Sealed and heat insulated tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulated can comprising a sealing membrane (10) comprising a plurality of strakes (11) comprising at least one longitudinal corrugation (13) projecting towards the interior of the can, the can wall comprising a corner beam (30) comprising a first and a second lateral flange (31, 32) connected to each other at a sealing connection region (33), at least one of the first lateral flange and the second lateral flange of the corner beam (30) includes a receiving strip (34) extending away from the connection region, where a distal end portion (34A) of the receiving strip is welded to an end portion (15) of the strake and has a corrugated portion (35), and the corrugated portion (35) is connected to the end portion (15) of the strake. The corrugated portions are arranged to align with the longitudinal corrugations to terminate the longitudinal corrugations at a distance from the connection region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating membrane tanks. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of sealed and thermally insulating tanks for the storage and / or transport of cryogenic liquids, such as tanks for the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at about -162°C at atmospheric pressure, liquid hydrogen (LH2) at -253°C at atmospheric pressure, ammonia (NH3) at -30°C at atmospheric pressure, or liquefied petroleum gas (also known as LPG) at a temperature between, for example, -50°C and 0°C. These tanks can be installed on land or on floating structures. In the case of floating structures, the tanks can be used to transport liquefied gas or to receive liquefied gas used as fuel to propel the floating structure. In the case of onshore tanks or dock storage structures, the tanks can be placed on the ground or on the seabed and can be partially or completely buried underground. Background Art

[0002] For example, WO2021074435 discloses a sealed and thermally insulated tank incorporated into a dock structure, the tank comprising a first tank wall fixed to a first load-bearing wall and a second tank wall fixed to a second load-bearing wall, the second load-bearing wall being connected to the first load-bearing wall at an edge corner of the load-bearing structure, wherein each of the first tank wall and the second tank wall comprises at least one sealing film and an insulating barrier disposed between the sealing film and the load-bearing wall. The sealing film comprises a plurality of strakes made of an alloy having a low expansion coefficient, the strakes having a flat central portion and two edges folded upward, the central portion being disposed on the top surface of the insulating barrier, the two edges folded upward protruding toward the interior of the tank relative to the central portion, the strakes being juxtaposed and welded together in a sealing manner at the edges folded upward.

[0003] The tank wall further comprises a metal angle beam arranged parallel to the edge corner and anchored to the first load-bearing wall and the second load-bearing wall, the angle beam comprising a first flat flange parallel to the first load-bearing wall and a second flat flange parallel to the second load-bearing wall, the two flat flanges being rigidly connected to each other at a sealing connection area forming a corner of the sealing membrane, each of the first flat flange and the second flat flange having a receiving strip extending from the connection area away from the edge corner. In the tank, the end portion of the strake of the sealing membrane is welded to the distal end portion of the receiving strip. Summary of the invention

[0004] One idea of ​​the present invention is to provide a sealed and heat-insulated tank, in which the sealing membrane can be manufactured to have high reliability and long life.

[0005] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a sealed and insulated tank, which is incorporated into a load-bearing structure, the load-bearing structure comprising a first load-bearing wall and a second load-bearing wall connected to the first load-bearing wall at an edge corner of the load-bearing structure, the tank comprising a first tank wall fixed to the first load-bearing wall and a second tank wall fixed to the second load-bearing wall,

[0006] wherein at least one or each of the first tank wall and the second tank wall comprises at least one sealing membrane and an insulating barrier disposed between the sealing membrane and the corresponding load-bearing wall,

[0007] wherein the sealing membrane comprises a plurality of strakes, the strakes comprising a flat portion arranged on the inner surface of the insulating barrier and at least one longitudinal corrugated portion projecting towards the interior of the tank relative to the flat portion of the strakes, the longitudinal corrugated portion or each longitudinal corrugated portion being spaced apart from a longitudinal edge of the strakes, the strakes being juxtaposed and welded together in a sealing manner at said longitudinal edge,

[0008] The tank wall comprises a metal angle beam arranged parallel to the edge corner of the load-bearing structure and anchored to the first load-bearing wall and the second load-bearing wall, the angle beam comprising a first lateral flange parallel to the first load-bearing wall and a second lateral flange parallel to the second load-bearing wall, the two lateral flanges being connected to each other at a sealed connection area, at least one or each of the first and second lateral flanges of the angle beam comprising a receiving strip extending away from the connection area,

[0009] Therein, the end portion of the strake is welded to the distal portion of the receiving strip, and the receiving strip of at least one lateral flange or each lateral flange has a corrugated portion, which is arranged to align with the longitudinal corrugation of the strake, thereby terminating the longitudinal corrugation at a distance from the connection area.

[0010] By means of the corrugated portion of the receiving strip which receives the longitudinal corrugations and terminates them in a sealed manner by connection with the flat portion of the receiving strip, the length of the longitudinal corrugations along the strake can be maximized. Thus, the flexibility of the corresponding sealing membrane introduced by the presence of the longitudinal corrugations is optimized.

[0011] By virtue of these features, the secondary and / or primary membrane has an appropriate flexibility, enabling the secondary and / or primary membrane to withstand the thermal and mechanical stresses experienced when used in a tank wall. The resulting tank is particularly strong.

[0012] Furthermore, it is possible to use strakes which do not have longitudinal edges turned up towards the inside of the tank. This makes it possible to avoid the generation of mechanical stress concentrations at the junction between the turned-up edges of the strakes and the flat flanges of the corner beams.

[0013] Preferably, the strakes are parallel, each strake is in the form of a metal strip elongated in the longitudinal direction, each strake has a uniform profile in the longitudinal direction, and each longitudinal corrugation extends in the longitudinal direction of the strake.

[0014] According to one embodiment, at least one of the first and second lateral flanges of the angle beam comprises a connection portion belonging to a sealed connection area, and a receiving strip welded to the connection portion; the receiving strip extends from the connection area away from the connection portion.

[0015] According to some embodiments, such a tank may include one or more of the following features.

[0016] According to one embodiment, at least one of the corrugated portions or each of the corrugated portions is formed in one piece with the receiving strip, for example by pressing.

[0017] By virtue of these features, the number of components required in the manufacture of the membrane can be limited.

[0018] According to one embodiment, at least one of the corrugated portions or each of the corrugated portions comprises an attachment piece which is attached to the flat portion of the receiving strip of the lateral flange.

[0019] By virtue of these features, the manufacture of the receiving strip does not involve pressing.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the corrugated portion has a shape suitable for covering the longitudinal ends of the longitudinal corrugations and extending the corrugated portion along the lateral flange in the direction of the connection area.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the insulating barrier comprises insulating blocks and each strake comprises a longitudinal attachment element designed to cooperate in a constraining manner with the insulating blocks of the insulating barrier so as to constrain the strake in the thickness direction of the tank wall while allowing the strake to move in the longitudinal direction of the strake.

