EP3821167A1 - Tank wall comprising a sealing membrane having a corrugation with a reinforced curvilinear portion - Google Patents

Tank wall comprising a sealing membrane having a corrugation with a reinforced curvilinear portion

Info

Publication number
EP3821167A1
EP3821167A1 EP19742454.2A EP19742454A EP3821167A1 EP 3821167 A1 EP3821167 A1 EP 3821167A1 EP 19742454 A EP19742454 A EP 19742454A EP 3821167 A1 EP3821167 A1 EP 3821167A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
curvilinear
reinforcing
edge
wall
tank
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP19742454.2A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3821167C0 (en
EP3821167B1 (en
Inventor
Vincent Berger
Marc BOYEAU
Mohamed Sassi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gaztransport et Technigaz SA
Original Assignee
Gaztransport et Technigaz SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gaztransport et Technigaz SA filed Critical Gaztransport et Technigaz SA
Publication of EP3821167A1 publication Critical patent/EP3821167A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3821167C0 publication Critical patent/EP3821167C0/en
Publication of EP3821167B1 publication Critical patent/EP3821167B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • F17C1/00—Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge
    • F17C1/12—Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge 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
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F17C13/004—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels for large storage vessels not under pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D9/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids when loading or unloading ships
    • B67D9/02—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids when loading or unloading ships using articulated pipes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • 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
    • F17D—PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES
    • F17D1/00—Pipe-line systems
    • F17D1/08—Pipe-line systems for liquids or viscous products
    • F17D1/082—Pipe-line systems for liquids or viscous products for cold fluids, e.g. 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
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/01—Shape
    • F17C2201/0147—Shape complex
    • 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
    • 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
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
    • F17C2227/0128—Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
    • F17C2227/0135—Pumps
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • 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 watertight tanks with corrugated waterproofing membranes, for the storage and / or transport of a fluid, such as liquefied gas.
  • Sealed tanks with membranes are used in particular for the storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is stored, at atmospheric pressure, at around -163 ° C or for the storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
  • LNG liquefied natural gas
  • LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas
  • these tanks can be installed on the ground or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be intended for the transport of liquefied gas or to receive liquefied gas serving as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.
  • tanks with corrugated waterproofing membranes are known, the waterproofing membrane of which, intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank, is reinforced with elements of reinforcement.
  • the reinforcing elements are arranged under the undulations of the waterproofing membrane, between said waterproofing membrane and the thermally insulating barrier supporting this waterproofing membrane.
  • Such reinforcing elements make it possible to reduce the stresses which are likely to be caused, in the waterproofing membrane, by a multitude of factors, including the thermal retraction during the cold setting of the tank, the bending effect. of the beam of the ship, and the dynamic pressure due to the movement of the cargo, in particular due to the swell.
  • reinforcing elements are generally hollow in order to allow gas to circulate between the corrugations and the thermally insulating barrier while passing through the reinforcing elements.
  • Such tanks are notably described in documents FR2936784, FR2963818 or FR3039248.
  • the reinforcing elements disclosed in the aforementioned documents are generally produced from rectilinear profiles and are therefore placed in the rectilinear portions of the corrugations.
  • curvilinear portions of the corrugations are present in particular in specific areas of the tank, for example in a corner area between two walls, in the area of a support leg intended to guide a loading tower / unloading or in the area of a dome intended to evacuate gas or liquid.
  • An idea underlying the invention is to propose a sealed and thermally insulating tank wall comprising a sealing membrane fitted with a corrugation having a curvilinear portion and further comprising a curvilinear reinforcement device which is simple to produce and which allows said curvilinear portion to be reliably reinforced.
  • the invention provides a vessel wall comprising a thermally insulating barrier and a sealing membrane resting on the thermally insulating barrier, the sealing membrane comprising a corrugation having a curvilinear portion developing in a curvilinear direction and at least one curvilinear reinforcement device arranged inside the curvilinear portion, between the sealing membrane and the thermally insulating barrier so as to reinforce said curvilinear portion, said curvilinear reinforcement device comprising a plurality of reinforcement sections which each have a profiled shape developing in a rectilinear direction, the curvilinear reinforcement device further comprising a connecting member connecting said reinforcement sections so as to maintain them in a position in which, in projection in a plane parallel to the wall of tank, straight direction the line of each of the reinforcing sections is oriented tangentially to the curvilinear direction.
  • curvilinear portion of the corrugation is reinforced by means of a curvilinear reinforcement device which is capable of ensuring reliable support and this by means of reinforcement sections which have a rectilinear profiled shape and which are therefore simpler to produce than reinforcing elements which would be formed in a curvilinear profile.
  • such a tank wall may have one or more of the following characteristics.
  • each reinforcing section has an opening through which the connecting member is fitted.
  • each reinforcement section includes a sole resting against the thermally insulating barrier.
  • each sole has two side walls and a flat bottom wall which rests against the thermally insulating barrier and which connects the two side walls, said opening being defined by the side walls and the bottom wall.
  • the connecting member is a rail which has a curvilinear part extending in the curvilinear direction of the curvilinear portion and which has an internal curvilinear edge and an external curvilinear edge having a greater curvature than that of the curvilinear internal edge.
  • one of the internal curvilinear and external curvilinear edges comprises an alternation of projections and hollows forming a crenellation, each projection being housed in the opening of one of the reinforcing sections.
  • the hollows between the projections make it possible to create clearances facilitating the positioning of the reinforcement sections in the curvilinear part of the connecting member.
  • the aliasing is formed in the curvilinear internal edge of the rail.
  • the aliasing is formed in the curvilinear outer edge of the rail.
  • At least one of the reinforcing sections has a hollow envelope and intersecting reinforcement webs which extend inside the hollow envelope from one edge to the other of said hollow envelope. . This increases the rigidity of the reinforcing sections.
  • the reinforcing webs intersect in a plane of symmetry of the reinforcing section.
  • each reinforcing section comprises two reinforcing webs arranged in the shape of an X.
  • each reinforcing section comprises a support portion which has a shape adapted to the internal shape of the corrugation.
  • the support portion has an external shape of a semi-elliptical dome.
  • the curvilinear portion has an internal curvilinear edge and an external curvilinear edge having a greater curvature than the internal curvilinear edge, at least one of the reinforcing sections having two ends which are each inclined relative to the rectilinear direction of said reinforcement section so that said reinforcement section widens from the internal curvilinear edge towards the external curvilinear edge of the curvilinear portion.
  • the reinforcing sections at the level of the internal curvilinear edge are joined.
  • the two ends of the reinforcing section each extend in a plane which is orthogonal to a tangent to the curvilinear direction, at the intersection between said plane and the curvilinear direction.
  • the two ends of said reinforcing section each extend in a plane parallel to the thickness direction of the tank wall.
  • angles formed by the plane of two ends of each reinforcement section with respect to the rectilinear direction of said reinforcement section are of the same value and in opposite directions.
  • the corrugation comprises two rectilinear portions arranged on either side of the curvilinear portion, in the extension thereof, a reinforcing element being disposed in each of the two rectilinear portions, between the membrane d and the thermally insulating barrier, the link being fitted into an opening formed in at least one of the reinforcing elements.
  • the curvilinear portion is arranged near a corner area of said tank wall.
  • the curvilinear portion is arranged near a singular zone of said tank wall in which the flatness of the sealing membrane is interrupted.
  • the singular area includes a support leg intended to guide a loading / unloading tower.
  • the singular zone comprises a dome intended to evacuate gas or liquid.
  • the invention also provides a tank comprising a said tank wall.
  • the invention also provides a ship comprising a carrying structure and a said tank anchored in said carrying structure.
  • the invention also provides a method of loading or unloading such a ship, in which a fluid is conveyed through insulated pipes from or to a floating or terrestrial storage installation towards or from the tank of the ship.
  • the invention also provides a transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising the aforementioned ship, isolated pipes arranged so as to connect the tank installed in the hull of the ship to a floating or land storage installation. and a pump for driving a fluid through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land storage facility to or from the vessel of the ship.
  • FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of a portion of a wall of a sealed and thermally insulating tank in which the sealing membrane is shown in cutaway.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating in particular a curvilinear portion of a corrugation and by transparency a curvilinear reinforcing device intended to reinforce said curvilinear portion.
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of the curvilinear portion of the corrugation and the curvilinear reinforcement device of Figure 2.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating reinforcing elements intended to be arranged in rectilinear portions of the corrugations and a curvilinear reinforcing device intended to be arranged in a curvilinear portion of a corrugation.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a wave reinforcing element or a reinforcing section intended to be arranged in a low corrugation.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a reinforcing element or a reinforcing section intended to be arranged in a high corrugation.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating in detail the connecting member of the curvilinear reinforcement device illustrated in Figures 2 to 4.
  • FIG. 8 is a cutaway schematic representation of an LNG tank and a loading / unloading terminal of this tank.
  • a wall 1 is described for a sealed and thermally insulating tank intended for the storage of a liquefied gas.
  • the liquefied gas can in particular be a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
  • Each wall 1 comprises a multilayer structure which successively has, from the outside to the inside, in the thickness direction of the wall, at least one primary thermally insulating barrier 2 resting directly or indirectly against a support structure, not illustrated in Figure 1, and a primary sealing membrane 3 intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the interior space of the tank.
  • each wall 1 may further comprise a secondary thermally insulating barrier resting against the support structure and a secondary sealing membrane anchored on the secondary thermally insulating barrier and against which the primary thermally insulating barrier rests.
  • the supporting structure is for example formed by the double hull of a ship but can more generally be formed from any type of rigid partition having appropriate mechanical properties.
  • the primary thermally insulating barrier 2 comprises a plurality of heat-insulating elements 4 which are anchored to the supporting structure, either directly or by being anchored to a secondary thermally insulating barrier, itself anchored to the supporting structure.
  • the heat-insulating elements 4 are juxtaposed with one another and jointly form a flat support surface on which the primary sealing membrane 3 is anchored.
  • each heat-insulating element 4 is equipped with metal plates 5 for anchoring the edge of the metal sheets of the primary sealing membrane 3.
  • the metal plates 5 extend in two directions perpendicular to each other.
  • Each heat-insulating element 5 comprises a layer of polymer foam 6 and at least one internal plate 7, rigid, for example of plywood, which is fixed to the layer of polymer foam 6.
  • the metal plates 23 are placed in recesses formed on the internal surface of the internal plate 7 so that the internal surface of the metal plates 23 is flush with the internal surface of the internal plate 7.
  • the primary waterproofing membrane 3 comprises a plurality of corrugated metal sheets which are welded to one another in a leaktight manner and welded to the metal plates 23 so as to anchor the primary waterproofing membrane 3 to the primary thermally insulating barrier. 2.
  • Each metal sheet has a first series of parallel corrugations, known as high corrugations 8, and a second series of parallel corrugations, known as low corrugations 9, which extend perpendicular to the corrugations 8 of the first series.
  • high corrugations 8 and a second series of parallel corrugations, known as low corrugations 9, which extend perpendicular to the corrugations 8 of the first series.
  • high and low have a relative meaning and mean that the undulations 9, said low, have a height less than the undulations 8, said high.
  • the corrugations 8, 9 have identical heights.
  • the primary sealing membrane 3 has a knot area 10.
  • the knot area 10 has a central portion 1 1 having a top projecting towards the inside of the tank. Furthermore, the central portion 1 1 is bordered, on the one hand, by a pair of concave corrugations 12 formed in the crest of the upper corrugation 8 and, on the other hand, by a pair of recesses 13 into which penetrates the low ripple 9.
  • the corrugations 8, 9 of the metal sheets allow the primary sealing membrane 3 to be flexible in order to be able to deform under the effect of the thermal and mechanical stresses generated by the liquefied gas stored in the tank.
  • the corrugated metal sheets can in particular be made of stainless steel, aluminum, invar®, that is to say an alloy of iron and nickel, the coefficient of expansion of which is typically between 1, 2.10 6 and 2.10 6 K 1 , or in an iron alloy with a high manganese content, the coefficient of expansion of which is typically of the order of 7.10 6 K 1 .
