JP2019078406A - Sealed heat insulation tank - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sealed heat insulation tank for storing a fluid.SOLUTION: A sealed heat insulation tank includes a corner structure (10) at an edge corner (100) between a support structure (5) of a first wall (1) and a support structure (25) of a second wall (2). The corner structure includes a sealing corner member (13) which is fixed to a first fixing flange (11) through a first connection member (12) at one side and to a second fixing flange (211) through a second connection member (212) at the other side. The sealing corner member (13) is coupled to a sealing film (27) of the first wall and a sealing film (7) of the second wall in a sealing manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The invention relates to the field of sealed insulation tanks. In particular, the invention relates to tanks for ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas (also called LPG), for example at temperatures between -50 ° C and 0 ° C, or liquefied natural gas (LNG) at about -162 ° C at atmospheric pressure. The field of sealed insulation tanks relates to the storage or transport of cryogenic liquids, such as tanks for carrying water.

  A sealed insulating tank for ships is known, for example, from WO2017064413. The document describes a tank of a propane tanker or methane tanker comprising a plurality of tank walls. Each wall of the tank comprises at least one sealing membrane and one insulating barrier.

  Japanese Patent Publication JP2009079736 describes a support structure made of concrete and a thermal barrier including an M-shaped component, which conforms to the thickness of the thermal barrier by changing the height of the M-shaped component A land tank for cryogenic liquid is proposed, which is designed with an insulating barrier. However, M-shaped components require complex shaping.

WO 2017064413 pamphlet DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

  One object of the present invention is to propose a corner structure which can support one or more sealing membranes at the corners between two walls of the tank and which can be adapted to different thicknesses of the insulation barrier It is.

  The present invention is a sealed thermally insulated tank for storing fluid, comprising a first wall and a second wall, wherein the first wall and the second wall are each supported in the thickness direction. A sealed insulation tank comprising a wall, an insulation barrier fixed to the support wall, and a sealing membrane parallel to the support wall and fixed to the insulation barrier is the support wall of the first wall and the second A corner structure is provided at an edge corner between the wall and the support wall, and the corner structure is fixed to the first fixing flange fixed to the second wall support wall and to the first wall support wall A second fixing flange and a sealing corner member fixed on the one hand to the first fixing flange via the first connecting member and on the other hand to the second fixing flange via the second connecting member Provide a sealed insulation tank. The sealing corner member is sealingly connected to the sealing membrane of the first wall and the sealing membrane of the second wall, the sealing corner member being a first flat branch extending in the plane of the sealing membrane of the second wall And a second flat branch extending in the plane of the sealing membrane of the first wall, the first connecting member being a first flat branch parallel to the first fixing flange, and a second A second flat branch parallel to the wall sealing membrane, the second connecting member being parallel to the first flat branch parallel to the second fixing flange and parallel to the first wall sealing membrane A second flat branch, the first flat branch of the first connecting member being welded to the first fixing flange and the first flat branch of the second connecting member being the second flat branch Welded to fixed flange, sealing corner The first flat branch of the member is welded to the second flat branch of the first connecting member and the second flat branch of the sealing corner member is the second flat branch of the second connecting member The first wall sealing membrane is welded to the second flat branch of the sealing corner member and the second wall sealing member is welded to the first flat branch of the sealing corner member .

  This corner structure makes it possible to adjust the position of the corner sealing membrane by adapting the fixed position of the connection member on the fixing flange to suit the desired position of the sealing corner member. By adjusting the position of the sealing corner members in this way it is easily possible to adapt the corner structure to suit the thickness of the insulation barrier of the tank wall. In particular, due to the position of the first flat branch of the first connection member on the first fixing flange, between the second flat branch of the first connection member and the support wall of the second wall It is thus possible to adjust the distance between the first flat branch of the sealing corner member and the support wall of the second wall. Similarly, due to the position of the second flat branch of the second connection member on the second fixing flange, between the second flat branch of the second connection member and the support wall of the first wall, It is thus possible to adjust the distance between the second flat branch of the sealing corner member and the support wall of the first wall.

  According to some embodiments, such a tank can include one or more of the following features.

  According to some embodiments, the first fixing flange is also fixed to the support wall of the first wall and the second fixing flange is fixed to the support wall of the second wall. In other words, the first fixing flange and the second fixing flange are in this case fixed at the joint of the support wall of the first wall and the second wall.

  According to a particular embodiment, the sealing corner member comprises a plurality of cross-sections and two adjacent cross-sections are sealingly connected to one another via a corrugated coupling projecting towards the inside of the tank, the first The sealing membranes of the wall and the second wall each include a set of corrugations projecting towards the inside of the tank and extending in a direction perpendicular to the edge corners, each corrugation of the first wall and the second wall sealing Aligned with the corrugated coupling of the corner member. Such a corrugated coupling is simple to manufacture and fits over the corrugated on the first wall and on the corrugated of the second wall, thereby providing continuity of sealing between the sealing corner member and the sealing membrane While being sure, it can be deformed with the sealing membrane.

  According to a particular embodiment, the sealing corner member comprises a plurality of cross-sections and two adjacent cross-sections are sealingly connected to one another via a corrugated coupling projecting towards the inside of the tank, the first The sealing membranes of the wall and the second wall each include a set of corrugations projecting towards the outside of the tank and extending in a direction perpendicular to the edge corners, each corrugation of the first wall and the second wall sealing Aligned with the corrugated coupling of the corner member.

  According to a particular embodiment, the corrugated coupling comprises a central portion, a first bending end and a second bending end, the first bending end being on the one hand of the first wall. On the corrugation of the sealing membrane and on the other hand on the central part, the second bent end on the one hand fits on the corrugation of the sealing membrane of the second wall and on the other hand the central part. The fact that the wave coupling is in three parts simplifies the connection with the sealing membrane and makes it possible to correct the deviation between the waves.