[0022] By virtue of these features, the flexibility of the sealing membrane is improved while ensuring that the strakes are mounted in a sealed manner.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the attachment element extends along the first longitudinal edge of the strake and comprises a portion of the first longitudinal edge of the strake that is bent back towards the insulation barrier and extends as a protrusion from the flat portion of the strake.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the attachment element is welded to the first longitudinal edge of the strake. It will be appreciated that the separation of the attachment element from the strake facilitates positioning the strake along the length of the tank by first positioning the attachment element in cooperation with the insulating block, then positioning the strake and welding the first longitudinal edge of the strake to the attachment element.

[0025] By virtue of these features, each strake can be attached to the insulation barrier below.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the strake includes a lip along its second longitudinal edge, which extends as a protrusion protruding from the flat part of the strake in a direction opposite to the attachment element of the first longitudinal edge, and the lip covers a part of the flat part of the adjacent strake, and the covered part extends along the first longitudinal edge of the adjacent strake.

[0027] By virtue of these features, each strake can be welded to the adjacent strakes.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the attachment element is received in a groove which is formed in the insulation barrier and is open on the inner surface.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the attachment element cooperates in a captive manner with a surface of a wall of the groove, or the attachment element cooperates in a captive manner with an additional captive element inserted into the groove.

[0030] According to one embodiment, a portion of the attachment element is received in a groove formed in a lateral face of an insulating block, the insulating block forming the insulating barrier.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the attachment element is received in a space separating two adjacent insulating blocks.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the attachment element cooperates in a constraining manner with a complementary attachment element extending in the space separating two adjacent insulating blocks.

[0033] According to one embodiment, each strake comprises one or two longitudinal corrugations.

[0034] As a variant, a number of corrugations greater than two is conceivable.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the angle beam comprises at least two supporting flanges connected to each of the first load-bearing wall and the second load-bearing wall, said supporting flanges being arranged substantially along the continuation of the lateral flanges of the angle beam.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the strakes are made of an alloy of iron and nickel, the coefficient of expansion of the alloy is generally less than or equal to 2×10 -6K -1 , for example, made of an alloy known as "Invar". According to another embodiment, the strakes are made of an alloy of iron and manganese, the coefficient of expansion of which is less than or equal to 9×10 -6 K -1 . This alloy generally reduces costs.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the width of the strakes of the sealing membrane is equal to the width of the insulating blocks of the corresponding insulating barrier, or the width of the strakes of the sealing membrane is equal to half the width of the insulating blocks of the corresponding insulating barrier.

[0038] The above structure can be used to form a secondary sealing membrane and / or a primary sealing membrane of a can that is sealed and thermally insulated.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the sealing membrane constitutes a secondary sealing membrane and is covered by the primary insulating barrier and the primary sealing membrane. The primary sealing membrane may be similar to the secondary sealing membrane or may have a different structure. According to one embodiment, the primary membrane comprises a plurality of primary strakes, the primary strakes comprising a flat portion arranged on the inner surface of the primary insulating barrier and two primary longitudinally folded-up edges protruding towards the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion of the primary strakes. According to another embodiment, the primary membrane comprises two corrugations in secant directions.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the primary sealing membrane comprises a plurality of primary strakes, the primary strakes comprising a flat portion arranged on the inner surface of the primary insulating barrier and at least one primary longitudinal corrugated portion protruding towards the interior of the tank relative to the flat portion of the primary strakes, the primary longitudinal corrugated portion or each primary longitudinal corrugated portion being spaced apart from the longitudinal edges of the primary strakes, the primary strakes being juxtaposed and welded together in a sealing manner at the longitudinal edges, the metal angle beam further comprising a first primary lateral flange parallel to the first load-bearing wall and a second primary lateral flange parallel to the second load-bearing wall, the two The primary lateral flanges are connected to each other at a primary sealing connection area, and at least one or each of the first primary lateral flange and the second primary lateral flange of the angle beam has a receiving strip, which extends away from the primary sealing connection area, wherein the distal end portion of the receiving strip of the primary lateral flange of the angle beam is welded to the end portion of the primary strake of the primary sealing membrane, and the receiving strip of the primary lateral flange has a corrugated portion, which is arranged to align with the primary longitudinal corrugation of the primary strake, thereby terminating the primary longitudinal corrugation at a distance from the primary sealing connection area.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the corner beam further comprises a primary lateral flange and a primary supporting flange, the primary supporting flange being connected to each of the first load bearing wall and the second load bearing wall and being arranged substantially along the continuation of the primary lateral flange of the corner beam.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the sealing membrane constitutes a primary sealing membrane and the insulation barrier constitutes a primary insulation barrier, and the tank wall comprises a secondary insulation barrier and a secondary sealing membrane arranged between the primary insulation barrier and the load bearing structure.

[0043] The secondary sealing membrane may be similar to the primary sealing membrane, or may have a different structure.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a ship for transporting fluids, the ship comprising a catamaran and the tank as described above arranged in the catamaran.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a system for transporting fluid, which includes a ship as described above, an isolated pipeline arranged to connect a tank installed in the ship to an onshore or floating storage facility, and a pump, which is used to drive the fluid to flow from the onshore or floating storage facility through the isolated pipeline to the tank on the ship, or to drive the fluid to flow from the tank on the ship through the isolated pipeline to the onshore or floating storage facility.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a method for loading or unloading a ship as described above, wherein the fluid is transported from an onshore or floating storage facility through an isolated pipeline to a tank on the ship, or the fluid is transported from a tank on the ship through an isolated pipeline to an onshore or floating storage facility. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The invention will be better understood and further objects, details, features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting examples only, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Figure 1 is a schematic partial perspective view of a corner region of a sealed and thermally insulated tank according to a first embodiment, showing portions of a secondary insulation barrier and a secondary sealing membrane;

[0049] Figure 2 is based on Figure 1 A schematic partial perspective view of a connection region of a sealed and thermally insulating tank wall connecting a strake to a lateral flange of an angle beam according to a variant of the first embodiment of the invention, wherein only one longitudinal corrugation is provided per strake;

[0050] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 or Figure 2 Detailed schematic diagram of

[0051] Figure 4 yes Figure 1A schematic cross-sectional view of a tank wall of FIG. 1 showing the strakes of the secondary sealing membrane during the fitting process;

[0052] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An enlarged schematic diagram of the details of the tank wall after the strakes have been fitted;

[0053] Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Fig. 9 is an enlarged schematic diagram of a tank wall shown in cross section according to a modification of the first embodiment;

[0054] Fig.10 yes Figure 1 A schematic partial perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention showing portions of the primary and secondary insulation barriers and portions of the primary and secondary sealing membranes;

[0055] Fig.11 is a schematic partial perspective view of a corner region of a sealed and thermally insulated tank according to a second embodiment, showing a portion of a secondary insulating barrier and a portion of a secondary sealing membrane;

[0056] Fig.12 yes Fig.11 An enlarged schematic diagram of components of a tank;

[0057] Fig.13 is another schematic partial perspective view of a corner region of a sealed and thermally insulated tank according to a second embodiment;

[0058] Fig.14 is a partial perspective view of a corner region of a sealed and thermally insulated tank according to a third embodiment;

[0059] Fig.15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a methane carrier and a dock for loading / unloading the vessel.

