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
  • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
  • F17C13/06—Closures, e.g. cap, breakable member
• • 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
  • F17C2203/0358—Thermal insulations by solid means in form of panels
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0375—Thermal insulations by gas
  • F17C2203/0379—Inert
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
  • F17C2203/0636—Metals
  • F17C2203/0639—Steels
  • F17C2203/0643—Stainless steels
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
  • F17C2203/0636—Metals
  • F17C2203/0648—Alloys or compositions of metals
  • F17C2203/0651—Invar
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
  • F17C2203/068—Special properties of materials for vessel walls
  • F17C2203/0682—Special properties of materials for vessel walls with liquid or gas layer
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/035—Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
  • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
  • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
  • F17C2260/013—Reducing manufacturing time or effort
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water
  • F17C2270/0105—Ships
  • F17C2270/0107—Wall panels

Definitions

• the present invention falls within the field of liquid natural gas storage tanks, in particular terrestrial liquid natural gas storage tanks.
• Liquid natural gas is generally transported by sea in storage tanks on transport ships. Natural gas is kept in liquid form to increase the amount of natural gas transported per tank, the volume of one liter of natural gas in liquid form being much lower than the volume of one liter of natural gas in gaseous form. These tanks maintain the liquid natural gas at a very low temperature, and more precisely at a temperature below -163°C, the temperature at which the natural gas is in liquid form at atmospheric pressure.
• an onshore liquid natural gas storage tank is installed at a port.
• the latter is generally fitted out so that liquid natural gas transport ships can come and restock and/or unload their liquid natural gas cargo.
• Connected onshore storage tanks are equipped with elements passing through one of the walls of these onshore tanks, such as for example a tube, then allowing a liquid natural gas loading and/or unloading installation to communicate with an internal volume of the onshore tank in which the liquid natural gas is stored.
• the walls of connected tanks comprise a sealed and thermally insulating secondary space and a sealed and thermally insulating primary space resting on the secondary space and configured to move into contact with the liquid natural gas contained in the vessel.
• a through element is installed through one of the walls of the tank, it is necessary to produce a first seal at the level of the secondary space as well as a second seal at the level of the primary space.
• These seals represent an additional cost to the coûr of the installation, in particular concerning their design, their manufacture and their installation, in particular with regard to the thermal insulation which they imply.
• These crossing elements are sometimes grouped together, thus complicating the sealing to be carried out and the arrangement of the equipment above the tanks.
• the present invention falls within this context by proposing an alternative to the already existing solutions thanks to a tank comprising a wall which has a first portion composed of the secondary space and the primary space and a second portion comprising a sealed layer and thermally insulating and in communication with the primary space, a through element being able to be installed more easily and at lower cost at the level of the second portion.
• the main object of the present invention is thus a leaktight and thermally insulating tank comprising at least one structure for storing a fluid and a support structure enveloping the storage structure, the storage structure comprising a plurality of walls including at least one wall of ceiling, a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending between the ceiling wall and the bottom wall, at least the ceiling wall comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising, successively in the direction of the thickness from the outside towards the inside of the vessel, a leaktight and thermally insulating secondary space and a leaktight and thermally insulating primary space, the secondary space being configured to be in contact with the load-bearing structure, the space primary delimiting an internal volume configured to receive the fluid contained in the tank, the second portion comprising a sealed layer and thermally i solante, characterized in that the waterproof and thermally insulating layer of the second portion is in contact with the load-bearing structure while participating in delimiting the internal volume of the tank, a ratio of
• the tank reduces heat loss so as to maintain the fluid at a temperature below its boiling temperature of the fluid, for example when the fluid is natural gas, the tank maintains it in liquid form at a temperature below -163° vs.
• the first portion and the second portion of the ceiling wall advantageously extend in the same plane, this plane being the main plane of extension of the ceiling wall, each portion thus extending the other portion in this plane.
• the primary space rests on the secondary space, the latter itself resting on the supporting structure of the tank.
• the sealed and thermally insulating layer extends for its part between the supporting structure and the internal volume of the tank.
