Device for monitoring the tightness of a sealing member

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for monitoring the tightness of a sealing part, wherein the monitoring device comprises a box-like piece comprising a peripheral partition, a transparent cover, and wherein the monitoring device comprises a handling handle fixed to the box-like piece, a control member capable of being manually actuated to generate a control signal, the control member being positioned on the handling handle or positioned in close proximity to the handling handle, a pressure reduction device configured to reduce the pressure in the inner chamber and in the intermediate chamber by means of a pressure reduction member, the pressure reduction device being provided with a controlled valve capable of being switched into an open state for connecting the inner chamber and the intermediate chamber to the pressure reduction member and capable of being switched into a closed state for isolating the inner chamber and the intermediate chamber with respect to the pressure reduction member, a control unit configured to switch the controlled valve in response to the control signal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of devices for monitoring the tightness of a sealing member, such as a single or multilayer film (for example a three-layer composite) for a liquid storage tank, for example for a liquefied gas. In particular, the tank can be a sealed thermally insulated film tank for storing and / or transporting a liquefied gas at a lower temperature, such as a tank for transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for example at a temperature between -50°C and 0°C, or a tank for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) at a temperature of approximately -162°C at atmospheric pressure. These tanks can be onshore installations, offshore / at-sea gravity-based structures (GBS), or they can be installed on a floating structure. In a floating structure, the tanks can be used to transport liquefied gas or to receive liquefied gas used as fuel to power the floating structure. BACKGROUND

[0002] To test the tightness of a sealing film of a fluid storage tank, it is known in the prior art to use a tightness monitoring device consisting of a vacuum box having an internal chamber in which a pressure drop is generated to check the local tightness. Such a vacuum box has a transparent cover and a peripheral partition with a peripheral seal designed to press against the sealing film being tested to hermetically close the internal chamber.

[0003] To perform a tightness test with such a monitoring device, water comprising a surfactant such as soap is applied to the portion of the film being tested. The monitoring device is then positioned on the portion being tested, and the pressure in the internal chamber is reduced, the dimensions of the portion being tested thus corresponding to the dimensions of the internal chamber. If there is a leak in the film, a bubble forms near the leak which can be seen through the transparent cover.

[0004] To test the tightness of the entire film, it is necessary to repeat this operation several times on the flat zones and the corner zones of the tank, and in particular at the joints where the strips of sealing film are glued together. By way of example, for a GNL or GPL tank of conventional size, testing the tightness of the film covering at least some of the different faces of the tank requires several thousand tightness tests, generally around 3000 to 5000 tests to cover all the zones to be checked. These successive operations are difficult to perform, requiring several operators and a large amount of time to perform the entire tightness test. SUMMARY

[0005] One of the core ideas of the present invention is to propose a tightness monitoring device for testing the tightness of a sealing film of a tank, which is reliable and easy to use in a tank.

[0006] Another core idea of the invention is to propose a tightness monitoring device for quickly testing the tightness of a sealing membrane of a tank in as short a time as possible.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the invention provides a device for monitoring the tightness of a sealing member, such as a membrane or a plurality of layers, for a fluid storage tank, wherein the monitoring device comprises a box-like piece comprising:

[0008] - a peripheral partition having a peripheral wall having a lower end fitted with a peripheral seal designed to be positioned against the sealing member,

[0009] - a cover made of a transparent material, the cover being joined to the peripheral partition so that the cover and the peripheral wall can define, with the sealing member, an internal chamber around which the peripheral seal is arranged, and wherein the monitoring device comprises:

[0010] - a handling handle fastened to the box-like piece;

[0011] - a control member manually actuated to generate a control signal, the control member being positioned on the handling handle or positioned in close proximity to the handling handle to enable a user holding the handling handle to actuate the control member;

[0012] - a pressure reduction device connected to the internal chamber and designed to reduce the pressure in the internal chamber with a pressure reduction member, the pressure reduction device being provided with a controlled valve that can be switched into an open state to communicate the internal chamber to the pressure reduction member and into a closed state to isolate the internal chamber from the pressure reduction member,

[0013] - a control unit designed to switch the controlled valve in response to the control signal.

