EP2880356B1 - Sealed and thermally insulating tank wall comprising spaced-apart support elements - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the field of manufacturing sealed and thermally insulating vessels. In particular, the present invention relates to tanks for the storage or transport of cold or hot liquids, for example tanks for the storage and / or transport of liquefied gas by sea.

Waterproof and thermally insulating vessels can be used in different industries to store hot or cold products. For example, in the energy field, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a liquid that can be stored at atmospheric pressure at about -163 ° C in land-based storage tanks or tanks embedded in floating structures.

A tank for storing hot or cold products in a ship is described in particular in the document FR2877638 . The vessel has a vessel wall which has, from the interior to the outside of the vessel, a primary watertight barrier, a primary insulating barrier, a secondary watertight barrier and a secondary insulating barrier. Insulating barriers consist of heat-insulating elements. The heat insulating elements include a thermal insulation lining between a bottom panel and a cover panel. Pillars pass through the insulation liner between the cover panel and the bottom panel to form a heat insulating member having good compressive strength.

The document FR2527544 discloses a sealed and thermally insulating tank as in the preamble of claim 1.

• une paroi porteuse,
• une barrière d'isolation thermique secondaire retenue sur la paroi porteuse, la barrière d'isolation thermique étant constituée d'une pluralité d'éléments calorifuges
• secondaires juxtaposés de manière à former une surface de support secondaire,
• une barrière d'isolation thermique primaire retenue sur la barrière d'isolation thermique secondaire, la barrière d'isolation thermique primaire étant constituée d'une pluralité d'éléments calorifuges primaires juxtaposés de manière à former une surface de support primaire,
• une barrière d'étanchéité en appui sur la surface de support primaire, chaque élément calorifuge primaire et chaque élément calorifuge secondaire comportant :
  • une garniture calorifuge,
  • une pluralité d'éléments porteurs traversant la garniture calorifuge perpendiculairement à la paroi de cuve et
  • un panneau parallèle à la paroi de cuve agencé à une extrémité des éléments porteurs de l'élément calorifuge de manière à former une paroi extérieure de l'élément calorifuge,

dans laquelle au moins un parmi le panneau de l'élément calorifuge primaire et le panneau de l'élément calorifuge secondaire est agencé entre les éléments porteurs de la barrière d'isolation primaire et les éléments porteurs de la barrière d'isolation secondaire.According to one embodiment, a tank wall comprises from the outside of the tank towards the inside of the tank:

• a load-bearing wall,
• a secondary thermal insulation barrier retained on the carrier wall, the thermal insulation barrier consisting of a plurality of heat-insulating elements
• secondary juxtaposed to form a secondary support surface,
• a primary thermal insulation barrier retained on the secondary thermal insulation barrier, the primary thermal insulation barrier consisting of a plurality of primary heat insulating elements juxtaposed to form a primary support surface,
• a sealing barrier resting on the primary support surface, each primary heat insulating element and each secondary heat insulating element comprising:
  • insulating packing,
  • a plurality of load-bearing elements passing through the heat-insulating packing perpendicularly to the tank wall and
  • a panel parallel to the tank wall arranged at one end of the carrying elements of the heat-insulating element so as to form an outer wall of the heat-insulating element,

wherein at least one of the panel of the primary heat insulating element and the panel of the secondary heat insulating element is arranged between the carrying elements of the primary insulation barrier and the supporting elements of the secondary insulation barrier.

One of the carrier elements or a subset of the carrier elements, in particular the non-edge bearing elements, or each carrier element of the plurality of carrier elements of the primary heat-insulating element, is spaced relative to the elements Underlying carriers of the secondary heat insulating element in a projection view in a plane parallel to the vessel wall. At least one carrier element of the plurality of carrier elements of the primary heat insulating element is not superimposed on the underlying load-bearing elements of the secondary heat-insulating element in a projection view in a plane parallel to the vessel wall.

According to embodiments, such a tank may comprise one or more of the following characteristics.

According to embodiments, each carrier element of the plurality of carrier elements of the primary heat insulating element is positioned outside of the characteristic perimeters surrounding the underlying load-bearing elements of the secondary thermal insulation element.

According to embodiments, the support elements are pillars of small section in the plane parallel to the vessel wall with respect to the dimensions of the heat insulating element.

According to embodiments, the heat-insulating elements have a parallelepipedal shape and the characteristic perimeter surrounding a supporting element is of rectangular shape, the perimeter comprising a first side parallel to a length direction of the heat-insulating element, and a second side parallel to a width direction of the heat insulating element,
the dimension of the first side of the perimeter being greater than or equal to twice a first characteristic dimension of the section of the pillar in the length direction of the heat insulating element and
the dimension of the second side of the perimeter being greater than or equal to twice a second characteristic dimension of the section of the pillar in the width direction of the heat insulating element.

According to embodiments, the pillars have a rectangular section, and the perimeter has a rectangular shape centered on the rectangular section, the long sides of the perimeter being parallel to the long sides of the rectangular section, the dimensions of the perimeter being equal to double the dimensions of the rectangular section.

