WO2013182776A1

WO2013182776A1 - Lagging element for a fluidtight and thermally insulated tank comprising a reinforced lid panel

Info

Publication number: WO2013182776A1
Application number: PCT/FR2013/051155
Authority: WO
Inventors: Florent OUVRARD
Original assignee: Gaztransport Et Technigaz
Priority date: 2012-06-07
Filing date: 2013-05-24
Publication date: 2013-12-12
Also published as: AU2013273358B2; AU2013273358A1; FR2991660B1; CN104334956A; IN2014MN02337A; CN104334956B; FR2991660A1; KR20150028285A; KR102051355B1

Abstract

Fluidtight and thermally insulated tank for containing a fluid, in which a tank wall comprises: a sealing barrier, a thermal insulation barrier bearing the sealing barrier, the thermal insulation barrier being made up of a plurality of lagging elements (30) which are juxtaposed to form a support surface for the sealing barrier, a lagging element (30) having a substantially parallelepipedal shape and comprising: a lining of lagging, a plurality of pillars (33) passing through the lining of lagging, a cover panel (34) running parallel to the tank wall and supported by the pillars, the cover panel comprising: a spreader panel (36) fixed to the pillars and resting on the pillars, a spacer element comprising a plurality of beams (37) which are spaced apart and run parallel to the spreader panel, an upper panel (35) parallel to the spreader panel and fixed and supported by the spacer element.

Description

THERMALLY INSULATED, THERMALLY INSULATED TANK-INSULATING ELEMENT COMPRISING A REINFORCED COVER PANEL

The invention relates to the field of manufacturing sealed and thermally insulating vessels. In particular, the present invention relates to tanks for the storage or transport of cold or hot liquids, for example tanks for the storage and / or transport of liquefied gas by sea.

Waterproof and thermally insulating vessels can be used in different industries to store hot or cold products. For example, in the energy field, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a liquid that can be stored at atmospheric pressure at about -163 ° C in land-based storage tanks or tanks embedded in floating structures.

It is known, for example from FR2877638, a storage tank integrated in the hull of a vessel, whose walls comprise successively, in the direction of the thickness from the inside towards the outside of the tank, a barrier primary waterproofing barrier, a primary insulating barrier, a secondary watertight barrier and a secondary insulating barrier. The insulating barriers consist of juxtaposed heat insulating elements. Each insulating element comprises a heat insulating lining traversed by a plurality of pillars of small cross section as well as a cover panel carried by the pillars, and a bottom panel carrying the pillars.

However, when the walls are subjected to the stresses exerted by a fluid stored in the tank, for example to hydrodynamic stresses, the panels and the pillars tend to deform unequally within a heat insulating element. These deformations lead to an uneven distribution of the load that must be transmitted by each of the pillars in the insulating element. In addition, this deformation can cause the separation of the forming parts the heat insulating element.

According to one embodiment, the invention provides a sealed and thermally insulating tank integrated in a support structure for containing a fluid, in which a vessel wall comprises:

a load-bearing wall,

a sealing barrier,

a thermal insulation barrier retained on the load-bearing wall and carrying the sealing barrier, the thermal insulation barrier consisting of a plurality of elements heat insulating juxtaposed so as to form a support surface for the sealing barrier,

a heat-insulating element having a substantially parallelepipedal shape and comprising: a heat-insulating lining,

a plurality of pillars passing through the heat-insulating liner perpendicular to the tank wall,

a cover panel extending parallel to the vessel wall and carried by the pillars, the cover panel comprising:

a distribution panel fixed on the pillars and resting on the pillars,

a spacer element supported and fixed on the distribution panel,

an upper panel parallel to the distribution panel, fixed and supported by the spacer element, the upper panel showing the compressive forces exerted on the heat-insulating element.

According to embodiments, such a tank may comprise one or more of the following characteristics.

According to embodiments, the spacer element has a plurality of parallel beams extending parallel to the distribution panel and spaced apart from each other.

According to embodiments, the spacer element has the form of a grid, said beams forming a first set of parallel beams and said grid comprising a second set of parallel beams, the first set and the second set crossing each other and two sets of beams defining a lower bearing surface bearing on the distribution panel and an upper bearing surface bearing on the upper panel.

