KR102504563B1 - sealed and insulated tank - Google Patents

Abstract

A sealed and insulated tank comprising a first tank wall (1) and a second tank wall (2), comprising:
The sealing membrane of the first tank wall (1) comprises first rows of parallel corrugations (7, 10) with an even separation pitch (8), the sealing membrane of the second tank wall (2) having said even separation pitch (8). It comprises second rows of parallel corrugations (12, 14, 15) in one separation pitch (8), each corrugation (7, 10) of the first rows of corrugations (7, 10) being one of the second rows. extended by the corresponding pleats 12, 14 of the pleats 12, 14, 15,
The sealing membrane of the first tank wall (1) further comprises an individual corrugation (9) spaced apart from the last corrugation (10) of the first rows of corrugations (7, 10) by an individual separator (11),
The sealing membrane of the second tank wall (2) further comprises an individual corrugation (16) extending the individual corrugation (9) of the first tank wall (1) and comprising the first ripple-closing cap (18);
The last corrugation 15 belonging to the second row of corrugations 12 , 14 , 15 and offset from the individual corrugation 16 of the second tank wall 2 is the second row of corrugations 12 , 14 , 15 and a second closure cap 21 that sealably closes the last pleat 15 of the .

Description

sealed and insulated tank

The present invention relates to the field of sealed and insulated tanks with membranes for storing and/or transporting fluids, such as cryogenic fluids.

Sealed and insulated tanks with membranes are employed in particular to store liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is stored at about -162°C at atmospheric pressure. These tanks can be installed on land or on floating structures. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be designed to transport the liquefied natural gas or to contain the liquefied natural gas used as fuel to propel the floating structure.

Document WO2017006044 describes a sealed and insulated tank for storing liquefied natural gas integrated into a supporting structure, such as the double hull of a ship for transporting liquefied natural gas. The tank has a secondary thermal insulation barrier supported on the supporting structure from the outside to the inside of the tank in the thickness direction of the tank, a secondary sealing membrane laid against the secondary thermal insulation barrier, a primary thermal insulation barrier laid against the secondary sealing membrane, and It includes a multi-layer structure with a primary sealing membrane designed to contact the liquefied natural gas contained in the tank.

1 shows a cross-sectional view of a sealed and insulated tank according to WO2017006044 at a corner of 135° formed by the two longitudinal walls of the tank, where only the secondary thermal insulation barrier and secondary sealing membrane are shown.

In such a tank, the secondary insulating barrier of the tank walls comprises a plurality of standard sized insulating panels 102 juxtaposed against each plane of the supporting wall, the supporting structure. This secondary thermal insulation barrier is, for example, at a ridge 101 formed by the joint of the supporting walls, which is a plane onto which the secondary thermal insulation barriers are fixed at 135° corners, from the central part of the corresponding tank wall. It is assembled by juxtaposing the insulating panels 102 up to the edge of the tank wall.

The secondary sealing membrane of the tank walls is supported by a secondary thermal insulation barrier and constituted by a plurality of juxtaposed metal sheets 103 of standard size. The secondary sealing membrane projects towards the outside of the tank and thus comprises two rows of orthogonal corrugations enabling the secondary sealing membrane to deform through the effect of thermal stresses created by the fluid stored in the tank. Each metal sheet 103 of the secondary sealing membrane has a length and width substantially corresponding to those of the standard thermal insulation panels 102 of the secondary thermal barrier, and is offset relative to the thermal insulation panels 102. Arranged, it extends over the four insulating panels 102 . These insulating panels 102 include grooves on the inner side to accommodate the corrugations of the metal sheets 103 . It is therefore possible to assemble the secondary thermal insulation barrier and secondary sealing membrane of the tank walls from standardized elements, thermal insulation panels 102 and metal sheets 103 .

In the ridge 101, the secondary thermal insulation barrier comprises a corner structure. This corner structure is arranged relative to the supporting structure within the extension of the insulating panels 102 of both tank walls, each forming a corner of the tank at the ridge 101 . These corner insulation panels 104 together form the corners of the secondary insulation barrier of the tank. Each of these two corner insulation panels 104 has a corner metal sheet 105 comprising corrugations 106 parallel to the ridge 101 on its inner side. This corrugation 106 is received in a corresponding groove of the corner insulation panel 104 at a predetermined distance from the ridge 101 . These corner metal sheets 105 are sealedly connected by metal corner brackets 107 along the ridge 101 . Thus, each corner insulating panel 104 extends the insulating panels 102 of each tank wall, and the corner metal sheets 105 which the corner insulating panels 104 have are substantially the respective tank walls. It is located in the same plane as the metal sheets 103 of the secondary sealing membranes.

