Classifications

• • 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 
  • B63B73/00—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms
  • B63B73/20—Building or assembling prefabricated vessel modules or parts other than hull blocks, e.g. engine rooms, rudders, propellers, superstructures, berths, holds or 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
  • F17C13/004—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels for large storage vessels not under pressure
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
  • F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
  • F17C3/025—Bulk storage in barges or on ships
  • F17C3/027—Wallpanels for so-called membrane tanks
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/01—Shape
  • F17C2201/0147—Shape complex
  • F17C2201/0157—Polygonal
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/05—Size
  • F17C2201/052—Size large (>1000 m3)
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0358—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
  • 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
  • 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
  • F17C2260/011—Improving strength
• • 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 storage facilities for liquefied gas comprising a sealed and thermally insulating tank, with a sealed membrane.
• 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) having for example a temperature between -50°C and 0°C, or for the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at around -162°C at atmospheric pressure.
• LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
• Storage facilities for a liquefied gas comprising a support structure and a sealed and thermally insulating tank arranged in the support structure are known for example from document EP3473915.
• the storage facility in this document comprises an upper load-bearing wall on which is supported a ceiling wall of the tank.
• This upper load-bearing wall comprises an upwardly projecting space called a coaming liquid dome.
• the liquid dome comprises in particular coaming bearing walls extending vertically and projecting upwards from the upper bearing wall.
• Each bearing wall of the dome supports a dome wall or chimney wall of the vessel.
• the liquid dome further comprises a horizontal cover which is intended to cover the opening provided, the cover being traversed by a series of pipes intended in particular to load and unload the tank with liquefied gas.
• the tank comprises in this document two sealing membranes which are formed using corrugated metal plates juxtaposed and fixed to each other.
• the ceiling wall and the dome wall form at their intersection a protruding ridge, that is to say forming an angle between 180° and 360°, for example 270°, so that the ridge is protruding seen from the inside the tank.
• a protruding ridge that is to say forming an angle between 180° and 360°, for example 270°, so that the ridge is protruding seen from the inside the tank.
• sealing membranes used are so-called "stretched" membranes, for example the plaintiff's NO96® technology with membranes formed of strakes.
• the liquid dome is not located on a coaming but is located flush with the ceiling wall, so commonly referred to as a "flush" dome.
• the cover is thus placed in the same plane as the ceiling wall. There is therefore no protruding edge for this type of installation.
• the invention is based on the observation that in the case of so-called “tense” membranes such as those formed by strakes, it is necessary to take up in the angles of the tank tensile and compressive forces resulting from thermal contraction, deformation the hull linked for example to the deflection of the ship's beam, and the state of filling of the tanks.
• such waterproofing membranes do not have zones in one of the directions allowing the absorption of tensile and compressive forces, unlike a corrugated membrane.
• the connection zones located for example at the level of a salient angle be subjected to significant compressive and tensile forces which can lead to the rupture of the seal in these zones.
• An idea at the basis of the invention is to improve the resistance to forces of the sealing membrane at the level of the connection zones such as the projecting edges of the storage facility while ensuring continuity of the seal in this zone.
• the invention provides a storage facility for a liquefied gas comprising a supporting structure and a sealed and thermally insulating tank arranged in the supporting structure, the supporting structure comprising an upper supporting wall and the tank comprising a wall ceiling fixed to the upper load-bearing wall, the upper load-bearing wall and the ceiling wall being interrupted locally so as to delimit an opening, the load-bearing structure comprising a coaming projecting vertically towards the outside of the tank from the upper load-bearing wall while around the opening and defining a passage intended to be crossed by at least one pipe intended for loading or unloading liquefied gas from the tank, the coaming comprising at least one coaming supporting wall connected to the upper supporting wall, the tank comprising a chimney wall anchored against the coaming bearing wall, the chimney wall and the ceiling wall being connected to each other at one edge of the opening, the ceiling wall and the chimney wall each comprising in a direction of thickness from the outside towards the inside of the tank a thermally insulating barrier
• the first wing of the connection bracket is flat and covers a first flat face of the corner insulating box, the first flat face being parallel to the upper load-bearing wall, and in which the second wing of the connecting angle is flat and covers a second flat face of the corner insulating box, the second flat face being parallel to the coaming bearing wall and being perpendicular to the first flat face.
