Storage facilities for liquefied gases

Abstract

This invention relates to a storage facility (71) for liquefied gases, comprising a support structure (3) and a tank (1), wherein the storage facility (71) includes through structures (12, 13) fixed to the support structure and extending through a top wall and an upper support wall, wherein the through structures (12, 13) include a cylinder (18) and a curved top member (28), the curved top member (28) being fixed to the upper end of the cylinder (18), and at least one pipe extending through the curved top member, wherein the pipe is fixed to the curved top member using a support device (43), and wherein the support device includes: - a support ring (44) welded around the pipe, - a support tube (45) welded to the support ring on one side and to the curved top member on the other side. The invention also relates to ships for transporting cold liquid products, transfer systems for cold liquid products, and methods for loading or unloading ships.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of storage facilities for liquefied gases, comprising sealed and thermally insulated tanks with membranes. In particular, this invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulated tanks for storing and / or transporting liquefied gases at cryogenic temperatures, such as tanks for transporting liquefied petroleum gas (also known as LPG) having temperatures, for example, between -50°C and 0°C, or tanks for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) at approximately -162°C. These tanks can be installed onshore or on floating structures. In the case of floating structures, the tanks can be used for transporting liquefied gases or for receiving liquefied gases used as fuel to propel the floating structure. Background Technology

[0002] Document WO2019039132 discloses a storage facility for liquefied gases, including a support structure and a sealed and thermally insulated tank housed within the support structure. The storage facility includes a gas dome designed to define a circulation path between the internal space of the tank and the outer side of the storage facility. The gas dome is located at the center of the top wall.

[0003] The dome comprises a cylindrical body and a curved top component. The cylindrical body is fixed to a load-bearing structure, and the curved top component is welded to the cylindrical body, enabling the structure to withstand increased internal pressure. For venting gaseous substances, vent pipes are welded directly to the curved top component of the gas dome.

[0004] This document describes Type C pressure self-supporting tanks in accordance with the IGC Code (International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Bulk-Carrying Liquefied Gas Ships). Typically, Type C pressure tanks have a longer loading length than other types. Therefore, the temperature drop of the discharge pipe is slower, which further limits the stress on the weld, ensuring the stability of the discharge pipe to the curved wall of the dome.

[0005] In liquid or gas dome areas, in such Type C tanks, the requirements for Type C tanks according to the IGF Code (International Regulations for the Safety of Ships Using Gases or Other Low Flash Point Fuels) involve fabricating all welds of the dome before it is installed onto the load-bearing structure so that the welds can be tested for their resistance to pressure.

[0006] Therefore, before the dome is fixed to the load-bearing structure, a portion of the pipe is welded directly to the curved top component.

[0007] However, this design is particularly incapable of absorbing excessive thermal contraction / expansion applied to the piping, which can occur during loading of membrane tanks that can be produced much faster than C-type tanks. This could lead to one of the welds breaking. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The concept behind this invention is to improve the resistance of such through-structure design to thermal shrinkage / expansion stress, while ensuring compatibility with the design of pressurized tanks.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a liquefied gas storage facility, including a support structure and a sealed and thermally insulated tank disposed within the support structure. The support structure includes an upper support wall, and the tank includes a top wall fixed to the upper support wall. The upper support wall and the top wall are partially interrupted to define an opening. The top wall includes at least one thermally insulating barrier and at least one sealing membrane in the thickness direction from an outer portion to an inner portion of the tank. The at least one sealing membrane is supported by the thermally insulating barrier and is intended to contact the fluid contained within the tank.

[0010] The storage facility includes a through-structure, which is fixed to the supporting structure and extends through the top wall and the upper supporting wall in the area of ​​the opening.

[0011] The through-structure includes a cylindrical body extending along its thickness direction and a curved top member fixed to the upper end of the cylindrical body. The curved top member protrudes outside the tank to form an internal space with the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body includes a circumferential wall, and at least one pipe extends through the circumferential wall or the curved top member.

[0012] The pipes are secured to the circumferential wall or the top component of the bend using support devices.

[0013] And the support device includes:

[0014] - Support rings, which are welded around the pipe on the outer side of the internal space penetrating the structure.

