CN114556011A

CN114556011A - Connecting beam for a liquid-tight and thermally insulating container for storing liquefied gas

Info

Publication number: CN114556011A
Application number: CN202080072622.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 罗曼·德努瓦; 戴维·于阿尔
Original assignee: Gaztransport et Technigaz SA
Current assignee: Gaztransport et Technigaz SA
Priority date: 2019-10-17
Filing date: 2020-10-16
Publication date: 2022-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-16
Also published as: CN114556011B; FR3102138B1; FR3102138A1; KR20210046646A; JP2022552540A; KR102473428B1; WO2021074413A1; WO2021074413A9

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection beam for a vessel, wherein the connection beam (13) comprises a first section (14) and a second section (15), wherein each part comprises a hollow central core (17) comprising a first wall (20) and a second wall (21) defining a first assembly window and a second assembly window at the connection between the two sections (14, 15), wherein the connection beam (13) comprises a connection assembly (38), the connection assembly (38) having a shape complementary to the assembly window and being attached to the first section (14) and the second section (15) at the assembly window, the connection assembly (38) comprising a first wing (39) and a second wing (40), and wherein the second wing (40) is welded in an overlapping manner to the second wall (21) of the second section (15) and to the second wall (21) of the first section (14), and the first wing (39) comprises a main plate, a second wing (17), and a second wing (21) comprising a first wall, a second wall (21) and a second wall (21) defining a second assembly window at the assembly window and a connection window at the assembly window at the connection between the two sections (14, 15), wherein the connection beam comprises a connection assembly window and a connection assembly window, and a connection beam (38) comprising a main plate, and a connection beam, A first portion welded in an overlapping manner to the first wall (20) of the first section (14) and a second portion welded in an overlapping manner to the first wall (20) of the second section (15), the first portion being spaced apart from the second portion by an opening in the first direction, the first and second portions of the first wing (39) being welded to the first and second sections (14, 15) respectively using a main weld bead extending in the first direction.

Description

Connecting beam for a liquid-tight and thermally insulating container for storing liquefied gas

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of tie beams for thermally insulated sealable tanks with membranes. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of tie-beams for thermally insulated sealed tanks for storing and/or transporting liquefied gases at low temperatures, such as tanks for transporting liquefied petroleum gas (also called LPG), for example at temperatures between-50 ℃ and 0 ℃, or tanks for transporting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at about-162 ℃ at atmospheric pressure. These tanks may be mounted on shore or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be used for transporting liquefied gas or for receiving liquefied gas used as fuel for propelling the floating structure.

Background

A connection beam for a thermally insulated sealed tank with a membrane for storing LNG is known, for example, from the publication KR 200473167. Such a tank comprises a plurality of longitudinal tank walls and a plurality of transverse tank walls. The tank wall includes a double sealing membrane with a double insulating barrier interposed. Such tanks are incorporated in a load-bearing structure, for example formed by the hull of a ship.

During LNG loading and unloading operations, changes in the temperature and filling state of the tank place significant stress on the membrane of the tank. In order to prevent the sealing and insulating properties of the tank from deteriorating, the primary sealing membrane and the secondary sealing membrane are anchored to the load-bearing structure using connecting beams, in particular in the edge regions formed between the transverse walls and the longitudinal walls of the tank. The connecting beams also serve to connect the primary and secondary sealing membranes of the transverse walls to the sealing membranes of the longitudinal walls in a sealing manner.

On the one hand, anchoring the connecting beams to the load-bearing structure and, on the other hand, their connection to the sealing membrane makes it possible to transmit forces between the membrane and the hull of the vessel, thus enhancing the overall structural properties of the tank.

In KR200473167, the connecting beam is formed of sections aligned with each other in the direction of the edge, and the sections define an assembly window at the connection between the two sections.

In order to assemble two adjacent segments, a connecting assembly having a shape complementary to the assembly window is fixed in the region of the assembly window.

Disclosure of Invention

The applicant has found that during use of such beams, significant stresses are exerted in the region of the connection assembly. Furthermore, it has been found that over-stiffening of the assembly between the parts of the beam and the parts of the connecting assembly reduces the service life of the assembly.

The concept on which the invention is based is to improve the flexibility of the coupling beam, in particular in the region of the coupling assembly.

Another concept on which the invention is based is to avoid stress concentrations to increase the service life of the coupling beam.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a connection beam for a thermally insulated sealed tank for storing liquefied gas, wherein the connection beam comprises a first section and a second section aligned with each other along a first direction, which is the direction in which the tank rim extends, wherein each section comprises: a central core comprising a first wall and a second wall connected to the first wall along a first edge of the central core, and a connecting wing fixed to the central core and serving to fix a secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane of a thermally insulated sealed can, wherein the first wall and the second wall are for extending through a primary insulation space of the can, and wherein the first wall of the first section and the first wall of the second section are parallel and define a first assembly window at a connection between the two sections, and the second wall of the first section and the second wall of the second section are parallel and define a second assembly window at a connection between the two sections, wherein the connecting beam comprises a connecting assembly having a shape complementary to the assembly window and being fixed to the first section and the second section in the region of the assembly window, the connection assembly includes a first wing parallel to and closing the first assembly window and a second wing connected to the first wing and parallel to and closing the second assembly window, and wherein the second wing is welded in an overlapping manner to and closing the second wall of the first section and the second wall of the second section, and the first wing includes: a main board accommodated in the first assembly window; a first portion connected to the main panel and welded in an overlapping manner to the first wall of the first section; and a second portion connected to the main plate and welded to the first wall of the second section in an overlapping manner, the first portion of the first wing being separated from the second portion of the first wing by a notch in the first direction, the first and second portions of the first wing being welded to the first and second sections, respectively, using first and second main weld beads extending in the first direction.

Due to these features, the connection beam has sufficient flexibility, in particular in the region of the connection assembly, and any stress concentration in the region of the connection assembly can be prevented. This is because the design of the first wing, in particular the notch of the first wing, and the design of the first part and the second part spaced from each other by the notch, causes the first part fixed to the first section and the second part fixed to the second section to be separated for flexibility.

According to embodiments, such a connection beam may comprise one or more of the following features.

According to one embodiment, the first main bead of the first part and the second main bead of the second part are separated from each other in the first direction by a notch.

According to one embodiment, the first and second portions of the first wing are also welded to the first and second sections, respectively, using the first and second secondary beads to form a weld loop along the edge of the notch.

According to one embodiment, the first main bead and the first secondary bead form a continuous weld bead.

