Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B25/00—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby
  • B63B25/02—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods
  • B63B25/08—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid
  • B63B25/12—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed
  • B63B25/16—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed heat-insulated
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
  • F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
  • F17C3/025—Bulk storage in barges or on ships
  • F17C3/027—Wallpanels for so-called membrane tanks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/24—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of pipe-lines
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/24—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of pipe-lines
  • B63B27/25—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of pipe-lines for fluidised bulk material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/30—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures
  • B63B27/34—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures using pipe-lines
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B73/00—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms
  • B63B73/40—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms characterised by joining methods
  • B63B73/43—Welding, e.g. laser welding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B73/00—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms
  • B63B73/40—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms characterised by joining methods
  • B63B73/49—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms characterised by joining methods by means of threaded members, e.g. screws, threaded bolts or nuts
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C6/00—Methods and apparatus for filling vessels not under pressure with liquefied or solidified gases
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
  • B63B2231/02—Metallic materials
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/01—Shape
  • F17C2201/0147—Shape complex
  • F17C2201/0157—Polygonal
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/05—Size
  • F17C2201/052—Size large (>1000 m3)
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0329—Foam
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0337—Granular
  • F17C2203/0341—Perlite
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0345—Fibres
  • F17C2203/035—Glass wool
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0358—Thermal insulations by solid means in form of panels
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
  • F17C2203/0612—Wall structures
  • F17C2203/0626—Multiple walls
  • F17C2203/0631—Three or more walls
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0352—Pipes
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
  • F17C2209/22—Assembling processes
  • F17C2209/221—Welding
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
  • F17C2209/22—Assembling processes
  • F17C2209/228—Assembling processes by screws, bolts or rivets
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/035—Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
  • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
  • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
  • F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
  • F17C2227/0128—Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
  • F17C2227/0135—Pumps
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
  • F17C2260/011—Improving strength
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water
  • F17C2270/0105—Ships
  • F17C2270/0107—Wall panels

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of tanks, waterproof and thermally insulating membranes, for the storage and / or transport of a fluid, such as a cryogenic fluid.
• Watertight and thermally insulating membrane tanks are used in particular for the storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is stored at atmospheric pressure at about -162 ° C. These tanks can be installed on the ground or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be intended for the transport of liquefied natural gas or to receive liquefied natural gas used as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.
• LNG liquefied natural gas
• the document WO2014167214 describes a sealed and thermally insulating tank whose walls have a multilayer structure comprising successively, in the direction of the thickness, from the outside to the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier comprising anchored insulating panels to the supporting structure, a secondary sealing membrane carried by the insulating panels of the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating panels anchored to the secondary thermally insulating barrier and a primary waterproofing membrane, intended to be in contact with the liquefied natural gas contained in the tank, which is carried by the insulating panels of the primary thermally insulating barrier.
• the secondary heat-insulating barrier has a first and a second insulating block forming a corner of said secondary heat-insulating barrier.
• the secondary waterproofing membrane comprises a metal angle structure which comprises two metal strips which are respectively welded to metal plates carried by one and the other of the first and second insulating blocks and a metal angle which is welded over the two metal strips so as to ensure the continuity of the watertightness in the zone angle.
• the insulating blocks of the corner area as well as the insulating panels of the thermally insulating barriers tend to retract so that they deviate from each other.
• such spacing leads to significant stresses of the waterproofing membranes.
• this spacing stresses even more the secondary waterproofing membrane that it is sandwiched between the insulating panels of the secondary thermally insulating barrier and those of the primary thermally insulating barrier and that the spacing of the insulating panels therefore generates friction of the secondary waterproofing membrane against the insulating panels of thermally insulating barriers, primary and secondary.
• An idea underlying the invention is to provide a sealed and thermally insulating tank which is particularly reliable and resistant to low temperatures, particularly at the intersection between two walls of the carrier structure.
• Another idea underlying the invention is to introduce flexibility in the insulating blocks of angle to compensate the contraction of a metal angle structure, especially when it is continuous without wave.
