Storage and treatment plant for gases produced by evaporation of cryogenic liquids

Abstract

The invention relates to a plant for storing and treating gases produced by the evaporation of a cryogenic liquid (G), comprising at least one tank (4), at least one consumer (26) consuming fuel prepared at least from the gases (G), a high-capacity compressor (16) and a low-capacity compressor (24) supplying fuel to the consumer (26), the storage and treatment facility comprises a main circuit (14) connecting the head of the tank (4) to the high capacity compressor (16) and an auxiliary circuit (28) fluidly in parallel with the main circuit (14), the auxiliary circuit (28) being configured to supply the gas (G) directly to the low capacity compressor (24).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of transportation and / or storage of cryogenic liquids, and more particularly to the transportation and / or storage of gases prepared from the cryogenic liquids. Background Art

[0002] Gaseous hydrocarbons at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure are liquefied at cryogenic temperatures (i.e. temperatures below -60°C) to facilitate their transportation and / or storage. The hydrocarbons so liquefied (also called cryogenic liquids) are then placed in tanks of a structure, in particular a floating structure.

[0003] However, such a tank is never completely insulated, so natural evaporation of the cryogenic liquid is inevitable. The phenomenon of natural evaporation is called vaporization, and the gas produced by this natural evaporation is called boil-off gas (BOG). Therefore, the tank of this structure includes the cryogenic liquid in liquid form and the gas produced by the vaporization of the cryogenic liquid.

[0004] A portion of the gas produced by the vaporization of the cryogenic liquid can be used as fuel to supply at least one consumer, such as an engine, which is provided to meet the operational energy needs of the floating structure. Thus, it is possible to generate electricity for the electrical equipment of such a structure.

[0005] The gas circulates to the consumers via conduits, which generally have a significant diameter, suitable for facilitating and accelerating cryogenic liquid loading operations on the floating structure.

[0006] However, the large diameter of the pipeline means that the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid is heated when it is delivered to the consumer. The gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid sometimes reaches temperatures that prevent the consumer from being supplied, in particular because these temperatures are incompatible with the operation of the compressor located upstream of the consumer and designed to pass the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid.

[0007] In order to reduce the temperature of the gas evaporating from the cryogenic liquid in the pipeline, cryogenic liquid is usually sprayed from a tank of a floating structure. However, this solution increases the amount of fluid to be treated and also makes the equipment required to supply the consumers more complex, especially since it is necessary to use a pump to extract the cryogenic liquid from the tank. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to overcome this drawback by proposing a plant in which the gas produced by the evaporation of a cryogenic liquid is supplied to the consumer, limiting its heating during its circulation in the pipes of the floating structure.

[0009] The main purpose of the present invention is a facility for storing and processing gases produced by the evaporation of cryogenic liquids, the facility comprising at least one tank, at least one consumer, a high-capacity compressor and a low-capacity compressor, the at least one tank being configured to contain both cryogenic liquids and gases produced by the evaporation of cryogenic liquids, the at least one consumer consuming fuel prepared at least from the gases produced by the evaporation of cryogenic liquids, the high-capacity compressor being designed to be connected to a cryogenic liquid storage terminal, the low-capacity compressor supplying fuel to the consumer, the storage and processing facility comprising a main circuit connecting the tank head to the high-capacity compressor and an auxiliary circuit at least partially arranged in fluid parallel with the main circuit, the auxiliary circuit being configured to supply the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid directly to the low-capacity compressor.

[0010] For example, the above storage and processing facility is integrated into a floating structure. It is configured for the circulation of a cryogenic liquid on the one hand and for the circulation of a gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid on the other hand, both of which are stored in one or more tanks of the storage and processing facility. In particular, the cryogenic liquid is stored at the bottom of the tank, while the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid is stored at the top (head) of the tank.

