JP2017512284A - Sealed insulated container with deflecting elements allowing gas flow in the corners - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealed insulated container for storing fluid comprising an insulated barrier, the insulated barrier being a container configured to allow a fluid, such as a gas, to flow through the insulated barrier A plurality of heat retaining elements located along the walls of the container, and a corner configuration located at the intersection of the first wall (3) and the second wall (4) of the container, wherein the corner configuration is A deflection element (19) on the opposite side of the first wall (3) from the first surface (20a) opposite to the load support structure of the second wall (4); A second surface (20b) and a first surface (20a) and a second surface (20b) of the deflection element (19) to allow a fluid, such as a gas, to flow across the corner configuration. A plurality of bending channels (21) extending between the plurality of bending channels (21) Incorporating at least one set of bending channel are spaced apart from one another across the thickness of the walls (3, 4) comprises deflecting element (19).

Description

  The present invention relates to the field of sealed insulated membrane containers for storing and / or transporting fluids such as cryogenic fluids.

  Sealed insulation membrane containers are used in particular for the storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) stored at atmospheric pressure of about −162 ° C. These containers can be installed on land structures or floating structures. In the case of a floating structure, the container may be for transport of liquefied natural gas or may be intended to receive liquefied natural gas that serves as a propellant for the floating structure.

  A sealed or insulated container for storage of liquefied natural gas comprising a plurality of walls, each wall of the container comprising a double hull of the ship, continuously from the outside to the inside in thickness, and of the container A load support structure defining a general shape, a secondary insulation barrier attached to the load support structure, a secondary sealing membrane stationary with respect to the secondary insulation barrier, and a primary insulation barrier stationary with respect to the secondary sealing membrane Containers having a multilayer structure with a primary sealing membrane intended to come into contact with the liquefied natural gas present in the container are known in the prior art.

  The thermal barrier comprises a thermal insulation element and a gas phase that are stationary relative to the load bearing structure or secondary sealing membrane. It is known that the gas phase of one and / or the other of the thermal barrier should be maintained at an absolute pressure below ambient atmospheric pressure, i.e. a relative negative pressure, in order to increase the thermal insulation power of the thermal barrier. One such process is described, for example, in French patent application FR 2535831.

  However, due to the large head loss that occurs in the insulation barrier, especially the large local loss head near the corner area of the container, the gas phase of the insulation barrier is brought to a very low pressure of about 100 Pa absolute pressure in a relatively short time. It is difficult.

  In addition, increasing the cross-section of the space for the gas phase flow, with the goal of reducing head loss, results in the formation of a local convection layer that adversely affects the effectiveness of the thermal insulation, resulting in a load bearing structure This problem is particularly difficult to overcome because it may endanger the structure of the ship by forming a locally cooled area therein.

  One idea underlying the present invention is to provide a sealed insulated container with a thermal barrier that has reduced head loss and does not have any thermal failure.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a hermetically sealed insulated container for storing fluid, the container comprising a plurality of walls, each wall having a thickness of the container wall from the outside to the inside of the container. Continuously, having an outer load support structure, a thermal barrier attached to the load support structure, and a sealing membrane supported by the thermal barrier;
The thermal barrier is
A plurality of heat retaining elements located along the wall of the container configured to allow a fluid, such as a gas, to flow through the thermal barrier, and the first and second walls of the container With a corner configuration located at the intersection of
A deflection element, a first surface facing the load support structure of the second wall, a second surface facing the load support structure of the first wall, and a fluid such as a gas having a corner configuration. A plurality of bending channels extending between the first surface and the second surface of the deflection element to allow flow therethrough, the plurality of bending channels being the first and second of the container. A deflection element comprising at least one set of bending channels spaced apart from each other across the thickness of the second wall.

  Thus, due to the presence of deflection elements at the intersection of the two walls of the container, the circulation of gas in the corners of the container is facilitated. Further, the bend channel is substantially along the isotherm within the thermal barrier so that by distributing the bend channel over the wall thickness of the container, natural and forced convection is limited within the deflection element.

  Thus, such a deflecting element can facilitate gas flow through the insulation barrier, thereby not causing any local insulation failure.

