KR20200003201A - How to assemble a liquid dome - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of assembling a sealed and insulated tank inside a bearing structure 1, the assembly method being:
Installing a loading / offloading tower 17,
Providing a closing block 20 for the liquid dome,
Inserting the closing block 20 into the storage space of the tank by sliding it along the pipes 18 of the loading / unloading tower 17, the closing block 20 being a retaining member. Lying in a storage space on (22, 23),
Mounting a support structure insert 24 to the support structure 1, the support structure insert 24 closing an opening in the liquid dome,
Sliding the closure block 20 in the direction of the support structure insert 24 along the pipes 18, and
Securing the closure block 20 to the support structure insert 24.

Description

How to assemble a liquid dome

The present invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating membrane-type tanks. In particular, the invention relates to tanks for transporting liquefied petroleum gas (known as LPG) at temperatures between -50 ° C. and 0 ° C. or for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) at approximately −162 ° C. at atmospheric pressure. The same relates to the field of sealed and insulated tanks for storing and / or transporting liquefied gases at low temperatures. Such tanks may be installed on land or on floating structures. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be for receiving liquefied gas used as a fuel for transporting liquefied gas or for the propulsion of the floating structure.

In one embodiment, the liquefied gas is LNG, ie a mixture with a high methane content stored at atmospheric pressure at a temperature of approximately -162 ° C. Other liquefied gases, in particular ethane, propane, butane or ethylene can also be envisioned. The liquefied gas can be stored under pressure, for example at a relative pressure between 2 and 20 bar, in particular at a relative pressure of approximately 2 bar. The tank can be produced by various techniques, in particular in the form of an integral membrane-type tank or a self-supporting tank.

Document FR2785034 discloses a sealed and insulated tank for storing liquefied natural gas, which is installed in the double hull of a ship.

The sealed and insulated tank comprises a secondary insulated barrier leaning against the ship's inner hull; A secondary sealing membrane leaning against the secondary insulating barrier; A primary thermal barrier leaning against the secondary sealing membrane; And walls with a multi-layered structure that continuously constitute the primary sealing membrane intended to contact the liquefied gas contained in the tank.

The tank has a loading / unloading tower for loading the cargo into the tank before the cargo is transported and for unloading the cargo after the cargo is transported.

During the assembly of this tank, the secondary and primary insulating barriers and the secondary and primary sealing membranes are mounted and fixed in the double hull of the ship. Then, in the second step, the loading / unloading tower is mounted in the tank and fixed to the double hull of the ship.

However, the piping of the loading / unloading towers must penetrate the tank wall and the double hull to make it possible to move the liquid contained in the tank's storage space out of the tank. For this purpose, the upper wall of the double hull has an opening left freely for mounting the loading / unloading tower in the tank. Similarly, the upper tank wall fixed to the upper wall of the double hull has passages in line with the opening. This passage in the upper tank wall is also left free to mount the load / unload tower. Thus, during installation of the loading / unloading tower in the tank, the piping of the loading / unloading tower is configured to have an end that continuously passes through the passage in the upper tank wall and the opening in the double hull.

To complete the assembly of the tank following the installation of the loading / unloading tower, a hull insert is installed in the opening of the double hull to close the opening in the double hull. In this hull insert holes are provided for the passage of the pipes of the loading / unloading tower. Then, a number of tank wall portions are mounted to the hull insert to surround the piping to ensure insulation and sealing of the upper tank wall.

The method of assembling such a tank is particularly unsatisfactory because it is time consuming and complicated.

The fundamental idea of the present invention is to propose a method of assembling a sealed and insulated tank which makes it possible to reduce the assembly time.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of assembling a sealing and insulating tank inside a bearing structure, the support structure having a plurality of walls defining an interior space, wherein the plurality of walls are openings. and an upper wall of the retaining structure having an opening, wherein the assembly method is:

Installing a loading / offloading tower into the interior space through the opening, the loading / unloading tower having a plurality of pipes, each having a top end projecting from the interior space; The unloading tower has at least one retaining member;

Providing a closing block having a tank wall portion, the closing block having orifices;

Inserting the upper ends of the conduits into corresponding holes in the closure block;

Sliding the closure block along the conduits until the closure block is brought into contact with the retaining member in the interior space;

Providing a retaining structure insert with through-holes;

Mounting the support structure insert to the support structure such that the support structure insert blocks the opening in the upper wall of the support structure and the ends of the pipes of the loading / unloading tower pass through the through-holes of the support structure insert. ;

Sliding the closure block in the direction of the bearing structure insert along the pipes; And

Securing the closure block to the support structure insert.

Thus, this assembly method can significantly reduce the assembly time since the closing block can be preassembled and then directly integrated into the tank's storage space.