According to one embodiment, the second primary weld bead and the second secondary weld bead form a continuous weld bead.

According to one embodiment, the central core has a hollow cross section in the form of a parallelogram and comprises a third wall which is connected to the first wall in the region of the second edge, a fourth wall which is connected to the second wall in the region of the third edge, a fourth wall which is connected to the third wall in the region of the fourth edge, the third wall and the fourth wall being used to form the secondary sealing membrane along the tank edge.

According to one embodiment, the connecting wing projects towards the outside of the central core, the connecting wing comprising:

a first secondary connection wing connected to the second edge of the central core, for welding in a sealed manner to a secondary sealing film of the can,

a second secondary connection wing connected to the third edge of the central core, for welding in a sealed manner to a secondary sealing film of the can,

a first primary connecting wing connected to the first edge of the central core, the first primary connecting wing being intended to be welded in a sealed manner to a primary sealing film of the can,

-a second primary connecting wing connected to the first edge of the central core and forming an angle with the first primary connecting wing, the second primary connecting wing being intended to be welded in a sealed manner to the primary sealing film of the can.

According to one embodiment, each segment comprises an anchoring wing projecting towards the outside of the central core, the anchoring wing comprising:

a first secondary anchoring wing connected to the fourth edge of the central core and lying in the same plane as the second secondary connecting wing, the first secondary anchoring wing being intended to be fixed to a carrying wall of the tank,

a second secondary anchoring wing connected to the fourth edge of the central core and lying in the same plane as the first secondary connecting wing, the second secondary anchoring wing being intended to be fixed to a carrying wall of the tank,

a first primary anchoring wing connected to the third edge of the central core and lying in the same plane as the second primary connecting wing, the first primary anchoring wing being intended to be fixed to the carrying wall of the tank,

-a second primary anchoring wing connected to the second edge of the central core and lying in the same plane as the first primary connecting wing, the second primary anchoring wing being intended to be fixed to the carrying wall of the tank.

According to one embodiment, the main plate is located in the same plane as the first wall of the central core of the first and second sections, the first and second portions being located at opposite corners of the main plate, the first wing comprises an offset portion connected to at least one edge of the main plate such that the offset portion is formed in a plane away from the plane of the main plate, the first and second portions being located on the offset portion, the offset portion partially covering the first wall of the first section and the first wall of the second section, respectively.

According to one embodiment, the first wing comprises a notch extending parallel to the first edge and formed on one of its edges formed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the first edge, the notch being configured to separate the main plate of the first wing from an offset portion that is close to but not connected to the second wing.

According to one embodiment, the first wing comprises a cut-out formed on each edge of the first wing in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

According to one embodiment, the offset portion of the first wing comprises: a main portion extending in the direction of the first edge; first and second branches formed at one side and the other side of the main portion and extending in a direction perpendicular to the first edge such that the main plate of the offset portion around the first wing portion is in the form of a U-shape, the first and second branches having a width smaller than that of the main portion.

According to one embodiment, the second wing includes a notch extending parallel to the first edge and formed on one of edges of the second wing formed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the first edge, the notch being configured to separate a main plate of the second wing from an offset portion that is proximate to but not connected to the first wing.

According to one embodiment, the second wing part comprises a notch formed on each edge of the second wing part formed in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

According to one embodiment, each cut base is produced in a circular form.

According to one embodiment, the second wing comprises: a main plate located in the same plane as the second wall of the central core of the first and second sections; and an offset portion connected to at least one edge of the main plate so that the offset portion is formed in a plane away from a plane of the main plate, the offset portion partially covering the second wall of the first section and the second wall of the second section.

According to one embodiment, the offset portions of the first and second wings are produced around the main plate.

According to one embodiment, the first portion of the first wing and the second portion of the first wing extend along an edge of the main plate oriented in a first direction and along an edge of the main plate oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

According to one embodiment, the first main bead and the second main bead extend in a first direction and a second direction. In this way, the main bead has: a portion extending opposite an edge of the main plate oriented in the first direction and a portion extending opposite an edge of the main plate oriented in the second direction.

According to one embodiment, two adjacent edges of the recess are connected to each other using a fillet.

In this way, the rounded portions can prevent stress from concentrating at the intersection between the two edges of the notch, which would risk forming crack initiation.

According to one embodiment, the connection between the edge of the first portion aligned with the opening and the edge of the main plate aligned with the opening is produced using a fillet.

According to one embodiment, the connection between the edge of the second portion aligned with the opening and the edge of the main plate aligned with the opening is produced using a fillet.

According to one embodiment, the recess is defined by an edge of the first portion, an edge of the second portion and an edge of the main plate.

According to one embodiment, the first wing includes a third portion that aligns the first portion and the second portion with the notch, and the notch is defined by an edge of the first portion, an edge of the second portion, and an edge of the third portion.

According to one embodiment, the third portion is located on the offset portion.

According to an embodiment, the invention also provides a thermally insulated sealed tank for storing liquefied gas, the tank comprising at least a first tank wall and a second tank wall, each tank wall comprising a load-bearing wall, the load-bearing walls of the first tank wall and the second tank wall together forming an angle and meeting in the area of a tank rim, each tank wall comprising, from the load-bearing wall towards an inner space of the tank: a secondary thermal insulation barrier supported by the carrier wall, a secondary sealing film supported by the secondary thermal insulation barrier, a primary thermal insulation barrier supported by the secondary sealing film and the supported primary sealing film for contact with the liquefied gas, the tank comprising the above-mentioned connecting beam in the region of the tank rim, which connecting beam is fixed to the carrier wall of the first tank wall and to the carrier wall of the second tank wall and which connecting beam is configured to connect the secondary sealing film of the first tank wall to the secondary sealing film of the second tank wall in a sealing manner.

