FR3069043A1 - SEALED AND THERMALLY INSULATING TANK WITH CURVED SUPPORT BAND - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulating tank integrated in a supporting structure forming a ridge, the vessel having two tank walls carried on the supporting structure connected by an angle structure at the edge, each wall of vessel having a thermally insulating barrier forming a support surface for receiving a sealed membrane, the vessel angle structure having a curved support strip (12) resting on the thermally insulating barrier of the vessel walls, the structure of angle further comprising a watertight angle membrane (18) resting on the support strip (12) and sealingly connecting the sealed membrane of the two vessel walls, said angle-sealing membrane (18) having at least one bellows angle-expanding device arranged to provide an elongation of the angle-sealing membrane (18) at least in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the load-bearing structure is.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks for the storage and / or transport of fluid, such as a cryogenic fluid.

Sealed and thermally insulating tanks are used in particular for the transport and / or storage of various liquefied gases. Liquefied gas is generally stored at atmospheric pressure or under pressure. These tanks can be installed on the ground or on a floating structure.

Technological background

We know, for example from FR-A-2798358, FR-A-2709725 or 10 FR-A-2549575, storage or transport tanks for liquefied gases at low temperature including the or each waterproof membrane, in particular a primary waterproof membrane in contact with the product contained in the tank, consists of thin metal sheets which are carried by a thermally insulating barrier. These thin metal sheets are connected to each other in a sealed manner in order to ensure the tightness of the tank.

In such tanks, the thermally insulating barrier carrying the waterproof membrane comprises a plurality of anchoring wings developing longitudinally or transversely in the tank. These anchoring wings protrude from an upper surface of the thermally insulating barrier. The waterproof membrane 20 consists of a plurality of strakes with raised edges each arranged longitudinally between two adjacent anchoring wings. Each raised edge of a strake is tightly welded to one of the anchoring wings between which said strake is disposed. Thus, each edge raised from the strakes constitutes with the anchoring wing on which it is anchored an expansion bellows which can deform 25 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the strake. These expansion bellows make it possible to absorb the deformations of the waterproof membrane in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the strakes, for example during a contraction of the waterproof membrane linked to a variation in temperature during the insertion of liquid. cryogenic in the tank.

However, the expansion bellows make it possible to absorb the deformations of the membrane in the only direction perpendicular to said expansion bellows. To take up the stresses exerted by the membrane in a direction parallel to the expansion bellows, the edges of the waterproof membranes perpendicular to the expansion bellows are anchored to the support structure by means of a rigid angle structure. Such a rigid corner structure comprises rigid anchor plates directly anchored to the support structure and crossing the thermally insulating barrier. The edges of the waterproof membrane are anchored on these anchoring plates so that the rigid angle structure can take up the tension of the membrane in a direction perpendicular to the expansion bellows.

However, such a rigid corner structure is complex to produce and to integrate into a tank, in particular, within the framework of a tank comprising two waterproof membranes and two superimposed thermally insulating barriers. Indeed, the secondary waterproof barrier at the level of the angle of the tank is formed by the rigid angle structure produced using rigid plates. The thermally insulating barrier must also be anchored to the supporting structure, including at the level of the corner structure, requiring the thermally insulating barrier to be mounted on the complex supporting structure.

It is also known from document FR2780942 a rigid corner structure disposed at the level of a thermally insulating barrier resting directly on the support structure. However, this corner structure, in addition to being complex to construct, cannot be used in a simple manner in the context of a primary thermally insulating barrier of a double membrane tank.

There are also watertight and thermally insulating tanks, the waterproof membrane of which is formed from embossed sheet metal, for example in the form of metal plates having corrugations. Thus, the document EP2306064 describes a sealed membrane tank formed of embossed sheets including at the level of the corner of the tank. For this, the device describes a corner structure forming a support surface for the corner waterproof membrane. However, this corner structure must make it possible to support the loads present in the corner of the tank and must therefore have significant structural strength.

summary

An idea underlying a first object of the invention is to provide a waterproof and thermally insulating tank which is simple to produce and easy to integrate into a support structure including at the corners of the tank. In particular, an idea underlying the first object of the invention is to produce a sealed and thermally insulating tank having a freedom of design of the corner structure, at the level of the thermally insulating barrier and / or of the waterproof membrane. . In addition, an idea underlying the first object of the invention is also to allow a deformation of the waterproof membrane in a direction perpendicular to an edge of the support structure while proposing a waterproof membrane that is simple to manufacture and to integrate into a load-bearing structure.

According to the first object, the invention provides a sealed and thermally insulating tank integrated into a support structure, said support structure comprising a first flat support wall and a second planar support wall intersecting at an edge of the support structure, the tank comprising a first vessel wall carried by the first plane support wall, a second vessel wall carried by the second plane carrier wall and a corner structure connecting said first and second vessel walls at the edge of the carrier structure , each tank wall comprising successively from the support structure towards the interior of the tank a thermally insulating barrier and a waterproof membrane, the thermally insulating barrier of each tank wall comprising a plurality of insulating blocks juxtaposed and anchored on the flat support wall carrying said tank wall to form a support surface intended receiving the waterproof membrane, the waterproof membrane of each tank wall comprising a plurality of metal plates anchored on the support surface.

According to one embodiment, the angle structure of the tank comprises a curved support strip whose concavity is turned towards the inside of the tank and developing parallel to the edge of the support structure, said support strip comprising a first longitudinal edge resting on the thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall and a second longitudinal edge resting on the thermally insulating barrier of the second tank wall so as to form a continuous support surface between the support surface formed by the thermally insulating barrier of the first vessel wall and the support surface formed by the thermally insulating barrier of the second vessel wall, the corner structure further comprising a sealed corner membrane resting on the curved support strip and connecting the waterproof membrane of the first tank wall and the waterproof membrane of the second me vessel wall, said corner waterproof membrane comprising at least one corner expansion bellows arranged on the support strip to provide an elongation of the corner waterproof membrane at least in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the load-bearing structure.

Such a support strip forms a support surface offering great freedom in making the waterproof corner membrane, said waterproof corner membrane resting directly on the support strip. Thus, it is possible to produce a waterproof corner membrane having at least one expansion bellows making it possible to absorb the deformations of the membrane in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the support structure.

In addition, this corner waterproof membrane does not require a rigid anchoring link with the supporting structure. Indeed, the support strip being supported on the thermally insulating barriers of the flat walls of the tank, the hydrostatic and dynamic load in the tank at the level of the corner structure is transmitted by the support strip and the thermally insulating barriers of the tank on which said support strip rests. Thus, it is not necessary to produce a complex angle structure such as that known from the prior art to take up the hydrostatic and dynamic load in the tank at the level of the angle structure. Furthermore, such a support strip not being directly anchored to the support structure does not generate thermal bridges between the waterproof membrane resting on the support strip and the support structure.

According to embodiments, such a sealed and thermally insulating tank may include one or more of the following characteristics.

According to one embodiment, the thermally insulating barrier of each tank wall comprises a row of end insulating blocks on which rests in a sliding manner in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the supporting structure respectively the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the support strip.

According to one embodiment, one, several or each said end insulating block of the row of end insulating blocks has a cover panel comprising a counterbore in which the corresponding longitudinal edge of the support strip is housed.

Thus, the waterproof membrane and the corner waterproof membrane rest on a continuous support surface formed jointly by the support strip and the support surfaces of the row of end insulating blocks.

According to one embodiment, the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the support strip are anchored respectively on the thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall and of the second tank wall.

According to one embodiment, the end of at least one longitudinal edge of the support strip comprises a recess in a thickness direction of the support strip, the tank further comprising a retaining plate fixed to the panel. cover of the end insulating block comprising the counterbore in which said end of the longitudinal edge of the support strip is housed, said retaining plate being fixed on said cover panel at said counterbore and covering the recess of the end of the support strip so that said end of the support strip is interposed between a bottom of the countersink of the end insulating block and the retaining plate. Thus, the support strip is anchored in a direction perpendicular to the support structure, ensuring good support of said support strip on the thermally insulating barrier of the tank wall.

According to one embodiment, one among the retaining plate and the end of the longitudinal edge of the support strip covered by said retaining plate has an oblong hole developing perpendicular to the edge and the other among the plate retaining and the end of the longitudinal edge of the support strip covered by said retaining plate comprises a lug housed in the oblong hole so as to block in movement along the edge of the supporting structure the support strip while authorizing the displacement of the support strip in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the supporting structure. Thus, the support strip is held in position along the edge of the support structure.

According to one embodiment, the waterproof corner membrane is anchored on the support strip. Such an anchoring allows the angle waterproof membrane to be held on the support strip. Such maintenance is particularly important in the presence of an overpressure in the thermally insulating barrier, for example during a tightness test of the waterproof membrane consisting in putting the thermally insulating barrier in overpressure. Indeed, the waterproof membrane of each tank wall being anchored on the thermally insulating barrier of said tank wall, the waterproof corner membrane could deform towards the inside of the tank facing such an overpressure in the absence of anchoring of the corner waterproof membrane on the support strip.

