Storage facilities for liquefied gases and / or hazardous liquids

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage device (1) for liquefied gas and / or liquid, comprising: a coating (3) of a tank (71) made of a polymer material or a mixture of polymer materials; and an intermediate layer (5) arranged between the coating (3) and the wall (8, 9, 10) of the tank (71), the intermediate layer (5) allowing the circulation of gas in order to press the intermediate layer (5) against the wall (8, 9, 10) of the tank (71) and / or enabling the detection of liquid or gas from the storage space (4) in the event of a failure of the seal of the coating (3) and / or the detection of liquid or gas from outside the storage space (4) in the event of a failure of the seal of the tank (71).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of storage devices for liquefied gases and / or hazardous liquids, particularly including Type A, B, or C self-contained tanks according to the IGC Code. In the context of the present invention, the definitions of Type A, B, and C self-contained tanks according to the IGC Code are given in the "International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk," 2016 edition.

[0002] The invention therefore relates particularly, but not exclusively, to the field of sealed tanks for storing and / or transporting liquefied gases at cryogenic temperatures, such as tanks for transporting ammonia. These tanks may also be installed on land or on floating structures. Background Art

[0003] In the prior art, document FR2996556 describes a lining or coating for a polyamide-based compressed natural gas (CNG) tank, comprising 10% to 30% by weight of at least one impact modifier, which may be composed of rubber. Furthermore, document US20090203845 describes a hydrogen tank comprising a polyamide or copolyamide lining containing 15% to 20% of an impact modifier.

[0004] Also known is document US20120080106, which describes a tank for liquid fluids under pressure having a metal main wall and an inner lining made of polyethylene, a polyethylene-based copolymer or a C3-C8 block polyolefin.

[0005] Finally, document DE 202010017414 describes a cylindrical gas reservoir comprising an inner lining consisting of a polyamide matrix, functional additives, an olefin and acrylate copolymer, and a shock absorber.

[0006] All these solutions undoubtedly constitute an improvement in the sealing of the tanks, but they are very imperfect in terms of their main function, which consists in preventing leakage of the storage space or penetration of foreign bodies after the seal of the tank wall is broken, while the installation of the tank is complicated and expensive.

[0007] In fact, polymer liners are often difficult to adhere to metal walls, and installing polymer liners to achieve an improved seal on tanks is particularly difficult for tanks that have a slight lack of uniformity across the different interior surfaces. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of this fact, the applicant has attempted to remedy the disadvantages of such tanks and, after various experiments and analyses, has found that it is desirable and particularly advantageous to separate the inner lining or coating from the wall of the tank.

[0009] In addition, in tanks of this type, sealing defects, in particular those preventing the inflow of liquefied gases or hazardous liquids into the structure of the device, will not be detected.

[0010] In this context, the Applicant has designed a system that is simple to use and highly effective, considered first of all for its sealing function (hereinafter the term "lining" is replaced by the expression "coating") and also capable of fulfilling other very useful functions, in particular monitoring, control and alarm in the event of any sealing failure of the tank using a reliable, modular and relatively low-cost system, and before such sealing failure is reflected in a leakage of storage spaces that are critical to the structure of the installation (usually a ship) (including in the event of damage to the tank wall due to collision / impact or road traffic accidents).

[0011] The present invention therefore relates to a storage device for liquefied gases and / or liquids, comprising:

[0012] - a sealed tank for storing liquefied gas and / or liquid, the sealed tank comprising a metal tank, the metal tank comprising a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall comprising a lower wall, an upper wall and a side wall connecting the lower wall and the upper wall, the wall defining a space for storing the liquefied gas and / or liquid, and

[0013] - a coating applied to the inner surface of the wall of the tank, said coating being made of a polymer material or a mixture of polymer materials, said coating being deformable.

[0014] The invention is characterized in that the storage device comprises an intermediate layer arranged between the coating and the wall of the tank, the coating being anchored and / or fixed to the intermediate layer in a discontinuous manner and / or the intermediate layer being anchored and / or fixed to the wall in a discontinuous manner, and the intermediate layer allowing the passage of gas in order to:

[0015] - pressing the intermediate layer and the coating against the wall of the can, and / or

[0016] - using fluid detection means to detect liquid or gas from the storage space in the event of a seal failure of the coating and / or to detect liquid or gas from outside the storage space in the event of a seal failure of the tank.

[0017] The coating therefore does not adhere to the tank or the reservoir, so that in the event of an impact from the outside, the coating is not subject to the same deformation as the tank.

[0018] This is not exhaustive and this coating / intermediate layer arrangement, combined with the fact that the intermediate layer allows the passage of gas to pressurize the intermediate layer and / or detect fluid from the tank or externally, provides the following properties and advantages:

[0019] - smooth the surface of the polymer coating in the tank,

[0020] - limiting the friction between the polymer coating and the inner surface of the tank wall,

[0021] - Due to the use of inert gas (such as nitrogen) for flushing, corrosion of the inner surface of the tank is suppressed,

[0022] The circulation of gas in the intermediate layer enables monitoring of this space, that is to say easy analysis of any fluid circulating therein, in order to detect any leakage from the storage space or from outside the tank.

[0023] The expression “sealing failure” means that there is a fluid leakage at the coating (=sealing failure of the storage space) or at least one wall of the tank (=sealing failure of the tank) which penetrates into the intermediate layer.

[0024] "Hazardous liquids" are flammable, toxic, or corrosive / reactive liquids. "Liquefied gas" is a term known per se and is specifically defined in the IGC specification. It can refer to, for example, methane or ammonia, with ammonia being preferred, as will be seen below.

