JP7463361B2 - Sealed insulated tank - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of sealed, insulated membrane tanks. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of sealed, insulated tanks for storing and/or transporting cryogenic liquids, such as tanks for transporting liquefied petroleum gas (also called LPG) at temperatures between -50°C and 0°C or for transporting liquefied natural gas at about -162°C at atmospheric pressure. These tanks can be installed on land or on floating structures. In the case of floating structures, the tanks can be configured for the transport of liquefied gas or for containing liquefied gas to be used as fuel for propelling the floating structure.

French patent application No. 2 781 557 describes a closed insulated tank with two insulating barriers. These barriers consist of an assembly of prefabricated panels. The joint zone between the prefabricated panels is filled with strips of insulating material, such as glass wool.

French patent application No. 2599468 proposes a sealed insulated tank integrated into a supporting structure with fixed cellular foam panels that constitute the insulating barrier. The gaps between the panels are filled with an intermediate seal to ensure the continuity of the insulating barrier.

French patent application No. 2813111 describes a sealed insulating tank integrated into a support structure. The support structure has a first support wall and a second support wall that form an angle and join each other at the level of the edges. Each support wall comprises a panel forming an insulating barrier. The thermal continuity between the two insulating barriers at the level of the edges is ensured by a glass wool seal. The thermal continuity within each insulating barrier is ensured by inserting a sheet of folded glass wool.

The glass wool intermediate seals proposed in the above mentioned documents are not entirely satisfactory. In fact, gaps tend to form at the level of these intermediate seals which favour convection phenomena between the exterior and interior of the tank, especially in the presence of liquefied natural gas.

Alternatively, JP 4-194498 describes a gasket comprising an insulating material such as glass wool or polyurethane wrapped in a sealed plastic film bag. The gasket is inserted in a vacuum compressed state into the gap between the panels. After insertion, holes are drilled in the bag and the seal expands to fill all gaps between the panels. However, the applicant has found that these gaskets shrink at low temperatures to a degree greater than the gap between the panels in which they are housed. This shrinkage creates gaps separating the gasket from the faces of the panels that define the gap between the panels. Such gaps promote convection phenomena and adversely affect the continuity of the insulating barrier.

One idea behind the present invention is to provide a sealed insulated tank that does not have the above mentioned drawbacks. The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the control of the thermal continuity of the insulating barrier when the tank is cooled, particularly in the longitudinal direction of the gap between at least two rows of blocks that constitute the insulating barrier.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sealed insulated tank for the storage of a fluid that is incorporated into a support structure, the sealed insulated tank comprising, in a thickness direction, a support structure, a thermal barrier held on the support structure, and a sealed membrane supported by the thermal barrier, the thermal barrier including thermal insulation panels arranged in at least two parallel rows, the two rows of the thermal insulation panels being separated by a gap having a width that is small compared to the dimensions of the thermal insulation panels, the thermal insulation barrier further including a plurality of gaskets that are arranged in the gap to be compressed between the two rows of the thermal insulation panels, and the thermal insulation barrier further including at least one insert arranged in a proximity zone, in which the first gasket and the second gasket are adjacent to each other, and the insert is configured to be compressed in the longitudinal direction of the gap between the gaskets.

The gasket is inserted into the gap and then compressed between the two rows. During cooling of the tank, the insulation panel shrinks, causing the gasket to shrink as well. However, the gasket does not shrink enough to create a gap between the insulation panel and the gasket. This ensures that there is always thermal continuity across the width of the gap.

In one embodiment, the gasket is compressed only in the direction of the width of the gap, particularly after it is inserted into the gap.

In one embodiment, the compression of the gasket is greater across the width of the gap than across the length of the gap. In this embodiment, adjacent gaskets are pushed or pressed together in the longitudinal direction such that there is an initial compressive force across the length of the gap prior to insertion of the insert, the initial compressive force being less than the force compressing the gasket between the two rows of insulation panels.