  According to a particular embodiment, the first fixing flange extends parallel to the support wall of the first wall and the second fixing flange extends parallel to the support wall of the second wall.

  According to a particular embodiment, at the corner of the edge, the support wall of the first wall and the support wall of the second wall together form a convex angle on the inside of the tank, the first fixing flange being Extending continuously with the support wall of one wall, the second fixing flange extends continuously with the support wall of the second wall.

  According to a particular embodiment, at the corner of the edge, the support wall of the first wall and the support wall of the second wall together form a concave angle inside the tank, the first fixing flange being the first The second fixing flange extends parallel to the support wall of the second wall, and some distance away therefrom, parallel to the support wall of the wall and away therefrom.

  According to a particular embodiment, the thermal barrier of the first and / or the second wall comprises a plurality of lagging elements, each lagging element comprising a cover panel facing the inside of the tank and having an edge corner The inner surface of the lagging element bounding comprises a discontinuity facing the sealing member, the connection plate is received within the discontinuity and the inner surface of the lagging element and the flat branch of the sealing corner member to which the sealing membrane is fixed Located flush with the inner surface, thereby forming a continuous flat support surface for the sealing membrane.

  According to a particular embodiment, slots are formed in the first and / or second fixing flanges, the slots being arranged at the height of the wave coupling. These slots make it possible, at least in part, to limit the mechanical stresses to which the weld between the corrugated coupling and the cross section of the sealing corner member is subjected.

  According to a particular embodiment, the thermal barrier secured to the support wall is a secondary thermal barrier, and the sealing membrane secured to the secondary thermal barrier is a secondary sealing membrane, the first wall two The sealing corner member sealingly connected to the secondary sealing membrane of the second sealing membrane and the second wall is a secondary sealing corner member, and the first wall and the second wall further have a thickness of the tank In the direction, from the outside to the inside, on the secondary insulation barrier and on the upper part of the secondary sealing membrane, provided with a primary insulation barrier and a primary sealing membrane intended to contact the liquid contained in the tank; The structure further comprises a primary sealing corner member sealingly connected to the primary sealing membrane of the first wall and the primary sealing membrane of the second wall.

  According to a particular embodiment, the primary sealing corner member is fixed to the secondary sealing corner member via one or more spacers.

  According to a particular embodiment, the outer surface of the primary sealing corner member comprises primary studs, each spacer comprises at least one orifice through which the primary stud passes, the spacer being a primary nut mounted on the primary stud Is held pressed against the outer surface of the primary sealing corner member, the inner surface of the secondary sealing corner member has a secondary stud, the spacer has a fastening tab, and the secondary stud is two adjacent spacers A support plate disposed between the fixed tabs of the second set, including the orifice, mounted on the secondary stud, and two adjacent spacers mounted by the support plate on the secondary stud by the secondary nut It is kept pressed against the inner surface of the corner member.

  According to a particular embodiment, the secondary sealing membrane is a composite membrane, the secondary sealing corner member comprises a plurality of cross sections and two adjacent cross sections are sealingly connected to one another via a composite sealing strip .

  According to a particular embodiment, the composite sealing strip is bonded between the corner members.

  Such tanks may form part of an on-shore storage facility, for example for storing liquefied gas, or floating coastal or offshore structures, in particular methane tankers, LPG carriers, floating storage and regasification units (FSRU), floating product storage and unloading (FPSO) units, etc. may be installed.

  According to one embodiment, a ship for transporting cryogenic liquid products comprises a hull and the aforementioned tank arranged in the hull.

  According to one embodiment, the present invention is also a method for unloading from such a vessel, wherein the cryogenic liquid product is from a floating or land storage facility to the hull of the vessel via an insulated pipe. Also provided is a method of transport from a hull of a ship to a floating or land based storage facility.

  According to one embodiment, the invention also relates to a transfer system for cryogenic liquid products, which connects the above-mentioned vessel and a tank installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or on-shore storage facility And a pump for driving the flow of the cryogenic liquid product from the floating or on land storage facility to the tank of the ship or from the tank of the ship to the floating or on land storage facility through the insulated pipe Also provided is a transport system.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tank according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the tank of FIG. 1 showing the tank dome as viewed from inside the tank. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of one of the stages of construction of a convex corner structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a convex corner structure, according to one embodiment of the present invention, during another stage of its construction. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a convex corner structure, according to one embodiment of the present invention, during another stage of its construction. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a convex corner structure, according to one embodiment of the present invention, during another stage of its construction. It is sectional drawing of the corner structure of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a corner structure of a tank including two sealing membranes with two insulating barriers inserted according to an alternative form of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view in plane of two studs secured to the secondary sealing corner member showing one particular embodiment for securing the primary sealing corner member to the secondary sealing corner member. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view in plane of two studs secured to the primary sealing corner member showing one particular embodiment for securing the primary sealing corner member to the secondary sealing corner member. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the primary sealing corner member and parallel to the edge corner, showing one step of one particular embodiment for mounting the primary sealing corner member on the secondary sealing corner member. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the primary sealing corner member and parallel to the edge corner, showing another step of one particular embodiment for mounting the primary sealing corner member on the secondary sealing corner member . FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the primary sealing corner member and parallel to the edge corner, showing another step of one particular embodiment for mounting the primary sealing corner member on the secondary sealing corner member . FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the primary sealing corner member and parallel to the edge corner, showing another step of one particular embodiment for mounting the primary sealing corner member on the secondary sealing corner member . FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the primary sealing corner member and parallel to the edge corner, showing another step of one particular embodiment for mounting the primary sealing corner member on the secondary sealing corner member . And Fig. 9 shows an alternative embodiment for securing the primary sealing corner member to the secondary sealing corner member. It is an outline drawing of a sealing corner member. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a re-entrant corner structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of a methane or propane tanker with a tank according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a convex corner structure according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

  The invention will be better understood during the course of the following description of some specific embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting illustration only with reference to the attached figures, with the further object, details, Features and advantages will be more clearly apparent.