One of the corrugations 108 of the two rows of corrugations of the secondary sealing membrane of the two tank walls extends parallel to the ridge 101 ie parallel to the corrugation 106 . Thanks to the use of standardized metal sheets 103, the corrugations 108 of the rows of corrugations of the secondary sealing membrane parallel to the ridge 101 are separated by an equal separation pitch 109 . Further, the separation between the ridge and the corrugation 106 formed by the upper side of the corner insulating panels 104 is preferably standardized to facilitate assembly of the corner insulating panels 104 . For example, this separation is substantially the same as the equal separation pitch 109 .

However, due to assembly tolerances of the tank, the gap 110 separating the last insulating panel 102 from the corner insulating panel 104 varies from tank to tank and is not known prior to assembly of the tank.

For the purpose of compensating for the difference in separation resulting from the assembly tolerances of the tank while preserving the airtightness and flexibility of the secondary sealing membrane in this gap 110, the metal link strip 111 is first supported by the insulation panel 102. It is hermetically welded to metal sheet 103 and then welded to corner metal sheet 105 . This metal link strip 111 includes corrugations 112 that are parallel to corrugations 108 and separated from adjacent corrugations 108 by an equal separation pitch 109 .

The link strip 111 and the corner metal sheet 105 make it possible to adapt to the dimensions of the tank and to compensate for any deviations arising from assembly tolerances of the tank. However, the distance 113 separating the corrugations 112 of the metal link strip 111 and the corrugations 106 of the corner metal sheet 105 cannot be ascertained in advance due to possible variations in the gap 110, and similar The uniform separation pitch 109 can be maintained.

The link strip 111 also includes a row of corrugations (not shown) perpendicular to the ridge 101 . These corrugations extend corrugations of rows of corrugations in the tank wall extending perpendicular to the ridge 101 . The corner metal sheets 105 and corner brackets 107 continuously sealably connect corrugations perpendicular to the ridge 101 of the secondary sealing membranes of the two tank walls forming a corner at 135°. It also includes wrinkles perpendicular to .

The metal link strips 111 and the corner metal sheets 105 thus make it possible to preserve tightness and good flexibility at the corners of the tank, while enabling the use of standardized metal sheets 103 and thus the tank wall Facilitates the assembly of the secondary sealing membrane on the field.

However, these tank walls cornered at 135° are also continuous with the transverse tank walls extending perpendicular to the ridge 101. For the purpose of facilitating the assembly of the secondary sealing membrane on this transverse tank wall, it is similarly preferred to use standardized metal sheets 103 for the assembly of the secondary sealing membrane of said transverse tank wall. It is also necessary to preserve as much flexibility as possible in the secondary sealing membrane at the tank corners formed by the junction between the transverse and longitudinal walls of the tank.

One idea underlying the present invention is to make it possible to assemble a sealed and insulated tank in a simple and quick manner. In particular, one idea underlying the present invention makes it possible to use standardized elements for making tank walls, while including the corner of the tank formed by the joint between the transverse wall of the tank and the longitudinal wall of the tank. Still providing good tightness and good flexibility for the secondary sealing membrane at the corners of the tank.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a sealed and insulated tank integrated in a supporting structure comprising a first planar support wall and a second planar support wall which together form a ridge of the support structure; ,

The tank includes a first tank wall fixed on the first supporting wall and a second tank wall fixed on the second supporting wall, each tank wall being continuous in the thickness direction from the outside to the inside of the tank, and corresponding to the supporting wall. It has a multi-layer structure comprising a thermal insulation barrier supported against a wall and a sealing membrane supported by the thermal insulation barrier,

wherein the sealing membrane of the first tank wall extends perpendicular to the ridge and comprises first rows of parallel corrugations spaced along the ridge by an equal separation pitch, and the sealing membrane of the second tank wall extends perpendicular to the ridge; second rows of parallel corrugations spaced along a ridge by said equal separation pitch, each corrugation of the first rows of corrugations being located within an extension of a corresponding corrugation of the second rows of corrugations;