Depending on the embodiment, such a container may include one or more of the following features:
The plurality of heat retaining elements located along the wall of the container include a passage for fluid flow within the thermal barrier, a passage for fluid flow defined by the plurality of heat retaining elements located along the first wall; A deflection in communication with one or more of the passages for fluid flow defined by a first surface of the deflection element in communication with one or more of the plurality, and a plurality of heat retaining elements located along the second wall. Defining a second surface of the element;
The deflection element comprises a plurality of sets of bending channels spaced across the thickness of the first and second walls of the container, said set being at the intersection of the first and second walls of the container Spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the line,
The set of flex channels spaced across the wall thickness of the container comprises at least 4 flex channels, advantageously at least 10 flex channels, and preferably at least 20 flex channels;
The bend channel has a cross section of less than 5 cm ² , preferably about 0.25 to ¹ cm ² ;
The cross-section of the bend channel has a larger dimension in a direction parallel to the corners of the container than over the thickness of the container wall;
Each of the bending channels comprises a first portion extending parallel to the first wall and a second portion extending parallel to the second wall and communicating with the first portion;
The bend channel has an arch shape and the bend channel has a radius of curvature that increases from the inside to the outside of the container;
The deflecting element further comprises a third surface parallel to the first surface and opposite and a fourth surface parallel to the second surface and opposite; the deflecting element comprising A housing lined with a thermal insulation lining between the arcuate bend channel having the maximum radius of curvature and the third and fourth surfaces;
The deflection element comprises a stack of plates stacked on each other in a direction perpendicular to the first and second surfaces, the plates each comprising a plurality of voids defining a part of the bending channel, May be obtained by injection of polymer material,
The deflection element comprises a stack of plates stacked together in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the deflection element having a common edge with the first and second surfaces, at least some of the stacked plates being A bend-shaped groove shaped to form a bend channel on at least one of the surfaces;
-In one embodiment, the stack of plates comprises a plurality of flat load bearing plates inserted between two plates equipped with bending grooves,
The deflection element has a rectangular parallelepiped shape,
The cuboid-shaped deflection element is parallel to one of the first and second walls and has at least one intersection line comprising a plurality of straight channels opening facing the bending channel of the deflection element Associated with the element,
The intersecting line element has an opening through the intersecting line element in a direction parallel to the edge formed at the intersecting line of the first wall and the second wall of the container;
The deflecting element is bent,
The bending-shaped deflection element comprises two straight sections, each having a beveled edge and connected to each other via the beveled edge;
The corner configuration comprises a warming corner element, in which the deflection element is associated with the warming corner element,
The deflection element is made of a polymer material selected from expanded polystyrene, polyurethane, polyurethane foam, polyethylene, polyethylene foam, polypropylene, polypropylene foam, polyamide, polycarbonate, or polyether-imide; May be made of a thermoplastic material, which may optionally be reinforced with fibers, such material being injected when the deflection element is formed from a stack of injected plates Must be possible,
Each wall of the container is supported by the outer load support structure, the secondary insulation barrier attached to the load support structure, and the secondary insulation barrier continuously from the outside to the inside of the container over the thickness of the container. Primary and secondary insulation barriers having a secondary sealing membrane, a primary insulation barrier that is stationary with respect to the secondary sealing membrane, and a primary sealing membrane intended to contact fluid stored in the container Each of which has a corner configuration incorporating a deflection element.

  Such containers may form part of an onshore storage facility, for example for storing LNG, or floating structures, coastal or deep sea structures (especially methane tankers), floating storage regas It may be installed in a gasification facility (FSRU), floating offshore oil and gas production storage and loading facility (FPSO), and other facilities.

  According to one embodiment, a ship for transporting fluid comprises a double hull and the aforementioned container located in the double hull.

  According to one embodiment, the invention also provides that fluid is conveyed through insulated pipes from a floating or land storage facility to a vessel on a ship, or from a vessel on a float to a floating or land storage facility, such as A process for loading or unloading ships is also provided.

  According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a transfer system for fluid, which system connects the aforementioned ship and a vessel installed in the ship's hull to a floating or land storage facility. And a pump for driving fluid through the insulated pipe from the floating or land storage facility to the vessel on the ship or from the vessel to the floating or land storage facility.