According to one embodiment, the waterproof angia membrane is anchored to the support strip at one or more points or continuously along an anchoring line parallel to the edge of the support structure.

According to one embodiment, the support strip comprises a plurality of metal anchoring members arranged along an anchoring line, the angle waterproof membrane being welded to said anchoring members in a punctual manner along the anchor line.

According to one embodiment, the corner waterproof membrane comprises several parallel expansion bellows and the corner waterproof membrane is anchored on an anchoring strip separating two successive support strips along the edge between two expansion bellows of the waterproof corner membrane.

Thanks to these characteristics, the anchoring of the corner waterproof membrane on the support strip does not disturb the work in elongation of the expansion bellows of the corner waterproof membrane.

According to one embodiment, the corner waterproof membrane comprises corrugations developing perpendicular to the edge of the support structure, these corrugations and the expansion bellows of the corner waterproof membrane being crossed.

According to one embodiment, the thermally insulating barrier of each tank wall is a primary thermally insulating barrier and the insulating blocks are primary insulating blocks and the waterproof membrane of each tank wall is a primary waterproof membrane, the support strip for the corner structure being a primary support strip and the corner waterproof membrane of the corner structure being a primary corner waterproof membrane, the tank further comprising a secondary thermally insulating barrier anchored on the support structure and a secondary waterproof membrane carried by the thermally secondary barrier, the primary insulating blocks being carried by the secondary waterproof membrane and anchored directly or indirectly to the support structure.

According to one embodiment, the secondary thermally insulating barrier of each tank wall comprises a plurality of secondary insulating blocks juxtaposed and anchored on the support structure to form a secondary support surface intended to receive the secondary waterproof membrane, the secondary waterproof membrane of each tank wall comprising a plurality of metal plates anchored on the secondary support surface, the tank corner structure comprising a curved secondary support strip whose concavity is turned towards the interior of the tank and developing parallel to the edge of the supporting structure, said secondary support strip comprising a first secondary longitudinal edge resting on the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall and a second secondary longitudinal edge resting on the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the second wall of the tank so as to form a continuous secondary support surface between the secondary support surface formed by the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall and the secondary support surface formed by the thermally insulating barrier of the second tank wall, the structure d angle further comprising a waterproof membrane of secondary angle slidingly resting in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the support structure on the curved secondary support strip and sealingly connecting the secondary waterproof membrane of the first vessel wall and the secondary waterproof membrane of the second vessel wall, said secondary corner waterproof membrane comprising at least one secondary expansion bellows arranged on the secondary support strip to provide an elongation of the secondary waterproof membrane at least in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the supporting structure.

According to one embodiment, the corner structure further comprises a row of primary corner insulating blocks, one, several or each said primary corner insulating block comprises a first lateral element having a first lateral face attached to a block primary end insulation of the first tank wall and a first bottom face resting on the secondary waterproof membrane, and a second lateral element comprising a second lateral face attached to a hlnr icrJorif d'ovfrômifia nrimair »He | q H ch lyiàmc nprni d "rii \ /" of lino doi iviomo fano K / IWW IWlCil il V / \ LI WI "lliv II l IWli V · C * M ννιΛινι i IV IWW" WW Wl> V "i W Wl IIVI ww of restful background on the secondary waterproof membrane of the second tank wall, said primary corner insulating block further comprising a spacer connecting the first lateral element and the second lateral element, said spacer being arranged for mena manage a space between the primary corner insulating block and the secondary waterproof membrane, said space accommodating said at least one secondary expansion bellows of the secondary corner membrane.

According to one embodiment, the spacer comprises a bottom plate joined to the first bottom face and the second bottom face and inclined relative to the first load-bearing wall and to the second load-bearing wall, the first bottom face and the second bottom face of the primary corner insulating block resting on the secondary waterproof membrane while being spaced from the at least one secondary expansion bellows of the secondary corner waterproof membrane so that said lower face is distant from said at least one bellows secondary expansion of the secondary corner waterproof membrane.

According to one embodiment, the corner structure further comprises an insulating padding disposed between the lower plate of the spacer and the secondary corner waterproof membrane.

Such corner insulating blocks provide a space for accommodating the expansion bellows or bellows of the secondary corner waterproof membrane. Thus, such corner insulating blocks offer a great freedom of realization of the secondary corner waterproof membrane while ensuring the thermal insulation of the tank at the corner structure.

According to one embodiment, the spacer further comprises an upper plate adjoining the first side face and the second side face and inclined relative to the first support wall and to the second support wall, the corner insulating block comprising furthermore an insulating padding resting on the upper plate and having a curved top face matching the primary support strip, the primary support strip resting on said insulating padding. Thus, the corner structure also provides good thermal insulation. In addition, this insulating padding can participate in the transmission of the hydrostatic and dynamic load undergone by the primary support strip if it is rigid.

An idea underlying a second object of the invention is to provide a waterproof and thermally insulating tank in which two successive waterproof membranes can be produced independently of one another in a corner of the tank.

According to the second object, the invention also provides a sealed and thermally insulating tank integrated into a support structure, said structure comprising a first planar support wall and a second planar support wall jointly forming an edge of the support structure, the tank comprising from the supporting structure towards the interior of the tank a secondary thermally insulating barrier anchored on the carrying structure, a secondary waterproof membrane carried by the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier carried by the secondary waterproof membrane and a primary waterproof membrane carried by the primary thermally insulating barrier, the vessel comprising a first vessel wall carried by the first plane support wall and a second vessel wall carried by the second plane carrier wall, the primary thermally insulating barrier of each vessel wall comprising a plurality of parallelepipedal insulating blocks juxtaposed, the insulating blocks of the primary thermally insulating barrier having lateral faces developing in a plane intersecting the corresponding bearing wall, the primary insulating barrier comprising a corner insulating block, said corner insulating block comprising a first lateral element and a second lateral element connected by a spacer element, the corner insulating block further comprising an insulating lining arranged between the first lateral element and the second lateral element, the first lateral element comprising a first face of bottom and a first lateral face, the first bottom face being parallel to the first load-bearing wall and resting on the secondary waterproof membrane, the first lateral face developing from the first bottom face in the direction of the primary waterproof membrane parallel and so attached to a side face of an insulating block of the primary thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall, the second lateral element comprising a second bottom face and a second lateral face, the second bottom face being parallel to the second load-bearing wall and resting on the secondary waterproof membrane, the second lateral face developing from the second bottom face in the direction of the primary waterproof membrane parallel and adjacent to a side face of an insulating block of the primary thermally insulating barrier of the second wall tank, the spacer element being arranged between the first lateral element and the second lateral element to keep the first bottom face and the second bottom face at a distance, the corner insulating block further comprising a rear face connecting the first bottom face to the second bottom face and inclined relative to the first load-bearing wall and the second supporting wall so as to provide a space between said rear face of the insulating block angle and the secondary sealing membrane.

Thus, the corner insulating block offers freedom in the construction of the secondary waterproof membrane in line with the edge of the support structure, without requiring that the secondary waterproof membrane be formed of rigid flat plates anchored on the support wall at the level the angle of the tank. In particular, the space between the rear face of the corner insulating block and the secondary waterproof membrane allows expansion bellows to be produced, including on the secondary waterproof membrane 25 in line with the edge of the support structure. In addition, such a corner insulating block does not require an anchoring member to be maintained on the support structure, the first and second lateral faces of the corner insulating block each cooperating with a respective side face of a block. end insulation of the tank walls in order to block the corner insulating block on the supporting structure.

In addition, the spacer element allows a transmission of forces between the thermally insulating barriers of the first tank wall and the second tank wall via the corner insulating block, a force applied by one tank walls on the corner insulating block tending to push the corner insulating block towards the other tank wall.

According to embodiments, such a sealed and thermally insulating tank may include one or more of the following characteristics.

According to one embodiment, the side face of the insulating element against which the side face of the first or second side element of the insulating corner block is contiguous is continuous or discontinuous. According to one embodiment, said lateral face of the insulating element is formed by lateral pillars, a cover panel, a bottom panel and / or any other element forming a flat surface against which can be joined and / or bear. the first or the second lateral element of the corner insulating block.

According to one embodiment, an insulating padding is arranged in said space between said rear face and the secondary waterproof membrane in line with the edge of the support structure.

According to one embodiment, the spacer element comprises at least one rigid rod or a rigid plate mounted on the first lateral element and on the second lateral element in an inclined manner relative to the first load-bearing wall and to the second load-bearing wall .

According to one embodiment, the rod of the spacer element is mounted on at least one of the first lateral element and the second lateral element by means of a ball joint. Thanks to these characteristics, the same corner insulating block can be easily adapted to edges of the support structure having distinct angles and facilitate assembly.