The gasket is not compressed or is not compressed very much in the longitudinal direction of the gap. Therefore, a gap can be created or can be easily created in the proximity zone where the two gaskets come close during cooling of the tank. By adding the insert, the gasket and this insert are compressed in the longitudinal direction of the gap. This allows the gasket to shrink under the effect of low temperature during cooling of the tank, but not enough to create a gap suitable for convection phenomena to occur. Therefore, thermal continuity is guaranteed in the longitudinal direction of the gap due to the compressed insert between the two gaskets.

In addition, the tank may have the following features, either separately or in combination:

The gasket advantageously comprises a compressible insulating material partially or entirely covered by an envelope of sheet material. Such an envelope can facilitate sliding of the gasket against the side wall of the insulating panel during insertion of the gasket. When the envelope is closed, such an envelope can act to reduce the pressure that reduces the thickness of the gasket when it is inserted.

The insert advantageously includes a support sheet that is folded in half to form a pleat and a layer of compressible insulating material disposed at least partially inside the pleat. This type of support sheet facilitates sliding the insert against the gasket when the insert is fitted.

In one embodiment, the insert extends through the thickness of the tank, with the pleats facing the support structure. This type of pleat can easily receive the pressing force required to position the insert between the gaskets.

The gap between the two rows may extend across one or more planar walls of the tank. In one embodiment, the support structure includes a first support wall and a second support wall that are angled and join each other at the level of the edge, the two rows are oriented transversely to the edge, and a first gasket is disposed in a first portion of the gap separating at least two insulation panels located on the first support wall and a second gasket is disposed in a second portion of the gap separating at least two insulation panels located on the second support wall.

In one embodiment, the proximity zones are located along the edges.

The gasket advantageously has longitudinal end faces that are inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the gap.

In one embodiment, the inclined longitudinal end faces of the gasket are substantially parallel to the bisector of the angle between the first and second support walls.

In one embodiment, the inclination between the end face and the longitudinal direction of the gap is between 45° (e.g., when the angle between the two walls is 90°) and 68° (e.g., when the angle between the two walls is 135°).

The compressible insulating material of the gasket advantageously comprises laminated glass wool and/or rock wool.

In one embodiment, the density of the laminated glass wool is between 20 kg/m ³ and 80 kg/m ³ .

In one embodiment, the lamination direction of the laminated glass wool is parallel to the width direction of the gap.

Advantageously, the sheet material envelope of the gasket comprises paper.

In one embodiment, the paper has a weight per unit area of between 60 g/m ² and 150 g/m ² , preferably between 70 g/m ² and 100 g/m ² .

The support sheet advantageously comprises paper and/or PVC.

The support sheet advantageously comprises an adhesive tape to which a layer of insulating material is attached.

The layer of compressible insulation advantageously comprises a fibrous material, for example glass wool, or a polymer foam, for example a polyethylene or polyurethane foam.

The insulating panels of the thermal barrier advantageously comprise blocks of polymer foam.

In one embodiment, the polymer foam block comprises polyurethane.

In one embodiment, the density of the polyurethane is between 70 kg/m ³ and 220 kg/m ³ .

In one embodiment, the insulating barrier secured to the support structure is a secondary insulating barrier, the sealing membrane secured to the secondary insulating barrier is a secondary sealing membrane, and the tank further includes, from outside to inside in the thickness direction, above the secondary insulating barrier and the secondary sealing membrane, a primary insulating barrier and a primary sealing membrane configured to contact a liquid contained in the tank.

In one embodiment, the present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a sealed insulated tank for storing a fluid, the method comprising the steps of: arranging insulation panels arranged in at least two parallel rows on a support structure such that the two rows of insulation panels are separated by a gap having a width small compared to a dimension of the insulation panels; inserting a number of gaskets into the gap such that the gaskets are compressed between the two rows of insulation panels; and interposing the insert between two flat gaskets in a proximity zone such that the insert is compressed between the gaskets in the longitudinal direction of the gap.