[0011] The consumer in the storage and treatment system is configured to be supplied from the tank; for example, the fuel in liquid form and / or in gaseous form, i.e. a cryogenic liquid and / or a gas produced by its evaporation, is supplied to the consumer. The storage and treatment facility comprises at least two circuits through which the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid circulates: a main circuit, which directs it to a high-capacity, low-pressure discharge compressor connected to the storage terminal; and an auxiliary circuit, which directs the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid to a low-capacity, high-pressure discharge device connected to the consumer. Therefore, both circuits are dedicated to supplying the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid to the compressor, the flow rate and operating pressure of the compressor in each circuit being different. Therefore, the low-capacity compressor operates at a higher pressure than the high-capacity compressor. The low-capacity compressor operates, for example, at a pressure between 5 and 7 bars absolute and 2,000 to 6,000 m 3 / h, while high capacity compressors operate at pressures between 1.5 and 2.5 bar absolute and 12,000 to 30,000 m 3 / h flow rate operation.

[0012] For example, a storage terminal is located on an onshore coastline, while consumers are loaded onto a floating structure at sea and contribute to its power supply. The storage terminal is capable of storing cryogenic liquid and gas generated by evaporation of the cryogenic liquid.

[0013] The main circuit and the auxiliary circuit are at least partially arranged in parallel with each other, i.e. they are at least partially independent. "Independent" means that the conduits constituting the main circuit are separated from the conduits constituting the auxiliary circuit. Preferably, the main circuit and the auxiliary circuit are mostly independent, i.e. most of the conduits constituting the main circuit do not participate in the auxiliary circuit.

[0014] The main circuit is connected to the tank header, which is the portion of the tank where the gas generated by evaporation of the cryogenic liquid is stored.

[0015] The auxiliary circuit is configured to supply the gas resulting from the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid directly to the low-capacity compressor; it will be understood that this gas resulting from the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid is directed to the low-capacity compressor by circulating only in a pipe. In particular, the auxiliary circuit has no heat exchanger. Therefore, the gas resulting from the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid benefits from a dedicated circuit for delivery to the consumers, limiting its heating during circulation.

[0016] According to an optional feature of the invention, the primary circuit and the auxiliary circuit are thermally independent.

[0017] As a result, no calories are exchanged between the primary and secondary circuits.

[0018] According to an optional feature of the invention, the auxiliary circuit is connected to the main circuit at the can header outlet.

[0019] For example, the auxiliary circuit is connected to the main circuit outside the tank near the tank head.

[0020] According to an optional feature of the invention, the storage and treatment facility comprises at least one valve arranged at the interval between the primary circuit and the secondary circuit.

[0021] This valve is a three-way valve or a combination of two two-way valves, connecting the auxiliary circuit to the main circuit. Upstream of this valve, the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid flows through a pipe shared by the main circuit and the auxiliary circuit, which leads to the tank head.

[0022] According to an optional feature of the invention, the auxiliary circuit is connected directly to the gas dome of the tank.

[0023] The gas dome corresponds to the outward and upward projection of the tank in which the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid is present. When the auxiliary circuits are connected directly to the gas dome, each of the connections in the circuit to the tank is independent; it should be understood that the main circuit and the auxiliary circuit do not share the pipe extending from the tank.

[0024] According to an optional feature of the invention, the conduits forming the primary circuit have a nominal diameter of between 300 mm and 600 mm.

[0025] Therefore, the main loop piping is sized appropriately for loading and unloading operations between the storage and processing facility and the storage terminal.

[0026] According to an optional feature of the invention, the pipes forming the auxiliary circuit have a nominal diameter of between 100 mm and 250 mm.

[0027] The dimensions of the auxiliary circuit piping mean that the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid can be delivered quickly to the low-capacity compressor and thus to the consumers, thus limiting heating. The gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid is thus supplied to the low-capacity compressor at a suitable pressure and temperature, thus limiting the need for cooling devices.

[0028] In some embodiments, the diameter of the pipe and / or conduit is scalable, where the diameter is larger near the compressor than near the tank.

[0029] According to an optional feature of the invention, the auxiliary circuit is thermally isolated.

[0030] This thermal isolation can be achieved by placing foam around the pipes forming the auxiliary loop. Alternatively, it can be achieved by vacuum insulation, placing the auxiliary loop pipes within a larger pipe and evacuating the space between them.

[0031] According to an optional feature of the invention, the primary circuit comprises a divergence between a first branch dedicated to supplying gas to the high-capacity compressor and a second branch connected to the auxiliary circuit via at least one valve.

