KR20240065156A - Methods for insulating inter-panel spaces - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for insulating an inter-panel space formed between a first insulating panel (1) and a second insulating panel (2) of the wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank for storage of fluids at low temperatures. wherein the first insulating panel (1) includes a first lateral surface (8) facing the second lateral surface (9) of the second insulating panel (2), and the inter-panel space (7) is defined by the first lateral surface (8) and the second lateral surface (9), the method comprising the following steps:
- positioning at least one insertion element (10, 111, 112) against at least a first lateral face (8) of the first insulating panel (1);
- the second insulating panel so that the expandable foam expands to press the insert element (10, 111, 112) between the first lateral face (8) of the first insulating panel (1) and the expandable foam. and injecting the expandable foam into the inter-panel space (7) between the second lateral surface (9) of (2) and the insert element (10, 111, 112).

Description

Methods for insulating inter-panel spaces

The present invention relates to the field of sealed thermally insulating tanks with membranes. In particular, the present invention relates to a tank for the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG), ammonia (NH ₃ ), dry ice (CO ₂ in solid form) or hydrogen at approximately -163°C at atmospheric pressure; Likewise, it relates to the field of sealed, thermally insulating tanks for the storage and/or transport of liquefied gases at low temperatures. These tanks can be installed on land or on floating structures. More specifically, the invention relates to thermal insulation of such tanks.

from the outside of the tank towards the inside of the tank, comprising a secondary thermally insulating barrier, a secondary sealing membrane, a primary thermally insulating barrier and a primary sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the liquid contained within the tank. Multilayer tank structures have already been described. These tanks include insulating panels arranged next to each other in such a way as to form thermal insulating barriers. However, there are inter-panel spaces between the insulating panels. These spaces result in a reduction in the insulating efficiency of the thermal insulating barrier. Accordingly, it is essential to fill these inter-panel spaces in order to ensure continuity of the thermal insulating properties of the thermal insulating barriers. Several solutions exist. For example, the addition of insulating elements comprising a sheath and a compressible material such as glass wool embedded within the sheath is described in patent document WO2019155158A1. The cover is placed under vacuum prior to insertion of the insulating elements into the inter-panel space, allowing the compressible material to compress to facilitate insertion. After insertion of the insulating elements, the cover is pierced so that the compressible material thus fills the inter-panel space. However, placing elements made of compressible materials under vacuum conditions is difficult to achieve.

A method for installing a thermal insulation structure in the inter-panel space of a cryogenic liquid storage tank is known in patent document KR20180060576A. The method involves, inter alia, the insertion of blocks of glass wool to fill the inter-panel spaces, and the addition of blocks of foam in cases where the glass wool is not thick enough compared to the inter-panel spaces. In order to insert the block of foam into the remaining space, the method widely comprises measuring steps. The present inventors have noted that this method is difficult to implement in such tanks and that it involves technical difficulties when implemented on a large scale. This is because the components that make up the tanks exhibit numerous irregularities resulting from the assembly and manufacturing process, such as offsets or inaccuracies. Accordingly, the above measurement steps must be repeated for each inter-panel space.

Accordingly, there is a real need to develop a method for insulating inter-panel spaces that is reliable, efficient and easy to implement.

The concept underlying the invention is a method for insulating the inter-panel space, which makes it possible to ensure continuity of thermal insulation between adjacent insulating panels.

Another concept underlying the present invention is the installation of efficient and durable inter-panel insulation, especially when there are significant thermal constraints on the thermal expansion and contraction side of the panels.

Another concept underlying the present invention is to facilitate the installation of compressible insulating elements such as glass wool within the inter-panel space.

Another concept underlying the present invention is to facilitate the manufacture of sealed, thermally insulated tanks.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for insulating an inter-panel space formed between a first insulating panel and a second insulating panel of a wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank for storage of fluids at low temperatures. and the first insulating panel has a first lateral surface facing the second lateral surface of the second insulating panel, the inter-panel space is defined by the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface, and the method is as follows: Steps to follow:

- positioning at least one insertion element against at least a first lateral face of the first insulating panel;

- inflatable into the inter-panel space between the insert element and the second lateral face of the second insulating panel, such that the expandable foam expands to press the insert element between the first lateral face of the first insulating panel and the inflatable foam. Injecting foam;

is provided.

By these features, the continuity of thermal insulation between the first and second insulating panels is ensured by the expandable foam and the insertion elements. Additionally, thanks to the presence of the insertion element, the foam expanded in place does not stick directly against the first lateral face of the first insulating panel and is therefore free to move relative to it. This makes it possible to reduce the risks of deterioration of the expanded foam, especially in cases where there are movements of the insulating panels relative to each other, for example as a result of thermal contraction, thermal expansion or swelling, and in these situations 2 This is because expanded foam that rests directly against the lateral faces of adjacent insulating panels tends to crack and damage its thermal insulation properties.

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

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of partitioning the inter-panel space, the partitioning step being performed before the expandable foam is injected.

By these properties, the expandable foam is retained inside the inter-panel space, thereby reducing the loss of a portion of the expandable foam that may flow out of the inter-panel space.

According to a preferred embodiment, the expandable foam is injected in liquid state.

According to one embodiment, the sectioning step comprises inserting a bottom strip into the inter-panel space, the bottom strip being located at the lower end of the inter-panel space and extending the inter-panel space over the entire length of the inter-panel space. It extends along the length of space.

According to one embodiment, the bottom strap has a width equal to or greater than the gap between the first lateral face of the first insulating panel and the second lateral face of the second insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the floor strap is compressed between the first lateral face of the first insulating panel and the second lateral face of the second insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the bottom strap is compressed towards the lower end of the inter-panel space.

By these features, the bottom strip seals the lower end of the inter-panel space.