• a ratio of the surface of the second portion of between 5% and 60% of the total surface of the ceiling wall makes it possible to minimize the heat loss from the ceiling wall of the tank, tower by greatly facilitating the installation of a or more through tubes through the ceiling wall. It is understood that with a second portion extending over 5% of the total surface of the ceiling wall, the heat loss is minimal by freeing up enough space allowing the installation of one or more tubes through the ceiling wall, while with a second portion extending over 60% of the total surface of the ceiling wall, the heat loss remains acceptable, and the installation of one or more tubes through the ceiling wall is greatly facilitated.
• the ratio is calculated by comparing the surface of the waterproof and thermally insulating layer with respect to the total surface of the ceiling wall, these two surfaces being projected onto a horizontal plane.
• the ratio of the surface of the second portion of the ceiling wall relative to the total surface of the ceiling wall is between 7% and 30%. A compromise is reached here which makes it possible to offer high-level thermal insulation performance, while concentrating the through tube(s) on a necessary but sufficient surface.
• the storage structure comprises at least one device for closing the secondary space arranged at the level of at least one junction between the first portion and the second portion of the ceiling wall.
• the closing device is arranged in the thickness of the secondary space, to close and maintain the tightness of the latter.
• the closing device comprises a first closing member and at least one second closing member, these closing members being fixed to each other, as well as to the secondary space and to the support structure to seal the secondary space.
• the primary space and the sealed and thermally insulating layer communicate aeraulically with each other.
• the secondary space comprises, successively in the direction of the thickness from the outside towards the inside of the vessel, a thermally insulating secondary barrier capable of being in contact with the load-bearing structure. and a secondary sealing membrane carried by the thermally insulating secondary barrier, the primary space comprising, successively in the direction of the thickness from the outside towards the interior of the vessel, a thermally insulating primary barrier resting against the membrane secondary sealing and a primary sealing membrane carried by the thermally insulating primary barrier and intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in the tank, the sealed and thermally insulating layer comprising a thermally insulating wall resting against the supporting structure and a impermeable membrane carried by the thermally insulating wall and intended to be in contact with the fluid contained u in the tank.
• the thermally insulating primary barrier communicates aeraulically with the thermally insulating wall.
• a thickness of the thermally insulating wall measured at the level of the second portion is at least equal to the sum of the thickness of the thermally insulating primary barrier and the thickness of the secondary space measured at the level of the first portion.
• the thickness is measured along a direction perpendicular to the main extension plane of each of the portions.
• the primary sealing membrane and the impermeable membrane extend in a common plane.
• the impermeable membrane of the waterproof and thermally insulating layer extends the primary sealing membrane of the primary space, that is to say in continuity with one another.
• the ceiling wall is made up of at least two distinct sections, each of these sections extending in a plane secant to one or the planes in which the other sections are inscribed.
• the two sides each extend in a secant plane to the planes in which the plurality of side walls fit.
• the ceiling wall may comprise a first section extending in a plane perpendicular to the planes in which the plurality of side walls are inscribed and two other sections each extending in a plane secant with respect to one another. to the other as well as to the plane in which the first panel is inscribed and to the planes in which the plurality of side walls are inscribed.
• the ceiling wall extends mainly or at least partly in a plane perpendicular to the planes in which the plurality of walls fit. sides, the ceiling wall comprising two chamfers arranged on either side of the ceiling wall and connecting the ceiling wall to two side walls extending substantially each in a plane parallel to the plane in which the other is inscribed side wall.
• the ceiling wall is composed of at least four distinct sections, each of these sections extending in a secant plane to the planes in which the other sections are inscribed.
• the four sections of the ceiling wall are symmetrical in pairs, forming two central sections and two outer sections.
• the ceiling wall comprises two exterior panels and two central panels, each external panel comprising at least a first edge in contact with one of the side walls and a second edge in contact with one of the central panels , each central panel having a common central edge with the other central panel, the plane of symmetry passing at the level of the central edge common to the central panels.
• the second portion of the ceiling wall is formed in at least one of the central sections of the ceiling wall.
• the second portion of the ceiling wall is formed only in the central sections of the ceiling wall.
• the support structure is composed at least in part of a material chosen from among a metal, a metal alloy, concrete and/or their mixture.