According to embodiments, the perimeters have a circular shape and are each centered on a pillar, the radius of the perimeter being equal to a diameter characteristic of the section of the pillar.

According to embodiments, the pillars of a heat-insulating element are arranged in rows of pillars parallel to one side of the heat-insulating element, a row of pillars of the primary thermal insulation barrier being each time positioned in said view. projection halfway between two rows of pillars of the secondary thermal insulation barrier.

According to embodiments, a carrier element of the primary thermal insulation barrier is each time arranged in said projection view at a position located midway between two adjacent supporting elements of the secondary thermal insulation barrier.

According to embodiments, the primary heat insulating element comprises a bottom panel extending parallel to the vessel wall and carrying the supporting elements of the primary heat insulating element.

According to embodiments, the secondary heat insulating element comprises a bottom panel extending parallel to the vessel wall and carrying the load-bearing elements of the secondary heat-insulating element.

According to embodiments, the secondary heat-insulating element comprises a cover panel extending parallel to the vessel wall and carried by the supporting elements of the secondary heat-insulating element, the cover panel having an outer surface forming the surface of the secondary support.

• un panneau de répartition fixé sur les éléments porteurs et en appui sur les éléments porteurs,
• un élément d'espacement en appui et fixé sur le panneau de répartition, l'élément d'espacement comportant une pluralité de poutres espacées les unes des autres et s'étendant parallèlement au panneau de répartition,
• un panneau supérieur parallèle au panneau de répartition, fixé et supporté par la pluralité de poutres.

According to embodiments, the cover panel of the secondary heat insulating element comprises:

• a distribution panel fixed on the support elements and resting on the supporting elements,
• a spacer element supported and fixed on the distribution panel, the spacer having a plurality of beams spaced from one another and extending parallel to the distribution panel,
• an upper panel parallel to the distribution panel, fixed and supported by the plurality of beams.

• un panneau de répartition fixé sur les éléments porteurs et en appui sur les éléments porteurs,
• un élément d'espacement en appui et fixé sur le panneau de répartition, l'élément d'espacement comportant une pluralité de poutres espacées les unes des autres et s'étendant parallèlement au panneau de répartition,
• un panneau supérieur parallèle au panneau de répartition, fixé et supporté par la pluralité de poutres, le panneau supérieur comportant une surface extérieure formant la surface de support primaire.

According to embodiments, the primary heat insulating element comprises a cover panel extending parallel to the vessel wall and carried by the pillars, the cover panel comprising:

• a distribution panel fixed on the support elements and resting on the supporting elements,
• a spacer element supported and fixed on the distribution panel, the spacer element comprising a plurality of spaced apart beams; each other and extending parallel to the distribution panel,
• an upper panel parallel to the distribution panel, fixed and supported by the plurality of beams, the upper panel having an outer surface forming the primary support surface.

According to embodiments, the beams of the plurality of beams of the primary heat insulating element are perpendicular to the beams of the plurality of beams of the secondary heat insulating element.

According to embodiments, a primary heat-insulating element and a secondary heat-insulating element have a parallelepipedal shape, and the primary heat-insulating element comprises primary anchoring pillars each arranged at a corner of the primary heat-insulating element, the secondary heat insulating element comprising secondary anchoring pillars each arranged at a corner of the secondary heat insulating element, the primary anchoring pillars and the secondary anchoring pillars being superimposed.

According to embodiments, the vessel wall further comprises a secondary sealing barrier resting on the secondary support surface of the secondary thermal insulation barrier.

According to embodiments, the vessel wall further comprises a secondary sealing barrier resting on the secondary support surface of the secondary thermal insulation barrier.

Such a tank can be part of a land storage facility, for example to store LNG or be installed in a floating structure, coastal or deep water, including a LNG tank, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) , a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others.

According to one embodiment, a vessel for the transport of a cold liquid product comprises a double hull and a aforementioned tank disposed in the double hull.

According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method of loading or unloading such a vessel, in which a cold liquid product is conveyed through isolated pipes from or to a floating or land storage facility to or from the vessel vessel.

According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising the abovementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged to connect the vessel installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating storage facility. or terrestrial and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipelines from or to the floating or land storage facility to or from the vessel vessel.

An idea underlying the invention is to provide a vessel wall in which is arranged a primary heat insulating element comprising load-bearing elements on a secondary heat-insulating element also having load-bearing elements, so that the elements carrying the heat-insulating element. primary element are not superimposed on the supporting elements of the secondary thermal insulation element. In this way, a rigid upper panel of the primary box can be deformed to distribute a load on neighboring pillars.

Certain aspects of the invention start from the idea of deforming panels of the heat-insulating elements in order to elastically absorb a load, in particular to preserve the strength of the load-bearing elements subjected to dynamic loading, for example during the sloshing of the fluid in the tank. .