[0032] This divergence point constitutes a division within the primary circuit.While circulating in the primary circuit, the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid is thus directed to the high-capacity compressor via a first branch or to the auxiliary circuit via a second branch.

[0033] According to an optional feature of the invention, the valve is arranged between the divergence point and the low capacity compressor.

[0034] It will be understood that when the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid passes through the second branch of the main circuit, it is intended to supply the low-capacity compressor.

[0035] According to an optional feature of the invention, the storage and processing facility comprises a branch configured to cool the second branch from cryogenic liquid taken from the tank.

[0036] This branch serves as cooling means for the second branch upstream of the valve, cooling the gases produced by evaporation of the liquid that has flowed through the second branch of the main circuit.The branch opens, for example, between the valve and a low-capacity compressor.

[0037] According to an optional feature of the invention, the storage and treatment facility comprises an auxiliary circuit dedicated to filling the tank with cryogenic liquid, the auxiliary circuit being configured to connect the storage terminal to the bottom area of ​​the tank.

[0038] The bottom area of ​​the tank is the lowest part of the tank, designed to receive and store cryogenic liquid. This bottom area of ​​the tank corresponds to the space between, for example, the tank bottom wall and a plane substantially parallel to the bottom wall and extending one meter above it.

[0039] The invention also relates to a floating structure for transporting and / or storing cryogenic liquids and gases produced by evaporation of the cryogenic liquids, the floating structure comprising a storage and treatment facility as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become more apparent on the one hand by reading the following description and on the other hand by means of an example, which is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] [ Figure 1 ] schematically illustrates a storage and processing facility according to the invention;

[0042] [ Figure 2 ] shows that including Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a floating structure of a storage and processing facility is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Features, variants and different embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various combinations, as long as they are not mutually compatible or exclusive. In particular, variants of the present invention can be envisaged, which only include a selection of the features described below, without the other features described, if the selection of features is sufficient to give the present invention a technical advantage or to distinguish the present invention from the prior art.

[0044] In the figures, components common to the several figures retain the same reference numerals.

[0045] Figure 1 A storage and processing facility 1 according to the invention is schematically shown, which is integrated in a floating structure 2 which is located on a Figure 2 Shown in.

[0046] The storage and treatment facility 1 is configured to circulate the cryogenic liquid LC on the one hand and the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G on the other hand. The cryogenic liquid LC is stored in at least one tank 4 of the storage and treatment facility 1. Since the thermal insulation of the tank 4 is not perfect, some of the cryogenic liquid LC naturally evaporates to form the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G. Therefore, the tank 4 contains the cryogenic liquid LC and the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G, and the separation between these two fluids is Figure 1 Indicated by the dashed horizontal line.

[0047] The storage and processing facility 1 has at least one tank 4 for storing a cryogenic liquid LC, such as methane, and a gas generated by evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G. In the embodiment shown here, the storage and processing facility 1 includes four tanks 4. It should be understood that the subsequent description about one of the four tanks 4 applies to each of the other tanks 4.

[0048] The tank 4 is delimited by a bottom wall 6, which corresponds to its lowest wall. From this bottom wall 6 extends a bottom area of ​​the tank, which corresponds, for example, to an area between this bottom wall 6 and a plane parallel to this bottom wall 6, which plane is arranged at a distance of one meter from this bottom wall 6. At least the bottom area of ​​the tank is used to store the cryogenic liquid LC. In contrast, the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G is stored in the head of the tank 4, corresponding to the uppermost part of the tank 4. Here, the top of the tank 4 is equipped with a gas dome 8, which is a part of the tank 4, through which the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G is extracted.

[0049] The storage and processing facility 1 is connected to a storage terminal 10 located on the coast. Figure 2 The cooperation between the floating structure 2 and the storage terminal 10 is described in more detail. The storage terminal 10 can store the cryogenic liquid LC and the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G. In particular, the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G can be discharged from the tank 4 of the storage and processing facility 1 to the storage terminal 10, and the cryogenic liquid LC can be loaded from the storage terminal 10 to the tank 4. This loading of the cryogenic liquid LC from the storage terminal 10 to the tank 4 is carried out via the auxiliary loop 12, which connects the storage terminal 10 to the bottom area of ​​the tank. It should be understood that the auxiliary loop 12 is dedicated to filling the tank 4 with the cryogenic liquid LC.