According to one embodiment, the spacer element comprises a lower plate connecting the first bottom face to the second bottom face and forming said rear face of the corner insulating block.

According to one embodiment, the spacer element further comprises an upper plate connecting an upper end of the first lateral face and an upper end of the second lateral face, said upper plate being inclined relative to the first load-bearing wall and to the second load-bearing wall.

According to one embodiment, the tank further comprises a rigid insulating element resting on the upper plate to form a corner support surface for the primary waterproof membrane. According to one embodiment, the tank also comprises a non-rigid insulating element resting on the upper plate and interposed between said upper plate and the primary waterproof membrane.

According to one embodiment, the spacer element further comprises two end plates each developing in a plane perpendicular to the edge of the support structure, said end plates connecting the lateral elements so as to delimit jointly with the upper plate, the lower plate and the lateral elements an interior volume of the corner insulating block, an insulating lining being housed in said interior volume. Thus, the corner insulating block can form a box into which an insulating material can be inserted.

According to one embodiment, at least one of the first lateral element and the second lateral element comprises a plate of parallelepiped shape, said plate of parallelepiped shape forming the corresponding lateral face and bottom face of said lateral element. Such side elements are simple to manufacture and compact.

According to one embodiment, at least one of the first lateral element and the second lateral element comprises a first plate and a second plate, the first plate developing in a plane intersecting the load-bearing wall and forming the lateral face of said element side and the second plate developing parallel to said support wall and forming the bottom face of said lateral element. Such lateral elements are simple to manufacture and have large areas of cooperation with the adjacent elements.

According to one embodiment, at least one of the secondary waterproof membrane and the primary waterproof membrane is formed in line with the edge by a corner angle.

According to one embodiment, the tank further comprises a curved support strip whose concavity is turned towards the interior of the tank, said support strip developing parallel to the edge of the support structure, said support strip comprising a first longitudinal edge resting on the primary thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall and a second longitudinal edge resting on the primary thermally insulating barrier of the second tank wall to form a continuous support surface between a support surface formed by the primary thermally insulating barrier of the first vessel wall and a support surface formed by the primary thermally insulating barrier of the second vessel wall, the primary waterproof membrane resting on said support strip.

According to one embodiment, an upper face of the rigid insulating element opposite the upper plate of the spacer element is curved, the support strip resting on said upper face of the rigid insulating element.

According to one embodiment, the secondary waterproof membrane comprises a plurality of expansion bellows developing parallel to the edge of the support structure, the first bottom face and the second bottom face resting on the secondary waterproof membrane between two bellows adjacent dilation.

According to one embodiment, the spacer element is arranged at a distance from the at least one of the expansion bellows of the secondary waterproof membrane between which the first bottom face and the second bottom face rest.

According to embodiments, a sealed and thermally insulating tank according to the first embodiment and / or the second embodiment may include one or more of the following characteristics.

According to one embodiment, the first support wall and the second support wall form an angle between 45 ° and 135 °.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first support wall and the second support wall form an angle of 90 ° or 135 °.

According to one embodiment, the waterproof membrane of each tank wall comprises a plurality of parallel expansion bellows.

According to one embodiment, the expansion bellows of the waterproof membrane of the first and of the second tank wall are arranged parallel to the edge of the support structure.

According to another embodiment, the expansion bellows of the waterproof membrane of the first and of the second tank wall are arranged perpendicular to the edge of the support structure.

According to one embodiment, the waterproof membrane of each tank wall comprises a plurality of strakes with raised edges juxtaposed, the raised edges of two adjoining strakes forming an expansion bellows of the waterproof membrane.

According to one embodiment, the waterproof corner membrane comprises a plurality of strakes with raised edges juxtaposed, the raised edges of said strakes developing parallel to the edge of the support structure.

According to one embodiment, the raised edges of two juxtaposed strakes of the waterproof corner membrane are welded to each other so as to form an expansion bellows of the corner membrane.

According to one embodiment, said at least one expansion bellows of the corner waterproof membrane develops parallel or slightly oblique with respect to the edge of the support structure. Such oblique expansion bellows relative to the edge of the support structure thus allow a deformation of the waterproof membrane at an angle both parallel and perpendicular to the edge of the support structure.

According to one embodiment, the corner waterproof membrane comprises at least one metal plate having undulations. According to one embodiment, said undulations of the corner waterproof membrane form the expansion bellows or bellows of the corner waterproof membrane.

According to one embodiment, the insulating blocks are of rectangular shape.

According to one embodiment, the insulating blocks are boxes filled with non-structural insulating material.

According to one embodiment, the insulating blocks are blocks of rigid insulating foam, for example of high density.

According to one embodiment, the anchoring of the angle waterproof membrane on the support strip is continuous or discontinuous.

According to one embodiment, only part of the strakes of the corner waterproof membrane is anchored on the support strip.

According to one embodiment, the waterproof corner membrane is slidably anchored to the support strip in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the support structure, that is to say in a working direction of the bellows. expansion of the corner waterproof membrane.

According to one embodiment, the waterproof corner membrane is anchored on a metal insert separating two successive support strips disposed along the edge of the support structure, said metal insert comprising an anchor strip developing perpendicular to the edge of the supporting structure flush with the support strips separated by said metal insert, the metal insert further comprising two flanges disposed on either side of the anchoring strip and forming a step relative to the strip d anchoring, the support strips separated by the metal insert each being anchored on a respective flange of the metal insert.

According to one embodiment, the waterproof corner membrane is welded to the support strip, for example by means of a seam weld along the anchor line.

According to one embodiment, a padding of insulating material is disposed between the edge of the support structure and the support strip.

According to one embodiment, the insulating padding comprises glass wool and / or high density insulating foam.

According to one embodiment, a strake of the waterproof membrane of at least one tank wall is carried both by the thermally insulating barrier of said tank wall and by the support strip.

According to one embodiment, the support strip is metallic. According to one embodiment, the support strip is made of a nickel steel alloy, for example Invar or an alloy with a high manganese content.

According to one embodiment, the support strip is made of composite materials.

According to one embodiment, the support strip is tensile resistant so as to take up the hydrostatic and dynamic load in the corner of the tank.

According to one embodiment, the support strip is anchored on the thermally insulating barriers by any suitable means, for example by gluing, screwing, riveting or the like.

According to one embodiment, the support strip is anchored on at least t ma Korrîoro ihprmiffi lomonf ienlonio οώΙ / ίπ i ihû H’ûhqÎcqqi ir due lo nprni due

Ul IV I tvi V L ί I C I I I »I V | Μ V * I I I V, I 1l I ^ WICÏI Itv sPVrIV / l I VI IV V4 11 V, V, LI ί I V * VfJUIUÛVMI V4V, I U4 [-'Ûl VI V4 tank on which said support strip is anchored. According to one embodiment, the support strip is anchored on at least one thermally insulating barrier in a direction parallel to the edge of the support structure.

According to one embodiment, a plurality of retaining plates are arranged along the end insulating block or blocks on which the support strip rests.

According to one embodiment, each retaining plate develops on the whole of one edge of the end insulating block on which the support strip rests.

According to one embodiment, the support strip is carried by the end blocks of the thermally insulating barriers with freedom of sliding in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the support structure.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support strip has a coefficient of expansion less than or equal to the coefficient of expansion of the waterproof membrane. According to one embodiment, the support strip is made of stainless steel and the waterproof membrane is made of an alloy with a high manganese content.

According to one embodiment, the support strip has a thickness greater than 2mm, for example between 3 and 4 mm, so as to have sufficient rigidity to take up hydrostatic and dynamic loads without deformation in the corner of the tank.

According to one embodiment, the rigid insulating element is a block of high density foam, for example high density polyurethane foam.

According to one embodiment, the corner insulating element and the support strip are independent of each other and do not cooperate directly together.

According to one embodiment, a tank as described above can be part of a terrestrial storage installation, for example for storing

LNG or be installed in a floating structure, coastal or deep water, in particular an LNG tanker, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others.

According to one embodiment, a vessel for transporting a cold liquid product comprises a double hull and the above-mentioned tank placed in the double hull.

According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method of loading or unloading such a ship, in which a cold liquid product is conveyed through isolated pipes from or to a floating or land storage installation to or from the vessel of the ship.

According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising the aforementioned ship, isolated pipes arranged so as to connect the tank installed in the hull of the ship to a floating storage installation. or terrestrial and a pump to drive a flow of cold liquid product through the isolated pipes from or to the floating or terrestrial storage facility to or from the vessel of the ship.