Some aspects of the invention start from the idea of providing a heat insulating element having a good compromise between the thermomechanical performances, in particular during dynamic stresses, and the cost of implementation.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the course of the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes. with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• La figure 1 est une vue partielle en perspective écorchée d'une paroi de cuve étanche et thermiquement isolante dans laquelle des éléments calorifuges selon des modes de réalisation de l'invention peuvent être employés.
• La figure 2 est une représentation schématique en perspective écorchée d'un élément calorifuge qui peut être inclus dans la paroi de cuve de la figure 1 et qui comporte des piliers.
• La figure 3 est une vue schématique de côté de l'élément calorifuge de la figure 2 lorsque celui-ci est soumis à un faible chargement.
• La figure 4 est une vue schématique de côté de l'élément calorifuge de la figure 2 lorsque celui-ci est soumis à un fort chargement.
• La figure 5 est une représentation schématique de côté des éléments calorifuges présentés de la figure 2 lorsque la paroi de cuve est soumise à une charge locale.
• La figure 6 est une représentation schématique de côté des éléments calorifuges présentés dans la figure 2 lorsque la paroi de cuve est soumise à une charge étendue.
• La figure 7 est une vue en perspective d'éléments calorifuges de la figure 2 superposés pour former une barrière thermiquement isolante primaire et une barrière thermiquement isolante secondaire de la paroi de cuve illustrée sur la figure 1.
• La figure 8 est une représentation schématique de la position des piliers de la barrière thermiquement isolante primaire et de la barrière thermiquement isolante secondaire selon une projection dans un plan parallèle à la paroi de cuve.
• Les figures 9a à 9c sont des vues de dessus de piliers présentant des sections géométriquement différentes, et qui illustre des zones de non recouvrement s'étendant autour de piliers.
• La figure 10 est une représentation schématique écorchée d'une cuve de navire méthanier et d'un terminal de chargement/déchargement de cette cuve.

On these drawings:

• The figure 1 is a fragmentary cutaway perspective view of a sealed and thermally insulating vessel wall in which heat-insulating elements according to embodiments of the invention may be employed.
• The figure 2 is a schematic cutaway perspective representation of a heat insulating element that can be included in the tank wall of the figure 1 and which has pillars.
• The figure 3 is a schematic side view of the heat insulating element of the figure 2 when it is subjected to a low load.
• The figure 4 is a schematic side view of the heat insulating element of the figure 2 when it is subjected to heavy loading.
• The figure 5 is a schematic side view of the heat insulating elements presented from the figure 2 when the tank wall is subjected to a local load.
• The figure 6 is a schematic side view of the heat insulating elements presented in the figure 2 when the vessel wall is subjected to an extended load.
• The figure 7 is a perspective view of heat insulating elements of the figure 2 superimposed to form a primary thermally insulating barrier and a secondary thermally insulating barrier of the vessel wall illustrated on the figure 1 .
• The figure 8 is a schematic representation of the position of the pillars of the primary thermally insulating barrier and the secondary thermally insulating barrier according to a projection in a plane parallel to the vessel wall.
• The Figures 9a to 9c are top views of pillars having geometrically different sections, and illustrating non-overlapping areas extending around pillars.
• The figure 10 is a cutaway schematic representation of a tank of LNG tanker and a loading / unloading terminal of this tank.

The figure 1 represents watertight and insulating walls of a tank integrated in a carrying structure of a ship.

The bearing structure of the tank is constituted by the inner hull of a double-hulled vessel, whose wall is represented by the number 1.

A tank wall is arranged each time on a wall 1 of the supporting structure. Each tank wall is made by successive superposition of a secondary thermal insulation layer 2, a secondary sealed barrier 3, a primary thermal insulation layer 4 and a primary sealed barrier 5.

The primary insulation layer 4 and the secondary insulation layer 2 are formed of a plurality of parallelepiped heat insulating boxes 6 and 7 juxtaposed in a regular pattern. The secondary heat insulating caissons 6 and the primary heat insulating caissons 7 thus form a substantially flat surface which carries respectively the secondary watertight barrier 3 and the primary watertight barrier 5.

The secondary insulating boxes 6 and the primary insulating boxes 7 are anchored to the supporting wall 1 by means of anchoring members 8 and 9. In particular, the anchoring members 8 of the secondary thermal insulation layer 2 are fixed to the load-bearing wall 1 by means of studs 10 welded perpendicularly to the load-bearing wall 1. As can be seen in FIG. figure 1 , anchoring members 8 and 9 are positioned at the corners of the boxes 6 and 7. Thus, an anchoring member 8 or 9 located at a corner box can maintain four boxes 6 or 7 adjacent. Other anchoring members 8 and 9 are arranged in a central zone of the boxes 6 and 7.

The secondary sealed barrier 3 and the primary sealed barrier 5 consist of parallel invar strakes 11. These invar strakes 11 are arranged alternately with elongated welding supports 13, also in invar and have edges 12 which are raised towards the inside of the tank.

In particular, each solder support 13 is in the form of a folded invar strip to have an L-shaped section. The weld supports 13 are retained in the underlying insulation layer 2 or 4 by being slidably housed. in inverted T-shaped grooves 15 formed in cover panels 14 of boxes 6 and 7. Thus, a portion of the L-shaped strip protrudes from the T-groove towards the inside of the tank and perpendicularly to the load-bearing wall 1. The raised edges 12 of the invar strakes 11 are welded along the projecting portion of the weld supports 13.

