Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B25/00—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby
  • B63B25/02—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods
  • B63B25/08—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid
  • B63B25/12—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed
  • B63B25/16—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for bulk goods fluid closed heat-insulated
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/24—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of pipe-lines
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/30—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures
  • B63B27/34—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures using pipe-lines
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
  • F17C13/06—Closures, e.g. cap, breakable member
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
  • F17C3/02—Vessels not under pressure with provision for thermal insulation
  • F17C3/025—Bulk storage in barges or on ships
  • F17C3/027—Wallpanels for so-called membrane tanks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
  • B63B2231/02—Metallic materials
  • B63B2231/04—Irons, steels or ferrous alloys
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
  • B63B2231/02—Metallic materials
  • B63B2231/04—Irons, steels or ferrous alloys
  • B63B2231/06—Stainless steels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
  • B63B2231/40—Synthetic materials
  • B63B2231/50—Foamed synthetic materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B73/00—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms
  • B63B73/40—Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms characterised by joining methods
  • B63B73/43—Welding, e.g. laser welding
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/01—Shape
  • F17C2201/0147—Shape complex
  • F17C2201/0157—Polygonal
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
  • F17C2201/05—Size
  • F17C2201/052—Size large (>1000 m3)
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
  • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
  • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
  • F17C2203/0358—Thermal insulations by solid means in form of panels
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2205/00—Vessel construction, in particular mounting arrangements, attachments or identifications means
  • F17C2205/03—Fluid connections, filters, valves, closure means or other attachments
  • F17C2205/0302—Fittings, valves, filters, or components in connection with the gas storage device
  • F17C2205/0311—Closure means
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
  • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
  • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
  • F17C2221/035—Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
  • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
  • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
  • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
  • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
  • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2260/00—Purposes of gas storage and gas handling
  • F17C2260/01—Improving mechanical properties or manufacturing
  • F17C2260/013—Reducing manufacturing time or effort
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
  • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
  • F17C2270/00—Applications
  • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
  • F17C2270/0102—Applications for fluid transport or storage on or in the water
  • F17C2270/0105—Ships
  • F17C2270/0107—Wall panels

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of storage facilities for liquefied gas comprising a sealed and thermally insulating tank, with membranes.
• 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.
• LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
• Document FR2991430 describes a storage installation for liquefied gas comprising a sealed and thermally insulating tank integrated into a supporting structure formed by the double hull of a ship. Each wall of the tank includes a secondary thermally insulating barrier, a secondary waterproofing membrane, a primary thermally insulating barrier and a primary waterproofing membrane.
• the tank has a protruding portion in the form of a chimney called a liquid dome.
• the supporting structure is locally interrupted so as to delimit a loading / unloading opening intended to be crossed by fluid loading / unloading pipes.
• the load-bearing structure comprises a vertical load-bearing wall called a coaming which rises above the ship's deck and a horizontal wall at the top of the vertical load-bearing wall, which forms a superstructure on the deck of the ship. ship called dome seat.
• the horizontal wall of the dome seat extends all around the opening and supports a cover.
• An idea underlying the invention is to simplify the supporting structure of the storage facility to reduce the cost and size of the facility.
• Another idea underlying the invention is to adapt the cover to such a simplification of the storage installation.
• the invention provides a storage installation for liquefied gas comprising a supporting structure and a sealed and thermally insulating tank arranged in the supporting structure, the sealed and thermally insulating tank comprising a main structure formed by a plurality of tank walls connected to each other and fixed to the supporting structure, the main structure defining an internal storage space, the main structure comprising at least one waterproofing membrane and at least one thermally insulating barrier, the thermally insulating barrier being placed between the waterproofing membrane and the supporting structure, the supporting structure comprising a substantially planar upper supporting wall, the waterproofing membrane, the thermally insulating barrier of the main structure and the upper supporting wall being interrupted locally so as to delimit a loading / unloading opening intended to be traversed by fluid loading / unloading conduits in which the vessel has a cover disposed in the loading / unloading opening, and in which the cover comprises an upper cover wall, a lower cover wall and a structure of 'thermal insulation located between the lower cover wall and the upper
• the storage installation does not include a dome seat and therefore a superstructure projecting from the upper bearing wall, thus making it possible to simplify the storage installation and reduce the bulk on the upper bearing wall .
