RU2791211C1 - Lpg storage - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: storage.

SUBSTANCE: inventions group relates to storage. The storage includes a tank containing one ceiling wall (4). The ceiling wall sealing membrane has a plurality of belts (15). The ceiling wall is interrupted locally to form an opening. The tank has a cover (19) located in the hole. The storage has a fixing support (26) welded to the upper load-bearing wall (8). The heat-insulating barrier has a stop beam (40) located on the mounting support. The fixing support includes a locking device (33) preventing the locking beam from moving in the first direction. The metal fastening plate (47) is attached to the stop beam, the end section of the sheathing chord or each sheathing chord, interrupted by a hole, is welded to the metal fixing plate, and the metal bonding strip (24) connects the cover sealing wall with the metal fixing plate.

EFFECT: improvement of the force resistance of the sealing membrane in the connection area.

22 cl, 20 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES

[0001] The invention relates to the field of storage for liquefied gas, including a sealed and heat-insulating tank with sealing membranes. In particular, the invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulated tanks for storing and/or transporting liquefied gas at low temperatures, such as tanks for transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), for example, at temperatures from -50°C to 0°C, or for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) at approximately -162°C at atmospheric pressure. These tanks can be installed onshore or on a floating structure. In a floating structure, a tank can be used to transport liquefied gas or to receive liquefied gas used as fuel to power the floating structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Document FR2549575 describes a sealed and thermally insulated tank built into the supporting structure of a vessel, including an auxiliary thermal barrier, an auxiliary sealing membrane, a main thermal barrier, and a primary sealing membrane. The tank has a plurality of tank walls assembled together. Each sealing membrane has a plurality of parallel skin bands. Each cladding chord has a flat central section extending in the first direction and two raised edges located on two sides of the flat central section and protruding into the tank relative to the central section. The skin bands are thus superimposed on each other in a repeating pattern of arrangement and welded to each other at the raised edges.

[0003] The sealing membranes are attached to the supporting structure at the corners of the tank by means of connecting rings. Thus, each connecting ring is attached firstly to the supporting structure and secondly to the sealing membranes to allow forces to be transmitted between the membranes and the ship's hull.

[0004] The connecting ring, in particular, allows to absorb compressive and tensile forces caused by thermal contraction, hull deformation associated with, for example, bending of a beam of a ship, and the filling state of tanks. Indeed, such sealing membranes, commonly referred to as stretched membranes, do not have zones in the first direction capable of absorbing compressive and tensile forces, unlike a pleated membrane.

[0005] In this type of construction, the sealing membranes are interrupted by an opening, for example, to allow passage of the loading/unloading lines.

[0006] In order to maintain the seal of the reservoir, in particular the main sealing membrane, connection zones are provided in this opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention is based on the observation that, in response to phenomena that cause compressive and tensile forces acting on sealing membranes, the joint zones can be subject to significant compressive and tensile forces, in particular the effect on welds, which can destroy the seal in these zones.

[0008] One of the ideas underlying the invention is to improve the force resistance of the sealing membrane in the connection zone.

[0009] In accordance with one embodiment, the invention provides a storage facility for liquefied gas, including a metal supporting structure and a sealed and heat-insulating tank located inside the supporting structure, and

the tank has at least one metal sealing membrane forming an internal storage space, and at least one heat-insulating barrier, and the heat-insulating barrier is located between the sealing membrane and the supporting structure,

the load-bearing structure has an upper load-bearing wall,

the tank has at least one ceiling wall attached to the upper load-bearing wall, in which

the heat-insulating barrier of the ceiling wall has insulating blocks located nearby,

the ceiling wall sealing membrane includes a plurality of parallel sheathing chords extending in a first direction, each sheathing chord including a flat central portion resting on the top surface of the insulating blocks and two raised edges protruding into the tank relative to the central portion, the sheathing chord arranged next to each other in a second direction in a repeating arrangement pattern, and welded together to seal at the raised edges, with the second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

the ceiling wall is interrupted locally to create a loading/unloading opening that is intersected by loading/unloading lines, said loading/unloading opening interrupting at least one of said sheathing chords,

in which the tank has a cover part located inside the loading / unloading opening, the cover part has a metal sealing wall and a heat-insulating structure located between the sealing wall and the upper bearing wall, while the covering part is attached to the upper bearing wall,

in which the insulating blocks include an end insulating block, which is adjacent to the covering part in the first direction.

[0010] In accordance with one embodiment, the storage has a mounting support attached at the level of the upper bearing wall with an end insulating block, the mounting support has a socket extended along the length in the first direction, and includes a cover, and the thermal barrier has a stop beam, located on the cover of the mounting support, while the mounting support prevents movement of the stop beam in the first direction,

in which the end section of the strake or each strake, interrupted by the loading/unloading opening, is welded to the stop beam,

and wherein a metal bonding strip connects the sealing wall of the roof portion to the stop beam to ensure continuity of the sealing membrane of the ceiling wall.

[0011] In accordance with one embodiment, the storage has a fixing support attached, preferably by welding, at the level of the upper bearing wall with an end insulating block, and the fixing support has a socket extended along the length in the first direction, and the heat-insulating barrier has a stop beam located on the anchoring support, wherein the anchoring support includes a locking device preventing movement of the locking beam in the first direction.

[0012] In accordance with one embodiment, the stop beam includes a metal anchor plate attached in a recess formed on the upper surface of the stop beam, in which the end portion of the skin chord or each skin chord, interrupted by the loading / unloading opening, is welded to the metal fastening plate, and the metal bonding strip connects the sealing wall of the cover part with the metal fastening plate.

[0013] These features allow tensile and compressive forces applied to the sealing membrane in the first direction, in front of the bonding strip, to be absorbed by the supporting structure via the attachment support and the stop beam. Indeed, the mounting plate is attached directly to the retaining beam of the thermal barrier. The stop beam is prevented from moving in the first direction by, for example, a locking device of the anchor post, so that forces applied to the stop beam are transmitted to the supporting structure by the anchor post. The length of the seat of the mounting support in the first direction provides a sufficiently high rigidity in this direction.

[0014] According to embodiments, such a store may have one or more of the following features.

[0015] In accordance with one embodiment, the stop beam is made of metal, and the metal stop beam is welded to the cover of the mounting post.

[0016] In accordance with one embodiment, the stop beam includes a mounting hole flush with the cover of the mounting post, and the stop beam is welded to this cover around the entire mounting hole.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the stop bar is made from an iron-nickel alloy with a thermal expansion coefficient of 0.5*10 ^-6 to 2*10 ^-6 K ^-1 .

[0018] In accordance with one embodiment, the store has a plurality of mounting supports located side by side in a second direction along one edge of the loading/unloading opening.

[0019] In accordance with one embodiment, two adjacent mounting posts are separated from each other by one or more end insulating blocks.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the stop beam extends lengthwise in a second direction over at least two adjacent anchor posts, and widthwise in a first direction.

[0021] In accordance with one embodiment, the thermal barrier includes a plurality of stop beams side by side in a second direction, with each stop beam located on two adjacent mounting posts.

[0022] In accordance with one embodiment, the sealing membrane has a connecting corner profile extending in a second direction for separating the thermal barrier from the thermal insulation structure of the cover portion, wherein the connecting corner profile has a first flange and a second flange associated with the first flange, the first flange is associated with a stop beam, and the second flange is connected to the upper bearing wall. Preferably the first flange is welded to the mounting plate or to the stop beam.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the bonding strip has at least one corrugation extending in a second direction.

[0024] As a result, the corrugation can absorb residual tensile and compressive forces applied to the bonding strip that have not been absorbed by the attachment support. Indeed, the corrugation is elastically deformed by opening and closing without stressing the welds.

[0025] In accordance with one embodiment, the corrugation protrudes towards the interior of the tank.

[0026] In accordance with one embodiment, the corrugation protrudes towards the upper load-bearing wall.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the bonding strip has at least two parallel corrugations extending in the second direction, and preferably three parallel corrugations.

