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
  • F17C3/027—Wallpanels for so-called membrane tanks
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/01—Shape
  • F17C2201/0147—Shape complex
  • F17C2201/0157—Polygonal
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/05—Size
  • F17C2201/052—Size large (>1000 m3)
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0329—Foam
  • 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
  • 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
  • F17C2209/00—Vessel construction, in particular methods of manufacturing
  • F17C2209/22—Assembling processes
  • F17C2209/224—Press-fitting; Shrink-fitting
• • 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
  • F17C2209/238—Filling of insulants
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
  • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
  • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/03—Dealing with losses
  • F17C2260/031—Dealing with losses due to heat transfer
  • F17C2260/033—Dealing with losses due to heat transfer by enhancing 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
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water
  • F17C2270/0105—Ships
  • F17C2270/0107—Wall panels

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks with membranes.
• the invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks for the storage and / or transport of liquid at low temperature, such as tanks for the transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (also called LPG) having for example a temperature between -50 ° C and 0 ° C, or for the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at around -162 ° C at atmospheric pressure.
• LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
• a sealed and insulating tank comprising two thermally insulating barriers is described. These insulating barriers consist of a set of prefabricated panels. The junction area between the prefabricated panels is filled with strips of thermally insulating material such as glass wool.
• a sealed and thermally insulating tank integrated in a support structure.
• the support structure has a first support wall and a second support wall forming an angle and joining at an edge.
• Each load-bearing wall comprises panels forming a thermally insulating barrier.
• the thermal continuity between the two thermally insulating barriers at the edge is ensured by a glass wool seal.
• thermal continuity within each thermally insulating barrier is ensured by the insertion of a sheet of glass wool folded back on itself.
• One idea underlying the invention is to provide a sealed and thermally insulating tank which does not have these drawbacks.
• the object of the invention is to better control the thermal continuity of the thermally insulating barriers, in particular in a longitudinal direction of the intermediate space comprised between at least two rows of blocks making up the thermally insulating barriers, when the cooling of said tank.
• the subject of the present invention is a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid integrated in a support structure, successively comprising in a thickness direction a support structure, a thermally insulating barrier retained on the support structure, and a waterproofing membrane supported by the thermally insulating barrier,
• the thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating panels arranged in the form of at least two parallel rows, the two rows of insulating panels being separated by an intermediate space having a small width by relative to the dimensions of the insulating panels, the thermally insulating barrier further comprising flat seals, the flat seals being arranged in the intermediate space so as to be compressed between the two rows of insulating panels, the thermally insulating barrier further comprising at least an insert arranged in a contiguous zone where a first flat seal and a second flat seal are contiguous so as to compress the insert between the flat seals in a longitudinal direction of the intermediate space.
• the flat seals are compressed between two rows after being inserted in the intermediate space.
• the insulating panels will contract as well as the flat joints.
• the flat joints will not contract enough for gaps to be created between the insulating panels and the flat joints.
• thermal continuity is always ensured in the direction of the width of the intermediate space.
• the flat seals are compressed only in the direction of the width of the intermediate space, in particular after having been inserted in the intermediate space.
• the compression of the flat seals is greater in the direction of the width of the intermediate space than in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate space.
• the contiguous flat seals have been pushed or pressed towards each other in the longitudinal direction so that there exists, prior to the insertion of the insert, an initial compression force in a longitudinal direction of the intermediate space, this initial compression force being less than the compression force of the flat joints between two rows of insulating panels.
• the flat seals are not in or are weakly in compression in a longitudinal direction of the intermediate space.
• a gap can therefore be created or be easily created in a contiguous zone where two flat seals are contiguous when the tank is cooled.
• the addition of the insert will compress the flat seals and said insert in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate space.
• the joints will contract under the effect of the cold but not enough so that interstices conducive to convection phenomena are created. Thermal continuity is therefore ensured in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate space thanks to the insert compressed between the two flat seals.
• the tank can have the following characteristics, considered individually or in combination.
• the flat seals comprise an compressible insulating material partially or entirely covered by an envelope of sheet material.
• an envelope can facilitate the sliding of the flat seal against the side walls of the insulating panels during the insertion of said flat seal. If it is closed, such an envelope can also be used to apply vacuum to thin the flat seal during its insertion.
• the insert comprises a support sheet folded in two, thus forming a fold, and a layer of compressible insulating material arranged at least partially inside said fold. Thanks to such a support sheet, the sliding of the insert against the flat seals is facilitated during the installation of said insert.
• the insert extends in the thickness direction of said tank, the fold being oriented towards the support structure. Such a fold can easily receive a push to set up the insert between the flat seals.
