Addressing Common Deformations in Liquid Oxygen Tanks
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Liquid oxygen tanks play a vital role in industrial production and scientific research. However, during their usage, various forms of deformation may occur due to external factors. This article explores the types of deformations that liquid oxygen tanks may experience and the corresponding remedial measures.
Types of Deformations in Liquid Oxygen Tanks
Liquid oxygen tanks, crucial in both industrial and scientific settings, are susceptible to various forms of deformation due to external influences. Understanding these deformations is essential for maintaining the integrity and safety of the tanks. Here are the primary types of deformations observed.
1. Local Concavity
Local concavity refers to the formation of depressions on the shell or head of a liquid oxygen tank due to external impact or compression. It typically occurs only on small liquid oxygen tanks with thin shell walls, without altering the thickness of the wall but merely causing a specific area to lose its original geometric shape.
2. Bulging
Bulging occurs when a certain part of the liquid oxygen tank's pressure-bearing surface undergoes severe corrosion, resulting in thinning of the wall thickness and outward protrusion under internal pressure. In some cases, localized high temperatures may also lead to bulging, further thinning the wall thickness of the tank.
3. Overall Flattening
Overall flattening occurs when the wall thickness of the tank subjected to external pressure is too thin, causing it to lose stability and its original shape. This type of deformation typically occurs in pressure-bearing components of liquid oxygen tanks, such as the inner cylinder of jacketed liquid oxygen tanks.
4. Overall Expansion
Overall expansion deformation results from the tank's wall thickness being too thin or from overpressure usage, causing the entire tank or certain sections to yield. This type of deformation usually progresses slowly and requires special monitoring to detect.
Local concavity refers to the formation of depressions on the shell or head of a liquid oxygen tank due to external impact or compression. It typically occurs only on small liquid oxygen tanks with thin shell walls, without altering the thickness of the wall but merely causing a specific area to lose its original geometric shape.
2. Bulging
Bulging occurs when a certain part of the liquid oxygen tank's pressure-bearing surface undergoes severe corrosion, resulting in thinning of the wall thickness and outward protrusion under internal pressure. In some cases, localized high temperatures may also lead to bulging, further thinning the wall thickness of the tank.
3. Overall Flattening
Overall flattening occurs when the wall thickness of the tank subjected to external pressure is too thin, causing it to lose stability and its original shape. This type of deformation typically occurs in pressure-bearing components of liquid oxygen tanks, such as the inner cylinder of jacketed liquid oxygen tanks.
4. Overall Expansion
Overall expansion deformation results from the tank's wall thickness being too thin or from overpressure usage, causing the entire tank or certain sections to yield. This type of deformation usually progresses slowly and requires special monitoring to detect.
Remedial Measures for the Deformations
When deformations occur in liquid oxygen tanks, prompt and appropriate remedial measures are essential to maintain their structural integrity and safety. Here are the recommended actions to address deformations.
1. Inspection of Deformations
Deformations can generally be inspected visually, and less severe deformations can be detected using measuring tools.
2. Phasing out severely deformed tanks
Liquid oxygen tanks that develop deformation defects, apart from minor local concavities, should generally not be continued in use. This is because tanks that have undergone plastic deformation inevitably experience varying degrees of wall thickness reduction, and the deformed material may exhibit decreased ductility and corrosion resistance.
3. Patching for minor bulging deformations
For minor bulging deformations, if the affected area is not extensive and does not affect other parts of the liquid oxygen tank, patching can be considered. This involves removing the localized bulge and then welding a patch of the same shape and material onto the affected area. Following welding, the weld seam should be subjected to technical inspection according to the original technical requirements of the liquid oxygen tank to ensure its safety and reliability.
Deformations can generally be inspected visually, and less severe deformations can be detected using measuring tools.
2. Phasing out severely deformed tanks
Liquid oxygen tanks that develop deformation defects, apart from minor local concavities, should generally not be continued in use. This is because tanks that have undergone plastic deformation inevitably experience varying degrees of wall thickness reduction, and the deformed material may exhibit decreased ductility and corrosion resistance.
3. Patching for minor bulging deformations
For minor bulging deformations, if the affected area is not extensive and does not affect other parts of the liquid oxygen tank, patching can be considered. This involves removing the localized bulge and then welding a patch of the same shape and material onto the affected area. Following welding, the weld seam should be subjected to technical inspection according to the original technical requirements of the liquid oxygen tank to ensure its safety and reliability.
Deformation of liquid oxygen tanks can have serious implications for industrial production and scientific research. Therefore, timely detection and remediation of deformation issues in liquid oxygen tanks are crucial. Through this article, we gain a better understanding of the types of deformations that liquid oxygen tanks may experience and the appropriate measures to address them, thereby ensuring the safe and reliable use of these tanks.
