Device for conducting loading and / or unloading column of cryogenic fluids

Abstract

The invention relates to a guide device (16) designed to position a tower for loading and / or unloading cryogenic fluids relative to a base of a tank, the guide device (16) comprising a first portion (18) designed to be joined to a base plate of the tower and a second portion (20) designed to be in contact with the base, the second portion (20) being configured to carry a buffer (30), the first part (18) comprises at least one inclined wall (22), the second part (20) comprises at least one skew wall (26), and the guide device (16) comprises adjusting means (32) configured to slide the skew wall (26) along the inclined wall (22).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of cryogenic fluids, such as liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, ethane, ammonia or hydrogen, and more particularly to the problems associated with their loading and unloading due to their transportation. Background Art

[0002] Liquefied natural gas or LNG is an important energy supply made mainly of methane. LNG is usually stored in liquid form at a temperature close to -160°C, where the volume of liquefied natural gas is 1 / 600 of its gaseous volume. This makes it possible to transport this liquefied natural gas between the extraction point and the destination. Before and during transportation, LNG is stored in watertight, insulated tanks. Such tanks can be located on shore or on floating structures.

[0003] For loading and unloading of tanks storing liquefied natural gas, loading and / or unloading towers are installed between the tanks. The loading and / or unloading towers may be movable devices, but in the case of tanks on gas carriers, the loading and / or unloading towers are usually fixed directly to the tanks. The tank comprises an upper opening configured to receive a loading and / or unloading tower, which comprises several rods extending along the height of the tank. At the bottom of the tank a base is fixed, on which the loading and / or unloading tower is brought into position for loading and unloading the liquefied natural gas.

[0004] When loading and unloading the tanks, the strong temperature changes caused by the transition from the storage temperature of the liquid methane to the ambient temperature affect the materials in the loading and / or unloading tower. Affecting the materials means that they expand or contract with the temperature change. It is then necessary that the loading and / or unloading tower can move vertically on its base to adapt to the changes in the materials, wherein this vertical translation is substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the tank.

[0005] It is known to use buffers or pads which allow vertical translational movement of a loading and / or unloading tower while limiting its movement in a plane parallel to the bottom of the tank. Such buffers are carried by supports, which are guides fixed to the underside of the tower and positioned in front of the base to slide along it. However, the installation and assembly of the supports of the buffers are complex to implement and require several intermediate positioning steps. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome this drawback by proposing a support for a buffer whose shape makes it easier to install a loading and / or unloading tower in a liquefied natural gas storage tank, in particular by reducing the number of steps required to assemble the loading and / or unloading tower and the tank.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention mainly relates to a guide device, which is designed to position a loading and / or unloading tower for cryogenic fluid relative to the base of a cryogenic fluid storage tank, and the guide device includes a first part and a second part, the first part is designed to be coupled to a base plate of a rod connecting a liquefied natural gas loading and / or unloading tower, the second part is designed to be in contact with the base, the second part is configured to carry a buffer, the first part includes at least one inclined wall, the second part includes at least one skewed wall, and the guide device includes an adjustment device, which is configured to slide the skewed wall along the inclined wall.

[0008] The guide device according to the invention is a buffer carrier which is the interface between a cryogenic fluid loading and / or unloading tower (e.g. liquefied natural gas or LNG) on the one hand and a base of a storage tank on the other hand, wherein the base is more particularly designed to be positioned in front of a base plate of the loading and / or unloading tower. The guide device participates in the mounting of the loading and / or unloading tower relative to the base.

[0009] The guide device comprises a first part and a second part made of stainless steel. The first part is designed to be incorporated into a loading and / or unloading tower, in particular at its base plate, while the second part is designed to be in contact with the base. In order to manage the contact between the second part and the base, the second part is equipped with a buffer.

[0010] The first part and the second part are both wedge-shaped, the shape of the first part and the shape of the second part being complementary. "Wedge-shaped" means that the first part and the second part both comprise at least two walls which are at an angle of between 30° and 60° to each other, preferably 45°. One of these walls is an inclined wall for the first part and a skewed wall for the second part. Inside the guide device, the inclined wall and the skewed wall are one in front of the other and may touch each other. Furthermore, they extend in the same plane. The inclined wall is the end of the first part and the skewed wall is the end of the second part.