• the invention provides a sealed and thermally insulating fluid storage tank comprising at least one thermally insulating barrier retained to a supporting structure and a sealing membrane supported by said thermally insulating barrier,
• the thermally insulating barrier comprising a plurality of insulating panels retained on the carrier structure and juxtaposed against at least one adjacent first and second walls of the supporting structure; the vessel further comprising an angle arrangement disposed at the intersection between the first and second walls and comprising:
• first and second insulating blocks respectively retained at the first and second walls of the supporting structure and forming a corner of the thermally insulating barrier; each of the first and second insulating blocks having an outer face disposed opposite the supporting structure and an inner face having metal plates spaced from each other along the intersection between the first and second walls; said first and second insulating blocks having a layer of polymeric foam; and - a metal corner structure forming a corner of the sealing membrane and comprising first and second wings which are respectively welded to the plurality of metal plates of the first and second insulating blocks; each of the first and second insulating blocks being associated with an adjacent panel of the plurality of insulating panels via a bridging member; said bridging element being fixed astride between an edge, parallel to the intersection, of the inner face of said first or second insulating block and an inner face of the adjacent panel so as to oppose mutual spacing of said first or second block insulation and said adjacent panel;
• each of the first and second insulating blocks having at least first and second relaxation slots provided in the inner face of said first or second insulating block in the thickness of the polymeric foam layer; the first relaxation slot extending parallel to the intersection, said first relaxation slot being located to pass between the edge of the inner face of the insulating block receiving the bridging element and the plurality of metal plates of said insulating block ; the second relaxation slot extending perpendicularly to the intersection, said second relaxation slot being located to pass between the first and second walls, between two of the metal plates of said insulating block.
• the bridging elements provide a mechanical connection between the insulating blocks and the adjacent insulating panels, which prevents their mutual spacing so that the waterproofing membrane is less stressed than those of the tanks of the prior art, especially when cold setting of the tank.
• such a sealed and thermally insulating fluid storage tank may comprise one or more of the following characteristics:
• the bridging element is disposed between the sealing membrane and the carrier structure.
• the first and second insulating blocks each comprise an inner plywood plate and an outer plywood plate respectively defining the inner face and the outer face of said first and second panels and an insulating polymer foam layer sandwiched between said inner plywood plates; and external.
• Each of the first and second insulating blocks comprises a series of relaxation slots extending perpendicularly to the intersection between the first and second walls, each of said relaxation slots being located in a respective gap between two of the metal plates of said insulating block.
• the series of relaxation slots extending perpendicular to the intersection comprises at least one central relaxation slot and two end relaxation slots which extend on either side of the central relaxation slot, the slot central relaxation having a depth greater than that of each of the end relaxation slots.
• the relaxation slots perpendicular to the edge have different depths from each other.
• the depth of the relaxation slots is decreasing from the central relaxation slot to the relaxation slots end, that is to say, when one moves away from the center of the panel to approach one or other of the lateral edges of the insulating block.
• the or each relaxation slot extending perpendicular to the intersection extends from an edge of the insulating block which is adjacent to the intersection to the first relaxation slot.
• the relaxation slots perpendicular to the intersection open into the first relaxation slot.
• the or each relaxation slot perpendicular to the intersection stops before joining the first relaxation slot.
• the first and second insulating blocks are respectively retained at the first and second walls of the supporting structure by means of a plurality of studs attached to the supporting structure, each of said first and second insulating blocks being provided with cylindrical wells in each of which is anchored one of the threaded studs; said cylindrical wells being provided along the edge of said insulating block adjacent to an insulating panel.
• the metal angle structure includes an angle and a pair of welded metal strips overlapped with the angle, one of the angle and the pair of metal strips being welded to the plurality of metal plates of the first and second insulating blocks.
• the wings of the metal angle structure are flat. In other words, the corner structure is devoid of ripples.
• the insulating panels have an internal face equipped with metal plates, the sealing membrane comprising a plurality of corrugated metal sheets which are welded to the metal plates of the insulating panels and the corner structure being connected by sealed welding to the corrugated metal sheets.
• the corrugations of corrugated metal sheets protrude inwardly or outwardly of the vessel.
• Bridging elements are bridging plates which each have an outer face resting against the inner face of the first or the second insulating block and the inner face of the adjacent panel and an inner face carrying the sealing membrane.
• the inner face of the insulating blocks and the inner face of each adjacent panel each comprise a recess within which is fixed one of the bridging plates.
• the bridging plates are fixed by gluing, screwing and / or stapling against the inner face of the insulating block and the adjacent insulating panel.
• the thermally insulating barrier is a secondary thermally insulating barrier and the waterproofing membrane is a secondary waterproofing membrane, the vessel further comprising a primary thermally insulating barrier anchored to the secondary thermally insulating barrier by retaining members and a membrane primary seal carried by the primary thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in the tank.
• the corner arrangement comprises primary insulating blocks forming a wedge of the primary thermally insulating barrier which are each held against one or the other of the first and second insulating blocks by means of studs carried by the metal plates of the first and second insulating blocks. second insulating blocks.