• an anchoring plate is fixed on each of the first flat face and of the second flat face, the first wing and the second wing being welded respectively to the anchoring plate of the first flat face and of the second flat face.
• the thermally insulating barrier of the ceiling wall comprises an end insulating block adjacent to the edge of the opening and in which the ceiling wall comprises a plurality of longitudinal metal fixing brackets fixed to the load-bearing wall upper along said edge of the opening and located on either side of the end insulating block, each longitudinal fixing support comprising a foot welded to the upper load-bearing wall and a cap fixed to the foot, the thermally insulating barrier comprising a stop plate disposed on the end insulating block, the end portion of the sealing membrane being fixed to the stop plate.
• the end insulating block or the secondary end insulating block is made in the form of a box comprising a bottom plate, a cover plate parallel to the bottom plate and end plates.
• carrier spacers maintaining the cover plate at a distance from the bottom plate, the box being filled with insulating packing, for example perlite, fumed silicas, silica aerogels or glass or rock wool.
• the corner insulating box is made in the form of a box comprising a bottom plate, a cover plate parallel to the bottom plate and supporting spacer plates holding the cover plate at distance from the bottom plate, the box being filled with insulating packing, for example perlite, fumed silicas, silica aerogels or glass wool.
• insulating packing for example perlite, fumed silicas, silica aerogels or glass wool.
• the thermally insulating barrier comprises an insulating panel adjacent to the end insulating block, the insulating panel comprising successively along the direction of thickness at least one layer of insulating foam and at least one rigid plate.
• the insulating panel has a layer of insulating foam sandwiched between a bottom plate and a cover plate.
• the insulating foam is a polymer foam, for example a polyurethane foam. According to one embodiment, this insulating foam has a density greater than 100 kg/m 3 , preferably greater than or equal to 120 kg/m 3 , in particular equal to 130, 150 or 210 kg/m 3 .
• the structural insulating foam is a reinforced foam, for example reinforced with fibers such as glass fibers.
• the bottom panel is a panel of plywood or composite with fiberglass.
• the cover panel is a panel of plywood or composite with fiberglass.
• the coefficient of thermal contraction of the end insulating block in said direction of thickness is less than the coefficient of thermal contraction in said direction of thickness of the insulating panel.
• the foot of the longitudinal fixing support comprises a fixing plate adjacent to the corner insulating box and fixed on the one hand to the upper load-bearing wall and on the other hand to the cap, the fixing plate being formed in a plane parallel to the coaming bearing wall, the corner insulating box being fixed to the fixing plate of at least one of the longitudinal fixing brackets of the ceiling wall by means of a fixing device .
• the sealing membrane of the chimney wall comprises a plurality of parallel strakes extending parallel to the edge of the opening, each strake comprising a flat central portion and at least one raised edge projecting towards the inside the tank with respect to the central portion, the strakes being juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the opening according to a repeated pattern and welded together in a sealed manner at the level of the raised edges, at least one of the said strakes being interrupted by the opening, an end portion of said interrupted strake being welded to the second wing of the connecting angle.
• the interrupted strake of the chimney wall comprises a single raised edge located on one end of the strake opposite the end portion.
• the corner insulating box comprises a lateral face on which projects a protrusion
• the fixing device comprising a stud fixed to the fixing plate and a support element engaged on the stud and resting on a bearing surface of the protuberance.
• the at least one interrupted strake forms the end portion of the sealing membrane.
• the sealing membrane is a secondary sealing membrane and the thermally insulating barrier is a secondary thermally insulating barrier, the ceiling wall and the chimney wall each comprising a primary thermally insulating barrier placed on the membrane secondary sealing and a metallic primary sealing membrane arranged on the primary thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas.