According to one embodiment, the partitioning step further comprises inserting a first side strip and a second side strip respectively positioned at a first lateral end and a second lateral end of the inter-panel space, the first side strip and The second side strip extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space.

According to one embodiment, the first side strip, the second side strip have a width equal to or greater than the gap between the first lateral surface of the first insulating panel and the second lateral surface of the second insulating panel. According to one embodiment, the first side strip or the second side strip is compressed between the first lateral face of the first insulating panel and the second lateral face of the second insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the partitioning step comprises inserting at least one retaining strip into the inter-panel space, the retaining strip extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space. there is.

According to one embodiment, the retaining strip is positioned between the first side strip and the second side strip.

According to one embodiment, the compartmentalizing step comprises covering the inter-panel space with a cover, the cover having an opening through which the expandable foam is injected into the inter-panel space.

By these properties, overflow of the expanding foam is prevented.

According to one embodiment, the opening has a diameter between 5 mm and 30 mm, preferably 20 mm.

According to one embodiment, the cover has a plurality of openings spaced apart from each other, and the openings are located in the longitudinal direction of the cover.

According to one embodiment, the cover has an overall shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with rounded edges.

According to one embodiment, the cover has the following dimensions:

- a length between 1 meter (m) and 5 meters (m), for example 3.5 meters, and preferably between 1.4 m and 1.6 m;

- a width between 15 centimeters (cm) and 50 centimeters (cm), preferably between 20 cm and 30 cm;

- a thickness between 10 millimeters (mm) and 60 millimeters (mm), preferably between 20 mm and 30 mm;

has

According to one embodiment, the cover has side edges that rest against the first insulating panel and the second insulating panel, and has a plurality of holes made in the side edges on opposite sides of the first or second insulating panel. . The holes are therefore not open into the inter-panel space.

According to one embodiment, the holes of the plurality of holes have the same or different dimensions.

With these features, the holes make the cover lighter and easier for the operator to handle the cover.

According to one embodiment, the plurality of holes include oblong holes.

According to one embodiment, the cover is attached against the first insulating panel and the second insulating panel via an attachment means. According to one embodiment, the attachment means include: for example a screw received in a threaded insert attached to the first or second insulating panel; and toggle clamp; is selected from among

According to one embodiment, the attachment means passes through at least one of a plurality of holes made in the cover. According to one embodiment, the attachment means passes through an oblong hole made in the cover. The oblong hole makes it possible to adjust the attachment of the cover more easily via the attachment means, in particular to compensate for tolerances in the relative positioning of the first insulating panel with respect to the second insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the first insulating panel and the second insulating panel have two recesses along the edge of the first lateral side of the first insulating panel and the edge of the second lateral side of the second insulating panel. having two recesses separately, the cover being attached against the first and second insulating panels via an anchoring system attached to the cover, the anchoring system having one anchoring element per recess, Each anchoring element has a centering cone and an inflatable seal positioned around the centering cone and connected to an inflation system. After insertion into the recess, each inflatable seal is inflated using a pneumatic source. Accordingly, given the orientation of the conical surfaces, each inflatable seal exerts a downward force on the centering cone, which holds the cover against the first and second insulating panels during expansion of the inflatable foam. makes it possible. After the foam expansion step, the inflatable seals are retracted and the cover and anchoring system are removed.

These features facilitate the centering of the cover covering the inter-panel space and any seals are optimally compressed to obtain a good seal.

According to one embodiment, the pneumatic source is common to the anchoring elements.

According to one embodiment, the plurality of holes are oblong holes that are separated from each other. In other words, there is no continuity between the oblong holes.

These features make the cover lighter, while maintaining good rigidity for the purpose of implementing the method for insulating the inter-panel space, i.e. sufficient rigidity to withstand the pressure of foam expansion.

According to one embodiment, the cover has at least one handle attached to a surface opposite the surface of the cover, which is intended to be in contact with the expandable foam. Preferably, the cover includes two handles.

According to one embodiment, the length of the at least one handle extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cover.

According to one embodiment, the at least one handle is positioned on an axis of symmetry of the length of the cover.

According to one embodiment, the two handles are spaced apart along the length of the cover.

According to one embodiment, the cover is positioned over the first insulating panel and the second insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the cover is attached to the first and second insulating panels via seals.

Due to these properties, during expansion of the foam, the expandable foam will not overflow from the inter-panel space. The cover is attached in this way to withstand the expansion pressure exerted by the expandable foam.

According to one embodiment, the seals extend over the entire length of the cover.

According to one embodiment, the seals on the first insulating panel and the second insulating panel are of sufficient thickness to form an excess foam evacuation corridor and a surface intended to be in contact with the expanded foam. wherein the excess foam discharge passage is a foam receptacle ( It is connected to the foam receptacle. For example, a foam receptacle is a box made of wood or composite materials.

According to one embodiment, the seals forming the excess foam discharge passage have a thickness between 5 mm and 20 mm.

According to one embodiment, the seals forming the excess foam discharge passage include strips of closed-cell ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM). According to one embodiment, the seals forming the foam discharge passage include neoprene adhesive.

According to one embodiment, the cover is transparent, preferably under the trade name Plexiglas It is made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMME), better known as ®.

By these features, the task of the operators carrying out the method is facilitated, especially during the stages of injection and expansion of the expandable foam, since they can monitor the foam expansion in real time and thus control the flow of the expandable foam to be injected. This is because the amount can be adjusted more easily.

According to one embodiment, the cover has a tongue protruding from the surface of the cover that is intended to be in contact with the expandable foam.

By these properties, the expandable foam is prevented from overflowing beyond the inter-panel space, especially if the foam continues to expand after removal of the cover.

According to one embodiment, the tongue extends over the entire length of the cover.

According to one embodiment, the tongue has a height between 2 mm and 15 mm.

According to one embodiment, the tongue has a width that is smaller than the gap between the first and second lateral surfaces.