• the present invention also relates to a transport and/or storage unit comprising at least one tank according to any one of the preceding characteristics, the transport and/or storage unit consisting of a vessel transporting a fluid, a barge, reliquefaction unit, gasification unit, land structure or gravity platform.
• a vessel transporting a fluid is understood to mean a vessel comprising a tank according to the invention loaded with fluid, such as liquid natural gas for example, the vessel transporting this fluid from one port to another.
• barge is a category of vessel transporting a fluid whose particularity is to have a flat bottom, facilitating the circulation of such a barge in the various waterways, such as on rivers for example, or in a port.
• “Gravity platform” means that the tank is at least partially submerged, in a port for example, and that a reliquefaction and/or gasification unit is installed at the level of the ceiling of the tank. More precisely, the tank can collaborate with the reliquefaction and/or gasification unit so that the tank stores liquefied gas coming from the liquefaction unit and/or supplies the gasification unit with liquefied gas.
• the present invention also relates to a method for loading or unloading liquefied gas contained in a tank according to any one of the preceding characteristics, during which a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipes from or to a storage installation. floating or land to or from a ship's tank.
• FIG. 1 is a representation in perspective of a tank according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a cross section of the tank according to Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 is a representation in perspective of a first portion and a second portion of a ceiling wall of the tank according to FIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is a cross section of a junction between the first portion and the second portion of the ceiling wall of the tank according to figure 3.
• variants of the invention may be associated with each other, in various combinations, insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive with respect to each other.
• variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of characteristics described below in isolation from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and/or to differentiate the invention. compared to the prior art.
• a longitudinal direction corresponds to a main direction of extension of the sealed and thermally insulating tank, this longitudinal direction being parallel to a longitudinal axis L of a reference L, V, T illustrated in the figures.
• a transverse direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a transverse axis along which mainly extends a front wall of the sealed and thermally insulating tank, this transverse direction being parallel to a transverse axis T of the reference L, V, T and this axis transverse T being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L.
• a vertical direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a vertical axis V of the reference L, V, T, this vertical axis V being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and the axis transverse t.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a sealed and thermally insulating tank 1 generally taking the form of a rectangular parallelepiped.
• the vessel 1 comprises a storage structure 2 and a supporting structure 4 enveloping the storage structure 2.
• the storage structure 2 is configured to contain and/or store a fluid, and more particularly a cryogenic liquid, such as for example natural gas liquid or liquefied petroleum gas.
• the storage structure 2 comprises a plurality of walls resting against the supporting structure 4. The latter is configured to supporting the plurality of walls when the tank 1 is at least partially filled with this fluid, this fluid exerting pressure on each of the walls of the plurality of walls.
• this type of tank 1 is used in the terrestrial storage of liquid natural gas to contain liquid natural gas and/or as a point of loading and/or unloading of a maritime transport vessel, such as for example a gravity platform.
• “Gravity platform” means that the tank is at least partially submerged, in a port for example, and that a liquefaction and/or gasification unit is installed at the level of the ceiling of the tank. More precisely, the tank 1 can collaborate with the liquefaction and/or gasification unit so that the tank stores liquefied gas coming from the liquefaction unit and/or supplies the gasification unit with liquefied gas.
• the support structure 4 is formed by a concrete structure inside which the storage structure 2 is arranged. It is understood here that the walls of the support structure 4 comprise concrete optimizing the structural maintenance of tank 1 when -ci is, for example, installed at the quay. It is understood here that the tank 1 can be an onshore tank, for example installed in a seaport to allow a ship on the one hand to be able to load/unload fluid from or to the tank 1, and on the other hand to gain access to tank 1 while remaining on the ground.
• this tank 1 can also be used as a tank 1 for transporting liquid natural gas, or even as a fuel tank for a ship and/or a barge.
• this tank 1 can also be used in maritime transport, as tank 1 for transporting liquid natural gas.
• the tank 1 extends mainly along a longitudinal direction L.
• the plurality of walls of the storage structure 2 comprises a ceiling wall 6 and a bottom wall 8 each extending globally in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction L and to a transverse direction T, the latter being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.
