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
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B25/00—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby
  • B63B25/02—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods
  • B63B25/08—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid
  • B63B25/12—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed
  • B63B25/16—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed heat-insulated
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/24—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of pipe-lines
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/30—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures
  • B63B27/34—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures using pipe-lines
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B3/00—Hulls characterised by their structure or component parts
  • B63B3/14—Hull parts
  • B63B3/16—Shells
  • B63B3/20—Shells of double type
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
  • F17C13/001—Thermal insulation specially adapted for cryogenic vessels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
  • B63B2231/40—Synthetic materials
  • B63B2231/50—Foamed synthetic materials
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/01—Shape
  • F17C2201/0147—Shape complex
  • F17C2201/0157—Polygonal
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/05—Size
  • F17C2201/052—Size large (>1000 m3)
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0329—Foam
  • 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
  • F17C2203/0358—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
  • F17C2209/23—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
  • 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
  • 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
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/03—Dealing with losses
  • F17C2260/035—Dealing with losses of fluid
  • F17C2260/036—Avoiding leaks
• • 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 liquefied gas at low temperature, such as tanks for the transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (also called LPG) exhibiting by example a temperature between -50 ° C and 0 ° C, or for the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at approximately -162 ° C at atmospheric pressure.
• LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
• the liquefied gas is LNG, namely a mixture with a high methane content stored at a temperature of about -162 ° C at atmospheric pressure.
• Other liquefied gases can also be considered, including ethane, propane, butane or ethylene.
• Liquefied gases can also be stored under pressure, for example at a relative pressure between 2 and 20 bar, and in particular at a relative pressure close to 2 bar.
• the tank can be produced using different techniques, in particular in the form of an integrated membrane tank or a self-supporting tank.
• a wall structure for producing the flat wall of a sealed and thermally insulating tank comprises a multilayer structure comprising, from the exterior of the vessel towards the interior of the vessel, a secondary thermally insulating barrier, a secondary waterproof membrane, a primary thermally insulating barrier and a primary waterproofing membrane intended for to be in contact with the liquid contained in the tank.
• Such tanks include juxtaposed insulating panels so as to form the thermally insulating barriers.
• insulating gaskets are inserted between two adjacent insulating panels.
• insulating gaskets are inserted into all of the inter-panel spaces formed between two adjacent insulating panels and develop over the entire thickness of the corresponding thermally insulating barrier. Such insulating joints are successively juxtaposed in the inter-panel spaces in order to ensure the continuity of the insulation of the thermally insulating barrier.
• the juxtaposition of the insulating joints leads to the generation, between the insulating joints, of channels which develop over the entire thickness of the thermally insulating barrier.
• the presence of such channels can be linked to many causes, for example due to manufacturing tolerances of the insulating gaskets or even due to the thermal contraction of the insulating gaskets when the vessel is cold, for example during loading. of LNG at -162 ° C in the tank.
• Such channels promote natural convection in the thermally insulating barrier, in particular when these channels have a vertical component with respect to terrestrial gravity and can generate a phenomenon of thermosyphons reducing the insulating characteristics of the thermally insulating barrier.
• Such a tank is therefore not fully satisfactory.
• An idea underlying the invention is to provide a sealed and thermally insulating tank with a sealing membrane in which the phenomena of convection in the thermally insulating barriers are reduced.
• an idea underlying the invention is to provide a sealed and thermally insulating tank limiting the presence or appearance of channels developing over the entire thickness of the thermal insulation barriers in order to limit the phenomena of convection. natural in said thermal insulation barriers.
• An idea underlying the invention is also to facilitate the manufacture of such a tank.
• an idea underlying the invention is to facilitate the insertion of the insulating joints in the inter-panel spaces.
• the invention provides a sealed and thermally insulating tank comprising a thermally insulating barrier intended to be anchored to a supporting structure, the thermally insulating barrier comprising two adjacent insulating panels, an inter-panel space being delimited between the two adjacent insulating panels, said inter-panel space comprising an outer portion and an inner portion superimposed in a direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier, the outer portion and the inner portion being respectively further away and closer to the inside the tank, the tank further comprising:
• Such a sealed and thermally insulating tank has good insulation characteristics of the thermally insulating barrier.
• such a sealed and thermally insulating tank makes it possible to limit the phenomena of convection in the thermally insulating barrier.
• the presence of external insulating joints and of an internal insulating seal superimposed according to the direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier associated with the positioning of the internal insulating seal in superposition according to the direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier of the edges adjacent juxtaposed external insulating joints prevent the presence or appearance of channels developing continuously over the entire thickness of the thermally insulating barrier.
• a channel developing at the level of the interface between the adjacent edges of the external insulating joints can only develop over the thickness of the external portion of the inter-panel space due to the covering of this interface by the internal insulating seal.
• such a sealed and thermally insulating tank may include one or more of the following characteristics.