According to one embodiment, the cover is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

According to one embodiment, the film covers the surface of the cover that is intended to be in contact with the expandable foam. According to one embodiment, the film is non-stick. According to one embodiment, the film is made of PTFE.

According to one embodiment, the film is made of perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) or fluoroethylene propylene (FEP), which have properties similar to PTFE.

Due to these properties, the expanded foam will not stick to the cover, which facilitates removal of the cover after the foam expansion step.

According to one embodiment, the method further comprises drying the expanded foam.

According to one embodiment, the method further includes removing the cover.

According to one embodiment, the method further includes removing the foam receptacle.

According to one embodiment, the method further includes smoothing out excess foam present within the foam discharge passage.

According to one embodiment, the foam is injected until it reaches the height of the first and second insulating panels.

According to one embodiment, the injection of the expandable foam is a first injection of the expandable foam, and the method further comprises at least a second injection of the foam, wherein the second injection of the foam is a second injection of the expandable foam of the first injection of the foam. Runs after expansion.

Due to these characteristics, the operator, taking into account the amount of expanded foam injected and the height of the expanded foam generated, must determine the amount of foam injected during the last foam injection to prevent the expanded foam from overflowing beyond the inter-panel space. The amount of inflatable foam can be adjusted.

According to one embodiment, the expandable foam is injected using a foam injection gun.

According to one embodiment, the method includes, prior to injection of the expandable foam, the following steps:

- Positioning the inflatable device in an uninflated state within an area defined between at least one of the first and second insulating panels and a third insulating panel adjacent to the first or second insulating panel. wherein the area is transverse to the inter-panel space, and the inflatable device is positioned toward the inter-panel space;

- said inflatable device in an inflated state rests at least on a third insulating panel and on a first side of the inter-panel space so as to keep the expandable foam inside the inter-panel space during injection and expansion of the inflatable foam. inflating the inflatable device to cover the end;

is provided.

According to one embodiment, the method includes, prior to injection of the expandable foam, the following steps:

- Positioning the inflatable device in an uninflated state within an area defined between at least one of the first and second insulating panels and a third insulating panel adjacent to the first or second insulating panel. wherein the area is transverse to the inter-panel space, and the inflatable device is positioned toward the inter-panel space;

- said inflatable device in an inflated state rests at least on a third insulating panel and on a first side of the inter-panel space so as to keep the expandable foam inside the inter-panel space during injection and expansion of the inflatable foam. inflating the inflatable device to cover the end;

is provided.

Thanks to these features, the inflatable device can be easily inserted into the area defined between the three insulating panels. Moreover, the inflation of the inflatable device makes it possible to cancel out any irregularities arising from the assembly and manufacturing process, such as offsets or inaccuracies.

According to one embodiment, the inflatable device in the inflated state covers the first lateral end or the second lateral end of the inter-panel space.

According to one embodiment, the inflatable device is positioned towards the first side strip, such that the inflatable device leans on the first side strip to maintain the first side strip in a static position, Inflatable devices are inflated.

According to one embodiment, the inflatable device is positioned facing the second side strip, wherein the inflatable device rests on the second side strip to maintain the second side strip in a rest position. , it becomes swollen.

Accordingly, the first side strip or the second side strip is maintained in a stationary position over the entire length of the first side strip or the second side strip.

According to one embodiment, a region is defined between a first insulating panel and a second insulating panel, a third insulating panel adjacent to the first insulating panel, and a fourth insulating panel adjacent to the second insulating panel, wherein the inflator The inflatable device is inflated such that the inflatable device rests against the first side strip and against the third and fourth insulating panels.

According to one embodiment, a region is defined between a first insulating panel and a second insulating panel, a third insulating panel adjacent to the first insulating panel, and a fourth insulating panel adjacent to the second insulating panel, wherein the inflator The inflatable device is inflated such that the inflatable device rests against the second side strip and against the third and fourth insulating panels.

According to one embodiment, after expansion of the foam, the inflatable device is removed. According to one embodiment, the inflatable device is removed in a retracted state.

According to one embodiment, an inflatable device has an inflatable element and a pump intended to inflate the inflatable element.

According to one embodiment, the inflatable element includes: a pneumatic or hydraulic inflatable bag; is selected from among

According to one embodiment, the inflatable element includes: a manual pump; or automatic pump; Equipped with a pump selected from among According to one embodiment, the pump is an air pump or a liquid pump.

According to one embodiment, the inflatable device has a non-stick and/or insulating coating.

According to one embodiment, the method includes, prior to injection of the expandable foam, the following steps:

- positioning a first crosspiece made of an insulating material in an area defined between at least one of the first and second insulating panels and a third insulating panel adjacent to the first or second insulating panel. wherein the region is transverse to the inter-panel space and the crosspiece is positioned to close a first lateral end of the inter-panel space during injection and expansion of the expandable foam;

is provided.

According to one embodiment, a region is defined between a first insulating panel and a second insulating panel, a third insulating panel adjacent to the first insulating panel, and a fourth insulating panel adjacent to the second insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the crosspiece is between the first and second insulating panels, between the second and third insulating panels, between the third and fourth insulating panels, and It has four arms, individually positioned, between the fourth insulating panel and the first insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the method includes, prior to injection of the expandable foam, the following steps:

- positioning a second crosspiece made of insulating material in a similar manner to the first crosspiece to close the second lateral end of the inter-panel space during injection and expansion of the expandable foam;

is provided.

According to one embodiment, the cryogenic fluid is, for example, liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), preferably the cryogenic fluid is a cryogenic fluid. The expression “low temperature” means a fluid having a temperature lower than -20°C, for example lower than -50°C, such as -163°C.

According to one embodiment, the expandable foam comprises a thermoset polymer or a thermoplastic polymer.