The sealing membrane of the first tank wall further comprises an individual corrugation extending parallel to the corrugations of the first rows of corrugations, which individual corrugation is adjacent to the first rows of corrugations and from the last corrugation of the first rows of corrugations. spaced apart by one individual separation apart from an equal separation pitch,

The sealing membrane of the second tank wall further comprises an individual corrugation parallel to the second rows of corrugations and located within an extension of the individual corrugation of the first tank wall, said individual corrugation of the second tank wall at the ridge to the first tank an agent for sealingly closing the individual corrugations of the second tank wall at a distance from the ridge and extending over a portion of the second tank wall, the individual corrugations of the second tank wall being continuously connected; 1 ripple-closing cap;

the corrugations of the second rows comprise a corresponding corrugation of the last corrugation of the first rows and a last corrugation belonging to the corrugations of the second row and offset from the individual corrugation of the second tank wall in the direction of the ridge by virtue of the individual separation; and wherein the last pleat of the second rows of pleats includes a second closure cap sealingly closing the last pleat of the second rows of pleats.

Such a sealed and insulated tank makes it possible to obtain a joint between the corrugations of the first tank wall and the corrugations of the second tank wall in a simple and quick manner. In particular, in such a tank, the link between the corrugations of the first tank wall and the corrugations of the second tank wall perpendicular to the ridge having no separation along the same ridge uniformly across both tank walls can be partially standardized. there is. In fact, such a tank may use standardized closure caps to interrupt pleats with an offset, and it is possible that such closure caps are used independent of the offset between the pleats along the ridge.

In addition, the interruption of the individual ripples of the second tank wall spaced apart from the ridge preserves flexibility for the sealing membrane at the ridge despite the presence of an offset between the individual corrugation and the last corrugation in a direction parallel to the ridge. make things possible In particular, this interruption of the individual ripples spaced from the ridge is intended to overcome the load resulting from the stresses present on the first wall and in the ridge, i.e. to preserve good flexibility for the membrane in said loaded areas. , which makes it possible to preserve a uniform separation pitch in the mechanically most loaded areas.

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

According to one embodiment, the ridge extends in the width direction of the supporting structure, and the second supporting wall has a larger size than the first supporting wall in the width direction so that the second tank wall is larger than the first tank wall in the width direction. have a larger size

According to one embodiment, each corrugation of the first rows of corrugations is located in a plane perpendicular to the common ridge with the corresponding corrugation of the second rows of corrugations.

According to one embodiment, the first ripple-closure cap and the second ripple-closure cap are spaced apart from each other by a distance less than an equivalent separation pitch.

According to one embodiment, the first ripple-closure cap and the second ripple-closure cap are disposed at substantially the same distance from the ridge as measured in a direction perpendicular to the ridge.

Thanks to these features, the sealing membrane retains good flexibility in ripple-closing caps.

According to one embodiment, the support structure comprises a third planar support wall forming a second ridge of the support structure parallel to said corrugations of the first rows of corrugations with the first planar support wall, wherein the first tank is The individual corrugations of the wall are parallel to the second ridge, the thermal insulation barrier along the second ridge of the supporting structure forms an upper ridge parallel to the second ridge of the supporting structure, and the individual corrugations of the first tank wall are the upper ridge It is placed at a predetermined distance from

According to one embodiment, the predetermined distance separating the upper ridge of the individual corrugations from the first tank wall is equivalent to a uniform separation pitch.

According to one embodiment, the corrugations of the first rows extend throughout the first tank wall in a direction perpendicular to the ridge, and the corrugations of the second rows extending the corrugations of the first rows extend to the ridge. It extends over the entire second tank wall in a vertical direction.

According to one embodiment, the individual separations are smaller than the equivalent separation pitch.

According to one embodiment, the individual separations are greater than a uniform separation pitch.

Thanks to these features, the sealing membrane has good flexibility despite breaks in the wrinkles.

According to one embodiment, each tank wall further comprises a primary thermal insulation barrier lying against the sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane supported by the primary thermal insulation barrier and designed to contact the fluid contained in the tank.

According to one embodiment, the sealing membrane of the first tank wall and the sealing membrane of the second tank wall further comprise corrugations parallel to the ridge of the supporting structure.