[0060] Fig.16 , Fig.17 and Fig.18 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a tank wall according to other modifications of the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] The accompanying drawings depict various embodiments of sealed and thermally insulated tanks. The same or corresponding tank elements depicted in these figures will be indicated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0062] Figure 1 , Fig.10 , Fig.11 , Fig.13 and Fig.14A first embodiment of a sealed and thermally insulated tank for storing and / or transporting cryogenic liquids is depicted. Figure 1 and Fig.10 )、Second Embodiment ( Fig.11 and Fig.13 ) and the third embodiment ( Fig.14 ), for example a tank for transporting liquefied petroleum gas (also called LPG) at a temperature between -50°C and 0°C, for example, or a tank for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) at approximately -162°C at atmospheric pressure.

[0063] The fluid is especially a cryogenic fluid for cryogenic transportation. The fluid may be a liquefied gas, especially liquefied natural gas (LNG), i.e. a gaseous mixture mainly comprising methane and one or more other hydrocarbons and a small amount of nitrogen, the other hydrocarbons being, for example, ethane, propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, and neopentane.

[0064] The liquefied gas may also be ethane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a mixture of hydrocarbons produced by refining petroleum and comprising essentially propane and butane.

[0065] Alternatively, the liquefied gas may be liquid hydrogen (LH2) stored at -253°C at atmospheric pressure, or ammonia (NH3) stored at -30°C at atmospheric pressure.

[0066] The sealed and thermally insulated tank is incorporated into a load bearing structure 4. The load bearing structure 4 comprises a plurality of load bearing walls 1, 2 which define the overall shape of the tank, which is generally a polyhedral shape. The load bearing structure 4 comprises in particular a first load bearing wall 1 and a second load bearing wall 2 which meet with the first load bearing wall at an edge corner 3 of the load bearing structure 4 and form a dihedral angle which may have different values. Here, an angle of 90° is shown.

[0067] The load bearing structure of the tank here comprises the inner hull of a catamaran vessel. The first load bearing wall 1 is, for example, a bottom wall, and the second load bearing wall 2 is, for example, a transverse bulkhead which partially defines a compartment within the inner hull of the vessel.

[0068] The tank comprises a first tank wall fixed to a first load-bearing wall 1 and a second tank wall fixed to a second load-bearing wall 2 .

[0069] Each of the first tank wall 1 and the second tank wall 2 comprises at least one sealing membrane 10 and an insulating barrier 20 between the sealing membrane 10 and the corresponding load-bearing wall 1 , 2 .

[0070] Figure 1 , Fig.10 and Fig.11 Only the first tank wall is shown. Fig.13 and Fig.14 A portion of the second tank wall is shown. The second tank wall may be identical to the first tank wall depicted and described, except that the second tank wall extends parallel to the second load bearing wall 2 rather than parallel to the first load bearing wall 1 as the first tank wall does. Only the first tank wall will be described below.

[0071] As a variant, it is conceivable that the second tank wall exhibits different characteristics.

[0072] As in the various embodiments shown and described below, the insulation barrier 20 may constitute a secondary insulation barrier 20 and the sealing membrane 10 may constitute a secondary sealing membrane 10. The secondary insulation barrier 20 is restrained on the load bearing walls 1,2 and the secondary sealing membrane 10 is arranged against the secondary insulation barrier 20.

[0073] Each tank wall in the first embodiment, the second embodiment and the third embodiment described below further includes a primary sealing film 10' for contacting with the cryogenic liquid and a primary insulating barrier 20' arranged between the primary sealing film 10' and the secondary sealing film 10. The primary insulating barrier 20' is constrained to abut against the secondary sealing film 10. In the case where the tank wall is fixed to the first load bearing wall 1, Fig.10 and Fig.14 Portions of the primary sealing film 10' and portions of the primary insulating barrier 20' are shown. The primary sealing film 10' and the primary insulating barrier 20' are optional. As described below, in the first and second embodiments, the primary stage of each tank wall including the primary insulating barrier 20', the primary sealing film 10', and the structural elements attaching the primary insulating barrier 20' and the primary sealing film 10' to the corresponding corner beams is the same as the secondary stage of each tank wall including the secondary insulating barrier 20, the secondary sealing film 10, and the structural elements attaching the secondary insulating barrier 20 and the secondary sealing film 10 to the corresponding corner beams.

[0074] As a variant, it is possible to envisage that only a primary or secondary layer of the tank wall exhibits the characteristics described below, while another stage exhibits different characteristics, for example according to the prior art. Fig.14In the third embodiment described, the primary membrane 10' is different from the secondary membrane 10 and does not have longitudinal corrugations. The primary membrane here comprises a plurality of primary strakes, each of which comprises a flat portion arranged on the inner surface 21' of the primary insulating barrier 20' and two primary longitudinal turned-up edges 418' projecting towards the interior of the tank relative to the flat portion of the primary strakes.

[0075] The primary insulating barrier 20' and / or the secondary insulating barrier 20 are formed using a juxtaposition of insulating blocks 22, 22'. These insulating blocks 22, 22' generally have a parallelepiped shape with two main face portions 21A, 21B which are parallel to the load bearing walls 1, 2 to which the corresponding tank walls are fixed. The two main face portions 21A, 21B are connected by lateral face portions 21C ( Figure 4 The insulating blocks 22, 22' of each insulating barrier are aligned with each other in a regular pattern and define spaces 28 filled with insulating seals between the insulating blocks ( Figure 4 and Fig. 9 In the first and third embodiments, the limiting members 50 are arranged at the corners of the insulating blocks 22 and 22'. Figure 4 ), the limiting members 50 anchor the four adjacent insulating blocks 22 in the corresponding load bearing wall 1.

[0076] Such a limiting member 50 can be produced in various ways and is described in more detail in, for example, document WO2019 / 110894.

[0077] Each limiting member 50 includes a stud passing through a hole 11A formed to penetrate through the strakes 11, 11' of the secondary sealing membrane 10. The stud has a flange welded around the hole at its periphery to ensure sealing of the secondary sealing membrane 10. The secondary sealing membrane 10 is sandwiched between the flange of the stud and the load distribution plate of the limiting member 50.