According to embodiments, the first set of beams and the second set of beams intersect at intersections, each pillar being each time positioned under an intersection of the grid.

According to embodiments, the distribution panel has a rectangular shape and a set of beams extends in a direction oblique to the sides of the rectangular distribution panel.

According to embodiments, the pillars are arranged in rows of pillars, a beam being positioned superimposed on a respective row of pillars. According to embodiments, the beams have a trapezoidal section, the bases of the trapezoidal section bearing respectively on the distribution panel and on the upper panel. According to embodiments, the beams are profiles having a U-shaped section, the base of the U being supported on one of the two panels among the distribution panel and the upper panel, wings extending from each branch of the U to the outside of the U and leaning on the other of the two panels among the distribution panel and the top panel.

According to embodiments, the beams are sections having a U-shaped section, the base of the U extending between the top panel and the distribution panel, a first branch resting on the top panel and a second branch based on the distribution panel.

According to embodiments, the beams are sections of rectangular section.

According to embodiments, the beams have a width section oriented in a direction parallel to the distribution panel between 9 and 50mm.

According to embodiments, the support element is a rigid insulating foam layer covering most of the distribution panel.

According to embodiments, the spacer element comprises a honeycomb structure covering the distribution panel.

In embodiments, the spacer includes a fluid flow channel (38) extending between a first side of the heat insulator and a second side of the heat insulator.

According to embodiments, the circulation channel is lined with a porous heat-insulating lining.

According to embodiments, the cover panel further comprises an upper spacing member supported and fixed on the top panel,

and a second upper panel,

the second upper panel being parallel to the distribution panel and fixed and supported by the upper spacer.

According to embodiments, the pillars are arranged in rows of parallel pillars, the pillars of a row being positioned at a regular interval, the pillars of two adjacent rows being offset by half a gap in the direction of the row of pillars.

According to embodiments, the thickness of the distribution panel and the thickness of the top panel in a direction perpendicular to the distribution panel are between 6.5 and 30mm and the thickness of the spacer element in the direction perpendicular to the Distribution panel is between 6.5 and 50mm.

Such a tank can be part of a land storage facility, for example to store LNG or be installed in a floating structure, coastal or deep water, including a LNG tank, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) , a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others.

According to one embodiment, a vessel for the transport of a cold liquid product comprises a double hull and a aforementioned tank disposed in the double hull.

According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method of loading or unloading such a vessel, in which a cold liquid product is conveyed through isolated pipes from or to a floating or land storage facility to or from the vessel vessel.

According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising the abovementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged to connect the vessel installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating storage facility. or terrestrial and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipelines from or to the floating or land storage facility to or from the vessel vessel.

An idea underlying the invention is to provide a heat-insulating element for a sealed and thermally insulated tank having better structural characteristics by reinforcing the cover panel of such a heat-insulating element, the reinforcement being obtained by manufacturing the cover panel. using two panels kept spaced and rigidly connected to each other.

Certain aspects of the invention start from the idea of increasing the inertia, and therefore the rigidity of the cover, by increasing the thickness of the cover panel, while providing a heat-insulating element that offers a good compromise between the rigidity of the panel. cover and the weight and thermal resistance of the heat insulating element. Some aspects of the invention start from the idea of providing fluid circulation channels within the cover panel to allow the circulation of inert gas within the heat insulating element and thus in a wall of the sealed tank and thermally insulated.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the course of the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes. with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cutaway perspective view of a sealed and thermally insulating vessel wall in which heat-insulating elements according to embodiments of the invention may be employed.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of a heat insulating element that may be included in the tank wall of FIG. 1 and the stresses and deformations to which it may be subjected.

FIG. 3 is a partially transparent perspective view of a heat insulating element having a reinforced cover panel.

FIGS. 4 to 7 are perspective views of variants of the heat insulating element shown in FIG.

FIGS. 8a to 8c are diagrammatic side schematic representations that can be implemented in the reinforced lid panel variant of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a particular embodiment of the heat insulating element shown in FIG. 3 in which the heat insulating element comprises pillars having a variable section.

Figure 10 is a schematic side view of a heat insulating member in which the reinforced cover panel has three spaced panels.

