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
  • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
  • F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
  • F17C3/025—Bulk storage in barges or on ships
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
  • F17C13/08—Mounting arrangements for vessels
  • F17C13/082—Mounting arrangements for vessels for large sea-borne storage vessels
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C9/00—Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure
• • 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
  • F17C2201/0152—Lobes
• • 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
  • F17C2203/01—Reinforcing or suspension means
  • F17C2203/011—Reinforcing means
  • F17C2203/013—Reinforcing means in the vessel, e.g. columns
• • 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
  • F17C2203/01—Reinforcing or suspension means
  • F17C2203/014—Suspension means
  • F17C2203/016—Cords
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0329—Foam
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0329—Foam
  • F17C2203/0333—Polyurethane
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0345—Fibres
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0345—Fibres
  • F17C2203/035—Glass wool
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0358—Thermal insulations by solid means in form of panels
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
  • F17C2203/0612—Wall structures
  • F17C2203/0614—Single wall
  • F17C2203/0617—Single wall with one layer
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
  • F17C2203/0612—Wall structures
  • F17C2203/0614—Single wall
  • F17C2203/0619—Single wall with two layers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
  • F17C2203/0636—Metals
  • F17C2203/0639—Steels
  • F17C2203/0643—Stainless steels
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
  • F17C2203/0636—Metals
  • F17C2203/0646—Aluminium
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
  • F17C2203/0636—Metals
  • F17C2203/0648—Alloys or compositions of metals
  • F17C2203/0651—Invar
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0352—Pipes
  • F17C2205/0355—Insulation thereof
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0379—Manholes or access openings for human beings
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
  • F17C2209/22—Assembling processes
  • F17C2209/221—Welding
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
  • F17C2209/23—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations
  • F17C2209/232—Manufacturing of particular parts or at special locations of walls
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
  • F17C2221/012—Hydrogen
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/035—Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
  • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
  • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
  • F17C2260/013—Reducing manufacturing time or effort
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water
  • F17C2270/0105—Ships
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/32—Hydrogen storage

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of sealed tank walls for the storage or transport of fluids, and also to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks for liquefied gases at low temperature such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquid hydrogen.
• LPG liquefied petroleum gas
• LNG liquefied natural gas
• liquid hydrogen liquid hydrogen
• Sealed prismatic tanks are known for example from patent EP0166492.
• Such a tank comprises an external structure comprising a plurality of planar walls assembled together so as to form a prismatic structure, and in particular a rectangular parallelepiped structure.
• a plurality of planar walls are assembled to each other using for example a scaffold so as to form the prismatic structure.
• the tank comprises a system of internal stiffeners to reinforce the walls of the external structure.
• the internal stiffeners are bars connecting a wall to an opposite wall so as to prevent the deformation of the walls of the tank due to the pressure of the fluid exerted from the inside towards the outside of the tank.
• the internal stiffeners are arranged in the tank so as to form a lattice structure. Indeed, there is in such a tank a plurality of bars in different directions so as to take up the forces due to the pressure of the fluid in multiple directions.
• a tank with such a system of internal stiffeners fixed on flat walls is not suitable for transporting cryogenic fluids, such as liquefied natural gas.
• cryogenic fluids such as liquefied natural gas.
• a cryogenic container significantly stresses a tank, in particular by its extremely low temperature which induces a thermal contraction of the components of the tank, but also by the increase in its gas phase over time, which generates significant pressure on the walls of the tank.
• An idea underlying the invention is to facilitate the mounting of the tank walls while increasing the resistance of the wall to the pressure of a fluid.
• Another idea underlying the invention is to improve the resistance of a self-supporting tank to high stresses due for example to the pressure of the fluid contained in the tank and to a possible thermal contraction.
• Another idea underlying the invention is to optimize the compactness of the self-supporting tank, that is to say to optimize the ratio between the useful volume of the container of the tank relative to the total volume occupied by the tank.
• the invention provides a sealed tank wall to form a sealed tank for storing a fluid, the wall comprising:
• a flat frame comprising a perimeter and longitudinal stiffeners placed inside the perimeter in a longitudinal direction so that each longitudinal stiffener extends from one side of the perimeter to an opposite side of the perimeter, the perimeter and the longitudinal stiffeners being configured to define openings in the frame,
• flat frame is meant a frame devoid of curvature in a thick direction.
• the tank wall is formed of simple elements.
• the frame forms an economical frame making it possible to fix the lobed walls and ensures the retention of the tank wall using the longitudinal stiffeners. Its flat shape allows the tank wall to be mounted flat. It is therefore not necessary to use scaffolding to mount the wall.
• welding robots can be used to fix in particular the lobed walls to the frame due to its planar shape and thus gain simplicity and speed of assembly.
• the lobed walls of the tank make it possible to improve the mechanical resistance of the external structure.
• the lobed walls allow during the pressure build-up of the tank to redirect the forces towards the longitudinal stiffeners and the periphery of the frames and thus prevent the walls from being subjected to excessive forces. Thus, it is possible to limit the thickness of the lobed walls which undergo less significant forces than an equivalent plane wall.
• lobed walls towards the outside of the tank make it possible to optimize the capacity of the tank by gaining a significant place concerning useful volume compared to a tank with flat walls.
• such a tank wall may include one or more of the following characteristics.
• the periphery has a rectangular shape and is composed of a plurality of bars assembled to each other.
• the frame comprises complementary stiffeners, the complementary stiffeners having a first end fixed to one side of the periphery and a second end fixed to an opposite side of the periphery and the complementary stiffeners extending in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal stiffeners.
• the wall comprises a thermally insulating barrier fixed to the frame on the outside of the tank to be formed.
• the thermally insulating barrier has an internal surface having a shape complementary to the lobed walls.