[0078] Each restraining member 50 is anchored to the load bearing wall.

[0079] The main face portion 21A, 21A′ of the insulating block facing the interior of the tank forms the inner surface 21 , 21 ′ of the primary insulating barrier 20 ′ or the secondary insulating barrier 20 .

[0080] The insulating blocks 22, 22' can be produced in different ways. Each insulating block 22, 22' comprises, for example, a bottom plate 23 and a cover plate 24, and at least one thermal insulating foam layer 25 ( Figure 4). This is the case in the first and second embodiments. Such insulating blocks can be produced in various ways and are described in more detail in document WO2021239767, for example.

[0081] The foam layer 25 is located between the cover plate 24 and the bottom plate 23 .

[0082] The base plate 23 and cover plate 24 are bonded to one or more foam layers 25 .

[0083] The heat insulating foam is, for example, polyurethane foam, optionally glass-fiber reinforced polyurethane foam, for example having a heat resistance of about 130 kg·m -3 Or even greater density polyurethane foam.

[0084] The foam layer 25 has a plurality of holes at each corner thereof for receiving Figure 1 and Figure 4 The recess of the limiting member 50 can be seen in FIG.

[0085] The insulating blocks 22, 22' may also be made of a box-like member filled with insulating material, for example Fig.14 As shown in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0086] At the corner between the two tank walls, the secondary sealing membrane 10 of the two tank walls and the primary sealing membrane 10' of the two tank walls are connected in a sealed manner by a connecting ring in the form of a corner beam 30, 330, 430, which can absorb the tensile forces caused by thermal contraction, deformation of the hull at sea and movement of the cargo. Possible structures of the corner beams 30, 330, 430 are further described, for example, in FR2549575 or WO2021074435.

[0087] exist Figure 1 A first embodiment and Fig.14 In a third embodiment of the invention, the angle beam 30, 430 comprises four cross-shaped metal profile parts connected, for example, by metal plates to form a square section tube 36, 436. The square section tube 36, 436 is connected to the first load bearing wall 1 by means of first anchoring flanges 37A, 37B and to the second load bearing wall 2 by means of second anchoring flanges 37C, 37D. The first anchoring flanges 37A, 37B extend parallel to the second load bearing wall 2 and the second anchoring flanges 37C, 37D extend parallel to the first load bearing wall 1. The first anchoring flanges and the second anchoring flanges anchor the angle beam 30, 430 to the load bearing structure 4.

[0088] In order to form the corner beam 30, 430 along the entire length of the edge corner 3, it is preferred to use several continuous sections, the length of the section is suitable for the processing conditions, for example, the length of each section is 1 meter to 3 meters, such as Figure 1 shown.

[0089] Insulation members are also preferably provided, these being housed between the load bearing wall and the corner beam and / or, when the corner beam is in the form of a square-section tube, being housed inside the corner beam.

[0090] The secondary sealing membrane 10 includes a plurality of secondary strakes 11 , 411 assembled to each other in a sealed manner, and the primary sealing membrane 10 ′ includes a plurality of primary strakes 11 ′, 411 ′ assembled to each other in a sealed manner.

[0091] Each secondary strake 11, 411 and each primary strake 11', 411' is in the form of a metal strip that is elongated in the longitudinal direction D. The metal strip is defined by two longitudinal edges 14A, 14B, 14A', 14B', 414A, 414B, 414A', 414B' extending parallel to the longitudinal direction D of the secondary strake 11, 411 or the primary strake 11', 411' and by two end edges 15, 16, 15', 16', 415, 415' extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction D.

[0092] Each primary strake 11 ′, 411 ′ or secondary strake 11 , 411 may extend in the longitudinal direction D over a length of several tens of meters and perpendicularly thereto over a width between 40 cm and 1.5 m, for example equal to the width of the insulating block 22 or equal to half the width of the insulating block 22 .

[0093] Preferably, each strake extends longitudinally over the entire dimension of the tank wall to which it belongs and extends from a tank wall adjacent to the relevant tank wall to another tank wall adjacent to the relevant tank wall.

[0094] The secondary strakes 11, 411 and the primary strakes 11', 411' are juxtaposed parallel to each other and welded together in a sealed manner at said longitudinal edges 14A, 14B, 14A', 14B', 414A, 414B, 414A', 414B' as will be described in more detail later.

[0095] The strakes 11, 11', 411, 411' are made of Made of iron and nickel alloy, the expansion coefficient of the alloy is usually less than or equal to 2 × 10 -6 K -1 , preferably between 1.2×10 -6 K -1 With 2×10 -6 K -1In this case, the strakes may, for example, have a thickness of the order of 0.7 millimeters (mm). As a variant, the strakes may be made of an alloy of iron and manganese, the coefficient of expansion of which is generally less than or equal to 9×10 -6 K -1 , preferably between 7×10 -6 K -1 With 9×10 -6 K -1 In the case of a tank for a ship, the strakes preferably extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ship.

[0096] In the first and second embodiments described here, the primary sealing membrane 10' is similar to the secondary sealing membrane 10. The strakes of the two membranes are preferably made of an iron alloy with a high manganese content, the expansion coefficient of which is generally less than or equal to 9×10 -6 K -1 , preferably between 7×10 -6 K -1 With 9×10 -6 K -1 between.

[0097] Each of the secondary strakes 11 and the primary strakes 11' comprises a flat portion 12, 12' provided on the inner surface 21, 21' of the insulating barrier 20, 20' and at least one longitudinal corrugated portion 13, 13' protruding toward the inner side of the tank relative to the flat portion 12 of the strake 11. In the first and second embodiments, each of the secondary strakes 11 ( Figure 1 and Fig.11 ) or each primary strake 11'( Fig.10 ) is provided with two longitudinal corrugated portions 13, 13'. Figure 2 A variation of the first embodiment is shown in which each secondary strake 11 is provided with only one longitudinal corrugation 13 .

[0098] Preferably, one, two or more longitudinal corrugations are provided, excluding other corrugations extending in different directions. In other words, the strake comprises one or more corrugations extending only in the longitudinal direction.

[0099] The or each longitudinal corrugation 13, 13' is spaced from the longitudinal edge 14A, 14B, 14A', 14B' of the strake 11, 11'. In practice, each longitudinal corrugation 13, 13' is spaced from the longitudinal edge 14A, 14B, 14A', 14B' of the strake 11, 11', for example by at least 50 mm, for example 125 mm or 170 mm or 250 mm, depending on the number of corrugations per strake and the width of the strake, which is approximately 500 mm or 1000 mm.

[0100] The hole 11A in the strake through which the columnar portion of the restricting member 50 passes is located in the longitudinal middle region of the flat portion 12, 12' of the strake 11, 11'. The hole 11A is preferably located in the middle of the strake 11, 11' in the width direction and at a distance from one or more corrugated portions 13, 13' of the strake 11, 11'.