[0011] In order to adjust the positioning of the guide device relative to the base, the second part can be moved relative to the first part. This movement is achieved by adjusting means, in particular by screw means. Therefore, the adjusting means is configured to slide the inclined wall along the skewed wall.

[0012] The movement of the second part relative to the first part makes it possible to position the buffer carried by the guide device relative to the base. This makes it possible to reduce the number of steps required for installing a loading and / or unloading tower; in fact, it is no longer necessary to successively install and remove the guide device to position it correctly, the sliding of the second part along the first part is sufficient to carry out the adjustment.

[0013] According to an optional feature of the invention, the skewed wall and the inclined wall are parallel in a sliding direction of the second part relative to the first part.

[0014] Sliding of the second part relative to the first part allows it to move in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the tank, to which the base is coupled, and in a horizontal direction parallel to the bottom of the tank.

[0015] According to an optional feature of the invention, the guiding means comprises at least one buffer configured to come into contact with the base when the loading and / or unloading tower is moved along its axis of extension.

[0016] The buffer or pad is a protective item so that possible vibrations can be damped during the movement of the second part towards the base. The buffer is configured to allow movement of the loading and / or unloading tower in the vertical direction, but prevent any movement of the loading and / or unloading tower in the horizontal direction.

[0017] According to an optional feature of the invention, the bumper is located on a side of the second portion extending in a plane that intersects the skewed wall.

[0018] The skewed wall and the side face more particularly extend in two planes at an angle between 30° and 60°, preferably 45°. In the second portion, the buffer extends beyond the side face and protrudes on both sides thereof.

[0019] According to an optional feature of the invention, the adjustment means comprises at least one positioning means having a head and a body, one of the head and the body resting on the second portion and the other in contact with the first portion.

[0020] In other words, the positioning device, such as a screw, extends through the first part at its first end and through the second part at its second end. The body of the positioning device corresponds in particular to its part comprising the thread. According to this embodiment, when the body is in contact with the first part, the head rests on the second part, or vice versa, when the head is in contact with the first part, the body rests on the second part. The screw has a nut at each of its two ends, or has a nut at one end and no nut at the other end.

[0021] According to an optional feature of the invention, the positioning means comprises a terminal portion extending through an oblong opening through one of the portions, the terminal portion of the positioning means being movable through the opening in translation in a plane defining the oblong shape of the opening.

[0022] According to various embodiments, an oblong opening is made by the first part or by the second part. The oblong opening is a through-opening for receiving a terminal portion of a positioning device for adjusting the guide device. The positioning device passes through the oblong opening with a translational movement along the transverse direction.

[0023] According to an optional feature of the invention, the guiding means comprises guiding means for guiding the second part relative to the first part.

[0024] This guide device ensures that the skewed wall slides along the transverse wall without being offset in the vertical plane in which the wall extends. In other words, the guide device is a stopper in a direction perpendicular to the wall.

[0025] According to an optional feature of the invention, the guiding means comprises at least one recess engaged to one of the parts and in sliding contact with the other part, the recess extending along the inclined wall and along the skewed wall.

[0026] According to some embodiments, the guide means extends from the first part or from the second part. In the case of only one recess, it is located on one side of the inclined wall and the skewed wall, covering the side. In the case of multiple recesses, for example two recesses, they are located on both sides of the inclined wall and the skewed wall to form a channel for guiding the slide.

[0027] The present invention also relates to a loading and / or unloading tower configured to load and / or unload liquefied natural gas in a storage tank, comprising at least one guide device as described above, a plurality of rods and a base plate connecting the rods, the guide device being coupled to the base plate and configured to contact a base coupled to the bottom of the storage tank.

[0028] In the loading and / or unloading tower, the base plate corresponds to a frame which makes it possible to link the rods to each other. The base plate is coupled to the guide means; more specifically, it is welded to the guide means, in particular at a first portion of the guide means. The loading and / or unloading tower comprises at least one guide means. Preferably, the loading and / or unloading tower comprises a plurality of guide means surrounding the base.

[0029] According to an optional feature of the invention, the base plate has a through hole in front of the guide means.

[0030] More precisely, a through hole is formed in front of the contact area between the second part of the guide device and the base joined to the tank. This through hole allows monitoring and control operations of the position of the second part relative to the base.