Such tanks may form part of an onshore storage facility, for example for storing LNG, or in offshore, offshore or pelagic structures, in particular methane carriers, floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), floating manufacturing storage and offloading (FPSOs) It can be installed on a unit or the like.

According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a vessel for transporting a cooled liquid product comprising a double hull and the aforementioned tank disposed in the double hull.

According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a method for loading or unloading such a vessel, wherein the refrigerant liquid product is transported via insulated pipelines from an offshore or onshore storage facility to a vessel tank or from a vessel tank to either shore or shore. delivered to the storage facility.

According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a conveying system for cooling liquid products, the system comprising an insulated pipeline arranged to connect the aforementioned ship, a tank installed on the ship's hull, to an offshore or onshore storage facility. and a pump for directing the flow of the refrigerated liquid product through insulated pipelines from an onshore or onshore storage facility to a ship's tank or from a ship's tank to an offshore or onshore storage facility.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention will be better understood in the course of the course of the following description of a plurality of specific embodiments of the invention, which are given for purposes of explanation only and are not limiting, the other objects, details, features and advantages thereof. It will become clearer.
1 is a partial view of a cross-section of a sealed and insulated tank according to the prior art.
Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a sealed and insulated tank between two longitudinal walls and a transverse wall of the tank showing only the second sealing membrane;
3 is a schematic perspective view of a ripple-closure cap.
4 is a schematic cut-away view of a methane carrier tank and a terminal for loading/unloading the tank.

Figure 2 shows a corner of a sealed and insulated tank between the first wall 1 of the tank, the second wall 2 of the tank and the third wall 3 of the tank. Such a tank is self-supporting and may in particular have a parallelepiped, polyhedral, spherical, cylindrical or multi-lobed shape.

The first wall 1 and the third wall 3 are the longitudinal walls of the tank and together form an angle of 135°. Also, the second wall 2 forms an angle of 90° with the first wall. Similarly, the second wall forms an angle of 90° with the third wall.

These tanks 1, 2, 3 are composed of a thermal insulation barrier fixed to the planar supporting wall of the supporting structure, a sealing membrane supported on the thermal insulation barrier and, potentially, a primary thermal insulation barrier supported by the sealing membrane and a primary thermal insulation barrier. It may have a multi-layer structure comprising a primary sealing membrane designed to be in contact with a cryogenic liquid, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), supported by a tank. These tank walls 1 , 2 , 3 are manufactured using standardized elements, eg as described above with reference to FIG. 1 . Thus, for example, the secondary and primary insulating barriers of each tank wall can be manufactured from juxtaposed insulating blocks starting from the central part of the corresponding tank wall, as disclosed in document WO2017/006044. Similarly, the secondary and primary sealing membranes can be manufactured using standardized metal sheets with a series of orthogonal corrugations making it possible to absorb the load on the sealing membrane. For example, insulating panels and metal sheets can be manufactured in a similar way to the corresponding elements disclosed in documents WO14057221 or FR2691520.

In Fig. 2, only the secondary sealing membrane is schematically shown. Accordingly, FIG. 2 shows a ridge 4 formed by the secondary sealing membrane at the junction between the first tank wall 1 and the third tank wall 3, the first tank wall 1 and the second tank wall 2 ), and a ridge 6 formed by the secondary sealing membrane at the junction between the second tank wall 2 and the third tank wall 3. are doing Also, only the corrugations extending longitudinally in the tank are shown in the form of continuous lines, and these corrugations may have different shapes, for example curved outward or inward, and may have different heights. It is understood that there is Furthermore, welds between the various elements of the secondary sealing membrane are shown in the form of broken lines in FIG. 2 . Thus, in this Figure 2, two metal sheets 22 on the second tank wall 2, link strips 23 on the first tank wall 1 and the second tank wall, and the first tank wall and The corner metal sheets 24 on the second tank wall 2 are delineated by broken lines.