Moreover, the presence of the through-holes and the protruding member in the closure block makes it possible to keep the closure block in place in the storage space while the support structure insert is mounted to the support structure. Thus, when the support structure insert is mounted to the support structure, the closure block can be raised and fixed integrally simply by sliding in the direction of the support structure insert along the pipes. Therefore, this mounting method is quick and easy to implement.

According to embodiments, such assembly method may include one or more of the following features.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises securing a plurality of tank walls to corresponding walls of the holding structure for defining a storage space for the fluid in the tank, one of the tank walls being the top of the holding structure. An upper tank wall fixed to the wall, the upper tank wall having a passage in line with an opening in the upper wall of the supporting structure, the passage allowing the storage space to communicate with the outer space of the supporting structure.

According to one embodiment, the pipes extend in the storage space of the tank.

According to one embodiment, the upper ends of the conduits protrude from the interior space of the support structure by successively passing through the passages in the upper tank wall and the openings in the upper wall of the support structure.

According to one embodiment, at least one of the tubing has a retaining member, the retaining member protruding from the tubing into the storage space of the tank.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises sealing the tank between the upper tank wall and the tank wall portion formed by the closing block.

According to one embodiment, each tank wall has a thermal insulation barrier and a sealing membrane, which sealing membrane is intended to contact the fluid stored in the storage space of the tank and is arranged in contact with the thermal insulation barrier.

According to one embodiment, the tank wall portion of the closure block has an insulating barrier portion and a sealing membrane portion.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises welding the tubing of the loading / unloading tower to the support structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises welding the tubing of the loading / unloading tower to a closed block.

According to one embodiment, some pipes or each pipe of the loading / unloading tower has a protrusion projecting into the storage space of the tank. Thus, the closure block lies on some projections.

According to one embodiment, the protruding member (s) connects two tubing of the loading / unloading tower together. In general, such protruding members may be reinforcing rods of the loading / unloading tower.

According to one embodiment, the bearing structure insert has an inner surface facing the outer surface of the closing block, the method comprising disposing correcting strips between the outer surface of the closing block and the inner surface of the bearing structure insert. Wherein the modification strips form a planar support surface in the interior space of the support structure, and the outer surface of the closure block 20 is fixed to the planar support surface.

According to one embodiment, the closure block and the protruding member are configured such that when the closure block lies in a storage space on the protruding member, the outer surface of the closure block is spaced at least 1.5 m from the inner surface of the bearing structure insert.

These modification strips make it possible to compensate for top view defects of the support structure insert, thus providing a planar support surface that allows for stable and secure fastening of the closure block to the support structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the wall portion of the closure block has an end panel which forms the outer surface of the closure block, and the modification strips are stapled to the end panel.

According to one embodiment, the end panel is a plywood panel.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises disposing a modification strip on the inner surface of the bearing structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the method is:

Measuring a plan view of the inner surface of the support structure insert; And

The thickness of the quartz strips in accordance with the measurement of the plan view of the inner surface of the retaining structure insert such that the inner surfaces of the quartz strips opposite from the bearing structure insert are arranged in one same plane to form the planar support surface. It further comprises the step of dimensioning (dimensioning).

According to one embodiment, the modifying strips have a bead of resin, the beads of which are fixed to an inner surface of the support structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the beads of the resin are made of mastic.

According to one embodiment, securing the closure block to the support structure insert comprises squashing the beads of resin.

According to one embodiment, the beads of resin are deformed by compression while the closing block is secured to the support structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the beads of the resin, in the squashed state due to the squashing step, coalesce to form a planar support surface.

According to one embodiment, the beads of resin have a thickness dimensioned according to the measurement of the top view of the inner surface of the support structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the beads of the resin are dimensioned to form a planar support surface.

According to one embodiment, prior to sliding the closure block in the direction of the bearing structure insert, the beads of resin are secured to the closure block, generally the outer surface of the closure block.

According to one embodiment, the modifying strips have a batten, and the beads of each resin are secured to each baton.

According to one embodiment, the battens are plywood batons.

According to one embodiment, the battens have a thickness dimensioned according to the measurement of the top view of the inner surface of the support structure insert to form the planar support surface, the battens being fixed to the outer surface of the closure block.

With these features, the top view defects of the support structure insert can be filled by the battens without having to provide beads of different sizes of resin to fill the top view defects of the support structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the beads of the resin have a uniform thickness.

Beads of resin having such a uniform thickness can be produced quickly and easily. Thus, the beads of the resin can be prepared one by one and placed directly on the baton, thus making it quick and easy. Moreover, beads of this uniform thickness of resin avoid the mistakes associated with placing beads of a given thickness on the wrong batten.

The continuous production of beads of the resin thus limits the installation time of the set of beads of the resin, thus limiting the time required between the installation of the beads of the first resin and the installation of the beads of the last resin, whereby Limits the time for which the first resin bead is installed without squaring between supporting structure inserts. Thus, the time that the beads of the first resin installed on the baton are not in their final position and undergoes drying is reduced.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises securing the modification strips to an outer surface of the closure block.

