； 　　III. Expansion rings or necessary accessories (which can be manufactured by the construction party) — expansion rings, force transfer plates, hand-operated jacks, etc. 　　The main technical performance parameters of the BY160 hydraulic lift currently in production are as follows: Rated lifting capacity: 160 kN; Lifting height: 2 m (other values to be determined). Vertical displacement during lifting: less than 3 mm; External dimensions: 510 mm X 370 mm X 3520 mm. This post was last edited by bobo315 on 2009-3-3 at 08:58