• the thermally insulating barrier comprises an internal layer produced in a flexible deformable insulating material and an external layer produced in a rigid insulating material.
• the lobed walls comprise curved plates comprising at least two curved sides, and closure plates situated on the curved sides of the curved plates, the closure plates sealingly connecting the curved sides to the frame.
• the curved plates are rectangular curved plates comprising two curved sides and two straight sides, the straight sides being welded to the frame on either side of an opening.
• the frame is formed between an outer casing, preferably planar, and an inner casing, preferably planar, in the thickness direction.
• the lobed walls project from the external envelope of the frame in which they are fixed.
• the lobed walls are located between the outer shell and the inner shell of the frame in which they are fixed.
• the two curved sides are sealed to the frame on either side of an opening.
• the invention provides a sealed tank for the storage of a fluid, the tank comprising:
• an external structure composed of a plurality of tank walls assembled together so as to form a prismatic structure delimiting an internal space, at least two of the tank walls being as mentioned above;
• each internal stiffener located in the internal space of the external structure so as to form a lattice structure, each internal stiffener comprising a first end fixed to the frame of a first of at least two tank walls and a second end fixed to the frame of a second of the at least two tank walls opposite the first tank wall, the internal stiffeners being fixed to said frames to take up a force caused by the pressure in said internal space.
• one of, some, several or all of the internal stiffeners are located in line with a longitudinal stiffener of said frame. According to one embodiment, one of, some, several or all of the internal stiffeners extend perpendicularly to a said tank wall. According to one embodiment, some, several or all of the internal stiffeners are located in line with the longitudinal stiffeners of said frames and extend perpendicular to some, several or all of the walls of the tank. According to one embodiment, the two opposite walls are parallel and one or more of said internal stiffeners extend in a substantially straight line perpendicular to the two walls of the tank.
• each of the tank walls is as mentioned above.
• such a tank may include one or more of the following characteristics.
• the frame is composed of square tubes fixed to each other, for example by welding.
• the frame is manufactured in a simple and inexpensive way because it is composed only of simple elements assembled together.
• the tank comprises lobed walls fixed to the frames by welding around each opening to close said openings in a sealed manner.
• the internal stiffeners are fixed to the longitudinal stiffeners.
• the internal stiffeners are distributed regularly over each of the longitudinal stiffeners.
• the frame, the lobed walls and / or the internal stiffeners are made of metallic material, for example stainless steel, aluminum, Invar®: that is to say an alloy of iron and nickel whose coefficient of expansion is typically between 1, 2.10 6 and 2.10 6 K 1 , or an iron alloy with a high manganese content whose coefficient of expansion is of the order of 7.10 6 K 1 .
• the lobed walls comprise curved plates comprising at least two curved sides, and closure plates situated on the curved sides of the curved plates, the closure plates sealingly connecting the curved sides to one of the frames.
• the curved plates are rectangular curved plates comprising two curved sides and two straight sides, the straight sides being welded to one of the frames of the exterior structure, on either side of an opening.
• one of, some, several or all of the closure plates are elongated planar plates.
• one of, some, several or all of the planar closure plates comprise at least one surface and at least one edge, the surface being fixed to the curved side of at least one curved plate and the edge being attached to the frame.
• one of, some, several or all of the closure plates are plates forming a portion of ellipsoid of revolution.
• one of, some, several or all of the closure plates comprises two edges, one fixed to the curved plate and the other fixed to the frame.
• the internal stiffeners comprise first stiffeners oriented in a first direction, second stiffeners oriented in a second direction different from the first direction and third stiffeners oriented in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction.
• the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction form a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system.
• the internal stiffeners form a three-dimensional trellis allowing the external structure to resist the stresses that the tank can undergo in all directions.
• the internal stiffeners are formed by bars of square section.
• one of, some, several or all of the first stiffeners comprises at least one orifice configured so that one of the third stiffeners crosses the first stiffener.
• the orifice allows a first stiffener to cross in the first direction and a third stiffener in the third. direction which has the effect of strengthening the stiffeners at these crossings for example by avoiding buckling thereof.
• one of, some, several or all of the second stiffeners comprises at least one orifice configured so that one of the third stiffeners crosses the second stiffener.
• the orifice allows a second stiffener to cross in the second direction and a third stiffener in the third direction, which has the effect of reinforcing the stiffeners at these crossings, for example by preventing buckling of those -this.
• each internal stiffener comprises at least one elongated sheet, and at least one profile comprising a base fixed to the elongated sheet and two wings on either side of the base, the wings projecting from the elongated sheet.
• the profile increases the rigidity of the internal stiffener, especially in bending.
• one of, some, several or all of the frames includes complementary stiffeners, the complementary stiffeners having a first end fixed to one side of the periphery and a second end fixed to an opposite side of the periphery and the stiffeners complementary extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal stiffeners.
• the frame is reinforced in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal stiffeners.
• one of, some, several or all of the first stiffeners and / or one of, some, several or all of the second stiffeners comprises two elongated sheets and a plurality of sections located between the two elongated sheets , the profiles comprising a base fixed to one of the elongated sheets and two wings on either side of the base, the wings projecting from each elongated sheet, and in which the profiles are regularly spaced on the elongated sheet.
• the orifice configured so that one of the third stiffeners passes through one of the first stiffeners or one of the second stiffeners is a space formed between the profiles.
• first stiffeners and the second stiffeners are composed so as to increase their stiffness and their role of stiffener of the external structure.
• the profiles are spaced to allow crossings of the stiffener mesh.
• one of, some, several or all of the complementary stiffeners comprises two elongated sheets and a plurality of profiles located between the two elongated sheets, the profiles having a base fixed to one of the elongated sheets and two wings on either side of the base, the wings projecting from each sheet, and in which the profiles are regularly spaced on the sheet so as to form spaces configured to allow crossing with the longitudinal stiffeners of a frame.