[0014] Thanks to these features, the control member positioned on the handling handle or in close proximity to the handling handle enables a single user to use the device reliably and conveniently, the user being able to position the monitoring device using the handling handle while enabling the vacuum, without having to release the handling handle or needing another user to be present. Furthermore, the device is quicker to use, thus enabling the tightness of the sealing membrane of the tank to be tested in as short a time as possible.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the monitoring device can have one or more of the following features.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to alternate the switching of the controlled valve between the open state and the closed state in response to the control signal.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the control member is a first control member that can be manually actuated to generate a first control signal, and the monitoring device also has a second control member that can be manually actuated to generate a second control signal, and the control unit is configured to: switch the controlled valve to an open state in response to the first control signal, and switch the controlled valve to a closed state in response to the second control signal.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the joystick is a first joystick, and the monitoring device further includes a second joystick, the first joystick and the second joystick being arranged opposite to each other on the peripheral portion of the box-shaped member.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the peripheral wall is an inner peripheral wall and the peripheral seal is an inner peripheral seal, the peripheral partition having an outer peripheral wall arranged on the outside of the inner peripheral wall to define an intermediate chamber between the outer peripheral wall and the inner peripheral wall, the outer peripheral wall having a lower end equipped with the outer peripheral seal, the outer peripheral seal being designed to be positioned against the sealing member around the entire inner peripheral seal,

[0020] And wherein the pressure reducing device is connected to the internal chamber and the intermediate chamber, and the pressure reducing device is designed to reduce the pressure in the internal chamber and the intermediate chamber by means of a pressure reducing member, the pressure reducing device is provided with a controlled valve, the controlled valve can be switched to an open state to connect the internal chamber and the intermediate chamber to the pressure reducing member, and the controlled valve can be switched to a closed state to isolate the internal chamber and the intermediate chamber from the pressure reducing member.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the peripheral seal or the inner peripheral seal and / or the outer peripheral seal has a sealing end forming an annular member around the entire internal chamber, the sealing end being designed to be positioned against the sealing component, the sealing end being positioned in a plane, and the cover being formed in a manner parallel to said plane to form a sealing monitoring device for a flat area.

[0022] This enables the monitoring device to check the tightness of the flat areas of the tank.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the peripheral seal or the inner peripheral seal and / or the outer peripheral seal has a sealing end forming an annular member around the entire internal chamber, the sealing end being designed to be positioned against the sealing component, a first portion of the sealing end being positioned in a first plane, and a second portion of the sealing end being positioned in a second plane inclined relative to the first plane, and a cover being formed in a plane inclined relative to the first plane and the second plane to form a sealing monitoring device for the corner area.

[0024] This enables the monitoring device to check the tightness of the corner zones of the tank. Indeed, the shape of the peripheral seal is such as to follow the inclination of the tank wall in the corner zones, thereby maintaining the inner chamber and the sealed intermediate chamber.

[0025] Moreover, as will be described below, the dimensions of the box according to the application are chosen to have two perfectly fitted zones to be tested, without being too large. Indeed, it should be noted that, in particular in the corner zones or angle zones, the test surface tends to be irregular and the real angle is different from the theoretical design angle, so that the use of a too large box would make it difficult to create the vacuum required for the tightness test.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the angle of inclination of the first plane and of the second plane with respect to each other is between 60° and 170°, preferably an angle of 90°, 135°, 108.4° or 161.6°. It should be noted here that, in the field of the application, i.e. in the field of LNG or LPG tanks, the angle of inclination between two adjacent faces is typically 90° and 135°, relatively speaking.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the longitudinal dimension of the monitoring device, which is intended to be parallel to the edge of the tank during use, is between 290 mm and 432 mm, preferably 320 mm or 430 mm. Thus, in the standard zones, i.e. for example in the upper and lower flat zones of the tank, the conventional longitudinal dimension is 320 mm, whereas in the corner zones between two faces of the tank, the longitudinal dimension is conventionally 430 mm.