• the storage structure 2 also comprises a plurality of side walls 10a, 10b extending at least along a vertical direction V perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and to the transverse direction T between the bottom wall 8 and the ceiling wall 6.
• the plurality of side walls 10a, 10b here comprises two longitudinal walls 10a parallel to each other and two front walls 10b parallel to each other.
• the longitudinal walls 10a extend along the longitudinal direction L, the front walls 10b extending for their part along the transverse direction T between the two longitudinal walls 10a.
• the support structure 4 takes the form of the storage structure 2, enveloping the latter.
• the support structure 4 comprises a plurality of partitions 12, each of its partitions 12 advantageously extending parallel to one of the walls of the plurality of walls.
• the ceiling wall 6 comprises two distinct portions, of which a first portion 46 is composed of at least two sealed spaces, one with respect to the aurre, and a second portion 48 being composed of at least one sealed and thermally insulating layer 50 in contact with the supporting structure 4 while helping to define an internal volume 44 of the tank 1.
• Vessel 1 is configured to maintain liquid natural gas at a temperature of at most -163°C.
• each wall of the storage structure 2, as well as the first portion 46 of the ceiling wall 6, comprise successively in the direction of the thickness from the outside towards the inside the tank 1, a secondary space 28 and a primary space 30 sealed, thermally insulating and sealed relative to each other.
• the secondary space 28 at the level of the first portion 46 of the ceiling wall comprises, successively from the load-bearing structure 4 towards the primary space 30, a thermally insulating secondary barrier 32, a secondary sealing membrane 34, the primary space 30 comprising meanwhile, successively from the secondary space 28 to inside the tank 1, a thermally insulating primary barrier 36 and a primary sealing membrane 38.
• the thermally insulating secondary barrier 32 is a juxtaposition of heat-insulating self-supporting panels, each heat-insulating self-supporting panel comprising, successively from the load-bearing structure 4 towards the secondary sealing membrane 34, a first panel of plywood, a block of thermal insulation and a second panel of wood plywood.
• the thermal insulation block extends between the wooden plywood panels and can be made of a synthetic alveolar material, such as polyurethane foam for example, allowing efficient and homogeneous thermal insulation.
• the thermally insulating secondary barrier 32, and more particularly the second wood plywood panel, is secured to the secondary sealing membrane 34, for example by gluing.
• the thermally insulating secondary barrier 32 comprises only the first wood plywood panel and the thermal insulation block, the latter extending between the first wood plywood panel and the secondary sealing membrane 34.
• the secondary sealing membrane 34 comprises a rigid secondary sealing membrane 40 and a flexible secondary sealing membrane 42, as more particularly visible in Figure 4.
• the thermally insulating primary barrier 36 has the same components as the thermally insulating secondary barrier 32, these same components being superimposed in a similar manner.
• the walls of the storage structure 2 are mounted by juxtaposition of self-supporting heat-insulating panels. These assembly panels are then covered by the primary sealing membrane 38, which may be made of stainless steel with corrugations. It will be noted that alternatively the primary sealing membrane is for example made of invar sheet.
• the primary sealing membrane 38 is intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in the tank 1 while helping to define the internal volume 44 of the tank 1.
• the second portion 48 comprises, in the direction of the thickness from the supporting structure 4 towards the internal volume 44 of the tank 1, a thermally insulating wall 52 resting against the supporting structure 4 and an impermeable membrane 54 carried by the thermally insulating wall 52 and intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in tank 1.
• the thermally insulating wall 52 is of the same composition as the thermally insulating primary and secondary barriers 32, 36 of the primary and secondary spaces 28, 30, and therefore comprises at least one block of thermal insulation and a panel of plywood fixed to the support structure 4, by gluing for example.
• the thermally insulating wall 52 of the sealed and thermally insulating layer 50 has a thickness at least equal to the sum of the thickness of the thermally insulating primary barrier 36 and the thickness of the secondary space 28 measured at the level of the first portion 46.
• the thickness of the thermally insulating wall 52 is measured along an axis perpendicular to a plane in which the second portion 48 mainly extends, the thickness of the primary thermally insulating barrier 36 and the thickness of the secondary space 28 being measured along a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the first portion 46 mainly extends.