[0025] Thus, for example, liquefied natural gas (LNG) certainly falls under the definition of a liquefied gas, but it also falls under the definition of a hazardous liquid because it is particularly flammable. Similarly, ammonia is primarily a "hazardous liquid" here because it is toxic, flammable, and corrosive, but is typically present in the form of a liquefied gas in the tank. Finally, kerosene and diesel or fuel oil are defined as "hazardous liquids" here because of their toxicity, particularly because they risk contaminating groundwater.

[0026] The expression "gas circulation" means that the intermediate layer is gas permeable, so that any type of gas can be circulated between any two spaced apart points of the intermediate layer (typically, between a point located on the upper wall and a point located on the lower wall), as long as a slight increase or decrease in pressure (typically, at least 5 mbarg (millibars)) is applied at the two points using a conventional pump or circulation pump between the two points without causing any significant deformation of the intermediate layer.

[0027] More precisely, if only the material forming the intermediate layer is considered, the intrinsic permeability of the intermediate layer is therefore at least equal to:

[0028] -100mDarcy(1mDarcy=0.0987×10 -12 m 2 ): The middle layer is essentially composed of glass fiber or another type of fiber (such as basalt, carbon, aramid or stainless steel fiber), in air and ambient temperature (20°C), according to ISO8841 standard;

[0029] - 100mDarcy: the middle layer consists essentially of a plastic or rubber matrix impregnated with textile fibers, in air and at ambient temperature (20°C), according to ISO 7229 (2015);

[0030] - 100mDarcy: The middle layer consists essentially of thermoplastics, elastomers or rubber, in air and ambient temperature (20°C), according to ISO 2782-1 (2016) standard.

[0031] It should be noted here that when the intermediate layer consists essentially of a plastic or rubber matrix impregnated with textile fibers or essentially of a thermoplastic, an elastomer or a rubber, the intermediate layer advantageously comprises channels allowing the passage of gas.

[0032] In its broader sense, the present invention is intended to be used with any shape and size of can. Therefore, it is simply defined herein that the can comprises an upper wall, a lower wall and side walls, in particular, said side walls being cylindrical or polyhedral in shape, wherein there are in fact no planar side walls (but only a single curved side wall), or conversely, there are no multiple side walls.

[0033] Furthermore, in its broadest sense, the coating may consist of any type of polymer or polymer mixture, provided that they are compatible with their use, that is to say in particular chemically and physically compatible (no physico-chemical reaction or degradation) with the liquefied gas and / or hazardous liquid contained in the tank.

[0034] As non-limiting examples, the coating according to the present invention may be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene (preferably high density polyethylene), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), propylene, polyamide (preferably nylon), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), neoprene, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and co-laminates thereof, fluoroelastomers (FKM) (e.g. ) or perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) (e.g. ), natural rubber and its derivatives, or a mixture of at least two of these polymers (multilayer or mixed matrix).

[0035] Often, the terms "exterior" and "interior" are used to define the relative position of one element with respect to another, with reference to the interior and exterior of a tank.

[0036] Other advantageous features of the present invention are briefly described below:

[0037] In order to exert pressure on the intermediate layer, the storage device advantageously comprises a system for pressing the intermediate layer against the wall of the tank, the pressing system comprising:

[0038] - means for decompressing the intermediate layer with an average reduced pressure of at least 5 mbar; and / or

[0039] - means for pressurizing the storage space of said tank with an average pressure of at least 5 mbar.

[0040] In the context of the present invention, the expressions "mean decompression" and "mean pressure increase" refer to:

[0041] - for pressurizing the storage space, the average pressurization takes into account the pressure at various locations on the coating surface, said locations being distributed at least on or against the side walls, the upper wall and the lower wall of the tank;

[0042] - for the decompression of the intermediate layer, the average decompression takes into account the decompression at various locations on the surface of the coating, said locations being distributed at least on or against the side walls, the upper wall and the lower wall of the can;

[0043] Advantageously, the middle layer:

[0044] - anchored to the tank wall by mechanical and / or chemical means, and / or

[0045] - chemically fixed to the coating.

[0046] The expression “mechanical fastening” means that the fastening between two related elements is carried out by means of an element forming a physical connection, without relying on electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic or chemical energy (gluing, etc.).

[0047] Preferably, the coating has a thickness between 1 millimeter (mm) and 9 mm inclusive, preferably between 2 mm and 6 mm inclusive.

[0048] According to a particularly important aspect of the present invention, the coating (polymer or polymer mixture) advantageously has a glass transition temperature T v Below the liquefaction temperature of liquefied gases and / or hazardous liquids at atmospheric pressure.

[0049] The coating is composed of an elastomer, preferably EPDM. Of course, as previously mentioned, this preferred choice of coating is directly related to the nature of the liquefied gas and / or hazardous liquid contained in the tank.

[0050] For hydrocarbons such as diesel or kerosene, it is preferred to or Made of coating.

[0051] Advantageously, the coating comprises reinforcing fibers, preferably glass fibers.

[0052] As non-limiting preferred examples of reinforcing fibers, mention may likewise be made of basalt fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers or stainless steel fibers in a polymer or polymer mixture (matrix) in the form of a mat, felt or textile.

[0053] Preferably, the thickness of the intermediate layer is between 2 mm and 30 mm (inclusive), preferably between 4 mm and 10 mm (inclusive).

[0054] Preferably, the average decompression or pressurization of the intermediate layer and the storage space, respectively, generated by the upper pressure system is at least 10 mbar, preferably at least 15 mbar.

[0055] Note that the term "bar" has here the technical meaning known to those skilled in the art, ie the measurement comprises relative pressure measured relative to ambient pressure, in other words equal to absolute pressure minus atmospheric pressure, or the absolute pressure of the storage space.

[0056] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the means for decompressing the intermediate layer comprise at least one pump connected to at least one orifice in the wall of the tank in order to generate a mean decompression.