• the internal insulating seal and / or the two external insulating seals are permeable to gases.
• Such insulating joints make it possible to ensure the continuity of the thermally insulating barrier between the two adjacent insulating panels while allowing the circulation of gas within the thermally insulating barrier.
• insulating gaskets are particularly suitable for allowing the thermally insulating barrier to be maintained in an inert atmosphere or for carrying out leak tests of a sealed membrane of the vessel without preventing good circulation of the inert gas.
• Such insulating joints have for example a intrinsic permeability greater than 5.10 12 m 2 , advantageously greater than 6.5.10 1 1 m 2 , and preferably greater than 5.10 10 m 2 .
• this intrinsic permeability is less than 1.10 8 m 2 and advantageously less than 8.10 9 m 2 .
• the external and internal insulating seals are compressible.
• one or more said external insulating joints have in the free state, that is to say in the absence of compressive stresses, a width greater than or equal to the width of the inter- space. panels.
• the internal insulating seal has in the free state, that is to say in the absence of compressive stress, a width greater than or equal to the width of the inter-panel space.
• the outer and inner insulating gaskets are made of solid materials and have elastic properties so as to be able to take, under the action of a compressive stress, a compressed state in which said insulating gaskets have a width less than a width of the inter-panel space so as to be able to be inserted into said inter-panel space and, when said insulating joints are inserted into said inter-panel space and in the absence of said compressive stress, be able to take a semi-expanded state in which said insulating joints are constrained by the insulating panels forming the inter-panel space and fill the width of said inter-panel space.
• the external insulating gaskets are easy to insert into the inter-panel spaces in their compressed state while ensuring good continuity of the insulation in the semi-expanded state.
• the dimensions of the insulating joints in the compressed state allow easy insertion into the inter-panel space.
• the semi-expanded state constrained by the insulating panels ensures proper positioning of the insulating joints over the entire width of the inter-panel space and therefore good continuity of the insulation.
• the internal insulating seal has in the free state, that is to say in the absence of compressive stress, a width greater than a width of one or more said seals. external insulators in the free state.
• the internal and / or external insulating seal is composed of at least one insulating material taken from the following group of materials: glass wool, rock wool, low density polyurethane foam , melamine foam.
• the external insulating seal (s) in the free state have a width slightly greater than the width of the inter-panel space so that said external insulating seal (s) are only slightly compressed. to be inserted in the inter-panel space.
• the external insulating joint (s) in the state inserted in the inter-panel space, have a compression along the width direction of the inter-panel space of less than 50%, for example of the order of 5% to 20%.
• Such an external insulating seal is easy to insert into the inter-panel space due to its low compression to have a width less than the width of the inter-panel space while filling the entire width of the inter-panel space. once housed in the inter-panel space.
• said one or more external insulating joints have, in the free state, a width less than or equal to a width of the inter-panel space.
• Such an external insulating gasket is simple to insert into the inter-panel space since it does not require compression to be accommodated in the inter-panel space.
• the internal insulating seal has in the free state a width greater than the width of the inter-panel space so as to have a semi-compressed state between the insulating panels forming the space. inter panels.
• the external insulating seal (s) are simple to insert into the inter-panel space and the internal insulating seal in its semi-compressed state fills the entire width of the inter-panel space preventing the formation of channels developing over the entire length. 'thickness of the thermally insulating barrier when housed in the inter-panel space.
• the external insulating seals and the internal insulating seal have a distinct height according to the thickness direction of the thermally insulating barrier.
• the internal insulating gaskets have a dimension along the thickness direction of the thermally insulating barrier less than the dimension along said thickness direction of the external insulating gaskets.
• This embodiment makes it possible to reduce the dimension along the direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier of the interface between two internal insulating joints. This reduction of said dimension thus limits the size of any channels that can form at said interface. Such channels being located close to the interior of the tank would be susceptible to the greatest variations in temperature. Limiting the size of these channels therefore makes it possible to limit the potential phenomena of natural convection in the thermally insulating barrier.
• the external and internal insulating joints are of parallelepiped shape.
• the external insulating seals and / or the internal insulating seal further comprise a core made of compressible porous material and a casing entirely or partially surrounding said core.
• the envelope is made of flexible material such as kraft paper, composite material or polymer film.
• the envelope is permeable to gas. That is, the enclosure has a sufficiently high leakage rate to allow gas to flow through the insulating seal.
• the envelope is made up of a plurality of elements covering in whole or in part the faces and / or the tops and / or the edges of the external insulating seals or of the internal insulating seal.
• the plurality of elements of the envelope may have a shape: parallelepiped, for example square, and preferably rectangular in order to be placed on the faces of the external insulating seals or of the internal insulating seal; or angled, so as to be placed at the tops or ridges of the external insulating joints or the internal insulating joint.