It is noted here that the step of interposing the insert between two gaskets in the proximity zone can be carried out during the manufacture of the gasket, which is fitted with a fixed insert, glued or stapled, at the level of the zone intended to form the proximity zone of the gasket. In this case, the interposing step involves pressing at least the gasket, on which the insert is already fitted, against the other, possibly also adjacent gasket itself, on which the insert or insert part is fitted. Of course, in this embodiment, the insert or insert part pre-fixed to the gasket can have a shape suited to the above-mentioned compression function of the insert, for example a triangular cross-sectional shape with a greater thickness at the top of the gasket (when the gasket is installed in the tank).

The invention will now be described with reference to preferred, non-limiting embodiments in which the step of interposing the insert between the two gaskets in the proximity zone is performed or accomplished after erecting/assembling a set of insulation panels on one or more walls of the tank.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises generating a reduced pressure within the envelope to reduce a thickness of the gasket as the gasket is inserted into the gap, the gasket comprising a compressible insulating material partially or completely covered by the sheet material envelope.

In one embodiment, the insert is folded in half by applying a pressure to the bottom of the pleats before being inserted into the proximal zone.

In one embodiment, the insert is inserted into the proximal zone, where the insert is forcibly inserted into the proximal zone.

Tanks of this kind may form part of an onshore storage facility, for example for storing LNG, or may be installed on coastal or deep sea floating structures (particularly methane tanker vessels), Floating Storage and Regeneration Units (FSRUs), Floating Production Storage and Offload (FPSO) units, etc. Tanks of this kind can be used as fuel tanks on ships of all types.

In one embodiment, a vessel for transporting cryogenic liquid products comprises a double hull and the above tank disposed within the double hull.

In one embodiment, the present invention also provides a method for loading and unloading a ship of the above type, the method comprising conveying cryogenic liquid product from a floating or onshore storage facility to a tank of the ship or from a tank of the ship to a floating or onshore storage facility through an insulated pipe.

In one embodiment, the present invention also provides a system for transporting cryogenic liquid products, the system comprising a vessel as described above, an insulated pipe arranged to connect a tank installed within the hull of the vessel to a floating or onshore storage facility, and a pump for generating a flow of the cryogenic liquid product through the insulated pipe from the floating or onshore storage facility to the vessel tank or from the vessel tank to the floating or onshore storage facility.

The invention will be better understood and other objects, details, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a tank zone located at a corner between two planar walls, the cross-sectional plane being parallel to the row of insulation panels. FIG. 2 is a schematic cut-away view of a gasket inserted into a gap between panels. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the corner zone III of FIG. 1 during the insertion of two gaskets by a vacuum pump; FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of two adjacent gaskets suitable for a 135° tank corner. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of two adjacent gaskets suitable for a 90° tank corner. FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a gasket inserted into a gap between an insulating barrier and a panel. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of the insulating insert. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view along plane VIII-VIII of FIG. 3, illustrating the interposition of an insert between two adjacent gaskets at the tank corners. FIG. 1 is a schematic cutaway view of a methane tanker ship's tanks and a terminal for loading and unloading the tanks.

By convention, the terms "external" and "internal" are used to describe the interior and exterior of a tank and to define the relative position of one element to another. For example, a sealed, insulated tank for storing and transporting cryogenic fluids, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), includes multiple tank walls, each having a multi-layer structure.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a tank 1 formed with sealed insulating walls for storing and/or transporting a fluid, for example at cryogenic temperatures. In this specification, said fluid is, by way of example, a cryogenic liquefied gas, in particular methane.

The tank 1 comprises a sealed internal envelope adapted to contain the fluid to be stored, constituted by assembling prefabricated elements which together form a sealing membrane 4 on each wall of the tank 1. In FIG. 1, the sealing membrane 4 is made of thin metal elements such as stainless steel or aluminium. Reference 41 denotes ribs projecting towards the interior of the tank, which make it possible for the envelope constituted by this barrier to be substantially flexible and deformable under the effect of loads, in particular thermal loads, posed by the fluid stored therein.