[0057] In this case, the wall of the tank preferably includes a plurality of orifices distributed in the wall. In the context of the present invention, the term "distributed" means that when there are only two orifices, the orifices are present in the upper and lower walls, and when there are at least three orifices, the orifices are also present in the side walls. If there are more than three orifices, the wall of the tank advantageously includes a number of orifices proportional to their respective lengths.

[0058] Advantageously, the device comprises at least one corner connection portion, which is fixed in a sealing manner to the inner surface of the junction between the upper wall and / or the lower wall and / or the side walls, and the edge of the corner connection portion is in contact with each of at least two adjacent walls, and the corner connection portion advantageously comprises at least a partially circular cross-sectional profile.

[0059] In the rest of the specification, one embodiment of the connecting portion will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0060] According to an example of a possibility provided by the invention, the corner connecting portion comprises at least one communication channel and / or flow channel, said communication channel extending substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the connecting portion, for connecting the drainage layers present on each of the two adjacent walls, said flow channel extending substantially along the axis of the connecting portion, in particular for the flow of liquefied gases and / or hazardous liquids contained in the tank.

[0061] In addition to the anchoring and sealing functions, this type of connection serves first and foremost the gas flow in the intermediate layer:

[0062] During the pressurization phase, the gas flow is achieved by decompressing the intermediate layer, but (even to a lesser extent) a similar decompression of the storage space is undesirable due to the presence of gas bubbles or the like in the intermediate layer,

[0063] During the external fluid detection phase (ie during the detection of fluid coming from outside the storage space or tank), perfect gas circulation between the walls.

[0064] According to a particular feature of the invention, the intermediate layer or the drainage layer do not have a thermal insulation function. This is why, if thermal insulation is necessary or desired, it is an element separate from the intermediate / drainage layer and, when present in tanks of type A, B or C according to the IGC specification, is preferably located on the outside of the tank.

[0065] According to one possible example provided by the invention, the intermediate layer advantageously consists of a drainage layer, which serves to drain liquid from the storage space of the tank or from outside the tank.

[0066] Advantageously, the fluid detection device comprises means capable of triggering an alarm upon detection of such a fluid.

[0067] The alarm may be visual and / or audible so that the operator can notice it as quickly as possible. The alarm may also automatically command a system for making the tank and its surroundings safe, for example by commanding the emptying of the fluid contained in the tank to a safe area or the destruction of the contents, for example by controlled combustion.

[0068] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a collecting portion on the lower wall of the tank at the lowest point of the tank, and the fluid detection device is able to analyze said collecting portion to detect the presence of liquid (from the storage space or possibly from outside the tank).

[0069] The expression "located at the lowest point" means that the collection section is located on the lower wall of the tank, and if this lower wall is not planar, it is advantageously located at the lowest point in the direction of the Earth's gravity. It should be noted that in the case of independent tanks, a secondary barrier retaining section of the traditional "drip pan" type is usually provided, usually located in the hull below the tank itself, and thus forms the collection section in the event of a leak in the tank itself. The main function of this secondary retaining section of reduced volume is to contain medium-volume leaks in order to protect the ship's structure from temperatures that could damage it, and it may be associated with a pumping system designed to empty large leaks.

[0070] Advantageously, the device comprises a circulation pump, by means of which the inert gas circulates in the intermediate layer or the drainage layer between at least one inlet point and at least one outlet point.

[0071] In the context of the present invention, the expression "inert gas" refers to a gas which is different from the liquefied gas or hazardous liquid contained in the tank and which is chemically inert with the liquefied gas or hazardous liquid and, in particular, is generally chemically inert with all other components. Such an inert gas generally consists of nitrogen or a noble gas such as argon.

[0072] Advantageously, the fluid detection device detects the presence of gas and / or liquid at the inlet point or outlet point. According to one possible example provided by the present invention, the inlet point is located at the lower wall of the tank and the outlet point is located at the upper wall of the tank.

[0073] However, the choice of inlet and outlet orifices for the flowing inert gas depends on the density of the components (when in gaseous form) contained in the tank. 罐 and the density d of the circulating inert gas 惰性气体 The ratio of , in order to benefit from the form of piston effect. Therefore, advantageously:

[0074] -If d 罐 >d 惰性气体 : The inlet point or injection point of the inert gas is located at the top of the tank (i.e., at the upper wall of the tank), and the outlet point of the inert gas is located at the bottom (i.e., on the lower wall of the tank);

[0075] -If d 罐 <d 惰性气体 : The inlet point or injection point of the inert gas is located at the bottom of the tank (i.e., at the lower wall of the tank), and the outlet point of the inert gas is located at the top (i.e., on the upper wall of the tank);

[0076] As a non-limiting example, if the tank contains ammonia and the inert gas consists of nitrogen, the inlet point or injection point of the inert gas is therefore located at the bottom of the tank (i.e., on the lower wall of the tank) and the outlet point is located at the top (i.e., on the upper wall of the tank).

[0077] According to one possible example provided by the invention, the device comprises at least one device for filtering the gas circulating in the drainage layer, in order in particular to be able to separate particles from the liquefied gas and / or the hazardous liquid.

[0078] Two main advantages of providing such a device for separating gases (in particular inert gases and gases coming from tanks or even from the outside) are:

[0079] - Closed loop operation on inert gas when there are no leaks;

[0080] If the gas coming from the tank or even from outside the tank is toxic, this filtration (also referred to as "open loop" filtration) makes it possible to recover and store it, this being based primarily on the assumption that the circulating gas does not circulate in a so-called closed loop.

[0081] Of course, in the case where open loop is feasible, this filtration is not the only solution and the circulating gas can be further injected into the burner at the outlet. For the tank containing ammonia, it is also possible to flush the steam (export gas) with water so that the recovered ammonium solution is treated independently.