• the intermediate space between the two rows may extend over one or more flat walls of the tank.
• the support structure comprises a first support wall and a second support wall forming an angle and joining at an edge, the two rows being oriented transversely to the edge, the first flat seal being arranged in a first portion of the intermediate space separating at least two insulating panels located on the first support wall, the second flat seal being arranged in a second portion of the intermediate space separating at least two insulating panels located on the second support wall.
• the contiguity zone is located to the right of the edge.
• the flat seal has a longitudinal end face inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the intermediate space.
• the inclined longitudinal end face of the flat seal is substantially parallel to a bisector of the angle between the first and second load-bearing walls.
• the inclination between the end face and the longitudinal direction of the intermediate space is between 45 °, for example for an angle of 90 ° between the two walls, and 68 ° for example for a 135 ° angle between the two walls.
• the compressible insulating material of the flat seal comprises a laminated glass wool and / or a rock wool.
• the laminated glass wool has a density of between 20 and 80 kg / m 3 .
• the direction of stratification of the laminated glass wool is parallel to a direction of width of the intermediate space.
• the sheet material envelope of the flat seal comprises paper.
• the paper has a basis weight between 60 and 150 g / m 2 , preferably between 70 and 100 g / m 2 .
• the support sheet comprises paper and / or PVC.
• the support sheet comprises an adhesive tape on which the layer of insulating material is bonded.
• the layer of compressible insulating material comprises a fibrous material, for example glass wool, or a polymer foam, for example made of polyethylene or polyurethane.
• the insulating panels of the thermally insulating barrier comprise blocks of polymer foam.
• the blocks of polymeric foam comprise polyurethane.
• the polyurethane has a density between 70 kg / m 3 and 220 kg / m 3 .
• the thermally insulating barrier fixed to the support structure is a secondary thermally insulating barrier
• the waterproofing membrane fixed to the secondary thermally insulating barrier being a secondary waterproofing membrane
• the tank further comprising in the thickness direction, from outside to inside, over the secondary thermally insulating barrier and the secondary sealing membrane, a primary thermally insulating barrier and a primary sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the liquid in the tank.
• the invention also provides a method of manufacturing a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a fluid, comprising a step of removing the insulating panels arranged in the form of at least two parallel rows on a supporting structure, the two rows of insulating panels being separated by an intermediate space having a small width compared to the dimensions of the insulating panels, a step for inserting flat joints, in the intermediate space so as to compress the flat joints between the two rows of insulating panels, and a step for inserting an insert in a zone of contiguity between two flat joints so as to compress the insert between the flat joints in a longitudinal direction of the intermediate space.
• the step of inserting an insert in a zone of contiguity between two flat seals can possibly be carried out during the manufacture of the flat seal itself, the latter then being fitted with a fixed insert, at the level of the zone intended to form the contiguity zone of the flat seal, for example by gluing or stapling.
• the intercalation step consists in pushing at least the flat seal already equipped with the insert against the other contiguous flat seal, possibly also also fitted with an insert or part of an insert.
• the insert or the part of the insert previously fixed to the flat seal may have a shape adapted to the above compression function of the insert, for example a shape of triangular section having a greater thickness. important in the upper part of the flat seal (once the latter is mounted in the tank).
• the invention is presented in accordance with its preferred, nonlimiting embodiment, in which the step of inserting the insert in the contiguity zone between two flat joints is made, or made, following the mounting / assembly of a set of insulating panels on one or more walls of the tank.
• the method further comprises a step during which a vacuum is applied in the envelope so as to reduce the thickness of said flat seals during the insertion of the flat seals in the intermediate space, the flat seals comprising an compressible insulating material partially or entirely covered by an envelope of sheet material.
• the insert is folded in half before being inserted in the contiguity zone by exerting a push in a bottom part of the fold.
• the insert is inserted in the contiguity zone, in which the insert is forcefully inserted in the contiguity zone.
• 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.
• a vessel for transporting a cold liquid product comprises a double hull and the above-mentioned tank placed in the double hull.
• 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 facility 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 an exploded sectional view of a tank area located at the angle between two flat walls, the cutting plane being parallel to a row of insulating panels.
• FIG. 2 is a cutaway schematic representation of a flat seal being inserted into an inter-panel space.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the corner area III of Figure 1 when inserting two flat seals using a vacuum pump;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of two adjoining flat seals suitable for a tank angle of 135 °.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of two adjoining flat seals suitable for a tank angle of 90 °.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of the thermally insulating barrier and flat seals inserted in the inter-panel spaces;
• FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the insulating insert
• FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view along the plane VIII-VIII of Figure 3 of the insertion of the insert between two adjoining flat joints in a tank angle;
• FIG. 9 is a cutaway schematic representation of an LNG tank and a loading / unloading terminal of this tank.