The Figures 2 to 4 illustrate the structure of a box 16 which can be implemented in such a tank wall.

The casing 16 comprises a bottom panel 17 on which distribution flanges 18 are fixed. A row of pillars 19 or 23 is supported and is fixed each time on a corresponding distribution flange 18. In particular, the pillars 20 of each row of pillars 19 or 23 extend according to the thickness of the box 16 and therefore in a direction perpendicular to the supporting wall 1. The pillars 20 have a solid rectangular section. Each row of pillars 19 or 23 is parallel with respect to a lateral side 21 of the casing 16. The rows of pillars carry a reinforced cover panel 22. The pillars 20 allow in particular the transmission of the stresses exerted on the cover panel 22 to the wall 1 and therefore have a compressive strength function.

The rows of pillars 19 and 23 are successive shifted relative to each other. Indeed, the pillars 20 of the two successive rows 19 and 23 comprise pillars 20 spaced at the same regular spacing, however, the two rows of pillars 19 and 23 are offset in the direction of their length by half a spacing.

A heat-insulating lining, not shown, fills the space between the pillars 20 and may for example consist of an insulating foam cast between the pillars 20 or a block of foam machined to fit the pillars 20.

The reinforced cover panel 22 has an upper panel 24 and a lower panel 25 each having a thickness of 6.5 cm. The upper panel 24 and the lower panel 25 are spaced apart by a series of parallel beams 26. In particular, the beams 26 extend parallel to the lateral side 21 of the box 16. A beam 26 is each time positioned along and above a row of pillars 19 or 23. The beams 26 have a rectangular section and a thickness of 6.5cm. The beams 26 and the panels 24 and 25 are rigidly connected. Such a reinforced cover partly allows to distribute a load exerted on the cover on several pillars, thanks to its rigidity.

Each beam 26 is spaced from the other beams 26 so as to define a space between two beams 26 and between the panels 24 and 25. These spaces form circulation channels for the fluids between the sides of the heat insulating element. The juxtaposition of insulating casings 16 thus makes it possible to form a circuit in the wall of the tank in which it is possible to inject a neutral gas to neutralize the wall of the tank and thus avoid any risk of explosion in case of leakage in the presence oxygen. Moreover, such a gas circuit makes it possible to detect leakage in the impervious barriers 3 and 5. To improve the thermal resistance capabilities of the insulating box 16, a porous heat-insulating lining may be put in place in the circulation channels.

The Figures 3 and 4 , illustrate the behavior of the box when it is placed on a rigid surface, each of Figures 3 and 4 representing a charge of different intensity.

The figure 3 schematically represents side box 16 when subjected to a small point load 27 to the right of a central pillar 28, the base of the pillars 20 being fixed.

Note that in this case the reinforced cover panel 22 is deformed little. Most of the effort 29 corresponding to the load is taken up by the central pillar 28. A small part of the load 30 exerted in line with the central pillar 28 is taken up by the adjacent adjacent pillars 31 relative to the position where it is located. 27. In fact, the rigidity of the reinforced cover 22 and the central pillar prevents the deformation of the cover 22. Thus, little effort (indicated by the arrows 30) are taken up by the adjacent pillars 31.

The figure 4 illustrates this same box when a larger load 32 is applied to the right of the central pillar 28. In this case, the central pillar 28 is subjected to high stresses resulting in particular its stress in flexion. These high stresses cause a slight collapse of the central pillar 28 and therefore a slight deformation of the reinforced cover panel 22. This slight deformation of the reinforced cover panel 22 allows better distribution of the load on the adjacent pillars 31 relative to the load. However, the pillar 28 having a high rigidity, its sag remains relatively low. Thus, the deformation of the panel 22 is of low amplitude and the load is therefore poorly distributed on the adjacent pillars 31. In addition, excessive stresses exerted on the central pillar 28 can cause the rupture of this pillar 28.

In order to improve the distribution of the charge within the tank wall presented in the figure 1 the pillars 20 are arranged in such a way as to allow them to sag more significantly. In particular, the pillars of the primary caissons 7 are not superimposed on the pillars of secondary caissons 6. The advantage of such an arrangement of the pillars of the primary thermal insulation layer and the secondary thermal insulation layer will be better understood with reference to Figures 5 and 6 .

Such an arrangement is particularly presented in the figure 5 which diagrammatically illustrates from the side of the caissons forming the primary insulation layer 4 and the secondary insulation layer 2 of the tank wall of the figure 1 .

In particular, we note that a box 16 constitutes a primary heat insulating box 7 of the primary thermal barrier 4 and the secondary insulation layer comprises a secondary heat insulating box 6 which has a different structure of the box 16.