• one of, some, several or all of the internal stiffeners and / or one of, some, several or all of the longitudinal stiffeners and / or one of, some, several or all of the stiffeners complementary include gussets at their ends.
• the gussets make it possible to reduce the stresses undergone by the stiffeners at the level of the connection with the longitudinal stiffeners or around the frame.
• the gussets are triangular gussets or gussets in an arc.
• one of, some, several or all of the third stiffeners comprise two elongated sheets and one or more profiles located between the two elongated sheets, the profile or profiles having a base fixed to one of the elongated sheets and two wings on either side of the base, the wings projecting from each sheet.
• one of, some, several or all of the third stiffeners comprises a single section extending over all or part of the length of the third stiffener.
• one of, some, several or all of the third stiffeners comprises several sections arranged continuously lengthwise or spaced apart.
• the section dimension of the third stiffener is less than the section dimension of the orifice.
• the distance between two sheets of the third stiffener is less than the distance between two sheets of the first stiffener and / or second stiffener.
• the width of the sheets of the third stiffener at the crossings with a first stiffener or a second stiffener is less than the distance between two sections of the first stiffener or the second stiffener.
• the dimension of the third stiffeners allows the insertion of these into one of the first stiffeners or of the second stiffeners so as to achieve the crossing between the stiffeners.
• the sealed tank comprises a thermally insulating barrier fixed to the outside of the exterior structure on each of the frames.
• the thermally insulating barrier has an internal surface having a shape complementary to the lobed walls.
• the internal surface is precut so as to follow the curved shape of the lobed walls.
• the thermally insulating barrier comprises one or more layers of one or more materials, for example in fibrous materials such as glass wool, rock wool, in polymer foam especially polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam , or polyethylene foam.
• the thermally insulating barrier comprises an internal layer which is made of a flexible deformable insulating material such as glass wool.
• the first layer of the thermally insulating barrier can be compressed against the lobed wall so as to match the shape.
• the thermally insulating barrier comprises an outer layer which is made of a rigid insulating material such as polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam.
• the thermally insulating barrier is composed of a plurality of insulating panels arranged one next to the other.
• the insulating panels remote from the edges of the prismatic structure of the tank are rectangular parallelepiped panels.
• the insulating panels located on the edges of the prismatic structure of the tank are cylindrical panels with a triangular base.
• each third stiffener is composed of a single elongated stiffener extending from a tank wall to an opposite tank wall.
• each first stiffener and / or each second stiffener comprises a plurality of first bars and / or second bars respectively, the first bars or the second bars being aligned with each other in the first direction or the second direction respectively , the first bars or the second bars being spaced from each other.
• a part or each third stiffener comprises a plurality of third bars, the third bars being aligned with each other in the third direction and being spaced from each other.
• a part or each complementary stiffener comprises a plurality of complementary bars, the bars complementary being aligned with each other and being spaced from each other.
• a part or each complementary stiffener comprises a plurality of complementary bars, the complementary bars being aligned with each other and being spaced from each other.
• the first bars comprise two first end bars situated at the ends of the first stiffener and at least one first intermediate bar situated between the first end bars, two adjacent first bars being fixed one to the another through one of the third stiffeners.
• the second bars comprise two second end bars situated at the ends of the second stiffener and at least one second intermediate bar situated between the second end bars, two adjacent second bars being fixed one to the another through one of the third stiffeners.
• the third bars include two third end bars located at the ends of the third stiffener and at least one third intermediate bar located between the third end bars.
• the first end bars or the second end bars comprise a first end fixed to the external structure and a second end fixed to one of the third stiffeners.
• the first intermediate bars or the second intermediate bars comprise a first end fixed to one of the third stiffeners and a second end fixed to another of the third stiffeners.
• the trellis structure comprises stiffener nodes, each stiffener node being configured to form an intersection zone in the trellis structure where at least two internal stiffeners intersect.
• internal stiffener is meant a stiffener formed by one of the first stiffeners, one of the second stiffeners, one of the third stiffeners, one of the reinforcement stiffeners or possibly one of the complementary stiffeners.
• each stiffener node is configured to form an intersection zone in the trellis structure where two first bars and two second bars are fixed to the same third stiffener.
• the tank comprises connectors formed by at least one connection plate, and two first adjacent bars or two second adjacent bars or two third adjacent bars are fixed to each other by means of one of the connectors.
• said connectors are double connectors formed by a first connection plate and a second connection plate orthogonal to the first connection plate, the first connection plate comprising a socket orifice, the second connection plate passing through the first connection plate through the socket orifice.
• two adjacent first bars and two adjacent second bars are welded to the first connection plate of one of the double connectors, and two adjacent third bars are welded to the second connection plate of said double connector.
• the tank comprises simple connectors formed by a single connection plate, the connection plate being fixed to one of the frames of the tank, for example to one of the longitudinal stiffeners or around the periphery of the frame.
• the complementary bars are welded at each of their ends to the connection plate of one of the simple connectors.
• the first end bars, the second end bars, and the third end bars are welded to one from their ends to one of the single connectors and the other from their ends to one of the double connectors.
• the first intermediate bars, the second intermediate bars, and the third intermediate bars are welded at each of their ends to one of the double connectors.
• the fixing of an internal stiffener with another internal stiffener is carried out for example by welding.
• the internal stiffeners are fixed by welding to one of the connectors.
• the internal stiffeners and the connectors are adapted to be assembled together with at least two degrees of freedom, preferably two degrees of freedom in translation, more preferably exactly two degrees of freedom in translation.
• the at least one connection plate is planar.
• the two degrees of freedom in translation are located in the plane of the connection plate.