• the metal angle structure comprises orifices through which pass the pins carried by the metal plates of the first and second insulating blocks, the metal angle structure being welded to said metal plates at the periphery of said orifices.
• the primary thermally insulating barrier comprises a plurality of insulating panels retained on the insulating panels of the secondary thermally insulating barrier.
• the undulations of the corrugated metal sheets of the secondary sealing membrane project towards the inside of the tank, the primary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating panels each having an outer face having perpendicular grooves. receiving the corrugations corrugated metal sheets of the secondary waterproofing membrane.
• Such a tank may be part of an onshore storage facility, for example to store LNG or be installed in a floating structure, coastal or deepwater, including a tanker or LNG carrier, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others.
• FSRU floating storage and regasification unit
• FPSO floating production and remote storage unit
• the tank may be intended to receive liquefied natural gas as a fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.
• a vessel for transporting a fluid comprises a hull, such as a double hull, and a said tank disposed in the hull.
• the invention also provides a method for loading or unloading such a vessel, in which a fluid is conveyed through isolated pipes from or to a floating or land storage facility to or from the tank of the vessel. ship.
• the invention also provides a transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising the abovementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged to connect the vessel installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or ground storage facility. and a pump for driving fluid flow through the insulated pipelines from or to the floating or land storage facility to or from the vessel vessel.
• FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of an intersection between two walls of a sealed tank and thermally insulating.
• FIG. 2 is a cut-away perspective view illustrating the secondary heat-insulating barrier and the secondary sealing membrane of the tank of FIG. 1 at the intersection between two walls.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating insulating blocks of an angle arrangement disposed at the intersection between two walls of the tank and forming a corner of the secondary thermally insulating barrier.
• FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the corner arrangement of FIG. 3 and illustrating insulating blocks forming a corner of the secondary thermally insulating barrier and a corner of the primary thermally insulating barrier.
• FIG. 5 is a top view of the insulating blocks of the angle arrangement of Figure 3 which form a corner of the secondary thermally insulating barrier.
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the insulating blocks illustrated in FIG. 5.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the insulating block of FIG. 6 in which said insulating block is represented in a transparent manner, so as to allow a visualization of the relaxation slots.
• FIG. 8 is a front view of the insulating block of Figures 6 and 7 shown in a transparent manner.
• FIG. 9 is a side view of the insulating block of Figures 6 to 8, shown transparently.
• FIG. 10 is a cut-away perspective view of the primary thermally insulating barrier and the primary sealing membrane at an angle arrangement disposed at the intersection between two walls.
• FIG. 11 is a schematic cutaway representation of a tank of LNG tanker and a loading / unloading terminal of this tank.
• Figure 12 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 showing insulating blocks forming a corner of the secondary thermally insulating barrier according to another embodiment.
• FIG. 13 is a view similar to those of Figures 3 and 12 and showing yet another embodiment. Detailed description of embodiments
• the multilayer structure of a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a cryogenic fluid, such as liquefied natural gas, at the intersection between two adjacent walls 1, 2 of a structure is observed.
• the two adjacent walls of the supporting structure meet at a straight edge 4.
• the edge 4 is at the intersection of a bottom wall 1 and a longitudinal wall 2 which converges towards the tip of a confined space in a ship, such as the forward of the ship or a hold close to the engine.
• Each wall of the tank comprises, from the outside to the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier 5 anchored to the supporting structure 3 by secondary holding members, a secondary sealing membrane 6 carried by the heat barrier secondary insulation 5, a primary thermally insulating barrier 7 anchored to the secondary thermally insulating barrier 6 by primary retaining members and a primary sealing membrane 8, carried by the primary thermally insulating barrier 7 and intended to be in contact with the gas liquefied natural matter contained in the tank.
• the supporting structure 3 can in particular be formed of self-supporting metal sheets or, more generally, any type of rigid partition having suitable mechanical properties.
• the supporting structure 3 can in particular be formed by the hull or the double hull of a ship.
• the carrier structure 3 comprises a plurality of walls 1, 2 defining the general shape of the vessel, usually a polyhedral shape.
• the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5 comprises a plurality of insulating panels 9, 57, 58 anchored on the supporting structure 3 by means of resin cords, not illustrated, and / or studs welded to the supporting structure 3.
• the insulating panels 57, 58 In a standard zone of a tank wall, the insulating panels 57, 58 have substantially a rectangular parallelepiped shape and are juxtaposed in parallel rows and separated from each other by interstices guaranteeing a functional assembly game.
• the insulating panels 57, 58 have for example a length of 3 m and a width of 1 m.