Indeed, the subwoofer 6 comprises a bottom panel 33, a top panel 34 and a heat insulating pad 35 arranged between the top panel 34 and the bottom panel 33. In the figure, we see that scales of pillars 36 The pillar ladders 36 are each formed of a row of secondary pillars 37 attached at their ends between an upper batten 38 and a lower batten 39 each extending along the row of pillars 37. in the same way as the pillars 20 of the caisson 16, the pillar ladders 36 make it possible to take back part of the compressive forces undergone by the tank wall.

Note that the primary box 7 is positioned in abutment on the secondary box 6 so that a row of pillars 19 or 23 is each time positioned halfway between two ladders of pillars 36. In particular, a primary pillar 40 here is positioned each time between two secondary pillars 37.

Such a provision favors a better distribution of the load exerted on the pillars. Indeed, in a similar way to Figures 3 and 4 , a point load 41 is represented on the figure 5 . This point load 41 is exerted on a central pillar 28 of the primary box. As the central pillar is positioned between two ladders of pillars 36 of the secondary box, the bottom panel 17 and the top panel 33 collapse under the stress exerted by the central pillar 28. This elastic deformation is illustrated by the lines 42 and 43 respectively illustrating the deformation of the top panel 34 and the bottom panel 17. Thus, the central pillar 28 is positioned on a flexible surface, which allows it to lower. This displacement allows the elastic deformation of the reinforced cover panel 22 which thus generates a force on the neighboring pillars. The lines 44 illustrate the deformation of the upper panel 24 and the lower panel 25, each of which has an arrow facing the supporting wall 1 at the central pillar 28. This deformation makes it possible to better distribute the load on the lateral pillars as indicated. by the arrows 45.

The figure 6 illustrates the same tank wall and allows to highlight another advantage of such an arrangement of primary and secondary pillars.

Indeed, the figure 6 illustrates the vessel wall when subjected to a load 46 distributed over several pillars. Such a charge can occur for example in the case of the sloshing of the fluid in the tank. Such a jolt results in a mass of fluid that hits a wall of the tank.

In this case, similarly to the figure 5 , the bottom panel 17 of the primary box 7 and the top panel of the secondary box 6 are deformed elastically under the stress exerted by the primary pillars 40 and the support formed by the secondary pillars 37. These deformations are illustrated by the lines 47. These panels 17 and 33 therefore have portions located between each scale of pillars and having an arrow oriented towards the supporting wall. The primary pillars 40 located above these arrows approach the supporting wall. Thus, the reinforced cover panel 22 deforms elastically similarly to panels 17 and 33 as shown by lines 48.

These elastic deformations of the primary caissons 7 and secondary caissons 6 and allow to recover elastically part of the energy resulting from shocks undergone by the vessel wall, for example following the sloshing or falling of a heavy element in the tank. This energy is then restored after the shock, in the manner of a damper.

Moreover, this arrangement of the pillars makes it possible to avoid the punching of the component parts of the caissons by the pillars 40 and 37, in particular distribution flanges 18 and panels. In addition, this elastic deformation makes it possible to avoid the rupture of the pillars 40 and 37 when the cell wall undergoes significant dynamic stresses. Thus, with such an arrangement of the primary pillars 40 and the secondary pillars 37, the boxes 6 and 7 thus play a role of "mattress" damping the loads exerted on the tank wall.

Another embodiment of the vessel wall will now be presented with reference to the figure 7 .

In this figure, only a box 7 of the primary insulating layer 4 and a box 6 of the secondary insulating layer 2 are shown. Note that the two insulating layers 2 and 4 consist of caissons 16. The caissons 16 are superposed in an offset manner. Thus, the primary pillars 40 and the secondary pillars 140 are not superimposed.

The position of the pillars 40 and 140 is represented on the figure 8 . Indeed, the figure 8 is a partial projection seen from above of the primary pillars 40 and the secondary pillars 140 on a plane parallel to the tank wall. Only nine pillars 40 and 140 adjacent are represented here, which corresponds to a portion of the pillars of the caissons 6 and 7 of the figure 7 .

A primary pillar 40 is each time present between four adjacent secondary pillars 140. More specifically, a secondary pillar 140 is positioned midway between two primary pillars 40 of the same row of pillars.

Returning to figure 7 it should be noted that the orientation of the rows of pillars 19 and 23 is different between the two boxes 6 and 7. Indeed the rows of pillars 19 and 23 of the primary boxes 7 are perpendicular to the rows of pillars 19 and 23 of the secondary boxes 6 This orientation is particularly visible thanks to the distribution sole plates 18 and 118 which are perpendicular. Similarly, the beams 26 and 126 are perpendicular.

Furthermore, it is possible to see the inverted T-shaped grooves 15 intended to receive the welding supports 13. Furthermore, notches (not shown) are formed in the bottom panel 17 and possibly in the distribution flanges 18 and Pillars 20. These notches allow to receive the welding supports 13 and the raised edges of the secondary watertight barrier 3. Corner pillars 49 are each present at a corner of the caissons 16. These corner pillars 49 have a section trapezoidal. Thus, when four caissons 16 are juxtaposed in one corner, the corner pillars 49 form a chimney allowing the mounting of an anchoring member, in particular couplers, extending along the adjacent pillars 49 and resting on a plate 51 to hold the caisson 16 anchored against the carrier wall 1.