• the upper cover wall is placed in the plane of the upper bearing wall and not above it so as not to protrude above the upper bearing wall.
• fixing, connecting, welding is understood to mean a connection between the two elements fixed together which is impermeable to liquids and to gas, for example in the case of welding using a bead continuous welding.
• such a storage installation may include one or more of the following characteristics.
• the cover comprises stiffeners arranged on the upper cover wall in order to increase the rigidity and the resistance of the cover, for example during the deformation of the supporting structure.
• the upper load-bearing wall is an internal upper load-bearing wall
• the load-bearing structure comprising an internal load-bearing structure comprising the substantially planar internal upper load-bearing wall and an external load-bearing structure comprising a substantially planar outer upper load-bearing wall arranged above the upper internal load-bearing wall, the main structure of the vessel being arranged in the internal load-bearing structure.
• the main structure comprises a ceiling wall and a rear cofferdam wall, the cover being located in the extension of the ceiling wall.
• the cover thus makes it possible to connect the ceiling wall to the rear cofferdam wall to the right of the opening.
• the lower cover wall is located in the extension of the sealing membrane, more particularly the primary sealing membrane, of the ceiling wall.
• the lower cover wall has four edges, three of said edges of the lower cover wall being connected in a sealed manner to the waterproofing membrane, more particularly the primary waterproofing membrane, of the ceiling wall using a first connecting piece.
• a fourth edge of the lower cover wall is connected to the sealing membrane, more particularly the primary sealing membrane, of the rear cofferdam wall using a second connecting piece.
• the upper supporting wall is an upper external supporting wall, the supporting structure comprising an internal supporting structure. comprising a substantially planar inner upper bearing wall and an outer bearing structure comprising the substantially planar outer upper bearing wall disposed above the inner upper bearing wall, the main structure of the vessel being arranged in the internal bearing structure.
• the opening has a rectangular outline
• the upper cover wall has dimensions in the plane of the upper bearing wall greater than those of the opening so as to overlap all around the opening on the upper bearing wall.
• the waterproofing membrane of the main structure and the lower cover wall are made of a metallic material, the connecting piece being welded in a sealed manner to the waterproofing membrane of the main structure and the lower cover wall.
• the lower cover wall is made of a material impermeable to gases and to liquids so that the assembly constituted by the waterproofing membrane of the main structure, the connecting piece and the wall lower cover forms the sealing membrane of the tank.
• the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the connecting piece is equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the lower cover wall.
• the storage installation comprises a loading / unloading tower comprising a plurality of loading / unloading pipes, the loading / unloading pipes sealingly passing through the cover by orifices formed in the cover .
• the waterproofing membrane comprises a plurality of corrugated metal sheets, the corrugated metal sheets being juxtaposed in a repeated pattern and welded together in a sealed manner.
• the metal sheets are made of stainless steel.
• the connecting piece comprises a first wing attached to the sealing membrane of the main structure and a second wing connected to the first wing and attached to the lower cover wall.
• the first wing and the second wing of the first connecting piece are formed in the same plane.
• the second wing of the second connecting piece is formed in a plane parallel to the lower cover wall and the first wing of the second connecting piece is formed in a plane parallel to the membrane d sealing, more particularly the primary waterproofing membrane, of the rear wall of cofferdam.
• the connecting piece comprises a plurality of connecting elements welded to each other so as to form a continuous piece all around the lower cover wall.
• the connecting elements comprise first connecting elements and second connecting elements, the first connecting elements being formed by a first flat plate forming a portion of the first wing and a second flat plate forming a portion of the second wing so as to form an L-section element, the second connecting elements being formed by a first corrugated plate comprising a corrugation and forming a portion of the first wing and by a second corrugated plate comprising a corrugation and forming a portion of the second wing.