[0101] The columnar portion of the limiting member 50 protrudes above the corresponding column plates 11 , 11 ′ so as to fix the primary insulating barrier 20 ′.

[0102] In the third embodiment, the secondary strakes 411 of the secondary sealing membrane 10 have the above-mentioned features: the secondary strakes 411 include a flat portion 412 provided on the inner surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20 and at least one longitudinal corrugated portion 413 protruding toward the inside of the tank relative to the flat portion 412 of the strakes 11. Each strake 411 is provided with two longitudinal corrugated portions 413. In addition, the longitudinal edges 414A, 414B of each strake 411 are folded upward, that is, bent toward the inside of the tank.

[0103] The primary strakes 411 ′ of the primary sealing membrane 10 ′ of the third embodiment have no longitudinal corrugations and have longitudinal edges 414A′, 414B′ that are folded upward.

[0104] The angle beam 30, 330, 430 also comprises a first lateral flange 31, 331, 431 parallel to the first load bearing wall 1 and a second lateral flange 32 parallel to the second load bearing wall 2. These two lateral flanges enable attachment with a secondary sealing membrane 10.

[0105] The two lateral flanges 31 , 32 , 331 , 431 are connected to one another at a sealed connection area 33 , 333 , 433 of the angle beam 30 , 330 , 430 .

[0106] Furthermore, each strake 11 , 11 ′, 411 , 411 ′ has a constant transverse cross section in the longitudinal direction D. In other words, the transverse profile of each strake 11 , 11 ′, 411 , 411 ′ is uniform.

[0107] Arrangements of the secondary sealing films of the first and third embodiments are described below.

[0108] exist Figure 1 and Fig.10 A first embodiment and Fig.14In the third embodiment, there is provided a corner beam forming a square cross-section tube, and the sealed connection area 33, 433 has a stair-tread shape, which includes the metal plates of the corner beams 30, 430 forming the inner corners of the corner beams, which face the center of the tank, i.e., the connection parts 31A and 32A, and the two metal plates of the square cross-section tube extending and connecting the connection parts 31A and 32A. More details about the sealed connection area can be found in the publication WO2021074413.

[0109] Each lateral flange 31 , 32 , 431 of the angle beam 30 , 430 extends in the continuation of one of the anchoring flanges 37B, 37C of the angle beam 30 , 430 .

[0110] Each of the first and second lateral flanges 31, 32, 431 of the angle beam 30, 430 here comprises a connecting portion 31A, 32A, 431A produced by the formation of a square cross-section tube 36, 436 and a receiving strip 34, 434 welded to the connecting portion 31A, 32A, 431A, which extends away from the connecting area 33, 433 along the continuation of the corresponding connecting portion 31A, 32A, 431A. Figure 1 Only the portion of the receiving strip 34 of the lateral flange 31 which is parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1 is shown.

[0111] The receiving strips 34, 434 of the lateral flanges 31, 32, 431 of the angle beams 30, 430 are created as a series of fillers with end edges 34B, 434B which are continuously welded to the connecting portions 31A, 32A, 431A of the angle beams 30, 430 to absorb tensile loads.

[0112] The receiving strip 34, 434 comprises a flat portion 34C, 434C extending in the continuation of the corresponding connecting portion 31A, 32A, 431 and a distal portion 34A, 434A welded in a continuous and sealed manner to the end portion of the strake 11, 411. The distal portion 34A, 434A corresponds to the edge of the receiving strip 34, 434 opposite to the end edge 34B, 434B of the connecting portion 31A, 32A, 431A welded to the lateral flange 31, 32, 431 of the angle beam.

[0113] The distal portion 34A, 434A of the receiving strip 34, 434 covers the end edge 15, 415 of each strake 11, 411. For this purpose, the distal portion 34A, 434A forms a kerb whose height is substantially equal to the thickness of the strake 11, 411, so that the flat portion 34C, 434C of the receiving strip 34, 434 extends in the same plane as the flat portion of the strake 11, 411.

[0114] The end edge 15, 415 of each strake 11, 411 has a complex profile, since each longitudinal corrugation 13, 413 of a strake 11, 411 extends to this end edge 15, 415. The height of the longitudinal corrugations 13, 413 is constant along its entire length.

[0115] Therefore, the receiving strip 34, 434 of the lateral flange 31, 32, 431 has a corrugated part 35, 435, which is arranged to be aligned with the longitudinal corrugations 13, 413 of the strip plate 11, 411, so as to terminate the longitudinal corrugations 13, 413 at a distance from the connection area 33, 433.

[0116] Each corrugated portion 35, 435 extends from the distal portion 34A, 434A of the receiving strip towards the connecting portion of the angle beam 30, 430, and the distance extended is preferably greater than 70 mm and less than 800 mm. This distance is preferably less than half the width of the receiving strip, the width of which is measured between the free edge of the distal portion 34A, 434A and the end edge 34B, 434B.

[0117] The greater the width of the receiving strip, the greater the distance over which the corrugated portion 35, 435 extends. This enables the stresses in the direction parallel to the edge corner to be reduced.

[0118] Each corrugated portion 35 , 435 has a shape suitable for covering the longitudinal ends of the longitudinal corrugations 13 , 413 and for extending the corrugated portion along the lateral flanges 31 , 32 , 431 in the direction of the connection area 33 , 433 .

[0119] More specifically, and as in the case of the first embodiment Figure 3 As can be seen more specifically in FIG, the corrugated portion 35 of the receiving strip 34 can be formed simultaneously with the receiving strip 34. For example, the corrugated portion 35 is produced by pressing a metal plate forming the receiving strip 34. The receiving strip is made of, for example, one of the above-mentioned alloys of iron and nickel or iron and manganese.

[0120] The corrugated portion 35 of the receiving strip includes a first portion 35A along the distal end portion 34A of the receiving strip, the surface of the first portion 35A facing the strake having a shape suitable for hugging the contour of the longitudinal corrugation 13. The corrugated portion 35 also includes a second portion 35B that continuously connects the first portion 35A of the corrugated portion 35 to the flat portion 34C of the receiving strip 34.

[0121] The receiving strip 435 of the third embodiment can be produced in a similar manner.

[0122] As previously mentioned, the tank wall may comprise only a single insulating barrier and a single sealing membrane, as described above.

[0123] When the tank wall further comprises a primary insulation barrier 20' and a primary sealing film 10', the primary insulation barrier 20' and the primary sealing film 10' can be produced in a manner completely similar to the above-mentioned secondary insulation barrier 20 and the secondary sealing film 10, as shown in the first embodiment ( Fig.10 ). Fig.10 As shown, the primary insulating block 22' may be arranged in a manner aligned with the insulating blocks of the secondary insulating barrier 20. The primary insulating block 22' is fixed to the secondary sealing membrane 10.