However, in another embodiment, the boxes are superimposed so that the corner pillars 49 are superimposed to ensure a certain rigidity to receive the stresses exerted by the anchoring members. In these other embodiments, the positioning of the pillars in the primary box 7 and the positioning of the pillars in the secondary box 6 are different so that they are spaced when the boxes 6 and 7 are superimposed.

It is not necessary for the pillars of a first level of boxes, for example of the primary insulating layer, to be located each time midway between two pillars of a second level, for example the secondary insulating layer. Indeed a satisfactory disposition can be obtained especially when the pillars of a level are not superimposed on the pillars of the lower or higher level and are positioned at a certain distance from them. For example, the pillars of the primary insulating layer should preferably be located outside of a non-overlap zone 52 of the secondary pillars 140. Such a non-overlapping zone 52 is represented in FIG. figure 8 . The zone is defined, in the projection along the plane parallel to the vessel wall, by a rectangular perimeter 53 extending around the secondary pillar 140. Thus, the secondary pillars 140 are at a sufficient distance from the primary pillars 40 to allow the panels to sag and avoid shearing the panels by the pillars.

Other types of pillars are represented on the Figures 9a to 9d which illustrate the section of these at their ends on which the panels are based, and their respective non-overlapping areas.

In particular, figure 9a represents a pillar of triangular section 54. A circumscribed circle of the triangular section 54 is illustrated. The perimeter 55 forming the non-overlapping zone consists of a circle centered on the center of gravity of the triangular section 54 and whose radius is equal to the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the triangular section.

The Figure 9c has a similar circular perimeter corresponding to a pillar of circular section 56. Similarly to the perimeter 55, a circular perimeter 57 delimits the non-overlap area. The circular perimeter 57 has a radius equal to the diameter of the section 56 of the pillar and is concentric with respect to the pillar.

The figure 9b has a rectangular section pillar 58. The non-overlapping zone is formed by a rectangular perimeter 59 whose long sides are parallel to the long sides of the rectangular section 58. The rectangular perimeter 59 is centered on the rectangular section 58 of the pillar and has dimensions that are twice the dimensions C1 and C2 of the rectangular section 58.

Similarly to the figure 9b , the figure 9d illustrates a rectangular non-overlapping area. This non-overlapping zone corresponds to a pillar having a section of any shape 60. The width D4 corresponds to the dimension of the section along a direction of length 62 of the box comprising the pillar and the length D3 corresponds to the width of the pillar according to a direction of width 63 of the box. The rectangle forming the perimeter 61 of the non-overlap zone has dimensions corresponding to twice the lengths D4 and D3 and is centered on the center of the section, the center corresponding to the middle of the dimensions D4 and D3 taken on the section of the pillar.

Alternatively, the pillars may be hollow to increase their thermal resistance and may also be filled with an insulating material. In other embodiments, the pillars may have an H. section.

The pillars may be obtained for example using thermoplastic or thermosetting materials, optionally reinforced with fibers or may be made of wood or plywood.

Of course, the distribution of the beams 26 with respect to the pillars may be different. For example the beams 26 are not necessarily positioned at the right rows of pillars 19 and 23 but can be arranged between the rows of pillars 19 and 23.

In other embodiments, the pillars of the boxes may be replaced by spacer plates. Such boxes are described in particular in the document FR2798902A1 . In this case, a spacer plate of the primary insulating layer is each time positioned between two spacer plates of the secondary insulating layer so that they do not overlap.

It is also possible, in some tank walls, to overlay more than two levels of heat insulated boxes with pillars. For example, a secondary insulating barrier may comprise two layers of heat insulating boxes. In this case, the arrangement of the pillars can also be realized so that two directly superimposed heat insulating boxes do not have a pillar overlay.

The box described above can be manufactured in various ways. For example in a first method of manufacturing the box 16, the bottom panel 17, the slats 18 and the pillars 20 are assembled by stapling. The heat insulation is then inserted or injected between the pillars. The lower panel 25 is stapled to the pillars 20 in a manual or automated process, and then the beams 26 are stapled to the panel lower 25. A possible porous insulating lining is inserted between the beams 26, and the upper panel 24 is finally stapled on the beams 26.

The fixing of the pillars, panels and spacers between the lower and upper panels can be achieved by screws. However, it is also possible to make their connection by gluing, stapling or nailing.

The panels, beams and pillars can be made of plywood or solid wood, for example birch, beech or fir. These elements can also be made of bamboo, composite material, plastic or metal.

Any type of heat seal 35 can be used to make the boxes described above. Typically, such a liner 35 may for example consist of a block of machined foam, or a foam cast between the pillars. Such a foam may be reinforced or not using for example fiberglass and may be in particular a polyurethane foam. Alternatively, the lining may consist of a nanoscale porosity material of airgel type. Aerogels can be packaged in different forms, for example in the form of powder, beads, nonwoven fibers, fabric, etc.

The types of boxes presented above can be implemented in the primary insulation layer 4 and / or in the secondary insulation layer 2.