  The drawings are described below in the context of a support structure comprised of the inner wall of a double hull of a vessel for carrying liquefied gas. Such a support structure can in particular exhibit a polyhedral shape, for example a prismatic shape. FIG. 1 shows that the longitudinal wall comprising the upper wall 104, the lower wall 105 and the side walls 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 of the support structure runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ship and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ship Fig. 6 illustrates a support structure that forms a polygonal cross section in a plane. The general orientation of a vessel equipped with such a polyhedral tank is described, for example, with reference to FIG. 1 of the patent FR3008765.

  The longitudinal walls 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 are interrupted in the longitudinal direction of the vessel by transverse support walls 101, 103 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vessel. The longitudinal walls 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 and the transverse walls 101, 103 meet at the reentrant corner.

  Each wall of the support structure supports a respective tank wall. In FIGS. 2-7, each of the tank walls contains butane, propane, propene, etc. and is in contact with a fluid stored in the tank, such as liquefied petroleum gas having an equilibrium temperature of, for example, between -50 ° C and 0 ° C. Insulation barrier supporting the sealing membrane.

  The upper wall 104 includes, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped space which is called a tank dome 112 and protrudes upward.

  As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, the tank dome 112 is defined by two transverse walls, a front 113 and a rear 114, and two side walls 115, 116 extending vertically and projecting upwards from the upper wall 104. Ru. The tank dome 112 is not shown in FIG. 2, but is additionally provided with a horizontal cover intended to cover the opening formed between the front wall 113, the rear wall 114 and the walls 115, 116 of the tank dome 112. Prepare. The horizontal cover passes through a series of tubes intended for the loading and unloading of the aforementioned liquids and gases. The upper longitudinal wall 104 and the wall of the tank dome 112 meet at a convex corner 100. The front wall 113 and the side walls 115, 116 of the tank dome 112 meet at the concave edge corner 201.

  FIG. 3 shows the tank of the tank in the area of the convex corner 100 between the first support wall 5 and the second support wall 25 supporting the first tank wall 1 and the second tank wall 2 respectively. It is a figure from the inside. The first support wall 5 and the second support wall 25 form an angle α between them. The first tank wall 1 and the second tank wall 2 merge at a corner structure 10 of the tank.

  In particular, as described in connection with FIGS. 3 to 6, the corner structure 10 may be a convex corner structure (where the angle α towards the inside of the tank between the two support walls is 180 ° to 360 Between the upper and lower longitudinal walls 104 and the front wall 113 of the tank dome 112, which means that the edge corners are convex when viewed from the inside of the tank). In the case of the edge corner between the back wall 114 and one of the side walls 115,116. 3 to 6 show the particular case of the angle α measuring 270 °.

  As described in connection with FIG. 13, the corner structure 10 may be a reentrant corner structure (the angle α is comprised between 0 ° and 180 °), whereby the edge corner is viewed from the inside of the tank When recessed, which is the case, for example, at the edge corners between the longitudinal walls 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 and the transverse walls 101, 103. FIG. 13 shows the particular case of the angle α measuring 90 °.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first tank wall 1 includes, in the thickness direction, a support wall 5, a heat insulating barrier 6 fixed to the support wall 5, and a sealing film 27 parallel to the support wall 5. The second tank wall 2 includes, in the thickness direction, a support wall 25, a heat insulating barrier 26 fixed to the support wall 25, and a sealing film 7 parallel to the support wall 25.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the heat insulating barrier 6 of the first tank wall 1 is composed of a plurality of lagging elements 61 fixed to the first support wall 5. These lagging elements 61 together form a flat surface on which the sealing membrane 27 is fixed. Similarly, the heat insulating barrier 26 of the second tank wall 2 is composed of a plurality of lagging elements 61 fixed to the second support wall 25. These lagging elements 61 together form a flat surface on which the sealing membrane 7 is fixed. Lagging element 61 is secured to the support structure by any suitable means.

  In one embodiment, the lagging element 61 is manufactured in the form of a box portion fixed to the support wall by means of studs, as described in WO2017064413.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the sealing membranes 7 and 27 are composed of a plurality of metal plates which are overlapped and juxtaposed to each other. These metal plates are preferably rectangular in shape. Metal plates are welded together to ensure sealing of the sealing membrane. The metal plate is made, for example, of stainless steel or iron-based alloy with a high content of nickel or manganese of thickness 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

  The metal plate is directed towards the inside of the tank, in order to be able to deform the sealing membrane in response to the various stress loads to which the tank is subjected, in particular in response to thermal contraction resulting from the filling of the tank with liquefied gas. And a plurality of waveforms 71, 72 oriented. More specifically, sealing membrane 7 includes a first set of waveforms 71 and a second set of waveforms 72 that form a regular rectangular pattern. The first set of waveforms 71 is perpendicular to the edge corner 100, and the second set of waveforms 72 is parallel to the edge corner 100. Preferably, the corrugations 71, 72 extend parallel to the edge of the rectangular metal plate. The distance between two successive waveforms 71, 72 of the set of waveforms is, for example, of the order of 300 mm to 800 mm, ideally 600 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the corner structure 10 extends from the support wall 5 of the first tank wall 1 and extends from the support wall 25 of the second tank wall 2 and continues from the support wall 5. And a second fixing flange 211 which is continuous with this.