• Figure 11 is a schematic schematic representation of a tank vessel LNG tank and a loading / unloading terminal of the tank.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic side view of the box of FIG.

Figure 1 shows sealed and insulating walls of a vessel integrated in a carrying structure of a ship.

The bearing structure of the tank is constituted by the inner hull of a double-hulled vessel, whose wall is represented by the number 1. On each wall 1 of the supporting structure, a corresponding wall of the tank is made by superposition of, successively, a secondary insulation layer 2, a secondary watertight barrier 3, a primary insulation layer 4 and a primary watertight barrier 5 .

The primary insulation layer 4 and the secondary insulation layer 2 consist of heat-insulating elements and more particularly heat-insulated parallelepipedic boxes 6 and 7 juxtaposed in a regular pattern. The primary caissons 7 and the secondary caissons 6 thus form a substantially flat surface which carries respectively the primary watertight barrier 5 and the secondary watertight barrier 3.

The primary watertight barrier 5 and the secondary watertight barrier 3 consist of parallel invar strakes 8 with raised edges, which are alternately arranged with elongate welding supports 9, also in invar. More specifically, the soldering supports 9 extend perpendicularly to the wall and are retained each time at the underlying insulation layer 2 or 4, for example by being housed in inverted T-shaped grooves 10 formed in lids panels 11 of the boxes 6 and 7. The raised edges of the strakes 8 are welded along the weld supports 9.

The primary insulating boxes 7 and the secondary insulating boxes 6 are held on the supporting structure by means of anchoring members 12. In particular, the anchoring members 12 of the secondary insulating layer 2 are fixed to the wall tank 1 through studs 13 welded perpendicularly to the wall 1.

Figure 2 illustrates the structure of a box 15 which can be implemented in such a tank wall.

The box 15 has a bottom panel 16 on which are placed ladders 17 consisting of rows of pillars 18 extending perpendicularly to the bottom panel 16, a batten 19 and a beam 20. Each row of pillar 18 s presses the bottom panel 16 through the batten 19 and carries the beam 20 which supports the cover panel 11 and is attached thereto. The assembly of the ladders 17 and their attachment to the panels is carried out using fastening elements, for example by stapling. A heat-insulating lining 21 is disposed between the bottom panel 16 and the lid panel 11 and surrounds the pillars 18.

The beams 20 make it possible to stiffen the cover panel 11 and to restart the load when the panel is subjected to the stresses which are for example exerted by the fluid present inside the tank and which are schematized here by the arrows 22, by for example, these constraints may be due to the sloshing of the fluid in the tank. However, when the heat-insulating element is subjected to these constraints, the cover panel 11 tends to deform and warp between two scales 17, under the effect of pressure, along the curves schematized by the curves 24. This deformation tends to cause the rotation of the lateral beams located on each side of the median plane of the caisson 15. This rotation is illustrated by the lines 23. This deformation and this rotation thus causes the bending of the lateral pillars 18 located on the scales on each side of the plane. median of the insulating element 15 towards the outside of the box, as shown by the curve 25. The pillar is thus weakened by this deflection 25, which is added to the compressive stresses exerted on the pillars 18.

The fasteners between the beams and the various elements of the box 15 are thus strongly stressed, which can cause their separation. In addition, this deformation causes a poor distribution of the load through the pillars 18. Indeed, as represented by the arrows 26 and 27, the load 26 exerted by the pillars in the center of the box 15 is much larger than the load 27 exerted by the lateral pillars 20.

To overcome these disadvantages, the box 15 can be replaced by a reinforced box 30 as shown in Figure 3. Such box 30 has a bottom panel 31 on which are attached slats 32. A row of pillars 33 is positioned and fixed each time above a batten 32 corresponding. A reinforced cover panel 34 is attached to the pillars 33. The pillars 33 allow in particular the transmission of the stresses exerted on the cover panel 34 to the wall 1 and therefore have a compressive strength function. A heat-insulating lining, not shown, fills the space between the pillars and may for example consist of an insulating foam cast between the pillars 33 or a block of foam machined to fit the pillars 33.

The rows of successive pillars 33 are offset relative to each other.