According to one embodiment, the expanded foam is made of: polyurethane (PU); Polyisocyanurate (PIR): It has a component selected from among.

Accordingly, the properties of the inter-panel insulator are more efficient. In fact, polyurethane-based expanded foam has excellent insulating properties.

According to one embodiment, the expanded foam is a low density foam, ie a foam having a density between 30 kg/m ³ and 70 kg/m ³ .

According to one embodiment, the expansion of the expandable foam is effected by a polymerization reaction.

According to one embodiment, the polymerization reaction is carried out at a temperature range between 10 and 150 degrees Celsius (°C), such as between 10°C and 100°C, preferably between 10°C and 40°C.

According to one embodiment, the insertion element covers at least 50% of the first lateral face of the first insulating panel, preferably at least 90%, such as 95% or the whole of the first lateral face of the first insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the floor strip has a material that is compressible towards the lower end of the inter-panel space.

According to one embodiment, the floor strip is: glass wool; or polyurethane foam; Equipped with materials selected from among The floor strip preferably has polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foam has the advantage of adhesion to concrete, making it possible to cancel out any irregularities arising from the assembly and manufacturing process.

According to one embodiment, the first side strip and the second side strip are made of glass wool or poly(methyl methacrylate). Poly(methyl methacrylate) is widely known under the trade name Plexiglas ^® .

According to one embodiment, the retaining strip has glass wool.

According to one embodiment, the insertion element is a compressible insulating element.

Due to these properties, the relative movements of the insulating panels with respect to each other, for example as a result of thermal contraction, thermal expansion or swelling, are compressed, having the capacity to expand and contract, in particular in the direction of the thickness of the compressible insulating element. This is reversed thanks to the presence of compressible insulating elements. Moreover, these features allow the compressible insulating element to be inserted into the inter-panel space without being compressed upstream, which facilitates its insertion. Furthermore, due to these properties, the pressure exerted by the expandable foam during the advanced stages of expansion of the foam opposes the compressible insulating element, thereby causing its compression.

According to one embodiment, the compressible insulating element, in response to the pressure exerted by the expansion of the expandable foam, expands by greater than 1 millimeter (mm), preferably greater than 2 mm, for example between 1 mm and 10 mm. It has the ability for compression in the thickness direction.

These properties allow the inter-panel insulator to expand and/or compress in the thickness direction in response to the phenomenon of contraction and expansion of the adjacent first and/or second insulating panels.

According to one embodiment, the compressible insulating element has a thickness of between 5 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 30 mm, such as 10 mm, before compression by the expandable foam.

According to one embodiment, the compressible insulating element has the shape of a plate covering the first lateral face of the first insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the compressible insulating element comprises glass wool, which is compressed during expansion of the expandable foam.

According to one embodiment, the insertion element is provided with kraft paper, a non-stick stretch film or a mold release agent, preferably the insertion element is provided with kraft paper. According to one embodiment, the mold release agent is a lubricant.

According to one embodiment, the method for insulating an inter-panel space further comprises positioning a second insertion element against a second lateral face of the second insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the second insert element comprises kraft paper, a non-adhesive stretch film or a release agent, preferably the second insert element comprises kraft paper.

Due to these features, the insertion element will not stick to the site faces of the first and second insulating panels. Accordingly, the risks of deterioration of the expanded foam are greatly reduced, especially if there are relative movements of the insulating panels with respect to each other.

According to another embodiment, the compressible insulating element is attached against the first lateral face of the first insulating panel during a step of prefabrication of the insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, the first or second insulating panel is arranged between a first plywood plate intended to support the sealing membrane and a second plywood plate intended to be positioned on the support. Equipped with insulating foam.

According to one embodiment, the first plywood plates of the first panel and the second panel each have a threaded bore formed, for example, in an insert attached to the first panel or the second panel, The cover is attached against the first plywood plates of the first and second insulating panels via attachment means having threaded rods, the threaded rods being positioned in holes made in the side edges of the cover. and each engages within a threaded bore formed in the first plywood plate of the first or second insulating panel.

According to one embodiment, beads of mastic are positioned continuously around the perimeter of the second plywood plates of the first and second insulating panels.

According to one embodiment, the partitioning step includes the following steps:

- placing a first bead of mastic on the outer side of the second plywood plate of the first insulating panel, wherein the first bead of mastic extends continuously along the inter-panel space. ;

- placing a second bead of mastic on the outer side of the second plywood plate of the second insulating panel, wherein the second bead of mastic extends continuously along the inter-panel space. ;

is provided.

As mentioned above, a method for insulating the inter-panel space formed between the first and second insulating panels of the wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank for storage of fluids at low temperatures, in particular a sealed thermally insulating tank. This is carried out during the manufacture of the tank. Such tanks are described, for example, in patent document FR2724623 or patent document FR2599468.

Such tanks may form part of an onshore storage facility, for example for storing LNG, or may be used in floating structures, offshore or deep water structures, in particular liquefied gas carriers, floating storage and regasification units; FSRU), remote floating production and storage unit (FPSO) and similar.