[0050] The gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G is discharged from the tank 4 via a main circuit 14 , for example to fill the tank 4 with the cryogenic liquid LC. The main circuit 14 connects the head of the tank 4 to the storage terminal 10 .

[0051] The main circuit 14 leads to the tank 4; more specifically, it is connected to the gas dome 8 of the tank 4. The main circuit 14 comprises at least one conduit extending from the gas dome 8 to a high-capacity compressor 16, such a high-capacity compressor 16 thus being interposed between the tank 4 and the storage terminal 10. The diameter of the pipe forming the main circuit 14, through which the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G flows, is between 300 mm and 600 mm. A heat exchanger may be fitted to the main circuit 14 between the tank 4 and the high-capacity compressor 16 to ensure that the pressure and temperature of the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G are sufficient to supply the high-capacity compressor 16.

[0052] In some embodiments, Figure 1 As shown, the main circuit 14 comprises a divergence point 18 consisting of a separation between a first branch 20 of the main circuit 14 and a second branch 22 of this main circuit 14. As mentioned above, the first branch 20 corresponds to the portion of the main circuit 14 designed to supply the high-capacity compressor 16. In contrast, the second branch 22 is designed to supply a low-capacity compressor 24 of the storage and treatment facility 1, which is arranged between the tank 4 and a consumer 26 of the storage and treatment facility 1.

[0053] The consumer 26 is, for example, a motor and more particularly a generator of the DFDE (Dual Fuel Diesel Electric) type, that is to say a gas consumer intended to ensure the electrical power supply of the floating structure 2. The consumer 26 is configured to be able to use alternatively as fuel the cryogenic liquid LC and the gas resulting from the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G; it will be understood that, depending on its operating mode, the consumer 26 can be supplied with the cryogenic liquid LC or the gas resulting from the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G.

[0054] When the consumer 26 uses the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G as fuel, this gas from the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G can be supplied to the consumer 26 via the auxiliary circuit 28 of the storage and treatment facility 1. Therefore, the consumer 26 is supplied with the gas from the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G only via the auxiliary circuit 28, or when the main circuit 14 has a divergence point 18, via both the auxiliary circuit 28 and the second branch 22 of the main circuit 14, or only via the second branch 22.

[0055] The auxiliary circuit 28 comprises at least one pipe. This pipe is smaller than the pipe in the main circuit 14, so that the gas evaporated from the cryogenic liquid G can be delivered to the low-capacity compressor 24 and the consumer 26 more quickly than if the gas evaporated from the cryogenic liquid G is delivered via the main circuit 14. The faster guidance of the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G makes it possible to limit the pressure loss and its cooling, and thus it can be supplied to the low-capacity compressor 24 at a temperature and pressure that are both suitable for the operation of the low-capacity compressor 24. For this purpose, the diameter of the pipe of the auxiliary circuit 28 is, for example, between 100 mm and 250 mm.

[0056] The auxiliary loop 28 is also thermally isolated. This thermal isolation of the auxiliary loop 28 consists, for example, of a foam tube placed around its pipe. Alternatively, thermal isolation can be achieved by vacuum insulation, where the pipe of the auxiliary loop 28 is arranged in a larger diameter pipe in which a vacuum is applied. In this case, the auxiliary loop pipe 28 and the larger diameter pipe are arranged concentrically, where the larger diameter pipe surrounds the auxiliary loop pipe 28, and the gas from the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G flows through the auxiliary loop pipe 28.