• the end insulating block of the ceiling wall is a secondary end insulating block
• the primary thermally insulating barrier of the ceiling wall comprises a primary insulating panel located in line with the insulating block end secondary, the primary insulating panel being fixed to one of the longitudinal fixing supports using an anchoring device.
• the end insulating block of the chimney wall is a secondary end insulating block
• the primary thermally insulating barrier of the chimney wall comprises a primary insulating panel located in line with the insulating block end secondary, the primary insulating panel being fixed to one of the transverse fixing supports using an anchoring device.
• the storage installation comprises a primary corner insulating assembly, the primary corner insulating assembly being located in the extension of the primary thermally insulating barrier of the ceiling wall and of the thermally insulating barrier primary of the chimney wall at the edge of the opening, the primary corner insulating assembly comprising a chamfered upper face, the primary corner insulating assembly being fixed to the corner insulating box using at least one anchoring device.
• the storage installation comprises a primary connection angle fixed to the chamfered upper face of the primary corner insulating assembly, the primary connection angle being welded on the one hand to the waterproofing membrane of the ceiling wall and on the other hand to the primary waterproofing membrane of the chimney wall.
• the primary connecting angle is welded to a metal part formed on the chamfered upper face of the primary corner insulating assembly.
• the thermally insulating barrier of the chimney wall comprises an end insulating block adjacent to the edge of the opening and in which the chimney wall comprises a plurality of metal transverse fixing brackets fixed to the load-bearing wall coaming along said edge of the opening and located on either side of the end insulating block, each transverse fixing support comprising a foot welded to the coaming bearing wall and a cap fixed to the foot.
• a metallic secondary fixing plate is fixed on an upper surface of the secondary stop plate, and an end portion of the or each strake interrupted by the loading/unloading opening is welded to the secondary metal fixing plate.
• the first wing of the connecting angle is for example welded to a first part of the secondary fixing plate while the end portion of the strake is welded to a second part of the secondary fixing plate.
• the secondary metal fixing plate is made of iron alloy with nickel, for example Invar, of iron alloy with manganese or of stainless steel.
• the thermally insulating barrier of the ceiling wall or of the chimney wall comprises a primary insulating panel located in line with one of the longitudinal fixing supports or one of the transverse fixing supports respectively and is fixed using an anchoring device to the cap of said mounting bracket.
• the primary insulating panel comprises a bearing surface and the anchoring device comprises a base fixed to the cap, a stud fixed to said base and developing along the direction of thickness and passing through a leaktight manner orifice of the secondary waterproofing membrane, and a bearing element mounted on the stud and resting on the bearing surface of the primary insulating panel so as to hold it to the longitudinal or transverse fixing support.
• the anchoring device further comprises a sealing washer which is engaged on the stud and comprises a flange fixed in leaktight manner to the secondary sealing membrane around the orifice of the secondary seal and a deformable gasket sealingly connecting the sealing washer to the stud so as to allow relative movement between the sealing washer and the stud.
• the anchoring device further comprises a flange forming an integral part of the stud, the flange projecting radially outwards from the stud and being fixed in leaktight manner to the secondary sealing membrane around the orifice of the secondary waterproofing membrane.
• the deformable seal comprises a deformable bellows, said deformable bellows being hollow and developing around and axially along the stud.
• the deformable bellows is for example made of stainless steel.
• the anchoring device comprises a bell covering the deformable seal, the bell having a cylindrical shape.
• the bearing surface of the primary insulating panel is located at a corner or at a distance from a corner of the primary insulating panel.
• the primary waterproofing membrane can be made in various ways.
• the primary sealing membrane of the ceiling wall and of the chimney wall comprises a plurality of corrugated metal plates juxtaposed and welded to each other, the primary sealing membrane comprising a first series of corrugations extending in a first direction and a second series of corrugations extending in a second direction.
• Such a storage installation can be an onshore storage installation, for example for storing LNG or be a floating, coastal or deep-water structure, in particular an LNG carrier, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and remote storage (FPSO) and others.