The present invention will be better understood, other objects, details, features and details during the following description of several specific embodiments of the invention, which are presented by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The benefits will become more apparent.
1 schematically illustrates the steps of a method for insulating an inter-panel space according to one embodiment.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of two adjacent insulating panels and a bottom strip intended to be placed within the inter-panel space formed between the insulating panels.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of two adjacent insulating panels, similar to Figure 2, together with an insertion element intended to be placed within the inter-panel space formed between said insulating panels;
Figure 4 shows a cross-section along axis II-II of Figure 3 after the insertion element has been mounted.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of two adjacent insulating panels similar to Figures 2 and 3, together with two side strips intended to be placed within the inter-panel space formed between the insulating panels; am.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of two adjacent insulating panels after attachment of a cover covering the inter-panel space.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of two adjacent insulating panels with the inter-panel space filled according to one embodiment.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of an area of intersection between four insulating panels containing an inflatable device in an inflated state according to one embodiment.
Figure 9 is a schematic view of Figure 6, showing a cross section along axis III-III.
Figure 10 is a plan view of six insulating panels arranged in pairs facing each other after attachment of a cover covering the inter-panel space according to another embodiment.
Figure 11 shows a cross-section of a cover with two adjacent insulating panels attached via seals according to another embodiment.
Figure 12 is a top view of a cover according to a modified embodiment.
Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view of the cover shown in Figure 12.
Figure 14 shows a cross-section of two adjacent panels with beads of mastic according to another embodiment.
Fig. 15 is a bottom view of four insulating panels positioned towards each other in pairs and provided with beads of mastic according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 14;
Figure 16 is a plan view of two adjacent insulating panels according to another embodiment with inter-panel space.
Figure 17 shows a cross-section of the first circular recess located in region III.

Figure 1 shows the steps of the inter-panel space isolation method. The inter-panel space is formed between a first and a second insulating panel of the wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank for the storage of fluids at low temperatures, in particular for the storage of LNG.

The first insulating panel has a first lateral surface that is positioned towards the second lateral surface of the second insulating panel. The inter-panel space is defined by a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface.

Step 100 corresponds to insertion of an insertion element within inter-panel space. The insertion element, for example glass wool or kraft paper, is positioned against the first lateral face of the first insulating panel. Step 100 is shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4 and is described in detail below.

Figure 3 shows a first insulating panel 1 and a second insulating panel 2 adjacent to each other. The first and second insulating panels (1, 2) are individually made of a layer of insulating foam (3), for example polyurethane foam, sandwiched between the first plywood plate (4) and the second plywood plate (5). Equipped with The first plywood plate 4 is intended to support the sealing membrane, and the second plywood plate 5 is intended to be positioned on the support, eg the wall of the carrier. Beads (6) of mastic are placed on the outer surface of the second plywood plate (5), in particular to level the supports on which the first and second insulating panels (1) and (2) will be placed. It is in place. Other types of insulating panels may also be used. The inter-panel space 7 is formed by the gap between the first insulating panel 1 and the second insulating panel 2, more specifically towards the second lateral surface 9 of the second insulating panel 2. It is formed by the first side surface 8 of the first insulating panel 1 whose position is adjusted. It is also shown that above the inter-panel space 7 there is an insertion element 10 which is intended to be inserted into the inter-panel space 7 . The insert element 10 is, for example, a plate 10 made of glass wool or a sheet of kraft paper having an overall rectangular shape. The insertion element 10 has dimensions that enable it to cover the first lateral face 8 once mounted within the inter-panel space 7 . The insertion element 10 has a thickness smaller than the gap between the first lateral surface 8 and the second lateral surface 9 . Figure 4 shows a cross-section along the axis (II-II) of Figure 3 after insertion of the insertion element. The insertion element 10 is positioned against the first lateral face 8 and completely covers the first lateral face 8 . At this stage of the method, the inter-panel space 7 is, in other words, an empty space, free of material, located between the second side face 9 and the insertion element 10 . This empty space is intended to be subsequently filled with expanded foam in an insulating method.

According to a variant embodiment of step 100, the insert element 10 is attached against the first lateral face of the first insulating panel during prefabrication of the insulating panel.

The next step 101, indicated in Figure 1, corresponds to the injection of expanded foam into the inter-panel space between the insert element and the second lateral face of the second insulating panel to fill said inter-panel space. . Expandable foams are, for example, polyurethane-based foams. This expandable foam injection step makes it possible to fill the inter-panel space (7).

The next step 102 is expansion of the expandable foam. This step makes it possible to compress the insert element between the first lateral face of the first panel and the expandable foam, if the insert element is a compressible insulating element such as glass wool. For example, if the expanded foam is based on polyurethane, a chemical polymerization reaction is carried out. The polymerization reaction makes it possible to increase the initially injected amount of expandable foam. This increase in volume makes it possible to compress the compressible insulating element by pressing it in the thickness direction against the first lateral face of the first insulating panel.

The polymerization reaction is carried out at a temperature between 10°C and 150°C for 5 to 60 minutes. The polymerization reaction makes it possible to fill the inter-panel space (7) and to press the insertion element (10) against the first face (8).

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the method for insulating the inter-panel space further includes the step of partitioning the inter-panel space. The partitioning step has a number of variant embodiments that can be performed singly or in combination.

Figure 2 shows two adjacent insulating panels 1, 2 as well as an inter-panel space 7 similar to Figure 3. The insertion element 10 is not shown in this FIG. 2 . It is also shown that above the inter-panel space 7 there is a bottom strip 1 before insertion into the inter-panel space 7. The bottom strip 11 has an overall shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. Figure 4 shows the bottom strip 11 after insertion into the inter-panel space 7.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the sectioning step involves the insertion of the bottom strip 11 into the inter-panel space 7 as far as the first lower end of the inter-panel space 7 . This step is advantageously carried out before the step of the insertion element 10 . The first lower end is located between the second plywood plate 5 of the first insulating panel 1 and the second plywood plate 5 of the second insulating panel 2, and is located in the inter-panel space 7 ) defines the bottom. The first lower end extends in the longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space 7 over the entire length of the inter-panel space 7 . The bottom strip 11 has a width at least equal to the gap between the first lateral surface 8 and the second lateral surface 9 to fill the bottom of the inter-panel space 7 . Preferably, the bottom strip (11) is compressed between the first lateral face (8) of the first insulating panel (1) and the second lateral face (9) of the second insulating panel (2), forming an inter-panel space. It is compressed toward the lower end of the. This bottom strip (11) makes it possible to prevent the expanded foam from flowing out of the inter-panel space (7), in particular beyond the outer surface of the second plywood plate (5).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , the partitioning step involves insertion of the first side strip 12 and the second side strip 13, which is carried out before or after insertion of the insertion element, preferably before insertion of the insertion element. Equipped with