[0057] like Figure 1 As shown in the variant shown, the auxiliary circuit 28 is connected to the main circuit 14 at the outlet of the head of the tank 4. In particular, the main circuit 14 is connected to the gas dome 8, and the auxiliary circuit 28 is connected to the main circuit 14 near the gas dome 8. Therefore, it should be understood that the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G for delivery to the low-capacity compressor 24 and the consumer 24 circulates in the pipeline of the main circuit 14 before passing through the auxiliary circuit 28. The gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G (whether it is going to the low-capacity compressor 24 or the high-capacity compressor 16) at least partially circulates in the main circuit 14. In other words, the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G passes independently of its destination compressor 16, 24 through the same pipeline 30 connected to the gas dome 8. The connection between the main circuit 14 and the auxiliary circuit 28 is carried out via a valve, which is a three-way valve 32 in this case, which is arranged at the separation between the two circuits 14, 28. Therefore, the three-way valve 32 is located on the common pipeline 30. Alternatively, the three-way valve 32 can be replaced by two two-way valves.

[0058] However, without departing from the scope of the invention and although not shown in the figures, variants can be envisaged in which the auxiliary circuit 28 is directly connected to the gas dome 8, i.e., this auxiliary circuit 28 is independent of the main circuit 16 near the outlet of the head of the tank 4. In these variants, the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G does not pass through the common pipe 30 in the main circuit 14 and the auxiliary circuit 16.

[0059] As a result of the above, the main circuit 14 and the auxiliary circuit 28 are arranged at least partially in parallel with each other. It should be understood that the main circuit pipe 14 is separated from the auxiliary circuit pipe 28 between one of the compressors 16, 24 and the tank 4, over at least a portion of the storage and treatment facility 1. For the variant in which each of the two circuits 14, 28 is directly connected to the gas dome 8, the main circuit 14 and the auxiliary circuit 28 are connected in parallel from the gas dome 8 of the tank 4, or when the circuits 14, 28 have a common pipe 30, they are connected in parallel from the three-way valve 32, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 Similarly, the main circuit 14 and the auxiliary circuit 28 extend in parallel for the rest of the storage and treatment facility 1 or, when the main circuit 14 has a first branch 20 and a second branch 22, until the divergence point 18.

[0060] In an embodiment where the main circuit 14 is divided into the first branch 20 and the second branch 22, a valve (e.g., a three-way valve 34) is arranged between the second branch 22 and the auxiliary circuit 28. It should be understood that the three-way valve 34 constitutes a junction between the second branch 22 and the auxiliary circuit 28, which enables the main circuit 14 to supply the consumer 26 with gas evaporated from the cryogenic liquid G. To this end, the three-way valve 34 is located between the divergence point 18 and the low-capacity compressor 24. Alternatively, the valve may include two two-way valves.

[0061] As previously mentioned, the main circuit 14 is formed by at least one pipe having a larger diameter than the pipes involved in forming the auxiliary circuit 28. In order to ensure that the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G conveyed by the main circuit 14 is supplied to the low-capacity compressor 24 at a suitable temperature and pressure, the storage and treatment facility 1 comprises a branch 36 that cools the second branch 22 with the cryogenic liquid LC upstream of the three-way valve 34. More precisely, this branch 36 extends between a first end of the second branch 22 connected in the vicinity of the three-way valve 34 and a second end leading to the tank 4. The end leading to the tank 4 is, for example, located in the bottom region of the tank, in the vicinity of the bottom wall 6. This second end is equipped with a pump 38 that sucks the cryogenic liquid LC and conveys it to the second branch 22. The purpose of the branch 36 is to cool, by means of this cryogenic liquid LC, the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G that has circulated in the main circuit 14 and its second branch 22. For this purpose, a heat exchanger is located between the second branch 22 and the branch 36 , each of these branches 22 , 36 constituting a heat exchanger channel.

[0062] Although not shown in the figure, as described above, the main circuit 14 may include a heat exchanger separate from the heat exchanger. Then, the heat exchanger is designed to adapt to the temperature of the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G circulating in the main circuit 14, so as to supply it to the high-capacity compressor 16 at the temperature and pressure required for the proper operation of the high-capacity compressor 16. Therefore, such a heat exchanger is arranged between the tank 4 and the high-capacity compressor 16, or between the three-way valve 32 and the high-capacity compressor 16.