[0015] - A support tube extends around the pipe and is welded to a support ring on one side and to a circumferential wall or a curved top component on the other to ensure support for the pipe. The support device is configured to allow the pipe to contract radially and longitudinally.

[0016] Due to these characteristics, the support structure allows the pipe to deform freely in terms of thermal contraction / expansion in both the radial and longitudinal directions, thereby limiting the constraints on the welds connecting the pipe to the through-structure. This is because during the pipe's thermal contraction / expansion, the support ring or support tube of the support structure deforms first, thus limiting the deformation of the weld. Furthermore, this design allows the through-structure, support structure, and pipe to be welded together before being secured to the load-bearing structure. The curved top component allows the through-structure to better withstand the pressure within the tank.

[0017] According to one embodiment, such a storage facility may include one or more of the following features.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the tank is sized to withstand a load greater than or equal to 1.7 × 10⁻⁶. 5 The internal pressure is Pa, preferably, the tank size is set to withstand 1.7 × 10 Pa. 5 Pa to 5×10 5 More preferably, the tank is sized to withstand internal pressures between 2 × 10 Pa. 5 Pa to 4×10 5 The internal pressure between Pa.

[0019] According to one embodiment, at least one conduit extending through the circumferential wall or the curved top member is selected from: a liquefied gas loading conduit connected to a loading pump; a liquefied gas unloading conduit connected to an unloading pump; a vapor discharge conduit including a safety valve configured to open and discharge vapor from the tank when subjected to a pressure greater than a threshold pressure Ps; a liquefied gas supply conduit connected to a jet track installed within the tank; or a safety conduit; and a curved top member welded through the structure to the upper end of the cylinder, the cylinder and the curved top member forming a dome-shaped structure.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the outer surfaces of the cylinder and the curved top component are covered with an insulating lining.

[0021] According to one embodiment, at least one conduit extending through the circumferential wall or the curved top member is selected from: a vapor discharge conduit including a safety valve configured to open and discharge vapor from the tank when subjected to a pressure greater than a threshold pressure Ps; a liquefied gas supply conduit connected to a jet track arranged in the tank; or a safety conduit removably fixed, for example by a threaded connection, to the curved top member at the upper end of the cylinder, the cylinder and the curved top member forming a manhole structure.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the curved top component is fixed to the cylinder using a fixing system, and the internal space formed by the curved top component and the cylinder is at least partially filled with an insulating lining.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the inner surface of the curved top component is covered with an insulating lining.

[0024] In this way, the positioning of the insulating liner enables the fixing system to be thermally insulated from the internal space of the tank, thereby reducing the thermal constraint applied to the fixing system.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the cylinder is welded to a sealing membrane in a sealed manner and fixed to the upper supporting wall using a fixing device.

[0026] And the fixing device includes:

[0027] - Fixing rings are arranged on the outer side of the upper load-bearing wall of the load-bearing structure and welded around the inner cylinder.

[0028] - Fixed collar, which extends radially around the cylinder and is spaced apart from the cylinder, and is welded to the upper bearing wall.

[0029] - The external support tube extends around the cylinder and is welded to the fixed bushing on one side and the fixed ring on the other to ensure support for the cylinder. The fixed cylinder is constructed to allow for radial and longitudinal contraction of the cylinder.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the upper support wall is an inner upper support wall, the support structure includes an inner support structure and an outer support structure, the inner support structure includes an inner upper support wall, the outer support structure surrounds the inner support structure and includes an outer upper support wall, the outer upper support wall is arranged above and spaced apart from the inner upper support wall, the tank includes a main structure and a channel connected to the main structure, the main structure includes a top wall and is arranged in the inner support structure, the channel extends from the inner upper support wall to the outer upper support wall and is aligned with an opening, a through structure is fixed to the outer upper support wall using a fixing device, and the through structure includes a loading / unloading tower extending through the top wall and the inner upper support wall in the area of ​​the opening.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the through structure is a first through structure, and the storage facility includes at least one second through structure, the second through structure being fixed to the support structure and extending through the top wall and the upper support wall in the area of ​​the opening, the second through structure being spaced apart from the first through structure.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the through structure is a first through structure and the opening is a first opening, and the storage facility includes at least one second through structure, the second through structure being fixed to the support structure and extending through the top wall and the upper support wall in the region of the second opening, the second opening being spaced apart from the first opening.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the first through-structure forms a dome-shaped structure and the second through-structure forms a manhole structure.