  Some aspects of the invention are based on the idea of promoting gas circulation between different walls of the container. Some aspects of the invention are based on the idea of facilitating gas circulation between the walls of the container to facilitate the positioning of the thermal barrier under particularly low relative negative pressures of about 10 to 1000 Pa. Some aspects of the present invention are based on the idea of facilitating the circulation of inert gas within the thermal barrier. Some aspects of the invention originate from the idea of facilitating the pumping of fluid present in the thermal barrier when a load bearing structure or sealing membrane seal failure occurs. In fact, pumping of the fluid present in the insulation barrier may be particularly necessary to drain the water that has entered the insulation barrier if the ship's double hull is damaged. Some aspects of the invention inspect the seal of the sealing membrane when a gas (a mixture of nitrogen and ammonia, a tracer gas such as helium, Nidron) is circulated through the adiabatic barrier to detect any leakage failure. Based on the idea of facilitating the steps to do.

  Through the following description of some specific embodiments of the present invention, which are provided purely by way of example and not limitation, the invention will be better understood and other aspects of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose, details, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer.

1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a corner structure adapted to a deflection element according to a first embodiment of a sealed insulated container for storing fluid; FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a corner structure adapted to a deflection element according to a first embodiment of a sealed insulated container for storing fluid; FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a deflection element according to one embodiment. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a deflection element with a stack of plates. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a corner configuration deflection element for a primary thermal barrier. It is a perspective view of a deflection | deviation element. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a deflection element associated with an intersection element in a corner configuration of a secondary insulation barrier. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a corner structure according to a second embodiment that fits a deflection element. FIG. 9 is a detailed view of FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a detailed view of FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a view of the corner structure of FIG. 7 in a cross-sectional section through one deflection element of the primary thermal barrier. FIG. 8 is a diagram of the corner structure of FIG. 7 in a cross-sectional section through the deflection element of the secondary thermal barrier. It is a schematic cutaway view of a methane tanker container and a terminal for loading / unloading the container.

  FIG. 1 shows the corner structure of a container for storing fluid. Such a corner structure is particularly suitable for membrane containers as described, for example, in document FR 2683786.

  The general structure of such containers is well known and has a polyhedral shape. From the outside to the inside of the container, the wall of the container is formed of a load support structure 1 and a heat insulating box juxtaposed on the load support structure, and is provided with a heat retaining element secured thereto by a secondary mounting member A primary insulation barrier comprising a heat insulation barrier, a secondary sealed membrane supported by a heat insulation box of the secondary insulation barrier, and a heat insulation element formed from juxtaposed heat insulation boxes attached to the secondary seal membrane by a primary attachment member; A primary sealed membrane intended to contact the cryogenic fluid supported by the heat insulation box and held in the container.

  The load bearing structure 1 may in particular be a self-supporting metal plate or, more generally, any type of rigid partition with suitable mechanical properties. The load bearing structure may in particular be formed by a ship hull or double hull. The load bearing structure comprises a plurality of walls that define the general shape of the container.

The primary and secondary sealing membranes are made, for example, of continuous metal skins with raised edges, which are welded together by these raised edges, so that parallel weld supports are formed. Mounted on an insulated box. The metal skin is, for example, an alloy of iron and nickel, with Invar® having a coefficient of expansion typically between 1.2.10 ^{−6 and} 2.10 ⁻⁶ K ⁻¹ , or high manganese It is made of an iron alloy having a content and typically having an expansion coefficient of about 7.10 ⁻⁶ K ⁻¹ .

  The heat insulation box has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The thermal insulation box includes parallel bases and an upper panel spaced across the thickness of the thermal insulation box. The load bearing element extends through the thickness of the insulation box and is secured to both the base panel and the top panel and is capable of receiving a compressive force. The base and top panels, the surrounding dividers and the load bearing elements are made, for example, of wood or a composite thermoplastic material.

  The heat insulation box has a surrounding partition. At least two opposite surrounding partitions are perforated to allow gas to flow through the insulation box, so that inert gas can be circulated through the insulation barrier, And / or the internal gas phase can be introduced into the adiabatic barrier under reduced pressure, ie under relative negative pressure.

  The heat insulation lining material is disposed inside the heat insulation box. The heat insulation lining material is, for example, glass wool, cotton wool, or polymer foam (such as polyurethane foam, polyethylene foam, or polyvinyl chloride foam), or granular material or powder material, such as perlite, vermiculite, or glass wool, Or an airgel-type nonporous material.