• the internal stiffeners and the connectors are adapted to be assembled together before the welding of the internal stiffener to the connector.
• the at least one connection plate comprises a plane peripheral edge, the internal stiffeners being welded to the connector on the plane peripheral edge of the connection plate.
• the bars of the internal stiffeners and / or complementary stiffeners and / or reinforcement stiffeners comprise at each of their ends a pair of parallel fixing slots, and the bars of the internal stiffeners and / or complementary stiffeners and / or reinforcing stiffeners being configured to be welded to one of the connection plates by inserting said connection plate into the pair of fixing slots.
• the internal stiffeners and / or the complementary stiffeners and / or the reinforcement stiffeners are formed by bars of circular section.
• the fixing slots of the same pair of fixing slots are diametrically opposite.
• the fixing slots of the same pair of fixing slots are positioned on two opposite edges of the end of the bar.
• the bars of the internal stiffeners and / or additional stiffeners and / or reinforcement stiffeners are configured to be welded to one of the connection plates by inserting said connection plate into the pair of fixing slots .
• connection plate as a flat welding support in order to facilitate the fixing of the bar to a connector.
• the device is more adaptable and overcomes manufacturing and mounting tolerances.
• the tank comprises reinforcing stiffeners inclined at an angle of about 45 ° relative to the first direction, to the second direction or to the third direction, the reinforcing stiffeners being fixed to one from its ends to a first stiffener knot and at the other of its ends to a second stiffener knot or one of the tank walls.
• the tank comprises reinforcing stiffeners fixed at the edges of the tank to the lattice structure, each reinforcing stiffener being inclined at an angle of 45 ° relative to the first direction, to the second direction or third direction.
• the first stiffeners, the second stiffeners, the third stiffeners and the reinforcement stiffeners, see possibly the complementary stiffeners are fixed to each other so as to form a lattice structure.
• a first of said tank walls is fixed to a second of said tank walls by welding the frame of the first tank wall to the frame of the second tank wall.
• a first of said tank walls is fixed to a second of said tank walls by means of a lobed corner wall, the lobed corner wall comprising a first straight edge fixed to the periphery of the first tank wall and a second straight edge fixed to the periphery of the second tank wall.
• the corner lobed walls protrude from the lattice structure towards the outside of the tank.
• the corner lobed walls each comprise a curved plate having two straight edges and at least two curved edges, preferably four curved edges.
• the straight edges of the corner lobed walls are welded to the edges of two adjacent frames of the external structure.
• one of the corner lobed walls is welded on a curved edge to at least one other of the adjacent corner lobed walls, preferably to two others of the adjacent corner lobed walls.
• one of the curved edges of a lobed corner wall extending in one of the first, second or third direction is welded to one of the curved edges of a lobed wall of angle extending in another of the first, second or third direction.
• the corner lobed walls are assembled to the frames of the exterior structure so as to form a sealed closed surface.
• the invention provides a sealed tank for storing a fluid, the tank comprising:
• each internal stiffener located in the internal space of the external structure of so as to form a trellis structure, each internal stiffener comprising a plurality of bars aligned with one another and spaced from each other,
• Connectors comprising at least one connection plate, at least two adjacent bars being welded to the connection plate, the connectors forming nodes of stiffeners where internal stiffeners of different directions intersect.
• Such a tank can be part of a terrestrial storage installation, for example to store LNG or be installed in a floating structure, coastal or deep water, in particular an LNG tanker, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) , a floating remote production and storage unit (FPSO) and others.
• FSRU floating storage and regasification unit
• FPSO floating remote production and storage unit
• Such a tank can also serve as a fuel tank in any type of ship.
• the invention also provides a vessel for the transport of a cold liquid product comprises a double hull and a said tank arranged in the double hull.
• the waterproof tank is fixed to the double shell using cables.
• the sealed tank comprises a center and edges at the level of the connection of the frames with each other, the cables being fixed at the edges of the tank and being fixed to the double shell so as to be oriented orthogonally to a direction connecting the center of the tank to the edge where the cable is fixed.
• the cables are oriented so as to rotate around their anchoring point on the double shell during a possible thermal contraction of the tank, thus avoiding any tensile / compression stress on the cables which can cause them to break.
• the invention also provides a method for manufacturing a sealed tank of prismatic shape, in which the method comprises the following steps:
• each internal stiffener having a first end fixed to a frame and a second end fixed to an opposite frame, the internal stiffeners being fixed on the longitudinal stiffeners or on the edges of said frames;
• the trellis structure formed by the stiffeners can be used both to reinforce the tank but also as scaffolding to mount the last walls in order to close the exterior structure.
• the invention also provides a method for manufacturing a sealed tank of prismatic shape, in which the method comprises the following steps:
• each internal stiffener having a first end fixed to a frame and a second end fixed to an opposite frame , the internal stiffeners being fixed on the longitudinal stiffeners or on the edges of said frames.
• the trellis structure formed by the stiffeners can be used both to reinforce the tank but also as scaffolding to mount the walls between them and to the bottom wall.
• the invention also provides a method of loading or unloading such a ship, in which a cold liquid product is conveyed through isolated pipes from or to a floating or land storage installation to or from the vessel of the ship.
• the invention also provides a transfer system for a cold liquid product, 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 storage installation. or terrestrial and a pump to drive a flow of cold liquid product through the isolated pipes from or to the floating or terrestrial storage facility to or from the vessel of the ship.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a frame provided with additional stiffeners for a self-supporting sealed tank.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an internal or additional stiffener for a self-supporting sealed tank according to a first variant.
• FIG. 3 shows in perspective an external structure provided with internal stiffeners for a self-supporting sealed tank.
• Figure 4 is a detail view of Figure 3 where only a crossing between two internal stiffeners is shown.