According to one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: securing the quartz strips to an outer surface of the closure block before sliding the closure block in the direction of the bearing structure insert, and then supporting the closure block. And fixing the modification strips in contact with an inner surface of the support structure insert for securing to the structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises applying beads of the resin to the outer surface of the battens, the outer surfaces of the battens being opposite the bearing structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the battens are stapled to the outer surface of the closure block.

According to one embodiment, staples for securing the batten to the outer surface of the closing block are 200 mm apart.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises applying beads of the resin to the inner surface of the support structure insert before the closure block is slid in the direction of the support structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the modification strips are secured to the inner surface of the support structure insert in a pre-assembly step, the assembly method comprising securing the correction strips to the support structure insert prior to providing the support structure insert.

According to one embodiment, securing the closure block to the support structure insert includes securing the modification strips to the outer surface of the closure block after sliding the closure block in the direction of the support structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises installing reference strips on an inner surface of the support structure insert, the reference strips having an inner surface opposite from the support structure insert and having one same plane. And the modification strips are dimensioned to form the support surface in the plane.

In other words, the reference strips are dimensioned to form a reference plane, and the modification strips are dimensioned to form a support surface in the reference plane such that the closing block is pressed against the modification strips in the reference plane.

According to one embodiment, the reference strips are located on the support structure insert in a reference pattern.

According to one embodiment, the modification strips are located on the support structure insert in a fastening pattern.

According to one embodiment, the fixation pattern and the reference pattern are configured such that the reference strips and the correction strips are located at different portions of the bearing structure insert.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises installing tie rods between the support structure insert and the closure block, the tie rods pointing the closure block in the direction of the support structure insert. It is operated to slide.

According to one embodiment, the closure block and the support structure insert have through-paths through which tie-rods pass.

According to one embodiment, a locknut is mounted at the first end of the tie rods, the first end of the tie rods penetrating the support structure insert.

According to one embodiment, a nut is screwed on the second end of the tie rods, the second end penetrating the closure block.

According to one embodiment, the tie rods hold the closed block in place during the drying period of the beads of the resin.

Such tanks may be assembled, for example, on land storage facilities for storing LNG, or offshore or offshore floating structures, in particular methane transport vessels, floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), floating production storage and unloading (FPSO) units, and the like. Can be. Such tanks can serve as fuel reservoirs in any type of ship.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of some specific embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting example only in connection with the accompanying drawings, and further objects, details, features of the invention. And advantages will become more apparent.
1 is a partial schematic view of a support structure intended to receive walls of a sealed and insulated tank;
2 is a schematic diagram of a multilayer structure of the walls of the tank;
3 is a schematic view showing a loading / unloading tower and partially showing the supporting structure in which the tower is installed;
4 is a partial schematic view of the longitudinal section of the sealing and insulating tank during assembly to the liquid dome and the loading / unloading tower, with the hull insert not yet installed in the liquid dome;
5 is a partial schematic view of the longitudinal section of the sealing and thermal insulation tank during assembly to the liquid dome and loading / unloading tower, with the closure block not yet secured to the hull insert;
6 is a partial schematic view of a longitudinal section of a sealed and insulated tank assembled to a liquid dome and a loading / unloading tower;
FIG. 7 is a schematic partial detail view of FIG. 5 showing the difference in flatness between the hull insert and the closure block; FIG.
8 is a schematic detailed view similar to FIG. 7 showing a first embodiment of the present invention;
9 is a partial schematic view of a closed block fixed to the hull insert according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a partial schematic view similar to FIG. 8, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
FIG. 11 is a partial schematic view similar to FIG. 8, according to the third embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
12 is a partial schematic view of the longitudinal section of the sealing and thermal insulation tank showing the lifting means of the closed block;
FIG. 13 is a schematic cutaway view of a tank of a methane transport ship and a terminal for loading / unloading the tank.

With reference to FIG. 1, a rear part of a bearing structure 1 intended to receive the walls of a sealed and insulated tank can be seen. The support structure 1 is formed by a double hull of a ship. The support structure 1 has the overall shape of a polyhedron. The supporting structure 1 has a front wall 2 and a back wall 3, in this case having an octagonal shape. In FIG. 1, in order to be able to see the internal space of the supporting structure 1, the front wall 2 is only partially shown. The front wall 2 and the rear wall 3 are cofferdam walls of the ship and extend transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ship. The support structure 1 also has an upper wall 4, a lower wall 5 and side walls 6. The upper wall 4, the lower wall 5 and the side walls 6 extend in the longitudinal direction of the ship and connect the front wall 2 and the back wall 3.