[0028] In accordance with some embodiments, the tie strip is welded to the connecting corner profile, to the stop beam, and/or to the attachment plate located on the stop beam.

[0029] In accordance with one embodiment, the locking beam has a first seat, such as a first slot, extending in a second direction, and a second seat, such as a second slot, extending in a second direction, the locking device includes a first stop located in the first slot, for example, in the first slot that contacts the wall of the first socket, for example, the first slot, the first stop prevents movement of the stop beam in the first direction in the first offset direction; the locking device has a second stop located in the second socket, for example, the second groove, which contacts with the wall of the second socket, for example, the second groove, while the second stop prevents the stop beam from moving in the first direction in the second displacement direction, opposite to the first displacement direction.

[0030] In accordance with one embodiment, the locking device is aligned vertically with the mounting plate.

[0031] This reduces the bending moment when compressive and tensile forces are transferred from the mounting plate to the mounting support.

[0032] In accordance with one embodiment, the sealing membrane, the sealing wall of the cap and/or the bonding strip are made of a low expansion metal, such as an iron-nickel alloy with a thermal expansion coefficient of 0.5⋅10 ^-6 to 2⋅ 10 ^-6 K ^-1 . It is also possible to use alloys of iron and manganese with a typical expansion coefficient of about 7⋅10 ^-6 K ^-1 .

[0033] In accordance with one embodiment, the mounting support is made of steel, such as carbon steel or stainless steel.

[0034] In accordance with one embodiment, the stop beam is made of plywood.

[0035] In accordance with one embodiment, the supporting structure has a rubber dam back wall and a rubber dam front wall that extend on both sides of the tank in a first direction, with the loading/unloading opening formed close to one of the rubber dam walls, e.g. the support is located between the cover and another wall of the rubber dam, such as the front wall of the rubber dam.

[0036] In accordance with one embodiment, the end insulating block is located between the cover portion and another wall of the rubber dam, such as the front wall of the rubber dam.

[0037] In this way, the mounting support and the retaining beam absorb compressive and tensile forces from the majority of the ceiling wall sealing membrane, i.e. in the area between the covering part and the front wall of the rubber dam.

[0038] In accordance with one embodiment, the edge of the loading/unloading opening, along which the plurality of fastening supports located side by side, is a front longitudinal end edge of the loading/unloading opening, which is located between the cover part and the front wall of the rubber dam in the first direction.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the sealing membrane is a main sealing membrane configured to be in contact with liquefied gas, the thermal barrier is the main thermal barrier, and in which the reservoir also includes, in the thickness direction from the outside to the inside side of the tank, an auxiliary heat barrier attached to the supporting structure, and a metal auxiliary sealing membrane located between the auxiliary heat barrier and the main heat barrier.

[0040] The secondary seal membrane and/or the main seal membrane can be manufactured in a variety of ways. In accordance with one embodiment, the secondary sealing membrane and/or the main sealing membrane of the ceiling wall has a plurality of parallel skin bands extending in a first direction, each skin chord having a flat central portion supported respectively by the auxiliary thermal barrier auxiliary insulation blocks and/or the main insulation bands. blocks of the main thermal barrier, and two raised edges protruding into the tank from the central section, the skin chords are located side by side in the second direction in a repeating arrangement pattern and welded together to ensure tightness at the raised edges. Preferably, welding is performed by anchor flanges attached to the auxiliary insulation blocks or to the main insulation blocks parallel to the first direction and located between adjacent skin chords to hold the auxiliary sealing membrane on the auxiliary thermal barrier or the main sealing membrane on the main thermal barrier.

[0041] In accordance with one embodiment, the connecting corner profile is a primary connecting corner profile, the secondary sealing membrane includes an auxiliary connecting corner profile in order to seal off the secondary thermal barrier from the thermal insulation structure of the cover part, and the secondary connecting corner profile includes a first flange and a second flange associated with the first flange, wherein the first flange of the auxiliary connecting corner profile is welded to the auxiliary sealing membrane or to the intermediate part attached to the auxiliary sealing membrane, and the second flange of the auxiliary connecting corner profile is welded to the upper bearing wall .

[0042] In accordance with one embodiment, the second flange of the main connecting corner profile is welded to the second flange of the secondary connecting corner profile.

[0043] In accordance with one embodiment, the anchoring leg includes a secondary support portion welded to the top bearing wall and a main bearing portion welded to the secondary support portion, wherein the stop beam is located on the primary support portion and the secondary sealing membrane is welded to the auxiliary support section, directly or through an intermediate part.

[0044] In accordance with one embodiment, one dimension of the main support portion in the first direction is less than the dimension of the stop beam in the first direction, eg, less than half the size of the stop beam in the first direction.

[0045] In accordance with one embodiment, one dimension of the main support portion in the first direction is less than the size of the minor reference portion in the first direction.

[0046] Since the main support portion is a metal member partially crossing the main thermal barrier in the thickness direction, it is preferable to limit its size to limit the thermal bridge between the inside of the tank and the outside while keeping said support portion large enough to absorb forces.

[0047] In accordance with one embodiment, the spacing between two adjacent fastening posts in the second direction is an integer multiple of the size of the strake in the second direction, eg, equal to the size of the two strakes in the second direction.

[0048] In accordance with one embodiment, the dimension of the skin chord in the second direction is 500 mm.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the sealing wall of the lid has a plurality of flat metal plates welded to each other, the sealing wall having a plurality of openings that are intersected by loading/unloading lines.

[0050] In accordance with one embodiment, the thickness of the end portion of the strake or each strake welded to the metal anchor plate or the metal stop beam is greater than the thickness of the strake away from the loading/unloading opening.

[0051] Thickness is a dimension measured in the thickness direction, i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

[0052] In accordance with one embodiment, the thickness of the end portion is equal to or greater than 1.5 mm. The thickness of the skin chords may be less than 1 mm away from the ends, for example, from 0.7 mm to 1 mm.

[0053] In accordance with one embodiment, the thickness of the flat plates of the sealing wall of the cover portion is 1.5 mm.

[0054] In accordance with one embodiment, the thickness of the bonding strip is equal to or less than 1.5 mm, and preferably 1 mm.

[0055] In accordance with one embodiment, the thickness of the stop beam is equal to or greater than 50 mm.

[0056] In accordance with one embodiment, the length of the socket of the auxiliary support portion in the first direction is equal to or greater than 300 mm.

[0057] In accordance with one embodiment, the length of the socket of the main support section in the first direction is from 100 mm to 200 mm, for example, 165 mm.

[0058] In accordance with one embodiment, the store includes a corrugation cap that is welded to at least one end of the corrugation to close said end, said end of the corrugation is located at one end of the tie strip, while the end of the tie strip and the corrugation cap are located in side of the loading/unloading opening.

[0059] In accordance with one embodiment, the invention provides a storage facility for liquefied gas, including a metal supporting structure and a sealed and heat-insulating tank located inside the supporting structure,

moreover, the tank has at least one metal sealing membrane forming an internal storage space, and at least one heat-insulating barrier, while the heat-insulating barrier is located between the sealing and the supporting structure,

the load-bearing structure has an upper load-bearing wall,

moreover, the tank has at least one ceiling wall attached to the upper load-bearing wall,

in which the heat-insulating barrier of the ceiling wall has insulating blocks superimposed on each other,

the ceiling wall sealing membrane includes a plurality of parallel cladding chords extending in a first direction, each cladding chord including a flat central section resting on insulating blocks and two raised edges protruding toward the inside of the tank relative to the central section, the cladding chords are located side by side in the second direction in a repeating arrangement pattern, and welded together to ensure tightness at the raised edges, with the second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

the ceiling wall is interrupted locally to create a loading/unloading opening that is intersected by loading/unloading lines, said loading/unloading opening interrupting at least one of said sheathing chords,

in which the tank has a cover part located inside the loading / unloading opening, the cover part has a metal sealing wall and a heat-insulating structure located between the sealing wall and the upper bearing wall, while the cover is attached to the upper bearing wall,

in which the metal bonding strip connects the sealing wall of the covering part with the end portion of the casing chord or each casing chord, interrupted by the loading/unloading opening, to ensure the continuity of the sealing membrane of the ceiling wall, and the metal bonding strip has at least one corrugation extended in the second direction,

and in which the storage includes a corrugation cap that is welded to at least one end of the corrugation to close said end, wherein said end of the corrugation is located at one end of the tie strip, while the end of the tie strip and the corrugation cap are located away from the loading / unloading opening .