Brief description of the figures

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and without limitation. , with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a sealed and thermally insulating tank at an angle illustrating the secondary thermally insulating barrier and the support strip resting thereon;

• Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 on which a waterproof membrane of secondary angle is added;

• Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 in which a primary thermally insulating barrier resting on the secondary waterproof membrane is illustrated;

• Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 on which a waterproof membrane of primary angle has been added;

• Figure 5 is a sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the edge of the supporting structure of a detail of the tank wall: 11. i "" "

IllUOLi dl IL ld III waterproof membrane secondary or primary support strip;

• Figure 6 is a sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the edge of the supporting structure of a detail of the vessel wall illustrating the cooperation between the secondary or primary angle waterproof membrane and the waterproof corner membrane secondary or primary as well as the cooperation between the secondary or primary support strip and a secondary or primary insulating block;

• Figure 7 is a sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the edge of the support structure illustrating a first alternative embodiment of the detail of Figure 6;

• Figure 8 is a sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the edge of the support structure illustrating a second alternative embodiment of the detail of Figure 6;

• Figure 9 is a sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the edge of the support structure illustrating a first alternative embodiment of the detail of Figure 5;

• Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the alternative embodiment of Figure 9;

• Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a second alternative embodiment of the detail of Figure 5;

• Figure 12 is a sectional view of the detail of Figure 11 along the axis V-V;

• Figure 13 is a sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the edge of the support structure illustrating a first alternative embodiment of an anchoring of the support strip on an insulating block;

• Figure 14 is a top view of the detail of Figure 13;

• Figure 15 is a sectional view along the axis XV-XV of Figure 14 illustrating a second variant of the anchoring of the support strip on an insulating block;

• Figure 16 is a schematic perspective view of a secondary thermally insulating barrier and a waterproof membrane of secondary corrugated angle in a tank angle between two walls of the tank forming an angle of 135 °;

• Figure 17 is a schematic perspective view of the tank angle of Figure 16 partially showing a primary thermally insulating barrier and a primary waterproof membrane;

• Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of the corner waterproof membrane;

• Figure 19 is a sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the edge of a second alternative embodiment of the corner waterproof membrane;

• Figure 20 is a schematic perspective view of a primary angle insulating block which can be used in a tank wall having an angle of 135 °;

• Figure 21 is a sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the edge of the supporting structure of an insulating block of primary angle according to a second embodiment;

• Figure 22 is a sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the edge of the support structure of an insulating block of primary angle according to a third embodiment which can be used in a tank wall having an angle of 90 ° ;

• Figure 23 is a schematic cutaway view of an LNG tank and a loading / unloading terminal of this tank.

Detailed description of embodiments

In the description below, reference is made to a sealed and thermally insulating tank comprising an internal space intended to be filled with combustible or non-combustible gas. The gas may in particular be a liquefied natural gas (LNG), that is to say a gaseous mixture mainly comprising methane as well as one or more other hydrocarbons, such as ethane, propane, n-butane, i-butane, n-pentane i-pentane, neopentane, and nitrogen in small proportion. The gas can also be ethane or a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), that is to say a mixture of hydrocarbons resulting from the refining of petroleum comprising essentially propane and butane.

Such a waterproof and thermally insulating tank is integrated into a load-bearing structure such as, for example, the double hull of an LNG transport vessel. This support structure defines a plurality of support walls adjoining at the level of edges 1 of the support structure and jointly delimiting an internal space of the double shell intended to receive the sealed and thermally insulating tank. The sealed and thermally insulating tank comprises a plurality of tank walls each carried by a respective carrier wall. The tank walls are joined at the edges 1 of the support structure. Each vessel wall has, from the corresponding carrier wall to the interior of the vessel, a secondary thermally insulating barrier, a secondary waterproof membrane, a primary thermally insulating barrier and a primary waterproof membrane.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate the edge 1 between a first support wall 2 and a second support wall 3 together forming an angle of 90 °. In these figures 1 to 4, a first tank wall 4 is carried by the first support wall 2 and a second tank wall 5 is carried by the second support wall 3.

Figure 1 illustrates the secondary thermally insulating barriers of the first and second vessel walls 4, 5. These secondary thermally insulating barriers are formed of secondary insulating elements 6 juxtaposed. The secondary insulating elements 6 are anchored to the support structure by any suitable means, for example by gluing and / or by mechanical retaining members. Each of the secondary insulating elements 6 has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having two large faces, or main faces, and four small faces, or lateral faces. These secondary insulating elements 6 each have an upper face forming a secondary support surface for receiving the secondary waterproof membrane. Such secondary insulating elements are for example produced in the form of plywood boxes filled with insulating material such as perlite, airgel, silica, glass wool or insulating foam.

The thermally insulating barrier also comprises an insulating element with a secondary angle 15 similar to the insulating elements 6 and / or which can be integrated into one of them. This secondary corner insulating element 15 is of rectangular shape and extends both the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall 4 and the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the second tank wall 5. In other words, the insulating element of secondary angle 15 has a thickness equal to the thickness of the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall 4 in a direction perpendicular to the first support wall 2 and a thickness equal to the thickness of the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the second tank wall 5 in a direction perpendicular to the second support wall 3. These thicknesses can be equal or different.

The secondary waterproof membrane of the tank walls can be made in different ways, preferably from metal sheets. Such a secondary waterproof membrane has expansion bellows. These expansion bellows are produced in any suitable manner, for example in the form of corrugations of the metal sheets or else by two-by-two welding of raised edges of the adjacent metal sheets. These expansion bellows make it possible to absorb the deformations of the secondary waterproof membrane in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said expansion bellows. By way of example, such secondary insulating elements 6 and / or secondary waterproof membranes in membrane tanks can be analogous to the corresponding elements described in documents WO14057221, FR2691520 and FR2877638.

A corner structure connects the first tank wall 4 and the second tank wall 5 at the edge 1. This corner structure comprises a curved and rigid secondary support strip 12. The secondary support strip 12 develops parallel to the edge 1 and has a concavity turned towards the inside of the tank. The secondary support strip 12 has a first longitudinal edge 13 which develops parallel to the edge 1 and rests on a secondary insulating element 6 situated at the end of the first tank wall 4. The secondary support strip 12 also includes a second longitudinal edge 14 which develops parallel to the edge 1 and rests on a secondary insulating element 6 situated at the end of the second tank wall 5. This secondary support strip 12 serves to take up the hydrodynamic and static loads undergone by the secondary waterproof membrane at the corner of the tank. For this, the secondary support strip 12 is made of relatively rigid and resistant material.

The secondary support strip 12 can be produced in different ways. According to a first embodiment, this support strip 12 is made of a metallic material, for example made of nickel or manganese steel, and has a thickness greater than 2 mm, for example between 3 and 4 mm thick. According to a second embodiment, the support strip 12 is made of a composite material, namely a mixture of polymer resin and fibrous material. The polymer resin can be a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin. The fibrous material can be carbon fibers, metallic fibers, synthetic fibers, glass fibers or other mineral fibers and their mixtures. The fibers can be woven or non-woven. For example, a composite material incorporating woven carbon fibers can be chosen to obtain good tensile strength at moderate cost. The thickness of the composite material can be chosen as a function of the compression forces and the thermal expansion constraints that have to be supported.

The secondary support strip 12 forms a continuous secondary angle support surface 17. As illustrated in Figure 2, a secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 rests on the secondary corner support surface 17. Such a secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 is described in more detail below with reference to Figure 5 for example. In order to ensure the sealing of the secondary waterproof membrane, the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 is tightly connected to the secondary waterproof membrane on the one hand from the first vessel wall 4 and, on the other hand, from the second tank wall 5, as explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

As the secondary support strip 12 rests on the thermally insulating barriers of the tank walls 4, 5, the loads taken up by the secondary support strip 12 are transmitted to said thermally insulating barriers without requiring any complex structural support to be produced in the structure. angle in order to take up these loads.

In order to complete the insulation barrier of the corner structure, a secondary insulating padding 16 is inserted between the secondary support strip 12 and the secondary insulating blocks 6 at the end on which the secondary support strip 12 rests. secondary insulating padding 16 can be produced in different ways, for example using a rigid block of high density polyurethane foam conforming on the one hand to the upper surface of the secondary insulating blocks 6 and, on the other hand, curved shape of the underside of the secondary support strip 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and similarly to the secondary thermally insulating barrier, the primary thermally insulating barrier of the first and second vessel walls 4, 5 comprises a plurality of primary insulating elements 22. These primary insulating elements 22 are analogous to the secondary insulating elements 6 and are, for example, made up of parallelepipedal plywood boxes filled with insulating material. The primary insulating elements 22 can be anchored to the supporting structure in different ways, for example either directly via anchoring members passing through the secondary thermally insulating barrier and the secondary waterproof membrane, or indirectly by being anchored on the secondary waterproof membrane. Likewise, the primary insulating elements 22 of each tank wall form a support surface carrying the primary waterproof membrane of said tank wall.

The corner structure also includes a primary support strip 23 similar to the secondary support strip 12 described above. The primary support strip 23 develops parallel to the edge 1 along said edge 1. This primary support strip 23 is curved with a concavity facing the interior of the tank and has a first longitudinal edge 24 resting on a primary insulating element 22 located at the end of the first tank wall 4 and a second longitudinal edge 25 resting on a primary insulating element 22 located at the end of the second tank wall 5. This primary support strip 23 forms a continuous primary angle support surface 26 on which a waterproof primary angle membrane 27 rests.