• the thickness of the thermally insulating wall 52 is the addition of the thicknesses of the thermally insulating secondary barrier 32, the secondary sealing membrane 34 and the thermally insulating primary barrier 36.
• the thermally insulating wall 52 of the tight and thermally insulating layer 50 communicates aeraulically with the thermally insulating primary barrier 36 of the primary space 30. Indeed, an inerting fluid circulates in the thermally insulating primary barrier 36 of the primary space 30 and can also pass through the thermally insulating wall 52 of the sealed and thermally insulating layer 50.
• the impermeable membrane 54 is fixed to the thermally insulating wall 52 and is of the same composition as the primary sealing membrane 38, that is to say in stainless steel with corrugations, or else in invar sheet.
• the impermeable membrane 54 is welded to the level of at least one of its ends to the primary sealing membrane 38 ensuring continuity of the ceiling wall 6 between the first portion 46 and the second portion 48.
• the impermeable membrane 54 of the sealed and thermally insulating layer 50 and the primary sealing membrane 38 of the primary space 30 extend at least partially in a common plane, the impermeable membrane 54 extending the primary sealing membrane 38 of the primary space 30 onto the sealed and thermally insulating layer 50 at the level of the second portion 48.
• the storage structure also comprises at least one closing device 58 of the secondary space 28 arranged at the level of at least one junction between the first portion 46 and the second portion 48 of the ceiling wall 6.
• the description of the closure device 58 is made in connection with Figure 4.
• the ceiling wall 6 is composed of at least four distinct sections 14, 16, 18, 20, each of these sections 14, 16, 18, 20 extending in a secant plane to the planes in which the other sections fit 14, 16, 18, 20.
• the plane of one of the sections 14, 16, 18, 20 is secant to the three other planes in which the other sections 14, 16, 18, 20 extend.
• Each panel extends longitudinally between each front wall 10b of the support structure 4.
• the four sections 14, 16, 18, 20 of the ceiling wall 6 are symmetrical in pairs, forming two central sections 14, 16 and two outer sections 18, 20.
• the storage structure 2 comprises a plane of symmetry which passes through a top 26 of the tank and which extends in a longitudinal and vertical plane, a central face and an outer face being symmetrical to the other central face and the other outer face.
• the ceiling wall 6 comprises a first outer face 18 and a second outer face 20 framing, in the transverse direction T, a first central face 14 and a second central face 16.
• Each outer face 18, 20 extends between a first edge 22 and a second edge 24, the first edge 22 being in contact with one of the longitudinal walls 10a of the supporting structure 4, the second edge 24 being in turn contact with one of the central sections 14, 16.
• Each outer face 18, 20 extends in a plane secant to one of the main extension planes of one of the longitudinal walls 10a, the angle formed having a value between 0° and 30°.
• Each central panel 14, 16 extends between the second edge 24 of one of the outer panels 18, 20 and a top 26, the top 26 being common to the two central panels 14, 16.
• the first central panel 14 extends in a plane secant to the plane in which the second central face 16, the angle formed having a value between 0° and 30°, and preferably between 5° and 15°. Furthermore, the plane of symmetry of the sections 14, 16, 18, 20 of the ceiling wall 6 mentioned above passes through the vertex 26 common to the two central sections 14, 16.
• the second portion 48 of the ceiling wall 6 is formed in at least one of the central sections 14, 16 of the ceiling wall 6.
• a second portion 48 extending only on one of the central sections 14, 16 or only on one of the outer sections 18, 20 would not depart from the scope of the invention and would constitute an embodiment not shown.
• the two central sections 14, 16 form a single and same section extending in a secant plane to the planes in which the outer sections 18, 20 are inscribed.
• the tank 1 comprises a tube 60 passing through at least the support structure 4 and the storage structure 2 at the level of the second portion 48 of the ceiling wall 6. More precisely, the tube passing through 60 extends at the level of the top 26 of the central sections 14, 16 crossing, successively from the outside of the tank 1 towards the internal volume 44 of the tank 1, a partition 12 of the supporting structure 4, the thermally insulating wall 52 and the impermeable membrane 54.