[0028] Thus, the monitoring device has an optimal longitudinal dimension to perform the tightness test over the entire width of the strip of sealing film when the monitoring device passes between two preliminarily assembled primary insulation blocks.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the monitoring device has at least one lighting device fastened to the peripheral partition and designed to illuminate the inner chamber.

[0030] This lighting device helps to improve the quality of the tightness test performed by sight, thereby making the tightness test easier to identify leaks.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the monitoring device has a plurality of lighting devices arranged around the entire inner chamber. For example, LED strips are used to provide the lighting.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the monitoring device has an air evacuation duct connected on the one hand to the pressure reduction member of the pressure reduction device and on the other hand to the intermediate chamber, to reduce the pressure Pi in the intermediate chamber to below atmospheric pressure,

[0033] The internal peripheral wall comprises a communication passage which fluidly communicates the internal chamber with the intermediate chamber.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the monitoring device has a pressure regulator positioned on the communication passage, said pressure regulator being designed so that, when the pressure reduction device is activated, the internal chamber is at a pressure P2 which is below atmospheric pressure and greater than the pressure PI.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the monitoring device has a safety valve connected to the intermediate chamber, and the safety valve is able to be switched into a closed state when the pressure in the intermediate chamber is equal to or greater than a pressure Pmin, and the safety valve is able to be switched into an open state when the pressure in the intermediate chamber is less than the pressure Pmin, to communicate the intermediate chamber with the outside.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the value Pmin is between 200 and 1000 mbar, preferably the value Pmin is 800 mbar.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the application also discloses a monitoring method for monitoring a sealing part of a fluid storage tank using the sealing monitoring device described above, wherein the monitoring method comprises the following steps:

[0038] - applying water containing a surfactant or injected with a colored gas on or under the portion of the sealing part to be tested;

[0039] - placing the sealing monitoring device on the portion to be tested using the handling handle so that the peripheral seal is in contact with the portion to be tested;

[0040] - activating the control member to reduce the pressure in the internal chamber using the pressure reduction device;

[0041] - observing the appearance of bubbles in the portion to be tested or the appearance of the colored gas in the internal chamber through the transparent cover.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the activation of the control member also reduces the pressure in the intermediate chamber, and during the pressure reduction phase, the intermediate chamber is at a pressure PI which is below atmospheric pressure.

[0043] According to one embodiment, during the pressure reduction phase, the internal chamber is at a pressure P2 which is below atmospheric pressure and above the pressure PI. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0044] The application can be better understood and other objectives, details, features, and advantages thereof can be more clearly apparent from the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a leak tightness monitoring device placed on a sealing membrane according to the first embodiment.

[0046] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in

[0047] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a leak tightness monitoring device for a flat zone according to the first embodiment.

[0048] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a leak tightness monitoring device for a corner zone according to the second embodiment.

[0049] Figure 5 is a partial view of a leak tightness monitoring device according to the third embodiment, showing one of the handling handles.

[0050] Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of a corner structure of a tank and a schematic placement of a leak tightness monitoring device according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] A leak tightness monitoring device 4 is described below that can be used to detect leaks of a sealing member such as a sealing membrane 1 for a fluid storage tank.

[0052] In the following embodiments, the fluid storage tank is a sealed and thermally insulated tank for storing and / or transporting a liquefied gas. The sealing membrane 1 is a sealing membrane made of a layered composite material composed of an aluminum sheet and a resin located between two layers of glass fibers. The sealing membrane 1 comprises a plurality of elements made of the composite material that are bonded together, such as by overlapping, to form an overlap zone 3.

[0053] However, the invention can also be used for other types of tanks and other types of sealing membranes. For example, the sealing membrane can be a metal membrane comprising a plurality of elements that are welded together.

[0054] During a leak tightness test for checking the leak tightness of the membrane 1, the leak tightness monitoring device 4 is positioned on a portion 2 of the membrane 1 to be tested. This portion 2 to be tested can be the location of the overlap zone 3, as shown in the attached figures, in particular in Figure 1 and Figure 6 , or this portion 2 to be tested can be any other zone of the sealing membrane 1.