• the external insulating seals and the internal insulating seal have a rectangular parallelepiped shape defined by a first and a second face opposite to each other in the direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier , a third and a fourth face opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space and a fifth and a sixth face opposite to each other in a transverse direction of the inter-space.
• the external insulating gaskets and the internal insulating gasket each comprise a core of compressible material and at least one compressible insulating strip integral with the core of compressible material and forming at least one of the first face, second face, third face and fourth face of said external or internal insulating seal.
• external insulating gaskets and insulating gasket internal comprise three compressible insulating strips integral with the core of compressible material and respectively form three faces chosen from the first face, second face, third face and fourth face of said outer or inner insulating seal.
• the external insulating seals and the internal insulating seal each comprise a core made of compressible material and a first, a second, a third and a fourth compressible insulating strips secured to the core of compressible material and respectively forming the first face, the second face, the third face and the fourth face of said external or internal insulating seal.
• the fifth and the sixth face are devoid of compressible insulating strips.
• the core of compressible material has compression stiffness in the transverse direction of the inter-panel space, compression stiffness in the thickness direction of the wall and compression stiffness according to the longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space, the compressive stiffness in the transverse direction of the inter-panel space being lower than the compressive stiffness in the direction of wall thickness and than the compressive stiffness according to the longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space.
• the core of compressible material comprises glass wool having fibers whose longitudinal directions each extend substantially in a plane orthogonal to the transverse direction of the inter-panel space.
• the first and second compressible insulating strips have a compressive stiffness measured in the direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier which is lower than that of the core of compressible material.
• the third and fourth compressible insulating strips have a compressive stiffness measured in the longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space that is lower than that of the core of compressible material.
• the compressible insulating strips are made of a material chosen from: polyurethane foam, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam, polystyrene, wadding, glass wool.
• the compressible insulating tape is made of low density foam.
• a foam is considered to have a low density when the density of the foam is between 25 and 45 kg / m 3 .
• the thickness of the compressible insulating strip is between 3 millimeters (mm) and 80 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 50 mm.
• the compressible insulating strip may have a shape: parallelepiped, for example square, and preferably rectangular.
• the compressible insulating strips are attached to the envelope.
• the compressible insulating strip is fixed by gluing or stapling.
• the length and / or the width of the compressible insulating strip is equal to the length and / or width of the envelope of the insulating seal.
• the invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulating tank comprising a thermally insulating barrier intended to be anchored to a supporting structure, the thermally insulating barrier comprising two adjacent insulating panels, an inter-panel space being delimited between the two adjacent insulating panels, the tank further comprising:
• the insulating seal has a rectangular parallelepiped shape defined by a first and a second face opposite to each other in the direction of thickness of the barrier thermally insulating, a third and a fourth face opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space and a fifth and a sixth face opposite to each other in a transverse direction of the inter-panel space, in which, the insulating seal comprises a core of compressible material and a first, second, third and fourth compressible insulating strips integral with the core of compressible material and respectively forming the first face, the second face, the third face and the fourth face of said insulating seal.
• the tank further comprises a plurality of insulating panels juxtaposed in a regular pattern and a plurality of inter-panel spaces, said inter-panel spaces each being delimited by two adjacent insulating panels of the plurality of insulating panels, said inter-panel spaces each comprising an outer portion and an inner portion superimposed in the direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier, the outer portion and the inner portion being respectively further away from and closer to the interior of the tank, the tank further comprising:
• two internal insulating gaskets of the plurality of internal gaskets are juxtaposed so that two adjacent edges of said two internal gaskets are arranged in line with an external insulating gasket.
• an interface between two internal insulating joints is arranged in line with an external insulating joint.
• the plurality of inter-panel spaces comprises a first series of adjacent inter-panel spaces in pairs and aligned in a first direction of alignment, and a first series of external insulating joints of the plurality of outer insulating gaskets and a first series of inner insulating gaskets of the plurality of inner insulating gaskets are continuously arranged in the inter-panel spaces of said first series of inter-panel spaces such that at least one of the outer insulating gaskets of said first set of outer insulating gaskets and the inner insulating gaskets of said first set of insulating gaskets internal forms a junction joint which is arranged astride two successive inter-panel spaces of the first series of inter-panel spaces.
• the internal insulating gaskets and the first series of internal insulating gaskets are juxtaposed so that the adjacent edges of two juxtaposed internal insulating gaskets is located directly above an external insulating gasket of the first set of external seals.
• the internal insulating gaskets of the first series of internal insulating gaskets and the external insulating gaskets of the first series of external insulating gaskets are arranged in staggered rows.
• the thermally insulating barrier has good thermal insulation properties continuously.
• the first direction of alignment has a vertical component.
• the tank further comprises a second series of inter-panel spaces adjacent two by two and aligned in a second direction of alignment, the first direction of alignment and the second direction of alignment. being intersecting so that said junction joint runs through an intersection between the first series of inter-panel spaces and the second series of inter-panel spaces, the tank further comprising an insulating seal housed in the second series of 'inter-panel spaces so as to be juxtaposed to said junction joint.