• the corrugation of the second connecting elements is aligned with one of the corrugations of the waterproofing membrane of the main structure so as to extend the latter.
• the first connecting elements and the second connecting elements are arranged all around the lower cover wall in an alternating manner.
• the connecting piece comprises a third wing connected to the first wing and / or the second wing, the third wing being fixed to the supporting structure.
• the lower cover wall comprises a plurality of flat metal plates, the flat metal plates being assembled to each other.
• the lower cover wall is made from an alloy of iron and nickel having a thermal expansion coefficient of between 0.5.10 6 and 2.10 6 K 1 .
• the connecting piece is made from an alloy of iron and nickel having a thermal expansion coefficient of between 0.5.10 6 and 2.10 6 K 1 .
• the lower cover wall comprises a plurality of corrugated metal sheets, the corrugated metal sheets being juxtaposed in a repeated pattern and welded together in a sealed manner.
• the metal sheets of the lower cover wall are made of stainless steel.
• the connecting piece is made of stainless steel.
• the thermal insulation structure of the cover comprises at least one block of polymer foam.
• the thermal insulation structure of the cover comprises at least one block of polyurethane foam, preferably reinforced with fibers, for example glass fibers.
• the thermal insulation structure of the cover comprises a plurality of boxes juxtaposed to each other and filled with an insulating gasket.
• the insulating lining is made of glass wool, perlite, airgel, polymer foam or a combination of two or more of these materials.
• the waterproofing membrane is a primary waterproofing membrane
• the thermally insulating barrier is a primary thermally insulating barrier and in which the main structure of the tank comprises, in a thickness direction of the outside towards the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier fixed to the supporting structure, a secondary waterproofing membrane carried by the secondary thermally insulating barrier, the primary thermally insulating barrier carried by the secondary waterproofing membrane, and the primary waterproofing membrane carried by the primary thermally insulating barrier being intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas.
• Such a storage installation can be an onshore storage installation, for example for storing 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.
• a storage installation can also serve as a fuel tank in any type of vessel.
• a ship for the transport of a cold liquid product comprises a double hull and a above-mentioned storage installation arranged in the double hull.
• the ship comprises an aforementioned storage installation and a bridge, the upper supporting wall of the supporting structure being formed by the bridge.
• the vessel comprises an aforementioned storage installation, an internal deck and an external deck, the upper internal load-bearing wall of the load-bearing structure being formed by the internal bridge and the upper external load-bearing wall being formed by the outer bridge.
• 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 an installation external floating or terrestrial storage and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipes from or towards the external floating or terrestrial storage installation towards or from the vessel of the vessel.
• the invention also provides a method of loading or unloading such a ship, in which a cold liquid product is conveyed through isolated pipes from or to an external floating or terrestrial storage installation. to or from the vessel's tank.
• Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a storage facility according to a first embodiment.
• Figure 2 is a schematic view of detail II of Figure 1 showing more particularly the tank at the opening.
• Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the interior of the vessel at the junction between the main structure and the cover.
• Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the junction between the lower cover wall and the primary waterproofing membrane of the main structure.
• Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of a storage installation according to a second embodiment.
• Figure 6 is a schematic view of detail VI of Figure 5 showing more particularly the tank at the opening.
• Figure 7 is a cut-away schematic representation of an LNG tanker storage facility and a loading / unloading terminal for this tank.
• the storage installation 1 comprises a sealed and thermally insulating tank 71 which will be described later.
• the internal supporting structure 2 and the external supporting structure 3 comprises a plurality of walls connected to each other and in particular an internal upper bearing wall 4 and an external upper bearing wall 5 respectively, which are located, as can be seen in figure 1, at the top of the storage installation 1.
• the supporting structure 2, 3 is formed by the double hull of the ship.
• the inner upper load-bearing wall 4 is thus called the inner deck 4 of the ship while the outer top load-bearing wall 5 is called the outer deck 5 of the ship.