The first tank wall 1 and the third tank wall 3 can be formed in a similar way to those of the tank walls described with reference to FIG. 1 . Thus, the secondary sealing membrane of the first tank wall 1 has first rows of corrugations 7 extending parallel to the ridge 4 . These corrugations (7) are spaced apart by an equal separation pitch (8). This uniform separation pitch 8 is, for example, on the order of 340 mm. In addition, the secondary sealing membrane of the first tank wall 1 comprises individual corrugations 9 spaced from the ridge 4 by a separation pitch 80, which separation pitch 80 is, for example, said equal separation pitch. It may be the same as or different from (8). These individual corrugations 9 are spaced apart from the last corrugation 10 of the first rows of corrugations 7 by an individual separation pitch 11 different from the equal separation pitch 9 . This individual separation pitch 11 is, for example, 340 mm plus or minus a distance x determined by the assembly tolerances of the tank, which distance x varies from tank to tank. This distance x is, for example, on the order of 40 mm, but may be smaller, so that the individual separation pitch 11 is, for example, 340 mm plus or minus 40 mm.

Similarly, the second tank wall 2 can be formed in a manner similar to that of the first and third tank walls 1 and 3 . Thus, the secondary sealing membrane of the second tank wall 2 comprises second rows of corrugations 12 perpendicular to the ridge 5 and separated by an equal separation pitch 8 . The secondary sealing membrane of the second tank wall 2 also comprises a third row of corrugations 13 perpendicular to the corrugations 12 of the second rows of corrugations, ie parallel to the ridge 5 .

In order to provide good flexibility in the ridge (5), the corrugations (7, 9) of the first tank wall (1) extend down to the ridge (5). The corrugations 7 , 9 of the first tank wall 1 preferably extend over the entire length of the tank as measured in a direction perpendicular to the ridge 5 . These corrugations 7, 9 are corner metal sheets (not shown) supported by corner insulation panels (not shown) of the first tank wall 1 at an angle of 90°, for example as described above with reference to FIG. 1 . 24) is extended by the corrugated parts present on it.

In addition, to facilitate the assembly of the tank, the central portion of the first tank wall 1, which is used as a criterion for positioning the thermal insulation panels of the secondary thermal insulation barrier of the first tank wall 1, is the second tank wall (2) is similarly used as a criterion for positioning the thermal insulation panels of the secondary thermal insulation barrier. Thus, the corrugations 7 of the first rows of corrugations 7 of the secondary sealing membrane are arranged flush with the corresponding corrugations of the second rows of corrugations 12 of the second tank wall 2 . do.

To ensure flexibility for the secondary sealing membrane in the ridge 5, the corrugations 7 of the first rows of corrugations 7 are combined with the corresponding corrugations 12 of the second rows of corrugations 12 are continuously and tightly connected to Typically, the corrugations 12 of the corrugations 12 of the second rows coplanar with the corrugations 7 of the corrugations 7 of the first rows are the corner metal sheet of the second tank wall 2 ( 24) extends to the ridge 5 by the pleated portion. The corrugations of the corner metal sheets of the first tank wall and the second tank wall are joined together in a manner similar to that described above with reference to FIG. 1 by means of corrugations present in the corner brackets connecting the corner metal sheets. Thus, the last corrugation 10 of the first rows of corrugations 7 is extended over the second tank wall 2 by the corresponding corrugation 14 of the second rows of corrugations 12 .

However, as shown in FIG. 2 , the second tank wall 2 extends in the transverse direction of the tank, ie parallel to the ridge 5 , over a greater distance than the first tank wall 1 . In fact, the first tank wall 1 is interrupted in this direction by the third tank wall 3, but the second tank wall 2 is continuous in this direction so that the second tank wall 2 and the third tank wall (3) form an angle of 90° between them. Thus, the last corrugation 15 of the second rows of corrugations 12 is spaced apart from the corrugation 14 extending the last corrugation 10 of the first rows of corrugations 7 by an equal separation pitch 8. has been In fact, the last corrugation 10 of the first rows of corrugations 7 is spaced apart from the individual corrugation 9 of the first tank wall 1 by an individual separation pitch 11 different from the equal separation pitch 8 has been Thus, the individual corrugations 9 of the first tank wall 1 and the last corrugation 15 of the second rows of corrugations 12 are not coplanar. Thus, in a manner similar to the extension of the corrugations 7 of the first rows of corrugations 7 by the corresponding corrugations 12 of the second rows of corrugations 12, the first tank wall 1 It is not possible to extend the individual pleats 9 of the continuous and sealed by means of the last pleat 15 of the second row of pleats 12 .

