FR3059390A3 - MODULAR CRYOGENIC STORAGE - Google Patents

Abstract

Cuboid-shaped storage for containing a fluid at a cryogenic temperature consisting of a set of elements, forming a once assembled whole, each element (1, 2, 3, 4) being cuboid-shaped and comprising a framework consisting of by four vertical uprights, four horizontal uprights fixed at the top of the four uprights to form a horizontal rectangle and four horizontal uprights fixed at the bottom of the four uprights to form a horizontal rectangle, at least some of the elements (1,2) being coated with a sheet on a vertical wall, these elements being placed together to form a storage wall.

Description

The present invention relates to a modular storage for containing fluids at a cryogenic temperature.

Large atmospheric cryogenic storage facilities (> 1000 m3) are of "flat-bottomed" technology. Because of their size (10-20 m in diameter, 10-20m high), they are untransportable and must be mounted on site. The average assembly lasts about 10-12 months. In addition, once installed, it is impossible to move or play on their size. The invention proposes to use modular elements that can assemble a cryogenic storage quickly, the manufacture of the modules being made in the workshop and easily portable sizes, typically the size of a shipping container.

In addition, the modular aspect allows to increase or reduce their size, and also to easily disassemble them to install on another site.

Modular equipment is assembled from a few elements.

According to one object of the invention, a cuboid-shaped storage is provided for containing a fluid at a cryogenic temperature consisting of a set of elements, forming a once assembled whole, each element being cuboid-shaped and comprising a frame consisting of four vertical uprights, four horizontal uprights fixed at the top of the four vertical uprights to form a horizontal rectangle and four horizontal uprights fixed at the bottom of the four uprights to form a horizontal rectangle, at least some of the elements being coated with a sheet on a vertical wall, these elements being placed together to form a storage wall.

According to other optional aspects: the storage is constituted by at least four elements, or even at least nine elements the storage consists of elements each having the same frame dimensions at least one of the elements is not coated with sheet metal and does not have a vertical wall. the sheets covering the vertical walls and forming a storage wall carry or contain an insulation layer. the storage is intended to be placed on the ground and at least one element to a bottom elevated relative to the ground. storage intended to operate at atmospheric pressure, the maximum dimension of an element is less than, equal to or greater than the maximum dimension of a standardized container. at least one element wall forming part of a storage wall is concave or convex. the stored fluid is air, nitrogen, argon, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, helium or natural gas. the storage comprises at least one device for connecting the storage with the outside arranged in a cuboid-shaped element and comprising a framework consisting of four vertical uprights, four horizontal uprights fixed at the top of the four vertical uprights to form a horizontal rectangle and four horizontal uprights fixed at the bottom of the four uprights to form a horizontal rectangle, coated with a sheet on at least two vertical walls. The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the figures which illustrate a storage according to the invention (Figure 1) and building elements of a storage according to the invention (Figures 2a, 2b, 2c).

In Figure 1, the roof of each module is not shown.

The elementary elements are: • Corner elements 1 having two vertical walls made of sheet metal. • The wall elements 2 having a single vertical wall sheet. • The middle elements 3 with only a bottom and a roof. • More specific elements 4 (here represented empty) which group together all the connection elements with storage (pipes and valves), safety (valve, overflow, ...) and associated pumps (emergency, truck loading) ...), possibly the equipment related to the emergency spraying.

The square-based cuboid-shaped storage is constituted by four corner elements 1, eight wall elements 2, two of which are arranged between each pair of corner elements 1 and four middle elements 3 forming a cuboid with a square base to storage medium.

The storage has four external vertical walls but no internal vertical wall. Since each element has a square base of length L, the length and the width of the storage are each equal to 4L.

The storage may also comprise two elements 4 placed next to an outer wall. These can for example facilitate the protection and / or transport of liquid pumps from and / or sent to storage.

The height of the storage is preferably equal to the height of the elements 1, 2, 3 which have an identical height.

The two elements 4 do not store fluid.

Each element is constituted by a framework comprising four vertical uprights, four horizontal uprights fixed at the top of the four uprights to form a horizontal rectangle and four horizontal uprights fixed at the bottom of the four uprights to form a horizontal rectangle. Each horizontal rectangle can be a square.

Figure 2a shows an angle element 1 having two vertical walls of sheet metal and a bottom and a roof. It is therefore open on two vertical sides.

Figure 2b shows a wall element 2 having a single vertical sheet wall as well as a bottom and a roof. It is therefore open on three vertical sides.

Figure 2c shows a middle element 3 with only a bottom and a roof 3. It is open on each vertical side. The assembly can be made by welding or preferably by a mechanical system with a cryogenic compatible seal and produced to facilitate scalability and ease of disassembly.

The structure (at least the one that is in contact with the liquid) will be in a material that is mechanically resistant to low temperature. The insulation (for elements 1 to 3) will be integrated into walls and structures exposed to the surrounding environment, for example using vacuum panels. The insulation of element 4 may be more traditional (perlite, glass wool filling or rock) or integrated vacuum panels to walls, or a combination of insulation solutions, depending on the accessibility required for the bodies concerned.

The walls will be flat, or "curved" outward or inward (convex or concave) if it comes more easily contain the pressure. The solution "convex" inward facilitates the transport (the wall does not exceed the "carrier" structure).

The bottom of each element can be raised relative to the structure so as to limit the impompables (for example, to have a sufficient height of load to the pumps). Civil engineering can remain simple: only one flat slab.

One can imagine several levels of elements if one wishes to make a higher storage. The elements can be arranged vertically and / or horizontally.

The number of element types being reduced and the construction of any storage being possible using the same elements, it is possible to consider the construction in quasi-series, in particular to reduce costs and delays.

Claims (9)

claims A cuboid-shaped storage for containing a fluid at a cryogenic temperature consisting of a set of elements, forming a once assembled whole, each element being cuboid-shaped and comprising a framework consisting of four uprights, four uprights horizontal members fixed at the top of the four vertical uprights to form a horizontal rectangle and four horizontal uprights fixed at the bottom of the four uprights to form a horizontal rectangle, at least some of the elements being coated with a sheet on a vertical wall, these elements being placed together to form a storage wall. 2. Storage according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the elements is not coated with sheet metal and has no vertical wall. 3. Storage according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the sheets coating the vertical walls and forming a wall of the storage carry or contain an insulation layer. 4. Storage according to one of the preceding claims wherein the storage is intended to be placed on the ground and at least one element has a raised bottom relative to the ground. 5. Storage according to one of the preceding claims for operating at atmospheric pressure. 6. Storage according to one of the preceding claims wherein the maximum dimension of an element is less than, equal to or greater than the maximum dimension of a standardized container. 7. Storage according to one of the preceding claims wherein at least one element wall forming part of a wall of the storage is concave or convex. 8. Storage according to one of the preceding claims wherein the stored fluid is air, nitrogen, argon, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen helium or natural gas. 9. Storage according to one of the preceding claims comprising devices for connecting the storage with the outside disposed in a cuboid-shaped element and comprising a frame consisting of four vertical uprights, four horizontal uprights fixed at the top of the four vertical uprights for forming a horizontal rectangle and four horizontal uprights fixed at the bottom of the four vertical uprights to form a horizontal rectangle, optionally coated with a sheet on at least one vertical wall.