• the tank 71 comprises a main structure 6 formed of a bottom wall (not shown), a ceiling wall 7, two cofferdam walls 8 connecting the bottom wall to the ceiling wall 7 and located at the front and rear when the storage installation 1 is located on a ship, two side walls (not shown) and optionally two to four chamfer walls (not shown) connecting the side walls to the bottom wall or to the ceiling wall 7.
• the walls of the tank 71 are thus connected to each other so as to form a polyhedral structure and to define an internal storage space 9.
• the storage installation 1 comprises a loading / unloading opening 10 locally interrupting the upper outer bearing wall 5, the upper inner bearing wall 4 and the ceiling wall 7 of the tank 71 so as to allow the loading / unloading pipes 11 to reach the bottom of the tank 71 by passing through this opening 10.
• the storage installation 1 also includes a loading / unloading tower 13 located in line with the opening 10 and inside the tank 71 forming a support structure for the loading / unloading lines 11 over any the height of the tank 71 as well as for the pumps (not shown).
• the storage installation 1 comprises a cover 12 arranged in the loading / unloading opening 10 in order to close the internal storage space 9 at the level of said opening 10.
• the cover 12 comprises orifices 14 allowing the loading / unloading lines 11 to pass through the cover 12.
• the tank 71 also includes a chimney 15 located on the main structure 6 at the opening and allowing the tank walls to extend continuously from the internal bridge 4 towards the external deck 5 at the level where these are interrupted by the loading / unloading opening 10.
• a chimney 15 provided with said cover 12 is called: the liquid dome.
• the present invention is illustrated here with reference to the area of the liquid dome but one could also consider the application of this invention to another chimney of a tank 71, such as conventionally the gas dome.
• the loading / unloading opening 10 as well as the chimney 15 has a rectangular outline.
• the chimney 15 thus comprises four walls, one being the extension of the rear cofferdam wall 8, as visible in FIG. 1, while the other three are connected to the ceiling wall 7 and form an angle of 90 ° with this one.
• Figure 2 shows in more detail and schematically the area of the opening of the storage facility 1 in the first embodiment.
• the tank 71 is a membrane tank 71 for storing liquefied gas.
• the main structure 6 of the tank 71 comprises a multilayer structure comprising, from the outside inwards, a secondary thermally insulating barrier 16 comprising insulating elements, resting against the supporting structure, a secondary waterproofing membrane 17 resting against the secondary thermally insulating barrier 16, a primary thermally insulating barrier 18 comprising insulating elements, resting against the secondary sealing membrane 17 and a primary sealing membrane 19 intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank 71.
• the main structure 6 of the tank 71 is produced using Mark III® technology which is described in particular in document FR-A-2691520.
• the secondary thermally insulating barrier 16, the primary thermally insulating barrier and the secondary waterproofing membrane 17 essentially consist of panels juxtaposed on the supporting structure, which can be the internal supporting structure 2 or the structure connecting the upper internal load-bearing wall 4 to the upper external load-bearing wall 5 at the level of the opening 10.
• the secondary waterproofing membrane 17 is formed of a composite material comprising an aluminum sheet sandwiched between two sheets of fiberglass fabric.
• the primary waterproofing membrane 19 is for its part obtained by assembling a plurality of metal plates, welded to each other along their edges, and comprising corrugations 20 extending in two perpendicular directions.
• the metal plates are, for example, made of stainless steel or aluminum sheets, shaped by bending or by stamping.
• the primary waterproofing membrane 19 is illustrated in particular in Figure 3.
• the secondary waterproofing membrane 17 is fixed at its end to the supporting structure by means of a connecting ring 21 projecting from the internal surface of the wall chimney carrier being in this zone a wall connecting the internal bridge 4 to the external bridge 5.
• the cover 12 also comprises a multilayer structure comprising, from the outside inwards, an upper cover wall 22, a lower cover wall 23 and a thermal insulation structure 24 located between the lower cover wall. 23 and the top cover wall 22.
• the cover 12 also includes stiffeners 25 located on the top cover wall 22.