The rigid external partition constitutes the support structure 2 of the tank 1 and serves as a support for the tank. In the illustrated example, this support structure 2 is a free-standing metal plate of the hull or double hull of a commercial vessel, such as a methane tanker. Other types of rigid partitions with suitable mechanical properties can be used as support for the tank 1, in particular a land-based concrete wall. Furthermore, a secondary insulating barrier 3, a secondary sealing membrane 16 and a primary insulating barrier 15 are provided between the sealing membrane 4 and the support structure 2.

The secondary insulation barrier 3 is formed by juxtaposing insulation panels 5 of approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. The insulation panels 5 are usually arranged edge to edge and thus to define parallel rows 51, 52 covering the entire support structure. In FIG. 1, the rows of insulation panels 5 are parallel to the cross-sectional plane. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the two rows 51, 52 of insulation panels 5 are separated by a gap 6. This gap 6 is approximately linear and generally extends at least through the entire thickness of the insulation panels 5. Furthermore, the width E of the gap 6 is small compared to the dimensions of the insulation panels 5.

The support structure 2 also has edges 10. These edges 10 of the support structure 2 are formed by a first support wall 21 and a second support wall 22 that define a corner A. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the two rows 51, 52 are oriented transversely to the edges 10. The insulation panels 5 can be inclined at the level of these edges 10 at an angle suited to the corners formed by the support structure 2.

The insulating panels 5 are preferably prefabricated to standard dimensions.

In FIG. 6, which shows the planar wall of the tank 1, the connection that fills the gap 6 between the two parallel rows 51, 52 of the insulating panels 5 and ensures the continuity of the insulating barrier 3 is obtained by inserting a number of gaskets 7.

At the level of corner A of tank 1, two adjacent gaskets form an angle between them, as shown by gasket 7 in FIG. 3, 75, 76 in FIG. 4, and 77, 78 in FIG. 5.

As seen in FIG. 2, each gasket 7, 75, 76, 77, 78 includes a compressible insulating material 72 that is at least partially covered by a sheet material envelope 71. The sheet material envelope 71 preferably completely surrounds the compressible insulating material 72, forming a closed pocket in which reduced pressure can be created.

The compressible insulation 72 can be made of glass wool. The glass wool used can be laminated glass wool, i.e. a glass wool mat consisting of a number of alternating parallel layers visible to the naked eye, superimposed in a stacking direction. Thus, the majority of the fibers can be oriented in a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction. The density of the laminated glass wool can be between 20 kg/ ^m3 and 80 kg/ ^m3 . Alternatively, rock wool can be used as the compressible insulation 72.

2 to 5, the sheet material envelope 71 comprises an envelope part which is fixed (for example glued) to the compressible insulating material 72, i.e. glass wool. The envelope part 71 covers the entire compressible insulating material 72. The envelope 71 is made of kraft paper. This type of kraft paper has a low coefficient of friction, which allows the gaskets 7, 75, 76, 77, 78 to slide into the gap 6 when inserted therein. Furthermore, this type of kraft paper has a thermal contraction coefficient of the order of 5×10 ⁻⁶ /K to 20×10 ⁻⁶ /K. This type of kraft paper therefore has a thermal contraction coefficient close to that of the compressible insulating material 72. The gaskets 7, 75, 76, 77, 78 therefore exhibit a uniform behavior at low temperatures. In fact, there is no risk that the compressible insulating material 72 is deformed by the compression effects associated with the thermal contraction of the sheet material envelope 71. In particular, there is no risk that this compression effect causes the compressible insulating material to deform into a corrugated shape. This kind of corrugation occurring in gaps such as gap 6 promotes convection and therefore impairs the insulating properties of the insulating barrier. In order to avoid the risk of the envelope 71 tearing when inserting the gasket 7 into the gap 6, the kraft paper of the envelope 71 has a weight per unit area of more than 60 g/m ^2. Furthermore, this kraft paper has a weight per unit area of less than 150 g/m ² in order for the envelope 71 to remain flexible enough to allow the gasket 7 to be deformed by compression. The weight per unit area of the kraft paper is preferably between 70 g/m ² and 100 g/m ² .