Indeed, the pillars 33 of the two successive rows 29 and 39 comprise pillars 33 spaced at the same regular spacing, however, the two rows of pillars 33 are offset in the direction of their length by half a spacing. Such an arrangement allows a good compromise between the number of pillars 33 in the box 30 and the good distribution of the load.

The reinforced cover panel 34 has an upper panel 35 and a lower panel 36 each having a thickness of 15mm and spaced apart by a series of parallel solid beams 37. In particular, the beams 37 extend parallel to the longitudinal sides of the box 30. A beam 37 is each time positioned along and at the Above a row of pillars 33. The beams 37 have a rectangular section and a thickness of 15mm. However, these beams may also have a trapezoidal section. The beams 37 and the panels 35 and 36 are rigidly connected, thus when the upper panel 35 is subjected to the stresses exerted by the fluid and tends to warp, the lower panel 36 works in tension which prevents the rotation of the beams 37. Moreover , the beams 37 being immobilized by the lower panel 36, the deformation of the upper panel 35 is attenuated.

The tensile work of the panel 36 is illustrated in FIG. 12. In this figure, it can be seen that the panels 35 and 36 are fixed to the beams 37 by means of staples 90. Two lateral beams 37 and a beam can be distinguished. 37 central. Line 91 indicates the curve in which the top panel 35 tends to warp when subjected to compressive stresses 94. When the top panel 35 tends to deform between a central beam 37 and a lateral beam 37 along line 91 , the upper panel 35 exerts stresses on the beams 37 via the clips 90. These stresses tend to cause the rotation of the beams 37 as illustrated by the lines 92. Now, the lower panel 36 is also fixed to beams 37, thus, the rotation of the beams 37 is attenuated. Indeed, the rotation of the beams generates stresses on the lower panel 36 which causes the tensile work of the lower panel 36 between said beams 37 as represented by the arrows 93. In other words, the lower panel 36 prevents the rotation of the beams through the staples 90. In this way, the rotation of the beams 37 is reduced, and thus the bending of the underlying pillars 33 induced by this rotation is reduced. Thus, the compressive stresses exerted on the heat-insulating element are better taken up by the pillars 33.

Such a reinforced cover panel structure 35 provides a cover 35 which has good rigidity and which effectively distributes the load in case of localized stress. Moreover, such a lid panel structure 35 can provide sealed and thermally insulating tanks with a good compromise between the thermomechanical performance and the cost of such a tank.

Each beam 37 is spaced from the other beams 37 so as to delimit a space between two beams 37 and between the panels 35 and 36. These spaces form channels 38 for circulating fluids between the sides of the heat insulating element. The juxtaposition of heat-insulating element thus makes it possible to form a circuit in the wall of the tank in which it is possible to inject a neutral gas to neutralize the wall of the tank and thus avoid any risk of explosion in case of leakage in the presence of oxygen. Moreover, such a gas circuit makes it possible to detect leakage in the impervious barriers 3 and 5.

Optionally, the beams 37 may be drilled or machined to provide passages allowing the flow of fluids between the different channels 38 and thus allow the flow of gases in several directions within the box 30.

In order to improve the thermal resistance capabilities of the insulating box 30, a porous heat-insulating lining may be put in place in the channels 38. Such a heat-insulating lining may for example consist of a glass wool layer, or expanded perlite.

In another embodiment, the space between the beams 37 can be filled with an insulating foam if a fluid circulation circuit is not required in the reinforced panels 35.

In another embodiment, the beams 37 may extend in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the heat-insulating element.

The box described above can be manufactured in various ways. For example in a first method, the bottom panel 31, the slats 32 and the pillars 33 are assembled by stapling. The heat-insulating lining 21 is then inserted or injected between the pillars. The lower panel 36 is stapled to the pillars 33 in a manual or automated process, then the beams 37 are stapled to the lower panel 36. Any porous lagging is inserted between the beams 37, and the top panel 35 is finally stapled on the beams 37.

In another method, lagging 21 is a block of foam that is machined to make holes. The pillars 33 are inserted into the holes, then the slats 32 and the bottom panel 31, stapled to the pillars 33. The reinforced lid panel 34 is preassembled independently and pierced at the position of the pillars 33. reinforced cover panel 34 is then positioned on the pillars 33 and screwed to the pillars 33 through the holes.