• a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing and transporting a cryogenic fluid for example Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) comprises a plurality of tank walls each having a multilayer structure.
• LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
• a tank 1 formed of sealed and thermally insulating walls, for example for storing and / or transporting a fluid at very low temperature.
• a fluid such as a very cold liquefied gas, such as in particular methane.
• the tank 1 comprises a sealed internal envelope capable of containing the fluid to be stored, which is composed by assembly of prefabricated elements forming jointly for each wall of the tank 1, a sealing membrane 4.
• the membrane d 'seal 4 is formed by thin metal elements such as stainless steel or aluminum sheet.
• the reference 41 designates ribs projecting towards the inside of the tank, which allow the envelope constituted by this barrier to be substantially flexible, in order to be able to deform under the effect of the stresses, in particular thermal generated by the fluid. stored in it.
• a rigid external partition composes the supporting structure 2 of the tank 1 and acts as a support for the latter.
• this support structure 2 is a self-supporting metal sheet for the hull or double-hull of a merchant ship, such as an LNG carrier.
• Other types of rigid partitions whose mechanical properties are appropriate, such as in particular a concrete wall in a construction on solid ground, may be used as support for the tank 1.
• a secondary thermally insulating barrier 3, a secondary waterproofing membrane 16 and a primary insulating barrier 15 are provided between the waterproofing membrane 4 and the support structure 2.
• the secondary thermally insulating barrier 3 is constituted by juxtaposition of insulating panels 5 whose shape is generally prismatic rectangular.
• the insulating panels 5 are generally placed end-to-end and therefore arranged so as to define parallel rows 51, 52 covering the entire supporting structure.
• the row of insulating panels 5 is parallel to the cutting plane.
• two rows 51, 52 of insulating panels 5 are separated by an intermediate space 6.
• This intermediate space 6 is generally linear and generally extends over at least the entire thickness of the insulating panels 5.
• the intermediate space 6 has a small width E relative to the dimensions of the insulating panels 5.
• the support structure 2 also has edges 10. These edges 10 of the support structure 2 are formed by a first support wall 21 and a second support wall 22 defining an angle A. As can be seen in FIG. 3, two rows 51 , 52 are oriented transversely to the edge 10. The insulating panels 5 may be bevelled at an angle appropriate to that formed by the supporting structure 2 at the level of these edges 10.
• the insulating panels 5 may preferably be prefabricated with standard dimensions.
• FIG. 6 which illustrates a flat wall of the tank 1, the connection filling the intermediate space 6 between two parallel rows 51, 52 of insulating panels 5 to ensure the continuity of the thermally insulating barrier 3 is obtained by inserting a plurality of flat seals 7.
• two contiguous flat seals form an angle between them, as illustrated by the flat seals 7 in FIG. 3; 75, 76 in Figure 4; and 77, 78 in FIG. 5.
• each flat seal 7, 75, 76, 77, 78 comprises an compressible insulating material 72 covered at least partially by an envelope of sheet material 71.
• the envelope of sheet material 71 completely surrounds the compressible insulating material 72 and forms a closed pocket in which it is possible to generate a vacuum.
• the compressible insulating material 72 can be made of glass wool.
• the glass wool used can be a laminated glass wool, that is to say a glass wool mat made up of multiple interlaced parallel layers, visible to the naked eye, which are superimposed in one direction of stratification. The fibers can therefore be very predominantly oriented in planes perpendicular to the direction of stratification.
• the laminated glass wool may have a density of between 20 and 80 kg / m 3 .
• rock wool can be used as an compressible insulating material 72.
• the envelope of sheet material 71 comprises envelope portions fixed, for example by gluing, on the compressible insulating material 72, that is to say on the glass wool.
• the envelope portions 71 entirely cover the compressible insulating material 72.
• the envelope 71 is made of kraft paper.
• Such a kraft paper offers a low coefficient of friction thus allowing the sliding of the flat seal 7, 75, 76, 77, 78 in the intermediate space 6 during its insertion in said intermediate space 6.
• such a kraft paper has a coefficient of thermal contraction of the order of 5 to 20.10 6 / K.
• such a kraft paper has a coefficient of thermal contraction close to that of the compressible insulating material 72.
• the flat seal 7, 75, 76, 77, 78 has a uniform cold behavior.
• the insulating compressible material 72 does not risk being deformed under the effect of a compression linked to the thermal contraction of the envelope of sheet material 71.