[0082] Preferably, the fluid detection device is composed of a mass spectrometer, an infrared spectrometer, an electrochemical unit and / or a thermal conductivity meter.

[0083] In the case of ammonia contained in the tank, the fluid detection device advantageously comprises an electrochemical cell, that is, a battery in which the ammonia supplies the electrolyte of the cell. A capacitive sensor can also be provided to measure the change in the dielectric constant of an open-circuit capacitor, or absorption or mass spectrometry can be used. Of course, the selection of the most suitable fluid detection device depends primarily on the properties of the fluid contained in the tank.

[0084] The intermediate or drainage layer comprises:

[0085] - mats, felts, nets or fabrics made of glass, basalt, polyethylene and / or polypropylene fibres and assemblies thereof; or

[0086] - Based on resin and mineral particulate aggregate materials and / or polymers; or

[0087] - A composite material with a thermosetting matrix or a composite material with a thermoplastic matrix, preferably the composite material with a thermosetting matrix is ​​epoxy-based, preferably the composite material with a thermoplastic matrix is ​​based on polyethylene, polypropylene and / or polyamide, preferably the composite material with a thermosetting matrix or the composite material with a thermoplastic matrix is ​​reinforced with glass fibers or basalt fibers or wood particles.

[0088] Regarding the properties of the intermediate or drainage layer, for the detection of fluids, it is necessary that the material can withstand the relevant operating pressures (in the case of using reduced pressure for squeezing or gas flow therethrough, or in the case of localized pressurization of the material) and still be permeable to the flow of gas. Thus, in one application, particle board panels, wood particles co-extruded with a thermoplastic matrix, or asbestos cement boards can be envisaged.

[0089] In general, for non-planar geometries of the tank wall, a "fabric" approach is preferred (mats, felts, meshes or woven fabrics of fibers and aggregate materials based on resins and mineral particles and / or polymers), wherein the intermediate or drainage layer is adapted to the tank wall. Without limiting the invention, all the solutions mentioned above are also possible and suitable for planar geometries.

[0090] The means for pressurizing the storage space of the tank comprises a compressor or a reservoir of pressurized gas connected to the closed storage space of the tank, thereby driving the pressurization by means of neutral gas or liquefied gas for the tank.

[0091] In the context of the present invention, the term "compressor" refers to any type of device capable of delivering a gas pressurized relative to the inlet pressure, and the expression "neutral gas" refers to any gas that is different in nature from the liquefied gas or hazardous liquid present in the storage space, neutral gas (such as nitrogen) cannot undergo any chemical reaction or physical interaction with the coating and intermediate layer.

[0092] Preferably, the liquefied gas and / or hazardous liquid consists of liquid ammonia.In fact, the present invention is particularly intended, but not exclusively, to apply to tanks containing ammonia.

[0093] Preferably, the metal tank consists of an independent tank of type A, type B or type C as defined in the IGC specification.

[0094] Independent tanks are self-supporting tanks. They do not form part of the hull and are not essential to its strength. There are three types of independent tanks: Type A, Type B or Type C.

[0095] For example, the design of Type A tanks is essentially based on conventional analysis methods for ship structures in accordance with recognized standards. If these tanks consist essentially of flat surfaces, the calculation of the vapor pressure P o Must be less than 0.07MPa (Mega Pascal). If the temperature of the cargo at atmospheric pressure is below -10°C, a secondary barrier must be provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.5 of the above IGC Code. The design of the barrier must comply with the provisions of the IGC Code.

[0096] The invention also relates to a method for installing a coating and an intermediate / draining layer in a tank of a storage device for liquefied gases and / or hazardous liquids according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following successive steps:

[0097] - fixing the intermediate / drainage layer to the inner surface of the tank wall,

[0098] - fixing the coating on the intermediate / drainage layer,

[0099] - preferably, bringing the tank to operating temperature,

[0100] - subjecting the intermediate layer to an average reduced pressure of at least 5 mbar, preferably to an average reduced pressure of at least 10 mbar, or pressurizing the storage space of the tank to a pressure of at least 5 mbar, preferably to a pressure of at least 10 mbar.

[0101] The expression "reaching the operating temperature" means that the coating is subjected to a temperature equal to or slightly higher than the temperature of the liquefied gas or hazardous liquid that will occupy the storage space. More precisely, the operating temperature is equal to the temperature T of the liquefied gas or hazardous liquid plus 20 degrees Celsius (T+20°C), preferably equal to the temperature T plus 10 degrees Celsius (T+10°C).

[0102] The invention also relates to a ship for transporting liquefied gases and / or hazardous liquids, comprising a hull, an outer deck and at least one inner deck and a storage device as briefly described above, the storage device being arranged on the hull, outer deck or inner deck.

[0103] Likewise, as mentioned above, the present invention is intended to be equally applicable to storage devices comprising sealed tanks, which may consist of above-ground land tanks, semi-underground or underground (ground-based storage (GBS)) tanks, or offshore tanks. These tanks or reservoirs may be installed on land or on floating structures. In the case of floating structures, the tanks may be used to transport liquefied gases or hazardous liquids, or to receive liquids used as fuel (the fuel being the propellant for the floating structure).

[0104] The present invention also relates to a transfer system for cold liquid products, the system comprising a vessel as described above, an insulated pipe and a pump, the insulated pipe being arranged to connect a tank installed in the hull of the vessel to a floating or onshore external storage device, the pump being used to drive a flow of cold liquid product through the insulated pipe from the floating or onshore external storage device to the tank of the vessel or from the tank of the vessel to the floating or onshore external storage device.