  It is also possible that the first fixing flange 11 does not extend continuously to the support wall 5 of the first tank wall 1 if this extends in a direction not parallel to the support wall 25 of the second wall 2. In other words, the first fixing flange 11 extends from the support wall 25 in a direction not parallel to the support wall 25. As shown, the first fixing flange 11 preferentially extends in the direction perpendicular to the support wall 25. In FIGS. 1 to 10 and 11 the first fixing flange 11 extends from the junction of the support walls 5 and 25 in a direction parallel to the support wall 5. The row of lagging elements 61 of the thermal barrier 6 bounding the edge corner 100 is arranged to form a space between the row of lagging elements 61 bounding the edge corner 100 and the second fixing flange 211.

  Similarly, the second fixing flange 211 may not extend continuously to the support wall 25 of the second tank wall 2 if it extends in a direction not parallel to the support wall 5 of the first wall 1 . In other words, the second fixing flange 211 extends from the support wall 5 in a direction not parallel to the support wall 5. As shown in the figure, the second fixing flange 211 preferentially extends in the direction perpendicular to the support wall 5. In FIGS. 1 to 10 and 11 the second fixing flange 211 extends from the junction of the support walls 5 and 25 in a direction parallel to the support wall 25. The row of lagging elements 61 of the thermal barrier 26 bounding the edge corner 100 is arranged to form a space between the row of lagging elements 61 bounding the edge corner 100 and the first fixing flange 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the corner structure 10 includes a first connecting member 12 and a second connecting member 212. The first connecting member 12 is fixed to the fixing flange 11 and lagged with the first flat branch 122 continuously extending from the fixing flange 11 and the heat insulating barrier 26 that bounds the first fixing flange 11 and the edge corner 100. And a second flat branch 121 extending parallel to the support wall 25 in the space formed between the rows of elements 61. The first connection member 12 may in particular be composed of a plurality of successive sections 125. The second connecting member 212 is fixed to the fixing flange 211 and lagging of the first flat branch 2122 continuously extending to the fixing flange 211 and the heat insulating barrier 6 bordering the second fixing flange 211 and the edge corner 100 And a second flat branch 2121 extending parallel to the support wall 5 in the space formed between the rows of elements 61. The second coupling member 212 may in particular be composed of a plurality of successive sections 215. The connection members 12, 212 are welded to the face of the fixed flange 11, 211 facing the heat insulation block 61 of the tank wall 1 or 2, but this is not a priority. As shown in FIG. 7, the connecting members 12 and 212 can be provided with reinforcements between their two flat branches in order to increase their rigidity.

  The space formed between the first fixing flange 11, the row of lagging elements 61 of the thermal barrier 26 bordering the edge corner 100, the second flat branch 121 and the support wall 25 is advantageously glass wool Or filled with lagging material such as polyurethane foam. The space formed between the second fixing flange 211, the row of lagging elements 61 of the thermal barrier 6 bounding the edge corner 100, the second flat branch 121, the support wall 5 advantageously comprises glass wool Or filled with lagging material such as polyurethane foam.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the corner structure 10 is fixed on one side to the first fixing flange 11 via the first connection member 12 and on the other side to the second fixing flange 211 via the second connection member 212. It further comprises the sealed corner member 13.

  The sealing corner member 13 is a plate having a thickness larger than that of the sealing films 7 and 27, for example, a metal plate. The sealing corner member 13 has a thickness of, for example, between 3 mm and 10 mm. This thickness provides sufficient stiffness to be self-supporting, but this is not necessarily the case for the sealing membranes 7, 27.

  The sealing corner member 13 has a first flat branch 131 which extends in the plane of the sealing membrane 7 of the second tank wall 2 and a second flat side which extends in the plane of the sealing membrane 27 of the first tank wall 1. And a branch 132. The first flat branch 131 is fixed to the first connection member 12 (more specifically, welded to the second flat branch 121 of the first connection member 12), and the second flat branch 132 are welded to the second coupling member 212 (more particularly to the second flat branch 2121 of the second coupling member 212). As shown in FIG. 12, the sealing corner member 13 can have a stiffener 134 on its outer surface.

  Such a corner structure is, on the one hand, by adapting the fixed position of the first flat branch 122, 2122 of the connecting member 12, 212 on the fixing flange 11, 211, on the other hand, of the connecting member 12, 212. By adapting the fixed position of the flat branches 131, 132 of the sealing corner member 13 with respect to the second flat branch 121, 2121, it is possible to adjust the position of the sealing corner member 13. By adjusting the position of the sealing corner member 13 in this way it is easily possible to adapt the corner structure to suit the thickness of the lagging elements 61 of the insulating barrier 6, 26.

  The first branch 131 of the sealing corner member forms a flat support for the sealing membrane 7 of the second tank wall 2, and the second branch 132 of the sealing corner member seals the first tank wall 1. Form a flat support for the membrane 27.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the sealing film 7 of the second wall rests on the first branch 131 of the sealing corner member 13. The sealing membrane 27 of the first wall rests on the second branch 132 of the sealing corner member 13. In order to ensure the continuity between the sealing film 7 of the second wall and the sealing film 27 of the first wall in the area of the corner structure 10, the sealing corner member 13 is made of the sealing film 7 of the second wall. And the sealing membrane 27 of the first wall in a sealing manner. For example, the sealing membrane 7 of the second wall may be welded to the first branch 131 of the sealing corner member 13 on which it rests, the sealing membrane 27 of the first wall which rests on it It may be welded to the second branch 132 of the sealing corner member to be placed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sealing corner member 13 may include a plurality of cross sections 135. The cross section 135 of the sealing corner member is, for example, redundantly fixed to the two adjacent sections 125 of the first connecting member 12 and the two adjacent sections 215 of the second connecting member 212.

  As shown in FIG. 6, two adjacent cross sections 135 may be sealingly connected to one another via a corrugated coupling 15. Each corrugation of the first set of corrugations 71 of the first and second walls is aligned with the corrugated coupling 15 of the sealing corner member. The corrugated coupling 15 fits on the corrugation 71 of the sealing film 27 of the first wall and on the corrugation 71 of the sealing film 7 of the second wall. The corrugated coupling 15 allows the sealing corner member 13 to deform with the sealing membrane 7, 27.