[0063] In contrast, the auxiliary circuit 24 has no heat exchanger. It is therefore directly connected to the low-capacity compressor 24, either from the gas dome 8 or from the three-way valve 32. Therefore, the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G circulating in the auxiliary circuit 24 is not intended to acquire calories other than those that may be generated by its circulation in the auxiliary circuit pipe 28, this acquisition of calories also being limited by the above-mentioned thermal isolation of the auxiliary circuit 28. It should be understood here that no heat exchange means are arranged on the auxiliary circuit 28. In particular, the main circuit 14 and the auxiliary circuit 28 are thermally independent. There is no heat exchange between the two circuits 14, 28; for example, the main circuit 14 and the auxiliary circuit 28 do not constitute a passage for a heat exchanger to be arranged between the two circuits 14, 18.

[0064] The use of high capacity compressor 16 and low capacity compressor 24 depends on the operations performed by storage and processing facility 1. For example, high capacity compressor 16 and low capacity compressor 24 are both located in the same area of ​​floating structure 2, filling the compressor room of floating structure 2.

[0065] The high-capacity compressor 16 is in operation when the loading and / or unloading operations performed within the storage and processing facility 1 include unloading the gas from the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G to the storage terminal 10. In other words, the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G contained in the tank 4 is directed to the storage terminal 10 via the main circuit 14 and therefore via the high-capacity compressor 16.

[0066] During the unloading of the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G to the storage terminal 10, the low-capacity compressor 24 may also be used, for example to supply the consumers 26, in order to maintain the electrical functions of the floating structure 2. For this purpose, the low-capacity compressor 24 and the consumers 26 are supplied from the main circuit 14 or from the auxiliary circuit 28, or from both circuits 14, 28 in the case where the main circuit 14 comprises a second branch 22 connecting the auxiliary circuit 28.

[0067] This unloading operation of the gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G may be simultaneous with or preceded by an operation of loading the cryogenic liquid LC from the storage terminal 10 to the tank 4 of the storage and treatment facility 1 , which loading operation then involves the auxiliary circuit 12 .

[0068] Outside of loading and / or unloading operations, i.e. in particular when the floating structure 2 is at sea, the high capacity compressor 16 is shut down, since it is no longer in fluid communication with the storage terminal 10. During such sea voyages, only the low capacity compressor 24 is used. This low capacity compressor 24 is preferably powered by the auxiliary circuit 28, but in some embodiments both the main circuit 14 and the auxiliary circuit 28 supply power to the consumer 26 via the low capacity compressor 24.

[0069] Figure 2A floating structure 2 is shown, which comprises a leakproof and insulated tank 4. It has a generally prismatic shape and is mounted in a double hull 40 of the floating structure 2, which may be a ship or a floating platform. The wall of the tank 4 comprises a primary sealing barrier intended to be in contact with a cryogenic liquid LC contained in the tank 4, a secondary sealing barrier arranged between the primary sealing barrier and the double hull 40 of the tank, and two thermal insulation barriers arranged between the primary sealing barrier and the secondary sealing barrier and between the secondary sealing barrier and the double hull 40, respectively. In a simplified version, the floating structure 2 comprises a single hull.

[0070] The loading / unloading pipes 42 arranged on the upper deck of the floating structure 2 can be connected to the storage terminal 10 by means of suitable connectors in order to transfer or transfer cargo of cryogenic liquid LC and / or gas resulting from evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G from the tank 4 to the tank 4. It should be understood that in the case of loading the cryogenic liquid LC from the storage terminal 10 to the tank 4 of the floating structure 2, these loading / unloading pipes 42 correspond to the auxiliary loop 12, while in the case of unloading the gas resulting from evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G from the floating structure 2 to the storage terminal 10, the loading / unloading pipes 42 correspond to the main loop 14.