[0034] According to one embodiment, a plurality of pipes extend through a curved top component, and at least one pipe selected from the plurality of pipes is secured to the curved top component using a support device; preferably, each pipe is secured using a dedicated support device.

[0035] According to one embodiment, a plurality of pipes extend through the circumferential wall of the cylinder, and at least one pipe selected from the plurality of pipes is fixed to the circumferential wall using a support device. Preferably, each pipe is fixed using a dedicated support device.

[0036] According to one embodiment, a first conduit extends through a curved top component and a second conduit extends through a circumferential wall, the first conduit and the second conduit being secured to the curved top component and the circumferential wall respectively using a first support device and a second support device.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the through structure includes an insulating liner disposed between a support tube and a pipe, the insulating liner being formed around the pipe.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the opening has a rectangular outline.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the retaining bushing, support ring, and / or fixing ring are planar.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the outer tube and the cylinder are coaxial, with the outer tube included between a retaining bushing and a retaining ring in the thickness direction. For example, the outer tube and / or cylinder are produced using rolled metal sheets.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the fixing ring includes an annular plate, which is formed and welded around the cylinder, the annular plate being located in a plane parallel to the fixing bushing, and the end of the outer tube being welded to the annular disc.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the annular plate is an inner annular plate, and the fixing ring includes an outer annular plate. The outer annular plate is formed and welded around the inner cylinder. The outer annular plate is located in a plane parallel to the inner annular plate. The fixing ring includes reinforcing members, which are fixed to the inner annular plate on one hand and to the outer annular plate on the other hand. The reinforcing members are distributed around the inner cylinder to strengthen the fixing ring.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the support ring includes an annular plate that is formed around the pipe and welded together.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the sealing membrane is a first-level sealing membrane and the thermal insulation barrier is a first-level thermal insulation barrier. The top wall, in the thickness direction of the wall from the outer side to the inner side of the tank, includes: a second-level thermal insulation barrier fixed to the upper supporting wall, a second-level sealing membrane supported by the second-level thermal insulation barrier, a first-level thermal insulation barrier supported by the second-level sealing membrane, and a first-level sealing membrane supported by the first-level thermal insulation barrier.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the cylinder and the curved top member include an inner surface projecting from the upper support wall, which is at least partially covered by an insulating liner. Preferably, the inner surface of the top member is completely covered by the insulating liner.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the fixing device, through structure, pipe and / or support device are made of stainless steel.

[0047] Such storage facilities can be surface storage facilities, such as those for storing liquefied natural gas, or they can be installed in floating structures in coastal or deep water, particularly liquefied natural gas tankers, floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), and floating production storage and offloading units (FPSOs). These storage facilities can also serve as fuel storage for any type of vessel.

[0048] According to one embodiment, a vessel for transporting cold liquid products includes a twin hull and the aforementioned storage facilities arranged within the twin hull.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a transfer system for cold liquid products, the system comprising: the aforementioned vessel; an insulated pipeline arranged for connecting tanks installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or onshore external storage facility; and a pump for conveying a flow of cold liquid products from the floating or onshore external storage facility to the tanks of the vessel or from the tanks of the vessel to the floating or onshore external storage facility via the insulated pipeline.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a method for loading or unloading such a vessel, wherein cold liquid products are transported via insulated pipelines from a floating or onshore external storage facility to a propagating tank or from a vessel's tank to a floating or onshore external storage facility. Attached Figure Description

[0051] The invention, as well as its other objects, details, features, and advantages, will be better understood from the following description of several specific embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0052] [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of a storage facility according to an embodiment is shown, including a dome-shaped structure and a manhole structure on the top wall.

[0053] [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 The sectional perspective view of detail II shows the dome-shaped structure.

[0054] [ Figure 3 ] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 Detail II, a cross-sectional view, shows the dome-shaped structure.

[0055] [ Figure 4 ] Figure 4 It shows along Figure 3 The cross-sectional view of plane IV-IV shows the dome-shaped structure.

[0056] [ Figure 5 ] Figure 5 It shows Figure 1 The detailed cross-sectional view of V shows the manhole structure.