• the cover 12 is arranged in the loading / unloading opening 10 so that the upper cover wall 22 is placed in the plane of the upper outer bearing wall 5 or outer bridge 5.
• the storage facility 1 does not have a dome seat and the cover 12 does not protrude above the outer deck 5.
• the upper wall of the cover 22 is fixed in a sealed manner to the outer bridge 5 all around the opening 10 so that at the level of the cover 12, it is the upper wall of the cover 22 which acts as a membrane. secondary seal 17.
• the upper wall of cover 22 is made from a metallic material, for example stainless steel.
• the lower cover wall 23 is sealed to the primary waterproofing membrane 19 of the main structure 6, here the chimney 15, using a connecting piece 26.
• the connecting piece 26 is described in more detail with Figures 3 and 4.
• the lower cover wall 23 is also sealingly welded to the loading / unloading lines 11.
• the thermal insulation structure 24 of the cover 12 comprises a plurality of insulating elements juxtaposed to each other which may be of similar or different constitution.
• the insulating elements located in line with the lower cover wall 23 and the connecting piece 26 are structural insulating elements while the insulating elements located on the periphery of the thermal insulation structure 24 are elements.
• non-structural insulators so-called “structural” insulating elements essentially having properties or characteristics of mechanical strength that are superior, or even much superior, to so-called “non-structural” insulating elements.
• the structural insulating elements can be high density polymer foam blocks optionally reinforced with fibers or plywood or composite boxes filled with insulating padding such as glass wool, polymer foam or perlite.
• the non-structural insulating elements can be low density polymer foam blocks or glass wool.
• the connecting piece 26 comprises a first wing 27 sealingly welded to the waterproofing membrane of the main structure 6 and a second wing 28 connected to the first wing 27 and sealed to the lower cover wall 23, all around the lower cover wall 23.
• This connecting piece 26 is designed differently depending on the design of the lower cover wall 23, for example according to a first variant illustrated in FIG. 3 and according to a second variant illustrated in figure 4.
• Figure 3 illustrates the interior of the tank 71 at the junction between the main structure 6 and the cover 12 to illustrate the first variant of the connecting piece 26.
• the lower cover wall 23 is formed by an assembly of flat metal plates 29 welded to each other by overlapping.
• These flat metal plates 29 are here flat metal plates 29 with a low coefficient of thermal expansion, in the present case between 0.5.10 6 and 2.10 6 K 1 , so as to contract very little when the liquefied gas passes through the loading / unloading pipes 11.
• the flat metal plates 29 are made for example in an alloy of iron and nickel called Invar.
• the connecting piece 26 is made of a material having the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the material of the lower cover wall 23 so as to contract and expand homogeneously with the lower wall cover 23.
• the connecting piece 26 is also made from an alloy of iron and nickel having a thermal expansion coefficient of between 0.5.10 6 and 2.10 6 K 1 .
• the connecting piece 26 is thus formed of a continuous strip formed all around the lower cover wall 23. This strip is produced using one or more connecting elements forming the first wing 27 and the second wing 28. .
• the connecting piece 26 comprises a third wing located in the same plane as the first wing 27 and connected to the first wing 27 and to the second wing 28 so as to form a part of link 26 with a T-section.
• the third wing is fixed to the supporting structure so as to form an anchoring of the primary waterproofing membrane 19 and of the lower cover wall 23 at the level of the connecting piece 26.
• the first wing 27 and the third wing can be formed integrally.
• the first wing 27 and the second wing 28 can be formed from the same plate which has been bent.
• One of the loading / unloading pipes 11 is shown in Figure 3 passing through the cover 12 and in particular the lower cover wall 23 through one of the orifices 14 made on the cover 12.
• the pipe 11 is provided with a flange 30 welded in a sealed manner all around it, this flange 30 also being welded in a sealed manner to the lower wall of the cover 23.
• FIG. 4 illustrates the second variant of the connecting piece 26. Indeed, in the case where the lower cover wall 23 is produced, or constituted, in the same way as the primary sealing membrane 19 of the main structure 6, it is advantageous to adapt the connecting piece 26.