In order to provide good flexibility in the ridges 5, the individual corrugations 9 of the first tank wall 1 are extended by individual corrugations 16 of the second tank wall 2. For this purpose, the corner bracket has vertical corrugations at an angle of 90° extending the individual corrugations 9 of the first tank wall 1 . Further, the corner metal sheet 24 of the second tank wall 2 has individual corrugation portions 17 extending perpendicular to the ridge 5 and coplanar with the individual corrugations 9 of the first tank wall 1. are equipped This individual corrugation part 17 extends the corrugation of the corner bracket and thus the individual corrugation 9 of the first tank wall 1 on the second tank wall 2 .

The individual corrugations 16 of the second tank wall 2 further include a first closure cap 18 . This first closure cap 18 extends and ends the individual corrugated parts 17 of the corner metal sheet 24 of the second tank wall 2 .

This closure cap 18 can be manufactured in a variety of ways. Thus, in the context of the individual corrugations 16 protruding towards the inside of the tank, the closure cap according to one embodiment may have the form shown in FIG. 3 . However, if the individual pleats 16 have a different geometry, then the geometry of the closure cap 18 is to close the individual pleats 16, for example in a tank identical to the cross-section and/or orientation of said individual pleats within the tank. While adopting a cross-section and/or orientation at , it can be adapted as a result.

As shown in FIG. 3 , this first closure cap 18 is in the form of a half-dome which closes the individual corrugated part 17 to which it is sealedly fixed, for example by lap welding. It includes an upper part 19. A fixing plate 20 surrounds the base of the upper part 19, and on a metal sheet 22 adjacent to the corner metal sheet 24, typically metal sheets of the secondary sealing membrane of the second tank wall are placed on the corner metal sheet. It is hermetically welded onto the metal link strips 23 connecting to the seat 24. The fixing plate 20 advantageously includes an offset in the direction of the corner metal sheet 24 for lap welding of the fixing plate 20 on the corner metal sheet 24 .

The extension of the individual corrugations 9 of the first tank wall 1 by the individual corrugations 16 of the second tank wall 2 and the interruption of said individual corrugations 16 spaced apart from the ridge 5 results in a ridge ( 5) makes it possible to maintain excellent flexibility for the secondary sealing membrane. This flexibility is particularly advantageous in that the loads arising from thermal stresses and hydrodynamic and static loads present in the ridge 5 during use of the tank are significant. In addition, the interruption of the individual ripples 16 by the first closure caps 18 welded on the metal link strip 23, in conjunction with the interruption of the individual corrugations 16, reduces the loss of flexibility during use in the tank to a high level. making it possible to offset beyond the stressed corner metal sheet 24. Furthermore, the extension of the individual corrugations 9 of the first tank wall 1 onto the second tank wall 2 makes it possible to uninterrupt the individual corrugations 9 of the first tank wall 1 . Longitudinal tank walls, i.e. tank walls forming an angle of 135° between them, are subjected to significant loads during use, in which the secondary sealing membrane forms individual corrugations (9) over the entire length of the first tank wall (1). ) is particularly advantageous.

The last pleat 15 of the second rows of pleats 12 is interrupted by a second closure cap 21 . This second closure cap 21 is similar to the first closure cap 18, the last corrugation 15 being interrupted at a distance from the ridge 5. The second closure cap 21 interrupts the last corrugation 15, for example by being welded onto the metal link strip 23.

When the uniform separation pitch 8 is close to the individual separation pitch 11, each fixing plate of the first closure cap 18 and the second closure cap 21 is lap welded so that the end of the second tank wall 2 The corrugations 15 and the individual corrugations 16 are oriented as perpendicular to the ridge 5 as possible and thus provide good flexibility for the secondary sealing membrane of the second tank wall.

The first closure cap 18 and the second closure cap 21 are simple components to make. Furthermore, these components can be manufactured in a standardized way and can be used in all tanks regardless of assembly tolerances and individual separation pitches (11). Accordingly, such a sealed and insulated tank is simple to manufacture despite unpredictable aspects arising from the assembly tolerances of the tank.

The technology described above can be used to manufacture tanks with a single insulating barrier and a single sealing membrane, or to construct double membrane tanks for liquefied natural gas (LNG) onshore facilities or floating structures such as methane carriers. It can be. In this context, it can be considered that the sealing membrane shown in the above figures can be regarded as a secondary sealing membrane, and that a primary thermal insulation barrier and a primary sealing membrane, not shown, may be added to this secondary sealing membrane. there is. In this way, these techniques can be similarly applied to tanks with a plurality of overlapping insulating barriers and sealing membranes.

