WO2021058826A1

WO2021058826A1 - Sealed and thermally insulating tank

Info

Publication number: WO2021058826A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/077128
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan Bougault; Benoît DUBEC; Edouard DUCLOY; Pierre LANDRU; Sébastien QUAOUZA; Sébastien COROT
Original assignee: Gaztransport Et Technigaz
Priority date: 2019-09-27
Filing date: 2020-09-28
Publication date: 2021-04-01
Also published as: CN114502872B; KR20220065826A; FR3101390B1; CN114502873B; WO2021058822A1; CN114502874A; KR20220068260A; CN114502874B; CN114502873A; WO2021058824A1; CN114502872A; FR3101390A1; KR20220065779A

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulating tank for the storage of liquefied gas, wherein the tank comprises a first tank wall and a second tank wall, said first tank wall and second tank wall each being supported by a bearing structure and comprising a secondary thermally insulating barrier (2), a secondary sealing membrane (3), a primary thermally insulating barrier (4) and a primary sealing membrane (5), wherein said tank comprises at least two corner structures (1) positioned in the corner region and separated from one another by an inter-panel gap (8), each corner structure (1) comprising a secondary corner assembly (6) and each corner structure (1) having a plurality of primary corner assemblies (12) secured to said secondary corner assembly (6). The tank comprises a primary corner junction assembly (13) secured across the two secondary corner assemblies (6) of the two corner structures (1), which are juxtaposed so as to be positioned above said inter-panel gap, and said primary corner junction assembly (13) demonstrates a different flexural behaviour to that of the primary corner assemblies (12) of the corner structures (1).

Description

Sealed and thermally insulating tank

The invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks with membranes. In particular, the invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks for the storage and / or transport of liquefied gas at low temperature, such as tanks for the transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (also called LPG) exhibiting by example a temperature between -50 ° C and 0 ° C, or for the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at approximately -162 ° C at atmospheric pressure. These tanks can be installed on land or on a floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, the tank may be intended for the transport of liquefied gas or to receive liquefied gas serving as fuel for the propulsion of the floating structure.

Technological background

Document KR20040095782 discloses a corner structure comprising a secondary insulating block of a first tank wall and a secondary insulating block of a second tank wall which are intended to form the corner of a secondary thermally insulating barrier and which are contiguous to each other. The two secondary insulating blocks thus form a secondary angle assembly. A secondary waterproofing membrane covers these two secondary insulating blocks.

In order to form the primary thermally insulating barrier, primary corner assemblies are attached to the secondary waterproofing membrane and are formed from a primary insulating block attached via an outer face above the secondary insulating block of the first wall of the barrier. tank and another primary insulating block also fixed via an external face above the secondary insulating block of the second tank wall. The two primary insulating blocks are attached to each other using a metal angle fixed to their inner face, and thus form a primary angle assembly.

Two adjacent secondary corner sets of the same tank wall are spaced from each other by an inter-panel space. A primary junction angle assembly is fixed astride the two secondary angle assemblies so as to be located to the right of the inter-panel space. Primary corner junction sets and primary corner sets are made in this document identically.

This document discloses that the primary insulating blocks are made either entirely of plywood or on the inside face of a plywood sheet and on the inside face of a layer of insulating foam.

summary

It has been observed by the applicant that the primary junction angle assembly is subjected to greater stresses than the others. In particular, when the vessel is cold, the primary insulating blocks as well as the primary junction angle assemblies contract, which has the effect of subjecting the primary angle assembly to tensile forces.

The bending of the beam of the vessel carrying the tank also has the effect of subjecting the primary junction angle assembly to bending / shearing forces greater than the other primary angle assemblies, which can lead to its damage.

An idea underlying the invention is to modify the structure of this primary junction angle assembly.

According to one embodiment, the invention provides a sealed and thermally insulating tank for the storage of liquefied gas, in which the tank comprises a first tank wall and a second tank wall meeting at an edge and s' extending respectively along a first plane and a second plane inclined relative to each other so as to form at the junction between the first vessel wall and the second vessel wall a corner zone, each of the first tank wall and of the second tank wall being supported by a supporting structure and comprising in a direction of wall thickness from the supporting structure towards an internal space of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier supported by the supporting structure, a secondary waterproofing membrane supported by the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier supported by the secondary waterproofing membrane, and a membrane primary sealing supported by the primary thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with a liquefied gas,
in which the tank has at least two corner structures which are located at the level of the corner zone, juxtaposed to each other in a direction parallel to the ridge and are separated from each other by an inter-panel space, each corner structure comprising a secondary corner assembly ensuring continuity of the secondary thermally insulating barrier and of the secondary waterproofing membrane in the corner zone between the first tank wall and the second tank wall,
wherein each corner structure has a plurality of primary primary corner assemblies attached to the secondary corner assembly, and the vessel has a junction primary angle assembly attached straddling the two corner assemblies of the two corner structures juxtaposed so as to be located above the inter-panel space, the main primary corner assemblies of the corner structures and the primary junction corner assembly ensuring the continuity of the primary thermally insulating barrier and the primary waterproofing membrane in the corner zone between the first tank wall and the second tank wall,
wherein the primary junction angle assembly has a different stiffness from the main primary angle assemblies of the corner structures,
and wherein the primary junction corner assembly comprises at least one primary insulating junction block, the at least one primary insulating junction block comprising an upper portion and a reinforced lower portion located below the upper portion, the reinforced lower part being fixed to the secondary waterproofing membrane, and the reinforced lower part having a higher rigidity than the upper part.