• the insulating seal housed in the second series of inter-panel spaces is, at room temperature, in a compressed state in the second direction of alignment.
• the insulating seal housed in the second series of inter-panel spaces has a dimension taken in the second direction of alignment lower in the compressed state than said dimension of said insulating seal taken in said direction in a free state, that is to say without compressive stress in said direction, at low temperature, typically at -162 ° C. Thanks to these characteristics, the insulating seal housed in the second series of inter-panel spaces remains in contact with the insulating seal passing through the intersection even when the tank is loaded with LNG. Thus, even when the tank is loaded with LNG, the thermal contractions of the insulating gaskets do not generate channels between the insulating gasket housed in the second series of inter-panel spaces and the insulating gasket crossing the intersection.
• said insulating seal housed in the second series of inter-panel spaces comprises an insulating foam having a compression modulus in the second direction of alignment lower than the compression modulus of the joint seal according to said second direction of alignment.
• the support of the insulating seal housed in the second series of inter-panel spaces in its compressed state does not degrade the insulating seal passing through the intersection.
• the insulating joints have a higher modulus of compression in their longitudinal direction than in their transverse direction.
• the intersection between the first series of inter-panel spaces and the second series of inter-panel spaces is a first intersection
• the tank further comprising a third series of inter-panel spaces.
• adjacent panels in pairs and aligned in a third direction of alignment, said third direction of alignment being parallel to the first direction of alignment so that the second series of inter-panel spaces and the third series of inter-panel spaces -panels jointly form a second intersection
• a second series of outer insulating gaskets of the plurality of outer insulating gaskets and a second series of inner insulating gaskets of the plurality of internal insulating gaskets being continuously arranged in the inter-panel spaces of said third series of inter-panel spaces so that at least one of the outer insulating joints of said second set of outer insulating joints and the joints
• Internal joists of said second series of internal insulating joints constitute a second junction joint passing through the second intersection, and said insulating joint housed in the second series of inter-panel spaces is arranged so as to be juxtaposed with
• the insulating seal housed in the second series of inter-panel spaces is housed in one of the outer portion and the inner portion of the corresponding inter-panel space of the second series of 'inter-panel spaces, the plurality of insulating joints further comprising an insulating seal housed in the other of the outer portion and the inner portion of said inter-panel space and passing through the intersection such that one of said insulating joints of the first series of external insulating gaskets and the internal insulating gaskets of the first series of internal insulating gaskets is juxtaposed with said insulating gasket housed in the other among the external portion and the internal portion of said inter-panel space.
• said insulating seal housed in the second series of inter-panel spaces is housed in the internal portion of the corresponding inter-panel space of the second series of inter-panel spaces, the tank further comprising a second insulating seal housed in the outer portion of said inter-panel space of the second series of inter-panel spaces and crossing the intersection so that an outer insulating seal of the first series of outer insulating seals is juxtaposed to said second insulating seal housed in the outer portion of said inter-panel space of the second series of inter-panel spaces and crossing the intersection.
• said insulating seal housed in the second series of inter-panel spaces is housed in the outer portion of the corresponding inter-panel space of the second series of inter-panel spaces, the tank further comprising a second insulating seal housed in the internal portion of said inter-panel space of the second series of inter-panel spaces and crossing the intersection such that an internal insulating seal of the first series of internal insulating gaskets is juxtaposed said second insulating seal housed in the internal portion of said inter-panel space of the second series of inter-panel spaces and crossing the intersection.
• the tank comprises a first plurality of series of inter-panel spaces adjacent two by two and aligned in directions parallel to the first direction of alignment and a second plurality of series of inter-space spaces. -panels adjacent two by two and aligned in directions parallel to the second direction of alignment, internal and external insulating joints as above being arranged continuously in one, more or each series of inter-panel spaces of the first plurality of series of inter-panel spaces.
• the insulating joints are housed in the inter-panel spaces of one, several or each series of inter-panel spaces of the second plurality of series of inter-panel spaces juxtaposed with an insulating joint housed in an inter-panel space of the first plurality of series of inter-panel spaces, preferably interposed and juxtaposed between two insulating joints each housed in an inter-panel space of two adjacent series of the first plurality of series of inter-panel spaces.
• the insulating joints housed in the inter-panel spaces of one, several or each series of inter-panel spaces of the second plurality of series of inter-panel spaces are made of insulating foam and have a compression modulus less than the compression modulus of the insulating gaskets housed in the inter-panel spaces of the first plurality of series of inter-panel spaces.
• the tank further comprises a corrugated waterproof membrane comprising a plurality of corrugations, the two adjacent insulating panels each comprising a groove in which is housed a corrugation of said plurality of corrugations, said grooves being aligned and interrupted to the right of the inter-panel space, the internal insulating seal being interposed between said grooves.