  As can be seen better in FIG. 7, the corrugated coupling 15 comprises a central portion 153, a first bending end 151 and a second bending end 152. The central portion 153 includes two lateral tabs, one of which is welded to the central portion 133 of one section 155 of the sealing corner member, the other lateral tab being the center of the adjacent section 155 of the sealing corner member Welded to the part. The first bent end 151 fits on the one hand on the corrugations 71 of the first wall and on the other on the central portion 153. The first bent end 151 includes two lateral tabs, one of the lateral tabs being welded to one section 155 of the sealing corner member and the other lateral tab being an adjacent section 155 of the sealing corner member. To cover the overlapping area between the sealing corner member 13 and the sealing membrane 7 of the second tank wall 2. Similarly, the second bent end 152 comprises two transverse tabs, one of the transverse tabs being welded to the section 155 of the sealing corner member and the other transverse tab being an adjacent section of the sealing corner member Welded to 155, it covers the overlapping area between the sealing corner member 13 and the sealing membrane 27 of the first tank wall 1.

  Such a corrugated coupling 15 is easy to manufacture and easy to fit on the corrugated 71 of the first wall and on the corrugated 71 of the second wall, whereby the sealing corner member 13 and the sealing membrane The sealing continuity between 7 and 27 can be ensured and at the same time it can be deformed together with the sealing membranes 7 and 27. The fact that the wave coupling 15 is a three part simplifies the connection with the sealing membrane 7, 27 and makes it possible to correct the deviation between the waves 71.

  As shown in FIG. 15, a slot 119 is optionally formed in the first fixed flange 11. Similarly, slots 2119 are optionally formed in the second fixed flange 211. The slots 119 and / or 2119 are in particular from the end of the fixing flange 11, 211 in a direction perpendicular to the edge corner 100, in particular in the direction between 1/2 and 2/3 of the dimension of the fixing flange 11, 211. It can extend over a distance. The slots 119 and / or 2119 may be arranged in particular in the area of the corrugated coupling 15, ie typically every 600 mm. These slots 119, 2119 make it possible to relieve the mechanical stresses to which the weld between the corrugated coupling 15 and the cross section 135 of the sealing corner member 13 is subjected.

  As shown in FIG. 5, each lagging element 61 comprises a cover panel facing the inside of the tank. By convention, the adjective "inside" or "inside" when applied to an element of the tank refers to the part of this element facing the inside of the tank, regardless of the orientation of the wall of the tank relative to the earth's gravity field, The adjective "outside" or "outside" refers to the part of this element oriented towards the outside of the tank. On the side of the lagging element 61 immediately adjacent to the corner structure 10, the inner surface of the cover panel has a discontinuity 62 facing the connecting members 12,212. As shown in FIG. 6, the connection plate 63 is accommodated in the discontinuity 62 and is flush with the inner surface of the lagging element 61 and the flat branch 132 of the sealing corner member to which the sealing membrane 27 is fixed. , Thereby forming a continuous support surface of the sealing membrane 27. In addition, the connection plate 63 makes it possible to compensate for build up that may occur during the construction of the tank. The connecting plate 63 can also have discontinuities on its outer surface, and the first branch 2122 of the connecting member 212 to which the flat branch 132 of the sealing corner member is fixed is within the discontinuities of the connecting plate 63 I will stay. Thus, the connecting plate 63 presses both the inner surface of the lagging element 61 and the inner surface of the first branch 2122 of the connecting member 212. The connection plate 63 is described in connection with the first tank wall 1 but it will be understood that a similar connection plate may be provided on the second tank wall 2.

  The above-described techniques for forming a tank having a single sealing membrane can be used in various types of tanks, for example, dual membrane tanks for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in floating facilities such as land installations or methane tankers. Can be used to construct In this connection, the sealing membrane shown in the previous figure is a secondary sealing membrane, and it may be considered that a primary thermal barrier and a primary sealing membrane also need to be added to this secondary sealing membrane. In this way, this technique can also be applied to tanks with multiple insulation barriers and sealed membranes stacked on top of each other.

  FIG. 8 shows the two walls of the tank at the edge corner 100 according to an alternative form of embodiment, in this form the first tank wall 1 from the outside to the inside in the thickness direction of the tank, A secondary insulating barrier 6 corresponding to the insulating barrier 6 described in connection with the figure, a secondary sealing membrane 27 corresponding to the sealing film 27 described in connection with the previous illustration, a primary insulating barrier 6 And a primary sealing membrane 9 intended to be in contact with the liquid contained in the tank. Similarly, the second tank wall 2, in the direction of thickness of the tank, from the outside to the inside, corresponds to the secondary insulation barrier 26 corresponding to the insulation barrier 26 described in connection with the preceding figures; A secondary sealing membrane 7 corresponding to the sealing membrane 7 described in connection with the above, a primary insulation barrier 26 and a primary sealing membrane 29 intended to be in contact with the liquid contained in the tank.

  The primary insulation barriers 6, 26 and the primary sealing membranes 29, 9 can be similar to the secondary insulation barriers 6, 26, and the secondary sealing membranes 27, 7 and will not be described in further detail.

  In the version not shown, the primary sealing membranes 9, 29 are different from the secondary sealing membranes 7, 27, for example the corrugations of the secondary sealing membranes 7, 27 may face the outside of the tank wall.

  In another version not shown, the primary sealing membranes 9, 29, and the secondary sealing membranes 7, 27 have corrugations facing the outside of the tank wall.