[0060] Thus, tensile and compressive forces applied to the sealing membrane in the first direction ahead of the bonding strip are at least partially absorbed by the deformation of at least one corrugation. Indeed, the corrugation is elastically deformed by opening and closing without stressing the surrounding welds. In addition, positioning the corrugation end and corrugation cap away from the feed/discharge port helps limit weld forces on the corrugation cap.

[0061] Here, the expression "located away from the loading / unloading opening" means that the mentioned elements are located at a non-zero distance from the loading / unloading opening in at least one direction, preferably the second direction in this case.

[0062] In accordance with one embodiment, each end of the corrugation is closed with a corrugation cap.

[0063] In accordance with one embodiment, the corrugation protrudes towards the interior of the tank.

[0064] In accordance with one embodiment, the corrugation protrudes towards the upper load-bearing wall.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the bonding strip has at least two parallel corrugations extending in the second direction, and preferably three parallel corrugations.

[0066] In accordance with one embodiment, the corrugation caps of a given end are tied together or separated from each other.

[0067] In accordance with one embodiment, the bellows cap or each bellows cap or support thereof is welded to a skin chord partially interrupted by a loading/discharging opening, said partially interrupted skinning chord being located along one transverse end edge of the loading/discharging opening, wherein the transverse the end edge is extended in the first direction.

[0068] Such storage may be part of an onshore storage facility, such as for LNG storage, or be an offshore or deep sea floating structure, such as an LNG carrier, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating storage and offloading unit. LNG (FPSO), among other things. Such a structure can also be used as a fuel tank in any type of ship.

[0069] In accordance with one embodiment of a storage facility in the form of a floating structure, wherein said supporting structure is formed by a double shell of the floating structure. In accordance with one embodiment, the first direction is the longitudinal direction of the floating structure.

[0070] In accordance with one embodiment, the floating structure is a vessel used for transporting a cold liquid product, which has a double hull, and the aforementioned tank located in a double hull.

[0071] In accordance with one embodiment, the invention also provides a cold liquid product transfer system, the system including the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes located to connect a vessel-mounted tank to onshore or floating storage, and a pump for control the flow of cold liquid product through insulated pipes to or from a shore or floating storage facility, to or from an onboard tank.

[0072] In accordance with one embodiment, the invention also provides a method for loading onto or unloading from such a ship, in which a cold liquid product is piped through insulated pipes to or from a shore or floating storage facility, to or from a tank on the ship. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0073] The invention may be better understood and its additional objects, details, features and advantages set forth more clearly in the following detailed description of some specific embodiments of the invention, given solely as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0074] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a ship including a storage facility.

[0075] FIG. 2 is a partial schematic sectional view of a store including a cover according to the first embodiment, said view corresponding to detail II in FIG. 1.

[0076] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view from the inside of the ceiling wall according to the first embodiment, in the area close to the cover portion, showing only the fixing supports and the auxiliary sealing membrane.

[0077] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the ceiling wall of FIG. 3 in assembled condition.

[0078] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the stop beam, overlapping plate, and the second stop of the ceiling wall of FIG. 4.

[0079] FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of detail VI in FIG. 4 showing in particular the locking device and the locking beam.

[0080] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of detail VI in FIG. 4 showing the attachment of the stop beam to the attachment post.

[0081] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the connection between two adjacent stop beams with a bridging plate in the ceiling wall of FIG. 4.

[0082] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view from the inside of the ceiling wall, in the area close to the cover portion, showing in particular the bonding strip and the fixing support according to the second embodiment.

[0083] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view from the inside of the ceiling wall, in the area close to the cover portion, showing in particular the stop beam attached to the fixing posts according to the third embodiment.

[0084] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view from the inside of the ceiling wall, in a region close to the cover portion, showing in particular the auxiliary sealing membrane and the fixing supports according to the fourth embodiment, before the main cover is attached.

[0085] FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view from the inside of the ceiling wall, in a region close to the cover portion, showing in particular the auxiliary sealing membrane and the fixing supports according to the fourth embodiment, after the main cover has been attached.

[0086] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a mounting post according to the fourth embodiment attached to the top load bearing wall of a vessel.

[0087] FIG. 14 is a detailed view of a stopper beam attached to the anchor post according to the fourth embodiment.

[0088] FIG. 15 is a side view of the main support portion between the two primary end insulation blocks according to the fourth embodiment.

[0089] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a mounting post according to another embodiment of the fourth embodiment.

[0090] FIG. 17 is a side view of the mounting post shown in FIG. 15.

[0091] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a mounting post according to yet another embodiment of the fourth embodiment attached to the top load bearing wall of a ship.

[0092] FIG. 19 is a perspective view from inside the ceiling wall, in the area close to the cover portion, showing the end of the bonding strip attached to the main sealing membrane.

[0093] FIG. 20 is a schematic sectional view of a tank in an LNG carrier and a loading/unloading terminal for that tank.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0094] By convention, “on” or “above” or “upper” refers to the position closest to the inside of the tank, and “under” or “below” or “bottom” refers to the position closest to the supporting structure of the vessel, regardless on the orientation of the tank wall relative to gravity on Earth. Thus, figures 3-18 are shown in an inverted orientation relative to their actual position in the vault.

[0095] FIG. 1 shows an LNG carrier 70 for storing and transporting LNG. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vessel.

[0096] Thus, the vessel 70 shown in FIG. 1 includes a storage 1 with four tanks 71 located in and attached to a supporting structure 2 formed by the inner hull of the vessel 70. Each tank 71 is multifaceted and has a plurality of tank walls assembled together to form an interior space 3, and in particular a ceiling wall 4, a rubber dam rear wall 5 and a rubber dam front wall 6. The front wall 6 of the rubber dam and the rear wall 5 of the rubber dam are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L of the ship 70, and are attached at their upper portions to the ceiling wall 4. For the proper operation of these tanks 71, a loading/unloading opening 7 is provided in the ceiling wall 4 to allow the passage of lines loading/unloading. The ceiling wall 4 is attached to the top load-bearing wall 8 of the load-bearing structure 2. The top load-bearing wall 8 is also provided with holes 9 to allow the loading/unloading lines to pass through the load-bearing structure 2.

[0097] The loading/unloading port 7 is an entry point for various LNG handling equipment, such as a filling line, an emergency pump line, discharge lines associated with unloading pumps, a spray line, a supply line associated with a spray pump, etc. d. The operation of such equipment is already known.

[0098] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the dihedron formed by the assembly of the ceiling wall 4 with the back wall 5 of the rubber dam. Indeed, the loading/unloading opening 7 is provided in the ceiling wall 4 close to the rear wall 5 of the rubber dam.

[0099] The sandwich structure of the ceiling wall 4 is described in more detail below.

[0100] The sandwich structure of the ceiling wall 4 of the sealed and heat-insulating tank 71 for storing liquefied gas such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) has, arranged in series in the thickness direction from the outside to the inside of the tank, an auxiliary heat-insulating barrier 10 attached to the top bearing wall 8, an auxiliary sealing membrane 11 supported on the auxiliary thermal barrier 10, a main thermal barrier 12 supported on the auxiliary sealing membrane 11, and a main sealing membrane 13 supported on the main thermal barrier 12, which is in contact with liquefied natural gas, contained in the tank 71.