• FSRU floating storage and regasification unit
• FPSO floating production and remote storage
• Such an installation can also serve as a fuel tank in any type of ship.
• the aforementioned storage installation is made in the form of a floating structure, said supporting structure being constituted by a double hull of the floating structure and the first direction is a longitudinal direction of the floating structure. .
• the floating structure is a ship for transporting a cold liquid product.
• the invention also provides a method for loading or unloading an aforementioned storage installation, in which a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipes from or to an external floating or terrestrial storage installation towards or from the vessel's tank.
• FIG. 1 There is a schematic perspective view of a storage facility comprising a support structure supporting a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing a liquefied gas.
• a storage facility 1 comprising a supporting structure 2 and a sealed and thermally insulating tank 71 arranged in the supporting structure 2.
• the sealed and thermally insulating tank 71 will be more particularly described below.
• the load-bearing structure 2 comprises a plurality of walls connected to each other and in particular an upper load-bearing wall 4 which is located as can be seen on the , at the top of Storage Facility 1.
• the load-bearing structure 2 is formed by the double hull of the ship and is therefore formed of an internal load-bearing structure and an external load-bearing structure.
• the inner upper load-bearing wall 4 is thus called the inner deck 4 of the ship while the outer upper load-bearing wall 3 is called the outer deck 3 of the ship.
• the tank 71 comprises a main structure 5 formed of a bottom wall 6, a ceiling wall 7, two cofferdam walls 8 connecting the bottom wall to the ceiling wall 7 and located at the front and at the rear when the storage installation 1 is located on a ship, two side walls 9 and optionally two to four bevel walls 10 connecting the side walls to the bottom wall 6 or to the ceiling wall 7.
• the walls of the tank 71 are thus connected to each other so as to form a polyhedral structure and to delimit an internal storage space 11.
• the storage installation 1 comprises a loading/unloading opening 12 locally interrupting the upper bearing wall 4 and the ceiling wall 7 of the tank 71 so as to allow pipes loading/unloading 13 to reach the bottom of the tank 71 by crossing this opening 12.
• the storage installation 1 also comprises a loading/unloading tower 14 located in line with the opening 12 and inside the tank 71 forming a support structure for the loading/unloading pipes 13 over the entire height of the tank 71 as well as for the pumps (not shown).
• the storage installation 1 comprises a cover 15 arranged in the loading/unloading opening 12 in order to close the internal storage space 11 at the level of said opening 12.
• the cover 15 comprises orifices allowing the pipes to loading/unloading 13 to pass through the cover 15.
• the tank 71 also comprises a chimney 16 located on the main structure 5 at the level of the opening 12 and allowing the walls of the tank to extend continuously from the internal bridge 4 towards the external bridge 3 at the level where these are interrupted by the opening 12.
• a chimney 16 provided with said cover 15 is called: the liquid dome.
• the present invention is illustrated here with reference to the zone of the liquid dome but one could also envisage the application of this invention to another chimney of a tank 71, such as conventionally the gas dome.
• the chimney 16 comprises a plurality of chimney walls 17 connected to each other and extending vertically.
• the chimney walls 17 are for example four in number in the case of a rectangular opening 12. These chimney walls 17 are fixed to a coaming 18 of the load-bearing structure, in particular the coaming load-bearing walls 19, connecting the inner upper load-bearing wall 4 to the outer upper load-bearing wall 3.
• the chimney 16 is in the embodiment shown in and 2 formed in the extension of the rear cofferdam wall 8 so that three of the edges 20 of the opening 12 form a projecting edge at the level of the intersection between the ceiling wall 7 and one of the chimney walls 17.
• the chimney can be placed at a distance from the rear cofferdam wall 8 so that the four edges 20 of the opening 12 form a projecting edge.