• the internal insulating seal fills all the space, in the direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier, between a bottom of said grooves and the waterproof membrane.
• the internal insulating seal is housed in the inter-panel space in a compressed state between the waterproof membrane and the external insulating seals.
• Such a tank can be part of an onshore storage facility, for example to store LNG or be installed in a floating, coastal or deep water structure, in particular an LNG vessel, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others.
• FSRU floating storage and regasification unit
• FPSO floating production and remote storage unit
• Such a tank can also serve as a fuel tank in any type of vessel.
• the invention also provides a vessel for transporting a cold liquid product comprising a double hull and a above-mentioned tank arranged in the double hull.
• the invention also provides a method of loading or unloading such a ship, in which a product is conveyed
• RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP cold liquid through insulated pipelines from or to a floating or onshore storage facility to or from the vessel's tank.
• the invention also provides a transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged so as to connect the tank installed in the hull of the vessel to an installation floating or terrestrial storage facility and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product through insulated pipelines from or towards the floating or terrestrial storage facility to or from the vessel's vessel.
• Figure 1 is a sectional view of a sealed and thermally insulating tank portion
• Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an arrangement of internal and external insulating joints in the inter-panel spaces
• Figure 3 is a top view of a portion of a sealed and thermally insulating tank partially shown and comprising internal and external insulating gaskets arranged according to a first embodiment in inter-panel spaces,
• Figure 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the secondary thermally insulating barrier of Figure 3 at a series of insulating joints arranged according to a first embodiment
• Figure 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the secondary thermally insulating barrier of Figure 3 at a series of insulating joints arranged according to a second embodiment
• Figure 6 is a cut-away schematic representation of an LNG vessel tank and a loading / unloading terminal for this tank.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a secondary thermally insulating barrier portion of a sealed and thermally insulating tank according to an alternative embodiment.
• Figure 8 is a sectional view of an internal insulating seal and external insulating seals in a plane orthogonal to the transverse direction of the inter-panel space.
• the terms “external” and “internal” are used to define the relative position of one element with respect to another, by reference to the interior and exterior of the vessel.
• an element close to or facing the interior of the tank is qualified as internal as opposed to an element close to or facing the outside of the tank which is qualified as external.
• a sealed and thermally insulating tank for the storage and transport of a cryogenic fluid for example Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) comprises a plurality of tank walls each having a multilayer structure.
• LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
• FIG. 1 shows a portion of the tank wall having such a multilayer structure comprising, from the outside towards the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier 1 resting against a supporting structure 2, a secondary waterproof membrane 3 resting against the secondary thermally insulating barrier 1, a primary thermally insulating barrier 4 resting against the secondary waterproof membrane 3 and a primary waterproof membrane 5 intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank.
• the supporting structure 2 can in particular be a self-supporting metal sheet or, more generally, any type of rigid partition having suitable mechanical properties.
• the supporting structure can in particular be formed by the hull or the double hull of a ship.
• the supporting structure has a plurality of walls defining the general shape of the tank, usually a blocky shape.
• the thermally insulating barriers 1, 4 can be made in many ways, in many materials.
• the thermally insulating barriers 1, 4 each comprise a plurality of insulating panels of parallelepiped shape juxtaposed in a regular pattern.
• the tank wall is formed of prefabricated blocks 6 comprising a secondary insulating panel 7 of parallelepiped shape, a portion of secondary waterproof membrane 3 covering the secondary insulating panel 7, a primary insulating panel 8 of parallelepiped shape resting on the portion of secondary waterproof membrane 3.
• This primary insulating panel 8 has dimensions smaller than dimensions of the secondary insulating panel 7 so as to leave a peripheral edge of the secondary waterproof membrane portion 3 uncovered.
• such prefabricated blocks 6 are juxtaposed in a regular pattern on the supporting structure 2.
• the continuity of the secondary waterproof membrane 3 is ensured by waterproof connecting strips connecting the peripheral edges of the portions.
• intermediate insulating panels 9 are arranged between the primary insulating panels 8 of the prefabricated blocks in order to complete the primary thermally insulating barrier 4 and form a flat support surface for the primary waterproof membrane 5.
• the insulating panels 7, 8, 9 are for example made of blocks of polyurethane foam. Such insulating panels 7, 8, 9 made from blocks of polyurethane foam can also include a cover plate and / or a bottom plate, for example made of plywood. Furthermore, the secondary waterproof membrane portion 3 of the prefabricated blocks is for example formed by a laminated rigid waterproof film comprising a metal sheet interposed between two layers of resinated glass fibers.
• the waterproof connecting strip connecting the peripheral edges of the portions of secondary waterproof membranes 3 of the adjacent prefabricated blocks is for example formed by a laminated flexible waterproof film comprising a metal sheet interposed between two layers of non-resinated glass fibers, for example a waterproof film flexible known as Triplex®.