[0101] The auxiliary thermal barrier 10 has a plurality of auxiliary insulation blocks 14 that are fixed to the upper load-bearing wall 8 by means of anchor devices (not shown). The auxiliary insulation blocks 14 have a general shape of a parallelepiped and, for example, are arranged in parallel rows in the longitudinal direction L and in the transverse direction T perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

[0102] The auxiliary sealing membrane 11 of the ceiling wall 4 has a continuous layer of metal cladding belts 15 with raised edges. Thus, the skin chords 15 have a flat central portion 16 supported by the auxiliary insulation blocks 14 of the secondary thermal barrier 10, and also have two raised edges 17 located on both sides of the flat central portion 16 in the transverse direction T, and protruding towards the inner side of the tank. relative to the central portion 16. The cladding chords 15 are welded through their raised edges 17 to parallel butt welds that are attached to the grooves formed on the surface of the auxiliary insulation blocks 14 in contact with the auxiliary sealing membrane 11. The clasps 15, for example, are made of Invar® , i.e. an alloy of iron and nickel with an expansion coefficient, as a rule, from 1.2⋅10 ^-6 to 2⋅10 ^-6 K ^-1 .

[0103] The main thermal barrier 12 of the ceiling wall 4 has a plurality of main insulating blocks 18, which are fixed to the upper load-bearing wall 8 by means of anchor devices (not shown). The main insulating blocks 18 are generally parallelepiped-shaped. In addition, their dimensions are substantially the same or different from those of the auxiliary insulating blocks 14. The main insulating blocks 18 are aligned with or offset from the auxiliary insulating blocks 14 in one or both of the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T.

[0104] Auxiliary insulating blocks 14 and main insulating blocks 18 can be manufactured in various ways. For example, some or all of said blocks are formed in boxes with a bottom plate, a cover plate and load-bearing baffles extending in the thickness direction between the bottom plate and the cover plate and delimiting a plurality of compartments filled with insulating packing such as perlite, glass wool or rock wool.

[0105] In yet another embodiment, some or all of the auxiliary insulation blocks 14 and the main insulation blocks 18 have a bottom plate, a cover plate, and one or more layers of insulating polymer foam between and bonded to the bottom plate and the cover plate. The insulating polymeric foam may in particular be a polyurethane-based foam, optionally fibre-reinforced.

[0106] In yet another embodiment, the secondary thermal barrier 10 and/or the main thermal barrier 12 has auxiliary insulation blocks 14 and/or main insulation blocks 18 with at least two different types of construction, such as the two above-mentioned designs, depending on the function of the area their installation in the tank. Examples of such a design are provided in WO-A-2019077253.

[0107] The main seal membrane 13 has a continuous layer of metal sheath bands 15 with raised edges, which, for example, are sheath bands of the same type as the sheath bands 15 of the secondary seal membrane 11. The sheath bands 15 of the main seal membrane 13 are welded through their raised edges 17 to parallel supports for welding, which are attached in grooves formed in the surface of the main insulating blocks 18 in contact with the main sealing membrane 13.

[0108] Primary and secondary sealing membranes 13, 11 are attached to the supporting structure 2, in particular at an angle formed between the ceiling wall 4 and the back wall 5 of the rubber dam by means of a connecting ring 55 in a known manner. The connecting ring 55 is thus attached firstly to the carrier structure 2 and secondly to the sealing membranes 11, 13 to allow forces to be transmitted between the sealing membranes 11, 13 and the carrier structure 2.

[0109] To limit the loading/unloading opening 7, the ceiling wall 4 is interrupted locally to allow the passage of the loading/unloading lines. Thus, the sealing membranes 11, 13 and the thermal barriers 10, 12 are interrupted around the entire perimeter of the loading/unloading opening 7, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0110] To ensure the continuity of sealing and insulation, the tank 71 has a cover 19 located in the loading / unloading opening 7. The cover part 19 has a metal sealing wall 20 and a thermal insulation structure 21 located between the metal sealing wall 20 and the upper bearing wall 8. Cover 19 is attached to the upper load-bearing wall 8. The metal sealing wall 20 provides sealing continuity with the main sealing membrane 13 of the ceiling wall 4, while the thermal insulation structure 21 ensures the insulation continuity.

[0111] As shown in particular in FIG. 4, the thermal insulation structure 21 has an insulating block 22 of the cover portion, for example, in the form of a box with a bottom plate, the cover plate and load-bearing baffles extending in the thickness direction between the bottom plate and the cover plate, and delimiting a plurality of compartments filled with an insulating filler such as a rigid foam insulation. The insulating block 22 of the lid has through holes (not shown) to allow the passage of the loading/unloading lines.

[0112] The sealing wall 20 of the cover portion 19 has a plurality of flat metal plates 23 welded to each other. The sealing wall 20 also has a plurality of lid openings (not shown) made to intersect with loading/unloading lines. The vault 1 also includes a metal bonding strip 24 providing the sealing wall 20 of the cover portion with a sealing bond to the main sealing membrane 13 of the ceiling wall 4 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0113] The main seal membrane 13 is capable of transmitting tensile and compressive forces associated with the operation of the main seal membrane 13 to the metal bonding strip 24. These forces are particularly strong at the forward longitudinal end edge 25 of the loading/unloading opening 7, wherein the edge of the loading/unloading opening 7 is located between the cover part 19 and the front wall 6 of the rubber dam in the longitudinal direction L. Indeed, due to the fact that the cover part 19 is located close to the rear wall 5 of the rubber dam, the longitudinal direction of the main sealing membrane 13 between the cover part 19 and the front wall 6 of the rubber dam significantly greater than the longitudinal direction of the main sealing membrane 13 between the cover part 19 and the back wall of the rubber dam, which leads to large forces on the front longitudinal end edge 25 after deformation of the housing or thermal contraction. In addition, these forces at the forward longitudinal end edge 25 are particularly large as a result of the orientation of the main sealing membrane 13. Indeed, the main sealing membrane 13 is oriented so that the flat central portion 16 of the skin chords 15 extends in the longitudinal direction L of the vessel 70. As a result, in In this direction, there are no zones capable of absorbing compressive and tensile forces.

[0114] In order to release the metal bonding strip 24, a specific support structure extending in the transverse direction T is provided along the front longitudinal end edge 25 as described below.

[0115] FIG. 3 in particular shows the secondary sealing membrane assembly 11 on the front longitudinal end edge 25 of the loading/unloading opening 7.

[0116] Vault 1 has a plurality of metal anchoring supports 26 arranged side by side in the transverse direction T along the front longitudinal end edge 25 of the loading/unloading opening 7. Thus, the plurality of anchoring supports 26 extend parallel to the metal bonding strip 24.

[0117] Each mounting leg 26 has a secondary support portion 27 and a main support portion 28 welded to the secondary support portion 27. The secondary support portion 27 has a longitudinally extending secondary cover 29 to which the main support portion 28 is welded. welded to the auxiliary rack 30, which is fixed to the upper load-bearing wall 8, for example, by welding. Thus, the sub-support portion 27 has a socket extending along a length in the longitudinal direction L, as measured at the attachment of the sub-post 30 to the supporting structure, and resisting tilting and bending in that direction. The main support portion 28 also has a main cover 31 extending in the longitudinal direction, on which a locking device 33, described below, is welded. The main cover 31 is welded to the main post 32, which is welded to the sub cover 29. Thus, the main support portion 28 also has a socket extending along the length in the longitudinal direction L, measured at the attachment of the main post 32 to the sub post 30, and providing tilt resistance and bend in that direction. In the first embodiment, illustrated in particular in FIG. 3 and in the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the auxiliary leg 30 and the main leg 32 are an I-beam (section in the thickness direction). In the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, and in the fourth embodiment, illustrated in particular in figures 11-12, the main post 32 is a circular beam. Other sections may also be used, provided they provide a sufficient moment of inertia in the longitudinal direction L.

[0118] The auxiliary thermal barrier 10 has auxiliary end insulation blocks 34. Each auxiliary end insulation block 34 is located between the auxiliary support portions 27 of two adjacent fastening supports 26 in the transverse direction T. The auxiliary metal fastening plate 35 is attached to the upper surface of each auxiliary end insulation block 34, for example by screwing or riveting, as shown in particular in figures 3, 4 and 8.