[0105] Finally, the present invention relates to a method for loading or unloading a vessel as described above, wherein cold liquid product is supplied to the tanks of the vessel via insulated pipes from a floating or onshore external storage, or vice versa. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0106] The invention will be better understood and other objects, details, features and advantages of the invention will become clearer in the course of the description with reference to the accompanying drawings which show specific embodiments of the invention by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples.

[0107] [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the upper pressure system includes a device for reducing the pressure of the middle layer.

[0108] [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2A storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is exemplarily shown, wherein the pressurizing system comprises means for pressurizing the storage space of the tank.

[0109] [ Figure 3 ] Figure 3 A storage device according to an embodiment of the invention is schematically shown, wherein means for detecting fluid at the level of an intermediate layer are installed and used.

[0110] [ Figure 4 ] Figure 4 A corner portion that can be used in a tank of a storage device according to the invention is shown schematically in cross section.

[0111] [ Figure 5 ] Figure 5 Another corner portion that can be used in a tank of a storage device according to the invention is shown schematically in cross section.

[0112] [ Figure 6 ] Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a corner connection between walls of a tank of a storage device according to the invention.

[0113] [ Figure 7 ] Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a methane tank ship storage arrangement and a terminal for loading / unloading the tanks. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0114] The term "vertical" herein refers to extending in the direction of the Earth's gravitational field. The term "horizontal" herein refers to extending in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0115] The invention will be described below with reference to ships. Indeed, it is precisely in this type of structure, and in particular in structures housing prior art storage devices, that the applicant has been able, thanks to the present invention, to pinpoint the potential for functional failures and, therefore, to address them. However, it is conceivable that the features of the invention may be applied to structures of a different type, such as those of the onshore or marine tank type.

[0116] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the system for extruding the intermediate layer 5 comprises a pump 6 connected to a plurality of orifices 7 on each of the side walls 8, the upper wall 9 and the lower wall 10 of the tank 71 of the storage device 1 according to the invention.

[0117] In this example, there are 15 orifices 7, which are distributed in a balanced manner according to the dimensions of each of the walls 8, 9 and 10, so as to produce an equal reduction in pressure throughout the intermediate layer or drainage layer 5. When the pump 6 is activated to reduce the pressure of the intermediate layer 5, this intermediate layer 5 is pressed against the wall 8, 9 or 10 of the tank 71, and in its movement, it carries with it the synchronous movement of the coating 3.

[0118] As mentioned above, the intermediate layer 5 can be attached to the supporting surface (in this case, the wall 8, 9 or 10 of the tank 71) by gluing or any kind of discrete anchoring. As an alternative, the intermediate layer 5 is attached to the coating 3 and is arranged on the surface of the walls 8, 9 and 10 that is not intended to accommodate seams or fixing areas.

[0119] The sealing coating 3 consists of multiple pieces of polymer material cloth connected together by welding, vulcanization or gluing, while the intermediate layer 5, in addition to the above features, may also include a plate made of a material such as a thermosetting composite material or a thermoplastic composite material, wherein the thermosetting composite material is preferably based on epoxy resin, and the thermoplastic composite material is preferably based on polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), optionally reinforced / filled with glass fiber or basalt fiber, and the plate is integral, or is expanded and machined or formed on at least one of their faces to produce an array of channels through which gas can flow.

[0120] During the application of the coating 3 and the intermediate layer 5, it is advantageous to bring the tank to operating temperature once the layers 3, 5 have been applied and fixed. As mentioned above, this step of bringing the tank to operating temperature aims to stretch the coating 3, which has a high elasticity, so that when the tank 71 is filled with liquefied gas and / or hazardous liquid, at the moment when the intermediate layer 5 is depressurized, the layer 3 presses against the layer 5 with the smoothest surface (without any asperities or coatings).

[0121] Of course, if the tank contains a liquefied gas, this operating temperature is generally a temperature below zero, which will lead to a greater or lesser shrinkage of the coating 3. Therefore, the Applicant has been able to determine that, in particular in the case of liquefied gases, it is particularly advantageous to reach a temperature that is equal to or slightly above the temperature of the liquefied gas, that is to say, depending on the liquefied gas present in the tank 71, 10° C. above the average temperature of the liquefied gas (in such a liquid there may be some temperature variations between the upper and lower layers), or even 20° C. above the average temperature of the liquefied gas. However, reaching this operating temperature is also advantageous in the case of tanks containing hazardous liquids with a temperature above, close to or even slightly exceeding 0° C.

[0122] The elastic properties of coating 3 are also high, and advantageously, layer 3 exhibits an elongation at break of between 100% and 300%. Beyond its application in can 71, such coating 3 can also improve the robustness of can 71 in the event of a collision with a nearby can or an object falling on it. Thus, in the event of a severe impact, can 71 can actually be torn apart locally, thereby losing its function as a sealed container. Coating 3 undergoes essentially the same deformations, but due to its elastic properties and the fact that the anchoring / fixing between the coating 3 / intermediate layer 5 combination and the walls 8, 9, and 10 of can 71 is advantageously discontinuous (in such a way that any local deformation of the structure is distributed over a large area, or these anchoring / fixing areas are capable of mechanically absorbing mechanical forces and / or absorb them due to their inherent properties, or are otherwise sized such that they yield to a certain degree before the coating can be damaged), coating 3 maintains its seal even under deformations that can lead to so-called cracking of can 71.

[0123] In addition, in particular, the glass transition temperature T of the polymer or polymers forming the coating 3 v Less than the temperature of the liquefied gas, but also less than the temperature of the hazardous liquid, which is advantageous since it makes it possible to have a layer 3 that possesses sufficient ductility and elasticity, on the one hand for its use in the tank, but also for resisting any mechanical stresses or forces to which the tank 71 may be subjected when filling it.