The reinforced cover panels presented above can be replaced by reinforced cover panels with different architecture. For example, the reinforced cover panels can be replaced by reinforced cover panels described in the French patent application filed under the number 1255316 . The reinforced cover panel can also be replaced by a simple rigid cover or consisting of two plates which are superimposed directly. The panel of the primary box bearing on the primary pillars may have a thickness between 12 and 80mm.

The tanks described above can be used in various types of installations such as land installations or in a floating structure such as a LNG tank or other.

With reference to the figure 10 , a cutaway view of a LNG tanker 70 shows a sealed and insulated tank 71 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the ship. The wall of the tank 71 comprises a primary sealed barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary sealed barrier arranged between the primary waterproof barrier and the double hull of the vessel, and two thermally insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary watertight barrier and secondary watertight barrier, and between secondary watertight barrier and double hull 72.

In a manner known per se, loading / unloading lines arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a marine or port terminal to transfer a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.

The figure 10 represents an example of a marine terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipe 76 and an onshore installation 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is an off-shore fixed installation comprising a movable arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the movable arm 74. The movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 that can connect to the loading / unloading pipes 73. The movable arm 74 can be adapted to all gauges LNG carriers. A connection pipe (not shown) extends inside the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 enables the loading and unloading of the LNG tank 70 from or to the shore facility 77. liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting lines 81 connected by the underwater line 76 to the loading or unloading station 75. The underwater line 76 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the installation on land 77 over a large distance, for example 5 km, which keeps the LNG tanker 70 at a great distance from the coast during the loading and unloading operations.

In order to generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, pumps on board the ship 70 and / or pumps equipping the shore installation 77 and / or pumps equipping the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

The use of the verb "to include", "to understand" or "to include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps other than those set out in a claim. The use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" for an element or a step does not exclude, unless otherwise stated, the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps.

In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses can not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims (19)

1. A sealed and thermally insulating tank which is integrated in a carrier structure in order to contain a fluid, wherein a tank wall comprises from the outer side of the tank to the inner side of the tank:

   a carrier wall (1),

   a secondary thermal insulation barrier (2) which is retained on the carrier wall, the thermal insulation barrier being constituted by a plurality of secondary thermally insulating elements (6) which are juxtaposed so as to form a secondary support surface,

   a primary thermal insulation barrier (4) which is retained on the secondary thermal insulation barrier (2), the primary thermal insulation barrier being constituted by a plurality of primary thermally insulating elements (7) which are juxtaposed in order to form a primary support surface,

   a sealing barrier (5) which is in abutment with the primary support surface,
   each primary thermally insulating element and each secondary thermally insulating element comprising:

   a thermally insulating lining (35),

   a plurality of carrier elements (20, 28, 37, 40, 140) which extend through the thermally insulating lining perpendicularly to the tank wall, and

   a panel (17, 34, 122) which is parallel with the tank wall and which is arranged at an end of the carrier elements of the thermally insulating element in order to form an outer wall of the thermally insulating element, wherein at least one from the panel of the primary thermally insulating element and the panel of the secondary thermally insulating element is arranged between the carrier elements of the primary insulation barrier and the carrier elements of the secondary insulation barrier,