• the interstices are filled with a heat-insulating lining 11, such as glass wool, rockwool or flexible open-cell synthetic foam, for example.
• the heat-insulating lining is advantageously made of a porous material so as to provide gas flow spaces in the interstices between the insulating panels 57, 58.
• the insulating panels 9, which follow an angle arrangement 12 disposed at the intersection between two walls 1, 2 may have either a rectangular parallelepiped shape or a shape different, for example a shape of trapezoid or right triangle, as shown along the intersection between the two walls in Figures 1 and 2.
• the insulating panels 9, 57, 58 each comprise an insulating polymeric foam layer 13 sandwiched between an inner rigid plate 14 and an outer rigid plate 15.
• the rigid plates, internal 14 and external 15, are, for example, plates plywood glued on said layer of insulating polymer foam 13.
• the insulating polymer foam 13 may in particular be a polyurethane-based foam.
• the insulating polymer foam 13 is advantageously reinforced by glass fibers contributing to reduce its thermal contraction coefficient.
• the inner plate 14 is equipped with metal plates 16, 17 for anchoring the edge of corrugated metal sheets 18 of the secondary sealing membrane 6 on the insulating panels 9, 57, 58.
• metal 16, 17 extend in two perpendicular directions which are each parallel to at least one of the sides of the insulating panel 9, 57, 58 on which said metal plates 16, 17 are fixed.
• the metal plates 16, 17 are fixed on the inner plate 14 of the insulating panel 9, 57, 58 by screws, rivets or staples, for example.
• the metal plates 16, 17 are placed in recesses formed in the inner plate 14 so that the inner surface of the metal plates 16, 17 is flush with the inner surface of the inner plate 14.
• the inner plate 14 is also equipped with threaded studs 19 protruding towards the inside of the tank, and intended to ensure the fixing of the primary thermally insulating barrier 7 on the insulating panels 9, 57, 58 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5 .
• the insulating panels 9, 57, 58 are provided with cylindrical wells 20, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, passing through the panels insulators 9, 57, 58 over their entire thickness.
• the cylindrical wells 20 are formed along the longitudinal edges of said insulating panels 9, 57, 58 and at their corners.
• the cylindrical wells 20 have a sectional change, not shown, defining bearing surfaces for nuts cooperating with the threaded ends of the studs.
• the inner plate 14 of the insulating panels 9, 57, 58 has two series of relaxation slots 21, 22, perpendicular to each other, so as to form a network of slots of relaxation.
• the relaxation slots 21, 22 extend here from one end to the other of the panel, either along its length or over its entire width.
• the relaxation slots 21, 22 completely pass through the thickness of the inner plate 14 and are also formed in part of the thickness of the insulating polymer foam layer 13.
• Each of the relaxation slots 21, 22 extends one of the corrugations of the secondary sealing membrane 6. Thanks to said relaxation slots 21, 22, the corrugations of the secondary sealing membrane 6 can deform without imposing significant mechanical stresses on the insulating panels 9, 57, 58.
• the inner plate 14 has along its edges, in each interval between two successive relaxation slots 21, 22, a recess receiving bridging plates 23, illustrated in Figure 1.
• the bridging plates 23 are each arranged straddling between two adjacent insulating panels, spanning the gap between the insulating panels 9, 57, 58.
• Each bridge plate 23 is fixed against each of the two adjacent insulating panels 9, 57, 58 so as to oppose their mutual spacing.
• the bridging plates 23 have a rectangular parallelepipedal shape and consist for example of a plywood plate.
• the outer face of the bridge plates 23 is fixed against the bottom of the recesses.
• the depth the recesses is substantially equal to the thickness of the bridging plates 23 so that the inner face of the bridging plates 23 reaches substantially at the other planar areas of the inner plate 14.
• the bridging plates 23 are able to to ensure continuity in the porting of the secondary waterproofing membrane 6.
• a plurality of bridging plates 23 extends along each edge of the inner plate 14 of the insulating panels 9, 57, 58, a bridge plate 23 being disposed in each gap between two relaxation slots 21, 22 adjacent to a series of parallel relaxation slots.
• the bridging plates 23 may be fixed against the inner plate 14 of the insulating panels 9, 57, 58 by any appropriate means.
• the secondary waterproofing membrane 6 comprises a plurality of corrugated metal sheets 18 each having a substantially rectangular shape, in a standard zone of the wall.
• the corrugated metal sheets 18 are arranged offset from the insulating panels 9, 57, 58 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5 so that each of said corrugated metal sheets 18 extends jointly over four adjacent insulating panels 9, 57, 58.