• the insulating compressible material is not likely to deform by taking a wavy shape under the effect of this compression, such a wavy shape generating in the intermediate space 6 interstices promoting convection and therefore detrimental to the insulating properties of the thermally insulating barrier.
• the kraft paper in envelope 71 has a grammage greater than 60g / m 2 in order to avoid the risks of tearing of the envelope 71 during the insertion of the flat seal 7 in the intermediate space 6.
• this kraft paper has a grammage of less than 150 g / m 2 so that the envelope 71 retains sufficient flexibility to allow deformation of the flat seal 71 by compression.
• the grammage of the kraft paper is between 70 and 100 g / m 2 .
• the flat seals 7, 75, 76, 77, 78 have an elongated shape with a rectangular parallelepiped section corresponding to the rectangle section of the intermediate space
• the flat seal has two parallel lateral faces which are heard in a longitudinal direction of the intermediate space.
• Longitudinal end faces 79 develop along the width E of the intermediate space 6 and connect the lateral faces.
• flat joints can take an alternative form, in particular at the edge of the edge of a corner structure as described above.
• Such examples of flat seals 75, 76, 77, 78 are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
• the flat seals 75, 76, 77, 78 have a longitudinal end face 79 inclined in line with the edge 10 of the corner structure. This inclined longitudinal end face 79 has an angle equal to 45 ° and 67.5 ° respectively with respect to the longitudinal direction of the intermediate space 6 so as to correspond to the bisector of the angle A of the tank.
• these flat joints 75, 76, 77, 78 have a shape of a rectangular trapezoid outline.
• the shape of the flat seals is not limited to that described above and can be adapted according to the constraints encountered.
• FIG. 3 This method of insertion uses a suction system.
• a suction system is in the following description, by way of example, a vacuum pump 1 1 as illustrated in FIG. 3.
• a suction system is a vacuum generator with Venturi system.
• Such a vacuum pump 11 is connected to a suction nozzle 13 via a pumping hose 12.
• the suction nozzle 13 has a frustoconical shape so as to offer an opposite end to the pumping hose 12 capable of perforating the envelope 71 of kraft paper.
• the suction nozzle 13, and more particularly its perforation end is inserted into the flat seal 7 by perforating the envelope 71 of sheet material made of kraft paper. This perforation of the casing 71 generates a suction orifice in the flat seal.
• the vacuum pump 11 is actuated in order to generate a vacuum in the flat seal
• the suction generated by the vacuum pump 11 has a suction flow of between 8 and 30 m 3 / h.
• the pumping rate is 15 m 3 / h. such a pumping rate of the vacuum pump 1 1 makes it possible to generate a vacuum in the flat seal 7 without risking degrade the envelope 71 in kraft paper by too high a suction rate.
• the vacuum pump 1 1 includes a filter for filtering any fibers and dust from the glass wool that can be sucked by the vacuum pump 1 1.
• kraft paper for making the envelope 71.
• Other materials can also be used to make all or part of the envelope 71. These materials are for example polymer sheets, composite sheets including mineral fibers and a polymer matrix, composite sheets including mineral fibers bonded to a sheet of paper or polymer, and combinations thereof.
• the polymer can be a resin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PTE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
• the envelope can be manufactured in the form of an assembly of several portions obtained by cutting one or more sheet materials from the above list.
• the flat seal 7 is dimensioned to present in the free state, that is to say uncompressed, a thickness greater than or equal to the width of the intermediate space 6 and under vacuum thanks to the vacuum pump 11 , a thickness less than said width of the intermediate space 6.
• the flat seal 7 is dimensioned to have an initial thickness, that is to say ie in the free state, 35mm and, under vacuum, a thickness of 25mm.
• the flat seal 7 is then inserted into the intermediate space 6. As illustrated in FIG. 3 by the arrows 14, the flat seal 7 is inserted into the intermediate space 6 with its lateral faces parallel to the lateral faces of the adjacent insulating panels 5 delimiting the intermediate space 6.
• the suction nozzle 13 is held in the flat seal 6 and the vacuum pump 11 continuously generates a vacuum in said flat seal 7 in order to keep the flat seal 7 in its vacuum state to facilitate its insertion into the intermediate space 6 since the flat seal 7 then has a thickness less than the width of the intermediate space 6.
• the flat seal 7 is inserted in the intermediate space 6 so that the side face traversed by the suction nozzle 13 is turned towards the interior of the tank, thus facilitating the handling of the assembly formed by the flat seal 7 and the suction nozzle 13.
• the suction nozzle 13 is removed from the flat seal 7.
• the interior of the casing 5 is in communication with the external environment through the orifice left by the perforation made by the suction nozzle 13.