The first side strip 12 and the second side strip 13 are shown above the inter-panel space 7 before insertion into the inter-panel space 7 . The first side strip 12 and the second side strip 13 have an overall shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space 7 over the entire thickness of the insulating panels 1 and 2. It extends in the direction of The first side strip 12 is inserted into the first lateral end of the inter-panel space 7, and the second side strip 13 is inserted into the first lateral end of the inter-panel space 7 at a certain distance from the first lateral end. 2 It is inserted into the lateral end. This partitioning step prevents the expandable foam from flowing out of the inter-panel space 7, especially at the first and second lateral ends of the inter-panel space 7, during injection of the expandable foam. makes it possible to do so.

As shown in Figure 6, the partitioning step further comprises covering the inter-panel space 7 with a cover 14 upstream of the expandable foam injection step. The cover 14 has the shape of a rectangular plate, and is positioned while spanning the first plywood plate 4 of the first insulating panel 1 and the first plywood plate 4 of the second insulating panel 2. It is adapted and extends along the entire length of the inter-panel space to cover the upper surface of the inter-panel space 7. The cover 14 includes an opening 15 communicating with the inter-panel space. This opening 15 is circular in shape and allows injection of the expandable foam into the inter-panel space between the second lateral face of the second insulating panel 2 and the insertion element 10 . Subsequently, the expandable foam is injected into the inter-panel space and then it expands (not shown in Figure 6). After the expansion step, the expanded foam 21 fills the inter-panel space between the second lateral face of the second insulating panel 2 and the insert element 10, as shown in Figure 9. ) Press the button. If the insertion element is a compressible insulating element, it is also compressed. The cover 14 is then removed to obtain an inter-panel insulator 16 that fills the entire inter-panel space with excellent thermal insulation properties, as shown in Figure 7. The inter-panel insulation 16 thus consists of expanded foam as well as a bottom strip 11 , insert elements 10 , first side strips 12 and second side strips 13 .

According to the variant shown in Figure 8, the method comprises the step of placing the inflatable device 17 in place prior to injection of the expandable foam. 8, it is positioned between four insulating panels comprising adjacent first insulating panels (1), second insulating panels (2), third insulating panels (18) and fourth insulating panels (19). The area is shown. The inter-panel space 7 and the first side strip 12 can be seen in Figure 8 as previously described. The first insulating panel 1 has a first lateral surface facing a second lateral surface of the second insulating panel 2, which forms an inter-panel space 7, as mentioned above. The first insulating panel 1 also has another lateral surface facing the lateral surface of the third insulating panel 18 forming a second inter-panel space. Similarly, the second insulating panel 2 also has another lateral surface facing the lateral surface of the fourth insulating panel 19 forming a third inter-panel space. Similarly, the third insulating panel 18 also has another lateral surface facing the lateral surface of the fourth insulating panel 19 forming a fourth inter-panel space.

The inflatable device 17 is positioned in an uninflated state within an area defined between the first insulating panel, the second insulating panel, the third insulating panel and the fourth insulating panel, the area being interconnected. - in a direction transverse to the panel space 7, that is to say formed by a continuous second inter-panel space and a third inter-panel space. The inflatable device 17 is positioned facing the first side strip 12. The inflatable device is then used to maintain the side strips 12 in a stationary position during injection and expansion of the expandable foam and to remove any resulting from the assembly and manufacturing process before the expandable foam is injected into the inter-panel space 7. In order to offset the irregularities, it is inflated using a pump 20, for example a manual pump.

Figure 10 is a plan view of six insulating panels arranged in two parallel rows. Each of the four lateral faces of each insulating panel 2 is arranged opposite and aligned with the lateral face of another insulating panel. 10 shows a cover 14 covering the inter-panel space between adjacent first and second insulating panels 1 and 2. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiments in that two insert elements, for example kraft paper, are positioned within the inter-panel space. The first insertion element 111 is positioned against the first lateral face of the first insulating panel 1 and the second insertion element 112 is positioned against the second lateral face of the second insulating panel 2. there is.

The cover 14 is positioned on the first insulating panel 1 and on the first insulating panel 1 to maintain the cover 14 in a resting position in such a way that the expandable foam is sealed so that it does not overflow beyond the cover 14 during expansion of the foam. 2 It is attached via attachment means (30) located on the insulating panel (2).

The method includes, prior to injection of the expandable foam, a first insulating panel located at the intersection of the first insulating panel (1), the second insulating panel (2), the third insulating panel (18) and the fourth insulating panel (19). A further step of placing the cross piece 32 in place is further provided. The first crosspiece 32 has four arms, each inserted into an inter-panel space formed between two of the insulating panels 18 described above. The first crosspiece 32 is positioned in this way such that it closes the first lateral end of the inter-panel space.

The method includes a second crosspiece located at the intersection of the first insulating panel (1), the second insulating panel (2), the fifth insulating panel (28) and the sixth insulating panel (29) in a similar manner to the first crosspiece. 2. A step of placing the cross piece 33 in place is further provided. The second crosspiece 33 is positioned in this way such that it closes the second lateral end of the inter-panel space. The method further comprises the insertion of a retaining strip (31), for example made of glass wool, positioned between the first crosspiece (32) and the second crosspiece (33).

According to the variant shown in FIG. 11 , the cover 114 is attached using attachment means, for example screws screwed into threaded inserts attached in particular to the first or second insulating panel. It is attached. The cover (114) rests against the first insulating panel via a first seal (131) extending over the entire length of the cover along the edge of the first lateral face (8) of the first insulating panel (1), and rests against the second insulating panel 2 through a second seal 132 extending over the entire length of the cover along the edge of the second lateral surface 9 of the second insulating panel 2. The gap between first seal 131, second seal 132 and cover 114 forms an excess foam discharge passage 50. Excess foam discharge passage 50 is intended to discharge excess foam during implementation of the inter-panel space insulation method.