[0055] The tightness monitoring device 4 has a box-like piece 5 comprising a peripheral partition 7 and a visually transparent cover 6 to enable a user to observe the portion 2 to be tested through the cover 6. The cover 6 is joined to the peripheral partition 7 on each of its edges to form, with the peripheral partition 7, a sealed inner chamber 13.

[0056] Figures 1 to 3 A first embodiment of the tightness monitoring device 4 is shown. As shown, only the box-like piece 5 of the monitoring device 4 is shown with the film 1, the cover 6 is rectangular and the peripheral partition 7 is also rectangular, fastened to the cover 6 on each of its four edges to form a rectangular parallelepiped box-like piece 5. However, in an embodiment not shown, the box-like piece 5 can have any shape suitable for the portion 2 to be tested of the film, for example an elongated shape, a polygonal shape or a cylindrical shape, the peripheral partition 7 being adapted to the shape of the transparent cover 6. Figure 1

[0057] A first embodiment of the monitoring device 4 is also shown. In this embodiment, the peripheral partition 7 has an upper portion 8, an inner peripheral wall 9 and an outer peripheral wall 10. The inner peripheral wall 9 has a lower end equipped with an inner peripheral seal 11 designed to be positioned against the film 1 around the entire inner chamber 13. The inner peripheral wall 9 also has an upper end sealingly joined to the lower end of the upper portion 8. The upper portion 8 is sealingly joined at one upper end to the cover 6. Figure 2 The assembly formed by the portion 2 to be tested, the inner seal 11, the inner wall 9, the upper portion 8 and the cover 6 thus forms all the walls of the inner chamber 13, making said chamber substantially fluid-tight during the tightness test, except for any leak from the portion 2 to be tested of the film 1 or from the connection to the pressure reduction device 17.

[0058] The peripheral partition 7 also has an outer peripheral wall 10 arranged outside and spaced apart from the inner peripheral wall 9. The outer peripheral wall 10 has a lower end equipped with an outer peripheral seal 12 designed to be positioned against the film 1 around the entire inner peripheral seal 11. The outer peripheral wall 10 also has an upper end sealingly joined to the lower end of the upper portion 8.

[0059] The assembly formed by the film 1, the outer seal 12, the outer peripheral wall 10, the upper portion 8, the inner peripheral wall 9 and the inner seal 11 forms all the walls of the intermediate chamber 14, making said chamber fluid-tight during the tightness test, except for any leak from the film 1, from the connection to the pressure reduction device 17 or from the connection to the inner chamber 13.

[0060] ​

[0061] In Figure 2 In the first embodiment illustrated, the inner chamber 13 is in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber 14 through at least one communication passage 20 formed in the inner peripheral wall 9.

[0062] The monitoring device 4 also has a pressure reduction device 17 having a first (and, in this embodiment, single) pressure reduction member 18 connected to the intermediate chamber 14 through a first duct 15. The first duct 15 thus passes through the outer peripheral wall 10 to reduce the pressure in the intermediate chamber 14 by the first pressure reduction member 18. In this embodiment, the pressure in the inner chamber 13 is also reduced with the communication passage 20 between the inner chamber 13 and the intermediate chamber 14, with the pressure reduction member 18.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the communication passage 20 is sized relative to the volume of the inner chamber 13 and relative to the volume of the intermediate chamber 14 to slow down the equalization of the pressure between the inner chamber 13 and the intermediate chamber 14 when the pressure reduction device 17 is activated. The communication passage is thus sized to cause a pressure drop in the intermediate chamber 14 greater than the pressure drop in the inner chamber at a given time during the leak tightness test, thus improving the reliability of the test. Advantageously, the communication passage is sized to produce a flow rate having a flow rate greater than or equal to the leak flow rate. By way of example, the communication passage can thus have a diameter of between 0.1 mm and a few millimetres, according to the size of the leak that can be reasonably expected taking into account the sealed part being tested.

[0064] In a further embodiment not illustrated, the peripheral partition 7 need not comprise the upper portion 8. In this case, the inner chamber 13 is delimited by the portion to be tested 2, the inner peripheral wall 9 and the cover 6. Furthermore, the intermediate chamber 14 is defined by the membrane 1, the outer seal 12, the outer wall 10, the cover 6, the inner wall and the inner seal 11.