Other variants of the reinforced lid panel 34 will now be described with reference to Figures 4 to 8.

Figures 4 and 5 each have a box 40 and 41 similar to the box 30 in which the spacing between the lower panel 36 and the upper panel 35 is provided by a grid-like structure respectively 42 and 46.

The structure 42 has the form of a grid of a first set of beams 43 and a second set of beams 44, the beams 43 being parallel to a first side of the bottom panel and the beams 44 extending

43. The beams 44 of the second set extend in line with the rows of pillars 29 and 39 whereas the beams 43 extend transversely with respect to the rows 29 and 39 while extending to the right of the pillars of several rows. 39 not shifted. Thus, the grid has intersections 45 directly above pillars 33. Beams 44 and beams 43 are each supported on both lower panel 36 and upper 35.

Similarly, the grid 46 has crossings 47 located directly above the pillars 33. However, in this embodiment, the elements 48 constituting the grid 46 do not extend parallel to the sides of the box 41. Indeed, those they extend each time above a pillar 33 of each successive row 39 and 29 shifted.

The grids 40 and 41 can be made by an assembly of elongated parts, or by molding.

Other variants of the box 30 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the box 50 of Figure 6, the elements spacing the lower panel 36 and the upper panel 35 are replaced by a honeycomb structure 49 which covers the bottom panel 36. Similar to the embodiments presented above the honeycomb structure 49 can be drilled or machined to make passages allowing the circulation of fluids and thus allow the circulation of gases within the box.

Alternatively, the element that holds the panels 35 and 36 spaced apart may be a layer of high density foam that covers the panel 35 and is adhered to the bottom panel 36 and the top panel 35.

Figure 7 is a variant 51 of the box 30 in which the solid beams 37 are replaced by metal profiles 52 formed or extruded. A sectional view to appreciate the section of the metal section 52 is illustrated in Figure 8. a. The metal profile 52 has a U-shaped portion 53 whose base of the U 54 is flat and rests on the lower panel 36. Two wings 55 extend outwardly from the branches of the U is supported on the top panel 35.

Figures 8.b and 8.c show two other variants 56 and 57 of metal profiles that can be substituted for the metal section 52. In Figures 8. a to 8.c, the position of the pillars is represented by a line 59.

In particular, the metal section 56 is a profile comprising a U-shaped section whose U 58 branches bear respectively on the lower panel 35 and the upper panel 36. A profile 56 is positioned on each side of a pillar, so that the legs 58 of the two sections 56 thus positioned oppose each other. Thus, a space is provided between the two profiles 56 and makes it possible to fix the lower panel 36 on the pillars 33 when the profiles 56 are already attached to the lower panel 36. The metal profile 57 has a substantially rectangular section.

Alternatively, the profiles can be made using composite materials extruded or formed.

The reinforced cover panels 34 shown above may be attached to any type of small section pillars. For example, the pillars 33 shown in Figures 3 to 7 are pillars with full rectangular section. The section of the pillars can also be square or cylindrical. Alternatively, the pillars may be hollow to increase their thermal resistance and possibly filled with an insulating material. In other embodiments, the pillars may have a section H. Such pillars may be made by machining a pillar of rectangular section or the assembly of three plywood slats so as to form a section H-shaped pillar has a good compromise between rigidity, thermal resistance and weight of the pillar.

Another type of pillar is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9. Indeed, the pillars 60 represented in this figure have a section that varies according to the height. More specifically, the pillar 60 comprises a central cylindrical portion 61 located between two frustoconical portions 62. The bases of the frustoconical portions 62 are respectively supported on the panels 31 and 36. An increase in the section at the panels 31 and 36 allows better distribute the load in the pillars 60 and avoids the depression of the pillars 60 in the covers 31 and 36. In addition, a larger section at the panels 31 and 36 allows the pillar 60 to have good resistance to torque exerted by the covers 31 and 36 when they warp and therefore have a good resistance to bending.

The pillars 60 can be obtained for example using thermoplastic or thermosetting materials, possibly reinforced with fibers.