• FIG. 5 shows in perspective a frame provided with lobed walls formed by curved plates and closure plates according to a first embodiment.
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a self-supporting sealed tank comprising lobed walls according to a second embodiment.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a self-supporting sealed tank comprising an external structure, stiffeners and a thermally insulating barrier.
• FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of Figure 7 showing one of the frames provided with lobed walls and the thermally insulating barrier.
• FIG 9 shows in perspective a tank attached to a double hull of a ship.
• FIG. 10 is a cutaway schematic representation of a ship comprising a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing fluid and a loading / unloading terminal of this tank.
• FIG. 11 shows in perspective a trellis formed by internal stiffeners according to a second variant.
• FIG. 12 is a detail view XII of Figure 11, showing a plurality of assembled internal stiffeners.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a self-supporting sealed tank comprising lobed walls according to a third embodiment.
• FIG. 14 is a sectional view along line XIV-XIV of Figure 13 of one of the tank walls.
• FIG. 15 shows in perspective a portion of a mesh formed by the internal stiffeners according to the second variant for a self-supporting sealed tank according to the third embodiment.
• FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of an external structure for a self-supporting sealed tank according to another embodiment.
• FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a self-supporting sealed tank comprising a trellis composed of internal stiffeners according to a third variant.
• FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an internal stiffener according to the third variant.
• FIG. 19 is a sectional view along line XIX-XIX of Figure 17, showing the connection of the internal stiffeners to a double connector.
• a self-supporting sealed tank 1 comprises an external structure 2 composed of a plurality of frames 3 assembled with one another so as to form a prismatic structure, as for example shown in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped in FIGS. 3 and 9.
• FIG. 1 shows in particular a frame 3 of the external structure 2.
• the frame 3 is composed of a periphery 4, for example rectangular.
• the periphery 4 is made using square tubes welded to each other at their ends so as to form a rectangle.
• the tops of the periphery 4 are equipped with gussets 20 making it possible to reinforce the mechanical resistance of the periphery 4.
• Longitudinal stiffeners 5 are placed inside the periphery 4 so as to define openings 6 in the frame 3.
• Each stiffener longitudinal 5 is composed of a square tube provided at its ends with gussets 20.
• the longitudinal stiffeners 5 are welded to the edges 4 so as to be regularly distributed on one side of the edge 4. In fact, one of the ends of a stiffener longitudinal 5 is welded to one side of the periphery 4 while the other end of the longitudinal stiffener 5 is welded to the opposite side of the periphery 4.
• each complementary stiffener 14 is welded to the periphery 4 of the frame 3 in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal stiffeners 5.
• each complementary stiffener 14 has a first end welded to one side of the periphery 4 and a second end welded to an opposite side of the periphery 4.
• the self-supporting sealed tank 1 also includes internal stiffeners 11, 12, 13 fixed in the external structure 2 so as to form a lattice structure, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
• FIG. 2 represents an internal stiffener 11, 12, 13 or a complementary stiffener 14.
• the stiffener 11, 12, 13, 14 is composed of at least one elongated sheet 15 and a plurality of sections 16 distributed regularly over the entire length of the elongated sheet 15.
• the profiles 16 have a base 17 fixed to a surface of the elongated sheet 15 and two wings 18 on either side of the base 17.
• the wings 18 are designed so as to project from the base 17 in the same direction and thus form a profile 16 with a U-shaped section.
• the profiles 16 are spaced on the elongated sheet 15. These spaces between the profiles 16 form orifices 19 which in particular allow the crossing of the stiffener 11, 12, 13, 14 with another element of the tank 1.
• the orifices 19 are configured to allow the longitudinal stiffeners 5 to cross each of the complementary stiffeners 14 so as to form a mesh mutually reinforcing the stiffeners 5, 14.
• the internal stiffeners 1 1, 12, 13 are doubled, that is to say that it comprises two elongated sheets 15 each equipped with profiles 16.
• the wings 18 of the profiles 16 of the first sheet 15 are oriented so as to project towards the second sheet 15 and vice versa for the wings 18 of the profiles 16 of the second sheet 15.
• the internal stiffeners 1 1, 12, 13 are also fitted with gussets 20 at their ends for fixing to the external structure 2.
• each internal stiffener 1 1, 12, 13 is welded at one of its ends to a longitudinal stiffener 5 of a first frame 3 and to the other of its ends to a longitudinal stiffener 5 of a second frame 3 opposite the first frame 3.
• the internal stiffeners 1 1, 12, 13 comprise first stiffeners 11 oriented in a first direction, second stiffeners 12 oriented in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and third stiffeners 13 oriented in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and orthogonal to the second direction. In this way, the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction form a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system.
• Each first stiffener 11 and each second stiffener 12 are fixed to the external structure 2 so as to cross a plurality of third stiffeners 13 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Indeed, thanks to the orifices 19 formed between the profiles 16 of the first stiffeners 11 and second stiffeners 12, the third stiffeners 13 are inserted into a plurality of first stiffeners 11 and second stiffeners 12.
• the third stiffeners 13 are designed so as to have a smaller section than the first stiffeners 11 and the second stiffeners 12. That is to say that the distance between the two elongated sheets 15 of each third stiffener 13 is less than the distance between the two elongated sheets of each first stiffener 11 and of each second stiffener 12.
• the space between two sections 16 of the first stiffeners 11 and of the second stiffeners 12 is greater than the width of the elongated sheets 15 of the first stiffeners 11 at the level of the stiffener crossings , as shown in Figure 4.
• FIG. 5 represents a frame 3 of the external structure 2 provided with lobed walls 7, 10 according to a first embodiment.
• the lobed walls 7, 10 are composed of curved plates 7 and closure plates 10.