  • the metal sheet has a thickness of approximately 1.2 mm. Other thicknesses can also be envisaged, knowing that thickening of the metal sheet leads to an increase in its cost and generally increases the rigidity of the corrugations.
  • the vessel wall 1 comprises a plurality of reinforcing elements 14, 15 which are arranged inside the corrugations 8, 9 and disposed between the primary sealing membrane 3 and the thermally insulating barrier primary 2.
  • Such reinforcing elements 14, 15 aim to support and reinforce the corrugations 8, 9 of the primary sealing membrane 3.
  • Each reinforcement element 14, 15 comprises a hollow envelope which constitutes the main body of the reinforcement element 14, 15 and which is inserted in a corrugation 8, 9 of the primary sealing membrane 3.
  • Each reinforcement element 14, 15 has a profiled shape of constant section.
  • the two longitudinal ends 16, 17 of each reinforcing element 14 intended to be arranged in one of the high corrugations 8 are cut along a plane inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said reinforcing element 14.
  • the two longitudinal ends 18, 19 of the reinforcing elements 15 intended to be arranged in the low corrugations 9 can in turn be cut orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of said reinforcing elements 15.
  • Each reinforcing element 14, 15 can be manufactured according to any desired length.
  • the length of the reinforcing element 14, 15 is preferably substantially equal to the inter-corrugation interval between the corrugations which intersect the corrugation in which said reinforcing element 14, 15 is inserted. More specifically, for the reinforcing elements 14 intended to reinforce the high corrugations 8, the length of the hollow envelope at the top is for example equal to the length of the portion of the high corrugation which has a uniform section between two zones of node 1 1. This portion of uniform section stops when the upper corrugation 8 has a slight lateral constriction marking the start of the node zone 11.
  • the inclination of the longitudinal ends 16, 17 of the reinforcing elements 14 hollow corresponds substantially to the inclination of this lateral throttle, so that the hollow envelope of said reinforcing elements approaches as close as possible to the node zone 11 to optimize the support of the high corrugation 8.
  • the reinforcing elements 14, 15 are made of metal, such as aluminum or an alloy or of polymer material, such as polyethylene, polycarbonate or polyether imide, advantageously reinforced with fibers, such than glass fibers.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively represent the section of a reinforcing element 15, 14 intended to reinforce a low corrugation 9 and a high corrugation 8.
  • the hollow envelope comprises a sole 20, lower, and a support portion 21, upper.
  • the support portion 21 can be produced according to various geometries, as illustrated for example in the document FR2936784, depending in particular on the geometry of the corrugations 8, 9 of the primary sealing membrane 3.
  • the external shape of the portion support 21 is adapted to the shape interior of the corrugation 8, 9 into which the reinforcing element 14, 15 is inserted, so as to provide effective support for substantially the entire surface of the corrugation 8, 9.
  • the shape outside of the section of the support portion 21 is a semi-elliptical dome.
  • the reinforcing element 14, 15 is made of a material having a thermal behavior different from the primary sealing membrane 3, its dimensioning must take account of this difference to effectively withstand the corrugation 8, 9 at the temperature d 'use, for example around -162 ° C for Liquefied Natural Gas.
  • the sole 20 has a bottom wall 22 which is planar and which thus rests against the internal plate 7 of the heat-insulating elements 5 and two side walls 24, 25 which are connected to each other by the bottom wall 22.
  • the two side walls 24, 25 are extended upwards by the support portion 21.
  • the bottom wall 22 and the side walls 24, 25 define an opening 26 passing through the reinforcing element 14, 15 in the longitudinal direction of said element reinforcement 14, 15 and in which is intended to come to fit a connecting member described below.
  • the support portion 21 comprises reinforcing webs 27, 28 intersecting which extend from one edge to the other of the hollow envelope and which intersect at a plane of symmetry A of the reinforcing element 14, 15.
  • the support portion 21 includes two reinforcing webs 27, 28 arranged in the shape of an X.
  • the reinforcing elements 14, 15 are linked to each other by connecting members 29.
  • Such connecting members 29 allow the reinforcing elements to be aligned in a stable manner. 14 intended to be arranged in the high corrugations 8, on the one hand, and / or the reinforcing elements 15 intended to be arranged in the low corrugations 9, on the other hand.
  • Each connecting member 29 is constituted by a rail 30 which is arranged facing a node area 1 1 of the primary sealing membrane 3.
  • the rail 30 has two ends 31, 32 which are respectively fitted inside an opening 26 formed in the sole 20 of one and the other of the two reinforcing elements 14 arranged in the upper corrugation 8, 9 on either side of said node zone 11.
  • a spacer 33 making it possible to support the lower part of the upper corrugation 8 is arranged in the extension of each of the longitudinal ends 16, 17 of the reinforcing elements 14.
  • Each spacer 33 is hollow and has a lower wall, an upper wall and two side walls connecting the upper wall and the lower wall.
  • the bottom wall of the spacer 33 extends in the extension of the bottom wall 22 of the sole 20 of the reinforcing element 14 adjacent.
  • the edge of the side walls of each spacer 33 which is opposite the longitudinal end 16, 17 of the adjacent reinforcing element 14 is bevelled so as to come to rest against the beveled end of the element reinforcement 14.
  • the rail 30 has a cross shape so as to define two opposite tabs 34, 35 which are respectively fitted into an opening 26 formed in one and the other of the reinforcing elements 15 arranged in the 'low ripple 9, on either side of the node area 11.
  • one of the corrugations 8 has a curvilinear portion 36 and in which a curvilinear reinforcement device 37 is disposed at the inside said curvilinear portion 36 in order to reinforce it.
  • Figures 2 and 3 show a corner area between two walls of the tank.
  • the primary sealing membrane 3 of one of the walls here has a curvilinear portion 36 extending in a curvilinear direction d1.
  • the curvilinear direction d1 corresponds more particularly to the direction of the top of the corrugation in said curvilinear portion 36.
  • the curved portion 36 is formed in a junction piece 38 which is welded overlapping with metal plates, parallelepiped, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • the junction piece 38 is also welded overlapping with a corner piece 39
  • the corner piece 39 has two wings 40, 41 which are respectively parallel to one and to the other of the adjacent walls.
  • the corner piece 40 is corrugated and thus ensures continuity of the corrugations of the primary sealing membrane 3 in the corner area between the two walls.
  • the curved portion 36 thus makes it possible to ensure a deviation of undulation.
  • Such an arrangement is in particular likely to be encountered in a generally polyhedral tank having two walls of octagonal cofferdam and connected to each other by eight walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the tank, namely a horizontal bottom wall and ceiling wall, two vertical side walls, two upper oblique walls each connecting one of the side walls to the ceiling wall; and two lower oblique walls each connecting one of the side walls to the bottom wall.
  • the primary sealing membrane 3 comprises such curvilinear portions 36 on the cofferdam walls at the level of the corner zone of said cofferdam walls with the upper and lower oblique walls.
  • a curvilinear reinforcement device 37 is arranged inside the curvilinear portion 36 between the primary sealing membrane 3 and the primary thermally insulating barrier 2.
  • the curvilinear reinforcement device 36 includes a plurality of reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 and a connecting member 45 connecting said reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 so as to ensure their positioning.
  • the curvilinear reinforcement device 37 has three reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44.
  • the curvilinear reinforcement device 37 may have only two reinforcement sections or have a number of reinforcement sections greater than or equal to three.
  • the reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 are made of metal, such as aluminum or an alloy or of polymer material, such as polyethylene, polycarbonate or polyether imide, advantageously reinforced with fibers, such as fibers of glass.
  • Each reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 comprises a hollow envelope and has a profiled shape which develops in a rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4.
  • the rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44 corresponds to the direction of the neutral fiber of said reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44.
  • Each of the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44 is advantageously obtained by cutting out of a straight section with constant section.
  • the curvilinear portion 36 is arranged in the extension of a high corrugation 8 and thus has a section substantially similar to that of a high corrugation 8.
  • the section of each reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 is identical to the section, shown in FIG. 6, of the reinforcing elements 15 intended to be positioned inside high corrugations 8.
  • the curvilinear portion 36 is arranged in the extension of a low corrugation 9 and thus has a section substantially similar to that of a low corrugation 9.
  • the curvilinear portion 31 may have a shape different from that of the high or low ripple which it extends. In such a case, the reinforcing sections
  • the connecting member 45 is curvilinear and develops along the curvilinear direction d1 of the curvilinear portion 36.
  • each of the reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 has an opening 26 through which the connecting member 45 is fitted.
  • the connecting member 45 thus makes it possible to position each of the reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 in a position such that, in projection in a plane parallel to the wall 1, the rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of said reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 is oriented tangentially or substantially tangentially to the curvilinear direction d1 of the curvilinear portion 36.
  • the two ends of the connecting member 45 are also fitted into openings 26 in one and the other of the two rectilinear wave reinforcements 14 which are positioned in the two rectilinear portions of the corrugation connecting to the curved portion 36.
  • each reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 has a trapezoidal shape.
  • each reinforcement section 42, 43, 44 has two bevelled ends 46, 47 which are each inclined relative to the rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of said reinforcement section 42, 43, 44 so that that said reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 widens from the internal edge 48 towards the external edge 49 of the curvilinear portion 36, that is to say from the edge having the radius of curvature smaller towards the edge with the greatest radius of curvature.
  • the reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 can be joined in the portion in contact with the internal edge 48.
  • each end 46, 47 extends in a plane which is parallel to the thickness direction of the wall.
  • the angle formed by the plane of each end 46, 47 with respect to the rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of the reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 is such that said plane of each end 46, 47 is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the tangent to the curvilinear direction d1, at the intersection of said plane with said curvilinear direction d1.
  • the two bevelled ends 46, 47 of the reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 each extend in a plane which is orthogonal to a tangent to the curvilinear direction d1, at the intersection between said plane and the curvilinear direction d1.
  • each reinforcement section 42, 43, 44 the angles formed by the planes of two ends of each reinforcement section 42, 43, 44 relative to the straight direction d2, d3, d4 of said reinforcement section 42, 43, 44 are of the same value and direction opposed.
  • the profiled shape of the reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 is symmetrical, this makes it possible to cut the reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44, one after the other, in a rectilinear profile with constant section, and this without falling material.
  • the two ends of the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44 extend in a plane orthogonal to the rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of said reinforcement section 42, 43 , 44.
  • Figure 7 shows a connecting member 45 according to one embodiment.
  • the connecting member 45 is a curvilinear rail which has a curvilinear part 50 intended to extend in the curvilinear direction d1 of the curvilinear portion 36 of the corrugation.
  • the curvilinear rail has a rectangular section corresponding substantially to the dimensions of the opening 26 formed in the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44.
  • the connecting member 45 thus comprises an internal curvilinear edge 51 and an external curvilinear edge 52 which has a radius of curvature greater than that of the curvilinear internal edge 51.
  • the curvilinear internal edge has a crenellation formed by an alternation of protrusions 53 and recesses 54.
  • each of the protrusions 53 is intended to be received in the opening 26 of one of the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44.
  • the recess 54 between the projections 53 thus makes it possible to create a play facilitating the positioning of the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44 in the curvilinear part 50 of the connecting member 45.
  • the aliasing is formed in the curvilinear outer edge 52 of the connecting member 45.
  • the curvilinear portion of the corrugation is formed in a primary sealing membrane and the curvilinear reinforcement device is disposed between said primary sealing membrane and a thermal barrier primary insulating
  • the curvilinear portion can also be formed in a secondary sealing membrane, the curvilinear reinforcement device then being disposed between the secondary sealing membrane and a secondary thermally insulating barrier.
  • the curvilinear portion is not provided near a corner area of the wall but near a support leg intended to guide a tower loading / unloading.
  • rectilinear portions are in particular described and illustrated in relation to FIG. 9 of document WO2011 157915.