[0071] Figure 2 Also shown is a storage terminal 10, which includes a loading and / or unloading station 44, an underwater pipeline 46 and an onshore facility 48. The loading and / or unloading station 44 is a fixed offshore facility having a mobile arm 50 and a tower 52 supporting the mobile arm 50. The mobile arm 50 carries a bundle of insulating flexible pipes 54, which can be connected to the loading / unloading pipeline 42. The mobile arm 50 is adjustable and adapts to all floating structure templates 2. Connecting pipelines (not shown) extend inside the tower 52. The loading and / or unloading station 44 enables the floating structure 2 to be loaded and / or unloaded from the storage terminal 10 to the storage terminal 10, which includes a storage tank 56 for a cryogenic liquid LC and / or a gas generated by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G and a connecting pipeline 58 connected to the loading and / or unloading station 44 via an underwater pipeline 46. The underwater pipeline 46 allows the cryogenic liquid LC and / or the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G to be transferred between the loading station or unloading station 44 and the floating structure 2 over a long distance, for example five kilometers, which allows the floating structure 2 to be maintained at a long distance from the coast during loading and / or unloading operations.

[0072] To generate the pressure required to transport the cryogenic liquid LC and / or the gas generated by evaporation of the cryogenic liquid G, pumps on the floating structure 2 and / or pumps attached to the onshore facility 48 and / or pumps attached to the loading and unloading station 44 are used.

[0073] The descriptions have been directed to floating structures 2; however, they are also applicable to onshore structures.

[0074] The invention therefore proposes a storage and treatment facility in which the gas resulting from the evaporation of a cryogenic liquid is conveyed to the consumers of the storage and treatment facility via a dedicated circuit, thereby limiting the pressure losses of this gas resulting from the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid.

[0075] However, the invention is not limited to the devices and configurations described and shown here, and the invention also extends to any equivalent devices or configurations and any combination of technologies using such devices.

Claims

1. A storage and treatment facility for storing and treating gases produced by evaporation of a cryogenic liquid (G), comprising: at least one tank (4) configured to contain both the cryogenic liquid (LC) and the gas produced by evaporation of the cryogenic liquid (G); at least one consumer (26) consuming at least the fuel prepared from the gas produced by evaporation of the cryogenic liquid (G); a high capacity compressor (16) designed to be connected to a cryogenic liquid (LC) storage terminal (10); and a low-capacity compressor (24) for supplying fuel to the consumer (26); the storage and processing facility comprises a main circuit (14) connecting the head of the tank (4) to the high-capacity compressor (16) and an auxiliary circuit (28) arranged at least partially in fluid parallel with the main circuit (14), the auxiliary circuit (28) being configured to supply the gas produced by the evaporation of the cryogenic liquid (G) directly to the low-capacity compressor (24).

2. The storage and processing facility according to claim 1, wherein: The primary circuit (14) and the secondary circuit (28) are thermally independent.

3. A storage and processing facility according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The auxiliary circuit (28) is connected to the main circuit (14) at the outlet of the head of the tank (4).

4. Storage and treatment facility according to claim 3, comprising at least one valve (32) arranged at the separation between the primary circuit (14) and the auxiliary circuit (28).

5. A storage and processing facility according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein: The auxiliary circuit (28) is directly connected to the gas dome (8) of the tank (4).

6. A storage and processing facility according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The nominal diameter of the pipes forming the primary circuit (14) is between 300 mm and 600 mm.

7. A storage and processing facility according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The nominal diameter of the pipes forming the auxiliary circuit (28) is between 100 mm and 250 mm.

8. A storage and processing facility according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The auxiliary circuit (28) is thermally isolated.

9. A storage and processing facility according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The main circuit (14) comprises a divergence point (18) between a first branch (20) dedicated to the supply of gas resulting from the evaporation of cryogenic liquid (G) of the high-capacity compressor (16) and a second branch (22) connected to the auxiliary circuit (28) via at least one valve (34).

10. The storage and processing facility of claim 9, wherein: The valve (34) is arranged between the divergence point (18) and the low capacity compressor (24).

11. Storage and treatment facility according to any of the preceding claims in combination with claim 9, comprising a branch (36) configured to cool the second branch (22) from cryogenic liquid (LC) taken from the tank (4).

12. The storage and processing facility according to any of the preceding claims, comprises an auxiliary circuit (12) dedicated to filling the tank (4) with a cryogenic liquid (LC), the auxiliary circuit (12) being configured to connect the storage terminal (10) to the bottom area of ​​the tank (4).

13. A floating structure (2) for transporting and / or storing cryogenic liquids (LC) and gases generated by evaporation of cryogenic liquids (G), comprising a storage and processing facility (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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