The gaskets 7, 75, 76, 77, 78 have an elongated shape with a rectangular cross section that corresponds to the rectangular cross section of the gap 6. The gaskets therefore have two parallel sides that extend longitudinally of the gap. A longitudinal end face 79 extends across the width E of the gap 6 and connects the sides.

However, some gaskets can have alternative configurations, especially along the edges of the corner structures. Examples of such gaskets 75, 76, 77, 78 are shown in Figures 3 and 4. The gaskets 75, 76, 77, 78 have an inclined longitudinal end face 79 along the edge 10 of the corner structure. The inclined longitudinal end face 79 is at an angle equal to 45° and 67.5°, respectively, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the gap 6, so as to correspond to the bisector of the corner A of the tank. In other words, these gaskets 75, 76, 77, 78 have the contour of a long trapezoid.

More generally, the shape of the gasket is not limited to those described above and can be adapted according to the constraints faced.

A method for inserting the gasket into the gap is described with reference to FIG. 3. This insertion method uses a suction system. In the following description, a suction system of this kind is, by way of example, a vacuum pump 11, as shown in FIG. 3. In an embodiment not shown, one such suction system is a Venturi system vacuum generator. This type of vacuum pump 11 is connected via a pump tube 12 to a suction nozzle 13. The suction nozzle 13 has a frustoconical shape so as to provide an opposite end of the pump tube 12 that can pierce the kraft paper envelope 71. In this way, the suction nozzle 13, in particular its perforator end, is inserted into the gasket 7 and a hole is pierced in the kraft paper sheet material envelope 71. The piercing of this envelope 71 forms a suction orifice in the gasket.

As soon as the suction nozzle 13 is inserted into the gasket 7 and correctly positioned, the vacuum pump 11 is activated to generate a reduced pressure inside the gasket 7. The suction generated by the vacuum pump 11 has a suction flow rate of 8 m ³ /h to 30 m ³ /h. The pumping flow rate is preferably 15 m ³ /h. Such a pumping flow rate of the vacuum pump 11 allows a reduced pressure to be generated inside the gasket 7 without risking degradation of the kraft paper envelope 71 by a too high suction flow rate. The vacuum pump 11 preferably includes a filter to filter out fibers and dust from the glass wool that may be sucked in by the vacuum pump 11.

In the following description, reference is made to kraft paper for manufacturing the envelope 71. Other materials can also be used to manufacture all or part of the envelope 71. These materials are, for example, polymer films, composite sheets comprising mineral fibres and a polymer matrix, composite materials comprising mineral fibres attached to paper or polymer sheets, and combinations thereof. The polymer may be a resin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PTE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In particular, the envelope may be manufactured as an assembly of several parts obtained by cutting one or more sheet materials from the above list.

The gasket 7 is typically dimensioned to have a thickness equal to or greater than the width of the gap 6 in an unstressed or uncompressed state, and a thickness less than said width of the gap 6 under vacuum by the vacuum pump 11. For example, if the gap 6 is 33 mm to 27 mm, the gasket 7 is sized to have a thickness of 35 mm in an initial or unstressed state, and a thickness of 25 mm under vacuum. The gasket 7 is then inserted into the gap 6. As shown by the arrow 14 in FIG. 3, the gasket 7 is inserted into the gap 6 with its sides parallel to the sides of the adjacent insulation panel 5 that define the gap 6. During this insertion, the suction nozzle 13 is held in the gasket 6, and the vacuum pump 11 continuously generates a reduced pressure in the gasket 7 to facilitate insertion into the gap 6, maintaining the gasket 7 in a vacuum state so that the thickness of the gasket 7 is less than the width of the gap 6.