[0124] The angle beam 30 then comprises two other lateral flanges parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1 and the second load-bearing wall 2 for attachment to the primary strakes 11 ′ of the primary membrane 10 ′.

[0125] The two lateral flanges are connected to one another at a sealed connection area 33 of the angle beam 30 and extend in the continuation of one of the anchoring flanges 37B, 37C of the angle beam 30 .

[0126] Each of the other lateral flanges comprises a primary connection portion 31A', 32A' formed by a square section tube 36 and a primary receiving strip 34' welded to the primary connection portion 31A', 32A', the primary receiving strip 34' extending from the connection area 33 along a continuation of the corresponding primary connection portion 31A', 32A' away from the connection area 33. Fig.11 Only the portion of the primary receiving strip 34 ′ of the other lateral flange which is parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1 is shown.

[0127] The primary receiving strip 34 ′ for the primary layer is produced in a similar manner to the receiving strip 34 for the secondary layer.

[0128] The primary sealing membrane 10' is produced in a similar manner to the secondary sealing membrane 10, as described previously, using a series of primary strakes 11' identical to the secondary strakes 11 of the secondary sealing membrane 10. The strakes 11' in particular comprise one or two longitudinal corrugations 13'.

[0129] Thus, the primary receiving strip 34' comprises a flat portion 34C' extending in the continuation of the corresponding primary connecting portion 31A', 32A' and a distal portion 34A' welded in a continuous and sealed manner to the end portion of the primary strake 11'. This distal portion 34A' corresponds to the edge of the primary receiving strip 34' opposite the end edge 34A' welded to the primary connecting portions 31A', 32A'.

[0130] The primary receiving strip 34 ′ has a corrugated portion 35 ′ which is arranged in alignment with the longitudinal corrugations 13 ′ of the primary strakes 11 ′ of the primary membrane 10 ′, terminating the longitudinal corrugations 13 ′ at a distance from the connection area 33 .

[0131] The fixing of the primary strakes 11 ′ of the primary sealing membrane 10 ′ to the insulating blocks of the primary insulating barrier can be similar to the fixing of the secondary strakes 11 , which will be referred to later. Figures 4 to 9 Give a description.

[0132] As a variant, the insulating blocks 22' of the primary insulating barrier 20' may be arranged in a quincunx pattern straddling four adjacent secondary insulating blocks. In this case, fixing elements protruding from the secondary insulating barrier are provided. For example, Fig.11 and Fig.13 This is the case in the second embodiment of FIG.

[0133] According to this second embodiment, the angle beam 330 comprises a single cross-shaped metal profile portion connected by anchoring flanges 337A, 337B to the first load-bearing wall 1 and to the second load-bearing wall 2 .

[0134] The angle beam 330 comprises a first lateral flange 331 parallel to the first load-bearing wall 1 and a second lateral flange 332 parallel to the second load-bearing wall 2 .

[0135] The two lateral flanges 331 , 332 are connected to one another at a sealed connection area 333 of the angle beam 330 .

[0136] exist Fig.11 In the case of the second embodiment, the connection region 333 corresponds to a corner of the cross-shaped profile section at which the lateral flanges 331 , 332 are connected.

[0137] Each lateral flange 331 , 332 of the angle beam 30 extends in continuation of one of the anchoring flanges 337B, 337C of the angle beam 330 .

[0138] Each of the first lateral flange 331 and the second lateral flange 332 of the angle beam 330 includes a connecting portion 331A, 332A resulting from the creation of a cross-shaped profile portion and a receiving strip 334 welded to the connecting portion 331A, 332A, the receiving strip 334 extending away from the connecting area 333 along the continuation of the corresponding connecting portion 331A, 332A.

[0139] The receiving strip 334 comprises a flat portion 334C extending in continuation of the corresponding connecting portion 331A, 332A and a distal portion 334A welded in a continuous and sealed manner to the end portion of the strake 11. This distal portion 334A corresponds to the edge of the receiving strip 334 opposite to the end edge 334B of the connecting portions 331A, 332A welded to the lateral flanges 331, 332 of the angle beam 330.

[0140] The secondary sealing membrane 10 comprises a plurality of secondary strakes 11 as described above, which are assembled to one another in a sealed manner.

[0141] As described above, each secondary strake 11 includes a flat portion 12 provided on the inner surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20 and at least one longitudinal corrugated portion 13, the flat portion 12 being provided and the longitudinal corrugated portion 13 protruding toward the interior of the tank relative to the flat portion 12 of the strake 11. Here, each secondary strake 11 is provided with two longitudinal corrugated portions 13.

[0142] In the second embodiment, the distal portion 334A of the receiving strip 334 extends here in the continuation of the flat portion 334C. This distal portion 334A is covered by the end edge 15 of each secondary strake 11. To this end, the end edge 15 of each secondary strake 11 forms a curb-like portion between two longitudinal corrugations 13. The height of this curb-like portion is substantially equal to the thickness of the flat portion of the receiving strip 334, so that the flat portion 334C of the receiving strip 334 extends in the same plane as the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11.

[0143] Furthermore, the receiving strips 334 of the lateral flanges 331 , 332 have a corrugated portion 335 which is arranged in alignment with the longitudinal corrugations 13 of the secondary strake 11 , terminating the longitudinal corrugations 13 at a distance from the connection region 333 .

[0144] Each corrugated portion 335 has a shape suitable for covering the longitudinal ends of the longitudinal corrugations 13 and for extending along the lateral flanges 331 , 332 in the direction of the connection area 333 .

[0145] More specifically, the corrugated portion 335 here comprises an attachment piece which is attached to the flat portion 334C of the receiving strip 334 of the lateral flanges 331 , 332. Fig.12 is shown in more detail in FIG.

[0146] The attachment comprises a horseshoe base 336 comprising a first flat portion 336A pressed against a flat portion 334C of a receiving strip 334, and a free edge 337 connected to the first flat portion 336A by a discontinuity 337A to form a curb. The free edge 337 covers the end edge 15 of the secondary strake 11 forming the curb, which end edge is not surrounded by one or more longitudinal corrugations 13.

[0147] The height of the discontinuity 337A is substantially equal to the thickness of the secondary strake 11 , so that the flat portion 336A of the base 336 extends in the same plane as the end edge of the secondary strake 11 .

[0148] The base portion 336 is continuously connected to a curved portion 338 designed to fit closely to the shape of the longitudinal corrugated portion 13 of the strake.

[0149] The free edge 337 and the bent portion 338 of the corrugated portion 335 are welded in a sealed manner to the end edge 15 of the secondary strake, whereas the first flat portion 336A of the base 336 of the corrugated portion 335 is welded to the receiving strip 334 .