Moreover, a film 40 made of a non-adhesive material covers the surface of the cover that is intended to be in contact with the expanded foam. The film 40 is for example made of Teflon®, in other words PTFE.

Accordingly, in the case where the expandable foam reaches a height greater than the height of the first insulating panel 1 and the second insulating panel 2 after expansion, it is characterized by the amount of foam exceeding this height. The excess foam that builds up is discharged through the foam discharge passage 50 towards a container (not shown) located near the edge of the first panel 1 or the second panel 2.

12 and 13 show alternative embodiments of covers that can be used in the method. Cover 115 has an overall rectangular shape with rounded edges. The cover 115 has a plurality of openings 15 similar to those shown in Figure 6, the openings 15 being through openings and open towards the inter-panel space, the openings 15 being connected to the cover 115. are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. The openings 15 each have a diameter, for example, of 20 mm. Injection of the expandable foam can be effected independently through one or more openings (15). The openings 15 can be closed using plugs, especially after the step of injecting the expanded foam, to contain the foam within the inter-panel space.

The cover 115 also has a plurality of oblong holes 41, some of which have different dimensions. The oblong holes 41 make the cover lighter and thus ease the task of the operator carrying out the method. The oblong holes 41 may be through holes and may open opposite the first or second insulating panel. Accordingly, the oblong holes 41 are not open into the inter-panel space.

The oblong holes 41 also make it possible to provide a through passage to allow the cover 115 to be attached to the first and second insulating panels using attachment means.

According to a variant embodiment, the cover 115 has a tongue 34 protruding from the surface of the cover which is intended to be in contact with the expandable foam. This tongue 34 makes it possible to prevent the foam from overflowing beyond the inter-panel space by limiting the amount of inter-panel space.

According to another variant shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 , a floor strip 11 is arranged in the inter-panel space 7 as shown in particular in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 9. ) are replaced by beads made of mastic.

In this variant, the first bead 42 of mastic is positioned on the outer side of the second plywood plate 5 of the first insulating panel 1. The first bead (42) of mastic is designed to prevent the expanded foam from propagating beyond the first bead (42) of mastic, especially when the expanded foam flows mainly under the first insulating panel (1). It extends continuously along the first insulating panel 1 near the inter-panel space 7 to form a first barrier which is intended to prevent

A second bead (43) of mastic is positioned on the outer side of the second plywood plate (5) of the second insulating panel (2). The second bead (43) of mastic is designed to prevent the expanded foam from propagating beyond the second bead (43) of mastic, especially when the expanded foam flows mainly under the second insulating panel (2). It extends continuously along the second insulating panel 2 near the inter-panel space 7 to form a second barrier which is intended to prevent

The distance D between the first bead 42 of mastic and the second bead 43 of mastic is equal to the first bead of the first insulating panel 1, forming the inter-panel space 7. It is greater than or equal to the distance between the lateral face 8 and the second lateral face 9 of the second insulating panel 2. The first bead 42 of mastic and the second bead 43 of mastic have a specific role in defining the lower lateral limits of the inter-panel space 7, so that the expandable foam, in particular, 2, in a similar way to the bottom strip 11 shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 9, it can expand within the inter-panel space 7.

The expandable foam injected into the inter-panel space will therefore be partially embedded in the space located between the first bead 42 of mastic and the second bead 43 of mastic, and It will be partially embedded in the inter-panel space (7).

The expandable foam is then expanded in a manner similar to the embodiments described above, forming the inter-panel insulation 116 in an inverted T shape.

The same arrangement can be made of a plurality of adjacent insulating panels, as shown in Figure 14, with four insulating panels each having a bead of mastic positioned around the circumference of a plywood plate (5). Can be applied to panels.

Another alternative embodiment of the attachment of the cover is shown in Figures 16 and 17. In this embodiment, the first insulating panel (1) and the second insulating panel (2) are arranged so that they are disposed along the edge of the first lateral face (8) of the first insulating panel and at the edge of the second lateral face (9). It is different from the first insulating panel and the second insulating panel of FIG. 4 in that it separately has first circular recesses 44, 45 and second circular recesses 46, 47. The cover 117 is attached via an anchoring system with one anchoring element 51 per circular recess 44, 45. The diagram on the left, shown in FIG. 17 , shows the anchoring element 51 embedded in the first recess 44 and in a raised position. The anchoring system 51 has a rod 52 extending longitudinally from the cover 117 in a recess 44 and attached to a centering cone 55 . The centering cone has a conical surface, the top of which is oriented upward and defines a cam surface 56. The anchoring element 51 also includes an annular inflatable seal 54, which surrounds the cam surface 56 of the centering cone 55 and is shown uninflated in this diagram.

The diagram on the right, shown in FIG. 17 , shows the anchoring element 51 in a lowered position, securing the cover 117 and seal 133 against the first and second insulating panels.

For this purpose, the annular inflatable seal 54 is inflated through an inflation system such as a pump (not shown).

The inflation of the annular inflatable seal 54 is:

- The centering cone 55 is moved downward toward the second plywood plate of the insulating panel 2 to compress the seal 133 while fixing the cover 117.

After the foam expansion step, the annular inflatable seal 54 is retracted and the cover and anchoring system can be removed.

This description of the anchoring element 51 being inserted in the recess 44, for example in the first and second circular recesses 45, 47 in the first insulating panel 1 and in the second insulating panel It is applicable in exactly the same way as each anchoring system individually inserted into the second circular recess 46.