According to one embodiment, the central core has a cross section in the form of a parallelogram and the connecting wing projects towards the outside of the central core, the connecting wing comprising:

a first secondary connection wing connected to the first edge of the central core and lying in a plane parallel to the secondary sealing film of the first tank wall, the first secondary connection wing being welded in a sealing manner to the secondary sealing film of the first tank wall,

a second secondary connecting wing connected to the second edge of the central core and lying in a plane parallel to the secondary sealing film of the second tank wall, the second secondary connecting wing being welded in a sealing manner to the secondary sealing film of the second tank wall,

a first primary connecting wing connected to the third edge of the central core and lying in a plane parallel to the primary sealing film of the first tank wall, the first primary connecting wing being welded in a sealing manner to the primary sealing film of the first tank wall,

a second primary connecting wing connected to the third edge of the central core and lying in a plane parallel to the primary sealing film of the second tank wall, the second primary connecting wing being welded in a sealed manner to the primary sealing film of the second tank wall.

a first secondary anchoring wing connected to the fourth edge of the central core and lying in the same plane as the second secondary connecting wing, the first secondary anchoring wing being fixed to the bearing wall of the first tank wall,

a second secondary anchoring wing connected to the fourth edge of the central core and lying in the same plane as the first secondary connecting wing, the second secondary anchoring wing being fixed to the bearing wall of the second tank wall,

a first primary anchoring wing connected to the third edge of the central core and lying in the same plane as the second primary connecting wing, the first primary anchoring wing being fixed to the bearing wall of the first tank wall,

-a second primary anchoring wing connected to the second edge of the central core and lying in the same plane as the first primary connecting wing, the second primary anchoring wing being fixed to the bearing wall of the second tank wall.

Such tanks may be part of a ground storage facility, e.g. for storing liquefied natural gas, or may be installed in a floating structure, in particular a liquefied natural gas transport, a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), a floating production, storage and offloading Facility (FPSO), etc., offshore or deep water. Such tanks may also be used as fuel reservoirs in any type of transport aircraft.

According to one embodiment, a transporter for transporting a cold liquid product comprises a catamaran hull and the above-described tank disposed in the catamaran hull.

The present invention also provides, according to one embodiment, a transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising: the above-mentioned conveyor; an insulated pipe arranged such that a tank mounted in the hull of a transport vessel is connected to a floating or ground-based storage facility; and a pump for propelling the flow of the cold liquid product from the floating or ground-based storage facility to the tank of the transporter through the insulated conduit or for propelling the flow of the cold liquid product from the tank of the transporter to the floating or ground-based storage facility through the insulated conduit.

According to an embodiment, the invention also provides a connection assembly for connecting first and second sections of a connection beam of a thermally insulated containment vessel, the first and second sections being aligned with each other along a vessel rim, the connection assembly comprising a first wing, a second wing forming an angle with the first wing, the first and second wings being connected to each other in the region of intersecting edges extending along a first direction, wherein the first wing comprises: a main plate extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on one side and the other side of the intersecting edge; a first portion connected to a main board; and a second portion connected to the main plate, the first portion of the first wing separated from the second portion of the first wing by a notch in the first direction.

According to one embodiment, the first wing comprises an offset portion connected to an edge of the main plate extending in a first direction and to at least one edge of the main plate extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, so that the offset portion is formed in a plane different from the plane of the main plate, the first portion and the second portion being located on the offset portion for being fixed by overlapping on the first section and the second section.

According to one embodiment, the second wing comprises a main plate at one side and the other side of the intersecting edge, and wherein the second wing comprises an offset portion connected to the edge of the main plate extending in the first direction and to at least one edge of the main plate extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, such that the offset portion is formed in a plane different from the plane of the main plate, the offset portion being for being fixed by overlapping on the first section and the second section.

According to one embodiment, the offset portion is connected to an edge of the main board extending in the first direction and to two opposite edges of the main board extending in the second direction or the third direction.

According to one embodiment, the portion of the first wing that includes the offset portion and is located on one side of the intersecting edge has a dimension in the second direction that is greater than a dimension of other portions of the first wing that are located on the other side of the intersecting edge. The other portion of the first wing thus forms a first connecting portion of the first wing for being fixed to the first primary connecting wing and the primary sealing film.

According to one embodiment, a portion of the second wing part comprising the offset portion and located on one side of the intersecting edge has a dimension in the third direction which is larger than a dimension of other portions of the second wing part located on the other side of the intersecting edge. The other portion of the second wing thus forms a second connecting portion of the first wing, which is intended to be fixed to the second primary connecting wing and the primary sealing film.

The present invention also provides, according to an embodiment, a method for producing a connection beam in a thermally insulated containment vessel, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

-arranging a first section and a second section along the tank rim, the first section and the second section being aligned with each other in the direction of the tank rim, each section comprising a hollow central core comprising a first wall and a second wall connected to the first wall along a first edge of the central core, and a connecting wing; the connecting wing is fixed to the central core and serves to fix the secondary sealing film and the primary sealing film of the thermally insulated sealed can, wherein the first wall and the second wall serve to extend through the primary insulation space of the can, and wherein the first wall of the first section and the first wall of the second section are parallel and define a first assembly window at the junction between the first section and the second section, and the second wall of the first section and the second wall of the second section are parallel and define a second assembly window at the junction between the first section and the second section,

-providing an insulating element and placing the insulating element in the hollow central core,

-providing a connection assembly having a shape complementary to the assembly window, the connection assembly comprising a first wing and a second wing connected to the first wing, the first wing comprising: a main board; a first portion connected to the main board; and a second portion connected to the main plate, the first portion of the first wing being separated from the second portion of the first wing by a notch in the direction of the can rim,

-placing the connection assembly in the area of the assembly window such that the first wing is parallel to the first wall of the first section and the first wall of the second section and closes the first assembly window, the main plate of the first wing being received in the first assembly window such that the second wing is parallel to the second wall of the first section and the second wall of the second section and closes the second assembly window,

-welding a second wing in an overlapping manner to the second wall of the first section and to the second wall of the second section, welding a first portion of the first wing in an overlapping manner to the first wall of the first section using a first main bead extending in the direction of the can rim, and welding a second portion of the first wing in an overlapping manner to the first wall of the second section using a second main bead extending in the direction of the can rim.

According to one embodiment, the step of welding the first and second portions of the first wing to the first and second sections, respectively, is further performed using a first secondary weld bead and a second secondary weld bead to form a weld loop along the edge of the notch.

The invention also provides, according to an embodiment, a method for loading or unloading such a conveyor, wherein cold liquid product is transported from a floating or ground-based storage facility to a tank of the conveyor through an insulated pipeline, or wherein cold liquid product is transported from a tank of the conveyor to a floating or ground-based storage facility through an insulated pipeline.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will be more clearly understood through the following description of several specific embodiments thereof, given purely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a partial perspective sectional view of a thermally insulated sealable can in the region of a joint between two walls.

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of a connecting beam in the region of the tank rim.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connection beam shown in fig. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connection assembly according to one embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a first wing of a connection assembly according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a first wing of a connection assembly according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tank of an lng carrier, the tank including a coupling beam and a terminal for loading/unloading the tank.

