EP3645933B1 - Fluidtight membrane and method for assembling a fluidtight membrane - Google Patents

Fluidtight membrane and method for assembling a fluidtight membrane Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3645933B1
EP3645933B1 EP18738209.8A EP18738209A EP3645933B1 EP 3645933 B1 EP3645933 B1 EP 3645933B1 EP 18738209 A EP18738209 A EP 18738209A EP 3645933 B1 EP3645933 B1 EP 3645933B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plate
transverse
longitudinal
zone
longitudinal side
Prior art date
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Application number
EP18738209.8A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3645933A1 (en
Inventor
Marc BOYEAU
Edouard DUCLOY
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Gaztransport et Technigaz SA
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Gaztransport et Technigaz SA
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Publication of EP3645933A1 publication Critical patent/EP3645933A1/en
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    • 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
    • B63B27/30—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
    • 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
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/001—Thermal insulation specially adapted for cryogenic vessels
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • F17C3/04—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation by insulating layers
    • 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
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
    • F17C2203/0636—Metals
    • 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
    • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
    • F17C2203/0636—Metals
    • F17C2203/0648—Alloys or compositions of metals
    • 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
    • F17C2209/23—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations
    • F17C2209/232—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations of 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
    • F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
    • F17C2260/013—Reducing manufacturing time or effort
    • 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
    • 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 sealed and thermally insulating tanks for the storage and/or transport of fluid, such as a cryogenic fluid.
  • the invention relates more particularly to the field of the manufacture of watertight membranes for such tanks.
  • the request for patent FR3004416 discloses a method of manufacturing a waterproof membrane.
  • the assembly process consists, in a first step, in placing a first, a second and a third rectangular plate on a support surface.
  • the third rectangular plate is overlapped, on the one hand, by a transverse strip of the first plate and, on the other hand, by a longitudinal strip of the second plate.
  • the transverse strip of the first plate and the longitudinal strip of the second plate each has a bevelled side.
  • a first straight and continuous weld line is formed on the transverse strip of the first plate so as to assemble it to the third plate and a second straight and continuous weld line is formed on the longitudinal strip of the second plate so as to assemble it to the third plate.
  • a fourth plate is then positioned so as to overlap a longitudinal strip of the first plate and a transverse strip of the second plate.
  • the fourth plate has a corner area that overlaps the gap between the facing beveled sides of the first plate and the second plate.
  • a third straight and continuous weld line is then produced on the zone of the fourth plate which overlaps the longitudinal strip of the first plate so as to assemble the first and the fourth plates until the first weld line is cut.
  • a fourth straight and continuous weld line is made on the area of the fourth plate which overlaps the transverse strip of the second plate so as to join the second and the fourth plates until the second weld line is cut.
  • an oblique weld line is made on the corner zone of the fourth plate in the gap between the bevelled sides facing the first plate and the second plate until it cuts the first or the third weld line, on the one hand, and the second and fourth weld line, on the other hand.
  • An idea underlying the invention is to propose a waterproof membrane as well as a method for assembling such a waterproof membrane which is simple to implement and which makes it possible to reduce the quantity of material used.
  • the third weld line can be made continuously, along from the longitudinal side, from the corner area and from the transverse side of the fourth plate.
  • the rounded shape of the corner zone of the fourth plate makes it possible to limit the dimensions of the longitudinal and transverse bands of the plate which respectively cover the first and the second plates.
  • such a waterproof membrane or such an assembly method may have one or more of the following characteristics: According to one embodiment, the convex curved portion of the fourth plate develops over an angular portion of 90°.
  • the convex curved portion of the fourth plate has a constant radius of curvature.
  • the radius of curvature of the convex curved portion is between 1 and 2.4 cm, and preferably between 1.9 and 2.1 cm.
  • the corner zone of the first plate comprises a bevelled side connecting the longitudinal side and the transverse side of said first plate and the first weld line is a lap weld extending along the transverse side and on the beveled side of the first plate.
  • the longitudinal side of the fourth plate extends along an axis intersecting the beveled side of the first plate.
  • the corner zone of the second plate comprises a beveled side connecting the longitudinal side and the transverse side of said second plate and the second weld line is made with a bevel along the longitudinal side and the beveled side of the second plate.
  • the transverse side of the fourth plate extends along an axis intersecting the beveled side of the second plate.
  • the beveled side of the first plate and the beveled side of the second plate are parallel to each other.
  • the convex curved portion of the fourth plate overlaps the beveled side of the first plate and the beveled side of the second plate.
  • the longitudinal sides of the first, second, third and fourth plates are parallel to each other and the transverse sides of the first, second, third and fourth plates are parallel to each other.
  • the longitudinal side of the fourth plate is aligned with the longitudinal side of the second plate.
  • the transverse side of the fourth plate is aligned with the transverse side of the first plate.
  • the longitudinal strip of the fourth plate which is located between the longitudinal side of the fourth plate and the longitudinal side of the first plate has a dimension in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal side of the fourth plate which is less than 3.6 cm, and preferably between 2.4 and 3.6 cm.
  • the transverse strip of the fourth plate which is located between the transverse side of the fourth plate and the transverse side of the second plate has a dimension in a direction orthogonal to the transverse side of the fourth plate which is less than 3.6 cm, and preferably between 2.4 and 3.6 cm.
  • the first, second, third and fourth plates are made of sheet metal.
  • the invention also provides a leaktight and thermally insulating tank placed in a supporting structure, the tank comprising a wall of the tank retained on a wall of the supporting structure, the wall of the tank comprising a thermal insulation barrier retained directly or indirectly on the load-bearing wall and an aforementioned sealed membrane arranged on the thermal insulation barrier.
  • a tank according to one of the aforementioned embodiments can be part of an onshore storage installation, for example for storing LNG or be installed in a floating, coastal or deep-water structure, in particular a ethane or LNG tanker, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others.
  • the tank may be intended to receive liquefied natural gas serving as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.
  • a vessel for transporting a fluid comprises a hull, such as a double hull, and a aforementioned tank placed in the hull.
  • the invention also provides a method for loading or unloading such a ship, in which a fluid is routed through insulated pipes from or to a floating or terrestrial storage installation to or from the tank of the vessel.
  • the invention also provides a transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged so as to connect the tank installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or terrestrial storage installation and a pump for driving a flow of fluid through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or onshore storage facility to or from the vessel's tank.
  • Such a tank may in particular comprise a multilayer structure comprising, from the outside towards the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against a supporting structure, a secondary sealing membrane, a primary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against the secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank.
  • a secondary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against a supporting structure
  • a secondary sealing membrane a primary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against the secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank.
  • a primary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against the secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank.
  • the four plates 1, 2, 3, 4 have a substantially rectangular shape. , that is to say that they each have four main sides, two longitudinal sides of which are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the two transverse sides.
  • FIG. 1 On the figures 1 to 4 , only the corner areas of plates 1, 2, 3, 4 are shown.
  • a plate 3 has been partially shown of which only the lower right corner zone 3c is shown.
  • This plate 3 is placed on a support surface, such as a secondary or primary thermally insulating barrier of a tank.
  • a support surface such as a secondary or primary thermally insulating barrier of a tank.
  • the term “longitudinal” designates the side 3a of the plate 3 and the corresponding direction of the plane illustrated by the arrow L and the term “transverse” designates the side 3b of the plate 3 and the direction corresponding to the plan, illustrated by the arrow T.
  • a plate 2, partially shown on the figure 2 is arranged on the support surface next to the plate 3, partially covering the latter.
  • the longitudinal side 2a of the plate 2 is arranged on the plate 1 of same as an entire longitudinal strip located between the longitudinal side 2a of the plate 2 and the longitudinal side 1a of the plate 1.
  • the transverse side 2b of the plate 2 is arranged in alignment with the transverse side 1b of plate 1.
  • the corner zone 2c between the transverse side 2b and the longitudinal side 2a of the plate 2 has a bevelled side connecting the transverse side 2b and the longitudinal side 2a.
  • the beveled side is for example oriented at an angle of 45° relative to the transverse side 2b and to the longitudinal side 2a.
  • another plate 1 is also arranged on the support surface next to the plate 3, partially covering the latter.
  • the transverse side 1b of the plate 1 is arranged on the plate 1 as well as a whole transverse band located between the transverse side 1b of the plate 1 and the transverse side 3b of the plate 3.
  • the longitudinal side 1a of the plate is arranged in alignment with the longitudinal side 3a of the plate 3.
  • the corner zone 1c between the transverse side 1b of the plate 1 and the longitudinal side 1a of the plate has a bevelled side connecting the transverse side 1b and the longitudinal side 1a.
  • the beveled side is for example oriented at an angle of 45° relative to the transverse side 1b and to the longitudinal side 1a.
  • the beveled side of the first plate 1 and the beveled side of the second plate 2 are parallel to each other.
  • a weld line 6, shown in dotted lines on the figure 3 and 4 is also made on the transverse strip of plate 1 which overlaps plate 3 so as to seal plate 1 to plate 3 in a sealed manner. beveled side of plate 1.
  • a fourth rectangular plate 4 is arranged on the support surface next to the plates 1 and 2, partially covering the latter.
  • the longitudinal side 4a of the plate 4 covers the plate 1 as well as an entire longitudinal strip of the plate 1 located between the longitudinal side 4a of the plate 4 and the longitudinal side 1a of the plate 1.
  • the transverse side 4b of plate 4 covers plate 2 as well as an entire transverse strip of plate 2 located between transverse side 4b of plate 4 and transverse side 2b of plate 2.
  • the longitudinal side 4a of the plate 4 is aligned with the longitudinal side of the plate 2 while the transverse side 4b of the plate 4 is aligned with the transverse side 1b of the plate 1.
  • the longitudinal side 4a of the plate 4 extends along an axis intersecting the beveled side of the plate 2 and the transverse side 4b of the plate 4 extends along an axis intersecting the beveled side of the plate 1.
  • the corner zone 4c of the plate 4 has a convex curved portion which connects the longitudinal side 4a and the transverse side of the plate 4.
  • the corner zone 4c of the plate 4 overlaps the gap 5 which is formed between the bevelled sides plates 1 and 2 so that the convex curved portion overlaps the weld line 6 and the weld line 7 at the beveled sides of the plates 1, 2.
  • the curved portion extends along an angular portion of 90°.
  • the radius of curvature of the convex curved portion is constant and is for example between 1 and 2.4 cm, and preferably between 1.9 and 2.1 cm.
  • the areas of overlap of the transverse strip of plate 1 on plate 2, of the longitudinal strip of plate 2 on plate 3, of the longitudinal strip of plate 4 on plate 2 and of the transverse strip of the plate 4 on the plate 2 have identical widths.
  • the width of these overlapping zones is less than 3.6 cm and preferably between 2.4 and 3.6 cm.
  • a weld line 8 is made at a clinker along the longitudinal side 4a, the corner zone 4c and the transverse side 4b of the plate 4.
  • This weld line 8 intersects the weld line 7 and the line of welding 6.
  • the weld line 8 can be made continuously, along the longitudinal side 4a, the corner zone 4c and the transverse side 4b of the plate 4.
  • the rounded shape of corner zone 4c makes it possible to limit the dimensions of the longitudinal and transverse strips of plate 4 which respectively cover plate 1 and plate 2.
  • the assembly of the four plates in the corner area shown in the figure 4 is liquid-tight, that is to say that a fluid located above the assembly does not find any interstice between the different plates to diffuse below the assembly. It will be appreciated that a similar assembly can be made at each corner of the plates 1, 2, 3, 4 of the figure 4 .
  • the plates 1, 2, 3, 4 are metal sheets.
  • the plates 1, 2, 3, 4 can in particular be made of stainless steel, aluminum, 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 -1 , or in an iron alloy with a high manganese content whose coefficient of expansion is typically of the order of 7.10 -6 K -1 .
  • the thickness of the plates 1, 2, 3, 4 is for example between 0.4 and 2 mm, typically around 0.7 mm.
  • the plates 1, 2, 3, 4 each comprise at least two perpendicular undulations so as to allow the membrane to deform under the effect of the thermal and mechanical stresses generated by the fluid stored in the tank.
  • the technique described above for making a sealing membrane can be used in different types of tanks, for example to constitute the primary sealing membrane and/or the secondary sealing membrane of an LNG storage tank in an installation on land or in a floating structure such as an LNG carrier or other.
  • a cutaway view of an LNG carrier 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 waterproof membrane intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary waterproof membrane arranged between the primary waterproof barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and two insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary waterproof membrane and the secondary waterproof membrane and between the secondary waterproof membrane and the double hull 72.
  • loading/unloading pipes 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a maritime or port terminal to transfer a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.
  • the figure 5 represents an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipeline 76 and an installation on land 77.
  • the loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a mobile arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the mobile arm 74.
  • the mobile arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 which can be connected to the loading/unloading pipes 73.
  • the orientable mobile arm 74 adapts to all sizes of LNG carriers.
  • a connecting pipe, not shown, extends inside the tower 78.
  • the loading and unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 70 from or to the shore installation 77.
  • This comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipes 81 connected by the underwater pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75.
  • the underwater pipe 76 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the shore installation 77 over a great distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG carrier 70 at a great distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.
  • pumps on board the ship 70 and/or pumps fitted to the shore installation 77 and/or pumps fitted to the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