• the juxtaposition of the insulating panels 7 to form a secondary thermally insulating barrier 1 generates the presence of inter-panel spaces 10 between two adjacent secondary insulating panels 7.
• an inter-panel space 10 separates the side faces facing two adjacent secondary insulating panels 7.
• insulating gaskets are inserted in the inter-panel space 10 separating the two side faces facing the two adjacent secondary insulating panels 7.
• an external insulating seal 11 is arranged in an outer portion, that is to say close to the supporting structure 2, to the inter-panel space 10 and an internal insulating seal 12 is inserted into a internal portion, that is to say close to the secondary waterproof membrane 3, of the inter-panel space 10.
• Each insulating seal 11, 12 comprises a compressible insulating material.
• This compressible insulating material is for example covered by an envelope of material which entirely or partially surrounds the compressible insulating material and forms a pocket in which it is possible to generate a vacuum in order to compress said compressible insulating material.
• the compressible insulating material can be made from many materials.
• the compressible material is, for example, glass wool, rock wool or even insulating foam such as low density polyurethane foam or melamine foam.
• These insulating gaskets 11, 12 are permeable to gas so that they ensure the continuity of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 1 while allowing the circulation of gas such as an inert gas, for example nitrogen, at the within the secondary thermally insulating barrier 1.
• gas such as an inert gas, for example nitrogen
• Such a circulation of gas within the secondary thermally insulating barrier 1 makes it possible to maintain said secondary thermally insulating barrier 1 under an inert atmosphere. Maintaining the secondary thermally insulating barrier 1 under an inert atmosphere prevents the combustible gas from being in an explosive concentration range and / or makes it possible, for example, to place said secondary thermally insulating barrier in negative pressure in order to increase its insulating power.
• This gas circulation is also important to facilitate the detection of possible fuel gas leaks during the sealing tests of the secondary waterproof membrane 3.
• these insulating gaskets 11, 12 may include a core of compressible porous material covered with an envelope.
• a compressible material is, for example, glass wool, rock wool or low density insulating foam.
• the envelope surrounding the core delimits an internal space of the insulating seal 11, 12 and advantageously exhibits a sufficiently low leakage rate to allow a depressurization of said internal space capable of compressing the insulating seal 11, 12.
• this envelope has a sufficiently high leak rate to allow gas to flow through the insulating seal for placing the thermally insulating barrier under an inert atmosphere or even a leak test.
• Such an envelope is for example made of kraft paper, a composite material or a polymer film.
• different casing parts are assembled together to delimit the internal space and the junction between these different casing parts is not perfectly sealed so as to present a sufficient leakage rate to allow the punctual depressurization but insufficient to maintain the vacuum in the internal space when it is terminated at the
• the insulating joints 11 and 12 are of rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprise four compressible insulating strips 62, 63, 64, 65 respectively parallel in pairs. More particularly, the compressible insulating strips 62, 63 are respectively located on the faces opposite to each other in the direction of the thickness of the thermally insulating barrier (arrow Y) and the compressible insulating strips 64, 65 are respectively located on the faces opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space (arrow X). The two opposite faces in the transverse direction of the inter-panel space (arrow Z) are not covered with compressible insulating strips.
• the compressible insulating tapes are made of a material chosen from: polyurethane foam, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam, polystyrene, wadding, glass wool.
• the thickness of the compressible insulating tape is between 3 millimeters (mm) and 80 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 50 mm, for example 5 mm.
• the compressible insulating material exhibits elasticity allowing the insulating joints 11, 12 to assume a compressed state under the effect of a stress and to return to their initial shape in the absence of this stress. Furthermore, the insulating joints 11, 12 have a parallelepipedal shape. This parallelepipedal shape is complementary to the shape of the inter-panel space 10 formed delimited by the side faces of the secondary insulating panels 7. These insulating joints 11, 12 are dimensioned so that, in the absence of stress, it is that is to say in their initial form, said insulating joints have a width greater than the width of the inter-panel space 10.
• the insulating gaskets 11, 12 are compressed, for example by evacuating the space delimited by the envelope of said insulating gaskets 11 , 12, in order to take a compressed state in which said insulating joints have a width less than the width of the inter-panel space.
• the insulating seals 11, 12 can thus be easily inserted into the inter-panel space 10.
• the insulating seal 11, 12 having in the free state a width greater than the width of the inter-panel space 10, the insulating seal 11, 12 then takes a semi-state. expanded in which II completely fills the width of the inter-panel space 10 and is constrained by the side faces of the secondary insulating panels 7 delimiting said inter-panel space 10.
• FIG. 2 illustrates the arrangement of the insulating joints 11, 12 in the inter-panel space 10.
• the external insulating joints 11 are juxtaposed in pairs.