Unlike the secondary thermally insulating barrier which rests on the supporting structure, the primary thermally insulating barrier rests on the

expansion bellows protruding towards the inside of the tank.

In order to accommodate the expansion bellows of the secondary waterproof membrane carried by the first and second tank walls 4, 5, the primary insulating elements 22 of the first tank wall 4 and of the second tank wall 5 have grooves on a lower surface for accommodating said expansion bellows. This grooved solution is simple to produce for the first and second tank walls 4, 5 due to the parallelepipedal nature of the primary insulating elements 22 and the substantially flat appearance, with the exception of the expansion bellows, of the membrane. secondary leaktight on which said primary insulating elements 22 rest. However, this solution is complex to implement for a primary corner insulating element 30 of the corner structure. Indeed, the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 resting on the secondary support strip 12 has a curved shape. Consequently, it is not possible to produce an insulating block of parallelepipedal primary angle of similar shape to the insulating block of secondary angle 15.

In order to maintain freedom of design of the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 while having primary insulation in the corner structure, the primary corner insulating member 30 has a first side member 31 and a second side member 32 connected by a spacer 33.

The first lateral element 31 has a first lateral face 34 developing perpendicular to the first support wall 2. This first lateral face 34 is attached to a lateral face 35 of the primary insulating element 22 located at the end of the first wall of tank 4 on which the primary support strip 23 rests.

The first lateral element 31 also includes a first bottom face 36 which rests on a flat portion of the secondary waterproof membrane, preferably between two adjacent expansion bellows. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the secondary waterproof membrane is produced from strakes with raised edges 9 and this first bottom face 36 rests on a flat portion of a secondary strake 9 of the first wall of tank 4 tightly connected to a secondary corner strake 19 adjacent to the secondary corner tight membrane 18. In an embodiment not illustrated, this first bottom face 36 rests on a flat portion of a strake of secondary angle 19 of the secondary angle waterproof membrane 18, that is to say between raised edges 20 of said secondary angle strake 19.

The first lateral element 31 and the second lateral element 32 are symmetrical with respect to a bisector of the angle formed by the first supporting wall 2 and the second supporting wall 3. Thus, the second lateral element 32 has a second side face 37 joined together to a side face 38 of the primary insulating element 22 situated at the end of the second tank wall 5 on which the primary support strip 23 rests and a second bottom face 39 resting on the secondary waterproof membrane between two bellows of adjacent dilation.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the spacer 33 is formed using a bottom plate 40 and a cover plate 41 developing parallel to each other. These bottom 40 and cover plates develop parallel to the edge 1 in respective planes inclined with respect to both the first load-bearing wall 2 and the second load-bearing wall 3. The bottom plate 40 connects the first face of bottom 36 and the second bottom face 39. The cover plate 41 connects the first side face 34 and the second side face 37. The spacer 33 further comprises two end plates 42, only one of which is visible in FIGS. 3 and 4. These end plates 42 each develop in a plane perpendicular to the respective edge 1. Each end plate interconnects the first side face 34, the first bottom face 36, the bottom plate 40, the second bottom face 39, the second side face 37 and the cover plate 41. In other words, the primary corner insulating element 30 is a polyhedral box as illustrated in FIG. 20 and each face of which is formed by a respective plate. In FIGS. 3, 4 and 19, this primary corner insulating element 30 is an extruded shape of hexagonal section formed by the end plates 42 in a direction parallel to the edge 1.

Advantageously, an insulating padding is disposed between the first lateral element 31 and the second lateral element 32. Typically, an insulating element with a primary angle 30 in the form of a box as described above and illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 19 is filled with insulating material such as perlite, glass wool or the like.

Such a primary corner insulating element 30 has many advantages. In fact, the spacer 33 connecting the bottom faces 36, 39 makes it possible to provide a space 43 between the insulating block of primary angle 30 and the waterproof membrane of secondary angle 18. This space 43 offers a freedom of conception of the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 since the primary corner insulating element 30 rests on the secondary waterproof membrane via the first and second bottom faces 36, 39 which are distant from each other. In addition, the first and second side faces 34, 37 each being attached to the primary insulating elements 22 at the end, a load transmission between the primary thermally insulating barrier of the first vessel wall 4 and the primary thermally insulating barrier of the second tank wall 5 via the primary corner insulating element 30 is possible. Finally, the first and second lateral faces 34, 37 developing perpendicular respectively to the first load-bearing wall 2 and to the second load-bearing wall 3, the primary corner insulating element 30, once installed, is locked in position between the lateral faces 35, 38 of the primary insulating elements 22 at the end of the tank walls 4, 5. Consequently, the primary insulating elements 22 at the end being anchored, directly or indirectly, on the supporting structure, the insulating element primary angle 30 is indirectly anchored to the supporting structure without requiring additional anchoring. In an embodiment not illustrated, moving blocking members may however be provided to block in movement parallel to the edge the primary corner insulating element 30 along the edge 1. Such blocking members of the primary corner insulating element 30 can be produced in many ways, for example, cleats allowing the anchoring of the primary insulating elements 22 at the end projecting from said primary insulating elements 22 in the direction of the edge 1 on the part and on the other side of the primary corner insulating element 30 in order to block it in movement along the edge 1. Such moving blocking members can also be used in a similar manner to block in movement the insulating elements of secondary angle 15, cleats allowing the anchoring of the secondary insulating elements 6 at the end being extended and projecting directly n of edge 1 to block the insulating elements of secondary angle 15 moving along edge 1.

A lower insulating padding 44 is disposed between the bottom plate 40 and the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18. This lower insulating padding 44 can be produced in many ways, for example by using a flexible insulating material such as glass wool or low density polyurethane foam between the expansion bellows 21 and a rigid insulating material, for example high density polyurethane insulation foam, above the expansion bellows 21. Similarly , an upper insulating padding 45 is disposed between the cover plate 41 and the primary support strip 23. Such an upper padding 45 is for example made using a high density polyurethane foam conforming to the curved shape of the strip of primary support 23 and allows recovery of the loads undergone by the primary support strip 23.

Figures 5 to 15 illustrate details of the construction of the sealed and thermally insulating tank. These details are described below in the context of a secondary thermally insulating barrier and / or a secondary waterproof membrane. However, this description applies by analogy to the primary waterproof membrane.

In FIGS. 5 to 10, the secondary waterproof membrane of the walls of the tank 4, 5 has a repeated structure comprising alternately on the one hand secondary metal sheet strips 9, hereinafter called secondary strakes 9, metallic arranged on the surface of secondary support 8 and, on the other hand, elongated weld supports 10 linked to the secondary support surface 8 and extending parallel to the secondary strakes 9 over at least part of the length of the secondary strakes 9. The sheet metal strips 9 have raised edges 11 lateral disposed and welded against the adjacent welding supports 10. The metal strakes 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 , or in a iron alloy with a high manganese content, the coefficient of expansion of which is typically of the order of 7 to 9.10 ' ⁶ K' ¹ .

Furthermore, the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 10 comprises a plurality of sheet metal strips in the form of corner strakes 19 with raised edges 20 developing parallel to the edge 1. The raised edges 20 protrude substantially perpendicular to the secondary support strip 12. The raised edges 20 adjacent to two adjacent secondary corner strakes 19 are welded together by weld lines 46 parallel to the edge 1. These weld lines 46 are preferably made at the ends of the raised edges 20 opposite the secondary support strip 12. Thus, the raised edges 20 welded in pairs form a plurality of secondary expansion bellows of angle 21 developing parallel to the edge 1. These angle secondary expansion bellows 21 differ from the expansion bellows formed by the secondary waterproof membranes of the first and two th tank walls 4, 5 in that they are formed by direct welding of the raised edges 20, without the need for a welding wing 10. These secondary expansion bellows of angle 21 make it possible to absorb the deformations of the membrane secondary angle seal 18 in a direction perpendicular to the edge 1.

In addition, in Figures 5 and 6, the secondary support strip 12 is metallic.

In FIG. 5, a central secondary corner strake 19 is anchored on the secondary support strip 12 along a weld line 47 parallel to the edge 1. Thus, the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 is maintained on the secondary support strip 12 even in the presence of an overpressure in the secondary thermally insulating barrier, such overpressure can for example occur during a leakage test of the secondary waterproof membrane by putting in overpressure of the thermally insulating barrier secondary.

Figure 6 illustrates the junction between the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 and the secondary waterproof membrane of the first tank wall 4 in the context of a secondary waterproof membrane of the first tank wall 4 having expansion bellows developing parallel to edge 1.