Description

Domaine techniqueTechnical area

L'invention se rapporte au domaine des cuves, étanches et thermiquement isolantes, pour le stockage et/ou le transport de fluide, tel qu'un fluide cryogénique.The invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks for the storage and/or transport of fluid, such as a cryogenic fluid.

L'invention concerne plus particulièrement le domaine de la fabrication des membranes étanches pour de telles cuves.The invention relates more particularly to the field of the manufacture of watertight membranes for such tanks.

Arrière-plan technologiqueTechnology background

La demande de brevet FR3004416 divulgue un procédé de fabrication d'une membrane étanche. Le procédé d'assemblage consiste, dans un premier temps, à disposer une première, une deuxième et une troisième plaques rectangulaires sur une surface de support. La troisième plaque rectangulaire est chevauchée, d'une part, par une bande transversale de la première plaque et, d'autre part, par une bande longitudinale de la deuxième plaque. La bande transversale de la première plaque et la bande longitudinale de la deuxième plaque comporte chacune un côté biseauté. Par la suite, une première ligne de soudure droite et continue est formée sur la bande transversale de la première plaque de manière à l'assembler à la troisième plaque et une deuxième ligne de soudure droite et continue est formée sur la bande longitudinale de la deuxième plaque de manière à l'assembler à la troisième plaque. Une quatrième plaque est alors positionnée de manière à chevaucher une bande longitudinale de la première plaque et une bande transversale de la deuxième plaque. La quatrième plaque comporte une zone de coin qui chevauche l'interstice entre les côtés biseautés en vis-à-vis de la première plaque et de la deuxième plaque. Une troisième ligne de soudure droite et continue est alors réalisée sur la zone de la quatrième plaque qui chevauche la bande longitudinale de la première plaque de manière à assembler la première et la quatrième plaques jusqu'à couper la première ligne de soudure. De manière similaire, une quatrième ligne de soudure droite et continue est réalisée sur la zone de la quatrième plaque qui chevauche la bande transversale de la deuxième plaque de manière à assembler la deuxième et la quatrième plaques jusqu'à couper la deuxième ligne de soudure. Enfin, une ligne de soudure oblique est réalisée sur la zone de coin de la quatrième plaque dans l'interstice entre les côtés biseautés en vis-à-vis de la première plaque et de la deuxième plaque jusqu'à couper la première ou la troisième ligne de soudure, d'une part, et la deuxième et la quatrième ligne de soudure, d'autre part.The request for patent FR3004416 discloses a method of manufacturing a waterproof membrane. The assembly process consists, in a first step, in placing a first, a second and a third rectangular plate on a support surface. The third rectangular plate is overlapped, on the one hand, by a transverse strip of the first plate and, on the other hand, by a longitudinal strip of the second plate. The transverse strip of the first plate and the longitudinal strip of the second plate each has a bevelled side. Subsequently, a first straight and continuous weld line is formed on the transverse strip of the first plate so as to assemble it to the third plate and a second straight and continuous weld line is formed on the longitudinal strip of the second plate so as to assemble it to the third plate. A fourth plate is then positioned so as to overlap a longitudinal strip of the first plate and a transverse strip of the second plate. The fourth plate has a corner area that overlaps the gap between the facing beveled sides of the first plate and the second plate. A third straight and continuous weld line is then produced on the zone of the fourth plate which overlaps the longitudinal strip of the first plate so as to assemble the first and the fourth plates until the first weld line is cut. Similarly, a fourth straight and continuous weld line is made on the area of the fourth plate which overlaps the transverse strip of the second plate so as to join the second and the fourth plates until the second weld line is cut. Finally, an oblique weld line is made on the corner zone of the fourth plate in the gap between the bevelled sides facing the first plate and the second plate until it cuts the first or the third weld line, on the one hand, and the second and fourth weld line, on the other hand.

Un tel procédé de fabrication peut être mis en oeuvre simplement avec une productivité accrue, notamment en raison du caractère droit et continu des lignes de soudure réalisées. Toutefois, malgré ces avantages, ce procédé n'est pas totalement satisfaisant. En particulier, ce procédé implique que les zones de chevauchement entre les plaques présentent une surface importante, ce qui entraîne l'utilisation d'un excédent de matière et un surcoût en conséquence.Such a manufacturing method can be implemented simply with increased productivity, in particular because of the straight and continuous nature of the weld lines produced. However, despite these advantages, this method is not entirely satisfactory. In particular, this method implies that the areas of overlap between the plates have a large surface, which entails the use of excess material and an additional cost as a result.