• This communication allows the glass wool 1 1, because the depression is no longer maintained in the flat seal 7, to s' expand in the absence of compression stress.
• the expansion of glass wool 72 allows an increase in thickness of the flat seal 7 so that the flat seal 7 completely fills the intermediate space 6, thus ensuring good continuity of the insulation of the thermally insulating barrier.
• a rigid guide system can be used as a guide tool during the insertion of the flat seal 7 into the intermediate space 6.
• Figure 6 is an illustration of the position occupied by the flat seals after being arranged in the intermediate space 6 formed by a first row 51 of insulating panels 5 and a second row 52 of insulating panels 5. Note that the flat seals 7 are contiguous with each other at their longitudinal end faces.
• an insert 8 comprises a support sheet 81 having two faces, and a layer of compressible insulating material 82 on one of the two faces.
• the unfolded insert has a rectangular shape whose width corresponds to the width E of the intermediate space 6. Since the insert is caused to be interposed between two adjoining flat seals 7 or 75/76 or 77/78, the length of the insert is twice the thickness of the secondary insulating barrier 3.
• the layer of compressible insulating material 82 can be made of glass wool.
• the glass wool used can be a laminated glass wool, that is to say a glass wool mat made up of multiple layers of interlaced parallel fibers, visible to the naked eye, which are superimposed in one direction of stratification. The fibers can therefore be very predominantly oriented in planes perpendicular to the direction of stratification.
• the laminated glass wool may have a density of between 20 and 80 kg / m 3 .
• rock wool can be used for the layer of compressible insulating material 82.
• the support sheet 81 can be made of kraft paper on which is fixed, for example with glue, the layer of compressible insulating material 82, that is to say glass wool. Kraft paper offers a low coefficient of friction allowing the insert to slide.
• the support sheet 81 has two faces. Glass wool partially or completely covers one side of the kraft paper.
• the insert 8 is first folded in half lengthwise.
• the fold can then take the form of a U as indicated in FIG. 7.
• This folding in U can be limited to an end portion of the insert 8.
• the folding is carried out while ensuring that at at least part of the glass wool is oriented inside the fold.
• the curved part of the fold is then positioned at the level of the contiguity zone.
• a rectangular flat blade knife is inserted into the inside of the fold. Once at the bottom of the fold, the knife pushes the insert into the adjoining area until it is completely interposed between two flat seals 7.
• kraft paper facilitates the sliding of the insert between two flat seals, the inserting of the insert can be done by force.
• kraft paper for making the support sheet 81.
• Other materials can also be used to make the support sheet 81. These materials are for example polymer sheets, sheets composites including mineral fibers and a polymer matrix, composite sheets including mineral fibers bonded to a sheet of paper or polymer, and combinations thereof.
• the polymer can be a resin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PTE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
• the technique described above for producing a sealed and thermally insulating tank can be used in different types of tanks, for example in a land installation or in a floating structure such as an LNG tanker or other.
• a cutaway view of an LNG tanker 100 shows a sealed and insulated tank 1 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 101 of the ship.
• the tank 1 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 101 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 101.
• FIG. 9 represents an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 103, an underwater pipe 104 and a shore installation 105.
• the loading and unloading station 103 is a fixed offshore installation comprising an arm mobile 106 and a tower 107 which supports the mobile arm 106.
• the mobile arm 106 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 108 which can be connected to the loading / unloading lines 109.
• the movable arm 106 can be adjusted to suit any size of LNG carrier .
• a connection pipe, not shown, extends inside the tower 107.
• the loading and unloading station 103 allows the loading and unloading of the ship 100 from or to the shore installation 105.
• This comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 110 and connecting pipes 11 1 connected by the underwater pipe 104 to the loading and unloading station 103.
• the underwater pipe 104 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading and unloading station unloading 103 and the shore installation 105 over a long distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the ship 100 at a great distance from the coast during the loading and unloading operations.
• pumps on board the ship 100 and / or pumps fitted to the shore installation 105 and / or pumps fitted to the loading and unloading station 103 are used.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
• Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)

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• 2018
  • 2018-10-25 FR FR1859862A patent/FR3087873B1/fr active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-10-22 JP JP2021522347A patent/JP7463361B2/ja active Active
  • 2019-10-22 SG SG11202104123SA patent/SG11202104123SA/en unknown
  • 2019-10-22 EP EP19813087.4A patent/EP3870890A1/de active Pending
  • 2019-10-22 WO PCT/FR2019/052510 patent/WO2020084247A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2019-10-22 KR KR1020217015892A patent/KR20210077763A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2019-10-22 CN CN201980070309.9A patent/CN112912660B/zh active Active

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