  In another version not shown, the secondary sealing membranes 7, 27 are composite sealing barriers. A composite connecting strip is bonded on one side to the secondary sealing corner member 13 on the second flat branch 132 and on the other hand to a composite sealing barrier present at the top of the thermal insulation block 61. Alternatively, the composite connection strip may be connected on one side to the second connection member 212 and on the other side to a composite sealing barrier present on top of the thermal insulation block 61. Composite sealing strips are bonded between the corner members 13 to ensure sealing of the secondary barrier. The composite sealing barrier may in particular be made of a composite material comprising three layers. The two outer layers are glass fiber cloth and the middle layer is a thin metal foil, for example an aluminum foil about 0.1 mm thick. This metal foil constitutes a secondary sealing barrier and is connected to the thermal insulation block 61 of the thermal insulation barrier 6, 26. The composite connecting strip and the composite sealing strip may in particular be bonded using a polyurethane or epoxy adhesive.

  A primary sealing corner member 913 is secured to the secondary sealing corner member 13 which corresponds to the sealing corner member 13 described in connection with FIGS. The primary sealing corner member 913 is similar to the sealing corner member 13 described in connection with FIGS. 3 to 6 and will not be described in detail. The primary sealing corner member 913 is sealingly connected to the primary sealing membrane 29 of the first tank wall 1 and the primary sealing membrane 9 of the second tank wall 2.

  There are various possible ways of securing the primary sealing corner member 913 to the secondary sealing corner member 13. As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the primary sealing corner member 913 may in particular be fixed to the secondary sealing corner member 13 by means of a fixing member 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the securing member 30 can comprise one or more spacers 32 secured to the primary sealing corner member 913, which are then formed from the spacer 32 and the primary sealing corner member 913. The assembly is secured to the secondary sealing corner member 13.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the inner surface of the secondary sealing corner member 13 can have a secondary stud 31 fixed by welding and / or screwing. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in plane of two studs 31 fixed to the secondary sealing corner member 13. In particular, each cross section 135 of the secondary sealing corner member 13 can be provided with two studs 31. Each stud 31 extends perpendicularly to the central portion 133 of the secondary sealing corner member 13 towards the inside of the tank.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the outer surface of the primary sealing corner member 913 can have a primary stud 35 fixed by welding and / or screwing. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view in plan of two studs 35 fixed to the primary sealing corner member 913. In particular, each cross section of the primary sealing corner member 913 can be provided with two studs 35. Each stud 35 extends perpendicularly to the central portion of the primary sealing corner member towards the outside of the tank.

  Next, one method of attaching the primary sealing corner member 913 to the secondary sealing corner member 13 is described with reference to FIGS. 10b-10f.

  As shown in FIG. 10 b, each cross section 9135 of the primary sealing corner member 913 comprises one or more primary studs 35. The end of the stud opposite to the primary sealing corner member 913 has a thread. Each spacer 32 comprises one or more orifices 322 extending from its inner surface. In particular, each spacer 32 may comprise two orifices 322 extending from its inner surface.

  As shown in FIG. 10 c, each spacer 32 is mounted on one or more studs 35 such that each orifice 322 of the spacer passes through the studs 35.

  A nut 351 is mounted on the threaded end of each stud 35, as shown in FIG. 10d. Therefore, the inner surface of the spacer 32 is kept pressed against the outer surface of the primary sealing corner member 913 by the nut 351. The holes 321 formed in the spacer 32 along the orifices through which the studs 31 pass are filled with insulation after the nuts 351 are screwed onto the studs and the nuts 351 are screwed.

  As shown in FIGS. 10e and 10f, the outer surface of the spacer 32 (ie, the surface of the spacer 32 opposite the primary sealing corner member 913) is then removed by any means, for example by bonding, riveting or screwing. It is fixed to the inner surface of the next sealing corner member 13.

  As shown in FIG. 10 e, each cross section 135 of the secondary sealing corner member 13 comprises one or more studs 31. The end of the stud 31 opposite the secondary sealing corner member 13 has a thread. The spacer 32 has a locking tab 323 extending in alignment with the outer surface of the spacer. The studs 31 are arranged between the fixing tabs 323 of two adjacent spacers 32.

  As shown in FIG. 10 f, a support plate 33 including an orifice is mounted on the stud 31. A nut 311 is attached to the threaded end of the stud 31. Thus, two adjacent spacers 32 are kept pressed against the inner surface of the secondary sealing corner member 13 by the support plate 33.

  Alternatively, according to an alternative form not shown, the studs 31 extending from the secondary sealing corner member 13 pass through the holes in the primary sealing corner member 913 and the nuts are mounted on the inner surface of the primary sealing corner member 913 The sealing corner member 913 is thus kept pressed against the inner surface of the spacer 32 by the nut and the spacer 32 itself is kept pressed against the inner surface of the secondary sealing corner member 13 by the nut .

  As shown in FIG. 11, the primary sealing corner members 913 alternatively form between them an angle equal to the angle α between the support walls of the edge corners, ie 90 ° in the case shown in FIG. Can have two flat branches. Thus, the primary sealing corner member 913 is fixed to the support 37 forming an angle equal to the angle α. Such a support 37 may be, for example, a beam having a cross section of an isosceles triangle, the bottom of the triangle being fixed to the outer surface of the spacer 32.

  Similar corner structures can be used for the reentrant corner 201 of the tank. FIG. 13 shows the tank edge corner between two tank walls forming an interior angle α of the order of 90 °. Such a tank edge corner comprises a corner structure 510 similar to the corner structure 10 described in connection with FIGS. 2 to 6, the difference being that the first fixing flange 11 is the first tank wall The second fixing flange 211 extends parallel to the support wall 5 of the first tank some distance therefrom, and extends parallel to the support wall 25 of the second tank wall 2 some distance therefrom.