• Each corrugated metal sheet 18 has a first series of parallel corrugations 24 extending in a first direction and a second series of parallel corrugations extending in a second direction. The directions of the two series of undulations are perpendicular.
• Each of the series of corrugations 24, 25 is parallel to two opposite edges of each corrugated metal sheet 18.
• the corrugations 24, 25 here protrude inwardly of the vessel, that is to say in the direction opposite to the 3.
• the undulations 24, 25 protrude outwardly of the vessel.
• Each corrugated metal sheet 18 comprises between the corrugations, a plurality of flat surfaces. At each crossing between two corrugations 24, 25, each metal sheet 18 comprises a node zone 26 having an apex projecting towards the inside of the vessel. Adjacent corrugated metal sheets 18 are welded together. The anchoring of the corrugated metal sheets 18 on the metal plates 16, 17 is achieved by pointing welds.
• corrugated metal sheets 18 comprise, along their longitudinal edges and at their four corners, cutouts 27 allowing the passage of studs 19 intended to ensure the fixing of the primary thermally insulating barrier 6 on the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5.
• the corrugated metal sheets 18 are, for example, made of Invar®: that is to say an alloy of iron and nickel whose coefficient of expansion is typically between 1, 2.10 “6 and 2.10 " 6 K " , or in an iron alloy with a high manganese content whose expansion coefficient is typically of the order of 7 ⁇ 10 -6 K -1 .
• the corrugated metal sheets 18 may also be made of stainless steel or aluminum.
• the corrugated metal sheets 28 along an angle arrangement 12 disposed at the intersection between two walls 1, 2 may have a substantially rectangular shape, or a general shape of a right triangle as shown on FIG.
• the hypotenuse 29 of the right triangle is oriented parallel to the intersection between the two walls 2, 3 and has a crenellated form.
• the angle arrangement 12 comprises a plurality of pairs of insulating blocks 30, 31 which are respectively disposed against one and the other of the two adjacent walls 1, 2 of the supporting structure 3 and thus form a corner of the barrier
• the two insulating blocks 30, 31 each have a beveled edge 32 by means of which said two insulating blocks 30, 31 are fixed to each other, for example by gluing.
• the angle formed between the two insulating blocks 30, 31 must correspond to the angle between the two walls 1, 2 of the supporting structure 3. This angle may vary according to the area of the tank that we consider, typically between 90 ° and 135 °. In the particular case of Figure 1, the angle is even more closed around 70 °.
• the arrangement of the pair of insulating blocks 30, 31 may be slightly different.
• the two insulating blocks 30, 31 do not have a bevelled edge.
• an L-shaped heat sink 82 such as glass wool, rockwool or open-cell flexible synthetic foam, for example, is positioned in the corner between the two insulating blocks to ensure the continuity of the secondary thermally insulating barrier in the corner area.
• the edge turned towards the edge of one of the insulating blocks 31 rests against the internal face of the other insulating block 30, optionally with the interposition of a flexible heat-insulating lining. 83, to form a corner of the secondary thermally insulating barrier.
• the edge facing the edge of the insulating block 30 must be cut so as to form with the outer face of said insulating block 30 an angle substantially equal to the angle formed between the two walls 1, 2.
• the edge turned towards the edge of the other insulating block 30 must form with the inner face of said insulating block 30 an angle ⁇ which is also substantially equal to the angle formed between the two walls 1, 2.
• the insulating blocks 30, 31 have a structure similar to that of the insulating panels 9, 57, 58 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5, namely a sandwich structure consisting of a layer of insulating polymer foam 34 sandwiched between two rigid plates, outer 35 and inner 36, for example of plywood.
• each of the insulating blocks 30, 31 of the angle arrangement are fixed on the supporting structure 3 by means of threaded studs welded to the supporting structure 3.
• each of the insulating blocks 30, 31 is provided with cylindrical wells 33 which are each intended to receive one of the threaded studs.
• the cylindrical wells 33 are distributed along the edge of the insulating blocks 30, 31 which is parallel and opposite the edge 4 of the angle.
• Each cylindrical well 30 has a sectional change defining a bearing surface for a nut receiving the threaded end of the stud.
• each cylindrical well 30 changes section at the interface between the outer plate 36 and the insulating polymeric foam layer 35 so that the nut bears against the outer plate 36.
• each insulating block 30, 31 has on its external face a plurality of elongated housings 37 which extend perpendicular to the edge 4 of the angle.
• the oblong housings 37 each open into one of the cylindrical wells 30 and are positioned in the direction of the edge 4 of the angle with respect to said cylindrical well 30.