[0057] [ Figure 6 ] Figure 6 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a liquefied natural gas tanker, including storage facilities and a loading / unloading terminal for the tank, is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0058] In this application, the terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the relative positions of elements of a storage facility with respect to the interior of a tank, with the element referred to as inner being closer to the interior of the tank than the element referred to as outer.

[0059] Storage facility 71 for liquefied gases includes: a support structure 3, which is formed, for example, by the double hull 72 of a ship 70, such as... Figure 6 As shown; and the tank 1 housed inside the supporting structure 3, as Figure 1 As shown.

[0060] Tank 1 is a membrane tank capable of storing liquefied gas. Tank 1 has a multi-layered structure, comprising, from the outermost to the innermost portion in the thickness direction of the wall: a second-stage thermal insulation barrier, which includes an insulating element resting against a support structure 3; a second-stage sealing membrane resting against the second-stage thermal insulation barrier; a first-stage thermal insulation barrier, which includes an insulating element resting against the second-stage sealing membrane; and a first-stage sealing membrane intended to contact the liquefied gas contained in tank 1. The first-stage sealing membrane defines an internal space 7 for receiving the liquefied gas. Such membrane tanks are specifically described, for example, in patent applications WO14057221, FR2691520, and FR2877638.

[0061] The liquefied gas intended to be stored in tank 1 may in particular be liquefied natural gas (LNG), that is, a gaseous mixture consisting mainly of methane and one or more other hydrocarbons. The liquefied gas may also be ethane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), that is, a mixture of hydrocarbons consisting essentially of propane and butane produced by petroleum refining.

[0062] Tank 1 is a polyhedral tank, specifically comprising: a top wall 8, which is fixed to the upper support wall 9 of the support structure 3; and a bottom wall 10, which is fixed to the lower support wall 11 of the support structure 3.

[0063] Figure 1 A portion of storage facility 71 is shown, with only a portion of the top wall 8 and the corresponding bottom wall 9 shown.

[0064] like Figure 1As shown, the storage facility 71 includes two through structures 12, 13, which either pass through a common opening 14 or through two separate openings 14 created in the top wall 8 and the upper supporting wall 9. The first through structure includes a dome-shaped structure 12 passing through the opening 14, and the second through structure includes a manhole structure 13 positioned at a distance from the first through structure, such as... Figure 1 As shown.

[0065] The dome-shaped structure 12 is specifically designed to provide a sealed passage through the top wall 8 for the liquefied gas loading and unloading pipes 29, 30. The manhole structure 13 itself provides access to the internal space 7 of the tank 1, which is reserved for the operator, for example, for maintenance operations.

[0066] In this way, loading pipe 29 and unloading pipe 30 are opened in the internal space 7 of tank 1 to load or unload liquefied gas. Furthermore, as... Figure 1 As shown, a support foot 16 is provided, which is fixed to the bottom wall 10 and is provided with a guide device 17, which surrounds one end of the loading pipe 29 and one end of the unloading pipe 30 to hold the loading and unloading pipes 14, 15 on the axis of the dome structure 12.

[0067] The following will describe in more detail the through structures that form the dome-shaped structure 12 and the manhole structure 13, the fixation of the through structures to the load-bearing structure 3, and the fixation of the pipes extending through these structures.

[0068] Figures 2 to 4 The dome-shaped structure 12 is shown in more detail, while Figure 5 The manhole structure 13 is shown in more detail.

[0069] The dome-shaped structure 12 and the manhole structure 13 described below have essentially similar structures and differ from each other only in their purpose, the elements extending through them, and their dimensions. Furthermore, compared to the dome-shaped structure 12, the manhole structure 13 is provided with a removable top component 28.

[0070] Thus, the dome-shaped structure 12 and the manhole structure 13 include a cylindrical body 18 that extends along the thickness direction of the wall and extends through the upper supporting wall 9 and the top wall 8. The cylindrical body 18 is a columnar body with a circular cross-section removed. The cylindrical body 18 is welded to the first-stage sealing membrane in a sealing manner and welded to the upper supporting wall 9 using a fixing device 19.

[0071] Fixing device 19 includes:

[0072] - Fixing ring 20, the fixing ring is arranged on the outer side of the upper bearing wall 9 and welded around the cylinder 18.

[0073] - A fixing bushing 21 extends radially around and is spaced apart from the cylinder body 18, and is welded to the upper bearing wall 9 around the opening 23.