  In FIG. 1, a connection ring 2 is seen that locks the primary and secondary sealing membranes to the load support structure 1 at the corners of the lateral and heel walls of the container. In this case, the connecting ring 2 extends along the line of intersection of the first wall 3 and the second wall 4. The connection ring 2 comprises several welded sheet assemblies. The seat of the connection ring 2 is made of, for example, Invar (registered trademark). The connection ring 2 is connected to the two flanges 5, 6 perpendicular to the load support structure 1 of the first wall 3 and to the load support structure 1 of the second wall 4 by connection sheets 9, 10, 11, 12. It is fixed to the two flanges 7,8. The connection ring 2 includes primary locking surfaces 13 and 14 intended to receive the metal outer plate of the primary sealing film, and secondary locking surface intended to receive the metal outer plate of the secondary sealing film. 15 and 16 are provided. The structure of such a connecting ring 2 is described in particular in French patent application FR 2549575 or French patent application FR 2724623.

  In this case, the connecting ring 2 and the connecting sheet 9, 10, 11, 12 of the ring 2 connected to the load supporting structure 1 define four parallelepiped-shaped spaces in which the heat retaining corner elements 17 are incorporated. The continuity of heat insulation of the primary and secondary heat insulation barriers in the vicinity of the connection ring 2 is ensured. In FIGS. 1 and 2, only the warming corner element 17 of the primary thermal barrier is seen.

  The warming corner element 17 may be formed by a mass of insulating polymer foam or may be formed from an insulating box as described above.

  The sheet of the connection ring 2 has an opening 18 in the vicinity of the primary insulation barrier, which means that gas flows between the primary insulation barrier of the first wall 3 and the primary insulation barrier of the second wall 4. Note that it allows. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the opening 18 has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the opening 18 is circular so as to limit stress concentration and not adversely affect the fatigue strength of the connection ring 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the primary thermal barrier incorporates a deflection element 19 in the vicinity of the corner configuration. The deflection element 19 is built in the connection unit 2 and is located on the opposite side of the opening 18 formed in the connection ring 2. A deflection element 19 is associated with the warming corner element 17. The deflection element 19 may be housed in a matching shaped housing formed in the warming corner element 17 or may be located in a gap extending between two adjacent warming corner elements 17. Good.

  The deflection element 19 is intended to induce a gas flow across the connecting ring 2 between the primary insulation barriers of the first and second walls 3, 4 of the container.

  The structure of such a deflection element 19 is shown in particular in FIGS. The deflection element 19 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The deflection element 19 has a first surface 20 a on the opposite side of the load support structure 1 of the second wall 4 and a second surface 20 b facing the load support structure 1 of the first wall 3. In other words, the first surface 20 a is located on the side opposite to the primary thermal insulation barrier of the first wall 3, and the second surface 20 b is located on the side opposite to the primary thermal insulation barrier of the second wall 4. The deflection element 19 comprises a plurality of bent channels 21 extending between the first surface 20a and the second surface 20b, and thus the primary insulation barrier of the first and second walls 3,4. Allowing gas to flow between them.

  In a cross section perpendicular to the line of intersection of the first wall 3 and the second wall 4, the deflection element 19 comprises a series of bent channels 21 arranged regularly over the thickness of the container walls 3, 4. The bend channel 21 is therefore substantially parallel to the isotherm in the thermal barrier. The bent channel 21 thus forms a laminar flow of gas across the deflection element 19 to reduce convection. To achieve satisfactory gas flow temperature stratification, each set of flex channels 21 comprises at least 4 flex channels, advantageously at least 10 flex channels, and preferably 20 flex channels. .

  As shown in FIG. 6, the deflection element 19 comprises a system of bending channels comprising a plurality of sets of bending channels 21, the set being formed at the intersection of the first wall 3 and the second wall 4. Are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the edges to be formed.

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the bend channel 21 is arcuate with a radius of curvature that increases from the inside to the outside of the container. The arcuate channels 21 in the same set have a common center of curvature located on the angle bisector formed at the intersection of the first wall 3 and the second wall 4. The center of curvature of the arcuate channel 21 can in particular have a radius of curvature corresponding to the edges of the first surface 20a and the second surface 20b of the deflection element 19.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the deflection element 19 is opposite the arcuate channel 20 having the maximum radius of curvature and the third and second surfaces 20c and 20b of the deflection element 19 opposite the first surface 20a. It has the housing | casing 22 backed with the heat insulation lining material between the 4th surface 20d in the side. The heat retaining lining material that fills the housing 22 is, for example, glass wool, airgel, or polymer foam, such as polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride foam.

The flex channel 21 typically has a small cross-sectional area of less than 5 cm ² and generally about 0.25 to ¹ cm ² .