The gasket 7 is inserted into the gap 6 so that the side through which the suction nozzle 13 penetrates faces into the tank, making the assembly formed by the gasket 7 and the suction nozzle 13 easier to handle.

As soon as the gasket 7 is correctly positioned in the gap 6, the suction nozzle 13 is removed from the gasket 7. The interior of the envelope 5 is now in communication with the outside environment via the orifice left by the piercing by the suction nozzle 13. This communication allows the glass wool 11 to expand in the absence of compressive stresses, since a reduced pressure is no longer maintained in the gasket 7. The expansion of the glass wool 72 causes the thickness of the gasket 7 to increase so that the gap 6 is completely filled with the gasket 7, thus ensuring good continuity of the thermal insulation of the insulating barrier.

In an embodiment not shown, a rigid guide system can be used as a guide tool when inserting the gasket 7 into the gap 6.

Figure 6 shows the position occupied by the gasket after it has been placed in the gap 6 formed by the first row 51 of insulation panels 5 and the second row 52 of insulation panels 5. It should be noted that the gaskets 7 are adjacent to each other at the level of their longitudinal end faces.

Finally, in FIG. 8 it can be seen that the gaskets 77, 78 in the gap between the two walls, i.e. at the level of the corner structure, may be adjacent with their inclined longitudinal end faces. If the gaskets 7 and/or 75, 76 and/or 77, 78 are arranged along the entire length of the gap 6, there may be a local insufficient clamping of the two adjacent gaskets in the longitudinal direction of the gap 6, especially at the level of the edge 10 of the support structure 2. In the event of insufficient clamping, a gap is likely to appear at the joint between the two gaskets when the tank is cooled, especially due to the thermal contraction of the gaskets. In the event of insufficient clamping, an insert is inserted between the two gaskets. The proximity zone 9 observed between the two inclined longitudinal end faces is intentionally exaggerated in order to make it easier to understand the insertion of the insert 8. An insert can be interposed between the two adjacent gaskets to complete the continuity of the insulating barrier over the entire length of the gap 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, the insert 8 includes a support sheet 81 having two sides and a layer 82 of compressible insulating material located on one of the two sides. When unfolded, the insert has a rectangular shape, the width of which corresponds to the width E of the gap 6. When the insert is interposed between two adjacent gaskets 7 or 75/76 or 77/78, the length of the insert is twice the thickness of the secondary insulating barrier 3.

The layer 82 of compressible insulation material can be made of glass wool. The glass wool used can be laminated glass wool, i.e. a glass wool mat consisting of several layers of intertwined parallel fibres visible to the naked eye, superimposed in a stacking direction. Thus, the majority of the fibres can be oriented in a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction. The density of the laminated glass wool can be between 20 kg/ ^m3 and 80 kg/ ^m3 . Alternatively, glass wool can be used for the layer 82 of compressible insulation material.

The support sheet 81 may consist of kraft paper to which a layer 82 of compressible insulating material, namely glass wool, is fixed, for example using an adhesive. The kraft paper has a low coefficient of friction, allowing the insert to slide. The support sheet 81 has two sides. The glass wool partially or completely covers one of the faces of the kraft paper.

To interpose the insert 8 in the proximity zone 9, the insert 8 is first folded in half longitudinally. The pleats can then be U-shaped as shown in FIG. 7. This U-shaped pleat can be limited to the end of the insert 8. The glass wool is thus folded so that at least part of it is directed towards the inside of the pleat. The curved part of the pleat is then placed at the level of the proximity zone. A knife with a flat rectangular blade is then pushed into the inside of the pleat. When the knife reaches the bottom of the pleat, it can push the insert into the proximity zone until it is completely interposed between the two gaskets 7. The insert can be inserted and interposed by pushing, although the kraft paper facilitates the sliding of the insert between the two gaskets.