[0074] - External support tube 22, which extends around the cylinder 18 and is welded to the fixing bushing 21 on one side and the fixing ring 20 on the other side to ensure support for the inner cylinder 18.

[0075] The fixing device 19 allows for radial and longitudinal contraction of the inner cylinder 18. This is because, for example, in cases where the contraction of the inner cylinder 18 relates to the passage of liquefied gas therein, the fixing device 19 will accompany the deformation of the inner cylinder 19 by its own deformation in order to limit stress on the upper bearing wall 9, welds, or inner cylinder 18.

[0076] like Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the retaining ring 20 includes an inner annular plate 24 and an outer annular plate 25, which are formed and welded around the cylinder 18. The annular plates 24 are located in a plane parallel to the retaining bushing 21 and spaced apart from each other. One end of the outer tube 22 is welded to the inner annular plate 24. The retaining ring 20 also includes a reinforcing member 26, which is fixed to both the inner annular plate 24 and the outer annular plate 25. The reinforcing member 26 is, for example, a plate formed in a plane orthogonal to the annular plates 24 and 25, with one side of the reinforcing member contacting the inner cylinder 18. The reinforcing members 26 are distributed around the cylinder 18 to reinforce the retaining ring 20.

[0077] The retaining ring 21 is formed of a flat plate, which is coplanar with at least one load-bearing metal sheet adjacent to the opening 14 and welded to at least one load-bearing metal sheet of the upper load-bearing wall 9. The retaining ring 21 is annular in form and includes an outer profile welded to the upper load-bearing wall 9 and an inner profile spaced apart from the cylinder 18. The outer tube 22 is welded to the retaining ring 21 in a manner spaced apart from the inner profile, such that a portion of the retaining ring 27 protrudes from the outer tube 22 in the direction of the cylinder 18. This facilitates the welding of the outer tube 22 to the retaining ring 21.

[0078] To assist in fixing the fixed bushing 21 to the upper bearing wall 9, the support rod 39 is fixed around the fixed bushing 21 and protrudes from the outer contour of the fixed bushing 21 in the opposite direction to the inner cylinder 18, so that it can be placed on the upper bearing wall 9 when the through structure is fixed.

[0079] Regarding the specific characteristics of the dome-shaped structure 12, Figures 2 to 4The diagram is shown in more detail below. The dome-shaped structure 12 includes a curved top member 28 welded to the end of a cylindrical body 18, the end of which protrudes from the outer side of the tank 1. Thus, in the case of the dome-shaped structure 12, the top member 28 and the cylindrical body 18 are inseparable after being fixed. The cylindrical body 18 and the top member 28 are covered on their outer surfaces with an insulating liner 40 that protrudes from the upper support wall to form thermal continuity with the thermal insulation of the tank 1.

[0080] exist Figures 1 to 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the dome-shaped structure 12 includes a loading conduit 29 and an unloading conduit 30 for liquefied gas. The unloading conduit 30 extends through the top component 28 and continues within the cylinder 18 to reach the internal space 7 of the tank 1. The loading conduit 29 extends through the cylinder 18 and continues within the cylinder 18 to reach the internal space 7 of the tank. In this embodiment, the dome-shaped structure may also include a liquid level sensor 34, such as... Figure 4 As shown, it is capable of measuring the level of liquefied gas in tank 1 and safety conduit 42. The level sensor 34 extends through the top component 28 and is partially located inside the cylinder 18. The level sensor 34 is, for example, an optical sensor that points to the bottom of tank 1.

[0081] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the diagram, only a portion of the loading pipe 29 is shown, while for the unloading pipe 30, only the support device 43 that enables the unloading pipe 30 to be secured to the curved top component 28 is shown.

[0082] In another embodiment, not shown, the dome-shaped structure 12 may include a liquefied gas supply pipe and a vaporized gas discharge pipe, replacing a level sensor and a safety conduit. The liquefied gas supply pipe is connected to an injection track arranged in the tank and allows liquefied gas to be injected into the tank 1 before it is loaded, thereby cooling the interior space 7. The vaporized gas discharge pipe includes a safety valve configured to open and discharge vaporized gas from the tank when subjected to a pressure greater than a threshold pressure Ps, for example, to deliver the vaporized gas to a ship's propulsion system or reliquefaction unit. The liquefied gas supply pipe and the vaporized gas discharge pipe extend through a curved top member 28 and continue within the cylinder 18 to reach the interior space 7 of the tank 1, where the curved top member is secured by a support device 43.