• a device for Sealing is installed between the through tube 60 and the sealed and thermally insulating layer 50 to prevent any infiltration of the fluid contained in the tank 1 in the ceiling wall 6, while limiting heat loss.
• a ratio of the surface of the second portion 48 of the ceiling wall 6 relative to the total surface of the ceiling wall 6 is between 5% and 60% .
• the surface of the second portion 48 is compared to the total surface of the ceiling wall 6.
• the second portion 48 extends over part of the central sections 14, 16 and takes on a rectangular shape.
• a first length DI of the ceiling wall 6 and a second length D1' of the second portion 48 are measured, each of these lengths D1, D1' being measured along the longitudinal direction L between, respectively, the longitudinal ends of the ceiling wall 6 and the longitudinal ends of the second portion 48.
• a first width D2 of the ceiling wall 6 and a second width D2' of the second portion 48 are also measured.
• the first width D2 is a sum of the widths of each of the sections 14, 16, 18, 20, the widths of the outer sections 18, 20 being measured perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L between their first edges 22 and their second edges 24, the widths of the central sections 14, 16 being measured perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L between their second edges 24 common with the outer sides 18, 20 and the top 26.
• the second width D2' of the second portion 48 is the sum of the widths of the second portion 48 measured along each of the central sections 14, 16 between a transverse end of the second portion 48, corresponding to a joint between the first portion 46 and the second portion 48, and the top 26 common to the two central sections 14, 16.
• the surface of the ceiling wall 6 is then calculated, by taking the product of the first length D1 and the first width D2, and the surface of the second portion 48, by taking the product of the second length D1' and the second width D2'.
• the ratio of the surface of the second portion 48 to the total surface of the ceiling wall 6 is then calculated, this ratio being expressed as a percentage.
• R corresponds to the ratio of the second portion 48 relative to the total surface of the ceiling wall 6 and is expressed as a percentage (%), each of the lengths D1 , Dl' and widths D2, D2' being expressed in the same unit, such as for example in meter (m): 100
• the ration R being according to the invention between 5% and 60%, and advantageously between 7% and 30%.
• the closure device 58 comprises a first closure member 62 and at least one second closure member 64 configured to cooperate with each other so as to separate the secondary space 28 from the first portion 46 of the impermeable layer and thermally insulating 50 constituting the second portion 48.
• Each of the closure members 62, 64 has an "L" profile seen in a cross-sectional and vertical plane of the ceiling wall 6.
• Each closure member 62, 64 comprises a first part 66 and at least a second part 68 extending in secant planes.
• each closure member 62, 64 comprises a bent part 70 connecting the first parts 66 to the respective second parts 68 of each of the closure members 62, 64.
• the first part 66 of the first closure member 62 here extends at least in part between the secondary space 28 and the primary space 30 of the first portion 46.
• the thermally insulating secondary barrier 32 has a zone for attaching the first part 66 of the first closure member 62 at the level of which a portion of the secondary sealing membrane 34 is extended by a plate 72 arranged between the secondary space 28 and the primary space 30. More precisely, the plate 72 here extends the rigid secondary sealing membrane 40, the flexible secondary sealing membrane 42 at least partially covering the plate 72, so as to provide sealing between the plate 72 and the rigid secondary sealing membrane 40.
• the plate 72 is fixed by a first fixing device 74, connects a screw or a rivet for example, to the secondary thermally insulating barrier 32.
• the first part 66 of the first closure member 62 is fixed to the plate 72, by example by means of a weld bead, so that the first part 66 of the first closure member 62 is formed at least between the plate 72 and the primary space 30.
• the thermally insulating secondary barrier 32 comprises at least one self-supporting thermally insulating panel 71 having an outer face 78 fixed to the supporting structure 4 by a fixing element 80, such as mastic for example, an internal face 82 on which the plate 72 of the secondary space 28 is fixed, and a thick face 84 extending between the external face 78 and the internal face 82 facing the second portion 48 of the ceiling wall.
• a fixing element 80 such as mastic for example
• an internal face 82 on which the plate 72 of the secondary space 28 is fixed and a thick face 84 extending between the external face 78 and the internal face 82 facing the second portion 48 of the ceiling wall.