[0119] The secondary sealing membrane 11 has a series of skin chords 15 in the transverse direction T, which are interrupted by the front longitudinal end edge 25 of the opening 7. As shown in FIG. 3, these cladding chords 15, interrupted by holes 7, are welded alternately to the auxiliary cover 29 and to the auxiliary metal fastening plate 35 of the auxiliary end insulating blocks 34, depending on the position of the cladding chord 15 in the transverse direction T.

[0120] The secondary sealing membrane 11 also includes a secondary metal connecting corner profile 36 extending in the transverse direction T. The secondary connecting corner profile 36 has a first secondary flange 37 and a second secondary flange 38 associated with the first secondary flange 37 and forming a corner between them. The first secondary flange 37 is welded alternately to the auxiliary cover 29 and to the secondary metal mounting plate 35 of the auxiliary end insulating blocks 34. The second auxiliary flange 38 is welded to the upper bearing wall 8 through the anchor plates 69, and is located between the cover part 19 and the auxiliary support sections 27. The skin chord assembly 15, interrupted by the opening 7, as well as the auxiliary fastening plates 35, the auxiliary covers 29 and the auxiliary connecting corner profiles 36, ensure that the auxiliary sealing membrane 11 stops at the front longitudinal end edge 25, maintaining the continuity of the seal, in particular, relatively cover part 19.

[0121] FIG. 4 shows the ceiling wall 4 and the cover portion 19 at the front longitudinal end edge 25 of the loading/unloading opening 7 after the main sealing membrane 13 has been assembled.

[0122] Similar to the secondary thermal barrier 10, the main thermal barrier 12 has main end insulation blocks 39. Each main end insulation block 39 is located between the main support portions 28 of two adjacent anchoring supports 26 in the transverse direction T.

[0123] The main thermal barrier 12 also includes a plurality of stop beams 40 arranged side by side in the transverse direction T. Each stop beam 40 is located on the main support portions 28 of two adjacent mounting posts 26.

[0124] In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the stop beams 40 are made of plywood. In addition, the two stop beams 40, which are adjacent in the transverse direction T, are attached together to the main cover 31 by the fixing device 41 shown in FIG. 7.

[0125] Once again, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, for assembly reasons, the cover plate 42 is located between two adjacent stop beams 40 aligned vertically with the fastening device 41, after fastening, to form a continuous support surface for the main sealing membrane 13 as shown in FIG. 8.

[0126] The stop beams 40 are also prevented from moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the mounting support 26 so that the longitudinal forces applied to the stop beam 40 are transferred directly to the supporting structure 2.

[0127] Thus, in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the main support section 28 has a stop device 33. The stop device 33 includes a first stop 43 welded to the main cover 31 and a second stop 44 located at a distance from the first stop 43 in the longitudinal direction L, and as the first stop 43, and the second stop 44 extend in the transverse direction T, as shown in particular in FIG. 6. The stop bar 40 has a respective first slot 45 and a respective second slot 46, each extending in the transverse direction T. Once assembled, the first stop 43 is positioned in the first slot 45 and contacts the side wall of the first slot 45 to prevent movement of the stop bar 40 in the longitudinal direction. direction L in the first offset direction. Similarly, the second stop 44 is positioned in the second slot 46 and contacts the side wall of the second slot 46 to prevent the stop beam 40 from moving in the longitudinal direction L in the second offset direction opposite the first offset direction.

[0128] During assembly, the second stop 44 is assembled after the stop beam 40 has been assembled. Indeed, as shown in FIG. 3, only the first stop 43 is already welded to the main cover 31 before the position of the stop beam 40. In FIG. 5 shows the second abutment in more detail, with stop beam 40 and cover plate 42, exploded.

[0129] Thus, during assembly of the main thermal barrier 12 on the secondary sealing membrane 11, the stop beam 40 has a specific assembly sequence with the second stop 44 as shown in FIG. 6. The stop beam 40 is first positioned so as to position the first stop 43 in the first slot 45. The second stop 44 is simultaneously inserted into the second slot 46 without being attached to the main cover 31. The stop beam 40 is then advanced in the direction shown by arrow F1 to bring of the first stop 43 in contact with the first wall of the first slot 45. The stop beam 40 is then screw-attached to the base cover 31 by means of a fixing device 41. The fixing device 41 is, for example, a nut/bolt system provided with a clamping plate. The clamp plate allows the tightening force of the nut/bolt system to be transmitted to two adjacent stop beams.

[0130] The second anvil 44 is then advanced in the direction shown by arrow F2 in FIG. 6, in order to bring the second stop 44 into contact with the second wall of the second slot 46. The first wall and the second wall, which belong respectively to the first slot 45 and the second slot 46, in contact with the stops 43, 44, do not face each other. . In other words, the first wall and the second wall, which belong to the first slot 45 and the second slot 46, are opposite to each other. Thus, the first stop 43 and the second stop 44 clamp a portion of the stop beam 40 in the longitudinal direction L, absorbing all manufacturing tolerances. It is in this position that the second stop 44 is welded to the main cover 31 with a weld 56 as shown in FIG. 7. The first stop 43 is positioned, for example, at the end of the main cover 31 proximal to the cover portion 19, while the second stop 44, after attachment, is positioned at a distance from the first stop 43 in the longitudinal direction L. In addition, and as shown in fig. 7, the second stop 44 can be displaced in a transverse direction T with respect to the first stop 43. Thus, each first stop 43 acts as an stop for two adjacent stop beams 40 located on a given main cover 31, while each second stop 44, longitudinally and transversely offset relative to the first stop 43, acts as an abutment for one stop beam 40. Thus, the stop beam 40 is supported by rigid anchoring supports 26 without any residual play in the longitudinal direction L, which allows it to absorb any compressive or tensile forces exerted by the base membrane in operation without any significant transfer of forces from the metal to the bond strip 24. This reduces fatigue on the metal bond strip 24, thereby increasing its service life.

[0131] In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the second stop 44 is an L-shaped beam extending in the transverse direction T. The length of the second stop 44 in this case is essentially equal to the distance between the two fastening legs 26 in the transverse direction T, so that the second stop 44 extends between two adjacent fastening supports 26 and each of its ends is welded to the main socket 31 of one of these mounting supports 26.

[0132] The primary metal attachment plate 47 is rigidly attached to the upper surface of the stop beam 40, for example by screwing or riveting, as shown in particular in figures 4 and 6. To maintain the flatness of the main sealing membrane 13, the stop beam 40 has a recess 48 on its upper surface, providing the location of the main mounting plate 47, as shown in figures 5 and 6.

[0133] The main sealing membrane 13 has a number of skin chords 15 in the transverse direction T, which are interrupted by the front longitudinal end edge 25 of the opening 7. As shown in FIG. 4, the end portions of these skin chords 15, interrupted by a hole 7, are welded to the main fastening plates 47 in the transverse direction T.

[0134] The main sealing membrane 13 also includes a main metal connecting corner profile 49 extending in the transverse direction T. The main connecting corner profile 49 has a first main flange 50 and a second main flange 51 associated with the first main flange 50 and forming a corner between them. The first main flange 50 is welded to the main mounting plate 47. The second main flange 51 is welded to the second auxiliary flange 38 of the auxiliary connecting corner profile 36, and is located between the cover 19 and the main support sections 28. , the main fastening plates 47, and the main connecting corner profiles 49, ensures the continuity of the seal on the stop beam 40, in particular with respect to the cover part 19.

[0135] Finally, the metal bonding strip 24 is welded in the transverse direction T, firstly, to the flat plates 23 of the sealing wall 20 of the cover portion 19, and secondly, to the main connecting corner profile 49 and/or to the main fastening plate 47, providing a seal between the main sealing membrane 13 of the ceiling wall 4 and the sealing wall 20 of the cover part 19.

[0136] As shown in FIG. 4, the metal bonding strip 24 may also have at least one corrugation 54 extending in the transverse direction T to resiliently absorb any deformations caused by residual compressive and tensile forces in the longitudinal direction L, thereby limiting weld stresses. Fig. 9 shows a second embodiment in which the bonding strip 24 has two parallel corrugations 54. The corrugation or corrugations are located in the central portion of the metal bonding strip 24 at a distance from the welds along the parallel edges in the transverse direction T.