[0083] Regarding the specific features of the manhole structure 13, this is in Figure 5The description is more detailed below. The manhole structure 13 includes a curved top member 28, which is removably secured, for example, to the protruding end of the cylinder 18 on the outer side of the tank 1 using a fixing system 31 formed by bolts. In this way, in the case of the manhole structure 13, the top member 28 forms a removable cover for the manhole structure 13 located on the cylinder 18. Furthermore, compared to the dome-shaped structure 12, the manhole structure 13 includes an insulating liner 40 within the internal space formed by the cylinder 18 and the top member 28. This is because the portion of the cylinder 18 protruding from the upper support wall 9 up to the curved top member 28 is filled with the insulating liner 40, such that the inner surface of the curved top member 28 is also covered with the insulating liner 40. Thus, in addition to providing thermal insulation for the manhole structure 13, the positioning of the insulating liner 40 within the internal space of the manhole structure 13 also allows protection of the fixing system 31 from extreme temperatures that may exist within this internal space, which is connected to the internal space 7 of the tank 1.

[0084] exist Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the manhole structure 13 includes a liquefied gas supply pipe 35 and a vaporized gas discharge pipe 33. The liquefied gas supply pipe is connected to an injection track 32 arranged within the tank, which allows liquefied gas to be injected into the tank 1 before loading, thereby cooling the internal space 7. The liquefied gas supply pipe 35 and the vaporized gas discharge pipe 33 extend through a curved top member 28 and continue within the cylinder 18 to reach the internal space 7 of the tank 1. The liquefied gas supply pipe and the vaporized gas discharge pipe are secured to the curved top member by a support device 43. During maintenance, the top member 28 is removed, and for example, the liquefied gas supply pipe 35 and the vaporized gas discharge pipe 33 are also removed.

[0085] In another embodiment not shown, the manhole structure 13 may include a level sensor capable of measuring the level of liquefied gas in the tank 1 to be measured and the safety conduit.

[0086] Whether it is used for, for example, discharge pipe 30, liquefied gas supply pipe 35, or gasified waste discharge 33, the support device 43 includes:

[0087] - Support ring 44, the support ring is welded around pipes 30, 33, and 35 on the outside of the internal space penetrating structures 12 and 13.

[0088] - Support tube 45, which extends around pipes 30, 33, 35 and is welded to support ring 44 on one side and to curved top member 28 on the other side to ensure support for pipes 30, 33, 35.

[0089] The support device 43 is therefore configured to allow for radial and longitudinal contraction of the pipe. This is because, for example, in the case of contraction of the pipe to which a liquefied gas passage is connected, the support device 43 will deform along with the pipe by its own deformation to limit stress on the bent top member 28, weld, or pipe.

[0090] In addition, such as Figure 5 As shown in the diagram, the space between the support tube 45 and one of the tubes 33, 35 can be filled with an insulating liner 40, which extends through the curved top member 28.

[0091] The safety conduit 42, or the loading conduit 29 in a manner not shown, can also be secured to the cylinder 18 by a support device 43. In this case, the support device 43 includes:

[0092] - Support ring 44, the support ring is welded around pipes 29 and 42 on the outer side of the internal space penetrating structures 12 and 13.

[0093] - Support pipe 45, which extends around pipes 29 and 42 and is welded to support ring 44 on one side and to the circumferential wall of cylinder 18 on the other side to ensure support for pipes 29 and 42.

[0094] The supporting structure 3 may include an internal supporting structure, which includes an upper supporting wall 9, referred to as the internal wall, that houses the tank 1, and an external supporting structure surrounding the internal supporting structure. The external supporting structure includes an outer upper supporting wall disposed above and spaced apart from the inner upper supporting wall 9.