[0031] The present invention also relates to a liquefied natural gas storage tank, which comprises a loading and / or unloading tower as described above, a base and a bottom wall coupled to the base, wherein the guide device is configured to prevent the movement of the loading and / or unloading tower in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom wall, while allowing the loading and / or unloading tower to translate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall.

[0032] In other words, in the tank, movement of the loading and / or unloading tower in the vertical direction is allowed, but movement in the horizontal direction is prevented by the guide means. The tank is for example a tank of a floating structure, wherein the tank is impermeable and thermally insulated.

[0033] Furthermore, the invention is intended to include a method for installing a tank as described above, comprising the steps of pre-positioning the guide device on a base plate, lowering the loading and / or unloading tower to the base and adjusting the guide device, wherein the second part is moved in translation along the first part until the guide device comes into contact with the base.

[0034] The assembly method according to the invention makes it possible to install a loading and / or unloading tower in a tank for loading and / or unloading liquefied natural gas. The adjustment step is accomplished thanks to the adjustment means; the process consists in bringing the second part of the guide device close to the base until it contacts the base due to the second part sliding along the first part. Once the second part contacts the base, the guide device blocks any horizontal translation of the loading and / or unloading tower, while allowing its vertical translation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge on the one hand with the aid of the following description and on the other hand with the aid of several non-limiting embodiments taken as a guide with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0036] [ Figure 1 ] schematically shows a storage tank for liquefied natural gas, comprising a loading and / or unloading tower for liquefied natural gas, the loading and / or unloading tower comprising a base plate located in front of the base of the tank;

[0037] [ Figure 2 ] schematically shows the Figure 1 a plurality of guide means between the base and the substrate;

[0038] [ Figure 3 ] schematically shows Figure 2 One of the guide devices is in a first position in which the guide device is away from the base;

[0039] [ Figure 4 ] schematically shows Figure 3 The guide device is in a second position, in which the guide device is in contact with the base;

[0040] [ Figure 5 ] schematically shows the Figure 4 a cross-section of a guide device in a second position of the guide device, the guide device being provided with adjustment means;

[0041] [ Figure 6 ] schematically shows a view from above the substrate, through which it can be seen Figures 3 to 5 The guiding device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The features, variations and various embodiments of the present invention may be associated with each other in various combinations, as long as they are not mutually incompatible or mutually exclusive. Variations of the present invention may be envisioned that include only a selection of features as described below, while removing other described features, as long as such a selection of features is sufficient to provide technical advantages and / or distinguish the present invention from the prior art.

[0043] In the drawings, common components throughout the several views retain the same reference numerals.

[0044] In the following description, "vertical" and "horizontal" refer to the orientation of the guide device according to the invention. The vertical direction is the main extension direction of the guide device, which is arranged parallel to the vertical axis V in the frame V, H, as shown in the figure. The horizontal direction is the direction substantially parallel to the wall of the tank bottom, where the guide device is located, parallel to the horizontal axis H of the coordinate system V, H, and perpendicular to the vertical axis V.

[0045] therefore, Figure 1 A storage tank 1 for a cryogenic fluid, such as liquefied natural gas, is schematically shown. Without departing from the framework of the present invention, it can be considered that the cryogenic fluid is optionally liquefied petroleum gas, ethane, ammonia or hydrogen. The storage tank 1 is a tank of a floating structure, such as a tank of a tanker designed to handle liquefied gas, such as a gas carrier, or a tank of an onshore structure or a gravity-based structure. The storage tank 1 comprises a bottom wall 2, which is its bottom plate. The storage tank 1 also comprises side walls. The side walls participate together with the bottom wall 2 to define the storage volume of the liquefied natural gas. The wall of the storage tank 1 is equipped with at least one thermal insulation layer covered with a waterproof membrane, which is designed to come into contact with the liquefied natural gas.

[0046] A conical base 4 is located on the bottom wall 2 of the tank 1. The base 4 protrudes from the bottom wall 2 along a vertical direction V substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 2. The base 4 is a seat designed to accommodate other components of the tank 1.