[0137] As shown in FIG. 4, support plates 52, for example, made of plywood, are located on both sides of the second main and first auxiliary flanges 51, 38 of the corner profiles to provide rigidity. The base plate 52 is also located in the space between the cover 19 and the connecting corner profiles 36, 49 in order to support the metal bonding strip 24. In addition, the rest of this space is filled with insulating filler 53, such as blocks of glass wool, extending between the base plate 52 and upper load-bearing wall 8.

[0138] FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment, and FIGS. 11-17 show a fourth embodiment in which, in particular, the stop beam 40 and the main support portion 28 have been modified from the first embodiment and from the second embodiment.

[0139] Indeed, as shown in figures 10 and 14, the stop beam 40 in this case is made of metal, and more specifically of Invar®, an alloy of iron and nickel with a coefficient of thermal expansion from 0.5⋅10 ^-6 to 2⋅10 ^-6 K ^-1 . Therefore, in these embodiments, it is no longer necessary to have the main fixing plate 47 attached to the top surface of the stop beam 40, since the main sealing membrane 13 can be welded directly to the stop beam 40. In addition, the stop device 33 is not used in these embodiments for stop the movement of the stop beam 40. Indeed, the stop beam 40 is welded directly to the main cover 31 of the main support portions 28, in particular to stop the movement of the stop beam 40 in the longitudinal direction L. The stop beam 40 may, for example, be 8 mm thick.

[0140] As shown in FIG. 10, in the third embodiment, the stop beam 40 is welded to the main cover 31 by a plurality of welds 56. Indeed, at the level of the main cover 31, each end of the stop beam 40 is welded by a weld 56 to the main cover 31 along the entire transverse dimension of the main cover 31, so that there are two welds on both sides of the stop beam 40. In addition, in order to strengthen the fastening, the third weld 56 is made in the longitudinal direction at the level of the main cover 31, linking the first two welds to attach the stop beam 40 along its entire length in the longitudinal direction. Thus, a third weld 56 is formed at the joint between two adjacent stop beams 40 to attach, firstly, the adjacent stop beams 40 to each other, and secondly, to attach the stop beam 40 to the main cover 31, the connection made on a level with the main cover 31.

[0141] In the fourth embodiment, illustrated in particular in FIG. 14, the stop beam 40 has a fixing hole 57 flush with each main cover 31. This fixing hole 57 allows the stop beam 40 to be welded via a circumferential weld 56 to the main cover 31 to reduce stress concentrations associated with welding while still providing uniform fastening. to the stop beam 40 on the main cover 31. Unlike other embodiments, in the fourth embodiment, the connection between two adjacent stop beams 40 is not made flush with the main cover 31, so that the stop beam 40 is continuous at the level with the main cover 31, but one stop beam 40 is attached to each main cover 31.

[0142] As explained above, the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment also differ in structure from the main support portion 28. In the third embodiment, the structure of the main support portion 28 is identical to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, and the essential difference between these embodiments is that there is no locking device 33 attached to the main cover 31 in the third embodiment.

[0143] In the fourth embodiment, and as shown in particular in Figures 12 and 13, the main support portion 28 has a main post 32 welded to the sub cover 29 and a main cover 31 attached to the main post 32. The main post 32 is configured of a cylindrical beam 58 extended in the thickness direction and provided with two pillar stiffeners 59 located along the cylindrical beam 58 in the thickness direction and on both sides of the cylindrical beam in the longitudinal direction L. The lower end of the pillar stiffeners 59 is welded to the auxiliary cover 29. These elements The strut stiffeners 59 stiffen the main strut 32, in particular with respect to forces oriented in the longitudinal direction L. The strut stiffeners 59 may be butt plates as shown in FIG. 13, and have a section decreasing from the auxiliary cover 29 to the main cover 31, and/or be reinforcing plates 60 welded to the base of the column stiffener 59 at the level with the auxiliary cover 29, and the reinforcing plate 60 is also welded to the auxiliary cover 29.

[0144] As shown in FIG. 13, the main cover 31 includes a cylindrical section 61 and a base plate 62 welded to the cylindrical section 61, the base plate 62 being flat and forming a support surface for the stop beam 40. The cylindrical section 61 is welded to the cylindrical beam 58 after adjusting the orientation of the base plate 62 between various main support portions 28 to provide a flat support surface for the stop beam 40. Thus, FIG. 11 shows the main support portion 28 before the main cover 31 is attached, and FIG. 12 shows the main support portion 28 after the main cover has been attached.

[0145] FIG. 11 also shows connecting elements 90 protruding from the secondary sealing membrane 11 close to and between the main support sections 28, in the transverse direction T. In order to insert the main end insulating blocks 39 between two main support sections 28 preceded in the longitudinal direction L (front wall 6 of the rubber dam to the loading/unloading opening 7) connecting element 90, it is preferred to provide specific designs for the main end insulation block 39, described in more detail with reference to FIG. 15. Indeed, when assembling the tank, these connecting elements 90 are placed in place before the location of the main end insulating blocks 39.

[0146] Figures 16-17 show another variant of the fourth embodiment, which differs from the variant illustrated in FIG. 13, the number and arrangement of the stiffeners on the mounting support 26. Indeed, in this embodiment, there are four rack stiffeners 59 arranged in pairs on both sides of the cylindrical beam 58 in the longitudinal direction L. In addition, in this case, the reinforcing plate 60 extends between two adjacent rack stiffeners 59, and welded to the lower section of rack stiffeners 59. The reinforcing plate 60 is also welded to the sub cover 29. In addition, the fixing support 26 includes cover stiffeners 67 welded under the sub cover 29 and extending in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L, as shown in particular in FIG. 7. Thus, these lid stiffeners 67 extend between the outer surface of the auxiliary lid 29 and the top bearing wall 8. In the illustrated example, there are three such lid stiffeners 67, although this number may vary according to the load placed on the mounting support 26, and said lid stiffeners are evenly distributed under the auxiliary cover 29 so that one of the lid stiffeners 67 is vertically aligned with the cylindrical beam 58 while the other two lid stiffeners 67 are vertically aligned with the rack stiffeners 59.

[0147] Returning to FIG. 13, the wall stiffeners 63 are installed to reinforce the top loadbearing wall 8 in vertical alignment with the anchoring supports 26. The top loadbearing wall 8 thus has the first wall stiffener 63 flush with the anchor plate 69, and projecting above the outer surface of the top loadbearing wall. , and a second wall stiffener 63 parallel to the first wall stiffener 63 located flush with the end of the auxiliary distal post 30 of the anchor plate 69. The second wall stiffener 63 also protrudes above the outer surface of the top load-bearing wall. Finally, the top load-bearing wall 8 has a third stiffener 63 extending in the longitudinal direction L and running flush with the mounting support 26.

[0148] The main end seal blocks 39 are also illustrated in Figures 14 and 15. The main end seal blocks 39 are thus inserted between two adjacent main support portions 28 and have a support groove 65 on both sides in the transverse direction T to act as support points for the main cover 31 formed by the cylindrical section 61 and the base plate 62. Indeed, as shown in FIG. 15, the nut-bolt systems 66 attached to the support plate 62 rest on the lower part of the support trough 65, which may, for example, be reinforced with metal.

[0149] As mentioned above, and shown in figures 14 and 15, the main end insulating blocks 39 may include fittings that provide an insertion between the two main support sections 28, which are preceded by the connecting elements 90. Indeed, in the shown embodiment, the bearing chute 65 the main end insulation block 39 is formed on the attached strap 91. The attached strap 91 extends in the longitudinal direction L and can be attached to the main end insulation block 39 after said block has been aligned between two adjacent main support portions 28 in the transverse direction T. This allows, during insertion, to separate the end sealing block 39 from the auxiliary sealing membrane 11, in the thickness direction, by the dimensions of the attached strip 91 and the fastening system 66 in the thickness direction. This gap allows passage over the connecting element 90 during insertion.