[0065] In a further embodiment not illustrated, a pressure regulator can be positioned in the communication passage 20. The pressure regulator can be a valve designed to ensure a pressure difference between the inner chamber 13 and the intermediate chamber 14. Indeed, for example, in the case where the pressure P2 in the inner chamber 13 is greater than the pressure P1 in the intermediate chamber 14, the pressure regulator can be set to allow fluid communication between the inner chamber 13 and the intermediate chamber 14 until the pressure in the inner chamber 13 reaches the pressure P1, then to stop the fluid communication when the value P1 is reached. Indeed, since the pressure reduction member 18 is connected to the intermediate chamber 14, said member can continue to reduce the pressure in the intermediate chamber 14 to a pressure less than the pressure P1.

[0066] In a further embodiment not shown, the inner chamber 13 is not in communication with the intermediate chamber through the communication channel 20. In fact, the inner chamber 13 and the intermediate chamber 14 can be independent from each other, so that each of the inner chamber 13 and the intermediate chamber 14 can be independently connected to the pressure reduction device 17.

[0067] As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the box 5 has two handling handles 23 fastened to the peripheral partition 7 close to the cover 6. The two handling handles are positioned opposite each other to enable the user to hold the monitoring device 4 with both hands and easily position it on the portion 2 to be tested. For example, in Figure 3 , the handling handles 23 are fastened to the outer peripheral wall 10 using brackets. The handling handles 23 are oriented away from the peripheral seals 11, 12.

[0068] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 , one of the handling handles 23 is equipped with a control member 24, in this example a pushbutton, which can be actuated by the hand of the user holding the handle 23 to generate a control signal 26. In this embodiment, the control member 24 is positioned directly on the handle 23. This control signal 26 is sent to a control unit 28. The control unit 28 is configured to switch a controlled valve 27 located on the pressure reduction device in response to this control signal 26, to switch this valve 27 from an open state to a closed state and vice versa.

[0069] In the open state, the controlled valve 27 places the inner chamber 13 and the intermediate chamber 14 in fluid communication with the pressure reduction member 18. In the closed state, the controlled valve 27 isolates the inner chamber 13 and the intermediate chamber 14 from the pressure reduction member 18.

[0070] A control member other than a pushbutton, such as a capacitive touch button, a pivoting lever or any other manually activated component, can be an alternative.

[0071] In Figure 5In a further embodiment shown, the monitoring device 4 has a first control member 24 which can be manually actuated to generate a first control signal 26, and the monitoring device 4 also has a second control member 25 which can be manually actuated to generate a second control signal 26. The control unit 28 is then configured to switch the controlled valve 27 into an open state in response to the first control signal 26 from the first control member 24, and to switch the controlled valve 27 into a closed state in response to the second control signal 26 from the second control member 25. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control members 24, 25 are not positioned on the handling handle 23, but are positioned immediately adjacent to the handling handle, such that they can be actuated by one hand of the user holding the handling handle 23.

[0072] The monitoring device 4 also has a plurality of lighting devices 22, such as Figure 2 shown and positioned on the inner peripheral wall 9, to illuminate the inner chamber 13.

[0073] The monitoring device 4 also has Figure 2 and Figure 3 a safety valve 29 connected to the intermediate chamber 14, shown and positioned on the inner peripheral wall 9, which can be switched into a closed state when the pressure in the intermediate chamber 14 is equal to or greater than a pressure Pmin, and into an open state when the pressure in the intermediate chamber 14 is less than the pressure Pmin, to communicate the intermediate chamber 14 with the outside. The safety valve 29 thus prevents the formation of an excessive vacuum in the intermediate chamber 14 or in the inner chamber 13, which is not required for the monitoring, thus preventing any damage to the monitoring device 4 or the detachment of the membrane 1.