[0047] Based on the components on the base 4, the tank 1 comprises at least one loading and / or unloading tower 6, which is configured to load and / or unload liquefied natural gas in the tank 1. In other words, the loading and / or unloading tower 6 makes it possible to transfer liquefied natural gas to or from the tank 1. The loading and / or unloading tower 6 extends between the top wall of the tank and its bottom wall 2, more precisely the base 4. The loading and / or unloading tower 6 is installed in the volume of the tank 1, for example by means of a cover of the tank 1 fitted in its top wall.

[0048] The loading and / or unloading tower 6 extends along a main extension direction substantially parallel to the vertical direction V, that is to say substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 2. The loading and / or unloading tower 6 extends between a first end 8 in front of the top wall of the tank 1 and a second end 10 in front of the bottom wall 2. More specifically, the first end 8 is in front of the cover, while the second end 10 is in contact with the base 4.

[0049] The loading and / or unloading tower 6 comprises a plurality of rods 12. As shown, the loading and / or unloading tower 6 comprises three rods 12 as a tripod. The three rods 12 are coupled to the second end 10 of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 by a base plate 14, which is a plate substantially parallel to the bottom wall 2, which links the rods 12 to each other.

[0050] The base plate 14 corresponds to the portion of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 in front of the base 4. Due to the position of the base plate 14 relative to the base 4, the loading and / or unloading tower 6 is maintained in a vertical position in the tank 1, in particular when it is at least partially immersed in liquefied natural gas.

[0051] During installation of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 in the volume of the tank 1, the base plate 14 is positioned relative to the foundation 4 thanks to at least one guide device 16, the function of which is more specifically to allow vertical translation of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 relative to the foundation 4 while preventing any movement in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom wall 2.

[0052] Will combine Figures 2 to 6 Description of the guide means 16. In this case, the tank 1 comprises several guide means 16 located around the base 4. Unless otherwise stated, the features described in relation to one of these guide means 16 are intended to apply mutatis mutandis to all of the guide means 16.

[0053] The guide device 16 comprises a first part 18 designed to be coupled to the base plate 14 of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 and a second part 20 designed to be in contact with the base 4, wherein these parts 18, 20 are made of stainless steel, for example. The first part 18 and the second part 20 are concave boxes with complementary wedge shapes. In other words, the first part 18 is wedge-shaped and the second part 20 is wedge-shaped, the shape of the first part 18 and the shape of the second part 20 being complementary. "Wedge-shaped" means that the first part 18 and the second part 20 each comprise a wall at an angle of 30° to 60° to each other, preferably 45°. Thus, the first part 18 comprises at least one inclined wall 22, which is turned 45° relative to the side wall 24 of the same part 18 extending mainly in the vertical direction V. Similarly, the second part 20 comprises at least one skewed wall 26, which is turned 45° relative to the side 28 extending mainly in the vertical direction V. In other words, in the first portion 18 of the guide 16, the inclined wall 22 and the side wall 24 of the first portion 18 form an angle between 30° and 60°. Similarly, in the second portion 20 of the guide 16, the skewed wall 26 and the side 28 of the second portion 20 form an angle between 30° and 60°.

[0054] The side wall 24 and the side surface 28 lie in substantially parallel planes and are both in front of the base 4. Due to the box shape of the guide 16, the first portion 18 comprises two inclined walls 22 symmetrical to each other and the second portion 20 comprises two skewed walls 26 symmetrical to each other.

[0055] The inclined wall 22 is an end wall of the first portion 18 along the vertical direction V, and the inclined wall 22 faces the bottom wall 2 of the tank 1. The skewed wall 26 is similarly an end wall of the second portion 20 along the vertical direction V, and faces the top wall of the tank 1. In the guide device 16, the inclined wall 22 of the first portion 16 is located in front of the skewed wall 26 of the second portion 20.

[0056] In the guide device 16, the first part 18 comprises a cover wall 27. This cover wall 27 extends mainly in a vertical-horizontal plane. The cover wall 27 extends in the vertical direction V between the inclined wall 22 of the first part 18 on the one hand and the base plate 14 of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 on the other hand. More precisely, the cover wall 27 has a first end in contact with the inclined wall 22 and a second end in contact with the base plate 14. It is worth noting that the cover wall 27 is joined to the base plate 14 by welding along its second end.