In this latter case, the primary thermal insulation barrier overlying the secondary sealing membrane and the primary sealing membrane overlying the primary thermal insulation barrier can be made in a number of ways. Thus, the primary thermal insulation barrier can be made in a manner similar to that of the secondary thermal insulation barrier using thermal insulation panels juxtaposed on the secondary sealing membrane. Similarly, the primary sealing membrane can be made from standardized metal sheets.

Referring to Fig. 4, a cut-away view of a methane carrier 70 shows a generally polyhedron-shaped sealed and insulated tank 71 mounted on the double hull 72 of the vessel. The wall of the tank 71 includes a primary sealing barrier designed to contact the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary sealing barrier disposed between the primary sealing barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and a primary sealing barrier and a secondary sealing barrier. It includes two thermal insulation barriers respectively disposed between the sealing barrier and between the secondary sealing barrier and the double hull 72 .

In a manner known per se, loading/unloading pipelines 73 arranged on the upper deck of the vessel are connected to the sea or port terminal by means of suitable connectors for transporting the LNG cargo from or towards the tank 71. can be connected

4 shows an example of a marine terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75 , an underwater duct 76 and an onshore installation 77 . The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a movable arm 74 and a riser 78 supporting the movable arm 74 . The movable arm 74 has a bundle of insulated flexible hoses 79 which can be connected to the loading/unloading pipelines 73. The reversible movable arm 74 is suitable for all methane carrier sizes. A connecting duct (not shown) extends inside riser 78 . The loading and unloading station 75 enables loading and unloading of the methane carrier 70 from or to the shore facility 77. It includes tanks 80 for storing liquefied gas and connecting ducts 81 connected by means of an underwater duct 76 to a loading or unloading station 75. The underwater duct 75 enables the transfer of liquefied gas over long distances, for example 5 km, between the loading or unloading station 75 and the onshore facility 77, which allows the methane carrier 70 to It makes it possible to stay at a great distance from the coast.

To create the pressure required to transport the liquefied gas, pumps aboard the ship 70 and/or pumps installed on shore installations and/or pumps installed at the loading and unloading station 75 are used. .

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a plurality of specific embodiments, the present invention is expressly not limited thereto in any way, but includes all technical equivalents and combinations of the described means as long as they fall within the context of the present invention. .

In one embodiment, not shown, the sealed and insulated tank has only one insulating barrier and one sealing membrane, manufactured in a manner similar to that of the secondary insulating barrier and secondary sealing membrane described above, for example with reference to FIG. 2 . includes

The verb 'comprise' or 'comprise' and its conjugations do not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those recited in the claims.

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

Claims (14)