• the curved plates 7 are of rectangular shape comprising two curved sides 8 and two straight sides 9. Each straight side 8 is welded in a sealed manner, that is to say by a continuous weld bead over the entire length of the side, to a longitudinal stiffener 5 or to the periphery 4 depending on the positioning of the curved plate 7 on the frame 3.
• the curved sides 8 are in turn welded sealingly to a closing plate 10, the closing plate 10 being itself welded sealingly around the periphery 4.
• the frame 3 provided with lobed walls 7, 10 form a fluid-tight surface .
• the closure plates 10 of this embodiment are elongated planar plates comprising a first planar surface, a second planar surface, and a plurality of edges. Each closure plate 10 is fixed to the curved side 8 of one or more plates curved by one of its flat surfaces. Each closure plate 10 is fixed to the frame 3 by one of its edges. Thus the assembly comprising the curved plate 7, the closure plates 10, the frame 3 thus form a sealed closed surface.
• the closure plate 10 is used to be welded to a plurality of curved plates 7.
• a closure plate 10 makes it possible to fix the curved sides 8 of several curved plates 7 to frame 3, which limits the number of parts to be fixed.
• a different closure plate 10 could be used for each of the curved plates 7.
• FIG. 6 represents a second embodiment of lobed walls 7, 10 mounted on a self-supporting sealed tank.
• the closure plate 10 is in the form of a portion of ellipsoid of revolution, for example as shown in a quarter of ellipsoid.
• the closure plate 10 thus forms, like a shell, an extension of the curved plate 7 so as to fold the curved side 8 of the curved plate 7 towards the frame 3.
• one of the edges formed by the closure plate 10 is welded to the curved side of the curved plate 7 while the other edge formed by the closure plate 10 is welded to the frame 3.
• the frame 3 thus forms a sealed closed surface.
• the gussets 20 of the frame 3 formed on the periphery 4 and the longitudinal stiffeners participate in the closing of the sealed surface.
• the edge of the closure plate 10 welded to the frame 3 is welded both on the longitudinal stiffeners and / or the periphery 4 but also on the gussets 20 adjacent to them.
• the lobed walls 7, 10 are produced for example by stamping so that the lobed walls are in the form of elongated domes welded both to the longitudinal stiffeners 5 and to the periphery 4 defining the opening 6 in which the lobed wall is placed.
• the lobed wall comprises only one element and does not need to be composed of a curved plate 7 and a closure plate 10 because the elongated dome is fixed over its entire circumference at frame 3.
• FIG. 7 represents a self-supporting sealed tank 1 during assembly, the latter not yet fitted with second stiffeners 12 and one of the frames 3 forming the external structure 2.
• the watertight tank 1 is also composed of a thermally insulating barrier 21.
• the thermally insulating barrier 21 comprises a plurality of insulating panels 22 distributed over the entire external structure 2 so as to form a thermally insulating barrier 21 continuous on any tank so to obtain a sealed and thermally insulating tank 1 for example for the use of cryogenic fluids.
• the insulating panels 22 are composed of two layers 23, 24, an inner layer 23 here formed of glass wool and an outer layer 24 here formed made of low density polyurethane foam.
• the internal layer 23 is precut so as to match the curved shape of the curved plates 7.
• the material constituting the internal layer 23 being easily compressible, the cutting is not necessarily curved but can be carried out on two inclined planes. In fact, when the insulating panels 22 are fixed to the external structure 2, the internal layer 23 is compressed on the curved plate 7 so as to conform to the shape of the curved plate 7, as visible in FIG. 8.
• each tank wall is therefore formed of a frame 3 provided with a periphery 4 and longitudinal stiffeners 5, complementary stiffeners 14 fixed to the frame 3, lobed walls 7, 10 fixed on the frame 3 and insulating panels. 22 forming the thermally insulating barrier 21.
• the various tank walls are first assembled. Indeed, the design of the tank walls allows working flat without the need for scaffolding.
• the frame 3 is therefore first assembled using square tubes in order to form the periphery 4 and the longitudinal stiffeners 5.
• the complementary stiffeners 14 are then welded to the periphery 4 overlapping on the longitudinal stiffeners 5.
• the curved plates 7 are placed in the openings 6 formed in the frame 3 and are welded to the frame 3 by their straight sides. It is therefore possible to use a welding robot to fix the curved plates 7 and thus save time during assembly.
• Closure plates 10 are then welded both on the curved sides of the curved plates and on the periphery 4, so as to seal the space left free between the curved side and the periphery 4 in order to obtain a sealed vessel wall .
• insulating panels 22 are placed on the lobed walls 7, 10 and fixed to the frame 3 so as to form a thermally insulating barrier 21 for each tank wall.
• each of the tank walls is mounted separately and simply.
• due to the flatness of the frame it is possible to mount each wall flat before assembling them together and thus do without the use of scaffolding.
• each of the tank walls After having assembled each of the tank walls, these are assembled with each other by welding the edges of each frame 3 adjacent to each other. Only a side tank wall is not mounted, as visible in FIG. 7, so as to fix the first stiffeners 11 and the third stiffeners 13 inside the tank on the various longitudinal stiffeners 5.
• the upper wall of tank is equipped with a liquid dome 26 allowing in particular to pass the various devices to fill and empty the tank 1 but also to finish the assembly of the tank 1 when the last tank wall is assembled with the others.
• the last tank wall is then assembled with the other tank walls and the second stiffeners 12 are welded to this wall and the opposite wall.
• FIG. 9 represents a self-supporting sealed and thermally insulating tank 1 fixed to a double hull 72 of a ship 70.
• the tank 1 is equipped at its edges with edge insulating panels 27 allowing the junction between the insulating panels 22 of a first wall and the insulating panels 23 of a second wall orthogonal to the first wall.