[0057] It should be noted that the shape of the cover wall 27 widens from the first end to the second end. In fact, the cover wall 27 has two nose shapes 27A, 27B at its second end. These nose shapes 27A, 27B increase the size of the second end of the cover wall 27 in the horizontal direction H, thereby increasing the welding area of ​​the cover wall 27 to the substrate 14. In addition, the nose shapes 27A, 27B make it possible to better distribute the restraining force between the guide device 16 and the substrate 14.

[0058] The second portion 20 of the guide means 16 is equipped with a buffer 30 or a pad. The buffer 30 corresponds to a protection device configured to allow the loading and / or unloading tower 6 to move along the vertical direction V, but to prevent any movement of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 along a direction parallel to the bottom wall 2.

[0059] The bumper 30 is located on the side 28 of the second portion 20. More specifically, the bumper 30 protrudes from the side 28 toward the base 4. In addition, in some embodiments, the bumper 30 also protrudes from the side 28 opposite to the base 4.

[0060] The buffer 30 is designed to contact the base 4. To this end, the second portion 20 can move between a first position where the buffer 30 is away from the base 4 and a second position where the buffer 30 is in contact with the base 4. The first position is as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown, the second position is Figure 4 shown.

[0061] like Figure 4 As shown, there is a gap D between the plane in front of the base 4, in which the edges of the nose shapes 27A, 27B extend, and the plane in which the face of the base 4 arranged to be in contact with the buffer 30 extends. Such a gap D exists when the second part 20 is in the first position and the second position, which means that no matter whether the buffer 30 is away from the base 4 or in contact with the base 4. When the buffer 30 is in contact with the base 4, the gap D is, for example, 10 mm wide. This gap D makes it possible to prevent contact between one of the rods 12 of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 and the base 4 in the event that the loading and / or unloading tower 6 sags.

[0062] The transition from the first position to the second position is due to the sliding of the skewed wall 26 of the second part 20 along the inclined wall 22 of the first part 18. This sliding is along a sliding direction parallel to both the skewed wall 26 and the inclined wall 22. This sliding can be decomposed into a first vertical component and a second horizontal component, which means parallel to the bottom wall 2 of the tank 1.

[0063] The sliding movement of the second part 20 relative to the first part 18 is provided by an adjustment means 32 in the guide 16. The adjustment means 32, here a thread system, is provided in Figure 5The adjustment system 32 comprises at least one positioning means 34, here a screw 34 having a head 36 and a body 38, wherein the body 38 is provided with a thread. The body 38 of the screw 34 extends in the guide 16 between the first part 18 and the second part 20. More precisely, the body 38 of the screw 34 extends through a first partition 40 vertically closing the first part 18 and through a second partition 42 vertically closing the second part 20. Both the first partition 40 and the second partition 42 extend substantially parallel to the bottom wall 2 of the tank 1.

[0064] In the first portion 18, the body 38 of the screw 34 extends through the Figure 5 and 6 Similarly, in the second portion 20, the body 38 of the screw 34 extends through the opening 44 in the first partition 40. Figure 5 44 and the hole 46 in the second partition 42 are visible in the figure. The opening 44 and the hole 46 are in front of each other along the vertical direction V. According to the embodiment of the figures, in the first part 18, the thread of the body 38 of the screw 34 is in contact with the first partition 40, more specifically with its opening 44, while in the second part 20, the head 36 of the screw 34 rests on the second partition 42. For the first part 18, the screw 34 is retained in the vertical direction V by a nut 48 mounted on the thread of the screw 34. However, without departing from the scope of the present invention, embodiments can be envisaged in which the head 36 of the screw 34 rests on the first partition 40, in which the screwing in the second partition 42 is maintained by the nut 48, or in which the head 36 of the screw 34 also carries a nut 48.

[0065] like Figure 6 1 , the opening 44 is here oblong, so that the body 38 of the screw 34 can be moved in translation in this opening 44 in a plane parallel to the bottom wall 2 of the tank 1, which defines its oblong shape. In other words, the opening 44 has a first longitudinal end 50 and a second longitudinal end 52 opposite to each other along the main dimension of the opening 44, wherein the body 38 of the screw 34 can be moved in translation from the first longitudinal end 50 to the second longitudinal end 52. The first longitudinal end 50 is farther from the base 4 than the second longitudinal end 52. In order to enable an operator of the guiding device 16 to easily access the adjustment system 32 through the base plate 14, the base plate 14 includes a window 53 located in front of the opening 44. This window 53 can be opened in the opening 44. Figure 2 and 6 Seen in.