  Referring to FIG. 14, a cutaway view of a methane tanker or propane tanker 1070 shows a prismatic generally shaped sealed insulation tank 1000 mounted within the dual hull 1072 of the vessel. The walls of the tank are provided with at least one sealed barrier intended to contact the liquefied gas contained in the tank, and at least one thermal insulation disposed between the sealed barrier and the double hull 1072 Provide a barrier.

  In a manner known per se, the unloading tube 1073 arranged in the upper deck of the ship can be connected to the sea or harbor terminal by means of suitable connectors in order to transfer the cargo of liquefied gas from or to the tank 1000 .

  FIG. 14 shows an example of a sea terminal comprising a unloading station 1075, an underwater tube 1076, and a land facility 1077. The unloading station 1075 is a fixed offshore facility comprising a movable arm 1074 and a tower 1078 supporting the movable arm 1074. The movable arm 1074 comprises a bundle of insulated flexible tubes 1079 connectable to the unloading tube 1073. The moveable movable arm 1074 is adapted to suit any size methane tanker. A connecting pipe (not shown) extends inside the tower 1078. The unloading station 1075 enables unloading from the land facility 1077 to the ship 1070 or from the ship to the land facility 1077. This facility comprises a liquefied gas storage tank 1080 and a connecting pipe 1081 connected to the unloading station 1075 by a submerged pipe 1076. Submersible tube 1076 allows liquefied gas to be transported between unloading station 1075 and onshore facility 1077 over long distances, such as 5 km, thereby allowing ship 1070 to shore during unloading operations. Allows to keep away from

  In order to generate the pressure necessary to transfer the liquefied gas, a pump on board the ship 1070 and / or a pump equipped by the onshore facility 1077 and / or a pump equipped by the unloading station 1075 are used.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several specific embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto, and all technical equivalents of the described means and combinations thereof are It is very clear to include if it is included in the scope of
Use of the verbs "comprise", "have" and "include" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other 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 otherwise.

  In the claims, any reference signs in parentheses shall not be construed as imposing limitations upon the claims.

1 first tank wall 2 second tank wall 5 first support wall 6 insulation barrier, primary insulation barrier, secondary insulation barrier 7, 27 sealing film, secondary sealing film 9, 29 primary sealing film 10 corner structure 11 First fixing flange 12 First connecting member 13 Sealing corner member, secondary sealing corner member 15 Corrugated coupling 25 Second support wall 25 Support wall 26 Primary insulation barrier, Secondary insulation barrier 27 Sealing film, Secondary sealing Membrane 29 Primary sealing membrane 30 Fixing member 31 Stud, Secondary stud 32 Spacer 33 Support plate 35 Stud, Primary stud 37 Support 61 Lagging element 62 Discontinuity 63 Link plate 71, 72 Corrugated 100 Convex edge corner 101, 103 Transverse Directional support wall 104 Upper wall 105 Lower wall 106, 107 108, 109, 110, 111 Side Wall 112 Tank Dome 113 Front Wall 114 Back Wall 115, 116 Side Wall 119 Slot 121 Second Flat Branch 122 First Flat Branch 125 Section 131 First Flat Branch 132 Second Flat branch 133 Center portion 134 Reinforcement 135 Cross section 151 First bent end 152 Second bent end 153 Center portion 155 Section 201 Reentrant corner 211 Second fixing flange 212 Second connecting member 215 Section 311 nut 321 hole 322 orifice 323 fixed tab 351 nut 510 corner structure 913 primary sealing corner member 1000 insulation tank 1070 ship 1072 hull 1073 tube 1074 movable arm 1075 unloading station 1076 water pipe 1077 shore 1078 Tower 1079 flexible pipe 1080 liquefied gas storage tank 1081 connected pipe 2119 slot 2121 second planar branches 2122 first planar branch 9135 sectional α internal angle α angle

Claims (15)