RésuméSummary

Une idée à la base de l'invention est de proposer une membrane étanche ainsi qu'un procédé d'assemblage d'une telle membrane étanche qui soit simple à mettre en œuvre et qui permette de réduire la quantité de matière utilisée.An idea underlying the invention is to propose a waterproof membrane as well as a method for assembling such a waterproof membrane which is simple to implement and which makes it possible to reduce the quantity of material used.

Selon un mode de réalisation, l'invention fournit une membrane étanche comportant des plaques en matière étanche assemblées de manière étanche, la membrane comportant :

  • une première plaque, une deuxième plaque et une troisième plaque disposées sur une surface de support, chacune desdites première, deuxième et troisième plaques comportant un côté longitudinal et un côté transversal orthogonaux se rejoignant au niveau d'une zone de coin ;
    • la première plaque recouvrant une zone de la surface de support qui est adjacente au côté transversal de la troisième plaque et comportant une bande transversale qui s'étend le long du côté transversal de ladite première plaque et chevauche le côté transversal de la troisième plaque ;
    • la deuxième plaque recouvrant une zone de la surface de support qui est adjacente au côté longitudinal de la troisième plaque et comportant une bande longitudinale qui s'étend le long du côté longitudinal de ladite troisième plaque et chevauche le côté longitudinal de la troisième plaque ; la zone de coin de la première plaque et la zone de coin de la deuxième plaque étant disposées en regard l'une de l'autre avec un interstice découvrant la zone de coin de la troisième plaque ;
  • une premier ligne de soudure s'étendant en continue sur la bande transversale de la première plaque qui chevauche la troisième plaque, de manière à assembler la première plaque à la troisième plaque ;
  • une deuxième ligne de soudure s'étendant en continue sur la bande longitudinale de la deuxième plaque qui chevauche la troisième plaque, de manière à assembler la deuxième plaque à la troisième plaque ;
  • une quatrième plaque disposée sur la surface de support de manière à recouvrir une zone de la surface de support qui est adjacente au côté longitudinal de la première plaque et au côté transversal de la deuxième plaque, la quatrième plaque comportant un côté longitudinal et un côté transversal orthogonaux se rejoignant au niveau d'une zone de coin, ladite zone de coin présentant une portion courbée convexe, la quatrième plaque présentant une bande longitudinale qui chevauche le côté longitudinal de la première plaque et une portion d'extrémité de la première ligne de soudure et une bande transversale qui chevauche le côté transversal de la deuxième plaque et une portion d'extrémité de la deuxième ligne de soudure, la zone de coin de la quatrième plaque chevauchant l'interstice entre la zone de coin de la première plaque et la zone de coin de la deuxième plaque ;
  • une troisième ligne de soudure à clin s'étendant en continue le long du côté longitudinal, de la zone de coin et du côté transversal de la quatrième plaque de manière à assembler la quatrième plaque à la première, deuxième et troisième plaques; la troisième ligne de soudure coupant la première et la deuxième lignes de soudure.
According to one embodiment, the invention provides a waterproof membrane comprising plates of waterproof material assembled in a sealed manner, the membrane comprising:
  • a first plate, a second plate and a third plate arranged on a support surface, each of said first, second and third plates having an orthogonal longitudinal side and a transverse side meeting at a corner zone;
    • the first plate covering an area of the support surface which is adjacent to the transverse side of the third plate and having a transverse strip which extends along the transverse side of said first plate and overlaps the transverse side of the third plate;
    • the second plate covering an area of the support surface which is adjacent to the longitudinal side of the third plate and having a longitudinal strip which extends along the longitudinal side of said third plate and overlaps the longitudinal side of the third plate; the corner zone of the first plate and the corner zone of the second plate being arranged facing each other with a gap uncovering the corner zone of the third plate;
  • a first weld line extending continuously over the transverse strip of the first plate which overlaps the third plate, so as to assemble the first plate to third plate;
  • a second weld line extending continuously over the longitudinal strip of the second plate which overlaps the third plate, so as to assemble the second plate to the third plate;
  • a fourth plate disposed on the support surface so as to cover an area of the support surface which is adjacent to the longitudinal side of the first plate and the transverse side of the second plate, the fourth plate having a longitudinal side and a transverse side orthogonal joining at a corner area, said corner area having a convex curved portion, the fourth plate having a longitudinal strip which overlaps the longitudinal side of the first plate and an end portion of the first weld line and a transverse strip which overlaps the transverse side of the second plate and an end portion of the second weld line, the corner zone of the fourth plate overlapping the gap between the corner zone of the first plate and the zone corner of the second plate;
  • a third lap line extending continuously along the longitudinal side, the corner area and the transverse side of the fourth plate so as to join the fourth plate to the first, second and third plates; the third weld line intersecting the first and second weld lines.

Selon un mode de réalisation, l'invention fournit également un procédé d'assemblage pour réaliser une membrane étanche en assemblant des plaques en matière étanche, le procédé d'assemblage comportant :

  • disposer une première plaque, une deuxième plaque et une troisième plaque sur une surface de support, chacun desdites première, deuxième et troisième plaques comportant un côté longitudinal et un côté transversal orthogonaux se rejoignant au niveau d'une zone de coin ;
    • la première plaque étant disposée de manière à recouvrir une zone de la surface de support qui est adjacente au côté transversal de la troisième plaque et de manière à ce qu'une bande transversale de la première plaque qui s'étend le long du côté transversal de ladite première plaque chevauche le côté transversal de la troisième plaque ;
    • la deuxième plaque étant disposée de manière à recouvrir une zone de la surface de support qui est adjacente au côté longitudinal de la troisième plaque et de manière à ce qu'une bande longitudinale de la deuxième plaque qui s'étend le long du côté longitudinal de ladite deuxième plaque chevauche le côté longitudinal de la troisième plaque; la zone de coin de la première plaque et la zone de coin de la deuxième plaque étant disposées en regard l'une de l'autre avec un interstice découvrant la zone de coin de la troisième plaque ;
  • réaliser une premier ligne de soudure continue sur la bande transversale de la première plaque qui chevauche la troisième plaque, de manière à assembler la première plaque à la troisième plaque ;
  • réaliser une deuxième ligne de soudure continue sur la bande longitudinale de la deuxième plaque qui chevauche la troisième plaque, de manière à assembler la deuxième plaque à la troisième plaque ;
  • disposer une quatrième plaque sur la surface de support de manière à recouvrir une zone de la surface de support qui est adjacente au côté longitudinal de la première plaque et au côté transversal de la deuxième plaque, la quatrième plaque comportant un côté longitudinal et un côté transversal orthogonaux se rejoignant au niveau d'une zone de coin qui présente une portion courbée convexe, la quatrième plaque étant disposée de manière à ce qu'une bande longitudinale de la quatrième plaque chevauche le côté longitudinal de la première plaque et une portion d'extrémité de la première ligne de soudure, à ce qu'une bande transversale de la quatrième plaque chevauche le côté transversal de la deuxième plaque et une portion d'extrémité de la deuxième ligne de soudure et à ce que la zone de coin de la quatrième plaque chevauche l'interstice entre la zone de coin de la première plaque et la zone de coin de la deuxième plaque ;
  • réaliser une troisième ligne de soudure à clin continue le long du côté longitudinal, de la zone de coin et du côté transversal de la quatrième plaque de manière à assembler la quatrième plaque à la première, deuxième et troisième plaques; la troisième ligne de soudure coupant la première et la deuxième lignes de soudure.
According to one embodiment, the invention also provides an assembly method for producing a waterproof membrane by assembling plates of waterproof material, the assembly method comprising:
  • disposing a first plate, a second plate and a third plate on a support surface, each of said first, second and third plates having an orthogonal longitudinal side and a transverse side meeting at a corner zone;
    • the first plate being arranged so as to cover an area of the support surface which is adjacent to the transverse side of the third plate and so that a transverse strip of the first plate which extends along the transverse side of said first plate overlaps the transverse side of the third plate;
    • the second plate being arranged to cover an area of the support surface which is adjacent to the longitudinal side of the third plate and such that a longitudinal strip of the second plate which extends along the longitudinal side of said second plate overlaps the longitudinal side of the third plate; the corner zone of the first plate and the corner zone of the second plate being arranged facing each other with a gap uncovering the corner zone of the third plate;
  • making a first continuous weld line on the transverse strip of the first plate which overlaps the third plate, so as to assemble the first plate to the third plate;
  • make a second continuous weld line on the longitudinal strip of the second plate which overlaps the third plate, so as to assemble the second plate to the third plate;
  • disposing a fourth plate on the support surface so as to cover an area of the support surface which is adjacent to the longitudinal side of the first plate and the transverse side of the second plate, the fourth plate having a longitudinal side and a transverse side orthogonal joining at a corner area which has a convex curved portion, the fourth plate being arranged such that a longitudinal strip of the fourth plate overlaps the longitudinal side of the first plate and an end portion of the first weld line, that a transverse strip of the fourth plate overlaps the transverse side of the second plate and an end portion of the second weld line and that the corner area of the fourth plate overlaps the gap between the corner area of the first plate and the corner area of the second plate;
  • making a third line of continuous lap weld along the longitudinal side, the corner area and the transverse side of the fourth plate so as to join the fourth plate to the first, second and third plates; the third weld line intersecting the first and second weld lines.