  • the curvilinear portion of the corrugation can be provided in an area of the ceiling wall of the tank which is crossed by a gas dome structure intended to extract the vapor phase from space. inside the tank to a vapor collector located outside the tank.
  • the curvilinear portion of the corrugation can be provided in an area of the ceiling wall of the tank which is equipped with a liquid dome structure comprising a cover to which a loading tower is suspended. / unloading intended to load liquefied gas into the tank and / or to unload it.
  • the technique described above for producing a tank wall can be used in different types of LNG tank in a land installation or in a floating structure such as an LNG tanker or other.
  • a cutaway view of an LNG tanker 70 shows a sealed and insulated tank 71 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the ship.
  • the wall of the tank 71 comprises a primary waterproof barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary waterproof barrier arranged between the primary waterproof barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and two insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary waterproof barrier and the secondary waterproof barrier and between the secondary waterproof barrier and the double shell 72.
  • loading / unloading lines 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a maritime or port terminal for transferring a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.
  • FIG. 8 represents an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipe 76 and a shore installation 77.
  • the loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising an arm mobile 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 movable arm 74 can be adjusted to suit all LNG carrier sizes .
  • a connection 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 onshore installation 77.
  • This comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connection pipes 81 connected by the submarine pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75.
  • the submarine pipe 76 allows the transfer of liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the shore installation 77 over a long distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG carrier 70 at a great distance from the coast during the 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.

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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
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Abstract

The invention concerns a tank wall (1) comprising a thermally insulating barrier (2) and a sealing membrane (3) resting on the thermally insulating barrier (2), the sealing membrane (3) comprising a corrugation having a curvilinear portion (36) developing in a curvilinear direction (d1) and at least one curvilinear reinforcement device (37) arranged inside the curvilinear portion (36), between the sealing membrane (3) and the thermally insulating barrier (2), in such a way as to reinforce said curvilinear portion (36), said curvilinear reinforcement device (37) comprising a plurality of reinforcement sections (42, 43, 44) that each have a profiled shape developing in a straight direction (d2, d3, d4), the curvilinear reinforcement device (37) further comprising a connection member (45) connecting said reinforcement sections (42, 43, 44) in such a way as to keep them in a position in which the straight direction (d2, d3, d4) of each of the reinforcement sections (42, 43, 44) is oriented tangentially to the curvilinear direction (d1).

Description

PAROI DE CUVE COMPORTANT UNE MEMBRANE D’ETANCHEITE PRESENTANT UNE ONDULATION AYANT UNE PORTION CURVILIGNE TANK WALL COMPRISING A SEALING MEMBRANE HAVING A CORRUGATION HAVING A CURVILINATED PORTION
RENFORCEE ENHANCED
Domaine technique Technical area
L’invention se rapporte au domaine des cuves étanches à membrane d’étanchéité ondulée, pour le stockage et/ou le transport d’un fluide, tel que du gaz liquéfié.  The invention relates to the field of watertight tanks with corrugated waterproofing membranes, for the storage and / or transport of a fluid, such as liquefied gas.
Des cuves étanches à membranes sont notamment employées pour le stockage de gaz naturel liquéfié (GNL), qui est stocké, à pression atmosphérique, à environ -163°C ou pour le stockage de Gaz de Pétrole Liquéfié (GPL). Ces cuves peuvent être installées à terre ou sur un ouvrage flottant. Dans le cas d’un ouvrage flottant, la cuve peut être destinée au transport de gaz liquéfié ou à recevoir du gaz liquéfié servant de carburant pour la propulsion de l’ouvrage flottant.  Sealed tanks with membranes are used in particular for the storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is stored, at atmospheric pressure, at around -163 ° C or for the storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). These tanks can be installed on the ground or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be intended for the transport of liquefied gas or to receive liquefied gas serving as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.
Arrière-plan technologique  Technological background
Dans l’état de la technique, il est connu des cuves à membrane d’étanchéité ondulée dont la membrane d’étanchéité, destinée à être en contact avec le gaz liquéfié contenu dans la cuve, est renforcée à l’aide d’éléments de renfort. Les éléments de renfort sont disposés sous les ondulations de la membrane d’étanchéité, entre ladite membrane d’étanchéité et la barrière thermiquement isolante supportant cette membrane d’étanchéité. De tels éléments de renfort permettent de diminuer les contraintes qui sont susceptibles d’être causées, dans la membrane d’étanchéité, par une multitude de facteurs, dont la rétraction thermique lors de la mise à froid de la cuve, l'effet de flexion de la poutre du navire, et la pression dynamique due au mouvement de la cargaison, notamment en raison de la houle. Ces éléments de renfort sont généralement creux afin de permettre à du gaz de circuler entre les ondulations et la barrière thermiquement isolante en traversant les éléments de renfort. De telles cuves sont notamment décrites dans les documents FR2936784, FR2963818 ou FR3039248. Les éléments de renfort divulgués dans les documents précités sont généralement réalisés à partir de profilés rectilignes et sont donc placés dans les portions rectilignes des ondulations. In the state of the art, tanks with corrugated waterproofing membranes are known, the waterproofing membrane of which, intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank, is reinforced with elements of reinforcement. The reinforcing elements are arranged under the undulations of the waterproofing membrane, between said waterproofing membrane and the thermally insulating barrier supporting this waterproofing membrane. Such reinforcing elements make it possible to reduce the stresses which are likely to be caused, in the waterproofing membrane, by a multitude of factors, including the thermal retraction during the cold setting of the tank, the bending effect. of the beam of the ship, and the dynamic pressure due to the movement of the cargo, in particular due to the swell. These reinforcing elements are generally hollow in order to allow gas to circulate between the corrugations and the thermally insulating barrier while passing through the reinforcing elements. Such tanks are notably described in documents FR2936784, FR2963818 or FR3039248. The reinforcing elements disclosed in the aforementioned documents are generally produced from rectilinear profiles and are therefore placed in the rectilinear portions of the corrugations.
La demanderesse a toutefois constaté qu’il existait également un besoin de renforcer les portions curvilignes des ondulations. De telles portions curvilignes des ondulations sont notamment présentes dans des zones spécifiques de la cuve, par exemple dans une zone d’angle entre deux parois, dans la zone d’un pied de support destiné à assurer un guidage d’une tour de chargement/déchargement ou dans la zone d’un dôme destiné à évacuer du gaz ou du liquide.  The Applicant has noted, however, that there is also a need to strengthen the curvilinear portions of the corrugations. Such curvilinear portions of the corrugations are present in particular in specific areas of the tank, for example in a corner area between two walls, in the area of a support leg intended to guide a loading tower / unloading or in the area of a dome intended to evacuate gas or liquid.
Résumé  summary
Une idée à la base de l’invention est de proposer une paroi de cuve étanche et thermiquement isolante comportant une membrane d’étanchéité équipée d’une ondulation présentant une portion curviligne et comportant en outre un dispositif curviligne de renfort qui soit simple à réaliser et qui permette de renforcer de manière fiable ladite portion curviligne.  An idea underlying the invention is to propose a sealed and thermally insulating tank wall comprising a sealing membrane fitted with a corrugation having a curvilinear portion and further comprising a curvilinear reinforcement device which is simple to produce and which allows said curvilinear portion to be reliably reinforced.
Selon un mode de réalisation, l’invention fournit une paroi de cuve comportant une barrière thermiquement isolante et une membrane d’étanchéité reposant sur la barrière thermiquement isolante, la membrane d’étanchéité comportant une ondulation présentant une portion curviligne se développant selon une direction curviligne et au moins un dispositif curviligne de renfort agencé à l’intérieur de la portion curviligne, entre la membrane d’étanchéité et la barrière thermiquement isolante de manière à renforcer ladite portion curviligne, ledit dispositif curviligne de renfort comportant une pluralité de tronçons de renfort qui présentent chacun une forme profilée se développant selon une direction rectiligne, le dispositif curviligne de renfort comportant en outre un organe de liaison reliant lesdits tronçons de renfort de manière à les maintenir dans une position dans laquelle, en projection dans un plan parallèle à la paroi de cuve, la direction rectiligne de chacun des tronçons de renfort est orientée tangentiellement à la direction curviligne.  According to one embodiment, the invention provides a vessel wall comprising a thermally insulating barrier and a sealing membrane resting on the thermally insulating barrier, the sealing membrane comprising a corrugation having a curvilinear portion developing in a curvilinear direction and at least one curvilinear reinforcement device arranged inside the curvilinear portion, between the sealing membrane and the thermally insulating barrier so as to reinforce said curvilinear portion, said curvilinear reinforcement device comprising a plurality of reinforcement sections which each have a profiled shape developing in a rectilinear direction, the curvilinear reinforcement device further comprising a connecting member connecting said reinforcement sections so as to maintain them in a position in which, in projection in a plane parallel to the wall of tank, straight direction the line of each of the reinforcing sections is oriented tangentially to the curvilinear direction.
Ainsi, la portion curviligne de l’ondulation est renforcée au moyen d’un dispositif curviligne de renfort qui est susceptible d’assurer un support fiable et ceci au moyen de tronçons de renfort qui présentent une forme profilée rectiligne et qui sont par conséquent plus simples à réaliser que des éléments de renforts qui seraient formés dans un profilé curviligne. Thus, the curvilinear portion of the corrugation is reinforced by means of a curvilinear reinforcement device which is capable of ensuring reliable support and this by means of reinforcement sections which have a rectilinear profiled shape and which are therefore simpler to produce than reinforcing elements which would be formed in a curvilinear profile.
Selon d’autres modes de réalisation avantageux, une telle paroi de cuve peut présenter une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques suivantes.  According to other advantageous embodiments, such a tank wall may have one or more of the following characteristics.
Selon un mode de réalisation chaque tronçon de renfort comporte une ouverture au travers de laquelle est emboîté l’organe de liaison.  According to one embodiment, each reinforcing section has an opening through which the connecting member is fitted.
Selon un mode de réalisation, chaque tronçon de renfort comporte une semelle reposant contre la barrière thermiquement isolante.  According to one embodiment, each reinforcement section includes a sole resting against the thermally insulating barrier.
Selon un mode de réalisation, chaque semelle comporte deux parois latérales et une paroi inférieure plane qui repose contre la barrière thermiquement isolante et qui relie les deux parois latérales, ladite ouverture étant définie par les parois latérales et la paroi inférieure. Ainsi avec une telle semelle, les efforts induits par de la houle de la cargaison sont répartis de façon plus uniforme sur la barrière isolante.  According to one embodiment, each sole has two side walls and a flat bottom wall which rests against the thermally insulating barrier and which connects the two side walls, said opening being defined by the side walls and the bottom wall. Thus with such a sole, the forces induced by the swell of the cargo are distributed more uniformly over the insulating barrier.
Selon un mode de réalisation, l’organe de liaison est un rail qui présente une partie curviligne s’étendant selon la direction curviligne de la portion curviligne et qui présente un bord interne curviligne et un bord externe curviligne présentant une plus grande courbure que celle du bord interne curviligne.  According to one embodiment, the connecting member is a rail which has a curvilinear part extending in the curvilinear direction of the curvilinear portion and which has an internal curvilinear edge and an external curvilinear edge having a greater curvature than that of the curvilinear internal edge.
Selon un mode de réalisation, l’un des bords interne curviligne et externe curviligne comporte une alternance de saillies et de creux formant un crénelage, chaque saillie étant logée dans l’ouverture de l’un des tronçons de renfort. Ainsi, les creux entre les saillies permettent de créer des jeux facilitant la mise en place des tronçons de renfort dans la partie curviligne de l’organe de liaison. Selon un mode de réalisation, le crénelage est ménagé dans le bord interne curviligne du rail. Selon un autre mode de réalisation, le crénelage est ménagé dans le bord externe curviligne du rail.  According to one embodiment, one of the internal curvilinear and external curvilinear edges comprises an alternation of projections and hollows forming a crenellation, each projection being housed in the opening of one of the reinforcing sections. Thus, the hollows between the projections make it possible to create clearances facilitating the positioning of the reinforcement sections in the curvilinear part of the connecting member. According to one embodiment, the aliasing is formed in the curvilinear internal edge of the rail. According to another embodiment, the aliasing is formed in the curvilinear outer edge of the rail.