A sealed and insulated tank integrated into a supporting structure, the supporting structure comprising a first planar supporting wall and a second planar supporting wall which together form a ridge of the supporting structure;
The tank comprises a first tank wall (1) fixed on a first supporting wall and a second tank wall (2) fixed on a second supporting wall, each tank wall (1, 2) being attached to the outside of the tank. having a multi-layer structure comprising a thermal insulation barrier supported against a corresponding supporting wall and a sealing membrane supported by the thermal insulation barrier, continuously in the thickness direction from the inward side;
The sealing membrane of the first tank wall (1) comprises a first row of parallel corrugations (7, 10) extending perpendicular to the ridge and spaced along the ridge by an equal separation pitch (8); The sealing membrane of the wall (2) comprises second rows of parallel corrugations (12, 14, 15) extending perpendicular to the ridges and spaced along the ridges by said equal separation pitch (8); Each pleat (7, 10) of the pleats (7, 10) of the second row is located within the extension of the corresponding pleat (12, 14) of the second row of pleats (12, 14, 15),
The sealing membrane of the first tank wall (1) further comprises individual corrugations (9) extending parallel to the corrugations (7, 10) of the first rows (7, 10) of the corrugations (9). ) is adjacent to the first rows of corrugations 7, 10 and from the last corrugation 10 of the first rows of corrugations 7, 10 by an individual separation 11 different from the equal separation pitch 8. spaced apart,
The sealing membrane of the second tank wall 2 has an individual corrugation 16 located within the extension of the individual corrugation 9 of the first tank wall 1 and parallel to the second rows of corrugations 12, 14, 15. wherein the individual corrugations (16) of the second tank wall (2) are continuously connected at ridges with the individual corrugations (9) of the first tank wall (1), said individual corrugations (16) of the second tank wall (2) The corrugation (16) extends over a portion of the second tank wall (2) and is spaced apart from the ridge to form a first ripple-closing cap (18) for sealingly closing the individual corrugation (16) of the second tank wall (2). Including,
The pleats 12, 14, and 15 of the second row include a pleat 14 corresponding to the last pleat 10 of the first rows 7 and 10 and the second row of pleats 12, 14, 15) and includes the last corrugation 15 offset from the individual corrugation 16 of the second tank wall 2 in the direction of the ridge by virtue of the individual separation 11, the second row of corrugations 12, The last pleat 15 of the second rows 12 , 14 , 15 is sealed and thermally insulated comprising a second closure cap 21 sealingly closing the last pleat 15 of the second rows of pleats 12 , 14 , 15 . old tank. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ridge extends in the width direction of the supporting structure, and the second supporting wall has a size larger than the first supporting wall in the width direction so that the second tank wall (2) in the width direction is the first. A sealed and insulated tank having dimensions larger than the tank wall (1). 3. A sealed and insulated tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first ripple-closing cap (18) and the second ripple-closing cap (21) are spaced from each other by a distance less than an equal separation pitch (8). . 3. A sealed and insulated cap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first ripple-closing cap (18) and the second ripple-closing cap (21) are disposed equidistant from the ridge as measured in a direction perpendicular to the ridge. Tank. 3. The support structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supporting structure has a third plane forming a second ridge of the supporting structure parallel to said corrugations of the first rows of corrugations (7, 10) together with the first planar supporting wall. a supporting wall, wherein the individual corrugations (9) of the first supporting wall (1) are parallel to said second ridge, and the thermal insulation barrier is along the second ridge of the supporting structure with an upper side parallel to said second ridge of the supporting structure A sealed and insulated tank forming a ridge (4), wherein the individual corrugations (9) of the first tank wall (1) are arranged at a predetermined distance from the upper ridge (4). 6. Sealed and insulated tank according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined distance separating the upper ridge (4) from the individual corrugations (9) of the first tank wall is equal to an equal separation pitch (8). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the corrugations (7, 10) of the first rows (7, 10) extend over the whole of the first tank wall in a direction perpendicular to the ridge, The corrugations 12, 14 of the second rows of corrugations 12, 14, 15 extending the corrugations 7, 10 of the corrugations 7, 10 form a second tank wall in a direction perpendicular to the ridge ( 2) Sealed and insulated tanks extending throughout. 3. Sealed and insulated tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the individual separations (11) are smaller than the equivalent separation pitch (8). 3. Sealed and insulated tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the individual separations (11) are greater than the equivalent separation pitch (8). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each tank wall (1, 2, 3) has a primary thermal insulation barrier lying against the sealing membrane and a 1 supported by the primary thermal insulation barrier and arranged in contact with the fluid contained in the tank. A sealed and insulated tank further comprising a primary sealing membrane. 3. The sealed and insulated tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing membrane of the first tank wall (1) and the sealing membrane of the second tank wall (2) further comprise corrugations parallel to the ridges of the supporting structure. A vessel (70) for transporting a cooled liquid product, said vessel comprising a double hull (72) forming said support structure and a tank (71) as claimed in claim 1 or 2 arranged in the double hull. A method of loading or unloading a vessel (70) according to claim 12, wherein the cooling liquid product is transferred from an offshore or onshore storage facility (77) to a vessel tank (71) via insulated pipelines (73, 79, 76, 81). , or from a ship tank (71) to an offshore or onshore storage facility (77). A conveying system for cooling liquid products, said system comprising insulated pipelines (73) arranged to connect a ship (70) of claim 12, a tank (71) mounted on the ship's hull to an offshore or onshore storage facility (77). , 79, 76, 81), and a pump for directing a flow of refrigerated liquid product through insulated pipelines from an onshore or onshore storage facility to a ship tank or from a ship tank to an offshore or onshore storage facility.

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