• each vessel wall, and in particular the ceiling wall 7 and the chimney wall 17 has successively, from the outside inwards, in the thickness direction of the wall, a secondary thermally insulating barrier 21 comprising elements secondary insulators fixed to the load-bearing structure 2, a secondary sealing membrane 22 anchored to the secondary insulating elements of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 21, a primary thermally insulating barrier 23 comprising primary insulating elements fixed to the secondary insulating elements of the thermally insulating barrier secondary 21 or to the load-bearing structure 1 and resting against the secondary sealing membrane 22 and a primary sealing membrane 24 anchored to the primary insulating elements of the primary thermally insulating barrier 23 and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in tank.
• FIGs 4 to 8 more particularly illustrate the connection of the ceiling wall 7 to the chimney wall 17 at the level of the edge 20 of the opening 12.
• the secondary thermally insulating barrier 21 of the ceiling wall 7 comprises a plurality of secondary insulating panels 25 which are anchored to the upper load-bearing wall 8 by means of anchoring devices (not shown).
• the secondary insulating panels 25 have a generally parallelepipedic shape and are for example arranged in parallel rows in the longitudinal direction L and in the transverse direction T perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.
• the secondary thermally insulating barrier 21 of the chimney wall 17 also comprises a plurality of secondary insulating panels 25 which are anchored to the coaming bearing wall 19 by means of anchoring devices (not shown).
• the secondary sealing membrane 22 of the ceiling wall 7 and of the chimney wall 17 comprises a continuous sheet of metal strakes 26, with raised edges.
• the strakes 26 comprise a flat central portion 27 resting on the secondary insulating panels 25 of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 21 and also comprise two raised edges 28 arranged on either side of the flat central portion 27 and projecting inwards. of the tank with respect to the central portion.
• the strakes 26 extend along the longitudinal direction L of the ship while the raised edges 28 are arranged on either side of the flat central portion 27 in the transverse direction T of the ship.
• the strakes 26 extend in a circumferential direction of the opening 12, substantially vertical horizontal during normal use of the storage facility, while the raised edges are arranged on either side. other of the flat central portion 27 in a direction of height H of the ship, substantially vertical during normal use of the storage facility.
• the strakes 26 are welded by their raised edges 28 to parallel weld supports which are fixed in grooves made at the level of the upper surface of the secondary insulating panels 25 in contact with the secondary sealing membrane 22.
• the strakes 26 are, for example, made of Invar ®: that is to say an alloy of iron and nickel whose coefficient of expansion is typically between 1.2.10 -6 and 2.10 -6 K -1 .
• the primary thermally insulating barrier 23 of the ceiling wall 7 and of the chimney wall 17 comprises a plurality of primary insulating panels 29 which are anchored to the secondary thermally insulating barrier 21 by means of anchoring devices 52.
• the primary insulating panels 29 have a generally parallelepiped shape. In addition, they may have dimensions substantially identical to or different from those of the secondary insulating panels 25. In the mode shown in , the primary insulating panels 29 are positioned offset from the secondary insulating panels 25 in the longitudinal direction L, and optionally also in the transverse direction T.
• Secondary insulation panels 25 and primary insulation panels 29 include a bottom plate, a cover plate, and one or more layers of insulating polymeric foam sandwiched between and bonded to the bottom plate, cover plate.
• the insulating polymer foam may in particular be a polyurethane-based foam, optionally reinforced with fibers, in particular glass fibers.
• the sealing membranes 22, 24 and the thermally insulating barriers 21, 23 of the ceiling wall 7 are connected respectively to the sealing membranes 22, 24 and to the thermally insulating barriers 21, 23 of the chimney wall 17.
• the secondary sealing membrane 22 of the ceiling wall 7 is connected to the secondary sealing membrane 22 of the chimney wall 17 using an angle iron secondary connection angle 31.
• the secondary connection angle 31 comprises a first secondary wing 32 and a second secondary wing 33 connected to the first secondary wing 32, the first secondary wing 32 being connected to the secondary sealing membrane 22 of the wall of the ceiling 7 and the second secondary wing 33 being connected to the secondary sealing membrane 22 of the chimney wall 17, as shown in .