The upper wall 4 has a rectangular parallelepiped space near the rear wall 3 of the bearing structure 1, which is known as a liquid dome 7. The liquid dome 7 is formed by a front transverse wall 8 and a rear transverse wall 9 and two side walls 10, which extend vertically and protrude upwards. The liquid dome 7 defines an opening 11 in the upper wall 4 for the passage of pipes for transporting liquid to or from the tank mounted in the holding structure, as described below. .

The tank is a membrane-type tank having a multilayer structure. Thus, as schematically shown in FIG. 2, each wall of the tank has a secondary thermal barrier 12 having thermal insulation elements leaning against the support structure 1, continuously from the outside to the inside, in the thickness direction of the wall. A secondary insulation membrane 13 fixed to the insulation elements of the secondary insulation barrier 12, a primary insulation barrier 14 having insulation elements leaning against the secondary insulation membrane 13, and the primary insulation barrier 14. And a primary sealing membrane 15 intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in the tank. The multilayer structure of the tank is arranged on each of the walls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of the support structure 1. This multilayer structure is also present in the walls 8, 9, 10 of the liquid dome 7 and thus the passage 16 in the tank wall in line with the opening 11 in the liquid dome 7. To qualify.

By way of example, each wall of the tank is in particular a Mark III type as described for example in FR2691520, for example a NO96 type as described in FR2877638, or for example a Mark as described in WO14057221. It may be a V type.

During assembly of the tank in the support structure 1, each wall of the tank is fixed to each wall of the support structure 1 and runs from the outside of the tank to the inside. In other words:

Securing the insulating elements of the secondary insulating barrier 12 to each wall of the supporting structure 1;

Fastening the secondary sealing membrane 13 to the insulating elements of the secondary insulating barrier 12;

Securing the insulating elements of the primary insulating barrier 14 through the secondary sealing membrane 13 to the insulating elements or supporting structure 1 of the secondary insulating barrier 12; Then

Secure the primary sealing membrane 15 to the insulating elements of the primary insulating barrier 14.

The fixing of the tank walls to the support structure 1 is carried out to form a passage 16 in line with the opening 11 in the liquid dome 7. Thus, the passage 16 and the opening 11 are left free to allow installation of a loading / offloading tower 17 in the tank. This loading / unloading tower 17 shown in FIG. 3 makes it possible in particular to load the cargo inside the tank and / or to unload the cargo from the tank.

The loading / unloading tower 17 has a tripod structure consisting of three vertical pillars 18. These vertical pillars 18 actually extend over the entire height of the storage space of the tank. Cross members 23 distributed over the entire height of the loading / unloading tower 17 connect the pillars 18 together to ensure the rigidity and integrity of the loading / unloading tower 17. do.

The base of the loading / unloading tower 17 is secured to the lower wall 5 of the supporting structure 1 and cooperates with a support foot intended to hold the loading / unloading tower 17 in a vertical position. Such supports are described for example in the applications FR3035475 and WO2011157915.

The upper end 19 of the vertical pillars 18 protrudes out of the supporting structure 1 through the passage 16 and the opening 11 in the liquid dome 7. One or more of the upper ends 19 are intended to be connected to an LNG transport system.

Each of the vertical pillars 18 is hollow, thereby forming a pipe for loading or unloading fluid into or out of the tank, respectively; Or an emergency shaft for lowering the emergency pump and the unloading line in the event of a failure of another unloading pump. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, two of the pillars 18 form a unloading line for unloading from a tank, for which it is associated with a unloading pump installed at the lower end of the loading / unloading tower 17, The third pillar forms an emergency shaft.

4 to 6 show different assembly states of the tank during the process of closing the liquid dome 7. Specifically, in order to preserve the thermal and sealing characteristics of the tank, the passage 16 in the tank wall must be blocked while allowing the upper end 19 of the pillars 18 to pass through. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 3, a closing block 20 for the passage 16 is provided.

The closure block 20 has an insulating barrier portion and a sealing membrane portion. The insulating barrier portion of the closure block 20 may have an insulating lining made of polyurethane foam disposed between two rigid sheets, for example made of plywood. For example, the insulation barrier portion of the closure block has a structure similar to that of the constituent insulation element of one of the insulation barriers 12, 14 of the walls of the tank. Likewise, the sealing membrane portion of the closure block may have a structure similar to that of the sealing membranes 13, 15 of the tank walls.

The closing block 20 has a dimension complementary to that of the passage 16. Moreover, the closing block 20 has through-holes 21. These through-holes 21 have a shape complementary to the outer shape of the pillars 18 of the genital loading / unloading tower 17. These through-holes 21 are disposed in the closing block 20 at positions corresponding to the positions of the pillars 18 in the passage 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the closing block 20 inserts the pillars 18 of the loading / unloading tower 17 into the corresponding through-holes 21 in the closing block 20, and The closing block 20 is then inserted into the storage space of the tank by sliding along the loading / unloading tower 17.