• Each of the faces 78, 82, 84 of the self-supporting panel 71 comprises a plywood plate 81. It is on or in these plywood plates 81 that the first and/or second fastening devices 74 , 76 are fixed, in particular by screwing or riveting.
• thermally insulating secondary barrier 32 has a chamfer 86 connecting the internal face 82 to the thick face 84 of the secondary barrier.
• the bent part 70 of the first closure member 62 is arranged in line with the chamfer 86.
• the plywood plate 81 at the level of the internal face 82 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 32 can only be placed at the level of the plate 72 so that the first device fixing 72 can be fixed in the plywood plate 81.
• the block of thermal insulation constituting the secondary thermally insulating barrier 32 then being directly covered by the secondary sealing membrane 34 at the level of the internal face 82 the thermally insulating secondary barrier 32,
• First closure member 62 is positioned against secondary thermal barrier 32 such that second portion 68 of first closure member 62 extends along thickness face 84 of secondary thermal barrier 32. part 68 of the first closure member 62 is fixed to the secondary thermally insulating barrier 32 at the level of the thickness face 84 by a second fixing device 76 such as, for example, a screw or a rivet.
• a second fixing device 76 such as, for example, a screw or a rivet.
• the second part 68 of each closure member 62, 64 extends in a plane perpendicular to the planes in which the first parts 66 of the first and second closure member 62 extend, 64.
• the second part 68 of the first closure member 62 thus extends from the bent part 70 of the first closure member 62 towards the support structure 4, the second part 68 of the second closure member 64 extending from the bent part 70 of the second closure member 64 towards the internal volume of the tank.
• the second parts 68 of each of the closure members 62, 64 are welded together in a sealed manner.
• the first closure member 62 and the second closure member 64 are arranged head to tail.
• the first part 66 of the second closure member 64 extends for its part at least in part between the sealed and thermally insulating layer 50 of the second portion 48 and the supporting structure 4.
• the first part 66 of the second closure member 64 is fixed to the support structure 4.
• the support structure 4 comprises an insert, such as a plate for example, at the level of the zone where the first part 66 of the second closure member 64 must be fixed.
• the insert of the carrier structure 4 is metallic, the first part 66 of the second fixing device 76 being fixed to the insert of the carrier structure 4 by at least one weld bead.
• the second parts 68 of the closure members 62, 64, part of the thermally insulating wall 52 and part of the thermally insulating primary barrier 36 participate in delimiting a space 92 filled by a thermally insulating component, such as glass or rock wool, flexible polymer foam for example.
• a thermally insulating component such as glass or rock wool, flexible polymer foam for example.
• first closure member 62 and the second closure member 64 of the closure device 58 are elastically deformable.
• the various components of the ceiling wall 6 can be caused to contract and/or expand, for example due to the movements of the swell or even due to sudden thermal changes.
• the first closure member 62 and the second closure member 64 of the closure device 58 are configured to be able to follow these contraction or extension movements of the components of the ceiling wall 6. More precisely, the fact that the first parts 66 and the second parts 68 of each of the closure members 62, 64 extend in secant planes allows each of the closure members 62, 64 to open or close around a point formed at the intersection of these secant planes.
• the invention also relates to a method for loading or unloading liquefied gas contained in the tank described above, during which a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipes from or to a floating or terrestrial storage installation to or from a tank. of a ship.
• the invention cannot however be limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated here, and it also extends to any equivalent means or configuration described and illustrated here, as well as to any technical combination operating such means.
• the position of the second portion, here at the level of the central sections of the ceiling wall can in another embodiment be provided at the level of at least one other section.
• a ceiling wall may comprise two or more areas where a second portion as described above extends without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the second portion can be crossed by a plurality of crossing tubes 60, such as that illustrated in Figure 2.

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

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Publications (1)

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• 2020
  • 2020-07-16 FR FR2007477A patent/FR3112586B1/fr active Active
• 2021
  • 2021-07-08 WO PCT/FR2021/051276 patent/WO2022013493A1/fr unknown
  • 2021-07-08 EP EP21746536.8A patent/EP4182597A1/de active Pending

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