• the secondary sealing membrane 22 is capable of transmitting to the secondary connection angle 31 compressive and tensile forces related to the work of the secondary sealing membrane 22. These forces are particularly significant at the level of of the front longitudinal end edge 20 of the opening 12, which is the edge of the opening 12 located between the chimney 16 and the front cofferdam wall in the longitudinal direction L. Indeed, due to the placement of the chimney 16 close to the rear cofferdam wall 8, the longitudinal dimension of the secondary sealing membrane 22 of the ceiling wall 7 between the chimney 16 and the front cofferdam wall is much larger than the longitudinal dimension of the secondary sealing 22 between the chimney 16 and the rear cofferdam wall 8 which leads to greater forces at the level of the front longitudinal end edge 20 during deformation of the hull or thermal contraction.
• these forces on the front longitudinal end edge 20 are particularly significant due to the orientation of the secondary sealing membrane 22.
• the secondary sealing membrane 22 is oriented so that the central portion plane 27 of the strakes extends in the longitudinal direction L of the vessel 70. Thus, no zone making it possible to absorb the tensile and compressive forces is provided in this direction.
• a special support structure is provided along the front longitudinal end edge 20 extending in the transverse direction T which will be detailed later.
• This particular support structure is formed of an insulating corner box 34, a longitudinal fixing support 35 anchored to the upper load-bearing wall 4 and a transverse fixing support 36 anchored to the coaming load-bearing wall 19.
• the ceiling wall 7 comprises a plurality of longitudinal metal fixing supports 35 juxtaposed in the transverse direction T, extending at a distance from each other preferably at a regular interval, along the edge 20 of the opening 12.
• the chimney wall 17 comprises a plurality of transverse metal fixing supports 36 juxtaposed in the transverse direction T, extending at a distance from each other preferably at a regular interval, along the edge 20 of the opening 12.
• the storage installation finally comprises an insulating corner box 34 forming a rectangular parallelepiped and being located in the extension of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 21 of the ceiling wall 7 and of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 21 of the chimney wall 17 at the edge 20 of the opening 12 so that the insulating corner box 34 is juxtaposed on the one hand with a longitudinal fixing support 35 and on the other hand with a transverse fixing support 36, as visible on there notably.
• Each longitudinal fixing support 35 comprises a cap 37 extending in the longitudinal direction L and which is welded to a foot 38.
• the foot 38 is anchored to the upper load-bearing wall 4 for example by welding or screwing.
• the longitudinal fixing support 35 thus has a seat length extending in the longitudinal direction L, measured at the level of the fixing of the foot 38 to the supporting structure and making it possible to oppose tilting and bending in this direction. .
• each transverse fixing support 36 comprises a cap 37 extending in the height direction H and which is welded to a foot 38.
• the foot 38 is anchored to the coaming bearing wall 19 for example by welding or screwing.
• longitudinal fixing brackets 35 are arranged, and in the other zones, that is to say when the strakes 26 extend parallel to an edge of the opening 12, transverse fixing brackets 36 are arranged. This is why, at the level of the front longitudinal end edge 20, longitudinal fixing brackets 35 are arranged on the upper load-bearing wall 4 while at the level of a transverse end edge, transverse fixing brackets 36 are arranged on the upper load-bearing wall 4.
• transverse fixing brackets 36 are placed on each coaming bearing wall 19.
• the foot 38 of the longitudinal fixing support 35 is made in the form of an H-section beam (shape of section in a plane orthogonal to the direction of thickness) comprising a first plate 39, subsequently called fixing plate 39, adjacent to the insulating corner box 34 and a second plate separated from the first plate 39 in the longitudinal direction L by a connecting plate.
• the spacing in the longitudinal direction L between the first plate 39 and the second plate at the level of the upper load-bearing wall 4 corresponds to the seat length.
• the foot 38 of the transverse fixing support 36 has a shorter seat length than the foot 38 of the longitudinal fixing support 35, as seen in , and may be formed of a support plate supporting the cap 37 and a fixing plate 39 adjacent to the corner insulating box 34.
• section for the foot 38 can also be used provided they offer a sufficient moment of inertia.
• the secondary thermally insulating barrier 21 of the ceiling wall 7 and of the chimney wall 17 comprises secondary end insulating blocks 40.
• Each secondary insulating end block 40 is interposed between two fixing supports 35, 36 adjacent in the transverse direction T.
• a secondary stop plate 41 is fixed, for example using mastic, not shown, to the upper surface of each block secondary end insulation 40.
• the secondary waterproofing membrane 22 of the ceiling wall 7 also comprises a secondary metal fixing plate 42 which is fixed to the upper surface of the secondary stop plate 41.
• the first wing secondary 32 of the secondary connecting angle 31 is welded to a first portion of the secondary metal fixing plate 42 while the strakes 26 interrupted by the opening 12 are welded to a second portion of the secondary metal fixing plate 42, as particularly illustrated in .
• the secondary stop plate 41 is for its part fixed at each of its transverse ends to a cap 37 for example by two studs.
• the longitudinal fixing support 35 comprises an abutment device 43 fixed to the cap 37.
• the secondary stop plate 41 is thus held in position in the longitudinal direction L by, on the one hand, the abutment device 43 and, on the other hand, by the fixing plate 39 of the foot 38.
• the secondary stop plate 41 is rigidly supported by the fixing brackets longitudinal 35 in the longitudinal direction L and in the direction of thickness, which makes it possible to take up the tensile or compressive force that can be exerted by the secondary sealing membrane 22 of the ceiling wall 7 in operation.
• the corner insulating box 34 is on the one hand anchored to the fixing plate 39 of a longitudinal fixing support 35 using a first fixing device 44 and on the other hand anchored to the fixing plate 39 of a transverse fixing support 36 using a second fixing device 48.
• a side face 45 of the corner insulating box 34 comprises a first protrusion 46 and a second protrusion 47.
• the first fixing device 44 comprises a stud 49 fixed to the fixing plate 39 of the longitudinal fixing support 35 and a support element 50 mounted on the stud 49 and resting on a support surface of the first protuberance 46.
• the second fixing device 48 comprises a stud 49 fixed to the fixing plate 39 of the transverse fixing support 36 and a support element 50 mounted on the stud 49 and resting on a support surface of the second protuberance 47.
• the secondary connecting angle 31 is placed against the insulating corner box 34, as visible on the , so that the first secondary wing 32 is against one of the faces of the insulating corner box 34 and the second secondary wing 33 is against another of the faces of the insulating corner box 34.
• the first secondary wing 32 and the second secondary wing 33 are each fixed to the insulating corner box 34 using an anchor plate 51 shown in .
• the thermally primary barrier 23 of the ceiling wall 7 and of the chimney wall 17 comprises a primary insulating panel 29 located to the right of the end secondary insulating block 40.
• the primary insulating panel 29 of the ceiling wall 7 in line with the secondary end insulating block 40 is fixed to one of the longitudinal fixing supports 35 using an anchoring device 52, as seen in particular in .
• the primary insulating panel 29 has an orifice formed at a distance from a corner of the primary insulating panel 29 in the foam, the bottom plate and the cover plate, the corner being located to the right of the corner insulating box 34.
• a cleat is fixed to the bottom plate and the anchoring device 52 is arranged in the orifice so as to come to rest on the cleat and to be fixed on the cap 37 of the said longitudinal fixing support 35.
• the anchoring device 52 comprises a base fixed to the cap 37, a stud fixed to said base and developing along the direction of thickness and passing through in a sealed manner an orifice of the secondary sealing membrane 22, and an element of support mounted on the stud and resting on a support surface of the cleat so as to retain the primary insulating panel 29 to the longitudinal fixing support 35.
• the support element is for example made in the form of a retained plate to the stud using a nut.
• the orifice of the secondary sealing membrane 22 is provided through the secondary metal fixing plate 42.