• the edge insulating panels 27 therefore have a cylindrical shape with a triangular base.
• cables 25 are used in order to connect the edges of the upper wall of the tank with the double shell 72 as well as the edges of the lower wall of the tank with the double shell 72. cables therefore have one end fixed to the double shell 72 and another end fixed at the periphery 4 of the lower and upper frames.
• the cables 25 are fixed so as to be oriented orthogonally to a direction connecting the edge of the tank 1 where the cable 25 is fixed and the opposite edge of the tank 1. In this way, during the thermal contraction of the tank 1, the cables 25 are oriented so as to rotate around their anchoring point on the double shell 72, thus avoiding any tensile / compression stress on the cables which could cause them to break.
• the tank 1 is thus fixed to the double shell 72 in a robust manner taking into account a possible thermal contraction due to a loading of cryogenic fluid for example.
• Figures 11 and 12 show a lattice structure of a self-supporting sealed tank formed by internal stiffeners according to a second variant, the external structure 2 not being shown for more visibility.
• This variant differs from the first variant illustrated in particular in FIG. 3 by the shape of the internal stiffeners as well as by the arrangement of the internal stiffeners with respect to each other.
• the trellis structure of FIGS. 11 and 12 comprises, as previously, first stiffeners 11 extending in the first direction, second stiffeners 12 extending in the second direction and third stiffeners 13 extending in the third direction.
• the stiffeners 1 1, 12, 13 are formed of square section bars.
• the third stiffeners 13 are composed of a single elongated bar extending from a vessel wall to an opposite vessel wall.
• Each first stiffener 11 is formed by two first end bars 11 1 located at the ends of the first stiffener 11 and a plurality of first intermediate bars 1 12 located between the first end bars 111. The first bars of the same first stiffener 11 are aligned and spaced from each other in the first direction.
• each second stiffener 12 is formed by two second end bars 121 located at the ends of the second stiffener 12 and a plurality of second intermediate bars 122 located between the second end bars 121.
• the second bars d 'the same second stiffener 12 are aligned and spaced from each other in the second direction.
• first stiffeners 11 and the second stiffeners 12 are fixed to the third stiffeners 13 at the level of stiffener nodes 28 thus forming an intersection between a first stiffener 11, a second stiffener 12 and a third stiffener 13.
• first stiffener 11 and the second stiffeners 12 are fixed to the third stiffeners 13 at the level of stiffener nodes 28 thus forming an intersection between a first stiffener 11, a second stiffener 12 and a third stiffener 13.
• two first bars 11 1, 112 and second bars 121, 122 are fixed on each side of a third stiffener 13.
• the space between two adjacent first bars 11 1, 112 or between two adjacent second bars 121, 122 is thus filled by a third stiffener 13.
• the first end bars 11 1 and the second end bars 121 comprise a first end fixed to the external structure 2 and a second end fixed to one of the third stiffeners 13.
• the first end of the first end bars 11 1 and second end bars 121 is equipped with a gusset 20 formed by two triangular wings fixed on either side of the end bars 1 11, 121.
• the trellis structure of Figures 11 and 12 also includes reinforcement stiffeners 29 located at the edges of the external structure 2.
• the reinforcement stiffeners 29 are on the one hand, fixed to an edge of the external structure 2 and on the other hand, fixed to one of the stiffener nodes adjacent to said edge of the external structure 2, so that the reinforcing stiffener is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the first direction, in the second direction or in the third direction depending on the orientation of the edge.
• FIG. 13 represents a self-supporting sealed tank comprising lobed walls according to a third embodiment.
• the curved plates 7 of the lobed walls protrude towards the outside of the tank so that they also protrude outside the frame 3 in the thickness direction on which the curved plates 7 are fixed.
• the third embodiment illustrates this time lobed walls which are included in the thickness of the frame 3 in which they are fixed, which makes it possible to have a flat vessel wall despite the lobed walls.
• the curved plates 7 of the lobed walls always protrude towards the outside of the tank but this time, the four edges of the curved plate are welded to the frame 3.
• the frame 3 being formed between a planar outer envelope 31 and a planar inner envelope 32 in the thickness direction, the lobed walls are thus located between the planar outer envelope 31 and the planar inner envelope 32.
• the frames 3 of the various tank walls are not fixed directly to each other. Indeed, the frames 3 are fixed to each other here by means of the lattice structure instead of being fixed to each other by their periphery.
• the frames 3 which are arranged in a normal plane being the first direction are welded at their periphery 4 and their longitudinal stiffeners 5 to first end bars 11 1.
• the frames 3 which are arranged in a normal plane being the second direction are welded at their periphery 4 and their longitudinal stiffeners 5 to second bars of end 121.
• the frames 3 which are arranged in a normal plane being the third direction are welded at their periphery 4 and their longitudinal stiffeners 5 at the ends of third stiffeners 13.
• lobed corner walls 30 are welded to the peripheries 4 of adjacent frames 3 in order to fill the space between these frames 3.
• the lobed corner walls 30 each comprise a curved plate with two straight edges and four curved edges.
• the straight edges of the lobed corner walls 30 are welded to the edges 4 of two adjacent frames 3 of the external structure 2.
• the curved edges are welded to curved edges of the lobed corner walls 30 adjacent.
• Figure 15 shows a portion of the lattice structure for the self-supporting watertight tank of the third embodiment illustrated in Figure 13.
• This lattice structure is formed quite similar to that illustrated in Figure 1 1 but differs from it of made of the presence of the lobed corner walls 30 and the spacing between two adjacent frames 3. This is why only one corner of the trellis structure is shown in FIG. 15.
• the external structure 2 due to the modification of the external structure 2, only the arrangement of the reinforcement stiffeners 29 has been modified compared to the variant illustrated in FIG. 11.