[0124] If we consider the tank 71 containing ammonia (the boiling point of ammonia at atmospheric pressure is minus 34 degrees Celsius (-34° C.)), it is therefore advantageous to select a polymer or a mixture of polymers (in the case of a mixture, at least one of the polymers in the mixture has a glass transition temperature below this temperature). In addition to its elasticity and elongation at break properties, a polymer having a T of approximately -55° C. v EPDM is generally a particularly suitable candidate for forming the coating 3 of the tank 71 of the storage device 1 according to the invention. In this case, it is particularly advantageous to reach a working temperature of -34°C before or during the decompression of the intermediate layer 5.

[0125] As will be presented below in the case of pressurized storage space 4 of tank 71, in particular Figure 2 As shown in , reaching the operating temperature can be performed simultaneously with the pressurization step by injecting pressurized gas or liquid droplets at a temperature equal to or slightly higher than the temperature of the contents of the tank 71. Injecting pressurized ammonia vapor or gas into the tank 71 generally allows the pressurization step and the step of reaching the operating temperature to be performed simultaneously, both of which are intended to achieve optimal pressurization and optimal placement of the coating 3 in the tank 71. It is important to note that, as described above, the step of reaching the operating temperature is not a necessary step, even if it is desired or advantageous.

[0126] Figure 2 A variant is shown in which the pressurizing system of the storage device 1 according to the invention comprises a pressurizing device 11 which may consist of a reservoir or a compressor or the like ideally containing a gas at a pressure of the same nature as the liquefied gas and / or hazardous liquid, the compressor or the like being connected to the storage space 4 of the tank 71.

[0127] Thus, in this variant, the pressurization of the storage space 4 makes it possible to obtain the same temperature as described above in conjunction with the step of reaching the operating temperature. Figure 1 The same or substantially the same results as those of the first embodiment shown.

[0128] Although reference here Figure 1 and 2 They are described in an independent manner, but it is entirely possible to combine the first and second embodiments so as to obtain a pressurization system comprising means 6 for decompressing the intermediate layer 5 and means 11 for pressurizing the storage space 4 of the tank 71 .

[0129] exist Figure 3 , a storage device 1 according to the invention is shown having means for detecting fluid coming from the storage space 4 or from outside the tank 71 in the event that the tank 71 has been damaged and has at least partially lost its seal.

[0130] In this embodiment where the storage device 1 comprises a fluid detection device, this type of drainage layer is particularly advantageous even if the detected fluid consists essentially of a liquid (and not essentially in gaseous form) and the tank has a collecting portion (not shown in the accompanying drawings, as mentioned above), the intermediate layer 5 may consist of a drainage layer.

[0131] Regardless of whether the intermediate layer 5 consists of a drainage layer or not, the intermediate chamber 5 must be gas permeable. Figure 3 In the complete structure shown, the detection device includes: at least one device 21 for allowing an inert gas to circulate in the intermediate layer / exhaust layer 5, and a component 20 for analyzing the circulating gas so as to be able to detect the fluid that may be contained in the tank 71 and / or the fluid from outside the tank 71 (if the amount of oxygen (O2) detected is too large, the fluid outside the tank is, for example, air).

[0132] This type of detection device therefore comprises a circulation pump 21 for circulating inert gas from a reservoir 22 of said inert gas to an inlet 23 and then to an outlet 24 of the intermediate / exhaust layer 5. The circulating gas coming from the intermediate / exhaust layer 5 is then analyzed by an analysis device 20 connected to a control device 25 capable of managing / commanding said analysis device 20 to detect the presence of a possibly significant amount of "foreign" fluid (i.e. fluid coming from the space 4 or fluid outside the tank 71) (a threshold value of the amount can be predetermined to define whether the detection of a foreign body or foreign object proves to be positive), in order to trigger an alarm and / or auxiliary safety measures for the storage device 1 or for the surrounding structure, vessel 70 or other installation.

[0133] In this embodiment, the circulation pump 21 can be used as a pump for decompressing the intermediate layer / drainage layer 5 so as to squeeze the intermediate layer / drainage layer so as to install and fix it in the tank 71. Figure 3 The embodiment shown enables the intermediate / drainage layer 5 to be pressed against the walls 8 , 9 , 10 of the tank 71 and to detect any leakage from the storage space 4 or failure of the seal of the tank 71 itself.

[0134] In addition, despite Figure 1 and Figure 2 (showing a system for extruding the intermediate layer / drainage layer 5) and Figure 3 The embodiments showing the way of detecting fluid after a seal failure of the storage space 4 and / or the tank 71 are described independently of each other, but the two embodiments can be combined with each other, advantageously two or three of these embodiments being combined together.

[0135] As previously mentioned, the analytical device 20 may consist of an electrochemical cell, an infrared spectrometer or a mass spectrometer. In the case where the tank 71 contains ammonia, the analytical device 20 is advantageously constituted by an electrochemical cell.

[0136] Optionally, the detection devices 20, 21 may advantageously include a device 26 for cleaning (e.g. flushing and / or filtering) the gas circulating in the intermediate layer / exhaust layer 5, which may direct some or all of the gas to a gas exhaust stack 27 typically present on ships 70 transporting liquefied gases and / or hazardous liquids.

[0137] If the inert gas in circulation is used in a circuit system (that is, it is recovered for reuse in a plurality of circulation circuits), the detection devices 20, 21 may comprise a metering device 28 which enables a sufficient amount of inert gas to be delivered for (re)circulation of the inert gas in the intermediate / exhaust layer 5 (regardless of whether it needs to be replenished from the storage container 22). Figure 3A number of valves 29 are shown in the drawing, which are capable of managing the flow of inert gas, the number or position of the valves shown are not intended to be exhaustive or accurate.