The pillars 18 have a retaining member 22. This holding member 22 protrudes from the outer surface of the pillar 18 into the storage space of the tank. The closing block 20 slides along the pillars 18 until it is supported on the retaining members 22. These retaining members 22 make it possible to hold the closing block 20 in place during other operations of closing the liquid dome 7.

In an embodiment not shown, the retaining members 22 are formed by cross members 23 connecting the pillars 18 together. More specifically, the closing block 20 rests in the storage space of the tank while being supported on the cross member (s) 23 disposed closest to the upper wall 4 of the carrying structure 1. Thus, the loading / unloading towers 17 used in current tanks need not be modified to carry out the assembly method described herein.

As soon as the closing block 20 bears on the retaining members 22 and is in the storage space, the opening 11 in the upper wall 4 of the carrying structure 1 can be blocked. For this purpose, the hull insert 24 is moved onto the walls 8, 9, 10 of the liquid dome 7, which forms the cover for the liquid dome 7. Thus, the hull insert 24 has a dimension larger than that of the opening 11 so that it can rest on the upper edge of the walls 8, 9, 10 of the liquid dome 17. The hull insert 24 can be made in a number of ways, for example by a structure and material similar to the upper wall 4 of the supporting structure 1. The hull insert 24 is preferably fixed to the walls 8, 9, 10 of the liquid dome 7, for example by welding.

In a manner similar to the closure block 20, the hull insert 24 has holes 25 for the upper end 19 of the pillars 18 to pass through. Thus, the hull insert 24 inserts the ends 19 of the pillars 18 into corresponding holes 25 in the hull insert 24, thereby providing walls 8, 9, 10 of the liquid dome. ) Is attached. The ends 19 of the pillars 18 are fixed to the hull insert 24, for example by welding. In other words, the pillars 18 may be suspended from the hull insert 24.

The hull insert 24 constitutes a fixing structure for the closure block 20 to complete the assembly of the tank by completing the insulation and sealing of the upper tank wall. When the hull insert 24 is installed to block the opening 11 in the liquid dome 7, the closing block 20 can be raised to abut the hull insert 24. The closing block 20 slides integrally along the pillars 18 in the direction of the hull insert 24. The outer surface 27 of the closure block 20 facing the hull insert 24 is then fixed to the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24. In order to complete the sealing of the tank, the pillars 18 are fixed to the sealing membrane parts of the closing block 20 in a sealing manner, for example by welding. Similarly, the sealing membrane portions of the closure block 20 are welded in a sealed manner to the sealing membranes of the tank walls fixed to the walls 8, 9, 10 of the liquid dome 7.

The method of assembling the tank in the liquid dome described above with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 is quick and easy to implement. This is because the closure block 20 may be previously manufactured integrally and inserted into the storage space of the tank. Similarly, this integral closure block 20 can be easily raised to abut the hull insert 24 and secured to the hull insert 24, wherein the pillars 18 are closed by retaining members 22. It is possible to keep the 20 in place in the storage space and to guide the closing block 20 by sliding the closing block 20.

However, the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24 to which the closure block 20 is fixed may have a planarity defect. In Figures 6 to 11, these planar defects are shown in a deliberately exaggerated manner to make the drawings and the description below easier to understand.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the closure block 20 is raised to abut the hull insert 24, a plan view defect of the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24 is caused by an external surface ( 27 make it impossible to provide a planar fastening surface. This planar fixing surface allows good coordination with the outer surface 27 of the closing block 20 and thus permits reliable and reliable positioning and fixing of the closing block 20 to the hull insert.

In order to fill the top view defects of the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24, correcting strips 28 are interposed between the closing block 20 and the hull insert 24, ie the closing block 20. It is arranged between the outer surface 27 of the and the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24. These strips have the function of providing a flat fixed surface for the closure block. Thus, these modification strips 28 must have an inner surface located in one and the same reference plane 29 in order to jointly form the planar fixed surface of the closing block 20.

The quartz strips 28 have a bead of resin 30. Beads 30 of this resin are used for filling the top view defects of the support structure 1 during the fixing of the tank walls, for example to the walls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of the support structure 1. Used in the manufacture of these. Beads 30 of this resin are made of mastic, for example.

However, because the tank walls are already fixed to the walls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of the support structure 1, the top view of the walls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of the support structure 1. The machine used to produce the resin needed for the strips to fill the defects no longer exists in the interior space of the holding structure 1. Thus, in order to make beads 30 of resin and install them between the hull insert 24 and the closing block 20, the resin for manufacturing the beads 30 of resin for the quartz strips 28 is Manufactured outside the tank and introduced into the tank.

Manufacturing and delivering the resin outside the tank to produce the beads 30 of the resin at its installation site increases the installation time of the beads 30 of the resin. Since such resin beads 30 have a maximum exposure time to ambient air before deterioration of properties, an increase in the installation time of these resin beads 30 is disadvantageous.