Detailed Description

Generally, the term "upper" or "above" will refer to a position located closer to the interior of the tank, while the term "lower" or "below" will refer to a position located closer to the load-bearing structure, regardless of the orientation of the tank wall relative to the earth's gravitational field. In the same way, the terms "upper" or "inner" will refer to the elements located closer to the interior of the tank, while "lower" or "outer" will refer to the elements located closer to the load-bearing structure.

The thermally insulating sealed can 71 and in particular the connecting beam for such can 71 will be described below.

The tank 71 incorporated in the hull of the transport vehicle is, for example, polyhedral. For example, the canister 71 may include a longitudinal bottom wall, a longitudinal top wall, two longitudinal side walls, and lower and upper longitudinal chamfered/chamfered walls.

The conventional structure of such a tank 71 is known. Thus, whereas all walls of the tank may have a similar conventional structure, only one wall region of the tank will be described.

With respect to fig. 1, the multilayer structure of the tank wall 1 according to an embodiment will now be described. The tank wall 1 includes, from the outside to the inside in the thickness direction of the tank: a secondary thermal insulation barrier 6 against the carrier wall 5, a sealed secondary membrane 7, a primary thermal insulation barrier 8, and a primary sealing membrane 9 for contact with the fluid stored in the tank.

Both the primary thermal insulation barrier 8 and the secondary thermal insulation barrier 6 are constituted by insulating elements, and more particularly by parallelepiped insulating boxes 10 juxtaposed according to a regular pattern. Different techniques for manufacturing such insulating elements are known. For example, each insulation box 10 is formed as described in the publication FR 2877638. Each insulation box 10 is retained on the load-bearing wall 5 by means of anchoring members which can be produced in various ways according to known techniques, for example as described in the publication FR 2973098. The insulation box 10 of the primary thermal insulation barrier 8 and the insulation box 10 of the secondary thermal insulation barrier 6 carry the primary film 9 and the secondary film 7, respectively.

The secondary and primary membranes 7, 9 are constituted, for example, by a series of metal plates, called slats 11, which are parallel and have folded edges and are arranged alternately with elongated welded supports 12. The slats 11 and the welded supports 12 are made of an alloy having a low coefficient of expansion. The slats 11 and the welded supports 12 are formed, for example, from

Made, i.e. having an expansion coefficient of typically 1.2X 10^- ⁶K^-1To 2X 10^-6K^-1Of an intermediate iron and nickel alloy or of an iron alloy with a high manganese content, which typically has an expansion coefficient of about 7 x 10^-6K^-1. The secondary and primary membranes 7, 9 typically have a thickness between 0.5mm and 1.5mm, preferably 0.7 mm.

The slats 11 comprise in the width direction a plane central strip against the insulation box 10 and the folded side edges. The folded edge extends substantially perpendicular to the planar central strip. The folded edges of the slats 11 are welded in a sealed manner to the welding supports 12. More details about the production of such films can be found in the publication FR 2968284.

The corner regions of the can will now be described in more detail. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an edge region between a first tank wall 1 and a second tank wall 2.

In the region of this edge region, the carrier wall 5 of the first wall 1 and the carrier wall 5 of the second wall 2 meet in the region of the tank edge 3, and the secondary membrane 7 and the primary membrane 9 of the two tank walls 1, 2 are connected by an anchoring device which enables the secondary sealing membrane 7 and the primary sealing membrane 9 to be anchored on the one hand on the carrier wall 5 of the first wall 1 and on the other hand on the carrier wall 5 of the second wall 2.

More specifically, the secondary membrane 7 and the primary membrane 9 of the first wall 1 are anchored perpendicularly to the bearing wall 5 of the second wall 2. In the same way, the secondary membrane 7 and the primary membrane 9 of the second wall 2 are vertically anchored to the carrier wall 5 of the first wall 1.

The anchoring means enable the tension forces generated by the thermal shrinkage of the secondary film 7 and the primary film 9 to be absorbed. The anchoring device also enables forces generated by deformations of the hull, in particular by bending of the longitudinal walls of the conveyor, to be absorbed in correspondence with the beam effect of the conveyor.

The anchoring means are formed by a connecting beam 13 having an elongated form. The connecting beam 13 comprises at least a first section 14 and a second section 15, the first section 14 and the second section 15 being aligned with each other in the direction of the tank rim 3 and defining an assembly window at the connection between the two

sections

14, 15, which assembly window is formed by a first assembly window 16a and a second assembly window 16 b.

Each

section

14, 15 comprises a hollow central core 17, the hollow central core 17 having a cross section in the form of a parallelogram, which cross section is rectangular in this case, since in the example shown in fig. 1 to 3 the two bearing walls 5 form a right angle. Like all sealing membranes, the connecting beam 13 may in particular be made of an alloy having a low coefficient of expansion, for example of sheet metal having a thickness of between 0.5mm and 1.5 mm.

In order to keep the connecting beam 13 on each side of the edge 3, each load-bearing wall 5 comprises a primary flat anchoring portion 18 and a secondary flat anchoring portion 19, the distance from the secondary flat anchoring portion 19 to the edge 3 corresponding to the thickness of the secondary thermal insulation barrier 6. The distance between the flat anchoring portion 18 and the flat anchoring portion 19 corresponds to the thickness of the primary thermal insulation barrier 8.

As can be better seen from fig. 2 and 3, the connecting beam 13 is constituted by a planar sheet metal which is welded together to form:

a hollow central core 17, having a rectangular or square cross section (in the case of edge regions with right angles), with a lateral length equal to the distance between the primary flat anchoring portion 18 and the secondary flat anchoring portion 19 of the load-bearing wall, each lateral being parallel to the load-bearing wall, comprising: a first wall 20, a second wall 21, a third wall 22 and a fourth wall 23, the second wall 21 being connected to the first wall 20 along a first edge 24 of the central core 17, the third wall 22 being connected to the first wall 20 in the region of a second edge 25, the fourth wall 23 being connected to the second wall 21 in the region of a third edge 26, the fourth wall 23 being connected to the third wall 22 in the region of a fourth edge 27;

connecting

wings

28, 29, 30, 31 which project in the direction of the primary sealing film 9 and the secondary sealing film 7 of the first and second tank walls 1, 2 towards the outside of the central core, the connecting

wings

28, 29, 30, 31 connecting the secondary sealing films 7 of the tank walls 1, 2 in a sealed manner and the primary sealing films 9 of the tank walls 1, 2 in a sealed manner;

anchoring

wings

32, 33, 34, 35, which project towards the outside of the central core 17 in the direction of the bearing walls 5 of the tank walls 1, 2, the anchoring wings being fixed to the bearing walls 5.