This method for insulating the inter-panel space of the wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank can be easily adapted to allow the insulation of several types of inter-panel space.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several specific embodiments, it is intended that the invention is not limited thereto and that all technical equivalents of the described means as well as combinations thereof are included within the scope of the invention. It is clear that the invention includes

The use of the verb “comprise” or “include” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps in addition to those recited in the claims.

In the claims, any reference signs within parentheses should not be construed as limitations on the claims.

Claims (18)

A method for insulating an inter-panel space formed between a first insulating panel (1) and a second insulating panel (2) of a wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank for storage of a fluid at low temperature, comprising: The panel (1) comprises a first lateral face (8) facing the second lateral face (9) of the second insulating panel (2), the inter-panel space (7) being located at the first lateral face (9). (8) and the second lateral surface (9), the method comprising the following steps:
- positioning at least one insertion element (10, 111, 112) against at least the first lateral face (8) of the first insulating panel (1);
- the second insulating panel so that the expandable foam expands to press the insert element (10, 111, 112) between the first lateral face (8) of the first insulating panel (1) and the expandable foam. injecting the expandable foam into the inter-panel space (7) between the second lateral surface (9) of (2) and the insert element (10, 111, 112);
A method for insulating an inter-panel space, comprising: According to claim 1,
The method further comprises a step of compartmentalization of the inter-panel space (7), characterized in that the step of compartmentalization is carried out before the expandable foam is injected. . According to claim 2,
The step of compartmentalization involves the insertion of a bottom strip (11) into the inter-panel space (7), the bottom strip (11) being located at the lower end of the inter-panel space (7), A method for insulating an inter-panel space, characterized in that it extends in the longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space (7) over the entire length of the inter-panel space (7). According to claim 3,
Method for insulating an inter-panel space, characterized in that the floor strip (11) comprises polyurethane foam. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
Said step of compartmentalization further comprises the insertion of a first side strip (12) and a second side strip (13) located separately at the first and second lateral ends of the inter-panel space (7), and the first side strip 12 and the second side strip 13 insulate the inter-panel space, characterized in that they extend in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the inter-panel space 7. How to do it. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
The step of partitioning involves the insertion of at least one retaining strip (31) into the inter-panel space (7), wherein the retaining strip (31) extends the length of the inter-panel space (7). A method for insulating an inter-panel space, characterized in that it extends in a direction transverse to the direction. The method of claim 5, or a combination of claims 5 and 6,
A method for insulating an inter-panel space, characterized in that the first side strip (12) and the second side strip (13) include glass wool. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7,
The method, prior to injection of the expandable foam:
- an inflatable device (17) in an uninflated state within an area defined between at least one of the first and second insulating panels and a third insulating panel adjacent to the first or second insulating panel ), wherein the area is transverse to the inter-panel space, and the inflatable device is positioned toward the inter-panel space (7);
- the inflatable device (17) in the inflated state is at least on the third insulating panel in order to keep the expandable foam inside the inter-panel space (7) during injection and expansion of the inflatable foam. inflating the inflatable device (177) so that it reclines and covers the first lateral end of the inter-panel space (7);
A method for insulating the inter-panel space of the wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank, comprising: The method of claim 8 in combination with claim 5,
The inflatable device 17 is positioned toward the first side strip 12,
characterized in that the inflatable device (17) is inflated so that the inflatable device (17) rests on the first side strip (12) to maintain the first side strip (12) in a rest position. A method for insulating the inter-panel space of the wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank, comprising: The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The method, prior to injection of the expandable foam:
- an insulating material in the area defined between at least one of the first insulating panel (1) and the second insulating panel (2) and a third insulating panel (18) adjacent to the first or second insulating panel. positioning a first crosspiece (31) made of, wherein the area is transverse to the inter-panel space (7), wherein the crosspiece (31) is positioned during injection and expansion of the expandable foam. positioning the first lateral end of the inter-panel space (7) to close it;
A method for insulating an inter-panel space, comprising: The method according to any one of claims 2 to 10,
The step of compartmentalization includes covering the inter-panel space (7) with a cover (14), whereby the expandable foam is positioned within the inter-panel space (7). A method for insulating an inter-panel space, characterized in that it comprises an opening (15), which is injected into. According to claim 11,
Method for insulating an inter-panel space, characterized in that the cover (14) has a tongue (34) protruding from the surface of the cover, which is intended to be in contact with the expandable foam. The method of claim 11 or 12,
A method for insulating an inter-panel space, characterized in that the cover (14) is attached against the first and second insulating panels (1, 2) via an attachment means. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
A method for insulating the inter-panel space of the wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank, characterized in that the expanded foam comprises polyurethane. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
Method for insulating the inter-panel space of the wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank, characterized in that the insertion element is a compressible insulating element (10). According to claim 15,
A method for insulating the inter-panel space of a wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank, characterized in that the compressible insulating element comprises glass wool, the glass wool being compressed during expansion of the expandable foam. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
A method for insulating the inter-panel space of the wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank, characterized in that the insert element comprises kraft paper, a non-adhesive stretch film or a release agent, preferably kraft paper. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 17,
The first insulating panel (1) and the second insulating panel (2) consist of a first plywood plate (5) intended to support the sealing membrane and a second plywood plate (5) intended to be placed on the support. Each includes insulating foam (3) sandwiched between plywood plates (5),
The above steps of compartmentalization are:
- placing a first bead (42) made of mastic on the outer surface of the second plywood plate (5) of the first insulating panel (1), wherein the first bead (42) made of mastic ( 42) extending continuously along the inter-panel space (7);
- placing a second bead 43 made of mastic on the outer surface of the second plywood plate 5 of the second insulating panel 2, wherein the second bead 43 is made of mastic ( 43) extending continuously along the inter-panel space (7);
A method for insulating the inter-panel space of the wall of a sealed thermally insulating tank, comprising: