Classifications

• • 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
• • 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
• • 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
  • B63B27/30—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
• • 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
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/01—Mounting arrangements
  • F17C2205/0153—Details of mounting arrangements
  • F17C2205/018—Supporting feet
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0352—Pipes
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0352—Pipes
  • F17C2205/0367—Arrangements in parallel
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0379—Manholes or access openings for human beings
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• • 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
  • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
  • F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
  • F17C2227/0107—Propulsion of the fluid by pressurising the ullage
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water
  • F17C2270/0105—Ships
  • F17C2270/0107—Wall panels

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating membrane tanks.
• 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 approximately -162°C.
• LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
• the liquefied gas can also be, for example, ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ethanol or even ethylene.
• These tanks can be installed on land or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be intended for the transport of liquefied gas or to receive liquefied gas used as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.
• the loading/unloading tower has a tripod structure, i.e. it has three vertical masts which are each fixed to each other by crosspieces. Each of the vertical masts is hollow. Thus, two of the masts form a line for unloading the tank and to do this each are associated with an unloading pump carried by the loading/unloading tower, close to its lower end.
• the third mast forms an emergency well allowing the descent of an emergency pump and an unloading line in the event of failure of the other unloading pumps.
• the loading/unloading tower also carries loading lines which are not one of the three masts. Such loading/unloading towers are for example described in the document WO2019211551.
• a tank can include one or more loading/unloading towers depending on the case.
• the loading/unloading tower is also equipped with a base which is attached to the lower end of the three masts and which supports the unloading pumps.
• the loading/unloading tower further comprises a guide device which is fixed against the underside of the base and which cooperates with a support foot which is fixed to the bottom wall of the supporting structure.
• a guide device aims to allow the relative movements of the loading/unloading tower with respect to the support leg in the height direction of the tank in order to allow the loading/unloading tower to contract or to expand in depending on the temperatures to which it is subjected while preventing horizontal movements of the base of the loading/unloading tower.
• One idea underlying the invention is to simplify the sealed and thermally insulating tank and in particular the structure crossing the tank formed by the loading and unloading pipes while taking into account the phenomena of thermal contraction and expansion of the pipes.
• the invention provides a sealed and thermally insulating liquefied gas storage tank integrated into a supporting structure, the tank comprising a bottom wall and a ceiling wall opposite the bottom wall in a height direction of the tank, the bottom wall and the ceiling wall being fixed to the supporting structure, in which the ceiling wall is crossed by at least a first pipe and a second pipe, in which the tank is equipped with a support foot passing through the bottom wall and fixed to the supporting structure, and with a guiding device fixed to the supporting foot, the guiding device being configured to ensure guiding in translation in the height direction of the first pipe and of the second pipe, wherein the guide device comprises a first collar disposed all around the first pipe, a second collar disposed all around the second pipe, a support plate fixed to the support foot, a first connecting arm connecting the first collar to the support plate, and a second link arm connecting the second collar to the support plate.
• the pipes are guided directly by the guide device which is itself fixed to the support foot, without requiring an intermediary as in the prior art with the base of the loading/unloading tower.
• each of the pipes is individually guided by each of the collars.
• the guiding device makes it possible to guide the lower end of the pipes in translation according to the height direction of the tank independently of one another. Clamps also help prevent the lower end of the lines from shifting.
• the connecting arms and the support plate make it possible to transfer the forces undergone by the pipes which would have a component in the plane parallel to the bottom wall, to the support foot.
• such a tank may comprise one or more of the following characteristics.
• stiffeners are formed along the first connecting arm and/or the second connecting arm.
• the first connecting arm and/or the second connecting arm comprises a connecting tube, preferably of circular section, comprising a first end and a second end, and a base connected to the first end of the tube connection, the base being fixed, for example by screwing or welding, to the support plate.
• one end of at least one of the stiffeners is located against the base of the first link arm or of the second link arm.
• one end of at least one of the stiffeners formed on the first connecting arm is located against the first collar, preferably welded to the first collar.
• one end of at least one of the stiffeners formed on the second connecting arm is located against the second collar, preferably welded to the second collar.
• the stiffeners comprise primary stiffeners and secondary stiffeners, the primary stiffeners extending from the first or second collar to the base of the first link arm or of the second link arm, the secondary stiffeners comprising a first end located against the first or second collar and a second end located at a non-zero distance from the base of the first or second connecting arm.
• the stiffeners are distributed all around the connecting tube according to a regular angular pitch.
• the stiffeners make it possible to increase the stiffness and in particular the resistance to bending of the connecting arms.
• the stiffeners are formed in the form of a gusset.
• the first collar comprises a first cylindrical portion fixed to the first connecting arm and a second cylindrical portion fixed to said first cylindrical portion of the first collar.
• the collar has the shape of a right cylinder with a circular, square or rectangular base, preferably with a circular base.
• the second collar comprises a first cylindrical portion fixed to the second connecting arm and a second cylindrical portion fixed to said first cylindrical portion of the second collar.
• the second cylindrical portion is fixed to the first cylindrical portion in a removable manner, by bolting.
• an internal surface of the first collar and/or an internal surface of the second collar is equipped with at least one anti-friction pad extending for example in the height direction.
• an internal surface of the first collar and/or an internal surface of the second collar is equipped with a plurality of anti-friction pads extending for example in the direction of height and distributed uniformly on the internal surface.
• the anti-friction buffer is made of a material whose coefficient of static friction on steel is less than or equal to 0.2, preferably less than or equal to 0.1, for example equal to 0.04 in the case of Teflon anti-friction pad
• the first pipe is a liquefied gas loading pipe connected to a loading pump and the second pipe is a liquefied gas unloading pipe connected to an unloading pump.
• the guide device is a main guide device, and in which the ceiling wall is crossed by at least one third pipe, the tank being equipped with at least one secondary guide device, the secondary guide being fixed to the first pipe or to the second pipe, the secondary guide device being configured to ensure a guide in translation according to the direction of height of the third pipe, and in which the secondary guide device comprises a third collar disposed all around the third pipe, a third connecting arm connecting the third collar to the first pipe or to the second pipe.
• the tank comprises, in a thickness direction from the outside towards the inside of the tank, at least one thermally insulating barrier and at least one sealing membrane supported by the thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in the tank.
• the tank successively comprises, in a direction of thickness from the outside towards the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against the load-bearing structure, a secondary sealing membrane anchored to the insulating elements of the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against the secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane anchored to the insulating elements of the primary thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in the tank.
• the invention also provides a vessel for the transport of a cold liquid product, the vessel comprising a double hull and an aforementioned tank arranged in the double hull, the vessel extending in a longitudinal direction.
• the first link arm and the second link arm extend orthogonally to the longitudinal direction.
• the liquefied gas storage tanks are subject to phenomena of sloshing of the cargo, called "sloshing" in English. These phenomena are likely to be very violent inside the vessel and consequently to generate significant forces in the vessel and in particular on its equipment, such as the first pipe and the second pipe. These sloshing phenomena are greater in a transverse direction of the ship, namely a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the ship.
• the guide device is capable of withstanding the main sloshing forces.
• the first link arm and the second link arm extend in an arm direction forming an angle between 75° and 105° with the longitudinal direction.
• the arm direction is contained in a plane parallel to the bottom wall.
• the first pipe and the second pipe are located on either side of a transverse plane passing through the support foot and which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, the support plate being positioned in a plane orthogonal to a transverse direction, the transverse direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
• the support plate is fixed to the support foot using at least two link plates, the link plates being positioned in a plane orthogonal to the direction of height, the link plates being arranged against the support plate in the longitudinal direction so as to stiffen the support plate in bending.
• the invention also provides a transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged so as to connect the tank installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating storage installation or land and a pump to cause a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or land storage facility to or from the tank of the ship.
• the invention also provides a method for loading or unloading such a ship, in which a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipes from or to a floating or terrestrial storage installation to or from the ship's tank.
• FIG. 1 There shows a partial sectional view of a watertight and thermally insulating tank according to one embodiment, comprising in particular on the ceiling wall a dome structure and a manhole structure, and on the bottom wall a support foot .
• FIG. 1 There is a partial top view of a bottom wall of the sealed and thermally insulating tank, comprising a support leg and a guide device according to one embodiment.
• FIG. 1 There is a perspective view of a support leg provided with a guide device according to a first embodiment.
• FIG. 1 There is a perspective view of a support leg provided with a guide device according to a second embodiment.
• the terms "internal” and “external” designate relative positions of elements of the sealed and thermally insulating tank 71 with respect to the interior of the tank, the so-called internal elements being closer to the interior. of the tank than the so-called external elements.
• a sealed and thermally insulating tank 71 for liquefied gas which is housed inside the support structure 1 and anchored thereto, the support structure 3 being for example formed by the double hull 72 of a ship 70, such than represented on the .
• Tank 71 is a membrane tank for storing liquefied gas.
• the tank 71 has a multilayer structure comprising, from the outside towards the inside along a direction of wall thickness, a secondary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against the supporting structure 1, a secondary sealing membrane resting against the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier comprising insulating elements resting against the secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane 2 intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank 71.
• the membrane of primary sealing 2 defines an internal space 3 intended to receive the liquefied gas.
• such membrane tanks are described in particular in patent applications WO14057221, FR2691520 and FR2877638.
• the liquefied gas intended to be stored in the tank 1 can in particular be a liquefied natural gas (LNG), that is to say a gas mixture mainly comprising methane as well as one or more other hydrocarbons.
• Liquefied gas can also be ethane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), i.e. a mixture of hydrocarbons resulting from petroleum refining comprising mainly propane and butane.
• the tank 71 is a polyhedral tank comprising in particular a ceiling wall 4 fixed to an upper load-bearing wall 5 of the load-bearing structure 1, and a bottom wall 6 fixed to a lower load-bearing wall 7 of the load-bearing structure 1, the ceiling wall 4 and the bottom wall 6 being spaced from each other in a direction of height H.
• the tank 71 also comprises a front wall and a rear wall 20, visible on the , spaced from the front wall in a longitudinal direction L.
• the tank 71 also comprises side walls which close the internal space 3 with the bottom wall 6, the ceiling wall 4, the front wall and the rear wall 20. The side walls are arranged on either side of the bottom wall 6 in a transverse direction T perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.
• the longitudinal direction L corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the vessel 70.
• the tank 71 comprises a dome structure 8 and a manhole structure 9, each structure 8, 9 passing through an opening made in the ceiling wall 4 and the upper load-bearing wall 5.
• the hole structure manhole 9 is located at a distance from the dome structure 8 as shown in the .
• the dome structure 8 allows in particular the liquefied gas loading and unloading pipes 10, 11 to pass through the ceiling wall 4 in a sealed manner.
• the manhole structure 9, for its part, makes it possible to maintain access for an operator who leads to the internal space 3 of the tank 1, for example for repair operations.
• the loading line 10 and the unloading line 11 open into the internal space 3 of the tank 1 in order to load or unload the latter with liquefied gas.
• a support foot 12 passing through the bottom wall 6 and fixed to the lower bearing wall 7.
• the support foot 12 is provided with a guide device 13 configured to ensure a guide in translation according to the direction of height of the loading pipe 10 and the unloading pipe 11, and maintain the loading and unloading pipes 10, 11 vertically in the axis of the dome structure 8.
• the support foot 12 is thus positioned close to the axis of the dome structure 8.
• the dome structure 8 and the support foot 12 are respectively located in a zone of the ceiling wall 4 and of the bottom wall 6 closer to the rear wall 20 than to the wall before, as shown in .
• the support foot 12 and the guide device 13 will be described in more detail below.
• Figures 2 to 5 show the support foot 12 equipped with a guide device 13 according to different embodiments.
• the support foot 12 has a shape of revolution with a circular section extending in the direction of height H, with a frustoconical lower part 14 which is connected at its end of smaller diameter to a cylindrical upper part 15.
• the larger diameter base of the frustoconical part 14 is fixed to the lower supporting wall 7 of the supporting structure 3.
• the lower frustoconical part 14 extends through the thickness of the bottom wall 6 of the tank 71 beyond from the level of the primary sealing membrane 2.
• the upper cylindrical part 15 is sealed in a sealed manner, for example using a circular plate.
• the secondary and primary sealing membranes 2 are connected in a sealed manner to the tapered lower part 14 using a secondary collar 16 and a primary collar 17.
• the guide device 13 is welded to the upper cylindrical part 15 of the support foot 12.
• the guide device 13 comprises a support plate 18 which is fixed to the upper cylindrical part 15 by means of two connecting plates 19, as seen in notably.
• the connecting plates 19 are for example welded on the one hand to the upper cylindrical part 15 and on the other hand to the support plate 18.
• the support plate 18 is positioned in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L while the plates connecting 19 are arranged parallel to each other in planes orthogonal to the direction of height H.
• the connecting plates 19 play a role both fixing the support plate 18 but also a role of stiffener.
• the guide device 13 also comprises a first link arm 21 and a second link arm 22.
• Each link arm 21, 22 comprises a base 23, for example in the form of a rectangular plate, which is fixed for example by screwing to the support plate 18.
• the base 23 of the first link arm 21 and the base 23 of the second link arm are arranged at two ends of the support plate 18.