  The cross section of the bend channel can be several shapes such as circular, square, rectangular, oval, or other shapes. Advantageously, the cross section of the bent channel has a dimension in a direction parallel to the corners of the container, rather than over the thickness of the container wall. Thus, the largest dimension of the cross section is oriented in the direction of the isotherm, while the smallest dimension is oriented along the temperature gradient.

  In an alternative embodiment, schematically shown in FIG. 3, the bending channel 21 has a first portion 21a parallel to the first wall 3, a parallel to the second wall 4, and the first portion 21a. A second portion 21b communicating with the second portion 21b.

  According to one embodiment not shown, the deflection element 19 is formed from a stack of plates that are stacked on each other in a direction perpendicular to the first surface 20a or the second surface 20b. The plate includes a plurality of spaces that form the aforementioned bend channel 21 when the plates are stacked. The space may be formed during the plate injection molding operation or by a subsequent machining operation. Such a plate may in particular be made of a polymer material having good mechanical properties and good thermal insulation properties, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or polyether-imide (PEI). , They may optionally be reinforced with fibers such as glass fibers.

  According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the deflection element 19 includes fifth and fifth deflection elements 19, each having a common edge with the first and second surfaces 20 a, 20 b of the deflection element 19. 6 may be provided with a stack 23 of plates stacked on each other in a direction perpendicular to the surfaces 20e, 20f. At least some of the stacked plates have bending grooves on at least one of their surfaces that form the aforementioned bending channel 21 when the plates are stacked. According to one embodiment, a flat load-bearing plate formed from a material having a higher mechanical strength than the plate forming the bent groove is each disposed between two plates having the bent groove. Such an embodiment is that the insertion of a flat load-bearing plate provides a deflection element 19 with good mechanical strength properties, while a material that is particularly suitable for the construction of bent grooves can be used. It is advantageous.

  Plates with bent grooves are made of a polymer material selected from polymers such as expanded polystyrene, thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or polyether-imide (PEI), which are glass. Reinforced with fibers such as fibers. Bending grooves may be made in particular by injection molding of plates or through subsequent stamping or machining operations.

  If the deflection element comprises a stack of plates 23, the plates are attached to each other by any suitable means, for example by adhesive bonding, thermoplastic welding, clipping, or mounting-type mechanical connections.

  Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the panels 24, 25 of insulating material are on the third surface 20c of the deflecting element 19 opposite to the first surface 20a and on the opposite side of the second surface 20b. Note that it may be attached to the fourth surface 20d at The panels 24, 25 of insulating material may in particular be vacuum insulating panels, indicated by VIP, which is an abbreviation for “vacuum insulating panel”. Such vacuum insulation panels typically have a nanoporous core in an enclosed seal and are placed under negative pressure.

  Also, the present invention is not limited to a deflection element 19 formed from a stack of plates, but such a deflection adapted to a plurality of bending channels 21 through any other suitable process, in particular by a 3D printing process. Note also that element 19 can be constructed.

  In particular, in an alternative embodiment, the deflection element 19 is formed from an insulating polymer foam in which the bending channel 21 is machined from the mass. The insulating polymer foam may in particular be selected from a thermoplastic foam such as polyethylene or polypropylene foam, or a thermosetting foam such as polyurethane. The deflection element 19 is thus formed from a material with good thermal insulation properties.

  FIG. 7 shows more specifically the gas flow in the corner configuration of the secondary thermal barrier. The connection sheet 9, 10, 11, 12 of the connection ring 2 to the load bearing structure 1 defines three secondary insulation barrier spaces in which the warming corner elements 28, 29, 30 are arranged, the implementation shown in FIG. In form, the heat retaining corner element is a heat insulating box with a surrounding partition through which holes 31 allow gas to flow across the heat insulating box.

  The space adjacent to the corner of the container is equipped with a deflection element 19 similar to the aforementioned deflection element. For the other two spaces, they are equipped with intersecting elements 32, 33 having a plurality of gas passages 34 that open facing the bending channel 21 of the deflection element 19. The gas flow paths 34 of the intersection elements 32 and 33 are also located on the side opposite to the holes formed in the partition around the adjacent heat insulation box. The intersecting line elements 32 and 33 are incorporated in a housing of matching size formed in the heat retaining corner elements 28 and 29.