[0074] Figures 1 to 3 The first embodiment shown illustrates a monitoring device 4 for a flat test zone. The inner peripheral seal 11 and the outer peripheral seal 12 have a sealing end 30 which forms a ring around the entire inner chamber 13, which is designed to be positioned against the portion to be tested 2, so that the sealing end 30 is positioned within the plane P. The cover is formed in such a way as to be parallel to the plane P. The box-like piece 5 of the monitoring device is a rectangular parallelepiped without a back wall, which is formed by the portion to be tested 2. This makes it possible for the monitoring device 4 to check the tightness of a flat zone of the tank.

[0075] Figure 4 The second embodiment shown illustrates a monitoring device for an angled test zone.

[0076] In this embodiment, the inner peripheral seal 11 and the outer peripheral seal 12 have a sealing end 30 forming a ring around the entire inner chamber, the sealing end 30 being designed to be positioned against the sealing member. This sealing end 30 has a first portion 31 positioned in a first plane PI and a second portion 32 joined to the first portion 31 and positioned in a second plane P2, the second plane P2 being tilted with respect to the first plane PI by an angle matching the angle of the tank. Moreover, in this case, the cover 6 is formed in a plane that is tilted with respect to the first plane PI and the second plane P2. The box 5 of the monitoring device 4 in this embodiment is a prism having a quadrangular base, one of the angles of the prism being the angle of the tank, with two side walls of the prism being missing, these two side walls being formed by the angled portion 2 to be tested. Moreover, in order to facilitate the positioning of the monitoring device 4 in the corner of the tank, one of the handles 23 is inverted U-shaped, while the other handle 23 is T-shaped.

[0077] The sealed and thermally insulated tank has a plurality of walls 33, 34, each of the plurality of walls 33, 34 being formed by at least one thermally insulating barrier and at least one sealing film. In the corner of the sealed and thermally insulated tank, at the junction of two walls 33, 34, a corner structure is positioned to ensure the continuity of the thermally insulating barrier and the continuity of the sealing films of the two walls 33, 34. Such a corner structure is shown in Figure 6 In the present invention, the walls 33, 34 of the tank have a secondary thermally insulating barrier 35, a secondary sealing film 1 to be tested supported by the secondary thermally insulating barrier 35, a primary thermally insulating barrier 36 fastened to the secondary sealing film 1 and a primary sealing film (not shown) supported by the primary thermally insulating barrier 36.

[0078] Thus, the corner structure has elements forming part of the secondary thermally insulating barrier 35, elements forming part of the secondary sealing film 1 and elements forming part of the primary thermally insulating barrier 36. Thus, the corner structure contributes to ensuring the continuity of the different thermally insulating barriers and sealing films at the junction between a first tank wall 33 and a second tank wall 34, the second tank wall 34 being tilted with respect to the first tank wall 33 by a given angle, for example an angle of 90°.

[0079] Figure 6 The corner structure shown in Figure 1 is formed by:

[0080] - the row of secondary insulating panels 37 of the first wall 33 and the row of secondary insulating panels 37 of the second wall 34, the row of secondary insulating panels 37 of the first wall 33 and the row of secondary insulating panels 37 of the second wall 34 being fastened to a load-bearing structure (not shown);

[0081] - the rigid sealing plate 41, the rigid sealing plate 41 being bonded to the secondary insulating panels 37;

[0082] - a flexible sealing panel 42 which is joined between two adjacent rigid sealing panels 41 on the secondary insulating panels of a given wall or different walls, e.g. Figure 5 As shown,

[0083] A row of primary corner insulation panels 38 , comprising primary insulation blocks 39 of a first tank wall 33 and a primary insulation block 39 of a second tank wall 34 fastened together by means of angle irons 40 , fastened to a rigid sealing plate 41 .

[0084] The risk of leakage is greatest at the flexible sealing plate 42, in particular at the fold formed between the first tank wall 33 and the second tank wall 34 following the inclination. For this reason, it is advantageous to place the monitoring device 4 at an angle as close as possible to the corner structure. Figure 6 In FIG, the monitoring device 4 is schematically shown.

[0085] In the gap between two adjacent secondary insulation panels 37 of a given tank wall, two primary corner insulation blocks 38 are spaced apart from each other by a distance D in the direction of the tank edge formed by the intersection of the two tank walls 33, 34. The longitudinal dimension of the monitoring device 4 in the direction of the tank edge is advantageously smaller than this distance D. In the exemplary embodiment, this distance D is 322 mm or 432 mm.