[0066] As previously described, the second portion 20 is movable relative to the first portion 18, the skewed wall 26 sliding along the inclined wall 22. To this end, the adjustment means 32 are implemented; the screw 34 is then screwed into the first partition 40 and translated from the first longitudinal end 50 to the second longitudinal end 52 of the opening 44. Thus, the adjustment means moves the second portion 20, the head 38 of the screw 34 coming into contact with it, and the second portion 20 then moves from its first position remote from the base 4 to its second position, in which the buffer 30 comes into contact with it. Figure 6 This movement of the second part 20 from its first position to its second position is shown.

[0067] same Figure 6 A through hole 54 is shown in the base plate 14 of the loading and / or unloading tower 6. The through hole 54 constitutes a control means for the correct positioning of the bumper 30 carried by the second part 20 of the guide device 16 in contact with the base 4. Thus, the through hole 54 is located in the base plate 14 in front of the interface between the second part 20 and the base 4, which means in front of the area of ​​the base 4 against which the bumper 30 is designed to abut. Thus, the through hole 54 makes it possible to provide a correct sliding of the second part 20 relative to the first part 18.

[0068] According to means for ensuring correct sliding of the second part 20 relative to the first part 18, the guide device 16 also comprises guide means for guiding the second part 20 relative to the first part 18. The guide means more precisely comprises at least one recess 56 which is located at Figure 5 Clearly visible in.

[0069] Here, a recess 56 is incorporated into the first portion 18. It corresponds to an extension of this first portion 18 extending along the inclined wall 22 as far as the skewed wall 26 of the second portion 20. For example, the recess 56 is a stainless steel plate resting against the inner face of the first portion 18 and the second portion 20, in front of both the inclined wall 22 and the skewed wall 26.

[0070] The recess 56 constitutes a stop for the inclined wall 22; it is therefore in sliding contact with this inclined wall 22 to prevent translation in a direction perpendicular to this inclined wall 22. According to this embodiment, the guide device 16 can have only one recess 56 or two recesses 56. In the case of two recesses 56, the first recess is located on the inner face of the inclined wall 22 and the second recess is located on the inner face of the skewed wall 26. In other embodiments, in the case of two recesses 56, they are located on both sides of the inclined wall 22 and the skewed wall 26, so that they create a guide channel for the skewed wall 26. In this case, there is a recess 56 along the inner face of the first and second parts 18, 20 and another recess 56 along the outer face of these first and second parts 18, 20.

[0071] Here is described a method of assembling a tank 1 in which a loading and / or unloading tower 6 is installed in the volume of the tank 1. The installation of a loading and / or unloading tower 6 in the volume of the tank 1 makes it possible to load and / or unload liquefied natural gas in the tank 1.

[0072] The assembly method starts with a pre-positioning step of the guide device 16, in which the guide device 16 is joined to the base plate 14 of the loading and / or unloading tower 6. In particular, the first portion 18 is joined to the base plate 14 by welding. The next step of the method is to lower the rods 12 of the loading and / or unloading tower 6 from the cover of the tank 1 to the base 4 fixed to the bottom wall 2, said rods 12 being joined to each other by the base plate 14. When the base plate 14 is as close as possible to the base 4, the assembly method comprises an adjustment step. During this adjustment step, the guide device 16 moves from its first position to its second position; the skewed wall 26 slides along the inclined wall 22, so that the second portion 20 translates along the first portion 18. Then, the buffer 30 carried by the adjustment device 16 comes into contact with the base 4 so as to ensure the vertical translation of the loading and / or unloading tower 6, while preventing any movement in a plane parallel to the bottom wall 2 of the tank 1. The position of the guide device 16 is checked in a checking step, in which the operator checks, through the through hole 54, that the buffer 30 is in contact with the loading and / or unloading tower 6.