In order to manufacture and install the beads 30 of the resin in turn, and to limit the exposure time to ambient air, a measurement of the top view of the surface 26 is made to reveal the spacing pattern. This gap pattern defines the distance 31 between the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24 and the reference plane 29 in line with the positions provided for each modification strip 28. Thus, the spacing pattern makes it possible to dimension the thickness of each correction strip 28 according to its position.

In order to make the spacing pattern easier to implement, reference strips 32 (see FIG. 12) may be disposed on the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24. These reference strips 32 are fixed to the inner surface 26 by, for example, double sided adhesive tape, adhesive or any other fastening means. These reference strips 32 have an inner surface located in the reference plane 29, for example made of plywood or the like. These reference strips 32 are installed on the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24 at positions other than those provided for the modification strips 28 so as not to interfere with the positions of the modification strips 28. do.

8 to 11 show other embodiments of quartz strips 28 associated with different modes of assembly of the tank in the liquid dome 7.

According to the first variant shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the modification strips 28 are made with the aid of beads 30 of resin alone. The beads 30 of the resin are dimensioned according to the measurement of the top view of the surface 26 of the hull insert 24, ie according to the spacing pattern. Thus, the beads 30 of the resin have a thickness determined according to the position on the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24 and at this position the distance 31 between the inner surface 26 and the reference plane 29. Beads 30 of each resin have dimensions determined according to the spacing pattern and are made directly on the outer surface 27 of the closing block 20. Accordingly, the beads 30 of the resin may be implemented one by one on the outer surface 27 of the closing block 20.

Since the thickness of the beads 30 of the resin is dimensioned according to the gap pattern, the distance 33 between the beads 30 of the resin and the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24 is uniform, and the resin The difference in the thickness of the beads 30 of the lead makes it possible to fill the top view combinations of the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24. Thus, when the closing block 20 is raised to abut the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24, the beads 30 of the resin are substantially at the same time in spite of the planar defects of the inner surface 26. 26). Beads 30 of this resin may undergo compression and uniform deformation during the elevation of the closing block 20 relative to the hull insert 24, and the closure block 20 may be brought into contact with the hull insert 24 by adhesion. Make it fixed In this compressed state, the inner surface of the beads 30 of the resin is located in the reference plane 29.

10 and 11 show a variant embodiment of the correction strips 28. In this variant, each quartz strip 28 has a bead 30 of resin associated with a batten 34. This baton 34 is made of plywood, for example. In this variant, the batons 34 are dimensioned according to the spacing pattern to fill in planar couplings of the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24. Beads 30 of the resin have a uniform thickness in the portion they are in charge of.

The beads of resin of uniform thickness 30 are produced quickly because there is no need to modify the tools for making them to adjust the thickness of the beads 30 of resin. Thus, the apparatus can produce a continuous resin bead 30 of uniform thickness, depending on the desired length of the bead 30 of resin to be associated with the batons 34 of the quartz strips 28. It is cut sequentially. Such devices are, for example, resin pouches with application orifices or pneumatic or electrical resin nozzles.

10 shows a first mode of assembly of such quartz strips 28. In the first assembly mode, each quartz strip 28 is produced by assembling beads 30 of resin corresponding to baton 34 that are precisely dimensioned. Each manufactured quartz strip 28 is then fixed to the outer surface 27 of the closing block 20 in the storage space of the tank. More specifically, the battens 34 are the outer surface 27 of the closure block 20 such that the beads 30 of the resin are disposed between the batons 34 and the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24. It is fixed to). The battens 34 are stapled, for example, to the outer surface 27 of the closing block 20. Because of the adapted dimensional adjustment of the battens 34, the distance 33 between the beads 30 of the resin and the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24, despite the top view defects of the inner surface 26. ) Is uniform.

When the quartz strips 28 are secured to the outer surface 27 of the closure block 20, the closure block 20 can be raised to abut the hull insert 24 as described above. The beads 30 of the resin may be compressed and uniformly deformed between the batons 34 and the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24 to secure the closure block 20 to the hull insert 24. It can act as an adhesive for it.

According to a variant of this first assembly mode, the battens 34 are not prefabricated but are assembled directly in the storage space of the tank. First, precisely sized battens 34 are manufactured and secured to the outer surface 27 of the closing block 20 which lies within the storage space of the tank. The battens 34 are stapled, for example, to the outer surface 27 of the closing block 34, for example at stapling intervals of 20 cm or less. When the battens 34 are correctly secured to the closing block 20, the beads 30 of the resin are formed on the outer surface 35 of the battens 34, ie the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24. It is either made on the side of the opposite battens 34 or attached to the outer face 35 of the battens 34.