[0086] Furthermore, the flexible sealing plate 42 positioned between two adjacent secondary insulating panels 37 of a given tank wall has a width L in the edge direction. In order to minimize the number of tests required, it is advantageous if the longitudinal dimension of the monitoring device 4 in the tank edge direction is greater than this width L, e.g. Figure 6 In the exemplary embodiment, the width L of the plate 42 is 250 mm.

[0087] Although the invention has been described with reference to several specific embodiments, it is obvious that the invention is not limited thereto and that the invention comprises all technical equivalents of the means described and combinations thereof, which fall within the scope of the invention.

[0088] Use of the verb "comprise" or "include" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements other than those stated in a claim or other steps.

[0089] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

Claims

1. A monitoring device (4) for monitoring the tightness of a tightness component (1) for a fluid storage tank, wherein The monitoring device (4) comprises a box-like piece (5) comprising: - a peripheral partition (7) having a peripheral wall (9) having a lower end fitted with a peripheral seal (11) designed to be positioned against the sealing part (1), - a cover piece (6) made of transparent material, the cover piece (6) being joined to the peripheral partition (7) so that the cover piece (6) and the peripheral wall (9) can define, with the sealing part (1), an internal chamber (13) around which the peripheral seal (11) is arranged, and in which the monitoring device (4) comprises: - a handling handle (23) fastened to the box-like piece (5), - a control member (24) manually actuated to generate a control signal, the control member (24) being positioned on the handling handle (23) or immediately adjacent to the handling handle to enable a user holding the handling handle (23) to actuate the control member, - a pressure reduction device (17) connected to the internal chamber (13) and designed to reduce the pressure in the internal chamber (13) with a pressure reduction member (18), the pressure reduction device (17) being provided with a controlled valve (27) which can be switched into an open state to communicate the internal chamber (13) to the pressure reduction member (18) and into a closed state to isolate the internal chamber (13) with respect to the pressure reduction member (18), - a control unit (28) designed to switch the controlled valve (27) in response to the control signal.

2. The monitoring device (4) according to claim 1, wherein The control unit (28) is configured to alternate the controlled valve (27) between the open state and the closed state in response to the control signal.

3. The monitoring device (4) according to claim 1, wherein The control member is a first control member manually actuated to generate a first control signal, and the monitoring device also has a second control member manually actuated to generate a second control signal, the control unit (28) being configured to switch the controlled valve (27) into the open state in response to the first control signal and into the closed state in response to the second control signal.

4. The monitoring device (4) according to claim 3, wherein The handling handle is a first handling handle, and the monitoring device (4) also has a second handling handle, the first and second handling handles being arranged opposite each other on a peripheral portion of the box-like piece (5).

5. The monitoring device (4) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The peripheral wall is an internal peripheral wall and the peripheral seal is an internal peripheral seal, the peripheral partition (7) having an external peripheral wall (10) arranged on the outside of the internal peripheral wall to define an intermediate chamber (14) between the external peripheral wall (10) and the internal peripheral wall, the external peripheral wall having a lower end equipped with an external peripheral seal (12) designed to be positioned against the sealing member (1) around the entire internal peripheral seal, and in which the pressure reduction device (17) is connected to the internal chamber (13) and to the intermediate chamber (14) and is designed to reduce the pressure in the internal chamber (13) and in the intermediate chamber (14) with the pressure reduction member (18), the pressure reduction device (17) being provided with the controlled valve (27) which can be switched into an open state to communicate the internal chamber (13) and the intermediate chamber (14) to the pressure reduction member (18) and into a closed state to isolate the internal chamber (13) and the intermediate chamber (14) from the pressure reduction member (18).

6. The monitoring device (4) according to claim 5, wherein The internal peripheral seal and / or the external peripheral seal (12) has a sealing end (30) forming a ring around the entire internal chamber (13), the sealing end (30) being designed to be positioned against the sealing member (1), the sealing end (30) being positioned in a plane around the entire internal chamber and the cover being formed in a plane parallel to the plane to form the monitoring device (4) for a flat zone.