[0138] For the system for extruding the intermediate layer / discharge layer 5 (via Figure 1 and Figure 2 ), for detecting liquid or gas from the storage space 4 in the event of a sealing failure of the coating 3 and / or detecting liquid or gas from outside the storage space 4 in the event of a sealing failure of the tank (according to the two embodiments shown in FIG. Figure 3 ), the invention is characterized in its broadest sense by the presence of an intermediate / drainage layer 5 which, due to its (high) permeability to gases, allows the circulation of gases for one and / or another function, which functions are linked by a common principle due to this fact.

[0139] Figure 4 and Figure 5 Corner portions 35 , 36 are shown in schematic cross-section and can be arranged and fixed between the walls 8 , 9 , 10 of the tank 71 , for example between the side wall 8 and the lower wall 10 as shown in these two figures.

[0140] Advantageously, these corner portions 35, 36 have a connection radius on the inner surface of the tank of between 50 and 1000 mm inclusive, so that the coating 3 and the intermediate / drainage layer 5 are well supported against the pressure in the corner portions.

[0141] The corner portions 36 may consist of a molded or extruded polymer rod with an overmolded metal insert for being welded to the walls 8, 10 of the tank 71 and arranged in end profiles. These anchoring areas are then covered by the ends of the intermediate second profile portion.

[0142] exist Figure 6 , which consists in a corner connection portion 37 fixed between two adjacent walls 8, 10 of the tank 71. The corner connection portion 37 can be composed of a section of a metal tube having a radius of curvature suitable for taking into account the angle between the two adjacent walls 8, 10, i.e. the radius of curvature of the edge of the corner of the tank 71. The section of the tube can then be coated with a polymer lining fixed to it by vulcanization or gluing.

[0143] Advantageously, the coating 3 and / or the intermediate / drainage layer 5 for large tanks are anchored to the walls 8, 9 and 10 of the tank 71 in a discontinuous manner (i.e., locally), in addition to anchoring the coating 3 and / or the intermediate / drainage layer 5 in the areas where the corner portions 35, 36 or the corner connecting portions 37 are fixed.

[0144] Such anchoring may be achieved, for example, by gluing the coating 3 and / or the intermediate / drainage layer 5 continuously (or in some other way) to the walls 8, 9, 10 of the tank 71. On the vertical wall 8 of the tank 71, the cloth forming the coating 3 and / or the intermediate / drainage layer 5 may, for example, have a plurality of substantially continuous horizontal glued areas of ten (10) to fifty (50) centimeters (cm) high and spaced apart from each other by, for example, two (2) to five (5) meters.

[0145] On the upper wall 9 and the side walls 8, a denser glueing (depending on the specific joint) would prevent the formation of excessive wells in the non-anchored areas. In these areas, it is also possible to envisage a complete glueing, using the coating 3 facing the intermediate / drainage layer 5. In this case, the material of the intermediate / drainage layer 5 is glued directly to the walls 8, 9, 10 of the tank 71.

[0146] Figure 7 An example of an offshore terminal comprising a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipeline 76 and an onshore device 77 cooperating with a storage device according to the invention, preferably a tank 71 having its essential features and advantageously some or all of its additional features in the context of the first or second embodiment described above. Figure 7 It can be noted that the tank 71 is mounted at the inner deck of the vessel 70 , however the same tank could of course also be mounted on the top deck of the vessel 70 or at any other part of the hull of the vessel 70 .

[0147] Obviously, the tank can be integrated in a conventional manner, allowing it to freely contract relative to the hull of the vessel 70 and not undergo the same elongation. In this case, the tank 71 rests on a support surface integrated into the hull, which can be provided with a thermal bridge interrupter made of wood, for example. A distinct area of ​​the lower wall 10 of the tank 71 is guided in two directions, and abutment boots provided on the hull, walls, and ceiling serve as an anti-floating device, allowing the tank to remain attached to the vessel 70 in the event of a loss of buoyancy by the vessel 70 itself. In this configuration, the exterior of the tank 71 is advantageously insulated, for example with a 50 to 150 millimeter (mm) layer of low-density foam coated with a flame retardant, in order to limit the heat flow from the contents of the tank 71.

[0148] An integrated system can be envisioned for liquefied gases, whose equilibrium temperature at quasi-atmospheric pressure is above -50°C, in which case the tank 71 forms part of the structure of the vessel 70, or in other words, a portion of the vessel 70 serves as the tank 71. At these temperatures, mild steel, in addition to other specific thermal arrangements, practically guarantees that loss of elasticity will not pose a risk to the structure. In this case, external thermal insulation is also envisioned.

[0149] The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore installation comprising a mobile arm 74 and a tower 78 supporting the mobile arm 74. The mobile arm 74 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipes 79 that can be connected to the loading / unloading pipeline 73. The orientable mobile arm 74 is suitable for all methane tankers. Connecting pipelines (not shown) extend within the tower 78. The loading and unloading station 75 enables the methane tanker 70 to be loaded from or unloaded from an onshore installation 77. The onshore installation comprises a liquefied gas storage tank 80 and a connecting pipeline 81 connected to the loading and unloading station 75 via an underwater pipeline 76. The underwater pipeline 76 enables the transfer of liquefied gas between the loading and unloading station 75 and the onshore installation 77 over long distances (e.g., 5 kilometers), thereby allowing the methane tanker 70 to remain a long distance away from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

[0150] In order to generate the pressure required for transporting the liquefied gas, a pump carried on board the vessel 70 and / or a pump equipped at the land-based installation 77 and / or a pump equipped at the loading and unloading station 75 is used.

[0151] Even though the invention has been described in connection with a few specific embodiments, it is obvious that it is not restricted thereto and comprises all technical equivalents of the means described and combinations thereof, if these fall within the scope of the invention.