• the oblong housings 37 have a greater length oriented perpendicular to the ridge 4.
• the elongated housings 37 are formed through the outer plate 35 and through a lower portion of the insulating polymer foam layer 34 and have a depth allowing the passage of the end of the stud.
• the oblong housings 37 allow to provide a set of mounting adapted to allow the positioning of the insulating blocks in a position in which a threaded stud is housed in each of the cylindrical wells 30.
• Such slots elongate 37 are particularly advantageous when the angle arrangement 12 is pre-assembled in the workshop and that the insulating blocks 30, 31 of each pair are fixed to each other when they are mounted on the supporting structure 3.
• Each of the insulating blocks 30, 31 is equipped with a plurality of metal plates 38, shown in FIG. 3 and 4, for anchoring the metal angle structure of the secondary sealing membrane 6.
• the metal plates 38 are spaced apart from each other along the edge 4 of the angle.
• the metal plates 38 are received in recesses 39, in particular represented in FIGS. 5 to 7, so that the inner surface of the metal plates 38 is flush with the internal surface of the inner plate 36.
• the metal plates 38 are fixed on the plate internal 36 or on the insulating foam layer 34 of said insulating blocks 30, 31, for example by means of screws, staples or rivets.
• Each of the metal plates 38 is further equipped with a pair of threaded studs 40 projecting towards the inside of the tank and intended to secure the insulating blocks 41, 42 of the primary thermally insulating barrier 7.
• the inner plate 36 of the insulating blocks 30, 31 has along its lateral edges 46 perpendicular to the edge 4, on the one hand, and along its length. edge 47 parallel and opposite said edge 4, on the other hand, a recess receiving bridging plates 43, 44.
• bridging plates 43 are arranged astride between two adjacent insulating blocks 30, 31 along the edge 4 of the angle so as to oppose a spacing between the insulating blocks 30, 31 adjacent in a direction parallel to the edge 4.
• bridging plates 44 are arranged straddling between each insulating block 30, 31 and one or more adjacent insulating panels 9, spanning the gap between the insulating block 30, 31 and the adjacent insulating panel (s). such bridging plates 44 thus make it possible to oppose a spacing, in a direction perpendicular to the edge, between the insulating blocks 30, 31 and the insulating panels 9 along the angle arrangement 12.
• Each of the insulating blocks 30, 31 of the angle arrangement 12 has a relaxation slot 45 which extends, in a direction parallel to the edge 4, between the metal plates 38 and the edge 47 the bridging plates 44.
• the relaxation slot 45 extends from one end to the other of the insulating block 30, 31 along its entire length.
• the relaxation slot 45 is formed through the inner plate 36 and through an upper portion of the insulating polymer foam layer 34.
• the depth of the relaxation slot 45 is between 1 to 10 cm, for example from the order of 5 cm.
• the relaxation slot 45 makes it possible to reduce the stresses exerted on the insulating blocks 30, 31 because, on the one hand, of the presence of the bridging elements 44 which are fixed astride between the insulating block 30, 31 and a adjacent insulating panel 9 and preventing their mutual spacing during the cold setting of the tank and, on the other hand, the contraction of the metal angle structure of the secondary sealing membrane 6 which is anchored on the insulating blocks 30, 31.
• each of the insulating blocks 30, 31 of the angle arrangement 12 comprises a series of relaxation slots 48 perpendicular to the edge 4 which are formed on the internal face of said insulating block 30, 31 through the plate. internal 35 and an inner portion of the insulating polymeric foam layer 35.
• the relaxation slots 48 are evenly distributed along the edge 4.
• Each relaxation slot 48 is located between two of the metal plates 38 for the anchoring the metal angle structure of the secondary waterproofing membrane 6.
• the relaxation slots 48 extend perpendicularly to the edge 4, of the beveled edge 32 of the insulating block 30, 31 to reach the relaxation slot 45 parallel to the edge 4.
• two metal plates 38 are disposed in each gap between two adjacent relaxation slots 48 and only one metal plate 38 is disposed between each of the end relaxation slots 48a and the adjacent lateral edge 46 of the insulating block. 30, 31.
• the relaxation slots 38 perpendicular to the edge have different depths from each other.
• the depth of the relaxation slots 48 is decreasing from the central relaxation slit 48b towards the end relaxation slits 48a, that is to say as one moves away from the center of the insulating block 30, 31 for approaching one or the other side edges 46, which reduces the flexibility of the panel on its edges and increase towards its central area.
• a better distribution of the stresses within the insulating block 30, 31 is obtained.