  In the space in contact with the secondary insulation barrier of the first wall 3, the flow path 34 of the intersection element 33 extends substantially parallel to the first wall 3, while the secondary of the second wall 4. In the space in contact with the thermal barrier, the flow path 34 of the intersecting element 32 extends substantially parallel to the second wall.

  Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the intersecting elements 32, 33 have an intersection line between the first wall 3 and the second wall 4 to allow gas to flow along the corners of the container. An opening 35 is provided that penetrates the intersecting elements 32, 33 in a direction parallel to the edge formed.

  FIGS. 8 to 12 show a corner structure that is particularly suitable for a second type of membrane container, as described, for example, in document FR26991520.

  In such a container, the secondary thermal barrier comprises a plurality of heat retaining panels attached to the load support structure 1 by a resin band and studs welded to the load support structure 1. The gap between the thermal insulation panels is lined with glass wool and provides a passage for gas flow through the secondary insulation barrier. Similarly, the space between the resin bands and between the load support structure and the thermal insulation panel also provides space for gas flow. The thermal insulation panel is made of, for example, the foam layer sandwiched between two plywood layers bonded to a layer of heat insulating polymer foam. The heat insulating polymer foam may in particular be a polyurethane foam.

  The heat insulation panel of the secondary membrane is covered with a secondary hermetic membrane formed from a composite material containing aluminum sandwiched between two glass fiber woven fabrics.

  The primary insulation barrier includes a heat insulation panel having the same structure as that of the heat insulation panel of the secondary heat insulation barrier. A gap is formed between the thermal insulation panels to allow gas to flow within the primary barrier.

  The primary sealing membrane is obtained by assembling a plurality of metal plates that are welded together along their edges and that include two vertically extending corrugations. The metal plate is made of, for example, stainless steel or aluminum formed by bending or pressure forming.

  The corner structure shown in FIG. 8 includes two heat retaining panels 36, 37 whose outer surfaces are attached to the load support structure. The thermal insulation panels 36 and 37 are connected to each other through, for example, adhesive bonding, through their horizontal helical edges. The thermal insulation panels 36, 37 thus form the corners of the secondary insulation barrier.

  A flexible sealing membrane 38 is placed on the thermal insulation panels 36, 37 to ensure that the secondary sealing membrane seal remains continuous at the corners of the container.

  In addition, the corner structure includes a plurality of insulating blocks 39, 40 of the primary insulating barrier attached to the flexible sealing membrane 38. A corner connection 41 of a thermal insulation material such as a polymer foam is arranged between adjacent edges of the two thermal insulation blocks 39, 40 at the angle of the container, so that the thermal insulation is continuous over the corner of the container. Make sure. Similarly, a coupled insulating element 42 is inserted between the insulating blocks 39 and 40.

  Further, the metal angle portion 43 of the primary hermetic barrier is placed on the heat insulating blocks 39 and 40. The metal angle part 43 has two flanges, each parallel to one of the walls of the container. The flanges have studs 44 welded to their inner surfaces. The studs 44 are used to attach welding equipment when welding the primary sealing membrane element to the metal angle section 43.

  In the corner structure, the primary insulation barrier has a deflecting element 45 that ensures that gas flows across the corner configuration of the primary insulation barrier. The deflection elements 45 are each inserted between two pairs of heat insulation blocks 39,40.

  The deflection element 45 shown in FIGS. 8, 10 and 11 has a first surface 20a of the deflection element 45 relative to the second wall 4 at its opposite tip and a first wall at its opposite tip. 1 and a bending element having a series of bending channels 47 extending between the second surface 20b of the deflection element 45 located on the opposite side.

  The first surface 20a and the second surface 20b of the deflection element 45 are each located opposite to the gap for the gas flow provided between the two thermal insulation panels of the primary insulation barrier.

  The bent channel 47 has a first portion 47 a extending in parallel with the first wall 3 and a second portion 47 b extending in parallel with the second wall 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the two portions 47a, 47b communicate with each other through the arch portion.

  As in the preceding embodiment, the deflection elements 47 are arranged at regular intervals over the thickness of the container walls 3, 4 in a cross section perpendicular to the intersection of the first wall 3 and the second wall 4. In order to have a series of bent channels 47, the bent channels 47 are substantially along the container isotherm at their corners.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the bent-shaped elements 48 are located on both sides of the deflecting element 47, while the bent-shaped third insulating element 49 is on the surface of the deflecting element 47 facing the inside of the container. Placed on.