7. The monitoring device (4) according to claim 5, wherein The internal peripheral seal and / or the external peripheral seal (12) has a sealing end (30) forming a ring around the entire internal chamber (13), the sealing end (30) being designed to be positioned against the sealing member (1), a first portion (31) of the sealing end being positioned in a first plane (P1) and a second portion (32) of the sealing end being positioned in a second plane (P2) inclined with respect to the first plane, the cover being formed in a plane inclined with respect to the first plane and to the second plane to form the monitoring device (4) for a corner zone.

8. The monitoring device (4) according to claim 7, wherein The monitoring device has a longitudinal dimension of between 290 mm and 432 mm, the longitudinal dimension being intended to be parallel to the edge of the tank during use.

9. The monitoring device (4) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The monitoring device (4) has at least one lighting device (22) fastened to the peripheral partition (7) and designed to illuminate the internal chamber (13).

10. The monitoring device (4) according to claim 5, wherein The monitoring device (4) has an air evacuation duct (15) connected on the one hand to the pressure reduction member (18) of the pressure reduction device (17) and on the other hand to the intermediate chamber (14) to bring the pressure PI in the intermediate chamber (14) below atmospheric pressure, The internal peripheral wall has a communication channel (20) which puts the internal chamber (13) in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber (14).

11. The monitoring device (4) according to claim 10, wherein The monitoring device (4) has a pressure regulator positioned on the communication channel (20), designed so that, when the pressure reduction device (17) is activated, the internal chamber (13) is at a pressure P2 which is below atmospheric pressure and greater than the pressure PI.

12. The monitoring device (4) according to claim 5, wherein The monitoring device (4) has a safety valve (29) connected to the intermediate chamber (14), which can be switched into a closed state when the pressure in the intermediate chamber (14) is equal to or greater than a pressure Pmin, and which can be switched into an open state to put the intermediate chamber (14) in communication with the outside when the pressure in the intermediate chamber (14) is less than the pressure Pmin.

13. A monitoring method of monitoring a sealing member (1) of a fluid storage tank using the monitoring device (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein The monitoring method comprises the following steps: - applying water containing a surfactant or coloured gas injected on or under the portion (2) of the sealing component (1) to be tested; - using the manoeuvring handle (23) to place the monitoring device (4) on the portion (2) to be tested, so that the peripheral seal (11) is in contact with the portion (2) to be tested; - activating the control member (24) to reduce the pressure in the internal chamber (13) using the pressure reduction device (17); - observing the appearance of bubbles in the portion (2) to be tested or the appearance of coloured gas in the internal chamber (13) through the transparent cover (6).

14. The monitoring method of claim 13, wherein, The peripheral wall is an internal peripheral wall and the peripheral seal is an internal peripheral seal, the peripheral partition (7) having an external peripheral wall (10) arranged on the outside of the internal peripheral wall to define an intermediate chamber (14) between the external peripheral wall (10) and the internal peripheral wall, the external peripheral wall having a lower end fitted with an external peripheral seal (12) designed to be positioned around the entire internal peripheral seal against the sealing component (1), wherein the pressure reduction device (17) is connected to the internal chamber (13) and to the intermediate chamber (14) and is designed to reduce the pressure in the internal chamber (13) and in the intermediate chamber (14) using the pressure reduction member (18), the pressure reduction device (17) being provided with the controlled valve (27) which can be switched into an open state to put the internal chamber (13) and the intermediate chamber (14) in communication with the pressure reduction member (18) and into a closed state to isolate the internal chamber (13) and the intermediate chamber (14) from the pressure reduction member (18), and wherein the activation of said control means (24) also causes a reduction of the pressure in said intermediate chamber (14), and during the pressure reduction phase said intermediate chamber (14) is at a pressure PI below atmospheric pressure.

15. The monitoring method of claim 14, wherein, During said pressure reduction phase, said inner chamber (13) is at a pressure P2 below atmospheric pressure and above said pressure PI.

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