• the depth of the relaxation slots 48 perpendicular to the edge 4 is likely to vary between a dimension of about 5 and 12 cm for the central relaxation slot 48b, that is to say the deepest and a dimension of between 2 and 6 cm for end relaxation slits 48a, i.e. shallower.
• the metal angle structure comprises one or more L-shaped brackets 49 arranged at the intersection between the two insulating blocks 30, 31 and, for each bracket 49, two metal strips 50, 51 which are respectively welded to one and the other end of said bracket 49 (part of the metal strips 50 has not been shown in Figure 2).
• the metal strips 50, 51 are welded to the metal plates 38 of the insulating blocks 30, 31 and thus anchor the corner structure to the insulating blocks 30, 31 of the angle arrangement 12.
• the metal angle structure has two wings which are here formed by the metal strips 50, 51 and rest respectively against an insulating block 30 disposed against the first wall 1 and an insulating block 31 disposed against the second wall 2.
• the metal angle structure is devoid of waves.
• the metal structure comprises two substantially flat wings respectively parallel to Tune and the other of two adjacent walls 1, 2.
• the metal strips 50, 51 are provided with holes through which the studs 40 pass. In order to ensure the tightness of the secondary sealing membrane 6, the metal strips 50, 51 are welded to the metal plates 38, at the periphery of said orifices. .
• the brackets 49 and the metal strips 50, 51 are welded one after the other overlapping. Furthermore, the edges of the corrugated metal sheets 28 are welded to the metal strips 50, 51 to ensure the continuity of the sealing of the secondary sealing membrane 6.
• the closure of each of the corrugations 24, 25 is ensured by a cap 52 which is welded astride between one of the metal strips 50, 51 and one of the corrugated metal sheets 28.
• the metal angle 49 is welded to the metal plates 38 and has holes for the studs 40 while the two metal strips 50, 51 are welded to one and the other ends of the said bracket 49 to anchor the metal strips 50, 51 on the insulating blocks 30, 31.
• the metal angle structure is advantageously made of Invar®: that is to say an alloy of iron and nickel whose expansion coefficient is typically between 1, 2.10 and 2.10 6 K ⁇ or in an iron alloy with high manganese content whose expansion coefficient is typically of the order of 7.10 "6 K " 1 .
• the primary thermally insulating barrier 7 comprises a plurality of insulating panels 53 of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
• the insulating panels 53 each have dimensions substantially equal to the dimensions of an insulating panel 57, 58 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5, except for the thickness which may be different, preferably lower that of an insulating panel 57, 58.
• the insulating panels 53 are here offset with respect to the insulating panels 57, 58 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5 so that each insulating panel 53 extends over four insulating panels 57, 58 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5.
• the insulating panels 53 comprise a structure similar to that of the insulating panels 57, 58 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5, namely a sandwich structure consisting of a layer of insulating polymer foam sandwiched between two rigid plates, for example of wood plywood.
• the insulating panels In another embodiment, not shown, the insulating panels
• 53 comprise a sandwich structure having three rigid panels, for example plywood and two layers of polymeric foam which are each interposed in a respective gap between two rigid panels.
• the outer plate of the insulating panels 53 has two series of grooves, not shown, for receiving the corrugations 24, 25 of the secondary sealing membrane 6 which protrude into the vessel.
• the inner plate of an insulating panel 53 of the primary thermally insulating barrier 7 is equipped with metal plates 54 for anchoring the corrugated metal sheets 55 of the primary waterproofing membrane 8.
• the metal plates 54 extend in two directions perpendicular which are each parallel to two opposite edges of the insulating panels 53.
• the inner plate of the insulating panel 53 is provided with a plurality of relaxation slots 56 allowing the primary waterproofing membrane 8 to deform without imposing excessive mechanical stresses on the insulating panels 53.
• Such slots relaxation 56 are described in particular in document FR 3001945.
• each insulating panel 53 of the primary thermally insulating barrier 7 is fastened to the insulating panels 9, 57, 58 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 5 by means of the threaded studs 59.
• each insulating panel 53 comprises a plurality of cut along its edges and at its corners, inside which extends a threaded stud 59.
• the plate external of the insulating panels 53 overflows inside the cutouts so as to form a bearing surface for a retaining member which comprises a threaded bore threaded on each threaded stud 59.
• the retaining member comprises lugs housed in the interior of the cuts and bearing against the portion of the outer plate protruding inside the cutout so as to sandwich the outer plate between a tab of the retaining member and an insulating panel 9, 57, 58 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 6 and thus ensure the fixing of each insulating panel 53 on the insulating panels 9, 57, 58 it overlaps.