Selon un mode de réalisation, au moins l’un des tronçons de renfort présente une enveloppe creuse et des voiles de renfort sécants qui s’étendent à l’intérieur de l’enveloppe creuse d’un bord à l’autre de ladite enveloppe creuse. Ceci permet d’augmenter la rigidité des tronçons de renfort. Selon un mode de réalisation, les voiles de renfort se croisent dans un plan de symétrie du tronçon de renfort. According to one embodiment, at least one of the reinforcing sections has a hollow envelope and intersecting reinforcement webs which extend inside the hollow envelope from one edge to the other of said hollow envelope. . This increases the rigidity of the reinforcing sections. According to one embodiment, the reinforcing webs intersect in a plane of symmetry of the reinforcing section.
Selon un mode de réalisation, chaque tronçon de renfort comporte deux voiles de renfort disposés en forme de X.  According to one embodiment, each reinforcing section comprises two reinforcing webs arranged in the shape of an X.
Selon un mode de réalisation, chaque tronçon de renfort comporte une portion de support qui présente une forme adaptée à la forme intérieure de l’ondulation. Selon un mode de réalisation, la portion de support présente une forme extérieure de dôme semi-elliptique.  According to one embodiment, each reinforcing section comprises a support portion which has a shape adapted to the internal shape of the corrugation. According to one embodiment, the support portion has an external shape of a semi-elliptical dome.
Selon un mode de réalisation, la portion curviligne présente un bord curviligne interne et un bord curviligne externe présentant une courbure plus grande que le bord curviligne interne, au moins l’un des tronçons de renfort présentant deux extrémités qui sont chacune inclinées par rapport à la direction rectiligne dudit tronçon de renfort de manière à ce que ledit tronçon de renfort s’élargisse du bord curviligne interne vers le bord curviligne externe de la portion curviligne.  According to one embodiment, the curvilinear portion has an internal curvilinear edge and an external curvilinear edge having a greater curvature than the internal curvilinear edge, at least one of the reinforcing sections having two ends which are each inclined relative to the rectilinear direction of said reinforcement section so that said reinforcement section widens from the internal curvilinear edge towards the external curvilinear edge of the curvilinear portion.
Selon un mode de réalisation, les tronçons de renfort au niveau du bord curviligne interne sont accolés.  According to one embodiment, the reinforcing sections at the level of the internal curvilinear edge are joined.
Selon un mode de réalisation, les deux extrémités du tronçon de renfort s’étendent chacun dans un plan qui est orthogonal à une tangente à la direction curviligne, à l’intersection entre ledit plan et la direction curviligne.  According to one embodiment, the two ends of the reinforcing section each extend in a plane which is orthogonal to a tangent to the curvilinear direction, at the intersection between said plane and the curvilinear direction.
Selon un mode de réalisation, les deux extrémités dudit tronçon de renfort s’étendent chacune dans un plan parallèle à la direction d’épaisseur de la paroi de cuve.  According to one embodiment, the two ends of said reinforcing section each extend in a plane parallel to the thickness direction of the tank wall.
Selon un mode de réalisation, les angles formés par le plan de deux extrémités de chaque tronçon de renfort par rapport à la direction rectiligne dudit tronçon de renfort sont de même valeur et de sens opposés.  According to one embodiment, the angles formed by the plane of two ends of each reinforcement section with respect to the rectilinear direction of said reinforcement section are of the same value and in opposite directions.
Selon un mode de réalisation, l’ondulation comporte deux portions rectilignes disposées de part et d’autre de la portion curviligne, dans le prolongement de celle- ci, un élément de renfort étant disposé dans chacune des deux portions rectilignes, entre la membrane d’étanchéité et la barrière thermiquement isolante, l’organe de liaison étant emboîté dans une ouverture ménagée dans au moins l’un des éléments de renfort. According to one embodiment, the corrugation comprises two rectilinear portions arranged on either side of the curvilinear portion, in the extension thereof, a reinforcing element being disposed in each of the two rectilinear portions, between the membrane d and the thermally insulating barrier, the link being fitted into an opening formed in at least one of the reinforcing elements.
Selon un mode de réalisation, la portion curviligne est disposée à proximité d’une zone d’angle de ladite paroi de cuve.  According to one embodiment, the curvilinear portion is arranged near a corner area of said tank wall.
Selon un autre mode de réalisation, la portion curviligne est disposée à proximité d’une zone singulière de ladite paroi de cuve dans laquelle la planéité de la membrane d’étanchéité est interrompue. Selon un mode de réalisation, la zone singulière comporte un pied de support destiné à assurer un guidage d’une tour de chargement/déchargement. Selon un autre mode de réalisation, la zone singulière comporte un dôme destiné à évacuer du gaz ou du liquide.  According to another embodiment, the curvilinear portion is arranged near a singular zone of said tank wall in which the flatness of the sealing membrane is interrupted. According to one embodiment, the singular area includes a support leg intended to guide a loading / unloading tower. According to another embodiment, the singular zone comprises a dome intended to evacuate gas or liquid.
Selon un mode de réalisation, l’invention fournit aussi une cuve comportant une paroi de cuve précitée.  According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a tank comprising a said tank wall.
Selon un mode de réalisation, l’invention fournit aussi un navire comportant une structure porteuse et une cuve précitée ancrée dans ladite structure porteuse.  According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a ship comprising a carrying structure and a said tank anchored in said carrying structure.
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 of loading or unloading such a ship, in which a fluid is conveyed through insulated pipes from or to a floating or terrestrial storage installation towards or from the tank of the ship.
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 entraîner un 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 ship, isolated pipes arranged so as to connect the tank installed in the hull of the ship to a floating or land storage installation. and a pump for driving a fluid through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land storage facility to or from the vessel of the ship.
Brève description des figures  Brief description of the 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. - La figure 1 est une vue partielle schématique d’une portion d’une paroi d’une cuve étanche et thermiquement isolante dans laquelle la membrane d’étanchéité est représentée en écorchée. The invention will be better understood, and other objects, 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 without limitation. , with reference to the accompanying drawings. - Figure 1 is a partial schematic view of a portion of a wall of a sealed and thermally insulating tank in which the sealing membrane is shown in cutaway.
- La figure 2 est une vue en perspective illustrant notamment une portion curviligne d’une ondulation et par transparence un dispositif de renfort curviligne destiné à renforcer ladite portion curviligne.  - Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating in particular a curvilinear portion of a corrugation and by transparency a curvilinear reinforcing device intended to reinforce said curvilinear portion.
- La figure 3 est une vue de dessus de la portion curviligne de l’ondulation et du dispositif de renfort curviligne de la figure 2.  - Figure 3 is a top view of the curvilinear portion of the corrugation and the curvilinear reinforcement device of Figure 2.
- La figure 4 est une vue en perspective illustrant des éléments de renfort destinés à être disposé dans des portions rectilignes des ondulations et un dispositif de renfort curviligne destiné à être disposé dans une portion curviligne d’une ondulation.  - Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating reinforcing elements intended to be arranged in rectilinear portions of the corrugations and a curvilinear reinforcing device intended to be arranged in a curvilinear portion of a corrugation.
- La figure 5 est une vue en coupe d’un élément de renfort d’onde ou d’un tronçon de renfort destiné à être disposé dans une ondulation basse.  - Figure 5 is a sectional view of a wave reinforcing element or a reinforcing section intended to be arranged in a low corrugation.
- La figure 6 est une vue en coupe d’un élément de renfort ou d’un tronçon de renfort destiné à être disposé dans une ondulation haute.  - Figure 6 is a sectional view of a reinforcing element or a reinforcing section intended to be arranged in a high corrugation.
- La figure 7 est une vue en perspective illustrant de manière détaillée l’organe de liaison du dispositif de renfort curviligne illustré sur les figures 2 à 4.  - Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating in detail the connecting member of the curvilinear reinforcement device illustrated in Figures 2 to 4.
- La figure 8 est une représentation schématique écorchée d’une cuve de navire méthanier et d’un terminal de chargement/déchargement de cette cuve.  - Figure 8 is a cutaway schematic representation of an LNG tank and a loading / unloading terminal of this tank.
Description détaillée de modes de réalisation  Detailed description of embodiments
En relation avec la figure 1 , l’on décrit une paroi 1 pour une cuve étanche et thermiquement isolante destinée au stockage d’un gaz liquéfié. Le gaz liquéfié peut notamment être un Gaz Naturel Liquéfié (GNL) ou un Gaz de Pétrole Liquéfié (GPL).  In connection with FIG. 1, a wall 1 is described for a sealed and thermally insulating tank intended for the storage of a liquefied gas. The liquefied gas can in particular be a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Chaque paroi 1 comporte une structure multicouche qui présente successivement, de l’extérieur vers l’intérieur, selon la direction d’épaisseur de la paroi, au moins une barrière thermiquement isolante primaire 2 reposant directement ou indirectement contre une structure porteuse, non illustrée sur la figure 1 , et une membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 destinée à être en contact avec le gaz liquéfié contenu dans l’espace intérieur de la cuve. De manière optionnelle, chaque paroi 1 peut en outre comporter une barrière thermiquement isolante secondaire reposant contre la structure porteuse et une membrane d’étanchéité secondaire ancrée sur la barrière thermiquement isolante secondaire et contre laquelle repose la barrière thermiquement isolante primaire. Each wall 1 comprises a multilayer structure which successively has, from the outside to the inside, in the thickness direction of the wall, at least one primary thermally insulating barrier 2 resting directly or indirectly against a support structure, not illustrated in Figure 1, and a primary sealing membrane 3 intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the interior space of the tank. Optionally, each wall 1 may further comprise a secondary thermally insulating barrier resting against the support structure and a secondary sealing membrane anchored on the secondary thermally insulating barrier and against which the primary thermally insulating barrier rests.
La structure porteuse est par exemple formée par la double coque d’un navire mais peut plus généralement être formée de tout type de cloison rigide présentant des propriétés mécaniques appropriées.  The supporting structure is for example formed by the double hull of a ship but can more generally be formed from any type of rigid partition having appropriate mechanical properties.
Sur la figure 1 , la barrière thermiquement isolante primaire 2 comporte une pluralité d’éléments calorifuges 4 qui sont ancrés à la structure porteuse, soit directement soit en étant ancré à une barrière thermiquement isolante secondaire, elle-même ancrée à la structure porteuse. Les éléments calorifuges 4 sont juxtaposés les uns aux autres et forment conjointement une surface plane de support sur laquelle est ancrée la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3. Afin d’assurer l’ancrage de la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 aux éléments calorifuges 4, chaque élément calorifuge 4 est équipé de platines métalliques 5 pour l’ancrage du bord des tôles métalliques de la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3. Les platines métalliques 5 s’étendent selon deux directions perpendiculaires l’une à l’autre. Chaque élément calorifuge 5 comporte une couche de mousse polymère 6 et au moins une plaque interne 7, rigide, par exemple en bois contreplaqué, qui est fixée sur la couche de mousse polymère 6.  In FIG. 1, the primary thermally insulating barrier 2 comprises a plurality of heat-insulating elements 4 which are anchored to the supporting structure, either directly or by being anchored to a secondary thermally insulating barrier, itself anchored to the supporting structure. The heat-insulating elements 4 are juxtaposed with one another and jointly form a flat support surface on which the primary sealing membrane 3 is anchored. In order to anchor the primary sealing membrane 3 to the heat-insulating elements 4, each heat-insulating element 4 is equipped with metal plates 5 for anchoring the edge of the metal sheets of the primary sealing membrane 3. The metal plates 5 extend in two directions perpendicular to each other. Each heat-insulating element 5 comprises a layer of polymer foam 6 and at least one internal plate 7, rigid, for example of plywood, which is fixed to the layer of polymer foam 6.