• the reinforcing stiffeners 29 extend under the lobed corner walls 30 and are fixed on the one hand to one end of one of the internal stiffeners welded at the periphery 4 of a frame 3 and on the other hand at one end of one of the internal stiffeners welded to the periphery 4 of an adjacent frame 3.
• Figures 17 to 19 show a lattice structure of a self-supporting sealed tank formed by internal stiffeners according to a third variant. This variant differs from the variants previously illustrated in particular by the assembly of the internal stiffeners with each other.
• Figure 17 illustrates a portion of the tank having the lattice structure. As previously, this structure includes first stiffeners 11, second stiffeners 12, third stiffeners 13, complementary stiffeners 14 as well as reinforcement stiffeners 29.
• the first stiffeners 11 and the second stiffeners 12 are formed as in the second variant by first end bars 11 1, first intermediate bars 1 12, second end bars 121 and second intermediate bars 122.
• each third stiffener 13 comprises a plurality of third bars 131, 132, the third bars 131, 132 being aligned with each other in the third direction and being spaced from each other.
• the third bars comprise two third end bars 131 situated at the ends of the third stiffener 13 and a plurality of third intermediate bars 132 situated between the third end bars 131.
• the complementary stiffeners 14 are also formed by a plurality of complementary bars 141 .
• the trellis structure also includes double connectors 33 and single connectors 34.
• the double connectors 33 are formed by a first connection plate 35 and a second connection plate 36 orthogonal to the first connection plate 35.
• the first connection plate 35 includes a socket orifice 37 allowing the second connection plate to pass through the first connection plate in order to fix them to each other to form the double connector 33, as visible in FIG. 19 in association with the Figure 17.
• the simple connectors 34 are formed of a single connection plate 35.
• the connection plate 35 of the simple connector 34 is fixed to one of the frames of the tank, either one of the longitudinal stiffeners or the periphery of the frame.
• the first end bars 11 1, the second end bars 121, and the third end bars 131 are welded at one of their ends to one of the single connectors 34 and the other of their ends to one of the double connectors 33.
• the first intermediate bars 112, the second intermediate bars 122, and the third intermediate bars 132 are welded at each of their ends to one of the double connectors 33.
• Two first adjacent bars 11 1, 112 and two adjacent second bars 121, 122 are welded to the first connection plate 35 of one of the double connectors 33, and two adjacent third bars 131 are welded to the second connection plate 36 of said double connector 33.
• the double connectors 33 thus form areas of intersection of internal stiffeners 1 1, 12, 13 called stiffener node 28.
• the trellis structure also includes reinforcement stiffeners 29 formed by reinforcement bars 291.
• the reinforcement bars 291 are inclined at an angle of approximately 45 ° relative to the first direction, to the second direction or to the third direction.
• the reinforcement bars 291 are fixed at one of its ends to a double connector 33 and at the other of its ends to another double connector 33 or to a single connector 34, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 19.
• some double connectors 33 are welded to eight reinforcement bars 291, two first bars 1 11, 112, two second bars 121, 122 and two third bars 131, 132.
• While other double connectors are welded to only two first bars 1 11, 1 12, two second bars 121, 122 and two third bars 131, 132.
• all of the internal stiffeners 11, 12, 13, the reinforcement stiffeners 29 and the complementary stiffeners 14 are formed by bars 11 1, 112, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 291 of circular section.
• Bars 1 11, 112, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 291 of circular section comprise at each of their ends a pair of diametrically opposed fixing slots 38.
• These bars 11, 112, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 291 are thus welded to a connector 33, 34 by inserting one of the connection plates 35, 36 in the pair of fixing slots 38.
• FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of an external structure 2 where only the frames 3 have been represented according to another embodiment.
• the external structure 2 is formed only of two frames 3 forming two opposite walls of the tank 1.
• the frames 3 are here fixed to each other at their respective periphery 4 via longitudinal stiffeners 5.
• the longitudinal stiffeners 5 are also fixed to each other by so as to form openings 6 on the other walls of the external structure 2, which are identical to the openings 6 of the frames 3.
• the method of manufacturing the sealed tank is slightly different from the embodiments presented above. Indeed, due to the fact that the external structure 2 is only formed from two frames 3, one of the frames 3 is first assembled and provided with lobed walls so as to form a bottom wall of the tank. Then, the internal stiffeners are assembled to each other so as to form the lattice structure. Finally, the other of the frames 3 is assembled to the frame 3 forming the tank bottom wall using the longitudinal stiffeners.
• 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. 10 shows 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 mobile arm 74 can be adjusted to suit all LNG tankers' 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 connecting pipes 81 connected by the subsea pipe 76 at the loading or unloading station 75.
• the submarine pipe 76 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the shore installation 77 over a large distance, for example 5 km, which allows to keep the LNG carrier 70 away from the coast during loading and unloading operations.
• pumps on board the ship 70 and / or pumps fitted to the shore installation 77 and / or pumps fitted to the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
• Pressure Vessels And Lids Thereof (AREA)

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• 2018
  • 2018-07-26 FR FR1856994A patent/FR3084439B1/fr active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-07-26 EP EP19759656.2A patent/EP3827194A1/fr active Pending
  • 2019-07-26 WO PCT/FR2019/051857 patent/WO2020021212A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2019-07-26 JP JP2021504220A patent/JP7443329B2/ja active Active
  • 2019-07-26 US US17/261,555 patent/US20210301978A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2019-07-26 SG SG11202100535WA patent/SG11202100535WA/en unknown
  • 2019-07-26 KR KR1020217005697A patent/KR20210037702A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2019-07-26 CN CN201980048533.8A patent/CN112513514B/zh active Active

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