A cover panel 7 of the secondary insulating element 6 at the end comprises a counterbore 48. This counterbore 48 has a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the secondary support strip 12. This counterbore 48 develops over the entire length of the cover panel 7 taken parallel to the edge 1. The first longitudinal edge 13 of the secondary support strip 12 rests on said secondary insulating element 6 at the end in said counterbore 48. Thus, the angle support surface 17 formed by the secondary support strip 12 is flush with the support surface 8 formed by the cover panel 7 so as to form a substantially continuous support surface for the secondary waterproof membrane.

The secondary end strake 9 of the first vessel wall 4 is tightly anchored by a weld 49 on the secondary corner support surface 17. The raised edge 11 of this secondary end strake 9 is welded so sealed by a weld line 50 at the raised edge 20 of an adjacent secondary corner strake 19 so as to form an expansion bellows capable of absorbing the deformations of the secondary sealed membrane in a direction perpendicular to the edge 1.

Similarly, the primary corner waterproof membrane 27 can be formed of a plurality of primary corner strakes 28 with raised edges developing parallel to the edge 2. These primary corner strakes 28 have raised raised edges two by two so as to form angle primary expansion bellows 29.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the waterproof connection between the secondary waterproof membrane of the first tank wall 4 and the waterproof membrane of secondary angle 18.

In this variant, the cover panel 7 of the secondary insulating element 6 at the end of the first tank wall 4 comprises a weld support 10 disposed between the counterbore 48 and a secondary insulating element 6 of the first tank wall 4 adjacent. The secondary strake 9 at the end of the secondary waterproof membrane of the first vessel wall 4 has a raised edge 11 welded to said weld support 10. Furthermore, the corner strake 19 at the end of the secondary waterproof membrane of angle 18 rests jointly on the secondary angle support surface 17 formed by the secondary support strip 12 and on the secondary support surface 8 formed by the secondary insulating element 6 on which rests said secondary support strip 12 This end corner strake 19 also has a raised edge 20 welded to the weld support 10. This embodiment has the advantage of forming an expansion bellows while ensuring direct anchoring of the corner strake secondary 19 on the secondary support surface 8.

FIG. 8 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the sealed connection between the secondary waterproof membrane of the first tank wall 4 and the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 in the case of a secondary waterproof membrane of the first tank wall 4 with expansion bellows developing perpendicular to the edge 1.

In this variant embodiment, the raised edges 11 of the straps carnnrlaira Q cnnf intarrnm k * v w xs i. r i i t xj i avant | ’©! 0ΠΊθΠΐ secondary insulation 6 at the end so that the end of the secondary strakes 9 resting on the support surface 8 formed by the secondary insulating element 6 at the end are planar.

The secondary insulating element 6 at the end has a housing 51 developing parallel to the edge 1. A metal anchoring strip 52 developing parallel to the edge 1 is housed in this housing 51. The housing 51 and the strip anchor each have in a plane perpendicular to the edge 1 a form of inverted "T". This inverted "T" shape allows the anchor strip 52 to slide in the housing 51 in a direction parallel to the edge 1 while ensuring the anchor strip 52 is anchored in the housing 51 in a direction thickness of the secondary thermally insulating barrier. A clearance between the anchor strip 52 and the housing 51 can also ensure that the anchor strip 52 slides in the housing 51 in a direction perpendicular to the edge 1 and parallel to the first support wall 2.

The anchoring strip 52 has a flat upper surface 53 flush with the support surface 8 formed by the secondary insulating element 6 at the end. The planar end of the secondary end strake 9 is tightly anchored by a weld 54 on the upper surface 53. The end corner strake 19 rests jointly on the secondary support strip 12 and on the surface of support 8 formed by the secondary insulating element 6 at the end. However, unlike the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a longitudinal edge 55 opposite the secondary support strip 12 of this end strake 19 is flat. This flat longitudinal edge 55 is welded 56 in a sealed manner with overlap at the planar end of the secondary strake 9, thus ensuring the sealed connection between the secondary waterproof membrane of the first vessel wall 4 and the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 According to a first way of making the sealed weld, the flat end of the secondary end strake 9 is welded to the blink and the weld 57 is not necessary. According to a second way of making the waterproof seal, the flat longitudinal edge 55 is also welded 57 to the upper surface 53 of the anchoring strip 52 in order to ensure anchoring of the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 on the strip d anchor 52.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the anchoring of the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 on the secondary support strip 12. This alternative embodiment differs from that of Figure 5 in that the secondary support strip 12 is not metallic and therefore does not allow direct anchoring by welding of the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 on the secondary support strip 12.

In this alternative embodiment, a plurality of metal fastening rivets 58 is installed on the secondary support strip 12. These fastening rivets 58 are arranged along an anchoring line 59 parallel to the edge 1. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the anchoring line 59 is substantially centered on the secondary support strip 12 between the first longitudinal edge 13 and the second longitudinal edge 14.

The fixing rivets 58 comprise an upper rivet head 60 forming a flat metal plate. The central secondary corner strake 19 is anchored by means of point-tight seals along the anchor line 59 on the heads 60 of the fixing rivets 58.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18. In this alternative embodiment, the secondary corner waterproof membrane is formed by corrugated metal plates. Such corrugated metal plates are for example manufactured in a similar manner to the corrugated plates described in the document FR2691520 and used in the context of waterproof membranes called Mark-III type of the applicant. The secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 thus comprises expansion bellows 21 in the form of corrugations 61 developing parallel to the edge 1.

This embodiment also differs from the embodiments described above in that the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 is anchored on a corner anchor strip 62. This corner anchor strip 62 develops perpendicular to the edge 1 and separates two successive strips of secondary supports 12 arranged along the edge 1. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the corner anchoring strip 62 develops in a curved manner with a concavity facing towards the inside the tank. The radius of curvature of the corner anchor strip 62 is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the secondary support strips 12. This corner anchor strip 62 has an anchor surface 63 flush with the support surfaces 17 of the secondary support strips 12 which it separates. In addition, the corner anchor strip 62 has two recesses 64 arranged on either side of the anchor surface 63. The two secondary support strips 12 separated by the corner anchor strip 62 are each welded to one of said respective recesses 64. The depth of these recesses 64 is equal to the thickness of the secondary support strips 12 so that the support surfaces 17 formed by the secondary support strips 12 are flush with the anchoring surface 63 and together form a continuous support surface for the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18. The secondary corner waterproof membrane 18 is anchored on the anchoring surface 63 between two adjacent undulations 61.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a first variant of anchoring the secondary support strip 12 to the secondary insulating element 6 at the end of the first tank wall 4.

In this first variant, the counterbore 48 comprises a step 65. This step 65 is arranged between a bottom surface 66 of the counterbore 48 on which the first longitudinal edge 13 of the secondary support strip 12 and the support surface 8 formed by said secondary insulating element 6 at the end. The first longitudinal edge 13 also comprises a recess 67 in the thickness of the secondary support strip 12. This recess 67 forms a flat surface which is flush with the step 65.

A retaining plate 68 is anchored in the counterbore 48 on the step 65 by means of a screw, by gluing, riveting or the like. This retaining plate 68 develops parallel to the first support wall 2 and covers both the step 65 and the recess 67. The retaining plate 68 thus maintains the secondary support strip 12 on the cover panel 7. Furthermore, this retaining plate 68 is flush with the support surface 8 and thus forms a substantially continuous flat surface between the support surface 17 of the secondary support strip 12 and the support surface 8.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the recess 67 of the first longitudinal edge 13 comprises a plurality of oblong holes 69. These oblong holes develop perpendicular to the edge 1. The retaining plate 68 comprises a plurality of lugs 70 projecting towards the secondary support strip 12. Each lug 70 is housed in a respective oblong hole 69. Thus, the secondary support strip 12 is blocked in displacement in a direction parallel to the edge 1 by cooperation in abutment between the lugs 70 and the walls of the corresponding oblong holes 69. However, the support strip 12 retains freedom of sliding in the counterbore 48 in a direction perpendicular to the edge 1 by sliding of the pins 70 in the oblong holes 69.

The retaining plate 68, illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 14, develops over the entire length taken in a direction parallel to the edge 1 of the counterbore 48, that is to say over the entire length of the secondary insulating element 6 at the end carrying said counterbore 48. However, in an embodiment not illustrated, a plurality of retaining plates 68 of reduced size in the direction parallel to the edge 1 are anchored along the counterbore 48. This plurality of plates retaining 68 thus form point anchorages of the secondary support strip 12 in the counterbore 48. Similarly, in an embodiment not illustrated, the lugs 70 and the oblong holes 69 are reversed, that is to say that the lugs 70 protrude from the first longitudinal edge 13 and are housed in corresponding oblong holes 69 formed on the retaining plate 68.