This variant of the first assembly mode can further reduce the time during which the beads 30 of the resin are manufactured without the closing block 20 being raised relative to the hull insert 24. In particular, the beads 30 of resin are produced one by one and placed directly on the battens 34 already secured to the closing block 20, thereby placing the battens 34 on the outer surface 27 of the closing block 20. The beads of the resin are not left in contact with the ambient air during the fixing step.

FIG. 11 shows a second assembly mode, which differs from other assembly modes in that the modification strips 28 are not fixed to the closing block 20 but are fixed directly to the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24. Do. Thus, the modification strips 28 are made one by one and then secured to the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24. The modifying strips 28 may be compressed, for example by a template, to deform the beads 30 of the resin and to ensure that the inner surface of the battens 34 is in the reference plane 29. have.

To make it easier to assemble the tank, the modification strips 28 may advantageously be fixed to the hull insert 24 at the outside of the tank. Thus, the hull insert 24 attached to the walls 8, 9, 10 of the liquid dome 7 already has quartz strips 28 fixed to its inner surface 26, thereby closing the block 20. As soon as the silver hull insert 24 is secured to the walls 8, 9, 10 of the liquid dome 7, it can be raised directly in the direction of the hull insert 24. The closure block 20 is raised in the direction of the hull insert 24 until it comes into contact with the batons 34 of the modification strips 28 fixed to the hull insert 24.

Pre-fixing of the correction strips 28 to the hull insert 24 has only the battens 34 associated with the beads 30 of the resin or as described above with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. It can be implemented by quartz strips 28 having beads 30 of resin dimensioned according to the spacing pattern.

12 shows a closed block 20 fixed to the hull insert 24. In this figure, tie rods 35 are installed between the hull insert 24 and the closing block 20. These tie rods 35 can raise the closing block 20 to abut the hull insert 24 when the hull insert 24 is installed on the walls 8, 9, 10 of the liquid dome 7. To be. These tie rods 35 have a rod 36 passing through the hull insert 24 and the closing block 20. In an embodiment not shown, tie rods 35 have a chain instead of rod 36.

The upper end of the rod 36 supports the first locking member 37 disposed outside the inner space of the support structure 1. This first locking member 37 is, for example, a nut which is screwed into the upper end of which the screw of the rod 36 is formed. This first locking member 37 abuts the outer surface 38 of the hull insert 24, which is opposite from the inner surface 26 on which the closing block 20 is fixed.

Similarly, the lower end of the rod 36 bears a second locking member 39 disposed in contact with the inner surface 40 of the closing block 20. The second locking member 39 is, for example, a locknut in contact with the inner surface 40 of the closure block 20. These tie rods 35 are provided on the outer surface of the closure block 20 located in the reference plane 29 from a rest position which holds the closure block 20 relative to the retaining member 21 in the storage space of the tank. 27) to the position fixed to the hull insert 24. When the closure block is in position with respect to the hull insert 24, the sealing of the sealing membranes can also be completed by sealing the tie rods 35 and the sealing membranes. Similarly, the first locking member 36 may be welded to the hull insert 24.

In another embodiment, tie rods are used to hold the closing block 20 in place during the drying period of the beads 30 of resin, for example approximately 24 hours, and then the closing block 20 ) Is replaced with suitable fastening members for fastening the hull insert 24.

Advantageously, the reference strips 32 installed on the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24 to form the reference plane 28 make it possible to prevent the closing block 20 from rising. In particular, the rise of the closing block 20 relative to the hull insert 24 forces the beads 30 of the resin against the inner surface 26 of the hull insert 24. However, when the outer surface 27 of the closing block 20 reaches the reference plane 29, the deformation of the beads 30 of the resin does not reliably block the rise of the closing block 20. The reference strips 32 act as stops that block the rise of the closing block 20 when the outer surface 27 of the closing block 20 reaches the reference plane 29.

The techniques described above for assembling sealed and insulated tanks can be used to form other types of reservoirs, for example, sealed and insulated tanks of LNG reservoirs in floating structures such as land installations or methane transport ships.

With reference to FIG. 13, a cutaway view of the methane transporter 70 shows a sealed and insulated tank 71 having an overall prismatic shape mounted within a double hull 72 of a ship. The wall of the tank 71 is a primary sealing barrier intended to contact the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary sealing barrier disposed between the primary leakage sealing barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and the Two insulating barriers respectively disposed between the primary sealing barrier and the secondary sealing barrier and between the secondary sealing barrier and the double hull 72.