Les platines métalliques 23 sont mises en place dans des évidements ménagés sur la surface interne de la plaque interne 7 de telle sorte que la surface interne des platines métalliques 23 affleure la surface interne de la plaque interne 7.  The metal plates 23 are placed in recesses formed on the internal surface of the internal plate 7 so that the internal surface of the metal plates 23 is flush with the internal surface of the internal plate 7.
La membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 comporte une pluralité de tôles métalliques ondulées qui sont soudées à recouvrement les unes aux autres de manière étanche et soudées sur les platines métalliques 23 de manière à ancrer la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 sur la barrière thermiquement isolante primaire 2.  The primary waterproofing membrane 3 comprises a plurality of corrugated metal sheets which are welded to one another in a leaktight manner and welded to the metal plates 23 so as to anchor the primary waterproofing membrane 3 to the primary thermally insulating barrier. 2.
Chaque tôle métallique comporte une première série d’ondulations parallèles, dîtes ondulations hautes 8, et une deuxième série d’ondulations parallèles, dîtes ondulations basses 9, qui s’étendent perpendiculairement aux ondulations 8 de la première série. Notons que les termes «haute» et «basse» ont un sens relatif et signifient que les ondulations 9, dîtes basses, présentent une hauteur inférieure aux ondulations 8, dîtes hautes. En outre, dans un mode de réalisation non représenté, les ondulations 8, 9 présentent des hauteurs identiques. Each metal sheet has a first series of parallel corrugations, known as high corrugations 8, and a second series of parallel corrugations, known as low corrugations 9, which extend perpendicular to the corrugations 8 of the first series. Note that the terms "high" and "low" have a relative meaning and mean that the undulations 9, said low, have a height less than the undulations 8, said high. In addition, in an embodiment not shown, the corrugations 8, 9 have identical heights.
Au niveau de chaque croisement entre deux ondulations 8, 9, la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 comporte une zone de nœud 10. La zone de nœud 10 comporte une portion centrale 1 1 présentant un sommet en saillie vers l’intérieur de la cuve. Par ailleurs, la portion centrale 1 1 est bordée, d’une part, par une paire d’ondulations concaves 12 formées dans la crête de l’ondulation haute 8 et, d’autre part, par une paire de renfoncements 13 dans lesquels pénètre l’ondulation basse 9.  At each crossing between two corrugations 8, 9, the primary sealing membrane 3 has a knot area 10. The knot area 10 has a central portion 1 1 having a top projecting towards the inside of the tank. Furthermore, the central portion 1 1 is bordered, on the one hand, by a pair of concave corrugations 12 formed in the crest of the upper corrugation 8 and, on the other hand, by a pair of recesses 13 into which penetrates the low ripple 9.
Les ondulations 8, 9 des tôles métalliques permettent à la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 d’être flexible afin de pouvoir se déformer sous l’effet des sollicitations thermiques et mécaniques générées par le gaz liquéfié emmagasiné dans la cuve.  The corrugations 8, 9 of the metal sheets allow the primary sealing membrane 3 to be flexible in order to be able to deform under the effect of the thermal and mechanical stresses generated by the liquefied gas stored in the tank.
A titre d'exemple, les tôles métalliques ondulées 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. Toutefois, d’autres métaux ou alliages sont également envisageables. A titre d’exemple, la tôle métallique présente une épaisseur d'environ 1 ,2 mm. D’autres épaisseurs sont également envisageables, sachant qu’un épaississement de la tôle métallique entraîne une augmentation de son coût et accroît généralement la rigidité des ondulations. By way of example, the corrugated metal sheets can in particular be made of stainless steel, aluminum, invar®, that is to say an alloy of iron and nickel, the coefficient of expansion of which is typically between 1, 2.10 6 and 2.10 6 K 1 , or in an iron alloy with a high manganese content, the coefficient of expansion of which is typically of the order of 7.10 6 K 1 . However, other metals or alloys are also possible. By way of example, the metal sheet has a thickness of approximately 1.2 mm. Other thicknesses can also be envisaged, knowing that thickening of the metal sheet leads to an increase in its cost and generally increases the rigidity of the corrugations.
Comme représenté sur la figure 1 , la paroi de cuve 1 comporte une pluralité d’éléments de renfort 14, 15 qui sont agencés à l’intérieur des ondulations 8, 9 et disposés entre la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 et la barrière thermiquement isolante primaire 2. De tels éléments de renfort 14, 15 visent à soutenir et renforcer les ondulations 8, 9 de la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3.  As shown in Figure 1, the vessel wall 1 comprises a plurality of reinforcing elements 14, 15 which are arranged inside the corrugations 8, 9 and disposed between the primary sealing membrane 3 and the thermally insulating barrier primary 2. Such reinforcing elements 14, 15 aim to support and reinforce the corrugations 8, 9 of the primary sealing membrane 3.
Chaque élément de renfort 14, 15 comporte une enveloppe creuse qui constitue le corps principal de l’élément de renfort 14, 15 et qui est insérée dans une ondulation 8, 9 de la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3. Chaque élément de renfort 14, 15 présente une forme profilée de section constante. Toutefois, les deux extrémités longitudinales 16, 17 de chaque élément de renfort 14 destiné à être disposé dans l’une des ondulations hautes 8 sont coupées selon un plan incliné par rapport à l’axe longitudinal dudit élément de renfort 14. Les deux extrémités longitudinales 18, 19 des éléments de renfort 15 destinés à être disposés dans les ondulations basses 9 peuvent quant à elles être coupées orthogonalement à la direction longitudinale desdits éléments de renfort 15. Each reinforcement element 14, 15 comprises a hollow envelope which constitutes the main body of the reinforcement element 14, 15 and which is inserted in a corrugation 8, 9 of the primary sealing membrane 3. Each reinforcement element 14, 15 has a profiled shape of constant section. However, the two longitudinal ends 16, 17 of each reinforcing element 14 intended to be arranged in one of the high corrugations 8 are cut along a plane inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said reinforcing element 14. The two longitudinal ends 18, 19 of the reinforcing elements 15 intended to be arranged in the low corrugations 9 can in turn be cut orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of said reinforcing elements 15.
Chaque élément de renfort 14, 15 peut être fabriqué selon toute longueur souhaitée. La longueur de l’élément de renfort 14, 15 est de préférence sensiblement égale à l’intervalle inter-ondulation entre les ondulations qui coupent l’ondulation dans laquelle ledit élément de renfort 14, 15 est inséré. Plus précisément, pour les éléments de renfort 14 destinés à renforcer les ondulations hautes 8, la longueur de l’enveloppe creuse au sommet est par exemple égale à la longueur de la portion de l’ondulation haute qui présente une section uniforme entre deux zones de nœud 1 1. Cette portion à section uniforme s’arrête lorsque l’ondulation haute 8 présente un léger étranglement latéral marquant le début de la zone de nœud 11. Par ailleurs, l’inclinaison des extrémités longitudinales 16, 17 des éléments de renfort 14 creuse correspond sensiblement à l’inclinaison de cet étranglement latéral, de sorte que l’enveloppe creuse desdits éléments de renfort s’approche le plus près possible de la zone de nœud 11 pour optimiser le soutien de l’ondulation haute 8.  Each reinforcing element 14, 15 can be manufactured according to any desired length. The length of the reinforcing element 14, 15 is preferably substantially equal to the inter-corrugation interval between the corrugations which intersect the corrugation in which said reinforcing element 14, 15 is inserted. More specifically, for the reinforcing elements 14 intended to reinforce the high corrugations 8, the length of the hollow envelope at the top is for example equal to the length of the portion of the high corrugation which has a uniform section between two zones of node 1 1. This portion of uniform section stops when the upper corrugation 8 has a slight lateral constriction marking the start of the node zone 11. Furthermore, the inclination of the longitudinal ends 16, 17 of the reinforcing elements 14 hollow corresponds substantially to the inclination of this lateral throttle, so that the hollow envelope of said reinforcing elements approaches as close as possible to the node zone 11 to optimize the support of the high corrugation 8.
A titre d’exemple, les éléments de renfort 14, 15 sont réalisés en métal, tel que l’aluminium ou un alliage ou en matériau polymère, tel que le polyéthylène, le polycarbonate ou le polyéther imide, avantageusement renforcé par des fibres, tels que des fibres de verre.  By way of example, the reinforcing elements 14, 15 are made of metal, such as aluminum or an alloy or of polymer material, such as polyethylene, polycarbonate or polyether imide, advantageously reinforced with fibers, such than glass fibers.
Les figures 5 et 6 représentent respectivement la section d’un élément de renfort 15, 14 destiné à renforcer une ondulation basse 9 et une ondulation haute 8. Comme représenté sur ces figures, l’enveloppe creuse comporte une semelle 20, inférieure, et une portion de support 21 , supérieure.  FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively represent the section of a reinforcing element 15, 14 intended to reinforce a low corrugation 9 and a high corrugation 8. As shown in these figures, the hollow envelope comprises a sole 20, lower, and a support portion 21, upper.
La portion de support 21 peut être réalisée selon diverses géométries, comme illustré par exemple dans le document FR2936784, en fonction notamment de la géométrie des ondulations 8, 9 de la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3. De préférence, la forme extérieure de la portion de support 21 est adaptée à la forme intérieure de l’ondulation 8, 9 dans laquelle l’élément de renfort 14, 15 est inséré, de manière à offrir un soutien efficace de sensiblement toute la surface de l’ondulation 8, 9. Dans le mode de réalisation représente, la forme extérieure de la section de la portion de support 21 est un dôme semi-elliptique. Si l’élément de renfort 14, 15 est fait d'un matériau ayant un comportement thermique différent de la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3, son dimensionnement doit tenir compte de cette différence pour supporter efficacement l'ondulation 8, 9 à la température d'utilisation, par exemple environ -162°C pour le Gaz Naturel Liquéfié. The support portion 21 can be produced according to various geometries, as illustrated for example in the document FR2936784, depending in particular on the geometry of the corrugations 8, 9 of the primary sealing membrane 3. Preferably, the external shape of the portion support 21 is adapted to the shape interior of the corrugation 8, 9 into which the reinforcing element 14, 15 is inserted, so as to provide effective support for substantially the entire surface of the corrugation 8, 9. In the embodiment shown, the shape outside of the section of the support portion 21 is a semi-elliptical dome. If the reinforcing element 14, 15 is made of a material having a thermal behavior different from the primary sealing membrane 3, its dimensioning must take account of this difference to effectively withstand the corrugation 8, 9 at the temperature d 'use, for example around -162 ° C for Liquefied Natural Gas.
Par ailleurs, la semelle 20 présente une paroi inférieure 22 qui est plane et qui repose ainsi contre la plaque interne 7 des éléments calorifuges 5 et deux parois latérales 24, 25 qui sont reliées l’une à l’autre par la paroi inférieure 22. Les deux parois latérales 24, 25 sont prolongées vers le haut par la portion de support 21. La paroi inférieure 22 et les parois latérales 24, 25 définissent une ouverture 26 traversant l’élément de renfort 14, 15 selon la direction longitudinale dudit élément de renfort 14, 15 et dans laquelle est destiné à venir s’emboîter un organe de liaison décrit par la suite.  Furthermore, the sole 20 has a bottom wall 22 which is planar and which thus rests against the internal plate 7 of the heat-insulating elements 5 and two side walls 24, 25 which are connected to each other by the bottom wall 22. The two side walls 24, 25 are extended upwards by the support portion 21. The bottom wall 22 and the side walls 24, 25 define an opening 26 passing through the reinforcing element 14, 15 in the longitudinal direction of said element reinforcement 14, 15 and in which is intended to come to fit a connecting member described below.
La portion de support 21 comporte des voiles de renfort 27, 28 sécants qui s’étendent d’un bord à l’autre de l’enveloppe creuse et qui se croisent au niveau d’un plan de symétrie A de l’élément de renfort 14, 15. Dans le mode de réalisation représenté, la portion de support 21 comporte deux voiles de renfort 27, 28 disposés en forme de X.  The support portion 21 comprises reinforcing webs 27, 28 intersecting which extend from one edge to the other of the hollow envelope and which intersect at a plane of symmetry A of the reinforcing element 14, 15. In the embodiment shown, the support portion 21 includes two reinforcing webs 27, 28 arranged in the shape of an X.