[0095] In another embodiment not shown, and where the support structure includes an inner and an outer support structure, the tank may include a main structure and a channel connected to the main structure. The main structure includes a top wall 8 and is arranged within the inner support structure. The channel itself extends from the inner upper support wall 9 to the outer upper support wall in the region of opening 14. A through structure is fixed to the outer upper support wall at this location, for example, by a cover. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cylinder does not extend through the top wall. However, the through structure includes a loading / unloading tower extending through the top wall and the inner upper support wall in the region of the opening. Therefore, in this case, the through structure may be a manhole structure, wherein, for example, a liquefied gas supply pipe 35 or a vaporized gas discharge pipe 33 extends through the curved top component.

[0096] refer to Figure 6A cross-sectional view of the liquefied natural gas tanker 70 shows a generally prismatic, sealed, and insulated tank 1 installed within the vessel's twin hulls 72. The twin hulls 72 comprise an inner hull and an outer hull. The walls of the tank 1 include: a first-stage sealing membrane designed to contact the LNG contained within the tank; a second-stage sealing membrane disposed between the first-stage sealing membrane and the vessel's twin hulls 72; and two insulating barriers disposed respectively between the first-stage and second-stage sealing membranes and between the second-stage sealing membrane and the twin hulls 72.

[0097] In a manner known per se, the loading / unloading pipeline 73, which is arranged on the ship's upper bridge, can be connected to a sea-based or port terminal using appropriate connectors to transfer LNG cargo to or from tank 1.

[0098] Figure 6 An example of a maritime terminal is shown, comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipeline 76, and an onshore facility 77. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore facility comprising a movable boom 74 and a tower 78 supporting the movable boom 74. The movable boom 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 that can be connected to a loading / unloading pipeline 73. The directional movable boom 74 is suitable for LNG tankers of all sizes. Connecting pipes, not shown, extend within the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 enables loading from the onshore facility 77 to the tanker 70 and unloading from the tanker to the onshore facility. The facility includes liquefied gas storage tanks 80 and connecting pipelines 81, which are connected to the loading or unloading station 75 via the underwater pipeline 76. The underwater pipeline 76 enables the transfer of liquefied gas between the loading or unloading station 75 and the onshore facility 77 over long distances, such as 5 km, which allows the LNG tanker 70 to be kept at a considerable distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

[0099] In order to generate the pressure required for the transfer of liquefied gas, pumps on the ship 70 and / or pumps installed in the land facility 77 and / or pumps installed in the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

[0100] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with several specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is by no means limited thereto, and it includes all technical equivalents of the described apparatus and combinations thereof, if they are included within the scope of the invention.

[0101] The use of the verbs “having,” “comprising,” or “including,” and their variant forms, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in the claims.

[0102] Any reference numerals in parentheses in the claims should not be construed as limiting the claims.

Claims

1. A storage facility (71) for liquefied gas, the storage facility comprising a support structure (3) and a sealed and thermally insulated tank (1) disposed in the support structure (3), the support structure (3) comprising an upper support wall (9), and the tank (1) comprising a top wall (8) fixed to the upper support wall (9). The upper support wall and the top wall are partially interrupted to define an opening. wherein The top wall (8) includes, in the thickness direction from the outer side to the inner side of the tank (1): at least one thermal insulation barrier and at least one sealing membrane, the at least one sealing membrane being supported by the thermal insulation barrier and intended to contact the fluid contained in the tank (1). The storage facility (71) includes through structures (12, 13) fixed to the supporting structure and extending through the top wall and the upper supporting wall in the area of ​​the opening. The through-structure (12, 13) includes a cylindrical body (18) extending along the thickness direction and a curved top component (28) fixed to the upper end of the cylindrical body (18). The curved top component protrudes outside the tank (1) to form an internal space with the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body (18) includes a circumferential wall, and at least one pipe (29, 30, 33, 35, 42) extends through the circumferential wall or the curved top component. The pipes (29, 30, 33, 35, 42) are fixed to the circumferential wall or the curved top component (28) using a support device (43). And the support device (43) includes: - Support ring (44), which is welded around the pipe (29, 30, 33, 35, 42) on the outer side of the internal space of the through structure (12, 13). - A support tube (45) extends around the pipes (29, 30, 33, 35, 42) and is welded on one side to the support ring (44) and on the other side to the circumferential wall or the curved top component (28) to ensure support for the pipes (29, 30, 33, 35, 42). The support device (43) is configured to allow the pipes (29, 30, 33, 35, 42) to contract radially and longitudinally.