The first wall 20 of the first section 14 and the first wall 20 of the second section 15 are parallel and define a first assembly window 16a at the junction between the two

sections

14, 15, and the second wall 21 of the first section 14 and the second wall 21 of the second section 15 are parallel and define a second assembly window 16b at the junction between the two

sections

14, 15.

The connection wing part includes:

a first secondary connecting wing 28 connected to the first edge 24 of the central core 17 and lying in a plane parallel to the secondary sealing film 7 of the first tank wall 1, the first secondary connecting wing 28 being welded in a sealing manner to the secondary sealing film 7 of the first tank wall 1,

a second secondary connecting wing 29 connected to the second edge 25 of the central core 17 and lying in a plane parallel to the secondary sealing film 7 of the second tank wall 2, the second secondary connecting wing 29 being welded in a sealing manner to the secondary sealing film 7 of the second tank wall 2,

a first primary connecting wing 30 connected to the third edge 26 of the central core 17 and lying in a plane parallel to the primary sealing film 9 of the first tank wall 1, the first primary connecting wing 30 being welded in a sealed manner to the primary sealing film 9 of the first tank wall 1,

a second primary connecting wing 31 connected to the third edge 26 of the central core 17 and lying in a plane parallel to the primary sealing film 9 of the second tank wall 2, the second primary connecting wing 31 being welded in a sealed manner to the primary sealing film 9 of the second tank wall 2.

The anchoring wing part includes:

a first secondary anchoring wing 32 connected to the fourth edge 27 of the central core 17 and lying in the same plane as the second secondary connecting wing 29, the first secondary anchoring wing 32 being fixed to the secondary flat anchoring portion 18 of the first tank wall 1,

a second secondary anchoring wing 33 connected to the fourth edge 27 of the central core 17 and lying in the same plane as the first secondary connecting wing 28, the second secondary anchoring wing 33 being fixed to the secondary flat anchoring portion 18 of the second tank wall 2,

a first primary anchoring wing 34 connected to the third edge 26 of the central core 17 and lying in the same plane as the second primary connecting wing 31, the first primary anchoring wing 34 being fixed to the primary flat anchoring portion 19 of the first tank wall 1,

a second primary anchoring wing 35 connected to the second edge 25 of the central core 17 and lying in the same plane as the first primary connecting wing 30, the second primary anchoring wing 35 being fixed to the primary flat anchoring portion 19 of the second tank wall 2.

In order to ensure continuity of insulation in the region of the connecting beam 17, an insulating element 36 is arranged inside the hollow central core 17 and between the anchoring wings 32 to 35 to form the secondary thermal insulation barrier 6 and the primary thermal insulation barrier 8 in the region of the tank rim 3. The insulating element 36 may be in the form of a box filled with an insulating material, such as for example glass wool or perlite or a block of insulating foam.

As described above and as can be seen in particular in fig. 3, the connecting beam 13 has a first assembly window 16a and a second assembly window 16b at the junction between two

adjacent sections

14, 15. The

assembly windows

16a, 16b are formed by cutouts in the first wall 20 and the second wall 21, respectively, of the central core 17. These

assembly windows

16a, 16b enable, in particular, the third wall 22 of the first segment 14 to be welded to the third wall 22 of the second segment 15, the fourth wall 23 of the first segment 14 to be welded to the fourth wall 23 of the second segment 15, and the

secondary connection wings

28, 29 of the first segment 14 to be welded in a sealed manner to the

secondary connection wings

28, 29 of the second segment 15, using metal joints 37. This is because the third wall 22, the fourth wall 23 and the secondary connecting

wings

28, 29 enable continuity of the secondary sealing film 7 between the first tank wall 1 and the second tank wall 2 in the region of the connecting beam 13. Furthermore, assembling the

windows

16a, 16b enables the insulating element 36 to be inserted into the hollow central core 17.

The connecting beam 13 comprises a connecting assembly 38, which connecting assembly 38 has a shape complementary to the assembly window 16 and is fixed to the first section 14 and the second section 15 in the region of the

assembly windows

16a, 16 b. Since the connecting assembly 38 blocks the

windows

16a, 16b, the insulating element 36 has been placed in the hollow central core 17 before the connecting assembly is fixed in the region of the

assembly windows

16a, 16 b.

Connection assembly 38 includes: a first wing 39 and a second wing 40, the first wing 39 being parallel to the first wall 20 of the central core 17, the second wing 40 being parallel to the second wall 21 of the central core 17 and intersecting the first wing 39 to form a cross-shaped cross-section. Thus, the first wing 39 extends in the region of the intersection edge 61 on one side and on the other side of the second wing 40, and the second wing 40 extends in the region of the intersection edge 61 on one side and on the other side of the first wing 39. In this way, on the one hand, the first wing 39 is aligned with the first wall 20 of the central core 17 of each

segment

14, 15; on the other hand, the first wing 39 is aligned with the first primary connecting wing 30 of each

segment

14, 15. In the same way, on the one hand, the second wing 40 is aligned with the second wall 21 of the central core 17 of each

segment

14, 15; on the other hand, the second wing 40 is aligned with the second primary connecting wing 29 of each

section

14, 15.

The continuity of the primary sealing film 9 between the first tank wall 1 and the second tank wall 2 is produced by the primary connecting

wings

30, 31. However, in order to also ensure such continuity in the area of the assembled window 16, the connection assembly 38 comprises bent metal joints 41 on one and the other side of the

wings

39, 40, welded in a sealed manner to the first and

second wings

39, 40 and to the

primary connection wings

30, 31.

To fixedly bond the first segment 14 to the second segment 15, as shown in fig. 2, the first wing 39 is welded in an overlapping manner to the first wall 20 of the first segment 14 and to the first wall 20 of the second segment 15. The second wing 40 is welded to the second wall 21 of the first segment 14 and the second wall 21 of the second segment 15 in an overlapping manner.

Fig. 4 to 6 show the connection assembly 38, in particular the first wing 39 and the second wing 40, in a more detailed manner.