Par ailleurs, en revenant à la figure 1 , on observe que les éléments de renfort 14, 15 sont liés les uns aux autres par des organes de liaison 29. De tels organes de liaison 29 permettent d’aligner de façon stable les éléments de renfort 14 destinés à être disposés dans les ondulations hautes 8, d’une part, et/ou les éléments de renfort 15 destinés à être disposés dans les ondulations basses 9, d’autre part.  Furthermore, returning to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the reinforcing elements 14, 15 are linked to each other by connecting members 29. Such connecting members 29 allow the reinforcing elements to be aligned in a stable manner. 14 intended to be arranged in the high corrugations 8, on the one hand, and / or the reinforcing elements 15 intended to be arranged in the low corrugations 9, on the other hand.
Chaque organe de liaison 29 est constitué par un rail 30 qui est disposé au regard d’une zone de nœud 1 1 de la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3. Le rail 30 comporte deux extrémités 31 , 32 qui sont respectivement emboîtées à l’intérieur d’une ouverture 26 ménagée dans la semelle 20 de l’un et l’autre des deux éléments de renfort 14 disposés dans l’ondulation haute 8, 9 de part et d’autre de ladite zone de nœud 11. Par ailleurs, dans le mode de réalisation représenté, une entretoise 33 permettant de soutenir la partie basse de l’ondulation haute 8 est disposée dans le prolongement de chacune des extrémités longitudinales 16, 17 des éléments de renfort 14. Chaque entretoise 33 est creuse et comporte une paroi inférieure, une paroi supérieure et deux parois latérales reliant la paroi supérieure et la paroi inférieure. La paroi inférieure de l’entretoise 33 s’étend dans le prolongement de la paroi inférieure 22 de la semelle 20 de l’élément de renfort 14 adjacent. En outre, le bord des parois latérales de chaque entretoise 33 qui est en regard de l’extrémité longitudinale 16, 17 de l’élément de renfort 14 adjacent est biseauté de manière à venir se plaquer contre l’extrémité biseautée de l’élément de renfort 14. Each connecting member 29 is constituted by a rail 30 which is arranged facing a node area 1 1 of the primary sealing membrane 3. The rail 30 has two ends 31, 32 which are respectively fitted inside an opening 26 formed in the sole 20 of one and the other of the two reinforcing elements 14 arranged in the upper corrugation 8, 9 on either side of said node zone 11. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, a spacer 33 making it possible to support the lower part of the upper corrugation 8 is arranged in the extension of each of the longitudinal ends 16, 17 of the reinforcing elements 14. Each spacer 33 is hollow and has a lower wall, an upper wall and two side walls connecting the upper wall and the lower wall. The bottom wall of the spacer 33 extends in the extension of the bottom wall 22 of the sole 20 of the reinforcing element 14 adjacent. In addition, the edge of the side walls of each spacer 33 which is opposite the longitudinal end 16, 17 of the adjacent reinforcing element 14 is bevelled so as to come to rest against the beveled end of the element reinforcement 14.
Par ailleurs, de manière avantageuse, la rail 30 présente une forme de croix de manière à définir deux pattes opposées 34, 35 qui sont respectivement emboîtées dans une ouverture 26 ménagée dans l’un et l’autre des éléments de renfort 15 disposés dans l’ondulation basse 9, de part et d’autre de la zone de de nœud 11.  Furthermore, advantageously, the rail 30 has a cross shape so as to define two opposite tabs 34, 35 which are respectively fitted into an opening 26 formed in one and the other of the reinforcing elements 15 arranged in the 'low ripple 9, on either side of the node area 11.
En relation avec les figures 2 à 4 et 7, on décrit désormais une zone de la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 dans laquelle l’une des ondulations 8 présente une portion curviligne 36 et dans laquelle un dispositif de renfort curviligne 37 est disposé à l’intérieur de ladite portion curviligne 36 afin de la renforcer.  In relation to FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7, a zone of the primary sealing membrane 3 is now described in which one of the corrugations 8 has a curvilinear portion 36 and in which a curvilinear reinforcement device 37 is disposed at the inside said curvilinear portion 36 in order to reinforce it.
Les figures 2 et 3 représentent une zone d’angle entre deux parois de la cuve. La membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 de l’une des parois présente ici une portion curviligne 36 s’étendant selon une direction curviligne d1. La direction curviligne d1 correspond plus particulièrement à la direction du sommet de l’ondulation dans ladite portion curviligne 36.  Figures 2 and 3 show a corner area between two walls of the tank. The primary sealing membrane 3 of one of the walls here has a curvilinear portion 36 extending in a curvilinear direction d1. The curvilinear direction d1 corresponds more particularly to the direction of the top of the corrugation in said curvilinear portion 36.
La portion curviligne 36 est ménagée dans une pièce de jonction 38 qui est soudée à recouvrement avec des plaques métalliques, parallélépipédique, tels qu’illustrés sur la figure 1. La pièce de jonction 38 est également soudée à recouvrement avec une pièce d’angle 39. La pièce d’angle 39 comporte deux ailes 40, 41 qui sont respectivement parallèles à l’une et à l’autre des parois adjacentes. La pièce d’angle 40 est ondulée et permet ainsi d’assurer une continuité des ondulations de la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 dans la zone d’angle entre les deux parois. La portion curviligne 36 permet ainsi d’assurer une déviation de l’ondulation. Un tel agencement est notamment susceptible de se rencontrer dans une cuve de forme générale polyédrique présentant deux parois de cofferdam de forme octogonale et reliées l’une à l’autre par huit parois s’étendant selon la direction longitudinale de la cuve, à savoir une paroi de fond et une paroi de plafond horizontales, deux parois latérales verticales, deux parois obliques supérieures reliant chacune l’une des parois latérales à la paroi de plafond ; et deux parois obliques inférieures reliant chacune l’une des parois latérales à la paroi de fond. Plus précisément, la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 comporte de telles portions curvilignes 36 sur les parois de cofferdam au niveau de la zone d’angle desdites parois de cofferdam avec les parois obliques supérieures et inférieures. The curved portion 36 is formed in a junction piece 38 which is welded overlapping with metal plates, parallelepiped, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The junction piece 38 is also welded overlapping with a corner piece 39 The corner piece 39 has two wings 40, 41 which are respectively parallel to one and to the other of the adjacent walls. The corner piece 40 is corrugated and thus ensures continuity of the corrugations of the primary sealing membrane 3 in the corner area between the two walls. The curved portion 36 thus makes it possible to ensure a deviation of undulation. Such an arrangement is in particular likely to be encountered in a generally polyhedral tank having two walls of octagonal cofferdam and connected to each other by eight walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the tank, namely a horizontal bottom wall and ceiling wall, two vertical side walls, two upper oblique walls each connecting one of the side walls to the ceiling wall; and two lower oblique walls each connecting one of the side walls to the bottom wall. More specifically, the primary sealing membrane 3 comprises such curvilinear portions 36 on the cofferdam walls at the level of the corner zone of said cofferdam walls with the upper and lower oblique walls.
Un dispositif de renfort curviligne 37, illustré de manière détaillé sur les figures 3 et 4, est agencé à l’intérieur de la portion curviligne 36 entre la membrane d’étanchéité primaire 3 et la barrière thermiquement isolante primaire 2. Le dispositif de renfort curviligne 36 comporte une pluralité de tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44 et un organe de liaison 45 reliant lesdits tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44 de sorte à assurer leur positionnement. Dans le mode de réalisation représenté, le dispositif de renfort curviligne 37 comporte trois tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44. Toutefois, dans d’autres modes de réalisation, le dispositif de renfort curviligne 37 peut ne comporter que deux tronçons de renfort ou présenter un nombre de tronçons de renfort supérieur ou égal à trois.  A curvilinear reinforcement device 37, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, is arranged inside the curvilinear portion 36 between the primary sealing membrane 3 and the primary thermally insulating barrier 2. The curvilinear reinforcement device 36 includes a plurality of reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 and a connecting member 45 connecting said reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 so as to ensure their positioning. In the embodiment shown, the curvilinear reinforcement device 37 has three reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44. However, in other embodiments, the curvilinear reinforcement device 37 may have only two reinforcement sections or have a number of reinforcement sections greater than or equal to three.
Les tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44 sont réalisés en métal, tel que l’aluminium ou un alliage ou en matériau polymère, tel que le polyéthylène, le polycarbonate ou le polyéther imide, avantageusement renforcé par des fibres, tels que des fibres de verre.  The reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 are made of metal, such as aluminum or an alloy or of polymer material, such as polyethylene, polycarbonate or polyether imide, advantageously reinforced with fibers, such as fibers of glass.
Chaque tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 comporte une enveloppe creuse et présente une forme profilé qui se développe selon une direction rectiligne d2, d3, d4. La direction rectiligne d2, d3, d4 des tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44 correspond à la direction de la fibre neutre desdits tronçons de renforts 42, 43, 44. Chacun des tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44 est avantageusement obtenu par découpage d’un profilé rectiligne à section constante.  Each reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 comprises a hollow envelope and has a profiled shape which develops in a rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4. The rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44 corresponds to the direction of the neutral fiber of said reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44. Each of the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44 is advantageously obtained by cutting out of a straight section with constant section.
Dans le mode de réalisation représenté, la portion curviligne 36 est disposée dans le prolongement d’une ondulation haute 8 et présente ainsi une section sensiblement similaire à celle d’une ondulation haute 8. Aussi, la section de chaque tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 est identique à la section, représentée sur la figure 6, des éléments de renfort 15 destinées à être positionnées à l’intérieur des ondulations hautes 8. Toutefois, dans d’autres modes de réalisation non représentés, la portion curviligne 36 est disposée dans le prolongement d’une ondulation basse 9 et présente ainsi une section sensiblement similaire à celle d’une ondulation basse 9. De manière alternative, la portion curviligne 31 peut présenter une forme différente de celle de l’ondulation haute ou basse qu’elle prolonge. Dans un tel cas, les tronçons de renfortIn the embodiment shown, the curvilinear portion 36 is arranged in the extension of a high corrugation 8 and thus has a section substantially similar to that of a high corrugation 8. Also, the section of each reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 is identical to the section, shown in FIG. 6, of the reinforcing elements 15 intended to be positioned inside high corrugations 8. However, in other embodiments not shown, the curvilinear portion 36 is arranged in the extension of a low corrugation 9 and thus has a section substantially similar to that of a low corrugation 9. So As an alternative, the curvilinear portion 31 may have a shape different from that of the high or low ripple which it extends. In such a case, the reinforcing sections
42, 43, 44 présentent alors une section différente de celle des éléments de renfort 14, 15 disposés dans les ondulations hautes 8 et basses 9. 42, 43, 44 then have a different section from that of the reinforcing elements 14, 15 arranged in the high 8 and low 9 corrugations.
L’organe de liaison 45 est curviligne et se développe le long de la direction curviligne d1 de la portion curviligne 36. En outre, chacun des tronçons de renfort 42, The connecting member 45 is curvilinear and develops along the curvilinear direction d1 of the curvilinear portion 36. In addition, each of the reinforcing sections 42,
43, 44 présente une ouverture 26 au travers de laquelle est emboîté l’organe de liaison 45. L’organe de liaison 45 permet ainsi de positionner chacun des tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44 dans une position telle que, en projection dans un plan parallèle à la paroi 1 , la direction rectiligne d2, d3, d4 dudit tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 est orientée tangentiellement ou sensiblement tangentiellement à la direction curviligne d1 de la portion curviligne 36. 43, 44 has an opening 26 through which the connecting member 45 is fitted. The connecting member 45 thus makes it possible to position each of the reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 in a position such that, in projection in a plane parallel to the wall 1, the rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of said reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 is oriented tangentially or substantially tangentially to the curvilinear direction d1 of the curvilinear portion 36.