• two outer seals 11 are juxtaposed so that they have adjacent edges 13.
• the external insulating seals 11 are arranged so that said adjacent edges 13 are in contact in order to avoid the formation of channels developing in the direction of thickness of the barrier.
• secondary thermally insulating 1 such channels being able to generate a convection detrimental to the insulating qualities of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 1.
• the thermal contraction of said external insulating seals 11 can move the adjacent edges 13 away. and generate such channels.
• an internal insulating seal 12 is superimposed, according to the thickness direction of the thermally barrier.
• the internal insulating seal 12 is directly above the interface between two external insulating gaskets 11 so that in the event of a channel forming between the adjacent edges 13 of the two external insulating gaskets 11, said channel does not can develop in the direction of thickness of the thermally insulating barrier only on the outer portion of the inter-panel space 10 in which the outer insulating joints 11 are housed.
• an external insulating seal 11 is covered with two internal insulating seals 12 so that the interface between two adjacent internal insulating seals 12 is located directly above an external insulating seal 11.
• an external insulating seal 11 is covered with two internal insulating seals 12 so that the interface between two adjacent internal insulating seals 12 is located directly above an external insulating seal 11.
• the length dimensions of the external insulating gaskets 11 and the internal insulating gaskets 12 are chosen so that the interfaces between two external insulating gaskets 11 of a series of aligned external insulating gaskets 11 are always covered by an internal insulating gasket 12 respective.
• the external insulating gaskets 11 and the internal insulating gaskets 12 have the same length and are arranged in staggered rows.
• the external insulating gaskets 11 and the internal insulating gaskets 12 may have height dimensions, taken in the direction of thickness of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 1, which are distinct.
• the internal insulating joints 12 have a height less than the height of the external insulating joints 11 so that the channels potentially appearing in the internal portion of the inter-panel space 10, which are therefore at closer to the inside of the tank and to the LNG and therefore the most subject to temperature variations, are of reduced height compared to the channels that may appear in the external portion of the inter-panel space.
• Figure 3 illustrates a top view of a sealed and thermally insulating tank portion in which only the prefabricated blocks 6 are illustrated.
• the prefabricated blocks 6 juxtaposed in a regular pattern delimit first series 14 of inter-panel spaces 10 aligned parallel to a first direction of alignment 15 and second series of aligned inter-panel spaces 16. parallel to a second alignment direction 17.
• the first alignment direction 15 and the second alignment direction 17 are perpendicular, so that the first series 14 intersect with the second series 16 at the level of intersections 18.
• a preferred direction is chosen according to which the insulating joints are arranged continuously according to the arrangement explained with regard to FIG. 2, typically in a staggered arrangement.
• the preferred direction is chosen with a component perpendicular to terrestrial gravity in order to further limit the phenomena of natural convention.
• the first direction of alignment 15 is chosen as the preferred direction.
• series of external insulating gaskets 11 are successively juxtaposed edge to edge over the entire length of the first series 14. Consequently, one or a plurality of external insulating gaskets 11 are housed jointly in two successive inter-panel spaces 10 of said first series. 14 and cross the corresponding intersection 18.
• one or a plurality of internal insulating joints 12 are housed jointly in two inter-panel spaces 10.
• each of said internal insulating gaskets 12 is superimposed on the adjacent edges 13 of two external insulating gaskets 11.
• external insulating gaskets 11 and internal insulating gaskets 12 are housed in the inter-panel spaces 10 of the second series 16 but in a non-offset manner, typically these insulating gaskets 11 , 12 are not necessarily installed staggered.
• the internal insulating joints 12 housed in the inter-panel spaces 10 of the second series 16 are not necessarily in line with the interfaces between two juxtaposed external insulating joints 11.
• An internal insulating seal 19 illustrated in Figure 4 is housed in the internal portion of an inter-panel space 10 of a second series 16 interposed between an internal insulating gasket 20 housed in one of the first series 14 and crossing a first intersection 21 and an internal insulating seal 22 housed in one of the first series 14 and crossing a second intersection 23, the first intersection 21 and the second intersection 23 being adjacent.
• the internal insulating joints 20 and 22 are in two adjacent first series 14.
• the insulating joints 11, 12 of the second series 16 are arranged in the inter-panel spaces 10 in a compressed state in their longitudinal direction, that is to say in the second direction of alignment 17. This compression is greater than or equal to the compression of said insulating gaskets 11, 12 due to thermal contraction in service.
• the insulating joints 11, 12 housed in the inter-panel spaces 10 of the second series 16 are made of a material having a lower compressive modulus in their longitudinal direction, that is to say in the second direction of alignment 17, that the compression modulus of the insulating gaskets 11, 12 housed in the inter-panel spaces 10 of the first series 14 in their transverse direction, that is to say according to
• An external insulating seal 24 is housed analogously to the internal insulating seal 19 in the outer portion of an inter-panel space 10 of a second series 16, interposed between an outer insulating seal 25 housed in one of the first series 14 and crossing the first intersection 21 and an external insulating seal 26 housed in one of the first series 14 and crossing the second intersection 23.