Ainsi, grâce à la zone de forme courbée de la quatrième plaque qui chevauche l'interstice entre la zone de coin de la première plaque et la zone de coin de la deuxième plaque, la troisième ligne de soudure peut être réalisé en continue, le long du côté longitudinal, de la zone de coin et du côté transversal de la quatrième plaque.Thus, thanks to the curved shape zone of the fourth plate which overlaps the gap between the corner zone of the first plate and the corner zone of the second plate, the third weld line can be made continuously, along from the longitudinal side, from the corner area and from the transverse side of the fourth plate.

En outre, par comparaison avec une zone de coin de la quatrième plaque qui présente un côté droit biseauté comme dans l'état de la technique précité, la forme arrondie de la zone de coin de la quatrième plaque permet de limiter les dimensions des bandes longitudinale et transversale de la plaque qui recouvrent respectivement la première et la deuxième plaques.Furthermore, by comparison with a corner zone of the fourth plate which has a bevelled right side as in the aforementioned state of the art, the rounded shape of the corner zone of the fourth plate makes it possible to limit the dimensions of the longitudinal and transverse bands of the plate which respectively cover the first and the second plates.

Selon d'autres modes de réalisation avantageux, une telle membrane étanche ou un tel procédé d'assemblage peut présenter une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques suivantes :
Selon un mode de réalisation, la portion courbée convexe de la quatrième plaque se développe sur une portion angulaire de 90°.According to other advantageous embodiments, such a waterproof membrane or such an assembly method may have one or more of the following characteristics:
According to one embodiment, the convex curved portion of the fourth plate develops over an angular portion of 90°.

Selon un mode de réalisation, la portion courbée convexe de la quatrième plaque présente un rayon de courbure constant.According to one embodiment, the convex curved portion of the fourth plate has a constant radius of curvature.

Selon un mode de réalisation, le rayon de courbure de la portion courbée convexe est compris entre 1 et 2,4 cm, et de préférence entre 1,9 et 2,1 cm.According to one embodiment, the radius of curvature of the convex curved portion is between 1 and 2.4 cm, and preferably between 1.9 and 2.1 cm.

Selon un mode de réalisation, la zone de coin de la première plaque comporte un côté biseauté reliant le côté longitudinal et le côté transversal de ladite première plaque et la première ligne de soudure est une soudure à clin s'étendant le long du côté transversal et du côté biseauté de la première plaque. Ceci permet de limiter, d'une part, la dimension du chevauchement entre la première plaque et la troisième plaque et, d'autre part, la dimension du chevauchement entre la troisième et la quatrième plaques.According to one embodiment, the corner zone of the first plate comprises a bevelled side connecting the longitudinal side and the transverse side of said first plate and the first weld line is a lap weld extending along the transverse side and on the beveled side of the first plate. This makes it possible to limit, on the one hand, the dimension of the overlap between the first plate and the third plate and, on the other hand, the dimension of the overlap between the third and the fourth plates.

Selon un mode de réalisation, le côté longitudinal de la quatrième plaque s'étend selon un axe coupant le côté biseauté de la première plaque.According to one embodiment, the longitudinal side of the fourth plate extends along an axis intersecting the beveled side of the first plate.

Selon un mode de réalisation, la zone de coin de la deuxième plaque comporte un côté biseauté reliant le côté longitudinal et le côté transversal de ladite deuxième plaque et la deuxième ligne de soudure est réalisée à clin le long du côté longitudinal et du côté biseauté de la deuxième plaque. Un tel agencement permet de limiter, d'une part, la dimension du chevauchement entre la deuxième plaque et la troisième plaque et, d'autre part, la dimension du chevauchement entre la deuxième et la quatrième plaques.According to one embodiment, the corner zone of the second plate comprises a beveled side connecting the longitudinal side and the transverse side of said second plate and the second weld line is made with a bevel along the longitudinal side and the beveled side of the second plate. Such an arrangement makes it possible to limit, on the one hand, the dimension of the overlap between the second plate and the third plate and, on the other hand, the dimension of the overlap between the second and the fourth plates.

Selon un mode de réalisation, le côté transversal de la quatrième plaque s'étend selon un axe coupant le côté biseauté de la deuxième plaque.According to one embodiment, the transverse side of the fourth plate extends along an axis intersecting the beveled side of the second plate.

Selon un mode de réalisation, le côté biseauté de la première plaque et le côté biseauté de la deuxième plaque sont parallèles l'un à l'autre.According to one embodiment, the beveled side of the first plate and the beveled side of the second plate are parallel to each other.

Selon un mode de réalisation, la portion courbée convexe de la quatrième plaque chevauche le côté biseauté de la première plaque et le côté biseauté de la deuxième plaque.According to one embodiment, the convex curved portion of the fourth plate overlaps the beveled side of the first plate and the beveled side of the second plate.

Selon un mode de réalisation, les côtés longitudinaux des première, deuxième, troisième et quatrième plaques sont parallèles les uns aux autres et les côtés transversaux des première, deuxième, troisième et quatrième plaques sont parallèles les uns aux autres.According to one embodiment, the longitudinal sides of the first, second, third and fourth plates are parallel to each other and the transverse sides of the first, second, third and fourth plates are parallel to each other.

Selon un mode de réalisation, le côté longitudinal de la quatrième plaque est aligné avec le côté longitudinal de la deuxième plaque.According to one embodiment, the longitudinal side of the fourth plate is aligned with the longitudinal side of the second plate.

Selon un mode de réalisation, le côté transversal de la quatrième plaque est aligné avec le côté transversal de la première plaque.According to one embodiment, the transverse side of the fourth plate is aligned with the transverse side of the first plate.

Selon un mode de réalisation, la bande longitudinale de la quatrième plaque qui est située entre le côté longitudinal de la quatrième plaque et le côté longitudinal de la première plaque présente une dimension selon une direction orthogonale au côté longitudinal de la quatrième plaque qui est inférieure à 3,6 cm, et de préférence comprise entre 2,4 et 3,6 cm.According to one embodiment, the longitudinal strip of the fourth plate which is located between the longitudinal side of the fourth plate and the longitudinal side of the first plate has a dimension in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal side of the fourth plate which is less than 3.6 cm, and preferably between 2.4 and 3.6 cm.

Selon un mode de réalisation, la bande transversale de la quatrième plaque qui est située entre le côté transversal de la quatrième plaque et le côté transversal de la deuxième plaque présente une dimension selon une direction orthogonale au côté transversal de la quatrième plaque qui est inférieure à 3,6 cm, et de préférence comprise entre 2,4 et 3,6 cm.According to one embodiment, the transverse strip of the fourth plate which is located between the transverse side of the fourth plate and the transverse side of the second plate has a dimension in a direction orthogonal to the transverse side of the fourth plate which is less than 3.6 cm, and preferably between 2.4 and 3.6 cm.

Selon un mode de réalisation, les première, deuxième, troisième et quatrième plaques sont en tôle métallique.According to one embodiment, the first, second, third and fourth plates are made of sheet metal.

Selon un mode de réalisation, l'invention fournit également une cuve étanche et thermiquement isolante disposée dans une structure porteuse, la cuve comportant une paroi de cuve retenue sur une paroi de la structure porteuse, la paroi de cuve comportant une barrière d'isolation thermique retenue directement ou indirectement sur la paroi porteuse et une membrane étanche précitée disposée sur la barrière d'isolation thermique.According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a leaktight and thermally insulating tank placed in a supporting structure, the tank comprising a wall of the tank retained on a wall of the supporting structure, the wall of the tank comprising a thermal insulation barrier retained directly or indirectly on the load-bearing wall and an aforementioned sealed membrane arranged on the thermal insulation barrier.

Une cuve selon l'un des modes de réalisation précités peut faire partie d'une installation de stockage terrestre, par exemple pour stocker du GNL ou être installée dans une structure flottante, côtière ou en eau profonde, notamment un navire éthanier ou méthanier, une unité flottante de stockage et de regazéification (FSRU), une unité flottante de production et de stockage déporté (FPSO) et autres. Dans le cas d'une structure flottante, la cuve peut être destinée à recevoir du gaz naturel liquéfié servant de carburant pour la propulsion de la structure flottante.A tank according to one of the aforementioned embodiments can be part of an onshore storage installation, for example for storing LNG or be installed in a floating, coastal or deep-water structure, in particular a ethane or LNG tanker, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be intended to receive liquefied natural gas serving as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.