[0073] It is worth noting that the side 28 of the second portion 20 has a dimension measured along the vertical direction V that is longer than the dimension of the bumper 30 measured along this vertical direction V. Therefore, the side 28 includes at least one area without the bumper 30 on one of the faces designed to be in front of the base 4 or even in contact with the base 4. Figure 5 2 , the side 28 here comprises a first terminal region 29 and a second terminal region 31 which are not covered by the buffer 30. The first terminal region 29 is located in the vicinity of the second partition 42 of the second portion 20, while the second terminal region 31 is opposite this second partition 42. The buffer 30 is carried on a central region of the side 28, which is located between the first terminal region 29 and the second terminal region 31 along the vertical direction V. This position of the buffer 30 on the side 28 makes it possible to improve the absorption of stresses in the guide device 16, which stresses are significantly concentrated on the second terminal region 31 when the guide device 16 is in use.

[0074] Therefore, the present invention proposes a support for a buffer, which is configured to facilitate the installation of a loading and / or unloading tower associated with the support at the base of a liquefied natural gas storage tank, the movability of one part of the support for the buffer relative to another part making it possible to adjust the position of the support for the buffer, thereby reducing the number of steps required for assembly between the loading and / or unloading tower and the base.

[0075] The present invention is not limited to the means and configurations described and shown here, but must also include any equivalent means and configurations and any technically effective combination of these means.

Claims

1. A loading and / or unloading tower (6) configured to load and / or unload a cryogenic fluid in a storage tank (1), comprising a guide device (16), a plurality of rods (12) and a base plate (14) connecting the rods (12), wherein: The guide device (16) is coupled to the base plate (14) and is configured to contact a base (4) coupled to the bottom of the tank (1), the guide device (16) being designed to position a loading and / or unloading tower (6) for cryogenic fluid relative to the base (4) coupled to the bottom (2) of the cryogenic fluid storage tank (1), the guide device (16) comprising a first part (18) and a second part (20), the first part being designed to be coupled to the base plate (14) linking the rod (12) of the loading and / or unloading tower (6), the second part (20) being configured to contact the base (4), the second part (20) being configured to carry a buffer (30), the first part (18) comprising at least one inclined wall (22), the second part (20) comprising at least one skewed wall (26), the guide device (16) comprising an adjustment device (32) configured to slide the skewed wall (26) along the inclined wall (22).

2. A loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to claim 1, wherein: The skew wall (26) and the inclined wall (22) are parallel in a sliding direction of the second part (20) along the first part (18).

3. The loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, comprising at least one buffer (30) configured to come into contact with the base (4) when the loading and / or unloading tower (6) is moved along its axis of extension.

4. A loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to claim 3, wherein: The bumper (30) is located on a side (28) of the second portion (20) that is in a plane that intersects the skewed wall (26).

5. A loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The adjustment device (32) includes at least one positioning device (34) having a head (36) and a body (38), one of the head (36) and the body (38) resting on the second part (20) and the other in contact with the first part (18).

6. A loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to claim 5, wherein: The positioning device (34) includes a terminal portion extending through an oblong opening (44) of one of the through portions (18, 20), the terminal portion of the positioning device (34) being capable of translational movement through the opening (44) in a plane defining the oblong shape of the opening (44).

7. A loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising guiding means for guiding the second part (20) relative to the first part (18).

8. A loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to claim 7, wherein: The guide means comprises at least one recess (56) which is incorporated into one of the parts (18, 20) and is in sliding contact with the other part (18, 20), the recess (56) extending along the inclined wall (22) or along the skewed wall (26).

9. A loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The base plate (14) has a through hole (54) in front of the guide device (16).

10. A cryogenic fluid storage tank (1) comprising a loading and / or unloading tower (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, a bottom wall (2) and a base (4) designed to link the loading and / or unloading tower (6) to the bottom wall (2), wherein: The guide means (16) are configured to prevent movement of the loading and / or unloading tower (6) in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom wall (2), while allowing translation of the loading and / or unloading tower (6) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall (2).

11. A method for installing a storage tank (1) according to claim 10, wherein: The step of lowering the loading and / or unloading tower (6) to the base (4) comprises the step of pre-positioning the guide device (16) on the base plate (14) and the step of adjusting the guide device (16), wherein the second part (20) is moved in translation along the first part (18) until the guide device (16) is in contact with the base (4).

Images