De manière avantageuse, les deux extrémités de l’organe de liaison 45 sont également emboîtées dans des ouvertures ménagées 26 dans l’un et l’autre des deux renforts d’ondes 14 rectilignes qui sont positionnées dans les deux portions rectilignes de l’ondulation se raccordant à la portion curviligne 36.  Advantageously, the two ends of the connecting member 45 are also fitted into openings 26 in one and the other of the two rectilinear wave reinforcements 14 which are positioned in the two rectilinear portions of the corrugation connecting to the curved portion 36.
De manière avantageuse, comme représenté sur la figure 3, les deux extrémités 46, 47 de chaque tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 sont biseautées, c’est-à- dire forme un angle par rapport à la direction rectiligne d2, d3, d4 dudit tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44. Ainsi, comme représenté sur la figure 3, en projection dans un plan parallèle à la paroi, chaque tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 présente une forme trapézoïdale. En d’autres termes, chaque tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 présente deux extrémités 46, 47 biseautées qui sont chacune inclinées par rapport à la direction rectiligne d2, d3, d4 dudit tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 de manière à ce que ledit tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 s’élargisse du bord interne 48 vers le bord externe 49 de la portion curviligne 36, c’est-à-dire du bord présentant le rayon de courbure le plus faible vers le bord présentant le rayon de courbure le plus fort. Un tel agencement permet d’offrir une plus grande surface de support pour la surface de la portion curviligne 36 de l’ondulation. De façon non représenté, les tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44 peuvent être accolés dans la portion en contact avec le bord interne 48. Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 3, the two ends 46, 47 of each reinforcement section 42, 43, 44 are bevelled, that is to say forms an angle with respect to the rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of said reinforcing section 42, 43, 44. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, in projection in a plane parallel to the wall, each reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 has a trapezoidal shape. In other words, each reinforcement section 42, 43, 44 has two bevelled ends 46, 47 which are each inclined relative to the rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of said reinforcement section 42, 43, 44 so that that said reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 widens from the internal edge 48 towards the external edge 49 of the curvilinear portion 36, that is to say from the edge having the radius of curvature smaller towards the edge with the greatest radius of curvature. Such an arrangement makes it possible to offer a larger support surface for the surface of the curvilinear portion 36 of the corrugation. Not shown, the reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 can be joined in the portion in contact with the internal edge 48.
De manière avantageuse, chaque extrémité 46, 47 s’étend dans un plan qui est parallèle à la direction d’épaisseur de la paroi. En outre, l’angle formé par le plan de chaque extrémité 46, 47 par rapport à la direction rectiligne d2, d3, d4 du tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 est tel que ledit plan de chaque extrémité 46, 47 soit orthogonal ou sensiblement orthogonal à la tangente à la direction curviligne d1 , à l’intersection dudit plan avec ladite direction curviligne d1.  Advantageously, each end 46, 47 extends in a plane which is parallel to the thickness direction of the wall. In addition, the angle formed by the plane of each end 46, 47 with respect to the rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of the reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 is such that said plane of each end 46, 47 is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the tangent to the curvilinear direction d1, at the intersection of said plane with said curvilinear direction d1.
Selon un mode de réalisation, les deux extrémités 46, 47 biseautées du tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 s’étendent chacun dans un plan qui est orthogonal à une tangente à la direction curviligne d1 , à l’intersection entre ledit plan et la direction curviligne d1.  According to one embodiment, the two bevelled ends 46, 47 of the reinforcing section 42, 43, 44 each extend in a plane which is orthogonal to a tangent to the curvilinear direction d1, at the intersection between said plane and the curvilinear direction d1.
De manière avantageuse, les angles formés par les plans de deux extrémités de chaque tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 par rapport à la direction rectiligne d2, d3, d4 dudit tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44 sont de même valeur et de sens opposés. Dans la mesure où la forme profilé des tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44 est symétrique, ceci permet découper les tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44, à la suite les uns des autres, dans un profilé rectiligne à section constante, et ceci sans chute de matière.  Advantageously, the angles formed by the planes of two ends of each reinforcement section 42, 43, 44 relative to the straight direction d2, d3, d4 of said reinforcement section 42, 43, 44 are of the same value and direction opposed. Insofar as the profiled shape of the reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44 is symmetrical, this makes it possible to cut the reinforcing sections 42, 43, 44, one after the other, in a rectilinear profile with constant section, and this without falling material.
Selon un autre mode de réalisation, tel que représenté sur la figure 4, les deux extrémités des tronçons de renforts 42, 43, 44 s’étendent dans un plan orthogonal à la direction rectiligne d2, d3, d4 dudit tronçon de renfort 42, 43, 44.  According to another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the two ends of the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44 extend in a plane orthogonal to the rectilinear direction d2, d3, d4 of said reinforcement section 42, 43 , 44.
La figure 7 représente un organe de liaison 45 selon un mode de réalisation. Dans ce mode de réalisation, l’organe de liaison 45 est un rail curviligne qui présente une partie curviligne 50 destinée à s’étendre selon la direction curviligne d1 de la portion curviligne 36 de l’ondulation. Le rail curviligne présente une section rectangulaire correspondant sensiblement aux dimensions de l’ouverture 26 ménagée dans les tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44. L’organe de liaison 45 comporte ainsi un bord interne curviligne 51 et un bord externe curviligne 52 qui présente un rayon de courbure supérieure à celui du bord interne curviligne 51. Dans le mode de réalisation de la figure 7, le bord interne curviligne présente un crénelage formé d’une alternance de saillies 53 et de creux 54. Chacune des saillies 53 est destinée à venir se loger dans l’ouverture 26 de l’un des tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44. Le creux 54 entre les saillies 53 permettent ainsi de créer un jeu facilitant la mise en place des tronçons de renfort 42, 43, 44 dans la partie curviligne 50 de l’organe de liaison 45. Dans un mode de réalisation alternatif, le crénelage est ménagé dans le bord externe curviligne 52 de l’organe de liaison 45. Figure 7 shows a connecting member 45 according to one embodiment. In this embodiment, the connecting member 45 is a curvilinear rail which has a curvilinear part 50 intended to extend in the curvilinear direction d1 of the curvilinear portion 36 of the corrugation. The curvilinear rail has a rectangular section corresponding substantially to the dimensions of the opening 26 formed in the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44. The connecting member 45 thus comprises an internal curvilinear edge 51 and an external curvilinear edge 52 which has a radius of curvature greater than that of the curvilinear internal edge 51. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the curvilinear internal edge has a crenellation formed by an alternation of protrusions 53 and recesses 54. Each of the protrusions 53 is intended to be received in the opening 26 of one of the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44. The recess 54 between the projections 53 thus makes it possible to create a play facilitating the positioning of the reinforcement sections 42, 43, 44 in the curvilinear part 50 of the connecting member 45. In an alternative embodiment, the aliasing is formed in the curvilinear outer edge 52 of the connecting member 45.
Notons que si dans les modes de réalisation décrits et représentés ci- dessus, la portion curviligne de l’ondulation est ménagée dans un membrane d’étanchéité primaire et le dispositif curviligne de renfort est disposé entre ladite membrane d’étanchéité primaire et une barrière thermiquement isolante primaire, la portion curviligne peut également être ménagé dans une membrane d’étanchéité secondaire, le dispositif curviligne de renfort étant alors disposé entre la membrane d’étanchéité secondaire et une barrière thermiquement isolante secondaire.  Note that if in the embodiments described and shown above, the curvilinear portion of the corrugation is formed in a primary sealing membrane and the curvilinear reinforcement device is disposed between said primary sealing membrane and a thermal barrier primary insulating, the curvilinear portion can also be formed in a secondary sealing membrane, the curvilinear reinforcement device then being disposed between the secondary sealing membrane and a secondary thermally insulating barrier.
Par ailleurs, selon un autre mode de réalisation non représenté, la portion curviligne n’est pas ménagée à proximité d’une zone d’angle de la paroi mais à proximité d’un pied de support destiné à assurer un guidage d’une tour de chargement/déchargement. A titre d’exemple, de telles portions rectilignes sont notamment décrites et illustrées en relation avec la figure 9 du document WO2011 157915.  Furthermore, according to another embodiment not shown, the curvilinear portion is not provided near a corner area of the wall but near a support leg intended to guide a tower loading / unloading. By way of example, such rectilinear portions are in particular described and illustrated in relation to FIG. 9 of document WO2011 157915.
Selon un autre mode de réalisation non représenté, la portion curviligne de l’ondulation peut être ménagée dans une zone de la paroi de plafond de la cuve qui est traversée par une structure de dôme gaz destinée à extraire de la phase vapeur de l’espace interne de la cuve vers un collecteur de vapeur disposé à l’extérieur de la cuve.  According to another embodiment not shown, the curvilinear portion of the corrugation can be provided in an area of the ceiling wall of the tank which is crossed by a gas dome structure intended to extract the vapor phase from space. inside the tank to a vapor collector located outside the tank.
Selon un autre mode de réalisation non représenté, la portion curviligne de l’ondulation peut être ménagée dans une zone de la paroi de plafond de la cuve qui est équipée d’une structure de dôme liquide comportant un couvercle auquel est suspendue une tour de chargement/déchargement destiné à charger du gaz liquéfié dans la cuve et/ou à le décharger. La technique décrite ci-dessus pour réaliser une paroi de cuve peut être utilisée dans différents types de cuve de GNL dans une installation terrestre ou dans un ouvrage flottant comme un navire méthanier ou autre. According to another embodiment not shown, the curvilinear portion of the corrugation can be provided in an area of the ceiling wall of the tank which is equipped with a liquid dome structure comprising a cover to which a loading tower is suspended. / unloading intended to load liquefied gas into the tank and / or to unload it. The technique described above for producing a tank wall can be used in different types of LNG tank in a land installation or in a floating structure such as an LNG tanker or other.
En référence à la figure 8, 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 barrière étanche primaire destinée à être en contact avec le GNL contenu dans la cuve, une barrière étanche secondaire agencée entre la barrière étanche primaire et la double coque 72 du navire, et deux barrières isolante agencées respectivement entre la barrière étanche primaire et la barrière étanche secondaire et entre la barrière étanche secondaire et la double coque 72.  Referring to Figure 8, a cutaway view of an LNG tanker 70 shows a sealed and insulated tank 71 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the ship. The wall of the tank 71 comprises a primary waterproof barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary waterproof barrier arranged between the primary waterproof barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and two insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary waterproof barrier and the secondary waterproof barrier and between the secondary waterproof barrier and the double shell 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 lines 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a maritime or port terminal for transferring a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.
La figure 8 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. 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. FIG. 8 represents an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipe 76 and a shore installation 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising an arm mobile 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 movable arm 74 can be adjusted to suit all LNG carrier sizes . A connection 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 onshore installation 77. This comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connection pipes 81 connected by the submarine pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75. The submarine pipe 76 allows the transfer of liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the shore installation 77 over a long distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG carrier 70 at a great distance from the coast during the loading and unloading operations. 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.  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.