Selon un mode de réalisation, un navire pour le transport d'un fluide comporte une coque, telle qu'une double coque, et une cuve précitée disposée dans la coque.According to one embodiment, a vessel for transporting a fluid comprises a hull, such as a double hull, and a aforementioned tank placed in the hull.

Selon un mode de réalisation, l'invention fournit aussi un procédé de chargement ou déchargement d'un tel navire, dans lequel on achemine un fluide à travers des canalisations isolées depuis ou vers une installation de stockage flottante ou terrestre vers ou depuis la cuve du navire.According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method for loading or unloading such a ship, in which a fluid is routed through insulated pipes from or to a floating or terrestrial storage installation to or from the tank of the vessel.

Selon un mode de réalisation, l'invention fournit aussi un système de transfert pour un fluide, le système comportant le navire précité, des canalisations isolées agencées de manière à relier la cuve installée dans la coque du navire à une installation de stockage flottante ou terrestre et une pompe pour entrainer un flux de fluide à travers les canalisations isolées depuis ou vers l'installation de stockage flottante ou terrestre vers ou depuis la cuve du navire.According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged so as to connect the tank installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or terrestrial storage installation and a pump for driving a flow of fluid through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or onshore storage facility to or from the vessel's tank.

Brève description des figuresBrief description of figures

L'invention sera mieux comprise, et d'autres buts, détails, caractéristiques et avantages de celle-ci apparaîtront plus clairement au cours de la description suivante de plusieurs modes de réalisation particuliers de l'invention, donnés uniquement à titre illustratif et non limitatif, en référence aux dessins annexés.

  • Les figures 1 à 4 illustrent quatre étapes successives d'un procédé de fabrication d'une membrane étanche impliquant quatre plaques métalliques ; et
  • La figure 5 est une représentation schématique écorchée d'une cuve de navire méthanier comportant une membrane étanche précitée et d'un terminal de chargement/déchargement de cette cuve.
The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation. , with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  • The figures 1 to 4 illustrate four successive steps of a process for manufacturing a waterproof membrane involving four metal plates; and
  • The figure 5 is a cutaway diagrammatic representation of an LNG carrier tank comprising the above-mentioned waterproof membrane and a loading/unloading terminal for this tank.

Description détaillée de modes de réalisationDetailed Description of Embodiments

Dans la description qui suit, les termes « transversal » et « longitudinal » désignent deux directions mutuellement perpendiculaires.In the following description, the terms "transverse" and "longitudinal" designate two mutually perpendicular directions.

En référence aux figures 1 à 4, on décrit un procédé de fabrication d'une membrane étanche pour une cuve étanche et thermiquement isolante. Une telle cuve peut notamment comporter une structure multicouche comportant, depuis l'extérieur vers l'intérieur de la cuve, une barrière thermiquement isolante secondaire comportant des éléments isolants reposant contre une structure porteuse, une membrane d'étanchéité secondaire, une barrière thermiquement isolante primaire comportant des éléments isolants reposant contre la membrane d'étanchéité secondaire et une membrane d'étanchéité primaire destinée à être en contact avec le gaz liquéfié contenu dans la cuve. A titre d'exemple, de telles cuves à membranes sont notamment décrites dans les demandes de brevet WO14057221 et FR2691520 . Le procédé tel que décrit ci-dessous est notamment susceptible de s'appliquer à la membrane d'étanchéité secondaire et/ou à la membrane d'étanchéité primaire d'une telle cuve.With reference to figures 1 to 4 , there is described a method of manufacturing a sealed membrane for a sealed and thermally insulating tank. Such a tank may in particular comprise a multilayer structure comprising, from the outside towards the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against a supporting structure, a secondary sealing membrane, a primary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against the secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank. By way of example, such membrane tanks are described in particular in the applications for patent WO14057221 and FR2691520 . The method as described below is in particular capable of being applied to the secondary sealing membrane and/or to the primary sealing membrane of such a tank.

Dans la description ci-dessous, on décrit un procédé permettant d'assembler quatre plaques d'une membrane d'étanchéité, désignées par les chiffres de référence 1 à 4. Les quatre plaques 1, 2, 3, 4 présentent une forme sensiblement rectangulaire, c'est-à-dire qu'elles comportent chacune quatre côtés principaux dont deux côtés longitudinaux sont parallèles l'un à l'autre et sont perpendiculaires aux deux côtés transversaux.In the description below, a method is described for assembling four plates of a waterproofing membrane, designated by the reference numerals 1 to 4. The four plates 1, 2, 3, 4 have a substantially rectangular shape. , that is to say that they each have four main sides, two longitudinal sides of which are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the two transverse sides.

Sur les figures 1 à 4, seules les zones de coin des plaques 1, 2, 3, 4 sont illustrées. En référence à la figure 1, on a représenté partiellement une plaque 3 dont seule la zone de coin 3c inférieure droite est montrée. Cette plaque 3 est posée sur une surface de support, tel qu'une barrière thermiquement isolante secondaire ou primaire d'une cuve. Par convention, on désigne par le terme « longitudinal », le côté 3a de la plaque 3 et la direction correspondante du plan illustré par la flèche L et on désigne par le terme « transversal », le côté 3b de la plaque 3 et la direction correspondante du plan, illustré par la flèche T.On the figures 1 to 4 , only the corner areas of plates 1, 2, 3, 4 are shown. With reference to the figure 1 , a plate 3 has been partially shown of which only the lower right corner zone 3c is shown. This plate 3 is placed on a support surface, such as a secondary or primary thermally insulating barrier of a tank. By convention, the term "longitudinal" designates the side 3a of the plate 3 and the corresponding direction of the plane illustrated by the arrow L and the term "transverse" designates the side 3b of the plate 3 and the direction corresponding to the plan, illustrated by the arrow T.

Une plaque 2, montrée partiellement sur la figure 2, est disposée sur la surface de support à côté de la plaque 3 en recouvrant partiellement celle-ci. En particulier, le côté longitudinal 2a de la plaque 2 est disposé sur la plaque 1 de même que toute une bande longitudinale située entre le côté longitudinal 2a de la plaque 2 et le côté longitudinal 1a de la plaque 1. Dans le mode de réalisation représenté, le côté transversal 2b de la plaque 2 est disposé dans l'alignement du côté transversal 1b de la plaque 1.A plate 2, partially shown on the figure 2 , is arranged on the support surface next to the plate 3, partially covering the latter. In particular, the longitudinal side 2a of the plate 2 is arranged on the plate 1 of same as an entire longitudinal strip located between the longitudinal side 2a of the plate 2 and the longitudinal side 1a of the plate 1. In the embodiment shown, the transverse side 2b of the plate 2 is arranged in alignment with the transverse side 1b of plate 1.

La zone de coin 2c entre le côté transversal 2b et le côté longitudinal 2a de la plaque 2 présente un côté biseauté reliant le côté transversal 2b et le côté longitudinal 2a. Le côté biseauté est par exemple orienté d'un angle de 45° par rapport au côté transversal 2b et au côté longitudinal 2a.The corner zone 2c between the transverse side 2b and the longitudinal side 2a of the plate 2 has a bevelled side connecting the transverse side 2b and the longitudinal side 2a. The beveled side is for example oriented at an angle of 45° relative to the transverse side 2b and to the longitudinal side 2a.

Par ailleurs, une autre plaque 1, montrée partiellement sur la figure 3, est également disposée sur la surface de support à côté de la plaque 3 en recouvrant partiellement celle-ci. En particulier, le côté transversal 1b de la plaque 1 est disposé sur la plaque 1 de même que toute une bande transversale située entre le côté transversal 1b de la plaque 1 et le côté transversal 3b de la plaque 3.Furthermore, another plate 1, partially shown on the picture 3 , is also arranged on the support surface next to the plate 3, partially covering the latter. In particular, the transverse side 1b of the plate 1 is arranged on the plate 1 as well as a whole transverse band located between the transverse side 1b of the plate 1 and the transverse side 3b of the plate 3.

Dans le mode de réalisation représenté, le côté longitudinal 1a de la plaque est disposé dans l'alignement du côté longitudinal 3a de la plaque 3. La zone de coin 1c entre le côté transversal 1b de la plaque 1 et le côté longitudinal 1a de la plaque présente un côté biseauté reliant le côté transversal 1b et le côté longitudinal 1a. Le côté biseauté est par exemple orienté d'un angle de 45° par rapport au côté transversal 1b et au côté longitudinal 1a. Le côté biseauté de la première plaque 1 et le côté biseauté de la deuxième plaque 2 sont parallèles l'un à l'autre.In the embodiment shown, the longitudinal side 1a of the plate is arranged in alignment with the longitudinal side 3a of the plate 3. The corner zone 1c between the transverse side 1b of the plate 1 and the longitudinal side 1a of the plate has a bevelled side connecting the transverse side 1b and the longitudinal side 1a. The beveled side is for example oriented at an angle of 45° relative to the transverse side 1b and to the longitudinal side 1a. The beveled side of the first plate 1 and the beveled side of the second plate 2 are parallel to each other.