Of course, the distribution of the beams 37 or spacers relative to the pillars 33 may be different. For example the beams 37 are not necessarily positioned at the right rows of pillars 29 and 39 but can be arranged between the rows of pillars 29 and 39. A reinforced cover panel 34 consisting of two panels has been previously described. However, reinforced cover panels with additional panels can be implemented. Such a reinforced panel 63 is shown schematically in FIG.

The reinforced panel 63 comprises a first panel 64 resting on pillars

84, and supporting a first series of beams 65. The beams 65 carry a second panel 66 which itself carries a second series of beams 67 superimposed on the first series of beams 65. The second series of beams 67 supports an upper panel 68 The set of beams 65 and 67, panels 64, 68 and 68 and pillars 84 being rigidly connected. As illustrated by the lines 69, 82 and 83, the bending stresses are thus progressively taken up by the traction work of the second panel 66 and the first panel 64. This recovery of the stresses in several stages makes it possible to greatly reduce the stresses of bending at the pillars 84 and allows a good distribution of the load exerted on the upper panel 68 to all the pillars 84. Of course, the distribution of the beams 65 and 67 may be different. For example the beams 65 and 67 are not necessarily superimposed and can alternate.

Any type of heat seal 21 may be used to make the boxes described above. Typically, such a lining may for example consist of a block of machined foam, or a foam cast between the pillars. Such a foam can be reinforced or not. Alternatively, the lining may consist of a nanoscale porosity material of airgel type. Aerogels can be packaged in different forms, for example in the form of powder, beads, nonwoven fibers, fabric, etc.

The fixing of the pillars, panels and spacers between the lower and upper panels can be achieved by screws. However, it is also possible to make their connection by gluing, stapling or nailing.

The panels, beams and pillars can be made of plywood or solid wood, for example at work, beech or fir. These elements can also be made of bamboo, composite material, plastic or metal.

The boxes presented above can be implemented in the primary insulation layer 4 and / or in the secondary insulation layer 2. The reinforced lid panels of the boxes can, for example have a thickness of 45mm. However, in some embodiments of the vessel wall, the vessel wall has a primary insulation layer 4 and a secondary insulation layer 2 in which the thickness of the reinforced liner panels is greater in the protective layer. primary insulation 4 only in the secondary insulation layer 2. In fact, the stresses exerted on the reinforced cover panels of the secondary insulation layer 2 are already partly distributed by the caissons of the primary insulation layer 4 Thus, it is possible to use a reinforced rigid cover panel and therefore less thick in the secondary insulation layer 2 with respect to the primary insulation layer 4. The tanks described above can be used in different types installations such as land installations or in a floating structure such as a LNG tanker or other.

Referring to Figure 11, a cutaway view of a LNG tank 70 shows a sealed and insulated tank 71 of generally prismatic shape mounted in the double hull 72 of the ship. The wall of the tank 71 comprises a primary sealed barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary sealed barrier arranged between the primary waterproof barrier and the double hull of the vessel, and two thermally insulating barriers arranged respectively between the primary watertight barrier and secondary watertight barrier, and between secondary watertight barrier and double hull 72.

In a manner known per se, loading / unloading lines arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a marine or port terminal to transfer a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.

FIG. 11 represents an example of a marine terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipe 76 and an onshore installation 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed off-shore installation comprising an arm mobile 74 and a tower 78 which supports the movable arm 74. The movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 that can connect to the loading / unloading pipes 73. The movable arm 74 can be adapted to all gauges of LNG carriers . A connection pipe (not shown) extends inside the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 enables the loading and unloading of the LNG tank 70 from or to the shore facility 77. liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting lines 81 connected by the underwater line 76 to the loading or unloading station 75. The underwater line 76 allows the transfer liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the onshore installation 77 over a large distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the tanker 70 at great distance from the coast during the loading and unloading operations. unloading.

In order to generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, pumps on board the ship 70 and / or pumps equipping the shore installation 77 and / or pumps equipping the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention.

The use of the verb "to include", "to understand" or "to include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps other than those set out in a claim. The use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" for an element or a step does not exclude, unless otherwise stated, the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps.