[0152] Use of the verb "comprise", "include" or "include" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

[0153] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

Claims

1. A storage device (1) for liquefied gas and / or liquid, comprising: - a sealed tank (71) for storing liquefied gas and / or liquid, the sealed tank comprising a metal tank (71), the metal tank comprising a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall comprising a lower wall (10), an upper wall (9) and a side wall (8) connecting the lower wall (10) and the upper wall (9), and defining a space (4) for storing liquefied gas and / or liquid, and - a coating (3) applied to the inner surface of the wall (8, 9, 10) of the tank (71), said coating being made of a polymer or a mixture of polymers, said coating (3) being deformable, Characterized in that the storage device (1) comprises an intermediate layer (5) arranged between the coating (3) and the walls (8, 9, 10) of the tank (71); the coating (3) is anchored and / or fixed to the intermediate layer (5) in a discontinuous manner, and / or the intermediate layer is anchored and / or fixed to the walls (8, 9, 10) in a discontinuous manner, so that in the event of an impact from the outside, the coating is not subjected to the same deformation as the tank; and the intermediate layer (5) allows the circulation of gas in order to: - pressing the intermediate layer (5) and the coating (3) against the wall (8, 9, 10) of the tank (71), and / or - Using fluid detection devices (20, 21) to detect liquid or gas from the storage space (4) in the event of a seal failure of the coating (3) and / or to detect liquid or gas from outside the storage space (4) in the event of a seal failure of the tank (71).

2. The storage device (1) according to claim 1, wherein In order to exert pressure on the intermediate layer (5), the storage device (1) comprises an upper pressure system for pressing the intermediate layer (5) against the walls (8, 9, 10) of the tank (71), the upper pressure system comprising: - means (6) for decompressing the intermediate layer (5) with an average reduced pressure of at least 5 mbar; and / or - means (11) for pressurizing the storage space (4) of the tank (71) with an average pressure of at least 5 mbar.

3. The storage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The intermediate layer (5): - anchored to the wall (8, 9, 10) of the tank (71) by mechanical and / or chemical means, and / or - chemically fixed to the coating (3).

4. The storage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The glass transition temperature T of the coating (3) v Less than the liquefaction temperature of liquefied gases and / or hazardous liquids at atmospheric pressure.

5. The storage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The coating (3) is composed of an elastomer.

6. The storage device (1) according to claim 2, wherein The means (6) for decompressing the intermediate layer (5) comprise at least one pump (6, 21) connected to at least one orifice (7) in the wall (8, 9, 10) of the tank (71) to produce a mean decompression.

7. The storage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The middle layer (5) consists of a drainage layer for draining liquid from the storage space (4) of the tank (71) or from the outside of the tank (71).

8. The storage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The storage device (1) comprises a collecting portion on the lower wall (10) of the tank (71) at the lowest point of the tank (71), and the fluid detection device (20, 21) is capable of analyzing the collecting portion to detect the presence of liquid.

9. The storage device (1) according to claim 7, wherein The device (1) comprises a circulation pump (21) through which an inert gas circulates in the intermediate layer or drainage layer (5) between at least one inlet point (23) and at least one outlet point (24).

10. The storage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The fluid detection device (20, 21) detects the presence of gas and / or liquid at an entry point (23) or an exit point (24).

11. The storage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The fluid detection device (20, 21) is composed of a mass spectrometer, an infrared spectrometer, an electrochemical unit and / or a thermal conductivity meter.

12. The storage device (1) according to claim 7, wherein The intermediate layer or drainage layer (5) comprises: - mats, felts, nets or fabrics made of glass, basalt, polyethylene and / or polypropylene fibres and assemblies thereof; or - Based on resin and mineral particulate aggregate materials and / or polymers; or - Composite materials with a thermosetting matrix or composite materials with a thermoplastic matrix.

13. The storage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The device (11) for pressurizing the storage space (4) of the tank (71) comprises a compressor or a reservoir of pressurized gas, which is connected to the closed storage space (4) of the tank (71) so as to drive the pressurization by means of the neutral gas or liquefied gas used for the tank.

14. The storage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The liquefied gas and / or hazardous liquid consists of liquid ammonia.

15. The storage device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The metal tank (71) is composed of an independent tank of type A, type B or type C defined according to the IGC specification.

16. Method for installing a coating (3) and an intermediate layer (5) in a tank (71) of a storage device (1) for liquefied gases and / or hazardous liquids according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following successive steps: - fixing the intermediate layer (5) on the inner surface of the wall (8, 9, 10) of the tank (71), - fixing the coating (3) on the intermediate layer (5), - subjecting the intermediate layer (5) to an average reduced pressure of at least 5 mbar, or pressurizing the storage space (4) of the tank to a pressure of at least 5 mbar.

17. A ship (70) for transporting liquefied gases and / or hazardous liquids, the ship (70) comprising a hull, an outer deck and at least one inner deck and a storage device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, the storage device being arranged on the hull, the outer deck or the inner deck.

18. A transfer system for cold liquid products, comprising a vessel (70) according to claim 17, insulated pipes (73, 79, 76, 81) arranged to connect a tank (71) mounted in the hull of the vessel (70) to a floating or land-based external storage device (77) and a pump for driving a flow of cold liquid product from the floating or land-based external storage device to the vessel's tank or from the vessel's tank to the floating or land-based external storage device via the insulated pipes.

19. A method for loading or unloading a vessel (70) according to claim 17, wherein: Cold liquid product is supplied to the vessel's tank (71) from a floating or land-based external storage (77) via insulated piping (73, 79, 76, 81), or from the vessel's tank (71) to a floating or land-based external storage (77) via insulated piping (73, 79, 76, 81).

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