[0150] In an embodiment not shown, instead of or together with the attached strip 91 for inserting the main insulating block 39, the main end insulating block 39 may have a groove (not shown) extending in the longitudinal direction L in the lower zone 92 on one connection element 90. The size of the groove, extended in the thickness direction, allows the insertion of the end insulating block 39 between the two main support sections 28. This size depends on the size of the connecting element 90 protruding from the auxiliary sealing membrane 11 in the thickness direction, as well as the presence of or lack of attached slats 91.

[0151] FIG. 18 shows another variant of the fourth embodiment, which is different from the variant shown in FIG. 13, some signs. Indeed, in this embodiment, the cylindrical beam 58 has neither the pillar stiffeners 59 nor the reinforcing plates 60. However, even compared to the embodiment in FIG. 13, the diameter of the cylindrical beam 58 is preferably increased. In addition, and similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 17, the mounting support 26 in this embodiment has two lid stiffeners 67 welded under the auxiliary lid 29 and lying in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L. In the illustrated example in FIG. 18, the lid stiffeners 67 are vertically aligned with two diametrically opposed portions of the cylindrical beam 58.

[0152] In addition, and unlike the embodiments in FIG. 13 and FIG. 16, in which the cylindrical beam 58 is built into the cylindrical section 61, in the embodiment of FIG. 18, namely a cylindrical section 61 which is built into a cylindrical beam 58. In either embodiment, the fastening between the cylindrical section 61 and the cylindrical beam 58 may be provided by welding, fitting force, or any other fastening means that provides a sufficiently rigid attachment.

[0153] As shown in particular in figures 13, 16 and 18, the auxiliary rack 30 has a first branch 87 formed by a plate, and a second branch 88 formed by a plate, which is separated from the first branch 87 in the longitudinal direction L by a connecting plate 99. The gap in the longitudinal direction L between the first branch 87 and the second branch 88 at the level with the upper bearing wall 8 represents the length of the socket. The tie plate 99 can be welded to the top bearing wall 8.

[0154] The reinforcing portions 89 are welded to the upper load-bearing wall 8 and extend in the longitudinal direction L to be welded at the first end to the edge of the first branch 87 and at the second end to the edge of the second branch 88. The auxiliary post 30 in this case is preferably provided with two reinforcing portions 89 located on both sides of the link plate 99, the link plate 99 being preferably attached to the first leg 87 and the second leg 88 at their midpoint in the transverse direction T, as shown in particular in FIG. 18.

[0155] In other embodiments that are not shown, the reinforcing portions 89 or bond plate 99 need not be welded to the top load-bearing wall 8, preferably to facilitate welding. Therefore, an element not attached to the upper load-bearing wall 8, whether it be reinforcing sections 89 or a tie plate 99, can be located at a distance from the load-bearing wall 8.

[0156] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, and unlike the other embodiments in figures 13 and 16, the tie plate 99 has a central hole 100, which is preferably oblong and extends in the longitudinal direction L to increase the flexibility of the mounting support 26.

[0157] As shown in Figures 16-18, bond plate 99 may have collars 101 formed at the corners of bond plate 99 to limit stress concentration. Similarly, and as shown in FIG. 18, the reinforcing sections 89 may also have collars 101 formed at the corners of the reinforcing sections 89 located at the junction between one of the branches 87, 88 and the top load-bearing wall 8.

[0158] FIG. 19 shows a bonding strip 24 according to an embodiment which is connected firstly to the main sealing membrane 13 and secondly to the sealing wall 20 of the cover portion 19, and in particular to the end 64 of the bonding strip 24. More specifically, and how shown in FIG. 19, the tie strip 24 is welded along the first edge to the first primary flange 50 of the main connecting corner profile 49, with the exception of the end 64 of the tie strip 24. The tie strip 24 is welded along the second edge to the sealing wall 20 of the cover part 19, with the exception of the end 64 of the tie strip 24 Indeed, at the end 64 of the bonding strip 24, the bonding strip 24 is welded along the first edge and along the second edge to the first longitudinal main flange 85 of the longitudinal main connecting corner profile, extended in the longitudinal direction L, along the transverse end edge of the loading / unloading opening 7. Longitudinal the main connecting corner profile is connected to the main connecting corner profile 49 at the corner of the loading/unloading opening 7 and performs the same function as the main connecting corner profile 49. As a reminder, the main connecting corner profile 49 extends in the transverse direction T along the front longitudinal end the left edge 25 of the loading/unloading opening 7. Thus, the end 64 of the binding strip 24 is located at a distance from the loading/unloading opening 7.

[0159] In this embodiment, the tie strip 24 has three parallel corrugations 54 extending in the transverse direction T. To close these corrugations 54, the store has a corrugation cap 83 that is welded to the end 64 of the tie strip 24, and more specifically to each end 82 of the corrugations 54 as shown in FIG. 19. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the three corrugated caps 83 are on a single cover plate 86, which in turn is welded to a particular cladding band 84 of the cladding band 15 of the main sealing membrane 13. Indeed, the cladding band 84 is only partially interrupted by a loading/unloading opening. 7 and is located along the transverse end edge of the loading/discharging opening 7, which extends in the longitudinal direction L. Attaching the bellows caps 83 to the cover plate 86 helps limit stresses applied to the bellows cap 83.

[0160] With reference to FIG. 20, a sectional view of an LNG carrier 70 shows a sealed and insulating tank 71 having an overall prismatic shape mounted on a double hull 72 of the vessel. The tank wall 71 has a main pressurized barrier designed to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a pressurized barrier located between the first pressurized barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and two insulating barriers located respectively between the first pressurized barrier and the second pressurized barrier, and between the second pressurized barrier and the double housing 72.

[0161] In a known manner, loading/unloading pipes 73 located on the upper deck of the vessel can be connected through appropriate connectors to a sea or port terminal in order to transfer the LNG cargo to or from the tank 71.

[0162] FIG. 20 shows an example of a marine terminal comprising a loading/unloading station 75, a submarine line 76, and an onshore facility 77. The loading/unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore facility comprising a movable boom 74 and a tower 78 holding the movable boom 74. The movable boom 74 carries a bundle insulated hoses 79 that can be connected to the loading/unloading pipes 73. The orientable movable boom 74 can be adapted to all sizes of an LNG carrier. A connecting line (not shown) runs inside the tower 78. Loading/unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the vessel 70 for the transport of liquefied natural gas to or from the onshore facility 77. This facility has liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting lines 81 connected via a submarine line 76 to a loading/unloading station 75. The submarine line 76 allows the liquefied gas to be transferred between the loading/unloading station 75 and the onshore facility 77 over long distances, for example, 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the liquefied natural gas carrier 70 a long distance offshore during loading and unloading operations.

[0163] To create the pressure required for the transfer of liquefied gas, use pumps carried on board the ship 70, and/or pumps installed on the shore facility 77, and/or pumps installed at the loading/unloading point 75.

[0164] Although the invention has been described in relation to several specific embodiments, it is obviously not limited to them in any way, and it includes all technological equivalents of the described means and their combination, where they fall within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0165] The use of the verb "comprise" or "include", including when conjugated, does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps in addition to those mentioned in the claims.

[0166] In the claims, the reference positions in parentheses should not be as constituting a limitation of the claims.