FIG. 15 illustrates a second variant embodiment of the anchoring of the secondary support strip 12 on the cover panel 7. In this variant, the counterbore 48 does not have a step 65 and the first longitudinal edge 13 of the strip of secondary support 12 does not have a recess 67. However, the first longitudinal edge 13 has the oblong holes 69 developing perpendicular to the edge 1. These oblong holes 69 differ from the oblong holes described above in that they comprise each two internal edges 71 developing parallel to the edge 1 over the entire length of said oblong hole 69. The anchoring of the secondary support strip 12 is carried out by means of rivets 72 riveted in the countersink 48 and each passing through an oblong hole 69 respectively. Each rivet 72 comprises a rivet head 91 bearing on the internal edges 71 of the corresponding oblong hole. Thus, the secondary support strip 12 is anchored in the counterbore 48 in a direction perpendicular to the first support wall 2 by abutment of the internal flanges 71 on the rivet heads 91. The secondary support strip 12 is also anchored in a parallel direction at the edge 1 by abutment of the rivets 72 on the internal edges 71 of the oblong holes 69. However, this anchoring allows the secondary support strip 12 to slide in a direction perpendicular to the edge 1 and parallel to the first bearing wall 2 by the freedom of movement of the rivets 72 along the oblong holes 69.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate a tank angle at an edge 1 formed by two load-bearing walls having an angle of 135 °.

This configuration differs from that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 in that the secondary insulating elements 6 at the end have dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the other secondary insulating elements 6 in a direction perpendicular to the edge 1.

In addition, the corner insulating element 15 has two bottom faces each resting on one of the load-bearing walls forming the edge 1, two side walls perpendicular to one of said load-bearing walls and attached to a secondary insulating element 6 respective end, and an upper face developing parallel to the edge 1 and symmetrically with respect to a bisector of the angle formed by the bearing walls 2, 3.

Furthermore, the secondary and primary corner membranes 18, 27 are formed from corrugated metal plates as described above with reference to FIG. 11 and whose corrugations 61 develop parallel to the edge 1.

FIG. 18 illustrates a tank angle having a waterproof membrane with a secondary angle 18 according to an alternative embodiment. Furthermore, this FIG. 18 also illustrates a secondary waterproof membrane of a tank wall having expansion bellows developing perpendicular to the edge 1. In this alternative embodiment, the secondary angle waterproof membrane 18 comprises bellows of expansion 21 in the form of undulations 61 developing parallel to the edge 1. This waterproof membrane with a secondary angle 18 further comprises undulations 73 developing perpendicular to the edge 1. These undulations 73 develop continuously over all the width of the secondary corner waterproof membrane 18. Each end of the corrugations 73 projects from a respective longitudinal edge 13, 14 and is welded in a sealed manner to the secondary waterproof membrane of the corresponding tank wall in order to ensure the sealing of the secondary waterproof membrane. In addition, in order to avoid interference with the expansion bellows of the secondary waterproof membranes of the tank walls 4, 5, the corrugations 73 are arranged along the edge 1 between two adjacent expansion bellows of the secondary waterproof membrane of the said walls. tank walls 4, 5. Such undulations 73 make it possible to absorb the deformations of the waterproof membrane of secondary angle 18 in a direction parallel to the edge 1.

In an embodiment not shown, the expansion bellows 21 of the waterproof membrane of secondary angle 18 are slightly oblique with respect to the edge 1. Such oblique expansion bellows 21 can deform so as to absorb the deformations of the waterproof membrane of secondary angle 18 both in a direction parallel to the edge 1 and in a direction perpendicular to said edge 1.

FIG. 19 illustrates a detail of a tank angle at 90 ° comprising an alternative embodiment of the primary angle waterproof membrane 27. In this variant, the primary angle waterproof membrane 27 is produced using a rigid corner angle.

The rigid angle iron comprises two rigid metallic flat plates 88 which jointly form an angle of 90 °, each flat plate 88 being welded 89 in a sealed manner to the primary waterproof membrane of a respective vessel wall 4, 5. Such a rigid angle angle does not require resting on a primary support strip 23. Thus, each flat plate 88 is anchored directly on an insulating element 22 of respective end. This anchoring can be achieved in different ways, for example by screwing, riveting bonding or the like.

The corner structure comprises a primary corner insulating element 30 as described above with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 20. However, the upper insulating padding 45 consists of two rigid insulating blocks 90. Each insulating block has a triangular section of which a first face rests on the cover plate 41, a second face is contiguous to the side face of a respective primary insulating block 22, and a third lower face of a respective flat plate 88. These two rigid insulating blocks 90 thus form a planar support surface for the planar plates 88.

FIG. 19 also illustrates the space 43 released under the lower plate 40 making it possible to accommodate the waterproof membrane of secondary angle 18 of curved shape. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bottom faces 36 and 39 make it possible to accommodate expansion bellows projecting from flat portions of the secondary waterproof membrane in a manner similar to the lower surfaces of the primary insulating elements of the walls of the tank 4, 5 .

Figures 21 and 22 show alternative embodiments of the primary corner insulating element 30. These alternative embodiments differ from the primary corner insulating element described with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 19 in that the first lateral element 31 and the second lateral element 32 are each formed by a flat parallelepiped plate 74. The first lateral face 34 and the second lateral face 37 are thus each formed by one of the larger faces of the corresponding plate 74. In addition, the first bottom face 36 and the second bottom face 39 are formed by a face developing in the thickness of the corresponding plate 74.

In a first variant illustrated in FIG. 21, the spacer 33 is formed by two rods 75 each developing perpendicular to the edge 1 and in an inclined manner relative to the load-bearing walls forming the edge 1. These rods 75 are anchored any suitable way on the plates 74. For example, the plates 74 each have a through orifice traversed by the rod 75. Each of these orifices has an internal rim on which bears a nut mounted on one end of the rod 75 passing through said orifice.

In a second variant illustrated in FIG. 22, the spacer 33 is formed by a single rod 75 developing perpendicular to the edge 1 and in an inclination with respect to the load-bearing walls forming the edge 1. However, this single rod 75 is fixed to each plate 74 by means of a ball joint 92. This second variant has the advantage of being able to be used for edges 1 having different angles.

The technique described above for producing a sealed and thermally insulating tank can be used in different types of tanks, for example to constitute an LNG tank in a land installation or in a floating structure such as an LNG tanker or other.

With reference to FIG. 23, a cutaway view of an LNG tanker 76 shows a sealed and insulated tank 77 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 78 of the ship. The wall of the tank 77 comprises a primary waterproof barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary waterproof barrier arranged between the primary waterproof barrier and the double hull 78 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 shell 78.

In a manner known per se, loading / unloading lines 79 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a maritime or port terminal for transferring a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 77.

FIG. 23 represents an example of a maritime terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 81, an underwater pipe 82 and a shore installation 83. The loading and unloading station 81 is a fixed offshore installation comprising an arm mobile 80 and a tower 84 which supports the mobile arm 80. The mobile arm 80 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 85 which can be connected to the loading / unloading lines 79. The mobile mobile arm 80 can be adapted to any size of LNG carrier . A connecting pipe, not shown, extends inside the tower 84. The loading and unloading station 81 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 76 from or to the onshore installation 83. This includes liquefied gas storage tanks 86 and connection pipes 87 connected by the subsea pipe 82 to the loading or unloading station 81. The subsea pipe 82 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 81 and the shore installation 83 over a long distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG vessel 76 at a great distance from the coast during the loading and unloading operations.

To generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, pumps on board the ship 76 and / or pumps fitted to the shore installation 83 and / or pumps fitted to the loading and unloading station 81 are used.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention. E U Λί "" ϊ 4 "" "i" λ "A λ <-" "λ · Ι λ Α + Α £ λι4 ·> · ΑίΑ> - />" ΛΛΛ A Al Ακν " γλιιιοι, υαι ίο ια ucoui ιμιιυι i υι-ucoouo, ιι a clc iciil i cTci ci iuc a uco ciciiicîiio individualized, but the characteristics described above also apply to a plurality of identical elements repeated according to a regular pattern in the tank. Thus, when a connection between two elements has been described, this connection can for example apply by analogy to a row of said two elements developing from 10 repeatedly in the tank along an edge 1. The use of the verb "behave", "understand" or "include" and its conjugate forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those set out in a claim. In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses does not 15 should not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims (20)

1. Watertight and thermally insulating tank integrated into a support structure, said support structure comprising a first support wall (2) planar and a second support wall (3) planant intersecting at an edge (1) of the support structure, the tank comprising a first tank wall (4) carried by the first planar support wall (2), a second tank wall (5) carried by the second planar support wall (3) and a corner structure connecting said first and second tank walls at the edge (1) of the support structure, each tank wall successively comprising from the support structure towards the interior of the tank a thermally insulating barrier and a waterproof membrane, the thermally insulating barrier of each vessel wall comprising a plurality of insulating blocks (6, 22) juxtaposed and anchored on the flat load-bearing wall carrying said vessel wall to form a support surface (8) intended to receive the waterproof membrane, the waterproof membrane of each tank wall comprising a plurality of metal plates (9) anchored on the support surface (8), the corner structure of the tank comprising a support strip (12, 23 ) curved, the concavity of which is turned towards the inside of the tank and which develops parallel to the edge (1) of the support structure, said support strip (12, 23) having a first longitudinal edge (13, 24) resting on the thermally insulating barrier of the first vessel wall (4) and a second longitudinal edge (14, 24) resting on the thermally insulating barrier of the second vessel wall (5) so as to form a continuous support surface between the support surface (8) formed by the thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall (4) and the support surface (8) formed by the thermally insulating barrier of the second tank wall (5), the corner structure COMPOR as long as a waterproof corner membrane (18, 27) resting on the curved support strip (12, 23) and sealingly connecting the waterproof membrane of the first tank wall (4) and the waterproof membrane of the second tank wall (5), said corner waterproof membrane (18, 27) comprising at least one corner expansion bellows (21, 29, 61) arranged on the support strip (12, 23) to provide an elongation of the corner waterproof membrane (18, 27) at least in a direction perpendicular to the edge (1) of the support structure. 2. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 1, in which the thermally insulating barrier of each tank wall comprises O 11 ιαι i ci c; sliding in a direction perpendicular to the edge (1) of the support structure respectively at least one of the first longitudinal edges (13, 24) and second longitudinal edges (14, 25) of the support strip (12, 23) . 3. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 1, in which a said insulating block (6, 22) at the end of the row of insulating blocks (6, 22) at the end has a cover panel (7) comprising a counterbore (48) in which is housed the corresponding longitudinal edge of the support strip (12, 23). 4. Watertight and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the first longitudinal edge (13, 24) and the second longitudinal edge (14, 25) of the support strip (12, 23) are anchored respectively on the thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall (4) and the second tank wall (5). 5. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 3, in which the end of at least one longitudinal edge (13, 14, 24, 25) of the support strip (12, 23) comprises a recess (67) in a thickness direction of the support strip (12, 23), the tank further comprising a retaining plate (68) fixed to the cover panel (7) of the end insulating block (6, 22) comprising the counterbore (48) in which is housed said end of the longitudinal edge (13, 14, 24, 25) of the support strip (12, 23), said retaining plate (68) being fixed on said cover panel (7) at said counterbore (48) and covering the recess (67) of the end of the support strip (12, 23) so that said end of the support strip (12, 23) is interposed between a bottom (66 ) of the counterbore (48) of the insulating block (6, 22) at the end and the retaining plate (68). 6. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 5, in which one of the retaining plate (68) and the end of the longitudinal edge (13, 14, 24, 25) of the support strip (12, 23 ) covered by said retaining plate (68) has an oblong hole (69) developing perpendicular to the edge (1) and the other among the retaining plate (68) and the end of the longitudinal edge (13, 14 , 24, 25) of the support strip (12, 23) covered by said retaining plate (68) comprises a lug (70) housed in the oblong hole (69) so as to block in movement along the edge (1) of the support structure the support strip (12, 23) while allowing the movement of the support strip (12, 23) in a direction perpendicular to the edge (1) of the support structure. 7. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the corner waterproof membrane (18, 27) is anchored on the support strip (12, 23). 8. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the corner waterproof membrane (18, 27) is anchored to the support strip (12, 23) at one or more points or continuously. along an anchor line (47, 59) parallel to the edge (1) of the support structure. 9. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 8, in which the support strip (12, 23) comprises a plurality of metallic anchoring members (58) arranged along the anchoring line (59), the corner waterproof membrane (18, 27) being welded to said anchoring members (58) in a punctual manner along the anchoring line (59). 10. Watertight and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the corner waterproof membrane (18, 27) comprises several parallel expansion bellows (61) and the corner waterproof membrane (18, 27 ) is anchored between two expansion bellows (61) of the corner waterproof membrane (18, 27) on an anchoring strip (62) separating two successive support strips (12, 23) along the edge ( 1). 11. Watertight and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the angle waterproof membrane (18, 27) comprises corrugations (73) developing perpendicular to the edge (1) of the support structure. , these corrugations (73) and the expansion bellows (21, 29, 61) of the corner waterproof membrane (18, 27) being crossed. 12. Waterproof and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which the thermally insulating barrier of each tank wall is a primary thermally insulating barrier and the insulating blocks are primary insulating blocks (22) and the waterproof membrane. of each vessel wall is a primary waterproof membrane, the support strip of the corner structure being a primary support strip (23) and the corner waterproof membrane of the corner structure being a waterproof corner membrane primary (27), the tank further comprising a secondary thermally insulating barrier anchored on the support structure and a secondary waterproof membrane carried by the thermally secondary barrier, the primary insulating blocks (22) being carried by the secondary waterproof membrane and anchored directly or indirectly to the supporting structure. 13. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 12, in which the secondary thermally insulating barrier of each tank wall comprises a plurality of secondary insulating blocks (6) juxtaposed and anchored on the support structure to form a support surface (8). secondary intended to receive the secondary waterproof membrane, the secondary waterproof membrane of each tank wall comprising a plurality of metal plates (9) anchored on the secondary support surface (8), the corner structure of the tank comprising a strip of curved secondary support (12) whose concavity is turned towards the interior of the tank and developing parallel to the edge (1) of the support structure, said secondary support strip (12) having a first secondary longitudinal edge (13 ) resting on the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the first tank wall (4) and a second secondary longitudinal edge (14 ) resting on the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the second wall of the tank (5) so as to form a continuous secondary support surface (17) between the secondary support surface (8) formed by the secondary thermally insulating barrier of the first vessel wall (4) and the secondary support surface (8) formed by the thermally insulating barrier of the second vessel wall (5), the corner structure further comprising a waterproof membrane of secondary angle (18) resting slidingly in a direction perpendicular to the edge (1) of the supporting structure on the curved secondary support strip (12) and sealingly connecting the secondary waterproof membrane of the first vessel wall (4) and the waterproof membrane secondary of the second tank wall (5), said secondary corner waterproof membrane (18) comprising at least one secondary expansion bellows (21) arranged on the support strip seconda ire (12) to provide an elongation of the secondary waterproof membrane at least in a direction perpendicular to the edge (1) of the support structure. 14. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 13, in which the corner structure further comprises a row of primary corner insulating blocks (30), a said primary corner insulating block (30) comprising a first element. lateral (31) comprising a first lateral face (34) attached to a primary end insulating block (22) of the first tank wall (4) and a first bottom face (36) resting on the secondary waterproof membrane, and a second lateral element (32) comprising a second lateral face (37) attached to an insulating block of primary end (22) of the second tank wall (5) and a second bottom face (39) resting on the waterproof membrane secondary of the second tank wall (5), the primary corner insulating block (30) further comprising a spacer (33) connecting the first lateral element (31) and the second lateral element (32), said spacer (33 ) being arranged to spare u n space (43) between the primary corner insulating block (30) and the secondary waterproof membrane, said space (43) accommodating said at least one secondary expansion bellows (21) of the secondary corner membrane (18). 15. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 14, in which the spacer (33) comprises a lower plate (40) contiguous with the first bottom face (36) and the second bottom face (39) and inclined by relative to the first support wall (2) and to the second support wall (3), the first bottom face (36) and the second bottom face (39) of the primary corner insulating block (30) resting on the membrane secondary waterproof by being distant from at least one secondary expansion bellows (21) from the secondary corner waterproof membrane (18) so that said lower plate (40) is distant from said at least one secondary expansion bellows (21) by the secondary corner waterproof membrane (18). 16. A sealed and thermally insulating tank according to claim 15, in which the corner structure further comprises an insulating padding (44) disposed between the bottom plate (40) of the spacer (33) and the corner waterproof membrane. secondary (18). 17. Sealed and thermally insulating tank according to one of claims 13 to 16, in which the spacer (33) further comprises a plate ci tr \ ôrioi iro (îînfi \ / o Ho lo rvromioro fo / ^ o lofôrolo oi Ho the Hoi iviomo fpno V / UU | JVI C yi ^- I f J X7ÎI I Μ V V4 <z iCÂ I CI I 11C f Xt I UUV IUIVI UIV yv ~ ry Vz U WV IU W X4Z \ IX> II IV I UW lateral (37) and inclined with respect to the first support wall (2) and to the second support wall (3), the corner insulating block (30) further comprising an insulating padding (45) resting on the upper plate (41) and having a curved upper face conforming to the primary support strip (23), the primary support strip (23) resting on said insulating padding (45). 18. Ship (76) for the transport of a cold liquid product, the ship comprising a double hull (78) and a tank (77) according to one of claims 1 to 17 disposed in the double hull. 19. The method of loading or unloading a ship (76) according to claim 18, in which a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipes (79, 85, 81, 87) from or to a floating storage installation. or terrestrial (93) to or from the vessel's tank (76). 20. Transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising a vessel (76) according to claim 18, insulated pipes (79, 20 85, 81, 87) arranged so as to connect the tank (77) installed in the hull of the ship to a floating or terrestrial storage installation (83) and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipes from or to the floating or terrestrial storage facility to or from the vessel.