As shown in fig. 4, the second wing 40 includes: a main plate 42, the main plate 42 being located in the same plane as the second wall 21 of the central core body 17 of each

segment

14, 15; and an offset portion 43, the offset portion 43 being connected to an edge of the main plate 42 located below the first wing 39 such that the offset portion 43 is formed in a plane away from the plane of the main plate 42. The offset 43 thus covers the second wall 21 of the first section 14 and the second wall 21 of the second section 15. Thus, the offset portion 43 of the second wing 40 is welded to the

sections

14, 15. The portion of the main plate 42 above the first wing 39 and the intersecting edge 61 forms a second connecting portion 60 of the second wing 40, which second connecting portion 60 is aligned with the second primary connecting wing 31 of the first section 14 and the second primary connecting wing 31 of the second section 15 during assembly so as to be welded at this location.

The first wing 39 is configured differently from the second wing 40 because the first wing 39 requires more flexibility to limit greater stress concentrations thereon. This is why fig. 5 and 6 illustrate in detail the first wing 39 of the connecting assembly 38.

Fig. 5 shows a first embodiment of the first wing 39. In this embodiment, the first wing 39 includes: a main plate 44, the main plate 44 lying in the same plane as the first wall 20 of the central core 17 of each

segment

14, 15; and an offset portion 45, the offset portion 45 being connected to an edge of the main plate 44 located below the second wing 40 such that the offset portion 45 is formed in a plane away from the plane of the main plate 44.

The offset portion 45 of the first wing 39 comprises: a first portion 46, the first portion 46 being welded in an overlapping manner to the first wall 20 of the first section 14; and a second portion 47, the second portion 47 being welded in an overlapping manner to the first wall 20 of the second section 15. The first portion 46 and the second portion 47 are separated from each other in the direction of the can rim 3 by a recess 48.

In order to prevent stress concentrations in the region of the recess 48, two adjacent edges of the recess 48 are connected to one another using a rounded corner 49.

In the same manner as the second wing 40, the first wing 39 extends on one side and the other of the intersecting edges 61. On one side, the first wing 39 comprises an offset portion 45 so as to fix the offset portion 45 to the first and

second sections

14, 15 by overlapping in the region of the assembly window 16 a. The portion of the first wing 39 on the other side of the intersecting edge 61 forms a first connecting portion 59 of the first wing 39, which first connecting portion 39 is aligned during assembly with the first primary connecting wing 30 of the first section 14 and the first primary connecting wing 30 of the second section 15 for welding at this location.

As schematically shown in fig. 5, the first portion 46 is welded to the first wall 20 of the first segment 14 by a first main bead 50 formed on a circumferential portion of the first portion 46 and by a welding circuit formed by a first secondary bead 52 along an edge of the notch 48. The second portion 47 is welded to the first wall 20 of the second section 15 by means of a second main bead 51 formed on a circumferential portion of the second portion 47 and by means of a welding circuit formed by a second secondary bead 53 along the edge of the notch 48.

Further, as shown in fig. 4, the first and

second wing parts

39 and 40 include notches 54 formed on each edge of the first and

second wing parts

39 and 40, respectively, and the notches 54 extend in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The notches 54 enable the

main panels

42, 44 and the offset

portions

43, 45 to be separated.

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of the first wing 39. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment of fig. 5 in the size of the recess 48. This is because, in the first embodiment, the notch 48 extends as far as the main plate 44, whereas in the second embodiment, the notch 48 is located only on the offset portion 45. Thus, in this embodiment, the offset portion 45 includes a third portion 55, the third portion 55 corresponding to the notch 48 and connecting the first portion 46 and the second portion 47. The notch 48 is thus formed by the edge of the first portion 46, the edge of the second portion 46 and the edge of the third portion 55. Further, in this embodiment, the offset portion 45 of the first wing 39 includes: a main portion 56, the main portion 56 extending in the direction of the first edge 24; a first branch 57 and a second branch 58, the first branch 57 and the second branch 58 being formed on one side and the other side of the main portion 56 and extending in a direction perpendicular to the first edge, so that the offset portion 45 forms a U-shape around the main plate 56 of the first wing, the first branch 57 and the second branch 58 having a width smaller than that of the main portion 56.

Referring to fig. 7, a cross-sectional view of an lng carrier 70 shows a sealed insulated tank 71, which is generally prismatic and mounted in the double hull 72 of the carrier. The walls of the tank 71 include: a primary containment barrier for contacting the liquefied natural gas contained in the tank; a secondary sealing barrier disposed between the primary sealing barrier and the catamaran hull 72 of the transport; and two insulation barriers respectively disposed between the primary and secondary containment barriers and between the secondary containment barrier and the twin hull 72.

In a manner known per se, a charging/discharging pipe 73 arranged on the upper bridge of the conveyor may be connected to the sea or to a harbour terminal using suitable connectors in order to transfer the load of LNG to or from the tank 71.

Fig. 7 shows an example of a marine terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, a subsea pipeline 76 and a ground-based installation 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a movable arm 74 and a tower 78, the tower 78 supporting the movable arm 74. The movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible tubes 79, the flexible tubes 79 being connected to the loading/unloading tube 73. The orientable movable arm 74 accommodates all sizes of conveyors. A not shown connecting line extends inside the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 enables loading/unloading of the lng carrier 70 from/to the ground-based facility 77. The installation comprises a liquefied gas storage tank 80 and a connecting pipeline 81, the connecting pipeline 81 being connected to a loading or unloading station 75 via a subsea pipeline 76. The underwater pipelines 76 enable the liquefied gas to be transported over a long distance, for example 5km, between the loading or unloading station 75 and the ground-based facility 77, which enables the liquefied natural gas transport vehicles 70 to be maintained at a great distance from shore during loading and unloading operations.

In order to generate the pressure required for the transfer of the liquefied gas, on-board pumps and/or pumps provided with the ground-based facility 77 and/or pumps provided with the loading and unloading station 75 are used in the transport aircraft 70.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several specific embodiments, it goes without saying that the invention is in no way limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations that fall within the scope of the invention.

Use of the verb "to have", "comprise" or "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

Claims

1. A connection beam (13) for a heat insulated sealable tank (71) for storing liquefied gas, wherein the connection beam (13) comprises a first section (14) and a second section (15), the first section (14) and the second section (15) being aligned with each other along a first direction, which is the direction in which a tank rim (3) extends, wherein each section (14, 15) comprises a central core (17) and a connection wing (28, 29, 30, 31), the central core (17) comprising a first wall (20) and a second wall (21), the second wall (21) being connected to the first wall (20) along a first edge (24) of the central core (17), the connection wing (28, 29, 30, 31) being fixed to the central core (17) and being used for fixing a secondary sealing membrane (7) and a primary sealing membrane (9) of the heat insulated sealable tank, wherein the first wall (20) and the second wall (21) are for extending through a primary insulation space of the tank, and wherein the first wall (20) of the first section (14) and the first wall (20) of the second section (15) are parallel and define a first assembly window (16a) at a connection between the first section (14) and the second section (15), and the second wall (21) of the first section (14) and the second wall (21) of the second section (15) are parallel and define a second assembly window (16b) at a connection between the first section (14) and the second section (15),

wherein the connection beam (13) comprises a connection assembly (38), the connection assembly (38) having a shape complementary to the assembly window (16a, 16b), and a connection assembly (38) being fixed to the first segment (14) and the second segment (15) in the region of the assembly window (16a, 16b), the connection assembly (38) comprising a first wing (39) and a second wing (40), the first wing (39) being parallel to the first wall (20) of the first segment (14) and the first wall (20) of the second segment (15) and closing the first assembly window (16a), the second wing (40) being connected to the first wing (39), and the second wing (40) being parallel to the second wall (21) of the first segment (14) and the second wall (21) of the second segment (15) and closing the second assembly window (16b),

and wherein the second wing (40) is welded in an overlapping manner to the second wall (21) of the first section (14) and to the second wall (21) of the second section (15), and the first wing (39) comprises: a main plate (44), the main plate (44) being housed in the first assembly window (16 a); a first portion (46), the first portion (46) being connected to the main plate (44) and the first portion (46) being welded in an overlapping manner to the first wall (20) of the first section (14); and a second portion (47), the second portion (47) being connected to the main plate (44) and the second portion (47) being welded to the first wall (20) of the second section (15) in an overlapping manner, the first portion (46) of the first wing (39) being separated from the second portion (47) of the first wing (39) by a notch (48) in the first direction, the first portion (46) and the second portion (47) of the first wing (39) being welded to the first section (14) and the second section (15) respectively using a first main welding bead (50) and a second main welding bead (51) extending in the first direction.

2. Connecting beam according to claim 1, wherein the first and second portions (46, 47) of the first wing (39) are also welded to the first and second sections (14, 15) respectively using first and second secondary welding beads (52, 53), forming a welding loop along the edges of the notch (48).

3. Connecting beam according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the central core (17) has a hollow cross section in the form of a parallelogram and comprises a third wall (22) and a fourth wall (23), the third wall (22) being connected to the first wall (20) in the region of a second edge (25), the fourth wall (23) being connected to the second wall (21) in the region of a third edge (26), the fourth wall (23) being connected to the third wall (22) in the region of a fourth edge (27), the third wall (22) and the fourth wall (23) being used to form a secondary sealing membrane (7) along the tank edge (3).

4. Connecting beam according to claim 3, wherein the connecting wing projects towards the outside of the central core (12), said connecting wing comprising:

-a first secondary connection wing (28), said first secondary connection wing (28) being connected to said second edge (25) of said central core (17), said first secondary connection wing (28) being intended to be welded in a sealed manner to said secondary sealing membrane (7) of said tank,

-a second secondary connection wing (29), said second secondary connection wing (29) being connected to said third edge (26) of said central core (17), said second secondary connection wing (29) being intended to be welded in a sealed manner to said secondary sealing film (7) of said tank,

-first primary connecting wings (30), said first primary connecting wings (30) being connected to the first edge (24) of the central core (17), said first primary connecting wings (30) being intended to be welded in a sealed manner to the primary sealing membrane of the tank,

-a second primary connecting wing (31), said second primary connecting wing (31) being connected to the first edge (24) of the central core (17) and forming an angle with the first primary connecting wing (30), said second primary connecting wing (31) being intended to be welded in a sealed manner to the primary sealing membrane (9) of the tank.

5. Connecting beam according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main plate (44) lies in the same plane as the surface of the first wall (20) of the central core (17) of the first and second sections (14, 15), the first portion (46) and the second portion (47) are located at opposite corners of the main plate (44), the first wing (39) comprising an offset portion (45), the offset portion (45) being connected to at least one edge of the main plate (44), so that the offset portion (45) is formed in a plane away from the plane of the main plate (44), the first portion (46) and the second portion (47) are located on the offset portion (45), the offset portion (45) partially covers the first wall (20) of the first section (14) and the first wall (20) of the second section (15), respectively.

6. The connection beam according to claim 5, wherein the first wing (39) comprises a notch (54), the notch (54) extending parallel to the first edge (24), and the notch (54) is formed on one of the edges of the first wing (39) formed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the first edge (24), the notch (54) being configured to separate the main plate (44) of the first wing (39) from the offset portion (45), the offset portion (45) being close to but not connected to the second wing (40).

7. Connecting beam according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second wing (40) comprises: a main plate (42), said main plate (42) lying in the same plane as the second wall (21) of the central core (17) of the first section (14) and the second wall (21) of the central core (17) of the second section (15); and an offset portion (43), the offset portion (43) being connected to at least one edge of the main plate (42) such that the offset portion (43) is formed in a plane remote from a plane of the main plate (42), the offset portion (43) partially covering the second wall (21) of the first section (14) and the second wall (21) of the second section (15).

8. The connection beam according to claim 7, wherein the second wing (40) includes a notch (54), the notch (54) extends in parallel with the first edge (24), and the notch (54) is formed on one of edges of the second wing (40) formed in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the first edge (24), the notch (54) is configured to separate the main plate (42) of the second wing (40) from the offset portion (43), the offset portion (43) is close to but not connected to the first wing (39).

9. Connecting beam according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein two adjacent edges of the recess (48) are connected to each other by a rounded portion (49).

10. Connecting beam according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the notch (48) is defined by an edge of the first portion (46), an edge of the second portion (47) and an edge of the main plate (44).

11. Connecting beam according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the first wing (39) comprises a third portion (55), the third portion (55) corresponding to the notch (48) and connecting the first portion (46) and the second portion (47), the third portion (55) being located on the offset portion (45), and the notch (48) being defined by an edge of the first portion (46), an edge of the second portion (47) and an edge of the third portion (55).