In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses can not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

1. Sealed and thermally insulating vessel integrated in a supporting structure for containing a fluid, in which a vessel wall comprises: a carrier wall (1),

a sealing barrier (3, 5),

a thermal insulation barrier (2, 4) retained on the supporting wall and carrying the sealing barrier, the thermal insulation barrier consisting of a plurality of heat-insulating elements (6, 7, 30, 40, 41 , 50, 51) juxtaposed to form a support surface for the sealing barrier,

a heat-insulating element having a substantially parallelepipedal shape and comprising: a heat-insulating lining (21),

a plurality of pillars (33, 60) passing through the lagging insert perpendicular to the vessel wall,

a cover panel (34) extending parallel to the vessel wall and carried by the pillars, the cover panel comprising:

a distribution panel (36, 64) fixed on the pillars and resting on the pillars, a spacer element supported and fixed on the distribution panel, the spacer having a plurality of beams (37, 43 , 44, 52, 56, 57, 65) spaced from each other and extending parallel to the distribution panel,

an upper panel (35, 66) parallel to the distribution panel, fixed and supported by the plurality of beams, the upper panel showing the compressive forces exerted on the heat insulating element.

The vessel of claim 1, wherein the beams (37, 43) of said plurality of beams are parallel.

3. Tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spacer has the form of a grid (42, 46), said beams forming a first set of parallel beams (43) and said grid comprising a second set of beams (44) parallel, the first set and the second assembly intersecting and the two sets of beams defining a lower bearing surface resting on the distribution panel (36) and a bearing surface of upper support on the upper panel (35).

4. A vessel according to claim 3, wherein the first set of beams and the second set of beams intersect at intersections (45), each pillar (33, 60) being each time positioned at an intersection of the wire rack.

5. A vessel according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the distribution panel has a rectangular shape and a set of beams (43, 44) extends in a direction oblique to the sides of the rectangular distribution panel.

6. Tank according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the pillars are arranged in rows of pillars (29, 39), a beam being positioned superimposed on a row of pillars respectively.

7. Tank according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the beams have a trapezoidal section, the bases of the trapezoidal section bearing respectively on the distribution panel (36) and on the upper panel (35).

8. Tank according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the beams are sections (52) having a U-shaped section, the base of the U (54) being supported on one of the two panels among the panel of distribution and the upper panel, wings (55) extending from each branch of the U to the outside of the U and resting on the other of the two panels among the distribution panel and the upper panel.

9. Tank according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the beams are sections having a U-shaped section (56), the base of the U extending between the top panel and the distribution panel, a first branch resting on the upper panel (35) and a second branch resting on the distribution panel (36).

10. Tank according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the beams are sections (57) of rectangular section.

11. Sealed tank according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the beams have a width section oriented in a direction parallel to the distribution panel between 9 and 50mm.

Tank according to one of Claims 1 to 11, in which the spacer element comprises a fluid circulation channel (38) extending between a first side of the heat-insulating element and a second side of the heat-insulating element. heat insulating element.

13. The cell of claim 12, wherein the circulation channel (38) is lined with a porous insulating lining.

Watertight vessel according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cover panel further comprises an upper spacer (67) supported and fixed on the upper panel (66),

and a second upper panel (68),

the second upper panel being parallel to the distribution panel (65) and fixed and supported by the upper spacer (67).

15. Sealed tank according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the pillars are arranged in rows of parallel pillars (29, 39), the pillars of a row being positioned at a regular interval, the pillars of two adjacent rows being offset by half a gap in the direction of the pillar row.

Watertight vessel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the distribution panel and the thickness of the top panel (35, 36, 64, 66, 68) in a direction perpendicular to the distribution panel are between 6.5 and 30mm and the thickness of the spacer element (37, 42, 43, 49, 52, 56, 57, 65) in the direction perpendicular to the distribution panel is between 6.5 and 50mm.

17. Ship (70) for the transport of a cold liquid product, the vessel comprising a double hull (72) and a tank (71) according to one of claims 1 to 16 disposed in the double hull.

The use of a vessel (70) according to claim 17, wherein a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) to or from a floating or land storage facility (77). to or from the vessel (71) for loading or unloading the vessel.

19. Transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising a ship (70) according to claim 17, insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect the tank (71) installed in the hull. the vessel to a floating or land storage facility (77) and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipelines from or to the floating or land storage facility to or from the vessel vessel.