Although the above description refers to kraft paper to manufacture the support sheet 81, other materials can also be used to manufacture the support sheet 81. Such materials are, for example, polymer sheets, composite sheets comprising mineral fibers and a polymer matrix, composite sheets comprising mineral fibers attached to paper or a polymer sheet, and combinations thereof. The polymer may be a resin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PTE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The above description has been given with reference to a secondary insulating barrier 3. However, the same techniques can be used to manufacture the primary insulating barrier of a tank, or the only insulating barrier of a tank that contains only one sealing membrane.

The above techniques for manufacturing sealed insulated tanks can be used in different types of tanks, for example on land, or floating structures such as methane tankers or other vessels.

Referring to FIG. 9, a cutaway view of a methane tanker ship 100 shows a generally prismatic sealed and insulated tank 1 mounted on the ship's double hull 101. The tank 1 comprises a primary containment barrier configured for contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary containment barrier disposed between the primary containment barrier and the ship's double hull 101, and two insulating barriers disposed between the primary containment barrier and the secondary containment barrier, and between the secondary containment barrier and the double hull 101, respectively.

9 shows an example of a marine terminal including a loading/unloading station 10 2 , a submerged pipe 10 3 and an onshore facility 10 4. The loading/unloading station 10 2 is a stationary offshore facility including a movable arm 10 5 and a tower 10 6 supporting the movable arm 10 5. The movable arm 10 5 supports a bundle of insulated flexible tubes 10 7 that can be connected to a loading/unloading pipe 10 8. The orientable movable arm 10 5 fits any methane tanker loading gauge. A connecting pipe (not shown) extends inside the tower 10 6. The loading/unloading station 10 2 allows loading/unloading of the ship 100 to/from the onshore facility 10 4. The onshore facility 10 4 includes a liquefied gas tank 109 and a connecting pipe 11 0 connected to the loading/unloading station 10 2 via the submerged pipe 10 3 . The underwater pipes 103 enable the transport of liquefied gas over long distances, such as 5 km, between the offloading station 102 and the onshore facility 104 , thereby allowing the ship 100 to remain located far from shore during offloading operations.

Pumps on board the vessel 100 and/or pumps installed at the land facility 104 and/or pumps installed at the loading and unloading station 102 are used to generate the pressure required for the transfer of the liquefied gas.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to several specific embodiments, it is understood that the present invention is not limited thereto and encompasses technical equivalents and combinations of the described means, if these are within the scope of the present invention.

The use of the verbs "comprise" or "have" and their conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

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

Claims (17)