• the internal 19 and external 24 insulating gaskets can be made in one piece.
• a single insulating seal can be accommodated in the inter-panel space 10 of the second series 16 by expanding over the entire thickness of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 1.
• one direction of alignment is favored for the internal portion of the inter-panel spaces 10 and the other direction of alignment is privileged for the external portion of the inter-panel spaces 10.
• internal insulating joints 12 are arranged continuously, and therefore crossing intersections 18, in the first series 14 and internal insulating joints 19 as described above opposite. of FIG. 4 are arranged in the internal portions of the second series 16 interposed and bearing against the internal insulating joints 12 crossing the intersections 18.
• the external insulating joints 11 are arranged continuously, and therefore crossing intersections 18, in the second series 16 and internal insulating gaskets 24 as described above with reference to FIG. 4 are arranged in the external portions of the first series 14 in tercalized and resting against the external insulating joints 11 crossing the intersections 18.
• this arrangement could be reversed so that the internal insulating joints 12 are arranged continuously in the second series 16 and the external insulating joints 11 are arranged continuously in the first series 14.
• RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP example to constitute an LNG tank in a land installation or in a floating structure such as an LNG vessel or other.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a portion of a secondary thermally insulating barrier according to an alternative embodiment.
• the elements which are identical or fulfill the same function as the elements described above bear the same reference increased by 100.
• the secondary waterproof membrane is formed of corrugated metal plates (not illustrated). These metal plates are welded edge to edge and are anchored to anchor strips 127 formed on the internal surfaces of the secondary insulation panels 107. These metal plates have corrugations projecting outwardly from the vessel.
• the secondary insulating panels 107 have grooves 128.
• grooves 128 form networks of channels in the secondary thermally insulating barrier 102. These networks of channels promote convection, in particular when ' they have a vertical component, and degrade the insulating properties of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 102.
• the internal insulating seals 12 are arranged to fulfill a function of closing off the channels formed by the successive grooves 128.
• two successive grooves 128 aligned to accommodate a corrugation of the secondary waterproof membrane are separated by the internal insulating seal 112.
• the internal insulating seal 112 can be made of a compressible material.
• the corrugation housed in the grooves 128 compresses the internal insulating seal 112, the internal insulating seal 112 thus obstructing an entire section of the channel formed by the successive grooves 128 between the corrugation and a bottom of said grooves 128.
• such an internal insulating seal formed of compressible material is permeable
• RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP gas to generate a pressure drop in the channel formed by the grooves 128 while allowing the circulation of gas such as an inert gas, as explained above.
• an internal face of the insulating seal 112 may also include a recess corresponding to the shape of the corrugation so as to limit, or even eliminate, the compression of said internal insulating seal 112 by the corrugation.
• a cutaway view of an LNG carrier 70 shows a sealed and insulated tank 71 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the ship.
• the wall of the vessel 71 comprises a primary watertight barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the vessel, a secondary watertight barrier arranged between the primary watertight barrier and the double hull 72 of the vessel, and two insulating barriers arranged respectively between the vessel. primary watertight barrier and the secondary watertight barrier and between the secondary watertight barrier and the double shell 72.
• the loading / unloading pipes 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of suitable connectors, to a maritime or port terminal for transferring an LNG cargo from or to the tank. 71.
• FIG. 6 represents an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipe 76 and an onshore installation 77.
• the loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a movable arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the movable arm 74.
• the movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 which can be connected to the loading / unloading pipes 73.
• the movable arm 74 can be swiveled and adapts to all sizes. of LNG carriers.
• a connecting pipe (not shown) extends inside the tower 78.
• the loading and unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 70 from or to the onshore installation 77.
• the latter comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipes 81 connected by the underwater pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75.
• the underwater pipe 76 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the shore installation 77 over a great distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG carrier 70 at a great distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.
• pumps on board the vessel 70 and / or pumps fitted to the vessel are used.
• Figures 1 to 5 and 7 illustrate the case of insulating joints housed in the inter-panel spaces 10 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 1, but such insulating joints could be arranged in a similar manner in the primary thermally insulating barrier 4.

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• 2019
  • 2019-11-13 FR FR1912653A patent/FR3103023B1/fr active Active
• 2020
  • 2020-11-12 WO PCT/EP2020/081973 patent/WO2021094493A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2020-11-12 US US17/771,783 patent/US20220373133A1/en active Pending
  • 2020-11-12 EP EP20803581.6A patent/EP4058718A1/fr active Pending
  • 2020-11-12 CN CN202080078964.1A patent/CN114746690B/zh active Active
  • 2020-11-12 KR KR1020217000546A patent/KR20210061327A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation

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