• the lower cover wall 23 comprises a plurality of corrugated metal sheets 31 which are juxtaposed in a repeated pattern and sealed together.
• the corrugations 20 of the lower cover wall 23 are aligned with the corrugations 20 of the primary waterproofing membrane 19 of the main structure 6.
• the connecting piece 26 is formed of a plurality of first connecting elements 32 and a plurality of second connecting elements 33.
• the first connecting elements 32 are formed by a first flat plate 34 forming a portion of the first wing 27 and a second flat plate
• the second connecting elements 33 are formed by a first corrugated plate
• first connecting elements 32 and the second connecting elements 33 are arranged all around the lower cover wall 23 alternately.
• the corrugation 37 of the second connecting elements 33 is aligned with one of the corrugations 20 of the waterproofing membrane of the main structure 6 and also aligned with one of the corrugations 20 of the lower wall of cover 23, as can be seen in FIG. 4.
• the second connecting elements 33 thus make it possible to ensure the continuity of the corrugations at the level of the connecting part 26 while ensuring the seal by fitting the edges of the sealing membrane. primary 19 and the lower cover wall 23.
• FIGs 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the storage installation 1.
• the upper cover wall 22 is here placed in the plane of the upper internal load-bearing wall 4 or internal bridge 4.
• the main structure 6 of the tank 71 does not include a chimney 15 and stops in its upper portion at the ceiling wall 7.
• the cover 12 is therefore the extension of the wall of the ceiling. ceiling 7 allowing the passage of the loading / unloading pipes 11 and of the loading / unloading tower 13 without protruding from the internal bridge 4 and a fortiori from the external bridge 5, as visible in FIG. 5.
• the cover 12 makes it possible to connect the ceiling wall 7 to the rear cofferdam wall 8 to the right of the opening.
• the external bridge 5 can be provided with a closing element which is positioned in line with the opening in order to close the external bridge 5 after insertion of the loading / unloading pipes 11 and of the cover 12.
• Figure 6 illustrates in more detail and schematically the area of the opening of the storage installation 1 in the second embodiment.
• the design of the cover 12 in this embodiment is very similar to the first embodiment.
• the lower cover wall 23 is here in the same plane as the primary sealing membrane 19 of the ceiling wall 7 and is sealingly connected thereto on three of the edges of the lower cover wall 23, the fourth edge being connected as in the first embodiment to the primary waterproofing membrane 19 of the rear cofferdam wall 8 by means of elements of the connecting piece 26 with L or T section.
• connecting element 26 therefore comprises, at the level of the three edges connected to the primary roof waterproofing membrane 19, connecting elements for which the first wing 27 and the second wing 28 are formed in the same plane.
• the liquefied gas intended to be stored in the tank 71 can in particular be a liquefied natural gas (LNG), that is to say a gas mixture mainly comprising methane as well as one or more other hydrocarbons.
• Liquefied gas can also be ethane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), that is to say a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from the refining of petroleum comprising mainly propane and butane.
• 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.
• the loading / unloading pipes 73 arranged on the upper deck of the ship can be connected, by means of appropriate connectors, to a maritime or port terminal for transferring a cargo of LNG from or to the tank 71.
• FIG. 7 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 a movable arm 74 and a tower 78 which supports the movable arm 74.
• the movable arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible hoses 79 which can be connected to the loading / unloading pipes 73.
• the movable arm 74 can be swiveled and adapts to all LNG carrier templates.
• 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 shore installation 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.
• 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 are used. 75.

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• 2020
  • 2020-01-10 FR FR2000228A patent/FR3106193B1/fr active Active
• 2021
  • 2021-01-08 KR KR1020227027438A patent/KR20220125329A/ko unknown
  • 2021-01-08 WO PCT/EP2021/050303 patent/WO2021140218A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2021-01-08 CN CN202180008576.0A patent/CN114945770A/zh active Pending

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