[0150] This arrangement provides the same advantages as those provided by pressing the corrugated portion into the receiving strip. In addition, the arrangement can be realized without pressing the receiving strip, only additional components need to be added to form the corrugated portion.

[0151] In this second embodiment, the tank wall may also comprise a primary layer.

[0152] In this case, the corner beam 330 also includes a primary corner piece, such as described in WO2021074435. Each primary corner piece includes an insulating piece, which is in the form of a corner bracket: having two mutually perpendicular flanges, the thickness of which flanges is substantially equal to the thickness of the primary insulating barrier. The metal corner bracket is fixed to the upper surface of the insulating member along the corner portion. The insulating member can be made in various ways, such as in the form of solid plywood, one or more sandwich structural blocks made of one or more polymer foam layers and one or more rigid panels, which are made of plywood, for example; or in the form of one or more box-like members filled with insulating material. The metal corner bracket forms a first lateral flange and a second lateral flange of the corner beam comprising a column plate receiving strip.

[0153] In order to attach the primary insulating barrier 20 ′ and the primary sealing membrane 10 ′ (neither depicted), the threaded cylindrical portion 371 is carried by the receiving strip 334 to secure the primary corner piece (not depicted).

[0154] Attaching the primary corner piece using a threaded columnar portion can be done in various ways, for example as described in WO2018087466.

[0155] The threaded cylindrical portion 372 is also fixed to the secondary insulating block to form a restraining member for restraining the primary insulating block 22'.

[0156] exist Fig.14 In the third embodiment of the sealed and thermally insulated tank shown, the secondary strakes 411 and the primary strakes 411 ′ have upwardly folded edges 418 , 418 ′.

[0157] Both the secondary sealing membrane 10 and the primary sealing membrane 10' are composed of a series of parallel secondary strakes 411 and parallel primary strakes 411' made of Invar and having upwardly turned edges 418, 418' arranged to alternate with elongated welding supports 419, 419' also made of Invar. The welding supports 419, 419' are constrained to the lower insulating blocks 22, 22', respectively, for example by being received in grooves 417, 417' formed in the cover plates 24 of the insulating blocks 22, 22', so that the welding supports 419, 419' are constrained to the lower insulating blocks 22, 22', respectively.

[0158] The insulating blocks 22, 22' herein consist of, for example, box-like members filled with insulating materials such as perlite, rock wool or glass wool.

[0159] This alternating arrangement is formed over the entire surface of the tank wall and may involve extremely long lengths. Over these long lengths, the sealing weld can be formed in the form of a straight weld parallel to the tank wall, between the folded-up edges 418, 418' of the secondary strakes 411 and the primary strakes 411' and the welding supports 419, 419', which are placed between the folded-up edges 418, 418'.

[0160] The corner beam 430 is similar to the corner beam of the first embodiment.

[0161] The secondary strake 411 and the primary strake 411' having the upturned edges 418, 418' are not directly connected to the corner beam 430. As in the previous embodiment, the receiving strip 434 is placed between the upturned edges and the corner beam 430. The receiving strip 434, 434' has a flat portion and an end edge 434B, 434B', which is continuously welded to the connecting flange 431A of the corner beam 430 to absorb tensile forces. The receiving strip 434, 434' includes a plurality of filler strips having upturned edges 439, 439'. The upturned edges 439, 439' of the filler strips have a complex profile with an inclined portion and a subsequent horizontal portion, which gradually rises from the end edge 434B toward the strake 11, 11', and the height of the horizontal portion is equal to the height of the upturned edges of the strake. The filler strip is butt-welded via its edges so that the filler strip is continuous and sealed at the upper edge corners of the folded-up edges 439, 439'.

[0162] The structure of this wall is described in more detail in document FR2968284.

[0163] Here, each secondary strake 411 of the secondary membrane 10 comprises two corrugations 413 , and the receiving strip 434 for the secondary membrane 10 comprises a corrugated portion 435 terminating the longitudinal corrugations 413 .

[0164] The secondary film 10 of the tank is thus combined with the secondary strakes 411 having the folded-up edges 418 and the longitudinal corrugations 413 so that the secondary film has particularly good flexibility.

[0165] In all embodiments of the sealed and thermally insulated tank, use is made of secondary strakes 11 and / or primary strakes 11' comprising longitudinal corrugations along their entire length, this being achieved by the presence of corrugated portions terminating these longitudinal corrugations at the receiving strips, which provides a degree of flexibility to the secondary and / or primary membranes enabling them to withstand the thermal and mechanical stresses experienced in the tank wall when in use.

[0166] The length of the longitudinal corrugations 13, 413 along the strakes 11, 411 can be maximized by means of the corrugated portions 35, 335, 435 of the receiving strips 34, 334, 434, which receive the ends of the longitudinal corrugations 13, 413 and terminate them continuously by connecting with the flat portions 34C, 334C, 434C of the receiving strips 34, 334, 434. Thus, the flexibility of the corresponding sealing membrane introduced by the presence of the longitudinal corrugations is optimized.

[0167] In the first and second embodiments, it is also possible to use strakes that do not have longitudinal edges folded upwards towards the inside of the tank, thanks to the presence of longitudinal corrugations 13 along the entire length of the strakes 11 of the secondary sealing membrane 10. In this way, when the secondary strakes have longitudinal edges folded upwards, the stress concentrations observed at the junction between the secondary strakes and the receiving strips are limited.

[0168] There are various conceivable solutions for the assembly and sealing connection of secondary strakes 11 and / or primary strakes 11 ′ without an upwardly folded edge. Figures 4 to 9 and Figures 16 to 18 A variety of solutions are shown in and will be referred to below. Figure 1 The secondary strake 11 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0169] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, according to a first variant of the first embodiment, the width of each secondary strake 11 is equal to the width of the insulating blocks 22 of the secondary insulating barrier 20. Each secondary strake 11 is positioned astride two insulating blocks 22 and covers half of each insulating block 22.

[0170] In order to fix the secondary strakes 11 to the insulating blocks 22, the cover plate 24 of each insulating block 22 has a slot 26 formed in the inner surface 21 of the secondary insulating barrier 20. More specifically, the slot 26 is formed in the cover plate 24 of each insulating block 22. The slot 26 extends parallel to the longitudinal direction D of the secondary strakes 11 and has an inverted T-shaped profile in this case. Therefore, the slot 26 has the advantage of symmetry.

[0171] Each secondary strake 11 comprises a longitudinal attachment element 40 adapted to cooperate with the insulating blocks 22 of the secondary insulating barrier 20 to constrain the secondary strake 11 in the thickness direction of the tank wall while allowing the secondary strake 11 to move in the longitudinal direction D of the secondary strake 11 .