Comme représenté sur la figure 3, une bande diagonale qui est située dans le coin de la plaque 3, entre les côtés biseautés des plaques 1 et 2 n'est recouverte ni par la plaque 1, ni par le plaque 2.As shown on the figure 3 , a diagonal strip which is located in the corner of plate 3, between the bevelled sides of plates 1 and 2 is covered neither by plate 1 nor by plate 2.

Une ligne de soudure 7, représentée en pointillée sur les figures 2, 3 et 4, est réalisée sur la bande longitudinale de la plaque 2 qui chevauche la plaque 3 de manière à assembler de manière étanche la plaque 2 à la plaque 3. Cette ligne de soudure 7 est avantageusement réalisée à clin le long du côté longitudinal 2a et du côté biseauté de la plaque 2.A welding line 7, shown in dotted lines on the figures 2, 3 and 4 , is made on the longitudinal strip of plate 2 which overlaps plate 3 so as to seal plate 2 to plate 3 in a sealed manner. bevel of plate 2.

De manière similaire, une ligne de soudure 6, représentée en pointillée sur les figures 3 et 4, est également réalisée sur la bande transversale de la plaque 1 qui chevauche la plaque 3 de manière à assembler de manière étanche la plaque 1 à la plaque 3. Cette ligne de soudure 6 est avantageusement réalisée à clin le long du côté transversal 1b et du côté biseauté de la plaque 1.Similarly, a weld line 6, shown in dotted lines on the figure 3 and 4 , is also made on the transverse strip of plate 1 which overlaps plate 3 so as to seal plate 1 to plate 3 in a sealed manner. beveled side of plate 1.

Sur la figure 4, une quatrième plaque rectangulaire 4, montrée partiellement, est disposée sur la surface de support à côté des plaques 1 et 2 en recouvrant partiellement celles-ci. En particulier, le côté longitudinal 4a de la plaque 4 recouvre la plaque 1 ainsi que toute une bande longitudinale de la plaque 1 située entre le côté longitudinal 4a de la plaque 4 et le côté longitudinal 1a de la plaque 1. De façon similaire, le côté transversal 4b de la plaque 4 recouvre la plaque 2 ainsi que toute une bande transversale de la plaque 2 située entre le côté transversal 4b de la plaque 4 et le côté transversal 2b de la plaque 2.On the figure 4 , a fourth rectangular plate 4, partially shown, is arranged on the support surface next to the plates 1 and 2, partially covering the latter. In particular, the longitudinal side 4a of the plate 4 covers the plate 1 as well as an entire longitudinal strip of the plate 1 located between the longitudinal side 4a of the plate 4 and the longitudinal side 1a of the plate 1. Similarly, the transverse side 4b of plate 4 covers plate 2 as well as an entire transverse strip of plate 2 located between transverse side 4b of plate 4 and transverse side 2b of plate 2.

Dans le mode de réalisation représenté, le côté longitudinal 4a de la plaque 4 est aligné avec le côté longitudinal de la plaque 2 tandis que le côté transversal 4b de la plaque 4 est aligné avec le côté transversal 1b de la plaque 1. En outre, le côté longitudinal 4a de la plaque 4 s'étend selon un axe coupant le côté biseauté de la plaque 2 et le côté transversal 4b de la plaque 4 s'étend selon un axe coupant le côté biseauté de la plaque 1.In the embodiment shown, the longitudinal side 4a of the plate 4 is aligned with the longitudinal side of the plate 2 while the transverse side 4b of the plate 4 is aligned with the transverse side 1b of the plate 1. In addition, the longitudinal side 4a of the plate 4 extends along an axis intersecting the beveled side of the plate 2 and the transverse side 4b of the plate 4 extends along an axis intersecting the beveled side of the plate 1.

La zone de coin 4c de la plaque 4 présente une portion courbée convexe qui relie le côté longitudinal 4a et le côté transversal de la plaque 4. La zone de coin 4c de la plaque 4 chevauche l'interstice 5 qui est ménagé entre les côtés biseautés des plaques 1 et 2 de telle sorte que la portion courbée convexe chevauche la ligne de soudure 6 et la ligne de soudure 7 au niveau des côtés biseautés des plaques 1, 2.The corner zone 4c of the plate 4 has a convex curved portion which connects the longitudinal side 4a and the transverse side of the plate 4. The corner zone 4c of the plate 4 overlaps the gap 5 which is formed between the bevelled sides plates 1 and 2 so that the convex curved portion overlaps the weld line 6 and the weld line 7 at the beveled sides of the plates 1, 2.

La portion courbée s'étend selon une portion angulaire de 90°. Le rayon de courbure de la portion courbée convexe est constant et est par exemple compris entre 1 et 2,4 cm, et de préférence entre 1,9 et 2,1 cm.The curved portion extends along an angular portion of 90°. The radius of curvature of the convex curved portion is constant and is for example between 1 and 2.4 cm, and preferably between 1.9 and 2.1 cm.

Dans le mode de réalisation représenté, les zones de chevauchement de la bande transversale de la plaque 1 sur la plaque 2, de la bande longitudinale de la plaque 2 sur la plaque 3, de la bande longitudinale de la plaque 4 sur la plaque 2 et de la bande transversale de la plaque 4 sur la plaque 2 présentent des largeurs identiques. A titre d'exemple, la largeur de ces zones de chevauchement est inférieure à 3,6 cm et de préférence comprise entre 2,4 et 3,6 cm.In the embodiment shown, the areas of overlap of the transverse strip of plate 1 on plate 2, of the longitudinal strip of plate 2 on plate 3, of the longitudinal strip of plate 4 on plate 2 and of the transverse strip of the plate 4 on the plate 2 have identical widths. By way of example, the width of these overlapping zones is less than 3.6 cm and preferably between 2.4 and 3.6 cm.

Par la suite, une ligne de soudure 8 est réalisée à clin le long du côté longitudinal 4a, de la zone de coin 4c et du côté transversal 4b de la plaque 4. Cette ligne de soudure 8 coupe la ligne de soudure 7 et la ligne de soudure 6. Ainsi, la plaque 4 est assemblée de manière étanche à la plaque 1 le long du côté longitudinal 4a de la plaque 4, à la plaque 2 le long du côté transversal 4b de la plaque 4, et à la plaque 3, le long de la zone de coin 4c de la plaque 4, entre les deux côtés biseautés des plaques 1, 2.Subsequently, a weld line 8 is made at a clinker along the longitudinal side 4a, the corner zone 4c and the transverse side 4b of the plate 4. This weld line 8 intersects the weld line 7 and the line of welding 6. Thus, the plate 4 is assembled in a sealed manner to the plate 1 along the side longitudinal 4a of plate 4, to plate 2 along the transverse side 4b of plate 4, and to plate 3, along the corner area 4c of plate 4, between the two beveled sides of plates 1, 2.

Grâce à la forme arrondie de la zone de coin 4c de la plaque 4, la ligne de soudure 8 peut être réalisée en continue, le long du côté longitudinal 4a, de la zone de coin 4c et du côté transversal 4b de la plaque 4. En outre, par comparaison avec une zone de coin de la plaque 4 qui présente un côté droit biseauté, la forme arrondie de la zone de coin 4c permet de limiter les dimensions des bandes longitudinale et transversale de la plaque 4 qui recouvrent respectivement la plaque 1 et la plaque 2.Thanks to the rounded shape of the corner zone 4c of the plate 4, the weld line 8 can be made continuously, along the longitudinal side 4a, the corner zone 4c and the transverse side 4b of the plate 4. In addition, by comparison with a corner zone of plate 4 which has a beveled right side, the rounded shape of corner zone 4c makes it possible to limit the dimensions of the longitudinal and transverse strips of plate 4 which respectively cover plate 1 and plate 2.

L'assemblage des quatre plaques dans la zone de coin représentée sur la figure 4 est étanche au liquide, c'est-à-dire qu'un fluide se trouvant au-dessus de l'assemblage ne trouve aucun interstice entre les différentes plaques pour diffuser en dessous de l'assemblage. On appréciera qu'un assemblage similaire puisse être réalisé à chaque coin des plaques 1, 2, 3, 4 de la figure 4.The assembly of the four plates in the corner area shown in the figure 4 is liquid-tight, that is to say that a fluid located above the assembly does not find any interstice between the different plates to diffuse below the assembly. It will be appreciated that a similar assembly can be made at each corner of the plates 1, 2, 3, 4 of the figure 4 .

Selon un mode de réalisation, les plaques 1, 2, 3, 4 sont des tôles métalliques. A titre d'exemple, les plaques 1, 2, 3, 4 peuvent notamment être réalisées en acier inoxydable, en aluminium, en invar ®, c'est-à-dire un alliage de fer et de nickel dont le coefficient de dilatation est typiquement compris entre 1,2.10-6 et 2.10-6 K-1, ou dans un alliage de fer à forte teneur en manganèse dont le coefficient de dilatation est typiquement de l'ordre de 7.10-6 K-1.According to one embodiment, the plates 1, 2, 3, 4 are metal sheets. By way of example, the plates 1, 2, 3, 4 can in particular be made of stainless steel, aluminum, 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 -1 , or in an iron alloy with a high manganese content whose coefficient of expansion is typically of the order of 7.10 -6 K -1 .