• Each connecting arm 21, 22 further comprises a connecting tube 24 connected to the base 23 at a first end and extending along an axis parallel to the transverse direction T.
• the guide device 13 finally comprises a first collar 25 disposed all around the loading pipe 10 and fixed to a second end of the first connecting arm 21 and a second collar 26 placed all around the unloading pipe 11 and fixed to a second end of the second connecting arm 22.
• the first collar 25 and the second collar 26 have a central axis which is oriented vertically so as to guide the pipes 10, 11 in translation along the height direction of the tank.
• Each collar 25, 26 is formed of a first cylindrical portion 27 welded to the second end of the connecting tube 24.
• the first cylindrical portion 27 which comprises attachment zones 28 on either side of the first cylindrical portion 27
• Each collar 25, 26 is also formed of a second cylindrical portion 29 comprising attachment zones 28 on either side of the second cylindrical portion 29 and arranged opposite the attachment zones 28 of the first cylindrical portion 27.
• the first cylindrical portion 27 is removably fixed, by bolting, to the second cylindrical portion 29 so as to form a cylindrical collar surrounding one of the pipes 10, 11.
• the inner surface of the first collar 25 and the inner surface of the second collar 26 are equipped with a plurality of anti-friction pads 30 each extending in the height direction and evenly distributed on the inner surface.
• the anti-friction buffers 30 are configured to serve as a friction-limiting contact surface for the pipes 10, 11.
• the anti-friction buffers are made of a material chosen from, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
• stiffeners 31, 32 extending in the longitudinal direction of the connection arms 21, 22 are welded along the tubes of link 24.
• FIG. 1 There shows a first embodiment of the guide device 13 while Figures 4 and 5 show a second embodiment which differs in the number and arrangement of the stiffeners 31, 32 on the connecting tubes 24.
• the connecting tube 24 of the first connecting arm 21 comprises two primary stiffeners 31 arranged on either side of the connecting tube 24 as well as two primary stiffeners 31 positioned in a plane orthogonal to the direction of height H passing through the central axis of the connecting tube 24.
• the primary stiffeners 31 of the first connecting arm 21 further comprise a first end welded against the first collar 25 and a second end opposite the first end welded against the base 23 of the first connecting arm 21 so that the primary stiffeners 31 extend over the entire dimension of the connecting tube 24 taken in the longitudinal direction L.
• the connecting tube 24 of the second connecting arm 22 comprises two secondary stiffeners 32 arranged on either side of the connecting tube 24 as well as two secondary stiffeners 32 positioned in a plane orthogonal to the direction of height H passing through the axis of the connecting tube 24.
• the secondary stiffeners 32 of the second connecting arm 22 further comprise a first end welded against the second collar 26 and a second end opposite the first end located at a distance from the base 23 of the second connecting arm 22 so that the secondary stiffeners 32 extend over a portion of the dimension of the connecting tube 24 taken in the longitudinal direction L.
• connection tubes 24 can be equipped with at least two stiffeners 31, 32, the stiffeners possibly being exclusively primary 31 or secondary 32 stiffeners or else an alternation of primary stiffeners 31 and secondary stiffeners 32.
• the loading pipe 10 and secondary pipes 33 have been represented with the support foot 12 and the guide device 13.
• the loading pipe 10 thus passes the first collar 26 of the guide device 13.
• these are also guided in translation in the direction of height H using secondary guide devices 34.
• the secondary guide devices 34 comprise on the one hand a secondary collar 36 disposed all around one of the secondary pipes 33 and a secondary connecting arm 35 fixed on the one hand to the secondary collar 36 and on the other hand to the one of the pipes 10, 11.
• the secondary guide devices 35 are fixed to the loading pipe 10 and each secondary pipe 33 is guided by a plurality of secondary guide devices 35 distributed in the height direction H.
• 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)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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• 2021
  • 2021-10-27 FR FR2111402A patent/FR3128509B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-10-13 KR KR1020247012501A patent/KR20240088872A/ko active Pending
  • 2022-10-13 WO PCT/EP2022/078557 patent/WO2023072616A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2022-10-13 US US18/703,947 patent/US12578061B2/en active Active
  • 2022-10-13 JP JP2024525261A patent/JP2024540064A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-10-13 CN CN202280072784.1A patent/CN118176384A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-10-13 EP EP22801788.5A patent/EP4423421A1/fr active Pending
  • 2022-10-21 TW TW111139978A patent/TW202327960A/zh unknown

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