2. The storage facility (71) according to claim 1, wherein, The tank is sized to withstand an internal pressure greater than or equal to 1.7 x 10 5 Pa.

3. The storage facility (71) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one conduit extending through the circumferential wall or the curved top component (28) is selected from: a liquefied gas loading conduit (29) connected to a loading pump; a liquefied gas unloading conduit (30) connected to an unloading pump; and a vapor discharge conduit (33) including a safety valve configured to open and discharge vapor from the tank when subjected to a pressure greater than a threshold pressure Ps. A liquefied gas supply pipe (35) is connected to an injection track (32) arranged inside the tank; or a safety pipe (42); the curved top component (28) of the through structure (12, 13) is welded to the upper end of the cylinder (18), the cylinder (18) and the curved top component (28) forming a dome-shaped structure (12).

4. The storage facility (71) according to claim 3, wherein, The outer surfaces of the cylinder (18) and the curved top component (28) are covered with an insulating lining (40).

5. The storage facility (71) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one conduit extending through the circumferential wall or the curved top component (28) is selected from: a vapor discharge conduit (33) including a safety valve configured to open and discharge vapor from the tank when subjected to a pressure greater than a threshold pressure Ps; A liquefied gas supply pipe (35) is connected to a jet track (32) arranged in the tank; or a safety pipe (42); a curved top component (28) is removably attached to the upper end of the cylinder (18), the cylinder (18) and the curved top component (28) forming a manhole structure (13).

6. The storage facility (71) according to claim 5, wherein, The curved top component (28) is secured to the cylinder using a fixing system (31), and the internal space formed by the curved top component (28) and the cylinder (18) is at least partially filled with an insulating lining (40).

7. The storage facility (71) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The upper support wall is an inner upper support wall (9). The support structure (3) includes an inner support structure and an outer support structure. The inner support structure includes the inner upper support wall (9). The outer support structure surrounds the inner support structure and includes an outer upper support wall disposed above and spaced apart from the inner upper support wall (9). The tank includes a main structure and a channel connected to the main structure. The main structure includes the top wall (8) and is arranged in the inner support structure. The channel extends from the inner upper support wall (9) to the outer upper support wall and is aligned with the opening. The through structures (12, 13) are fixed to the outer upper support wall using a fixing device (19). The through structure includes a loading / unloading tower extending through the top wall (8) and the inner upper support wall (9) in the region of the opening (14).

8. The storage facility (71) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The through structures (12, 13) are first through structures (12, 13), and wherein the storage facility (71) includes a second through structure (12, 13), the second through structure being fixed to the support structure and extending through the top wall and the upper support wall in the region of the opening, the second through structure being spaced apart from the first through structure.

9. The storage facility (71) according to claim 8, wherein, The first through structure forms a dome-shaped structure (12), and the second through structure forms a manhole structure (13).

10. The storage facility (71) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, Multiple pipes (29, 30, 33, 35, 42) extend through the circumferential wall of the curved top component (28) or the cylinder (18), and at least one pipe (29, 30, 33, 35, 42) is selected from the multiple pipes (29, 30, 33, 35, 42) that are fixed to the curved top component (28) or the circumferential wall using the support device (43).

11. The storage facility (71) according to claim 10, wherein, Each pipe (29, 30, 33, 35, 42) is secured using a dedicated support device (43).

12. The storage facility (71) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The through structure includes an insulating liner (40) disposed between the support tube (45) and the pipes (29, 30, 33, 35, 42), the insulating liner (40) being formed around the pipes (29, 30, 33, 35, 42).

13. A vessel (70) for transporting cold liquid products, the vessel comprising a twin hull (72) and a storage facility (71) arranged in the twin hull according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A transfer system for cold liquid products, the system comprising: The vessel (70) according to claim 13; insulating lines (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged for connecting the tank (1) installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or onshore storage facility (77); and a pump for conveying a flow of cold liquid product from the floating or onshore storage facility to the tank (1) of the vessel or from the tank of the vessel to the floating or onshore storage facility via the insulating lines.

15. A method for loading or unloading the vessel (70) according to claim 13, wherein, Cold liquid products are transported from a floating or onshore storage facility (77) to the tank (1) of the vessel or from the tank of the vessel to a floating or onshore storage facility via insulated pipelines (73, 79, 76, 81).

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