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 include", "to understand" or "to include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those stated 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

REVENDICATIONS
1. Paroi de cuve (1) comportant une barrière thermiquement isolante (2) et une membrane d’étanchéité (3) reposant sur la barrière thermiquement isolante (2), la membrane d’étanchéité (3) comportant une ondulation présentant une portion curviligne (36) se développant selon une direction curviligne (d1) et au moins un dispositif curviligne de renfort (37) agencé à l’intérieur de la portion curviligne (36), entre la membrane d’étanchéité (3) et la barrière thermiquement isolante (2) de manière à renforcer ladite portion curviligne (36), ledit dispositif curviligne de renfort (37) comportant une pluralité de tronçons de renfort (42, 43, 44) qui présentent chacun une forme profilée se développant selon une direction rectiligne (d2, d3, d4), le dispositif curviligne de renfort (37) comportant en outre un organe de liaison (45) reliant lesdits tronçons de renfort (42, 43, 44) de manière à les maintenir dans une position dans laquelle, en projection dans un plan parallèle à la paroi de cuve (1), la direction rectiligne (d2, d3, d4) de chacun des tronçons de renfort (42, 43, 44) est orientée tangentiellement à la direction curviligne (d1). 1. Tank wall (1) comprising a thermally insulating barrier (2) and a sealing membrane (3) resting on the thermally insulating barrier (2), the sealing membrane (3) comprising a corrugation having a curvilinear portion (36) developing in a curvilinear direction (d1) and at least one curvilinear reinforcement device (37) arranged inside the curvilinear portion (36), between the sealing membrane (3) and the thermally insulating barrier (2) so as to reinforce said curvilinear portion (36), said curvilinear reinforcement device (37) comprising a plurality of reinforcement sections (42, 43, 44) which each have a profiled shape developing in a rectilinear direction (d2 , d3, d4), the curvilinear reinforcement device (37) further comprising a connecting member (45) connecting said reinforcement sections (42, 43, 44) so as to maintain them in a position in which, in projection in a p lan parallel to the tank wall (1), the rectilinear direction (d2, d3, d4) of each of the reinforcing sections (42, 43, 44) is oriented tangentially to the curvilinear direction (d1).
2. Paroi de cuve (1) selon la revendication 1 , dans laquelle chaque tronçon de renfort (42, 43, 44) comporte une ouverture (26) au travers de laquelle est emboîté l’organe de liaison (45).  2. tank wall (1) according to claim 1, wherein each reinforcing section (42, 43, 44) has an opening (26) through which is fitted the connecting member (45).
3. Paroi de cuve (1) selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle chaque tronçon de renfort (42, 43, 44) comporte une semelle (20) reposant contre la barrière thermiquement isolante (2).  3. tank wall (1) according to claim 2, wherein each reinforcing section (42, 43, 44) comprises a sole (20) resting against the thermally insulating barrier (2).
4. Paroi de cuve (1) selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle chaque semelle (20) comporte deux parois latérales (24, 25) et une paroi inférieure (22) plane qui repose contre la barrière thermiquement isolante (2) et qui relie les deux parois latérales (24, 25), ladite ouverture (26) étant définie par les parois latérales (24, 25) et la paroi inférieure (22).  4. vessel wall (1) according to claim 3, wherein each sole (20) has two side walls (24, 25) and a bottom wall (22) which rests against the thermally insulating barrier (2) and which connects the two side walls (24, 25), said opening (26) being defined by the side walls (24, 25) and the bottom wall (22).
5. Paroi de cuve (1) selon l’une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle l’organe de liaison (45) est un rail qui présente une partie curviligne (50) s’étendant selon la direction curviligne (d1) de la portion curviligne (36) et qui présente un bord interne curviligne (51) et un bord externe curviligne (52) présentant une plus grande courbure que celle du bord interne curviligne (51). 5. vessel wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connecting member (45) is a rail which has a curvilinear part (50) extending in the curvilinear direction (d1) of the curvilinear portion (36) and which has a curvilinear inner edge (51) and a curvilinear outer edge (52) having a greater curvature than that of the curvilinear inner edge (51).
6. Paroi de cuve (1) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel l’un des bords interne curviligne (51) et externe curviligne (52) comporte une alternance de saillies (53) et de creux (54) formant un crénelage, chaque saillie (53) étant logée dans l’ouverture (26) de l’un des tronçons de renfort (42, 43, 44). 6. cell wall (1) according to claim 5, in which one of the curvilinear internal edge (51) and curvilinear external edge (52) comprises alternating projections (53) and depressions (54) forming a crenellation, each projection (53) being housed in the opening (26) of one of the reinforcing sections (42, 43, 44).
7. Paroi de cuve (1) selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle le crénelage est ménagé dans le bord interne curviligne (51) du rail.  7. tank wall (1) according to claim 6, wherein the aliasing is formed in the curved internal edge (51) of the rail.
8. Paroi de cuve (1) selon l’une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans laquelle au moins l’un des tronçons de renfort (42, 43, 44) présente une enveloppe creuse et des voiles de renfort (27, 28) sécants qui s’étendent à l’intérieur de l’enveloppe creuse d’un bord à l’autre de ladite enveloppe creuse.  8. vessel wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of the reinforcing sections (42, 43, 44) has a hollow envelope and reinforcing webs (27, 28 ) secants which extend inside the hollow envelope from one edge to the other of said hollow envelope.
9. Paroi de cuve (1) selon l’une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans laquelle la portion curviligne (36) présente un bord curviligne interne (48) et un bord curviligne externe (49) présentant une courbure plus grande que le bord curviligne interne (48) et dans laquelle au moins l’un des tronçons de renfort (42, 43, 44) présente deux extrémités (46, 47) qui sont chacune inclinées par rapport à la direction rectiligne (d2, d3, d4) dudit tronçon de renfort de manière à ce que ledit tronçon de renfort (42, 43, 44) s’élargisse du bord curviligne interne (48) vers le bord curviligne externe (49) de la portion curviligne (36).  9. cell wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the curvilinear portion (36) has an internal curvilinear edge (48) and an external curvilinear edge (49) having a greater curvature than the internal curvilinear edge (48) and in which at least one of the reinforcing sections (42, 43, 44) has two ends (46, 47) which are each inclined relative to the straight direction (d2, d3, d4) of said reinforcing section so that said reinforcing section (42, 43, 44) widens from the internal curvilinear edge (48) towards the external curvilinear edge (49) of the curvilinear portion (36).
10. Paroi de cuve selon l’une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans laquelle l’ondulation comporte deux portions rectilignes disposées de part et d’autre de la portion curviligne (36) dans le prolongement de ladite portion curviligne (36), un élément de renfort (14) étant disposé dans chacune des deux portions rectilignes entre la membrane d’étanchéité (3) et la barrière thermiquement isolante (2) et dans laquelle l’organe de liaison (45) est emboîté dans une ouverture (26) ménagée dans au moins l’un des éléments de renfort (14).  10. cell wall according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the corrugation comprises two rectilinear portions arranged on either side of the curvilinear portion (36) in the extension of said curvilinear portion (36), a reinforcing element (14) being disposed in each of the two rectilinear portions between the sealing membrane (3) and the thermally insulating barrier (2) and in which the connecting member (45) is fitted into an opening (26 ) formed in at least one of the reinforcing elements (14).
11. Paroi de cuve (1) selon l’une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, dans laquelle la portion curviligne est disposée à proximité d’une zone d’angle de ladite paroi de cuve (1).  11. cell wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the curvilinear portion is arranged near a corner area of said cell wall (1).
12. Paroi de cuve (1) selon l’une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, dans laquelle la portion curviligne est disposée à proximité d’une zone singulière de ladite paroi de cuve (1) dans laquelle la planéité de la membrane d’étanchéité (3) est interrompue. 12. tank wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the curvilinear portion is arranged near a singular area of said tank wall (1) in which the flatness of the sealing membrane (3) is interrupted.
13. Cuve étanche et thermiquement isolante comportant au moins une paroi de cuve (1) selon l’une quelconque des revendications 1 à 12.  13. Watertight and thermally insulating tank comprising at least one tank wall (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
14. Navire (70) comportant une structure porteuse et une cuve (1) selon la revendication 13 ancrée dans ladite structure porteuse.  14. Ship (70) comprising a support structure and a tank (1) according to claim 13 anchored in said support structure.
15. Système de transfert pour un fluide, le système comportant un navire (70) selon la revendication 14, des canalisations isolées (73, 79, 76, 81) agencées de manière à relier la cuve (71) installée dans la coque du navire à une installation de stockage flottante ou terrestre (77) et une pompe pour entraîner un fluide à travers les canalisations isolées depuis ou vers l’installation de stockage flottante ou terrestre vers ou depuis la cuve du navire.  15. Transfer system for a fluid, the system comprising a ship (70) according to claim 14, insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged so as to connect the tank (71) installed in the hull of the ship to a floating or terrestrial storage installation (77) and a pump for driving a fluid through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or terrestrial storage installation to or from the vessel of the ship.
16. Procédé de chargement ou déchargement d’un navire (70) selon la revendication 14 dans lequel on achemine un fluide à travers des canalisations isolées (73, 79, 76, 81) depuis ou vers une installation de stockage flottante ou terrestre (77) vers ou depuis la cuve (71) du navire.  16. A method of loading or unloading a ship (70) according to claim 14 in which a fluid is conveyed through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to a floating or land storage facility (77 ) to or from the vessel (71).
EP19742454.2A 2018-07-13 2019-06-25 Tank wall comprising a sealing membrane having a corrugation with a reinforced curvilinear portion Active EP3821167B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1856475A FR3083789B1 (en) 2018-07-13 2018-07-13 TANK WALL COMPRISING A SEALING MEMBRANE HAVING A CORRUGATION HAVING A REINFORCED CURVILINE PORTION
PCT/FR2019/051559 WO2020012084A1 (en) 2018-07-13 2019-06-25 Tank wall comprising a sealing membrane having a corrugation with a reinforced curvilinear portion

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3821167A1 true EP3821167A1 (en) 2021-05-19
EP3821167C0 EP3821167C0 (en) 2024-05-29
EP3821167B1 EP3821167B1 (en) 2024-05-29

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EP19742454.2A Active EP3821167B1 (en) 2018-07-13 2019-06-25 Tank wall comprising a sealing membrane having a corrugation with a reinforced curvilinear portion

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EP (1) EP3821167B1 (en)
KR (1) KR102123185B1 (en)
CN (1) CN112534176B (en)
FR (1) FR3083789B1 (en)
PL (1) PL3821167T3 (en)
SG (1) SG11202100246VA (en)
WO (1) WO2020012084A1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN115234823B (en) * 2022-07-07 2024-06-11 西安热工研究院有限公司 Gravity compressed air storage system based on strength of reinforced sealing film anchoring end
CN116605357B (en) * 2023-07-20 2023-10-24 中太(苏州)氢能源科技有限公司 Component for inner wall of liquefied gas storage cabin

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2936784B1 (en) * 2008-10-08 2010-10-08 Gaztransp Et Technigaz REINFORCED CORRUGATED MEMBRANE TANK
FR2961580B1 (en) 2010-06-17 2012-07-13 Gaztransport Et Technigaz WATERPROOF AND INSULATED TANK WITH SUPPORT FOOT
FR2963818B1 (en) 2010-08-11 2014-01-03 Gaztransp Et Technigaz SEALED WALL STRUCTURE
KR101337642B1 (en) * 2011-12-16 2013-12-05 삼성중공업 주식회사 Liquefied Natural Gas storage tank and method to manufacture the same
KR101337627B1 (en) * 2011-12-16 2013-12-05 삼성중공업 주식회사 Reinforcement structure for primary barrier of lng storage tank
KR101349865B1 (en) * 2012-04-06 2014-01-14 주식회사 티엠씨 Device for fixing the primary barrier reinforcement member of lng storage tank
KR101588661B1 (en) * 2013-10-18 2016-01-27 삼성중공업 주식회사 Cargo and reinforcing member used in the same
KR101617026B1 (en) 2013-12-27 2016-04-29 삼성중공업 주식회사 Cargo for liquefied gas
KR101697821B1 (en) * 2014-10-21 2017-01-19 현대중공업 주식회사 Liquid cargo storage tank and marine structure including the same
FR3039248B1 (en) * 2015-07-24 2017-08-18 Gaztransport Et Technigaz WATERPROOF AND THERMALLY INSULATING TANK WITH A REINFORCING PIECE

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CN112534176A (en) 2021-03-19
SG11202100246VA (en) 2021-02-25
EP3821167C0 (en) 2024-05-29
PL3821167T3 (en) 2024-09-30
KR20200007674A (en) 2020-01-22
CN112534176B (en) 2022-05-10
WO2020012084A1 (en) 2020-01-16
EP3821167B1 (en) 2024-05-29
FR3083789B1 (en) 2020-07-10
KR102123185B1 (en) 2020-06-15
FR3083789A1 (en) 2020-01-17

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