  Finally, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the secondary insulation barrier also includes a deflection element 46 in the corner structure to ensure that gas flows through the corner configuration of the secondary insulation barrier. The deflection element 46 is inserted into a housing formed on the heat retaining panels 36 and 37.

  As in the previous embodiment, the first surface 20a and the second surface 20b of the deflection element 46 are advantageously opposite the gap for the gas flow formed between the heat insulation panels of the secondary insulation barrier. Located on the side.

  The deflection element 46 shown in detail in FIG. 12 is formed from two straight portions 46a, 46b. Each of the straight portions 46a, 46b comprises a channel 50 parallel to one of the container walls 3, 4; Each of the straight portions 46a and 46b has a lotus edge, and abuts together via the lotus edge. One channel 50 of the straight portions 46a and 46b is opened facing the channel 50 of the other straight portions 46a and 46b so as to form a bent channel.

  In a mold not shown, the deflection element 46 may be made in a manner that fits angles other than 90 degrees.

  Referring to FIG. 13, a cutaway view of the methane tanker 70 shows a substantially prismatic sealed insulated container 71 mounted in a double hull 72 of the ship. The wall of the container 71 includes a primary sealing barrier intended to contact the LNG present in the container, a secondary sealing barrier formed between the primary sealing barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and a primary Two thermal barriers, each positioned between the hermetic barrier and the secondary hermetic barrier, and between the secondary hermetic barrier and the double hull 72.

  In a known manner, a loading / unloading pipe 73 located on the upper deck of the ship is connected to the sea or port terminal via a suitable connection for transporting LNG cargo to or from the container 71. Can be done.

  FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of an offshore terminal that includes a loading and unloading station 75, a submarine pipeline 76, and an onshore facility 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore facility comprising a moving arm 74 and a tower 78 that supports the moving arm 74. The transfer arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 that can be connected to a loading / unloading pipe 73. An orientable transfer arm 74 accommodates all methane tanker dimensions. Although not shown, a connecting pipe extends into the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 can be used to load and unload the methane tanker 70 to or from the land facility 77. This includes a liquefied gas storage vessel 80 and a connecting pipe 81 connected to a loading or unloading station 75 by a submarine pipe 76. The submarine pipe 76 is used to transfer liquefied gas over a long distance, for example, 5 km, between the loading or unloading station 75 and the land facility 77, resulting in a methane tanker 70 during loading and unloading operations. Can remain anchored far from the coast.

  The pumps on the ship 70 and / or the pumps at the land facility 77 and / or the pumps at the loading and unloading station 75 are used to generate the pressure required for the transfer of the liquefied gas.

  Although the invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited thereby, and that all technical equivalents of the means described, along with combinations thereof, It is clear that the present invention includes them if they fall within the scope.

  Use of the verbs “include,” “comprise,” or “include” and their conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or other steps than those listed in a claim. The use of the indefinite article “a” or “an” with respect to an element or step does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps unless stated to the contrary.

  In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

Claims (22)