Claims (33)

1. Storage (1) for liquefied gas, including a metal supporting structure (2) and a sealed and heat-insulating tank (71) located inside the supporting structure, and the tank has at least one metal sealing membrane (11, 13) forming an internal space (3) for storage, and at least one heat-insulating barrier (10, 12), the heat-insulating barrier is located between the sealing membrane and the supporting structure, the load-bearing structure has an upper load-bearing wall (8), the tank (71) has at least one ceiling wall (4) attached to the upper load-bearing wall (8), in which the heat-insulating barrier (10, 12) of the ceiling wall has adjacent insulating blocks (14, 18), in which the sealing membrane (11, 13) of the ceiling wall (4) includes a plurality of parallel cladding chords (15) extended in the first direction (L), with each cladding chord (15) including a flat central section (16) , resting on the upper surface of the insulating blocks (14, 18), and two raised edges (17) protruding into the tank relative to the central section (16) of the cladding belt (15), are located next to each other in the second direction (T) in a repeating pattern location and welded together to ensure tightness at the raised edges, with the second direction (T) perpendicular to the first direction (L), the ceiling wall (4) is interrupted locally to create a loading/unloading opening (7) which is intersected by the loading/unloading lines, while said loading/unloading opening (7) interrupts at least one of said sheathing chords (15), moreover, the tank has a cover part (19) located inside the loading / unloading opening (7), the cover part (19) has a metal sealing wall (20) and a heat-insulating structure (21) located between the sealing wall (20) and the upper bearing wall ( 8), while the covering part (19) is attached to the upper bearing wall (8), the insulating blocks include an end insulating block (34, 39), which is adjacent to the cover part (19) in the first direction, moreover, the storage has a mounting support (26) attached at the level of the upper bearing wall (8) with an end insulating block (34, 39), while the mounting support (26) has a socket extended along the length in the first direction, and including a cover (31), the thermal barrier has a stop beam (40) located on the cover (31) of the fixing support (26), while the fixing support (26) prevents the stop beam (40) from moving in the first direction, in which the end section of the chord (15) of the skin or each chord of skin, interrupted by the loading / unloading opening (7), is welded to the stop beam (40), and in which the metal bonding strip (24) connects the sealing wall (20) of the cover portion (19) with the stop beam (40) to ensure continuity of the sealing membrane of the ceiling wall (4). 2. Storage (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting support (26) includes a locking device (33) preventing movement of the locking beam (40) in the first direction. 3. Storage (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking beam (40) has a first groove (45) extended in the second direction and a second groove (46) extended in the second direction, and the locking device (33) includes a first stop (43) located in the first groove (45), which contacts the wall of the first groove (45), while the first stop (43) prevents the stop beam (40) from moving in the first displacement direction, and the stop device ( 33) has a second stop (44) located in the second groove (46) that contacts the wall of the second groove (46), while the second stop (44) prevents the stop beam (40) from moving in the first direction in the second displacement direction opposite first direction of displacement. 4. Storage (1) according to one of paragraphs. 1-3, characterized in that the stop beam (40) includes a metal fastening plate (47) located on the upper surface of the stop beam (40), and in which the end section of the belt (15) of the skin or each belt of the skin, interrupted by the boot /discharge hole (7), welded to the metal mounting plate (47), and the metal bonding strip (24) connects the sealing wall (20) of the cover part (19) with the metal mounting plate (47). 5. Storage (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop beam (40) is made of metal, preferably an iron-nickel alloy with a thermal expansion coefficient of 0.5⋅10 ^-6 to 2⋅10 ^-6 K ^-1 , and the metal stop beam (40) is welded to the cover (31) of the fixing support (26). 6. Storage (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking beam (40) includes a mounting hole (57) at the level of the cover (31) of the mounting support (26), and the locking beam (40) is welded to the cap ( 31) around the entire mounting hole (57). 7. Storage (1) according to one of paragraphs. 1-6, characterized in that the storage (1) includes a plurality of mounting supports (26) located side by side in the second direction along the edge of the loading / unloading opening (7), and two adjacent mounting supports (26) are separated from each other along at least one end insulating block (34, 39). 8. Storage (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the stop beam (40) extends in length in the second direction along at least two adjacent fastening supports and in width in the first direction. 9. Storage (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the heat-insulating barrier includes a plurality of stop beams (40) located side by side in the second direction, with each stop beam (40) located on two adjacent mounting supports (26). 10. Storage (1) according to one of paragraphs. 1-9, characterized in that the sealing membrane (13) has a connecting corner profile (49) extended in the second direction to separate the heat-insulating barrier (10, 12) from the heat-insulating structure (21) of the covering part, and the connecting corner profile (49) has a first flange (50) and a second flange (51) connected with the first flange, while the first flange (50) is connected with the stop beam (40), and the second flange (51) is connected with the upper bearing wall (8). 11. Storage (1) according to one of paragraphs. 1-10, characterized in that the connecting strip (24) has at least one corrugation (54) extended in the second direction. 12. Storage (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the storage includes a corrugation cap (83), which is welded to at least one end (82) of the corrugation (54) to cover said end (82), moreover the mentioned end (82) of the corrugation (54) is located at one end (64) of the binding strip (24), the end (64) of the binding strip (24) and the cap (83) of the corrugation are located away from the loading / unloading opening (7). 13. The storage (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the cap of the corrugation is welded to the belt (84) of the skin, partially interrupted by the loading / unloading opening (7), and the said partially interrupted belt (84) of the skin is located along one transverse end edge loading / unloading opening (7), while the transverse end edge is extended in the first direction (L). 14. Storage (1) according to one of paragraphs. 1-13, characterized in that the sealing membrane (13), the sealing wall (20) of the covering part and the bonding strip (24) are made of an iron-nickel alloy with a thermal expansion coefficient of 0.5⋅10 ^-6 to 2⋅10 ^{- 6} K ^-1 and in which the mounting support (26) is made of steel. 15. Storage (1) according to one of paragraphs. 1-14, characterized in that the supporting structure has a rear wall (5) of the rubber dam and a front wall (6) of the rubber dam, which are extended on both sides of the tank in the first direction, and the loading / unloading opening is formed close to the rear wall (5) of the rubber dam, and the mounting support (26) is located between the cover (19) and the front wall (6) of the rubber dam. 16. Storage (1) according to one of paragraphs. 1-15, characterized in that the sealing membrane is the main sealing membrane (13) made to be in contact with the liquefied gas, the thermal barrier is the main thermal barrier (12), and in which the reservoir also includes, in thickness direction from the outside to the inside of the tank, an auxiliary heat barrier (10) attached to the supporting structure (2), and a metal auxiliary sealing membrane (11) located between the auxiliary heat barrier (10) and the main heat barrier (12). 17. Storage (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the sealing membrane is the main sealing membrane (13) made so as to be in contact with the liquefied gas, the thermal barrier is the main thermal barrier (12), and in in which the tank also includes, in the direction of thickness from the outside to the inside of the tank, an auxiliary heat barrier (10) attached to the supporting structure (2), and a metal auxiliary sealing membrane (11) located between the auxiliary heat barrier (10) and the main thermal barrier (12), and the connecting corner profile is the primary connecting corner profile (49), the auxiliary sealing membrane (11) includes an auxiliary connecting corner profile (36) to seal the auxiliary thermal barrier from the thermal insulation structure of the cover parts, and the auxiliary connecting corner profile includes the first flange (37) and the second flange (38) associated with the first flange, the first flange (37) of the auxiliary connecting corner profile being welded to the auxiliary sealing membrane (11), and the second flange (38) of the auxiliary connecting corner profile is welded to the upper load-bearing wall (8). 18. Storage (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the second flange (51) of the main connecting corner profile is welded to the second flange (38) of the auxiliary connecting corner profile. 19. Storage (1) according to one of paragraphs. 16-18, characterized in that the mounting support (26) includes an auxiliary support section (27) welded to the upper bearing wall (8), and a main support section (28) welded to the auxiliary support section (27), moreover the stop beam (40) is located on the main support section (28), and the auxiliary sealing membrane (11) is welded to the second support section (27). 20. Storage (1) according to one of paragraphs. 1-19 in the form of a floating structure, characterized in that said supporting structure comprises a double hull (72) of the floating structure, and in which the first direction is the longitudinal direction (L) of the floating structure, and the floating structure is preferably a ship (70) for transportation cold liquid product. 21. Transmission system for a cold liquid product, including storage according to claim 20, insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) located to connect a tank (71) installed in the hull of the vessel with an external shore or floating storage ( 77), and a pump for controlling the flow of cold liquid product through insulated pipes to or from offshore onshore or floating storage, to or from the ship's tank. 22. The method of loading or unloading the storage according to claim 20, in which the cold liquid product is piped through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) to or from an external shore or floating storage (77) to a tank on the ship ( 71) or from it.

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