12. A thermally insulated sealed tank (71) for storing liquefied gas, the tank (71) comprising at least a first tank wall (1) and a second tank wall (2), the first tank wall (1) and the second tank wall (2) each comprising a load-bearing wall (5), the load-bearing walls (5) of the first tank wall (1) and the load-bearing walls (5) of the second tank wall (2) together forming an angle and meeting in the area of the tank rim (3), each tank wall (1, 2) comprising, from the load-bearing walls (5) towards the inner space of the tank: a secondary thermal insulation barrier (6) supported by the carrier wall (5), a secondary sealing film (7) supported by the secondary thermal insulation barrier (6), a primary thermal insulation barrier (8) supported by the secondary sealing film (7) and a supported primary sealing film (9), the primary sealing membrane (9) being intended to be in contact with liquefied gas, the tank comprising a connecting beam (13) according to one of claims 1 to 11 in the region of the tank rim (3), the connecting beam (13) being fixed to the carrier wall (5) of the first tank wall (1) and the carrier wall (5) of the second tank wall (2), and the connecting beam (13) is configured to connect the primary sealing membrane (9) of the first tank wall (1) to the primary sealing membrane (9) of the second tank wall (2) in a sealing manner.

13. Tank according to claim 12, wherein said central core (17) has a cross section in the form of a parallelogram and said connecting wings protrude towards the outside of said central core (17), said connecting wings comprising:

-a first secondary connection wing (28), said first secondary connection wing (28) being connected to a first edge (24) of said central core (17) and lying in a plane parallel to said secondary sealing film (7) of said first tank wall (1), said first secondary connection wing (28) being welded in a sealing manner to said secondary sealing film (7) of said first tank wall (1),

-a second secondary connecting wing (29), said second secondary connecting wing (29) being connected to a second edge (25) of said central core (17) and lying in a plane parallel to said secondary sealing film (7) of said second tank wall (2), said second secondary connecting wing (29) being welded in a sealing manner to said secondary sealing film (7) of said second tank wall (2),

-a first primary connecting wing (30), said first primary connecting wing (30) being connected to a third edge (26) of said central core (17) and lying in a plane parallel to said primary sealing film (9) of said first tank wall (1), said first primary connecting wing (30) being welded in a sealing manner to said primary sealing film (9) of said first tank wall (1),

-a second primary connecting wing (31), said second primary connecting wing (31) being connected to said third edge (26) of said central core (17) and lying in a plane parallel to said primary sealing film (9) of said second tank wall (2), said second primary connecting wing (31) being welded in a sealed manner to said primary sealing film (9) of said second tank wall (2).

14. A conveyor (70) for transporting cold liquid products, the conveyor comprising a double hull (72) and a tank (71) according to claim 12 or claim 13 arranged in the double hull.

15. A transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising: a conveyor (70) according to claim 14; an insulated pipe (73, 79, 76, 81), the insulated pipe (73, 79, 76, 81) being arranged such that the tank (71) mounted in the hull of the transporter is connected to a floating or ground-based storage facility (77); and a pump for propelling a flow of cold liquid product from the floating or ground-based storage facility to the tank of the conveyor through the insulated pipe or for propelling a flow of cold liquid product from the tank of the conveyor to the floating or ground-based storage facility through the insulated pipe.

16. A connection assembly (38) for connecting a first section (14) and a second section (15) of a connection beam (13) of a thermally insulated sealable tank, the first section (14) and the second section (15) being aligned with each other along a tank edge (3),

the connection assembly (38) comprises a first wing (39), a second wing (40) forming an angle with the first wing, the first wing (39) and the second wing (40) being connected to each other in the region of an intersecting edge (61) extending in a first direction, wherein the first wing (39) comprises: a main plate (44), the main plate (44) extending at one side and the other side of the intersecting edge (61) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a first portion (46), the first portion (46) being connected to the main board (44); and a second portion (47), the second portion (47) being connected to the main plate (44), the first portion (46) of the first wing (39) being separated from the second portion (47) of the first wing (39) via a notch (48) in the first direction.

17. A method for producing a connection beam (13) in a thermally insulated containment tank, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

-arranging a first section (14) and a second section (15) of the connecting beam (13) along a tank rim (3), the first section (14) and the second section (15) being aligned with each other in the direction of the tank rim (3), each section (14, 15) comprising a hollow central core (17) and connecting wings (28, 29, 30, 31), the hollow central core (17) comprising a first wall (20) and a second wall (21), the second wall (21) being connected to the first wall (20) along a first edge (24) of the central core (17), the connecting wings (28, 29, 30, 31) being fixed to the central core (17) and being used for fixing a secondary sealing membrane (7) and a primary sealing membrane (9) of the heat insulating sealed tank, wherein the first wall (20) and the second wall (21) are used for extending through a primary insulating space of the tank, and wherein the first wall (20) of the first section (14) and the first wall (20) of the second section (15) are parallel and define a first assembly window (16a) at the junction between the first section (14) and the second section (15), and the second wall (21) of the first section (14) and the second wall (21) of the second section (15) are parallel and define a second assembly window (16b) at the junction between the first section (14) and the second section (15),

-providing an insulating element (36) and placing the insulating element (36) in the hollow central core (17),

-providing a connection assembly (38), the connection assembly (38) having a shape complementary to the assembly window (16a, 16b), the connection assembly (38) comprising a first wing (39) and a second wing (40) connected to the first wing (39), the first wing (39) comprising: a main board (44); a first portion (46), the first portion (46) being connected to the main board (44); and a second portion (47), the second portion (47) being connected to the main board (44); the first portion (46) of the first limb (39) being separated from the second portion (47) of the first limb (39) by a notch (48) in the direction of the can rim (3),

-placing the connection assembly (38) in the region of the assembly windows (16a, 16b) such that the first wing (39) is parallel to the first wall (20) of the first section (14) and the first wall (20) of the second section (15) and closes the first assembly window (16a), the main plate (44) of the first wing (39) being housed in the first assembly window (16a), and such that the second wing (40) is parallel to the second wall (21) of the first section (14) and the second wall (21) of the second section (15) and closes the second assembly window (16b),

-welding the second wing (40) to the second wall (21) of the first section (14) and the second wall (21) of the second section (15) in an overlapping manner, welding the first portion (46) of the first wing (39) to the first wall (20) of the first section (14) in an overlapping manner using a first main bead (50) extending in the direction of the can rim (3), and welding the second portion (47) of the first wing (39) to the first wall (20) of the second section (15) in an overlapping manner using a second main bead (51) extending in the direction of the can rim (3).

18. A method for loading or unloading a conveyor (70) according to claim 14, wherein cold liquid product is transported from a floating or ground-based storage facility (77) to the tank (71) of the conveyor through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81), or cold liquid product is transported from the tank (71) of the conveyor to a floating or ground-based storage facility (77) through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81).