A sealed insulated container for storing fluid, the container comprising a plurality of walls (3, 4), each wall being continuous across the thickness of the wall of the container from the outside to the inside of the container In particular, an outer load support structure (1), a heat insulation barrier attached to the load support structure, and a sealing membrane supported by the heat insulation barrier,
The thermal barrier is
A plurality of thermal insulation elements located along the wall of the container configured to define a passage for gas flow within the thermal barrier; and the first wall (3) of the container and the first In a sealed insulated container with a corner configuration located at the line of intersection with the two walls (4),
The corner configuration is a deflection element (19, 45, 46), which is on the opposite side of the load support structure of the second wall (4) and is located along the first wall (3) A first surface (20a) in communication with one or more of the passages for fluid flow defined by the plurality of heat retaining elements, and a side of the first wall (3) opposite the load bearing structure And a second surface (20b) in communication with one or more of the passages for the fluid flow defined by the plurality of thermal insulation elements located along the second wall (4) Between the first surface (20a) and the second surface (20b) of the deflection element (19, 45, 46) to allow fluid to flow across the corner configuration. A plurality of bent channels (21, 47, 50) extending to the container A plurality of bending channels (21, 47, 50) comprising at least one set of bending channels spaced from each other across the thickness of the first and second walls (3, 4). 45, 46).   The deflection element comprises a plurality of sets of bending channels (21, 47, 50) spaced from one another across the thickness of the first and second walls (3, 4) of the container, the set comprising: The container according to claim 1, wherein the containers are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to a line of intersection of the first wall (3) and the second wall (4) of the container.   A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set of bent channels (21, 47, 50) spaced apart from each other across the thickness of the container comprises at least four bent channels. The bent channel (21,47,50) has a cross-sectional area of less than 5 cm ^2, the container according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The cross-section of the bent channel (21, 47, 50) has a larger dimension in a direction parallel to the corner of the container than along the thickness direction of the wall (3, 4) of the container. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The bent channels (21, 47, 50) are respectively parallel to the first portion (21a, 47a) extending in parallel to the first wall (3) and to the second wall (4). A container according to claim 1 or 5, comprising a second part (21b, 47b) that extends and communicates with the first part (21a, 47a).   7. The bending channel (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bending channel (21) is arcuate and the bending channel (21) has a radius of curvature that increases from the inside to the outside of the container. container.   The deflection element (19) is parallel to the first surface (20a) and opposite to the third surface (20c), parallel to the second surface (20b) and opposite to the opposite side. A fourth surface (20d), wherein the deflection element (19) comprises the arcuate channel (21) having the maximum radius of curvature and the third and fourth surfaces (20c, 20d). The container according to claim 7, further comprising a housing (22) lined with a thermal insulation lining material between the two.   The deflection element (19) comprises a stack of plates stacked on each other in a direction perpendicular to the first surface (20a) or the second surface (20b), the plates each comprising the bending channel ( 21. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, incorporating a plurality of spaces defining a part of 21).   The deflection element (19) has one surface (20e, 20f) of the deflection element (19) having a common edge between the first surface (20a) and the second surface (20b). A stack (23) of plates stacked on each other in a direction perpendicular to the at least some of the stacked plates, the bent channel (21) on at least one of their surfaces 10. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bent groove shaped to form is provided.   11. Container according to claim 10, wherein the stack of plates (23) comprises a plurality of flat load bearing plates arranged between two plates with bent grooves.   12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deflection element (19) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.   The deflection element (19) in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped is parallel to one of the first and second walls (3, 4) and the bending channel (21) of the deflection element (19). 13. Container according to claim 12, associated with at least one intersecting element (32, 33) comprising a plurality of straight channels (34) opening facing each other.   The intersecting line elements (32, 33) are arranged in a direction parallel to an edge formed at the intersecting line between the first wall (3) and the second wall (4) of the container. 14. Container according to claim 13, having an opening (35) through the element (32, 33).   12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deflection element (45, 46) is bent.   16. The bending-shaped deflection element (46) has two straight portions (46a, 46b) each having a beveled edge and connected to each other via the beveled edges. Container.   The corner configuration comprises a warming corner element (17, 28, 29, 30, 36, 37, 39, 40), and the deflection element (19, 45, 46) comprises the warming corner element (17, 28, 29, 30, 36, 37, 39, 40) according to any one of the preceding claims.   Said deflection element (19, 45, 46) can be made of a polymer material selected from expanded polystyrene, polyurethane, polyurethane foam, polyethylene, polyethylene foam, polypropylene, polypropylene foam, polyamide, polycarbonate, or polyether-imide. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 17.   Each wall (3, 4) of the container is attached to the outer load support structure (1) and the load support structure (1) continuously from the outer side to the inner side of the container over the thickness of the container. In contact with the fluid stored in the container, the secondary insulation barrier supported by the secondary insulation barrier, the primary insulation barrier stationary with respect to the secondary seal membrane Primary sealing membrane intended for that purpose, each of said primary and secondary insulation barriers incorporating said corner configuration comprising a deflection element (19, 45, 46). The container according to any one of the above.   20. A ship (70) for transporting fluid, wherein the ship is located in a double hull (72) and in the double hull. (71) and a ship (70).   21. A process for loading or unloading a ship (70) according to claim 20 from a floating or land storage facility (77) to the container (71) on the ship or the container on the ship ( 71) through fluid insulation pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) from the floating or onshore storage facility (77).   A transfer system for fluid, wherein the ship (70) according to claim 20 and the container (71) installed in the hull of the ship are connected to a floating or land storage facility (77). The insulated pipe (73, 79, 76, 81) configured as described above, and the insulated pipe from the floating or onshore storage facility to the vessel on the ship, or from the onboard vessel to the floating or onshore storage facility And a pump for driving fluid through the transfer system.

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