A sealed insulation tank (1000) for storing fluid comprising a first wall (1) and a second wall (2), said first (1) and said second (2) Each wall is parallel to the support wall (5, 25), the insulation barrier (6, 26) fixed to the support wall (5, 25), and the support wall (5, 25) in the thickness direction And a sealing membrane (7, 27) fixed to said thermal barrier (6, 26), said sealed thermal insulation tank (1000) being the supporting wall (5) of said first wall (1) A corner structure (10) at the corner (100, 201) of the second wall (2) and the supporting wall (25) of the second wall (2), the corner structure comprising
A first fixing flange (11) fixed to the support wall (5) of the second wall (2);
A second fixing flange (211) fixed to the support wall (25) of the first wall (1);
It is fixed on the one hand to the first fixing flange (11) via the first connection member (12) and on the other hand to the second fixing flange (211) via the second connection member (212) A sealing corner member (13) sealingly connected to the sealing membrane (27) of the first wall and the sealing membrane (7) of the second wall; Equipped with
The sealing corner member (13) comprises a first flat branch (131) extending in the plane of the sealing membrane (7) of the second wall (2), and the first of the first wall (1) And a second flat branch (132) extending in the plane of the sealing membrane (27),
The first connection member (12) comprises a first flat branch (122) parallel to the first fixing flange (11) and the sealing membrane (7) of the second wall (2). With parallel second flat branches (121),
The second connection member (212) comprises a first flat branch (2122) parallel to the second fixing flange (211) and the sealing membrane (27) of the first wall (1). And a parallel second flat branch (2121),
The first flat branch (122) of the first connection member (12) is welded to the first fixing flange (11),
The first flat branch (2122) of the second connection member (212) is welded to the second fixing flange (211),
The first flat branch (131) of the sealing corner member (13) is welded to the second flat branch (121) of the first connection member (12) and the sealing corner member (13) And the second flat branch (132) of the second connection member (212) is welded to the second flat branch (212) of the second connection member (212);
The sealing membrane (27) of the first wall (1) is welded to the second flat branch (132) of the sealing corner member (13),
Sealed insulation tank, wherein the sealing member (7) of the second wall (2) is welded to the first flat branch (131) of the sealing corner member (13).   The sealing corner member (13) comprises a plurality of cross sections (135), and two adjacent cross sections (135) are sealingly connected to one another via a corrugated coupling (15) projecting towards the inside of the tank Connected, the sealing membranes (27, 7) of the first and second walls respectively project towards the inside of the tank and extend in a direction perpendicular to the edge corners (100, 201) The combination of corrugations (71, 271), wherein the corrugations (71) of the first and second walls are aligned with the corrugation (15) of the sealing corner member. The tank (1000) described in 1.   The sealing corner member (13) comprises a plurality of cross sections (135), and two adjacent cross sections (135) are sealingly connected to one another via a corrugated coupling (15) projecting towards the inside of the tank Connected, the sealing membranes (27, 7) of the first and second walls respectively project towards the outside of the tank and develop corrugations extending in a direction perpendicular to the edge corners (100, 201) A set of corrugations (71, 271), the corrugations (71) of the first wall and the second wall being aligned with the corrugation (15) of the sealing corner member. The tank described in (1000).   The wave coupling (15) comprises a central portion (153), a first bending end (151) and a second bending end (152), said first bending end (151) On the one hand, on the corrugation (71) of the sealing membrane (27) of the first wall, and on the other hand, on the central portion (153), the second bending end (152) being The tank (1000) according to claim 2 or 3, which on the one hand fits on the corrugation (71) of the sealing membrane (7) of the second wall and on the other hand on the central portion (153).   The first fixing flange (11) extends parallel to the support wall (5) of the first wall (1), and the second fixing flange (211) corresponds to the second wall (2) A tank (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, extending parallel to the support wall (25) of.   In the edge corner (100), the support wall (5) of the first wall and the support wall (25) of the second wall together form a convex angle (α) inside the tank The first fixing flange (11) extends continuously to the support wall (5) of the first wall (1), and the second fixing flange (211) A tank (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, extending continuously to the support wall (25) of a wall (2).   At the edge corner (100), the support wall (5) of the first wall and the support wall (25) of the second wall together form a concave angle (α) inside the tank Said first fixing flange (11) extends parallel to said supporting wall (5) of said first wall (1) at some distance from said supporting wall, and said second fixing flange (211) A tank (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein) extends parallel to said support wall (25) of said second wall (2) and at some distance from said support wall. .   The thermal barrier (6, 26) of the first wall (1) and / or the second wall (2) comprises a plurality of lagging elements (61), each lagging element (61) being the tank A cover panel facing the inner side of the lapping element (61) bounding the edge corner (100) includes discontinuities (62) facing the sealing membrane (27) 63) is contained in the discontinuity (62), the flat branch (132) of the sealing corner member (13) to which the inner surface of the lagging element (61) and the sealing membrane (27) are fixed. A tank (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is coplanar with the inner surface of the, thereby forming a continuous flat support surface for the sealing membrane (27).   The insulation barrier (6, 26) fixed to the support wall (5, 25) is a secondary insulation barrier and the sealing membrane (7, 27) fixed to the secondary insulation barrier (6, 26) Said sealing corner member sealingly connected to said secondary sealing membrane (27) of said first wall and said secondary sealing membrane (7) of said second wall). (13) is a secondary sealing corner member, and the first (1) and the second (2) walls further extend from the outside to the inside in the thickness direction of the tank. On top of the barrier (6, 26) and the secondary sealing (7, 27), a primary insulating barrier (8, 28) and a primary sealing membrane (9) intended to be in contact with the liquid contained in the tank , 29), the corner structure (1 ) Further comprises a primary sealing corner member (913) sealingly connected to the primary sealing membrane (9) of the first wall and the primary sealing membrane (29) of the second wall Item 9. The tank (1000) according to any one of Items 1 to 8.   The tank (1000) according to claim 9, wherein the primary sealing corner member (913) is fixed to the secondary sealing corner member (13) via one or more spacers (32).   The outer surface of the primary sealing corner member (913) has primary studs (35), each spacer (32) includes at least one orifice through which the primary stud (35) passes, and the spacer (32) The primary nut mounted on the primary stud (35) is kept pressed against the outer surface of the primary sealing corner member (913) and the inner surface of the secondary sealing corner member (13) is a secondary stud (31), the spacer (32) has a fixing tab (323), and the secondary stud (31) is arranged between the fixing tabs (323) of two adjacent spacers (32), an orifice A support plate (33) comprising the two, mounted on the secondary stud (31), the two adjacent spacers (32) The method according to claim 10, characterized in that it is kept pressed against the inner surface of the secondary sealing corner member (13) by a secondary nut (311) mounted on the secondary stud (31) by 33). Tank (1000).   The secondary sealing membrane (27, 7) is a composite membrane, the secondary sealing corner member (13) comprises a plurality of cross sections (135), and two adjacent cross sections (135) through the composite sealing strip 12. A tank (1000) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, which is sealingly connected to one another.   A vessel (1070) for transporting cryogenic liquid products, comprising a hull (1072) and a tank (1000) according to any of the preceding claims, arranged in the hull. Ship.   An insulated pipe (1073) arranged to connect the vessel (1070) according to claim 13 and the tank (1071) installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or land storage facility (1077) 1079, 1076, 1081), a flow of cryogenic liquid product from the floating or on land storage facility through the insulated pipe to the tank of the vessel, or the floating or on land storage of the vessel from the tank of the vessel A transfer system comprising a pump for driving to a facility.   Method for unloading from a vessel (1070) according to claim 13, wherein the cryogenic liquid product comprises a floating or land storage facility (1077) via an insulated tube (1073, 1079, 1076, 1081). ) To the hull of the vessel, or from the hull of the vessel to a floating or land storage facility.