• the anchoring device 52 further comprises a sealing washer which is engaged on the stud and comprises a flange fixed in leaktight manner to the secondary sealing membrane 22 around the orifice of the secondary sealing membrane 22 and a deformable gasket sealingly connecting the sealing washer to the stud so as to allow relative movement between the sealing washer and the stud.
• the stud has an anchoring shoulder projecting radially outward from the stud.
• the deformable seal is welded in a sealed manner, on the one hand, to the sealing washer and, on the other hand, to the anchoring shoulder of the stud, which makes it possible to ensure the sealing of the crossing of the stud through the secondary sealing membrane 22.
• the sealed connection between the secondary sealing membrane 22 and the stud is flexible, which allows relative movements of the primary insulating panel 29 and of the secondary insulating block of end 40 with respect to the secondary sealing membrane 22 and thus makes it possible to limit the risks of degradation of the sealing of said secondary sealing membrane 22.
• the anchoring device 52 is also equipped a bell which has an orifice in which the stud is threaded and which covers said deformable seal.
• the primary insulating panel 29 of the chimney wall 17 in line with the secondary end insulating block 40 is also fixed to the cap 37 of one of the transverse fixing supports 36 using the same anchoring device 52 , as seen in .
• the storage installation also comprises a primary corner insulating assembly 53 which is located in the extension of the primary thermally insulating barrier 23 of the ceiling wall 7 and of the primary thermally insulating barrier 23 of the chimney wall 17 at the level of the edge 20 of the opening 12, as shown in .
• the primary corner insulating assembly 53 is located against the secondary connection bracket 31 so as to be fixed to the corner insulating box 34.
• the primary corner insulating assembly 53 comprises a lower face 54 forming a 90° angle so as to marry the form of the secondary connecting angle 31, the lower face 54 being fixed to the corner insulating box 34 using an anchoring device 52 in line with the first secondary wing 32 and using an anchoring device 52 to the right of the second secondary wing 33.
• the primary corner insulator assembly 53 also includes a chamfered upper face 55 forming an angle of 135°.
• the storage installation also includes a primary connecting angle 56, visible in FIGS. 6 and 7, fixed to the chamfered upper face 55 of the primary corner insulating assembly 53.
• the primary connecting angle 56 is welded with a on the one hand to the primary sealing membrane 24 of the ceiling wall 7 and on the other hand to the primary sealing membrane 24 of the chimney wall 17.
• the primary corner insulating assembly 53 can be formed of two elements insulators assembled together as shown in or formed of three insulating elements assembled together as shown in .
• the anchoring device 52 here comprises a flange forming an integral part of the stud, that is to say that the flange is made in the mass at the same time as the rest of the stud and thus form a one and the same piece.
• the flange thus projects radially outwards from the stud and is welded in a sealed manner to the secondary sealing membrane 22 around the orifice of the secondary sealing membrane 22.
• the device for anchor 52 has no deformable seal, bell or anchor shoulder.
• 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 tank 71 comprises a primary leaktight barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary leaktight barrier arranged between the primary leaktight barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and two insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary waterproof barrier and the secondary waterproof barrier and between the secondary waterproof barrier and the double hull 72.
• loading/unloading pipes 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a maritime or port terminal to transfer a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.
• the loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a mobile arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the mobile arm 74.
• the mobile arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 which can be connected to the loading/unloading pipes 73.
• the orientable mobile arm 74 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 shore installation 77.
• This 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 ship 70 and/or pumps fitted to the shore installation 77 and/or pumps fitted to the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

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• 2021
  • 2021-09-07 FR FR2109371A patent/FR3126688B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-09-06 CN CN202280059799.4A patent/CN117940699A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-09-06 JP JP2024512997A patent/JP2024533072A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-09-06 WO PCT/EP2022/074721 patent/WO2023036769A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2022-09-06 KR KR1020247008950A patent/KR20240058875A/ko active Pending
  • 2022-09-06 EP EP22773234.4A patent/EP4399434A1/fr not_active Withdrawn

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