A sealed, insulated tank (1) for the storage of a fluid, which is integrated into a support structure (2), the tank (1) having, continuously in its thickness direction,
a thermal barrier (3) supported on said support structure (2);
a sealing membrane (4) supported by the insulating barrier (3),
The thermal barrier (3) comprises thermal insulation panels (5) arranged in at least two parallel rows (51, 52),
the two rows (51, 52) of insulating panels (5) are separated by a gap (6) having a width (E) small compared to the dimensions of the insulating panels,
The thermal insulation barrier (3) further comprises a first gasket (7) and a second gasket (7);
the first gasket (7) and the second gasket (7) are arranged in the gap (6) between the two rows (51, 52) of the insulation panel (5) so as to be compressed in the direction of the small width (E) of the gap (6);
The thermal barrier (3) further comprises at least one insert (8) disposed in a proximity zone (9) between the first gasket (7) and the second gasket (7) ;
The sealed insulated tank (1), wherein the first gasket (7) and the second gasket (7) are adjacent to each other within the proximity zone (9), and the insert (8) is configured to be compressed between the first gasket (7) and the second gasket (7 ) in the longitudinal direction of the gap (6), the longitudinal direction of the gap (6) intersecting the direction of the small width (E) of the gap (6) . The sealed insulated tank (1) of claim 1, wherein the first gasket (7) and the second gasket (7) include a compressible insulating material (72) partially or completely covered by a sheet material envelope (71). The sealed insulated tank (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insert (8) includes a support sheet (81) folded in half to form a pleat (83) and a layer of compressible insulating material (82) at least partially disposed within the pleat (83). The insert (8) extends in the thickness direction of the sealed, insulated tank (1);
4. The tank (1) according to claim 3, wherein the pleats (83) are oriented towards the support structure (2). The support structure (2) comprises a first support wall (21) and a second support wall (22) which form an angle (A) and join each other at the level of the edge (10),
The two rows (51, 52) are oriented transversely to the edge (10),
the first gasket (7, 75, 77) is disposed in a first portion of the gap (6) to separate at least two insulation panels (5) located on the first support wall (21);
5. The tank according to claim 4, wherein the second gasket (7, 76, 78) is disposed in a second portion of the gap (6) thereby separating at least two insulation panels (5) located on the second support wall (22). A sealed insulated tank (1) as described in claim 5, wherein the proximity zone (9) is located along the edge (10). A sealed insulated tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first gasket (7) has a longitudinal end surface (79) inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the gap (6). The sealed insulated tank (1) according to claim 7, which refers to claim 5 or 6, wherein the inclined longitudinal end surface (79) of the first gasket (7) is approximately parallel to the bisector of the angle (A) between the first support wall (21) and the second support wall (22). The sealed insulated tank (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the inclination between the inclined longitudinal end face (79) and the longitudinal direction of the gap (6) is between 45° and 68°. The sealed insulated tank (1) of claim 2, wherein the compressible insulating material (72) of the first gasket and the second gasket includes laminated glass wool. A method for manufacturing a sealed, insulated tank (1) for the storage of a fluid, comprising the steps of:
- placing the insulation panels (5) arranged in at least two parallel rows (51, 52) on the support structure (2) such that the two rows (51, 52) of the insulation panels (5) are separated by a gap (6) having a width (E) small compared to the dimensions of the insulation panels (5);
inserting the first and second gaskets (7) into the gap (6) such that the first and second gaskets (7) are compressed between the two rows (51, 52) of the insulation panel (5);
and interposing the insert (8) between the first and second gaskets (7, 75, 76, 77, 78) in a proximity zone (9) such that the insert (8) is compressed between the first and second gaskets (7, 75, 76, 77, 78) in the longitudinal direction of the gap (6). The first and second gaskets (7) include a compressible insulating material (72) entirely surrounded by a sheet material envelope (71);
12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising generating a reduced pressure in the envelope so as to reduce a thickness of the first and second gaskets (7, 75, 76, 77, 78) when inserting the first and second gaskets (7, 75, 76, 77, 78) into the gap (6). The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the insert (8) is folded in half by applying a pressure to the bottom of the pleats before being inserted into the proximity zone (9). The insert (8) is inserted into the proximal zone (9),
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the insert (8) is forcefully inserted into the proximity zone (9). A vessel comprising a double hull (101) and a tank disposed within the double hull,
A ship (100) for transporting cryogenic liquid products, wherein the tank is a sealed, insulated tank (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 10. A vessel (100) according to claim 15,
a thermal insulation pipe (103, 107, 108, 110) arranged to connect the sealed thermal insulation tank (1) installed in the hull of the ship to a floating body or a land storage facility (104);
and a pump for causing a flow of the cryogenic liquid product through the insulated pipe from the floating body or land-based storage facility to the sealed insulated tank of the ship or from the sealed insulated tank of the ship to the floating body or land-based storage facility. A method for loading and unloading a vessel (100) according to claim 15, comprising the steps of:
A method for transporting cryogenic liquid product from a floating or land-based storage facility (104) to the sealed, insulated tank of the vessel (1) or from the sealed, insulated tank of the vessel (1) to a floating or land-based storage facility (104) via an insulated pipe (103, 107, 108, 110).

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