• the primary waterproofing membrane 8 is obtained by assembling a plurality of corrugated metal sheets 55.
• Each corrugated metal sheet 55 comprises a first series of parallel corrugations and a second series of parallel corrugations extending in a second perpendicular direction. at the first series. The undulations protrude into the tank.
• the corrugated metal sheets 55 are, for example, made of stainless steel or aluminum.
• the insulating panels 60 of the primary thermally insulating barrier 7 and the corrugated metal sheets 61 of the membrane 8, which border the angle arrangement 12 may comprise, depending on the shape of the wall 1, 2 to cover a substantially rectangular shape, or a general shape of a right triangle or trapezoid rectangle.
• the primary thermally insulating barrier 7 comprises a plurality of pairs of insulating blocks 41, 42 assembled one of which is anchored to the studs 40 projecting from an insulating block 30 fixed against one of the walls 1, 2 and the other is anchored to the studs 40 of an insulating block 31 fixed against the other of the walls 1, 2.
• the insulating blocks 41, 42 having an inner face on which a bracket 62 rests and an outer face resting against the metal angle structure, not shown in Figure 4, forming the corner of the diaphragm. 6.
• the insulating blocks 41, 42 also have a sandwich structure and comprise a layer of insulating polymeric foam sandwiched between two plywood boards bonded to said polymeric foam layer.
• the brackets 62 are metal brackets, for example, made of stainless steel.
• the brackets 62 each have two wings respectively resting against the inner face of one and the other of the insulating blocks of a pair of insulating blocks 41, 42.
• Each wing of a bracket 62 has studs, not shown, which are welded on the outer face of said wing and protrude outwardly of the tank and thus allow the bracket to be fixed on the insulating blocks 41, 42.
• said insulating blocks 41, 42 comprise orifices, not illustrated that allow the passage of the studs and are formed on their inner face. The orifices communicate with cylindrical wells opening on the outer face of the insulating blocks 41, 42.
• cylindrical wells 63 are formed through the bracket 62 and the insulating blocks 41, 42.
• the cylindrical wells 63 each communicate with a through hole of a threaded stud 40 formed in the outer face of one of the insulating blocks 41, 42.
• Each cylindrical well 63 has a diameter greater than that of the orifice through which the stud passes. threaded 40 with which it cooperates so that the bottom of the cylindrical well 63 defines a bearing surface intended to cooperate with a nut screwed onto the stud bolt 40.
• an angle connection 64 of insulating material such as a polymer foam, is disposed between the edges adjacent to the vial angle of the two insulating blocks 41, 42 and thus makes it possible to ensure continuity of the thermal insulation at the angle of the tank.
• the pre-assembled modules comprise, in addition to the pair of insulating blocks 41, 42 and the bracket 62, an angle connector 64.
• insulating joint elements 65 are inserted between two pairs of insulating blocks 41, 42 adjacent to ensure continuity of the thermal insulation.
• each metal angle 66 is welded one after the other overlap.
• each metal angle 66 is welded to a plurality of brackets 62.
• the metal strips are each welded overlap on the metal angles 66.
• the edges of the corrugated metal sheets 61 are welded to the metal strips in order to ensure the continuity of the sealing of the primary waterproofing membrane 8.
• the closure of each of the corrugations is provided by a cap 67 which is welded astride between one of the metal strips and one of the corrugated metal sheets 61.
• the technique described above for producing a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid can be used in different types of tanks, for example to form an LNG tank in a land installation or in a floating structure such as a LNG tanker. Or other.
• a cutaway view of a LNG tank 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 72 of the ship, and two insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary watertight barrier and the secondary watertight barrier and between the secondary watertight barrier and the double hull 72.
• loading / unloading lines 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected by appropriate connectors to a marine or port terminal to transfer a cargo of LNG to or from vessel 71.
• FIG. 11 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 a fixed off-shore installation comprising an arm mobile 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 of 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.
• the underwater line 76 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the onshore installation 77 over a large distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the tanker vessel 70 at great distance from the coast during the loading and unloading operations.
• 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.

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• 2015
  • 2015-10-23 FR FR1560149A patent/FR3042843B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2016
  • 2016-10-21 EP EP16809924.0A patent/EP3365592B1/de active Active
  • 2016-10-21 US US15/743,202 patent/US10801669B2/en active Active
  • 2016-10-21 KR KR1020187000895A patent/KR102048641B1/ko active IP Right Grant
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  • 2016-10-21 WO PCT/FR2016/052743 patent/WO2017068303A1/fr active Application Filing
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