In a manner known per se, the loading / unloading pipes 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship, in order to transfer LNG cargo from or to the tank 71, are connected by suitable connectors. It can be connected to a marine port or terminal.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a marine terminal with a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipe 76, and a land installation 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation having a mobile arm 74 and a tower 78 supporting the mobile arm 74. The movable arm 74 carries a bundle of adiabatic flexible pipes 79 that can be connected to the load / unload pipes 73. The directional movable arm 74 is suitable for methane transport ships of all sizes. A connecting pipe (not shown) extends inside the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 enables loading and unloading of the methane transporter 70 from or to the land installation 77. The land installation 77 includes tanks 80 and connecting pipes 81 for storing liquefied gas, which are connected to the loading or unloading station via the underwater pipe 76. Connected to 75. The underwater pipe 76 enables the transfer of liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the land installation 77 over a long distance, for example 5 km, which is a methane transport ship during loading and unloading operations. Allow 70 to remain at a distance from the shore.

In order to generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of liquefied gas, the pumps mounted on the vessel 70 and / or the pumps provided on the land installation 77 and / or the loading and unloading station 75 Pumps are used.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a number of specific embodiments, the invention is not limited to the embodiments, and all technical equivalents of the described means and combinations thereof are also within the scope of the invention. It is clear that it is comprehensive.

The use of the verbs "have" and "comprise" or "include" and their utilization forms does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those described in a claim. The use of the indefinite article “a” or “an” for an element or step does not exclude the presence of multiple elements or steps, unless stated otherwise.

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

Claims (12)

A method of assembling a sealed and insulated tank inside a bearing structure 1, the bearing structure 1 having a plurality of walls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 defining an interior space, The plurality of walls comprises an upper wall 4 of the retaining structure 1 having an opening 11,
The assembly method is:
Installing a loading / offloading tower 17 into the interior space via the opening 11, the loading / unloading tower 17 protruding from the interior space Each having a plurality of pipes (18), the loading / unloading tower (17) having at least one retaining member (22, 23);
Providing a closing block (20) having a tank wall portion, the closure block (20) having orifices (21);
Inserting upper ends 19 of the conduits 18 into corresponding holes 21 in the closure block 20;
Sliding the closing block (20) along the pipes (18) until the closing block (20) is brought into contact with the retaining members (22, 23) in the interior space;
Providing a support structure insert 24 with through-holes 25;
The support structure insert 24 blocks the opening 11 in the upper wall 4 of the support structure 1 and the ends 19 of the pipes 18 of the loading / unloading tower 17 are Mounting the support structure insert (24) to the support structure such that it passes through the through-holes (25) of the support structure insert (24);
Sliding the closure block (20) in the direction of the support structure insert (24) along the pipes (18); And
Securing the closure block (20) to the support structure insert (24). The method of claim 1,
The support structure insert 24 has an inner surface 26 facing the outer surface 27 of the closure block 20, the method comprising the outer surface 27 of the closure block 20 and the support structure insert 24. Arranging correcting strips 28 between the inner surfaces of the surface, wherein the correcting strips 28 form a planar support surface in the interior space of the retaining structure 1, the closure The outer surface (27) of the block (20) is fixed to the planar support surface. The method of claim 2,
Measuring the planarity of the inner surface 26 of the bearing structure insert 24; And
The inner surface 26 of the bearing structure insert 24 such that the inner surfaces of the modification strips opposite from the bearing structure insert 24 are arranged in one same plane 29 to form the planar support surface jointly. And dimensioning the thicknesses of the modification strips (28) according to the measurement of the plan view of the substrate. The method according to claim 2 or 3,
The modification strips (28) have a bead of resin (30), wherein the beads of resin (30) are secured to an inner surface (26) of the support structure insert (24). The method of claim 4, wherein
The modification strips (28) have a batten (34), and the beads of each resin (30) are fixed to each baton (34). The method of claim 5,
The battens 34 have a thickness dimensioned according to the measurement of the top view of the inner surface 26 of the support structure insert 24 to form the planar support surface, the battens 34 having the closure block. The assembly method fixed to the outer surface 27 of (20). The method of claim 6,
The beads of resin (30) have a uniform thickness, assembly method. The method of claim 5, wherein
Prior to sliding the closure block 20 in the direction of the bearing structure insert 24, securing the quartz strips 28 to the outer surface 27 of the closure block 20, and then Further comprising fixing the modification strips 26 against the inner surface 26 of the support structure insert 24 to secure the closure block 20 to the support structure insert 24. . The method of claim 8,
Applying the beads of resin 30 to the outer surface of the batons 34, the outer surface of the batons 34 opposite the support structure insert 24. . The method according to any one of claims 4 to 7,
Applying the beads 30 of resin to the inner surface 26 of the support structure insert 24 before the closing block 20 slides in the direction of the support structure insert 24. , Assembly method. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 10,
Installing reference strips 32 on the inner surface 26 of the support structure insert 24, the reference strips 32 being opposite from the support structure insert 32. Having an inner surface and located in one same plane, the modification strips (28) being dimensioned to form the support surface in the plane. The method of claim 1, wherein
Installing tie rods 35 between the retaining structure insert 24 and the closure block 20, the tie rods 35 closing the closure block 20. Operative to slide in the direction of the support structure insert (24).

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