L'épaisseur des plaques 1, 2, 3, 4 est par exemple comprise entre 0.4 et 2 mm, typiquement de l'ordre de 0.7 mm.The thickness of the plates 1, 2, 3, 4 is for example between 0.4 and 2 mm, typically around 0.7 mm.

Selon un mode de réalisation, les plaques 1, 2, 3, 4 comportent chacune au moins deux ondulations perpendiculaires de manière à permettre à la membrane de se déformer sous l'effet des sollicitations thermiques et mécaniques générées par le fluide emmagasiné dans la cuve.According to one embodiment, the plates 1, 2, 3, 4 each comprise at least two perpendicular undulations so as to allow the membrane to deform under the effect of the thermal and mechanical stresses generated by the fluid stored in the tank.

La technique décrite ci-dessus pour réaliser une membrane d'étanchéité peut être utilisée dans différents types de réservoirs, par exemple pour constituer la membrane d'étanchéité primaire et/ou la membrane d'étanchéité secondaire d'un cuve de stockage de GNL dans une installation terrestre ou dans un ouvrage flottant comme un navire méthanier ou autre.The technique described above for making a sealing membrane can be used in different types of tanks, for example to constitute the primary sealing membrane and/or the secondary sealing membrane of an LNG storage tank in an installation on land or in a floating structure such as an LNG carrier or other.

En référence à la figure 5, une vue écorchée d'un navire méthanier 70 montre une cuve étanche et isolée 71 de forme générale prismatique montée dans la double coque 72 du navire. La paroi de la cuve 71 comporte une membrane étanche primaire destinée à être en contact avec le GNL contenu dans la cuve, une membrane étanche secondaire agencée entre la barrière étanche primaire et la double coque 72 du navire, et deux barrières isolante agencées respectivement entre la membrane étanche primaire et la membrane étanche secondaire et entre la membrane étanche secondaire et la double coque 72.With reference to the figure 5 , a cutaway view of an LNG carrier 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 waterproof membrane intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary waterproof membrane arranged between the primary waterproof barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and two insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary waterproof membrane and the secondary waterproof membrane and between the secondary waterproof membrane and the double hull 72.

De manière connue en soi, des canalisations de chargement/déchargement 73 disposées sur le pont supérieur du navire peuvent être raccordées, au moyen de connecteurs appropriées, à un terminal maritime ou portuaire pour transférer une cargaison de GNL depuis ou vers la cuve 71.In a manner known per se, loading/unloading pipes 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a maritime or port terminal to transfer a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.

La figure 5 représente un exemple de terminal maritime comportant un poste de chargement et de déchargement 75, une conduite sous-marine 76 et une installation à terre 77. Le poste de chargement et de déchargement 75 est une installation fixe off-shore comportant un bras mobile 74 et une tour 78 qui supporte le bras mobile 74. Le bras mobile 74 porte un faisceau de tuyaux flexibles isolés 79 pouvant se connecter aux canalisations de chargement/déchargement 73. Le bras mobile 74 orientable s'adapte à tous les gabarits de méthaniers. Une conduite de liaison non représentée s'étend à l'intérieur de la tour 78. Le poste de chargement et de déchargement 75 permet le chargement et le déchargement du méthanier 70 depuis ou vers l'installation à terre 77. Celle-ci comporte des cuves de stockage de gaz liquéfié 80 et des conduites de liaison 81 reliées par la conduite sous-marine 76 au poste de chargement ou de déchargement 75. La conduite sous-marine 76 permet le transfert du gaz liquéfié entre le poste de chargement ou de déchargement 75 et l'installation à terre 77 sur une grande distance, par exemple 5 km, ce qui permet de garder le navire méthanier 70 à grande distance de la côte pendant les opérations de chargement et de déchargement.The figure 5 represents an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipeline 76 and an installation on land 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a mobile arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the mobile arm 74. The mobile arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 which can be connected to the loading/unloading pipes 73. The orientable mobile arm 74 adapts to all sizes of LNG carriers. A connecting pipe, not shown, extends inside the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 70 from or to the shore installation 77. This comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipes 81 connected by the underwater pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75. The underwater pipe 76 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the shore installation 77 over a great distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG carrier 70 at a great distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

Pour engendrer la pression nécessaire au transfert du gaz liquéfié, on met en œuvre des pompes embarquées dans le navire 70 et/ou des pompes équipant l'installation à terre 77 et/ou des pompes équipant le poste de chargement et de déchargement 75.To generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, pumps on board the ship 70 and/or pumps fitted to the shore installation 77 and/or pumps fitted to the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

Bien que l'invention ait été décrite en liaison avec plusieurs modes de réalisation particuliers, il est bien évident qu'elle n'y est nullement limitée et qu'elle comprend tous les équivalents techniques des moyens décrits ainsi que leurs combinaisons si celles-ci entrent dans le cadre de l'invention, telle que définie par les revendications.Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

L'usage du verbe « comporter », « comprendre » ou « inclure » et de ses formes conjuguées n'exclut pas la présence d'autres éléments ou d'autres étapes que ceux énoncés dans une revendication.The use of the verb "to comprise", "to understand" or "to include" and of its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those set out in a claim.

Dans les revendications, tout signe de référence entre parenthèses ne saurait être interprété comme une limitation de la revendication.In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims (15)