   tank in which
   in a view projected in a plane parallel with the tank wall, at least one carrier element (20, 28, 40) from the plurality of carrier elements of the primary thermally insulating element is spaced apart relative to the subjacent carrier elements (20, 37, 140) of the secondary thermally insulating element, characterized in that in the tank the at least one carrier element from the plurality of carrier elements of the primary thermally insulating element is not superimposed on the subjacent carrier elements of the secondary thermally insulating element.
2. The tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier elements (20, 28, 37, 40, 140) are pillars having a small cross-section in the plane parallel with the tank wall relative to the dimensions of the thermally insulating element (6, 7).
3. The tank as claimed in claim 2, wherein each pillar (20, 28, 40) from the plurality of pillars of the primary thermally insulating element is positioned outside characteristic perimeters (53, 59, 61) which surround the subjacent pillars (20, 37, 140) of the secondary thermally insulating element and in which the thermally insulating elements (6, 7, 16) are parallelepipedal and in which the characteristic perimeter (59, 61) which surrounds a pillar is rectangular, the perimeter comprising a first side which is parallel with a length direction (21) of the thermally insulating element, and a second side which is parallel with a width direction of the insulating element, the dimension of the first side of the perimeter being greater than or equal to double a first characteristic dimension (C1, D4) which is equal to the larger dimension of the cross-section of the pillar in the length direction (62) of the thermally insulating element, and
   the dimension of the second side of the perimeter being greater than or equal to double a second characteristic dimension (C2, D3) which is equal to the larger dimension of the cross-section of the pillar in the width direction (63) of the thermally insulating element.
4. The tank as claimed in claim 2, wherein each pillar (20, 28, 40) from the plurality of pillars of the primary thermally insulating element is positioned outside characteristic perimeters (59) which surround the subjacent pillars (20, 37, 140) of the secondary thermally insulating element and wherein the pillars have a rectangular cross-section (58), and wherein the characteristic perimeter (59) surrounding a subjacent pillar has a rectangular shape which is centered on the rectangular cross-section of the subjacent pillar (58), the long sides of the characteristic perimeter being parallel with the long sides of the rectangular cross-section of the subjacent pillar (58), the dimensions of the characteristic perimeter (59) being equal to double the dimensions (C1, C2) of the rectangular cross-section of the subjacent pillar (58).
5. The tank as claimed in claim 2, wherein each pillar (20, 28, 40) from the plurality of pillars of the primary thermally insulating element is positioned outside characteristic perimeters (57) which surround the subjacent pillars (20, 37, 140) of the secondary thermally insulating element, said subjacent pillars of the secondary thermally insulating element having a circular cross-section, and wherein the characteristic perimeters (57) have a circular shape and are each centered on a subjacent pillar (56), the radius of the characteristic perimeter (57) of circular shape being equal to the diameter (D1, D2) of the circular cross-section of the subjacent pillar.
6. The tank as claimed in claim 2, wherein each pillar (20, 28, 40) from the plurality of pillars of the primary thermally insulating element is positioned outside characteristic perimeters (55) which surround the subjacent pillars (20, 37, 140) of the secondary thermally insulating element, said subjacent pillars of the secondary thermally insulating element having a triangular cross-section, and wherein the characteristic perimeters (55) have a circular shape and are each centered on a subjacent pillar (54) the radius of the characteristic perimeter (55) of circular shape being equal to the diameter of the circle which is circumscribed by the triangular cross-section of the subjacent pillar.
7. The tank as claimed in one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the pillars of a thermally insulating element are arranged in rows of pillars (19, 23, 36) which are parallel with a side (21) of the thermally insulating element, a row of pillars of the primary thermal insulation barrier being positioned in each case in the projected view halfway between two rows of pillars of the secondary thermal insulation barrier.
8. The tank as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a carrier element of the primary thermal insulation barrier is in each case arranged in the projected view in a position located halfway between two adjacent carrier elements of the secondary thermal insulation barrier.
9. The tank as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the primary thermally insulating element comprises a lower panel (17) which extends parallel with the tank wall and which carries the carrier elements of the primary thermally insulating element.
10. The tank as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the secondary thermally insulating element comprises a lower panel (17) which extends parallel with the tank wall and which carries the carrier elements of the secondary thermally insulating element.
11. The tank as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the secondary thermally insulating element comprises a covering panel (34, 122) which extends parallel with the tank wall and which is carried by the carrier elements of the secondary thermally insulating element, the covering panel comprising an outer surface which forms the secondary support surface.
12. The tank as claimed in claim 11, wherein the covering panel of the secondary thermally insulating element comprises:

    a distribution panel (25) which is fixed to the carrier elements and which is in abutment with the carrier elements,

    a spacer element which is in abutment with and fixed to the distribution panel, the spacer element comprising a plurality of beams (126) which are spaced apart from each other and which extend parallel with the distribution panel,

    an upper panel (24) which is parallel with the distribution panel and which is fixed and supported by the plurality of beams.
13. The tank as claimed in one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the primary thermally insulating element (7) comprises a covering panel which extends parallel with the tank wall and which is carried by the pillars, the covering panel comprising:

    a distribution panel (25) which is fixed to the carrier elements and which is in abutment with the carrier elements,

    a spacer element which is in abutment with and fixed to the distribution panel, the spacer element comprising a plurality of beams (26) which are spaced apart from each other and which extend parallel with the distribution panel,

    an upper panel (24) which is parallel with the distribution panel and which is fixed and supported by the plurality of beams, the upper panel comprising an outer surface which forms the primary support surface.
14. The tank as claimed in claims 12 and 13 taken in combination, wherein the beams (26) from the plurality of beams of the primary thermally insulating element are perpendicular to the beams (126) of the plurality of beams of the secondary thermally insulating element.
15. The tank as claimed in one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a primary thermally insulating element and a secondary thermally insulating element are parallelepipedal and wherein the primary thermally insulating element comprises primary securing pillars (49) which are each arranged in the region of a corner of the primary thermally insulating element, the secondary thermally insulating element comprising secondary securing pillars (49) which are each arranged in the region of a corner of the secondary thermally insulating element, the primary securing pillars and the secondary securing pillars being superimposed.
16. The tank as claimed in one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the tank wall further comprises a secondary sealing barrier (3) which is in abutment with the secondary support surface of the secondary thermal insulation barrier.
17. A ship (70) for transporting a cold liquid product, the ship comprising a double hull (72) and a tank (71) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 16 arranged in the double hull.
18. Use of a ship (70) as claimed in claim 17, wherein a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to a floating or land-based storage installation (77) to or from the tank (71) of the ship in order to load or unload the ship.
19. A transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising a ship (70) as claimed in claim 17, insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) which are arranged so as to connect the tank (71) which is installed in the hull of the ship to a floating or land-based storage installation (77) and a pump for bringing about a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land-based storage installation to or from the tank of the ship.

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