According to one embodiment, the invention provides a sealed and thermally insulating tank for the storage of liquefied gas, in which the tank comprises a first tank wall and a second tank wall meeting at an edge and s' extending respectively along a first plane and a second plane inclined relative to each other so as to form at the junction between the first vessel wall and the second vessel wall a corner zone, each of the first tank wall and of the second tank wall being supported by a supporting structure and comprising in a direction of wall thickness from the supporting structure towards an internal space of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier supported by the supporting structure, a secondary waterproofing membrane supported by the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier supported by the secondary waterproofing membrane, and a membrane primary sealing supported by the primary thermally insulating barrier and intended to be in contact with a liquefied gas,
in which the tank has at least two corner structures which are located at the level of the corner zone, juxtaposed to each other in a direction parallel to the ridge and are separated from each other by an inter-panel space, each corner structure comprising a secondary corner assembly ensuring continuity of the secondary thermally insulating barrier and of the secondary waterproofing membrane in the corner zone between the first tank wall and the second tank wall,
wherein each corner structure has a plurality of primary primary corner assemblies attached to the secondary corner assembly, and the vessel has a junction primary angle assembly attached straddling the two corner assemblies of the two corner structures juxtaposed so as to be located above the inter-panel space, the main primary corner assemblies of the corner structures and the primary junction corner assembly ensuring the continuity of the primary thermally insulating barrier and the primary waterproofing membrane in the corner zone between the first tank wall and the second tank wall,
wherein the primary junction angle assembly has a different stiffness from the main primary angle assemblies of the corner structures,
and wherein the primary junction corner assembly comprises at least one primary junction insulator block, the primary junction insulator block comprising at least one metal or composite insert located above the inter-panel space in the direction thick, the metal or composite insert being configured to reinforce the rigidity in the thickness direction of the primary insulating junction block.

Thanks to these characteristics, the different design of the primary junction angle assembly allows this element to be specifically adapted to the stresses to which it is subjected in order to prevent it from being damaged prematurely. In addition, the reinforced lower part thus improves the overall strength of the primary insulating junction block allowing it to withstand greater stresses or longer during fatigue work. In the same way as the reinforced lower part, the metal or composite insert thus improves the overall tensile, bending and / or shear rigidity of the primary insulating junction block allowing it to withstand greater stresses or longer when working in fatigue.

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

According to one embodiment, the primary junction angle assembly has a tensile and / or bending stiffness different from the main primary angle assemblies of the corner structures

According to one embodiment, the first tank wall and the second tank wall are flat.

In one embodiment, the primary junction angle assembly has greater rigidity, including tensile stiffness, than the primary primary angle assemblies of corner structures.

In one embodiment, the primary junction angle assembly has a higher average modulus of elasticity than the primary primary angle assemblies of the corner structures.

In one embodiment, the primary corner junction assembly has greater flexibility than the primary primary corner assemblies of corner structures.

In one embodiment, the primary junction angle assembly is spaced from an adjacent primary primary angle assembly using a wedge of insulating foam.

In one embodiment, the secondary corner assembly includes a secondary insulating block extending into the first plane and a secondary insulating block extending into the second plane.

According to one embodiment, the secondary waterproofing membrane is attached to an upper part of each secondary insulating block of the secondary angle assembly.

According to one embodiment, the primary primary corner assembly includes a primary insulating block located in the same plane as the first vessel wall and a primary insulating block located in the same plane as the second vessel wall.

In one embodiment, the primary junction angle assembly includes a primary insulating junction block extending into the first plane and a primary insulating junction block extending into the second plane.

Thus, the primary insulating block joining the first tank wall is fixed astride the two secondary insulating blocks of the juxtaposed corner structures so as to be located directly above the inter-panel space.

According to one embodiment, the primary insulating junction block comprises an upper part and a lower part located below the upper part, the lower part being fixed to the secondary waterproofing membrane.

According to one embodiment, the upper part is reinforced and has greater rigidity than the lower part.

According to one embodiment, the lower part is reinforced and has a modulus of elasticity or rigidity greater than the upper part

Thanks to these characteristics, the reinforced lower part thus improves the overall resistance of the primary insulating junction block allowing it to withstand greater stresses or longer during fatigue work. The same applies if it is the upper part that is reinforced.

According to one embodiment, the unreinforced part, namely the upper part or the lower part, is made of plywood.

According to one embodiment, the reinforced part, namely the lower part or the upper part comprises a layer of composite material, a layer of densified wood or a combination of the two.

According to one embodiment, the reinforced part, namely the lower part or the upper part, comprises a metal plate.

For example, the densified wood can be wood having a density greater than or equal to 900 kg / m ³ , preferably between 1100 and 1300 kg / m ³ , for example of the order of 1200 kg / m ³ .

The composite material may comprise a layer of aluminum between two layers of glass fibers and resin, a laminated composite material called as the case may be a rigid secondary membrane (“Rigid Secondary Barrier”, RSB) or flexible secondary membrane (“Flexible Secondary Barrier”). , FSB). The composite material can also be made of a reinforced textile material.

According to one embodiment, the lower part comprises a single layer made of laminated composite material, for example a composite material comprising a layer of aluminum between two layers of glass fibers and resin.

According to one embodiment, the reinforced part, namely the lower part or the upper part, comprises a first layer made of densified wood and a second layer made of laminated composite material.

According to one embodiment, the average modulus of elasticity of the reinforced part, namely the lower part or the upper part, is greater than or equal to 1.5 times the modulus of elasticity of the upper part.

According to one embodiment, the ratio between the dimension of the reinforced part, namely the lower part or the upper part in the thickness direction and the dimension of the upper or lower part respectively in the thickness direction is less than or equal to 0.9, preferably between 0.005 and 0.5.

According to one embodiment, when the reinforced part, namely the lower part or the upper part comprises a layer made of densified wood, the ratio between the dimension of the layer made of densified wood and the upper or lower part respectively in the direction of 'thickness is between 0.1 and 0.5.

According to one embodiment, when the reinforced part, namely the lower part or the upper part comprises a layer of laminated composite material, the ratio between the layer of laminated composite material and the upper or lower part respectively in the thickness direction is between 0.005 and 0.1.

According to one embodiment, the primary insulating junction block comprises at least one metal or composite insert located above or directly above the inter-panel space in the thickness direction, the metal or composite insert being configured to enhance the stiffness or flexibility of the primary insulating junction block.

According to one embodiment, the metal or composite insert thus improves the overall tensile, bending and / or shear rigidity of the primary insulating junction block allowing the latter to withstand stresses of greater or longer. when working in fatigue.

According to one embodiment, the metal or composite insert has a modulus of elasticity greater than that of the rest of the primary insulating junction block.

According to one embodiment, the metal or composite insert exerts a compressive prestress.

According to one embodiment, the metal or composite insert comprises a blade curved in the thickness direction.

According to one embodiment, the primary insulating junction block comprises an upper part and a lower part located below the upper part, a lower surface of the lower part being fixed or located opposite to the membrane. '' secondary sealing,
and wherein the primary insulating junction block comprises at least one relaxation slot configured to decrease the stiffness of the primary insulating junction block, said relaxation slot being formed at the bottom and extending in the thickness direction and preferably in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the edge.

Thanks to these characteristics, the relaxation slot increases the flexibility of the primary insulating junction block allowing it to withstand greater stresses or longer during fatigue work.

According to one embodiment, said slot is formed at the level of the lower surface of the lower part.

According to one embodiment, the relaxation slit is located above or in line with the inter-panel space in the direction of wall thickness.

According to one embodiment, the lower part comprises at least one pair of grooves located on either side of the relaxation slot in the direction of the edge, the grooves having a dimension in the thickness direction less than that. of the relaxation lunge.

According to one embodiment, the relaxation slot and / or the grooves extend only in the lower part of the primary insulating junction blocks.

According to one embodiment, the primary insulating junction block is bonded to the secondary waterproofing membrane above or plumb in the thickness direction of one of the secondary corner assemblies juxtaposed and above. or plumb in the thickness direction of the other of the two juxtaposed secondary corner assemblies, a free space being located between the primary insulating junction block and the secondary waterproofing membrane above or at the plumb in the thickness direction of the inter-panel space, so that there is no glue between the secondary waterproofing membrane and the primary insulation joint block in the thickness direction above of the inter-panel space.

Thanks to these characteristics, the absence of bonding of the primary insulating junction block directly above the inter-panel space makes it possible to avoid the propagation of cracks of the adhesive towards the primary insulating junction block in order to withstand stresses. more important or longer when working in fatigue.

According to one embodiment, the lower part is a reinforced lower part, the reinforced lower part having greater rigidity than the upper part in order to resist the relative movement of the first secondary insulating block and of the second secondary insulating block.

According to one embodiment, the primary insulating blocks at the junction of the first tank wall and of the second tank wall each comprise an external face fixed to the secondary waterproofing membrane and an internal face, and the tank comprises a metal angle iron. comprising a first angle part fixed to the external face of the primary insulating block junction of the first tank wall and a second angle part connected to the first angle part and fixed to the external face of the primary insulating block junction of the second tank wall.

According to one embodiment, the primary insulating junction blocks of the first tank wall and of the second tank wall comprise fixing orifices opening out on the external face of said primary insulating junction blocks, and the first angle part and the second angle portion comprise on the facing surface of said primary insulating junction blocks protruding fixing devices, the fixing devices being configured to come to be fixed inside the fixing holes.

According to one embodiment, the fixing holes open out on either side of the primary insulating junction blocks.

According to one embodiment, the fixing holes extend only in the upper part of the primary insulating junction blocks.

Such a tank can be part of an onshore storage facility, for example to store LNG or be installed in a floating, coastal or deep water structure, in particular an LNG vessel, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). , a floating production and remote storage unit (FPSO) and others. Such a tank can also serve as a fuel tank in any type of vessel.

According to one embodiment, a ship for transporting a cold liquid product comprises a double hull and a above-mentioned tank arranged in the double hull.

According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising the aforementioned vessel, insulated pipes arranged so as to connect the tank installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating storage installation. or terrestrial and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipes from or towards the floating or terrestrial storage installation towards or from the vessel of the vessel.

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 installation to or from the vessel. vessel tank.

Brief description of the figures

The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will emerge more clearly during the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. , with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 represents a partially exploded perspective view of a corner structure of a sealed and thermally insulating tank at the level of a junction between two secondary insulating blocks.

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of a primary insulating junction block.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of Figure 2 along line III-III according to a first embodiment.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of Figure 2 along line III-III according to a second embodiment.

Figure 5 shows a sectional view of Figure 2 along line III-III according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 represents a sectional view of FIG. 2 along line III-III according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 represents a sectional view of FIG. 2 along line III-III according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 8 represents a schematic view of a primary insulating junction block positioned above two secondary insulating blocks according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cut-away schematic representation of an LNG carrier comprising a tank and a terminal for loading / unloading this tank

By convention, we will call “on”, “above” a position located closer to the interior of the tank and “under” or “below” a position located closer to the supporting structure, whatever the position. orientation of the tank wall with respect to the earth's gravity field. Likewise, an element located closer to the interior of the vessel will be qualified as "upper" or "internal" and an element located closer to the supporting structure "lower" or "external".

A corner structure 1 of a sealed and thermally insulating tank will be described below.

A sealed and thermally insulating vessel includes a plurality of walls each formed of at least one thermally insulating barrier and at least one waterproofing membrane. In a corner of a sealed and thermally insulating tank at the junction between a first tank wall and a second tank wall, a corner structure 1 is placed in order to ensure the continuity of the thermally insulating barrier and of the membrane sealing of both walls. In the embodiment which will be described, the vessel walls comprise a secondary thermally insulating barrier 2, a secondary waterproofing membrane 3 supported by the secondary thermally insulating barrier 2, a primary thermally insulating barrier 4 attached to the membrane. secondary waterproofing membrane 3 and a primary waterproofing membrane supported by the primary thermally insulating barrier 4.

Thus, the corner structure 1 comprises at least elements forming part of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 2 of the tank, at least elements forming part of the secondary sealing membrane 3 of the tank, at least elements forming part of the primary thermally insulating barrier 4 of the tank and at least elements forming part of the primary sealing membrane 5 of the tank. Consequently, the corner structure makes it possible to ensure the continuity of the various thermally insulating barriers and sealing membranes at the junction between a first vessel wall and a second vessel wall inclined relative to the first vessel wall. a determined angle, for example an angle of 90 ° or an angle of 135 °.

Figure 1 shows a corner of the tank where two corner structures 1 are juxtaposed in the direction of ridge 100 and spaced from each other by an inter-panel space 8.

As can be seen in Figure 1, each corner structure 1 comprises a secondary corner assembly 6 forming the extension of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 2 and of the secondary waterproofing membrane in the corner of the tank as well. a plurality of primary primary angle sets 12 juxtaposed to each other in the direction of the edge 100. The tank also includes a primary junction angle assembly 13 fixed astride the two corner sets secondary 6 of two corner structures 1 juxtaposed so as to be located above the inter-panel space 8, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 8. The primary corner assemblies 12 of the

corner structures

1 and 1 The primary junction angle assembly 13 forms the extension of the primary thermally insulating barrier 4 and of the primary waterproofing membrane 5 in the corner region between the first vessel wall and the second vessel wall.

The primary primary corner sets 12 and the primary junction corner set 13 are aligned and spaced apart in the direction of edge 100 on the secondary corner sets 6. The spaces between these sets d The primary angles 12 and primary junction 13 are filled with insulating foam shims 16.

The inter-panel space is filled with one or more joint wedges 9 made of insulating material so as to maintain continuity of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 2 between two corner structures 1.

Each secondary angle assembly 6 thus comprises a secondary insulating block 7 in the plane P1 of the first tank wall and a secondary insulating block 7 in the plane P2 of the second tank wall arranged to each other so to form the angle of the tank. In order to assemble the secondary insulating block 7 of the first wall with the secondary insulating block 7 of the second wall, each of the secondary insulating blocks 7 may include a bevelled side edge so that the two secondary insulating blocks 7 are contiguous to one another. the other at their bevelled side edge to form the angle corresponds to the angle of the angle structure 1. Alternatively, the secondary insulating blocks 7 can be assembled together via straight side edges by simply being tilted to each other at the desired angle. In this case, the space remaining at the level of the edge between these two secondary insulating blocks 7 is filled with insulation of a shape complementary to said remaining space.

The secondary insulating blocks 7 comprise a lower plate and / or an upper plate, and optionally an intermediate plate, for example made of plywood. The secondary insulating blocks 7 also include one or more layers of insulating foam sandwiched between the lower plate, the upper plate and the possible intermediate plate and glued to them. The insulating foam can in particular be a polymer foam based on polyurethane, optionally reinforced with fibers.

The secondary corner assemblies 6 also include a rigid waterproof sheet 10 bonded to the upper plate of the secondary insulating blocks 7. The rigid waterproof sheet 10 is made of the same material as the secondary thermally insulating barrier 2 of the vessel walls so that the rigid waterproof sheets 10 of a secondary corner assembly 6 form a continuity, at the level of the corner structure 1, of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 2.

In order to connect in a sealed manner the rigid waterproof sheet 10 glued to one of the secondary insulating blocks 7 of the secondary angle assembly 6 and the rigid waterproof sheet 10 bonded to the other of the secondary insulating blocks 7 of the assembly secondary angle 6, a flexible waterproof sheet 11 is stuck astride each of the rigid waterproof sheets 10 as shown in Figure 1.

The rigid waterproof sheets 10 of the two secondary insulating blocks 7 of the corner structure 1 and the flexible waterproof sheet 11 constitute the elements of the corner structure 1 forming a portion of the secondary waterproofing membrane 2 of the tank. The rigid waterproof sheet 10 is made of a laminated composite material comprising a layer of aluminum between two layers of glass fibers and resin, called a rigid secondary membrane ("Rigid Secondary Barrier", RSB). The flexible waterproof sheet 11 is made of a laminated composite material comprising a layer of aluminum between two layers of glass fibers, called a flexible secondary membrane ("Flexible Secondary Barrier", FSB). At the junction between the two corner structures 1 in order to connect in a sealed manner the two sets of secondary corner 6, one or more flexible waterproof sheets 11 are glued astride the two sets of secondary corner 6 so as to cover inter-panel space 8.

The primary junction angle assembly 13 has a different structure compared to the main primary angle assemblies 12 of the corner structures 1. In fact, in order to avoid damage to the primary junction angle assembly 13 which experiences more stress than the primary primary corner assemblies 12, structural and / or material modifications are made to the primary junction corner assembly 13.

Figure 2 shows a primary junction angle assembly 13 in exploded view. The primary junction angle assembly 13 comprises a primary insulating junction block 15 located in the same plane P1 as the first vessel wall and a primary insulating junction block 15 located in the same plane P2 as the second vessel wall .

The primary insulating junction blocks 15 of the first tank wall and the second tank wall each comprise an outer face attached to the secondary sealing membrane 3 and an inner face. The tank comprises a metal angle iron 18 comprising a first angle iron part 19 fixed to the external face of the primary insulating junction block 15 of the first tank wall and a second angle iron part 20 connected to the first angle part 19 and fixed on the outer face of the primary insulating junction block 15 of the second tank wall.

The primary insulating junction blocks 15 of the first tank wall and of the second tank wall comprise fixing holes 22 opening onto the outer face of said primary insulating junction blocks 15. The first angle part 19 and the second part of the junction 15. angle iron 20 comprise on the opposite surface of said primary insulating junction blocks 15 fixing devices 21 protruding. The fixing devices 21 are configured to come to be fixed inside the fixing holes 22. In the case of a parallelepipedic insulating block, the primary junction angle assembly 13 also comprises a corner wedge 17 made of insulating material. located between the two primary insulating junction blocks 15 and against the flexible waterproof sheet 11. The corner wedge 17 enables continuity of the insulation where the orientation of the insulation is changed.

The primary primary corner assemblies 12 also include a primary insulating block 14 located in the same plane P1 as the first tank wall and a primary insulating block 14 located in the same plane P2 as the second tank wall, a metal angle bar 18 fixing the two primary insulating blocks 14 to one another, and a corner wedge 17. The primary insulating blocks 14 are made entirely of plywood.

The specifics of the primary insulating junction blocks 15 will be described below. Figures 3 to 8 show different embodiments of the primary insulating junction blocks 15.

In the embodiments of Figures 3 to 6, unlike the primary insulating blocks 14, the primary insulating junction blocks 15 are not made entirely of plywood.

In the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the primary insulating junction block 15 comprises an upper part 23 and a reinforced lower part 24 located below the upper part 23 and glued thereto. The reinforced lower part 24 is glued to the secondary waterproofing membrane 3. The upper part 23 is made of plywood and has for example a density of between 600 and 800 kg / m 3, for example of the order of 700 kg / ^{m 3.} m ³ . The reinforced lower part 24 is made of densified wood which has a density greater than or equal to 900 kg / m ³ ,preferably between 1100 and 1300 kg / m ³ , for example of the order of 1200 kg / m ³ and a modulus of elasticity greater than plywood. The fixing holes 22 open out on either side of the primary insulating junction block 15 from the external face to the internal face and thus pass through the upper part 23 and the reinforced lower part 24. The orifices 22 opening on both sides allow to fix the metal angle iron 18 even after the upper part 23 and the lower part have been assembled to each other.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a primary insulating junction block 15. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment only by the design of the fixing holes 22. In fact, the fixing holes 22 extend. only in the upper part 23 of the primary insulating junction block 15 and are therefore blind holes after assembly of the upper part 23 to the lower part 24.

FIG. 5 represents a third embodiment of a primary insulating junction block 15. This embodiment differs from the second embodiment by the materials used in the reinforced lower part 24. In this embodiment, the reinforced lower part 24 is composed of a first layer 25 and a second layer 26 bonded to the first layer 25. The first layer 25 is made of densified wood and the second layer 26 is made of laminated composite material RSB.

FIG. 6 represents a fourth embodiment of a primary insulating junction block 15. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiments because it does not include an upper and a lower part. However, the primary insulating junction block 15 comprises inside an insert 27 made of metallic material or composite material. The insert 27 comprises a blade curved in the direction of thickness. In the embodiment shown, the concavity of the curved blade faces the inner face of the primary insulating junction block 15. However, in another embodiment, the concavity of the curved blade faces in a direction opposite to the internal face of the primary insulating junction block 15.

According to one embodiment, the insert 27 is prestressed in compression. According to another embodiment, the insert 27 exerts a tensile preload.

FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of a primary insulating junction block 15. In this embodiment, the primary insulating junction block 15 comprises an upper part 23 and a lower part 24 located below the upper part. 23. The lower portion 24 includes a main relaxation slit 28 formed at the lower surface of the lower portion 24 and extending in the thickness direction and in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the ridge 100. The relaxation slit 28 is located plumb with the inter-panel space in the direction of wall thickness. The lower part 24 comprises a pair of groove slots 29 located on either side of the relaxation slot 28 in the direction of the edge 100. The grooves 29 have a dimension in the thickness direction less than that of. relaxation slit 28 and make it possible to collect the excess glue likely to migrate in the zone of the lower part 24 which is opposite the inter-panel space 8.

According to another embodiment not shown, the relaxation slot 28 is not produced by machining the lower part 24. In this embodiment, the lower part 24 comprises two blocks which are fixed to the upper part 23 and are spaced from one another so as to provide a relaxation slit 28 between them.

FIG. 8 shows a sixth embodiment of a primary insulating junction block 15. In this embodiment, the primary insulating junction block 15 is glued to the secondary waterproofing membrane 3 plumb in the direction of 'wall thickness of one of the two secondary insulating blocks 7 juxtaposed and above or plumb in the direction of thickness of the other of the two secondary insulating blocks juxtaposed of the same tank wall. A free space is located between the primary insulating junction block 15 and the secondary waterproofing membrane 3 plumb in the direction of the wall thickness of the inter-panel space, so that there is no no glue between the secondary waterproofing membrane 3 and the primary insulating junction block 15 in the direction of wall thickness in line with the inter-panel space 8.

These structural or material specificities of the primary insulating junction blocks 15 of the embodiments described above can of course be combined with one another. Indeed, for example, the primary insulating junction block 15 of FIG. 5 can also be provided with

relaxation slots

28, 29, and / or an insert 27, and / or through orifices 22, and / or discontinuous bonding.

In other embodiments, it is also possible that one or more of the primary primary corner sets 12 are identical to the primary junction corner set 13 as long as the primary junction corner set 13 shows one of the structures described above.

Referring to Figure 9, a cutaway view of an LNG carrier 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 vessel 71 comprises a primary watertight barrier intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the vessel, a secondary watertight barrier arranged between the primary watertight barrier and the double hull 72 of the vessel, and two insulating barriers arranged respectively between the vessel. primary watertight barrier and the secondary watertight barrier and between the secondary watertight barrier and the double shell 72.

In a manner known per se, loading / unloading pipes 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of suitable connectors, to a maritime or port terminal for transferring a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.

FIG. 9 represents an example of a maritime 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 mobile arm 74. The mobile arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 which can be connected to the loading / unloading pipes 73. The mobile swivel arm 74 adapts to all sizes of LNG carriers . A connecting pipe (not shown) extends inside the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 allows the loading and unloading of the LNG carrier 70 from or to the onshore installation 77. The latter comprises liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipes 81 connected by the underwater pipe 76 to the loading or unloading station 75. The underwater pipe 76 allows the transfer of the liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the installation on land 77 over a great distance, for example 5 km, which makes it possible to keep the LNG carrier 70 at a great distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

To generate the pressure necessary for the transfer of the liquefied gas, pumps on board the ship 70 and / or pumps fitted to the shore installation 77 and / or pumps fitted to 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 in no way limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these come within the scope of the invention.

The use of the verb "to comprise", "to understand" or "to include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those set out in a claim.

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

Claims

Tight and thermally insulating tank for the storage of liquefied gas, in which the tank comprises a first tank wall and a second tank wall meeting at the level of an edge (100) and extending respectively in a first plane (P1 ) and a second plane (P2) inclined relative to each other so as to form at the junction between the first tank wall and the second tank wall a corner zone, each of the first wall tank and the second tank wall being supported by a supporting structure and comprising in a direction of wall thickness from the supporting structure towards an internal space of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier (2) supported by the supporting structure , a secondary waterproofing membrane (3) supported by the secondary thermally insulating barrier (2), a primary thermally insulating barrier (4) supported by the secondary waterproofing membrane (3), and a prima waterproofing membrane ire (5) supported by the primary thermally insulating barrier (4) and intended to be in contact with a liquefied gas,
in which the vessel comprises at least two corner structures (1) located at the level of the corner zone juxtaposed to each other in a direction parallel to the ridge and being separated from each other by an inter-panel space (8), each corner structure (1) comprising a secondary corner assembly (6) ensuring continuity of the secondary thermally insulating barrier (2) and of the secondary waterproofing membrane (3) ) in the corner zone between the first tank wall and the second tank wall,
wherein each corner structure (1) has a plurality of primary primary corner assemblies (12) attached to the secondary corner assembly (6), and the vessel includes a primary junction corner assembly ( 13) fixed astride the two secondary corner sets (6) of the two corner structures (1) juxtaposed so as to be located above the inter-panel space (8), the corner sets primary primary (12) of the corner structures (1) and the primary corner junction assembly (13) ensuring the continuity of the primary thermally insulating barrier (4) and the primary waterproofing membrane (5) in the corner zone between the first tank wall and the second tank wall,
wherein the primary junction angle assembly (13) has a different rigidity from the main primary angle assemblies (12) of the angle structures (1),
and wherein the primary junction corner assembly (13) comprises at least one primary insulating junction block (15), the at least one primary insulating junction block (15) comprising an upper portion (23) and a reinforced lower part (24) located below the upper part (23), the reinforced lower part (24) being fixed to the secondary waterproofing membrane (3), and the reinforced lower part (24) having a higher rigidity at the upper part (23).
Tank according to claim 1, wherein the primary insulating junction block (15) comprises at least one metal or composite insert (27) located above the inter-panel space (8) in the thickness direction, l The metal or composite insert being configured to reinforce the stiffness in the thickness direction of the primary insulating junction block (15).
Tight and thermally insulating tank for the storage of liquefied gas, in which the tank comprises a first tank wall and a second tank wall meeting at the level of an edge (100) and extending respectively in a first plane (P1 ) and a second plane (P2) inclined relative to each other so as to form at the junction between the first tank wall and the second tank wall a corner zone, each of the first wall tank and the second tank wall being supported by a supporting structure and comprising in a direction of wall thickness from the supporting structure towards an internal space of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier (2) supported by the supporting structure , a secondary waterproofing membrane (3) supported by the secondary thermally insulating barrier (2), a primary thermally insulating barrier (4) supported by the secondary waterproofing membrane (3), and a prima waterproofing membrane ire (5) supported by the primary thermally insulating barrier (4) and intended to be in contact with a liquefied gas,
in which the vessel comprises at least two corner structures (1) located at the level of the corner zone juxtaposed to each other in a direction parallel to the ridge and being separated from each other by an inter-panel space (8), each corner structure (1) comprising a secondary corner assembly (6) ensuring continuity of the secondary thermally insulating barrier (2) and of the secondary waterproofing membrane (3) ) in the corner zone between the first tank wall and the second tank wall,
wherein each corner structure (1) has a plurality of primary primary corner assemblies (12) attached to the secondary corner assembly (6), and the vessel includes a primary junction corner assembly ( 13) fixed astride the two secondary corner sets (6) of the two corner structures (1) juxtaposed so as to be located above the inter-panel space (8), the corner sets primary primary (12) of the corner structures (1) and the primary corner junction assembly (13) ensuring the continuity of the primary thermally insulating barrier (4) and the primary waterproofing membrane (5) in the corner zone between the first tank wall and the second tank wall,
wherein the primary junction angle assembly (13) has a different stiffness than the main primary angle assemblies (12) of the corner structures (1)
and wherein the primary junction corner assembly (13) comprises at least one primary insulating junction block (15), the primary insulating junction block (15) comprising at least one metallic or composite insert (27) located at the above the inter-panel space (8) in the thickness direction, the metal or composite insert being configured to reinforce the rigidity in the thickness direction of the primary insulating junction block (15).
Tank according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the primary junction angle assembly (13) comprises a primary junction insulating block (15) extending in the first plane (P1) and a primary insulating block junction (15) extending in the second plane (P2).
A cell according to claim 3 or claim 4 taken in combination with claim 3, wherein the primary insulating junction block (15) comprises an upper portion (23) and a reinforced lower portion (24) located below the portion. upper part (23), the reinforced lower part (24) being fixed to the secondary waterproofing membrane (3), and the reinforced lower part (24) having a higher rigidity than the upper part (23).
Tank according to Claim 1 or Claim 5, in which the upper part (23) is made of plywood.
Tank according to Claim 1, Claim 5 or Claim 6, in which the lower part (24) comprises a layer of composite material, a layer of densified wood or a combination of the two.
Tank according to Claim 7, in which the lower part (24) comprises a single layer made of laminated composite material.
Tank according to Claim 7, in which the lower part (24) comprises a first layer made of densified wood and a second layer made of laminated composite material.
Tank according to claim 1 or one of claims 5 to 9, in which the average modulus of elasticity of the reinforced lower part (24) is greater than or equal to 1.5 times the modulus of elasticity of the upper part ( 23).
A vessel according to claim 1 or one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the ratio between the dimension of the lower part (24) in the thickness direction and the dimension of the upper part (23) in the direction of thickness. thickness is less than or equal to 0.9, preferably between 0.005 and 0.5.
Tank according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the primary insulating junction block (15) comprises an upper part (23) and a lower part (24) located below the upper part (23), a surface lower part of the lower part (24) being fixed to the secondary waterproofing membrane (3),
and wherein the primary insulating junction block (15) comprises at least one relaxation slot (28, 29) configured to decrease the stiffness of the primary insulating junction block (15), said relaxation slot (28, 29) being formed at the lower portion (24), and extending in the direction of wall thickness and preferably in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the ridge (100), the relaxation slot (28, 29) being .
The vessel of claim 12, wherein the relaxation slit (28, 29) is located above the inter-panel space (8) in the direction of wall thickness.
Tank according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the primary insulating junction block (15) is bonded to the secondary waterproofing membrane (3) above in the thickness direction of one of the sets of '' juxtaposed secondary angle (6) and above in the thickness direction of the other of the juxtaposed secondary angle assemblies (6), a free space being located between the primary insulating junction block (15) and the membrane secondary waterproofing (3) above in the thickness direction of the inter-panel space (8), so that there is no glue between the secondary waterproofing membrane (3) and the junction primary insulating block (15) in the thickness direction above the inter-panel space (8).
Tank according to one of claims 1 to 14, in which the primary insulating junction blocks (15) of the first tank wall and of the second tank wall each comprise an external face fixed to the secondary sealing membrane (3 ) and an internal face, and the tank comprises a metal angle iron (18) comprising a first angle iron part (19) fixed to the external face of the primary insulating junction block (15) of the first tank wall and a second part of angle iron (20) connected to the first angle iron part (19) and fixed to the external face of the primary insulating junction block (15) of the second tank wall.
Cell according to Claim 15, in which the primary insulating junction blocks (15) of the first cell wall and of the second cell wall comprise fixing holes (22) opening out on the external face of said primary insulating junction blocks ( 15), and the first part of angle iron (19) and the second part of angle iron (20) comprise on the surface facing said primary insulating junction blocks (15) of the fixing devices (21) projecting, the fixing devices (21) being configured to come to be fixed inside the fixing holes (22).
Tank according to Claim 16, in which the fixing holes (22) open out on either side of the primary insulating junction blocks (15).
Tank according to 1 and 16 outlets in combination or claims 5 and 16 in combination, in which the fixing holes (22) extend only in the upper part (23) of the primary insulating junction blocks (15).
Ship (70) for transporting a cold liquid product, the ship comprising a double hull (72) and a tank (71) according to one of claims 1 to 18 arranged in the double hull.
A transfer system for a cold liquid product, the system comprising a vessel (70) according to claim 19, insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged so as to connect the vessel (71) installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or terrestrial storage facility (77) and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product through insulated pipelines from or to the floating or terrestrial storage facility to or from the vessel's tank.
A method of loading or unloading a ship (70) according to claim 19, wherein a cold liquid product is conveyed through insulated pipelines (73, 79, 76, 81) from or to a floating or land storage facility ( 77) to or from the vessel's tank (71).