  1. Sealed membrane comprising plates of a fluidtight material assembled in a sealed manner, the membrane comprising:
    - a first plate (1), a second plate (2) and a third plate (3) which are arranged on a support surface, each of the said first, second and third plates (1, 2, 3) comprising a longitudinal side (1a, 2a, 3a) and a transverse side (1b, 2b, 3b) which are orthogonal and meet in a corner zone (1c, 2c, 3c);
    the first plate (1) covering a zone of the support surface which is adjacent to the transverse side (3b) of the third plate (3) and comprising a transverse strip which extends along the transverse side (1b) of the said first plate (1) and overlaps the transverse side (3b) of the third plate (3);
    the second plate (2) covering a zone of the support surface which is adjacent to the longitudinal side (3a) of the third plate (3) and comprising a longitudinal strip which extends along the longitudinal side (3a) of the said third plate (3) and overlaps the longitudinal side of the third plate (3); the corner zone (1c) of the first plate (1) and the corner zone (2c) of the second plate (2) being positioned facing one another with a gap uncovering the corner zone of the third plate (3);
    - a first weld line (6) extending continuously along the transverse strip of the first plate (1) which overlaps the third plate (3), so as to assemble the first plate (1) to the third plate (3);
    - a second weld line (7) extending continuously along the longitudinal strip of the second plate (2) which overlaps the third plate (3), so as to assemble the second plate (2) to the third plate (3);
    - a fourth plate (4) arranged on the support surface in such a way as to cover a zone of the support surface which is adjacent to the longitudinal side (1a) of the first plate (1) and to the transverse side (2b) of the second plate (2), the fourth plate (4) comprising a longitudinal side (4a) and a transverse side (4b) which are orthogonal and meet in a corner zone (4c), , the fourth plate (4) having a longitudinal strip which overlaps the longitudinal side (1a) of the first plate (1) and an end portion of the first weld line (6) and a transverse strip which overlaps the transverse side (2b) of the second plate (2) and an end portion of the second weld line (7),
    the corner zone of the fourth plate (4) overlapping the gap (5) between the corner zone (1c) of the first plate (1) and the corner zone (2c) of the second plate (2); the said sealed membrane being characterized in that the corner zone (4c) of the fourth plate (4) has a convex curved portion and in that the said sealed membrane comprises a third, fillet, weld line (8) extending continuously along the longitudinal side (4a), along the corner zone (4c) and along the transverse side (4b) of the fourth plate (4) so as to assemble the fourth plate (4) with the first, second and third plates (1, 2, 3); the third weld line (8) intersecting the first and second weld lines (6, 7).
  2. Sealed membrane according to Claim 1, in which the corner zone (1c) of the first plate (1) has a chamfered side connecting the longitudinal side (1a) and the transverse side (1b) of the said first plate (1) and in which the first weld line (6) is a fillet weld extending along the transverse side (1b) and along the chamfered side of the first plate (1).
  3. Sealed membrane according to Claim 2, in which the longitudinal side (4a) of the fourth plate (4) extends along an axis intersecting the chamfered side of the first plate (1).
  4. Sealed membrane according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the corner zone (2c) of the second plate (2) has a chamfered side connecting the longitudinal side (2a) and the transverse side (2b) of the said second plate (2) and in which the second weld line (7) is a fillet weld extending along the longitudinal side (2a) and along the chamfered side of the second plate (2).
  5. Sealed membrane according to Claim 4, in which the transverse side (4b) of the fourth plate (4) extends along an axis intersecting the chamfered side of the second plate (2).
  6. Sealed membrane according to Claim 5 considered in combination with Claim 2 or 3, in which the chamfered side of the first plate (1) and the chamfered side of the second plate (2) are parallel to one another.
  7. Sealed membrane according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the longitudinal sides (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a) of the first, second, third and fourth plates (1, 2, 3, 4) are parallel to one another and the transverse sides (1b, 2b, 3b, 4b) of the first, second, third and fourth plates (1, 2, 3, 4) are parallel to one another.
  8. Sealed membrane according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the longitudinal strip of the fourth plate (4) which is situated between the longitudinal side (4a) of the fourth plate (4) and the longitudinal side (1a) of the first plate (1) has a dimension in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal side (4a) of the fourth plate (4) which is less than 3.6 cm.
  9. Sealed membrane according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the transverse strip of the fourth plate (4) which is situated between the transverse side (4b) of the fourth plate (4) and the transverse side (2b) of the second plate (2) has a dimension in a direction orthogonal to the transverse side (4b) of the fourth plate (4) which is less than 3.6 cm.
  10. Sealed membrane according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, in which the first, second, third and fourth plates (1, 2, 3, 4) are made of sheet metal.
  11. Sealed and thermally insulating tank (71) arranged in a bearing structure, the tank comprising a tank wall held on a wall of the bearing structure, the tank wall comprising a thermal insulation barrier held directly or indirectly on the bearing wall and a sealed membrane according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 arranged on the thermal insulation barrier.
  12. Ship (70) for transporting a cold liquid product, the ship comprising a double hull (72) and a tank (71) according to Claim 11 arranged inside the double hull.
  13. Transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising a ship (70) according to Claim 12, insulated pipelines (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged in such a way as to connect the tank (71) installed in the hull of the ship to an off-shore or on-shore storage facility (77) and a pump for causing a stream of cold liquid product to flow along the insulated pipelines from or to the off-shore or on-shore storage facility to or from the tank of the ship."
  14. Assembly method for producing a sealed membrane by assembling plates made of a fluidtight material, the assembly method comprising:
    - placing a first plate (1), a second plate (2) and a third plate (3) on a support surface, each of the said first, second and third plates (1, 2, 3) comprising a longitudinal side (1a, 2a, 3a) and a transverse side (1b, 2b, 3b) which are orthogonal and meet in a corner zone (1c, 2c, 3c);
    the first plate (1) being arranged in such a way as to cover a zone of the support surface which is adjacent to the transverse side (3b) of the third plate (3) and in such a way that a transverse strip of the first plate (1) which extends along the transverse side (1b) of the said first plate (1) overlaps the transverse side (3b) of the third plate (3);
    the second plate (2) being arranged in such a way as to cover a zone of the support surface which is adjacent to the longitudinal side (3a) of the third plate (3) and in such a way that a longitudinal strip of the second plate (2) which extends along the longitudinal side (2a) of the said second plate (2) overlaps the longitudinal side of the third plate (3); the corner zone (1c) of the first plate (1) and the corner zone (2c) of the second plate (2) being positioned facing one another with a gap (5) uncovering the corner zone (3c) of the third plate (3);
    - creating a first continuous weld line (6) on the transverse strip of the first plate (1) which overlaps the third plate (3), so as to assemble the first plate (1) to the third plate (3);
    - creating a second continuous weld line (7) on the longitudinal strip of the second plate (2) which overlaps the third plate (3), so as to assemble the second plate (2) to the third plate (3);
    - positioning a fourth plate (4) on the support surface in such a way as to cover a zone of the support surface which is adjacent to the longitudinal side (1a) of the first plate (1) and to the transverse side (2b) of the second plate (2), the fourth plate (4) comprising a longitudinal side (4a) and a transverse side (4b) which are orthogonal and meet in a corner zone (4c), , the fourth plate (4) being positioned in such a way that a longitudinal strip of the fourth plate (4) overlaps the longitudinal side (1a) of the first plate (1) and an end portion of the first weld line (6), that a transverse strip of the fourth plate (4) overlaps the transverse side (2b) of the second plate (2) and an end portion of the second weld line (7) and that the corner zone (3c) of the fourth plate (4) overlaps the gap (5) between the corner zone (1c) of the first plate (1) and the corner zone (2c) of the second plate (2); the method being characterized in that the corner zone (4c) of the fourth plate (4) has a convex curved portion and in that it further comprises :
    - creating a third, continuous, fillet weld line (8) along the longitudinal side (4a), along the corner zone (4c) and along the transverse side (4b) of the fourth plate (4) so as to assemble the fourth plate (4) with the first, second and third plates (1, 2, 3); the third weld line (8) intersecting the first and the second weld lines (6, 7).
  15. Method for loading or unloading a ship (70) according to Claim 12, in which method a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipelines (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to an off-shore or on-shore storage facility (77) to or from the tank of the ship (71).
EP18738209.8A 2017-06-28 2018-06-21 Fluidtight membrane and method for assembling a fluidtight membrane Active EP3645933B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1020170081929A KR101931879B1 (en) 2017-06-28 2017-06-28 Sealed membrane and method for assembling a sealed membrane
PCT/EP2018/066544 WO2019002076A1 (en) 2017-06-28 2018-06-21 Fluidtight membrane and method for assembling a fluidtight membrane

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3645933A1 EP3645933A1 (en) 2020-05-06
EP3645933B1 true EP3645933B1 (en) 2022-11-09

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EP18738209.8A Active EP3645933B1 (en) 2017-06-28 2018-06-21 Fluidtight membrane and method for assembling a fluidtight membrane

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EP (1) EP3645933B1 (en)
KR (1) KR101931879B1 (en)
CN (1) CN110892189B (en)
ES (1) ES2934805T3 (en)
RU (1) RU2767850C2 (en)
SG (1) SG11201913508UA (en)
WO (1) WO2019002076A1 (en)

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FR2271497B1 (en) * 1974-01-24 1976-10-08 Technigaz
FR2691520B1 (en) 1992-05-20 1994-09-02 Technigaz Ste Nle Prefabricated structure for forming watertight and thermally insulating walls for containment of a fluid at very low temperature.
US7017792B2 (en) * 2001-02-02 2006-03-28 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Integrated piping plate, machining method for same, machining apparatus for same, and machining equipment for same
FR2903165B1 (en) * 2006-06-30 2008-09-05 Gaz Transport & Technigaz PREFABRICATED PANEL WITH PROTECTIVE FILM
FR2911576B1 (en) * 2007-01-23 2009-03-06 Alstom Sa METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN INSULATING WALL AND SEALING A TANK
FR2912385B1 (en) * 2007-02-13 2011-05-06 Gaz Transport & Technigaz CYLINDRICAL STRUCTURE COMPOSED OF RECTANGULAR ELEMENTS.
KR101215629B1 (en) * 2008-06-20 2012-12-26 삼성중공업 주식회사 Insulation panel for corner area of lng cargo containment system
WO2010137186A1 (en) * 2009-05-27 2010-12-02 Ｊｆｅスチール株式会社 Submerged arc welding method for steel plate
JP5154672B2 (en) * 2011-05-24 2013-02-27 Ｊｆｅスチール株式会社 Automobile frame parts
FR2977562B1 (en) * 2011-07-06 2016-12-23 Gaztransport Et Technigaz SEALED AND THERMALLY INSULATING TANK INTEGRATED IN A CARRIER STRUCTURE
FR2996520B1 (en) * 2012-10-09 2014-10-24 Gaztransp Et Technigaz SEALED AND THERMALLY INSULATING TANK COMPRISING A METALIC MEMBRANE WOUNDED ACCORDING TO ORTHOGONAL PLATES
FR3004416B1 (en) * 2013-04-12 2015-04-03 Gaztransp Et Technigaz SEALED MEMBRANE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
FR3004509B1 (en) * 2013-04-12 2016-11-25 Gaztransport Et Technigaz ANGLE STRUCTURE OF A SEALED AND THERMALLY INSULATING STORAGE OF A FLUID
FR3022971B1 (en) * 2014-06-25 2017-03-31 Gaztransport Et Technigaz SEALED AND INSULATING TANK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
KR102289313B1 (en) * 2015-08-21 2021-08-12 대우조선해양 주식회사 Automatic welding system of corrugation membrane sheet, guide fixing structure and guide structure thereof

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ES2934805T3 (en) 2023-02-27
WO2019002076A1 (en) 2019-01-03
SG11201913508UA (en) 2020-01-30
CN110892189A (en) 2020-03-17
RU2019142841A (en) 2021-07-28
RU2019142841A3 (en) 2021-10-14
KR101931879B1 (en) 2019-03-13
CN110892189B (en) 2022-04-15
RU2767850C2 (en) 2022-03-22
EP3645933A1 (en) 2020-05-06

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