[0172] The attachment element 40 extends along the first longitudinal edge 14A of the secondary strake 11 and comprises a portion of the first longitudinal edge 14A of the secondary strake 11 that bends back towards the insulation barrier 20 and extends as a protrusion extending from the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11 .

[0173] Figure 5. The first longitudinal edge 14A forming the attachment element 40 comprises a longitudinally folded-down wall 41 extending from the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11 and bent towards the insulating barrier 20 at right angles relative to the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11. The folded-down wall 41 extends beside an attachment wall 42 extending parallel to the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11.

[0174] The attachment wall 42 extends from the folded-down wall 41 perpendicularly to the folded-down wall 41 and is oriented away from the flat portion 12 of the strake 11. Thus, the flat portion 12, the folded-down wall 41 and the attachment wall 42 together present a stepped profile.

[0175] In all the variants shown here, the attachment wall 42 extends continuously along the entire length of the longitudinal edge of the strake 11 .

[0176] The folded-down wall 41 extends into the portion of the groove 26 that is open on the inner surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20, while the attachment wall 42 of the attachment element 40 extends into the portion of the groove 26 formed by the crossbar of the inverted T. Thus, the attachment wall 42 has an attachment surface 42A facing the interior of the tank, which bears against the inner surface 26A of the groove 26 so as to block the secondary strake 11 in the thickness direction of the tank wall.

[0177] Nevertheless, the secondary strake 11 remains free to slide in the longitudinal direction D in the groove 26 .

[0178] In order to insert the first longitudinal edge 14A into the groove 26, the secondary strake 11 is subjected to a pivoting movement, such as Figure 4 As shown by arrow F in FIG. By pivoting the strake about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strake, the attachment wall 42 can be inserted into the groove 26 of the insulation barrier that accommodates the attachment wall 42. This can be achieved by a stepped profile formed by the flat portion 12, the folded-down wall 41 and the attachment wall 42 of the strake.

[0179] In this first variant, the attachment element 40 cooperates in a constraining manner with the inner surface 26A of the wall of the groove 26. Figure 6 In the second variant shown, the attachment element 40 cooperates in a constraining manner with an additional constraining element 60 inserted into the groove 26 .

[0180] According to this second variant, the configuration of the strake 11 and the insulating block 22 is similar to that of the first variant. The groove 126 does not have an inverted T-shaped profile as in the above-mentioned first variant, but has a substantially rectangular cross section. The groove 126 is longitudinally formed in the cover plate 24 of the insulating block 22 and has a bottom in which the depth of one longitudinal portion is greater than the depth of the other longitudinal portion. The longitudinal side walls of the groove 126 are straight.

[0181] The groove 126 receives an additional restraining element inserted into the groove, such as a strip 60 having a parallelepiped cross section. The strip 60 is accommodated in the groove 126. The strip 60 is sized so that an L-shaped space 126A is left between the strip 60 and the inner surface of the groove 126. More specifically, the space 126A is defined between one of the longitudinal side walls of the groove 126 and the strip 60, and between the longitudinal portion of the bottom having the maximum depth and the strip 60.

[0182] By means of a pivoting or translational movement in the thickness direction of the tank wall, the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11 is introduced into the groove 126 so that the attachment wall 42 of the first longitudinal edge 14A of the secondary strake is accommodated in a longitudinal portion of the bottom of the groove 126 which has a greater depth than another longitudinal portion of the bottom.

[0183] The restraining element is fixed in the groove 126 , for example using a screw 63 which is screwed through the restraining element 60 and the cover plate 24 and / or by adhesive bonding.

[0184] The first longitudinal edge 14A of the attachment element 40 forming the secondary strake is identical to the first longitudinal edge of the first variant described above.

[0185] The folded-down wall 41 and the attachment wall 42 of the attachment element 40 extend into the space 126A formed in the groove 126 by the strip 60. The attachment wall 42 thus has an attachment surface 42A facing the interior of the tank, which bears against the face 61 of the strip 60 facing the load-bearing walls 1, 2, so as to block the strake 11 in the thickness direction of the tank wall.

[0186] according to Figure 7In the third variant shown, the configuration of the strakes 11 and the insulating blocks 22 is similar to that of the first variant. The groove 226 has an L-shaped cross-section, rather than an inverted T-shaped profile as in the first variant described above. As a preferred embodiment, the opening of the groove 226 on the inner surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20 is wide enough to allow the attachment wall 42 to pass through without pivoting. Therefore, the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11 is introduced into the groove 226 by a translational movement in the direction of the tank wall thickness, and then introduced into the groove 226 by a sliding movement along a plane parallel to the inner surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20, and the first longitudinal edge of the strake 11 engages the attachment wall 42 of the first longitudinal edge 14A of the secondary strake below the return of the covering plate 24, which is formed by the groove. The attachment surface 42A bears against the complementary surface of the return. Figure 7 In the example of FIG. 4 , the strakes are also blocked in the longitudinal direction D by using additional fixing elements, for example screws 64 which pass through the return bend of the cover plate and through the attachment wall 42 .

[0187] according to Figure 8 In the fourth variant shown, each secondary strake 11 has a width equal to the width of the insulating block 22 of the secondary insulating barrier 20. Each secondary strake 11 is arranged on the insulating block 22 and completely covers the insulating block 22. A portion of the attachment element 40 is received in a groove 326 formed in the lateral face of the insulating block 22 forming the insulating barrier 20.

[0188] More specifically, in this case, the covering plate 24 has a groove 326 formed in a longitudinal side of the covering plate 24. This groove 326 thus opens into the space 28 delimited by two adjacent insulating blocks.

[0189] The first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11 has the shape of a C-shaped hook, the free end of which is inserted into the groove 326. To this end, the cover plate 24 is arranged on the insulating block 20 so that the free end of the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake faces the groove 326, and then the strake is slid along the insulating block so as to insert the free end of the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake into the groove 326, as shown in FIG. Figure 8 The following are shown in the sequential steps shown in FIG.

[0190] according to Fig. 9 In the fifth variant shown in FIG. 1 , the width of each secondary strake 11 is equal to the width of the insulating block 22 of the secondary insulating barrier 20. Each secondary strake 11 is arranged on the insulating block 22 and completely covers the insulating block 22. The attachment element 40 is received in the space 28 separating two adjacent insulating blocks 20.

[0191] In this fifth variant, the shape of the attachment element 40 is slightly different. As previously described, the first longitudinal edge 14A forming the attachment element 40 comprises a longitudinally folded-down wall 141 extending from the flat portion 12 of the strake 11 and bent towards the insulating barrier 20 at right angles relative to the flat portion 12 of the strake 11. The folded-down wall 141 extends beside an attachment wall 142 extending obliquely from the folded-down wall 141 towards the interior of the tank.

[0192] A complementary attachment element 90 is also provided, which extends in the space 28 separating two adjacent insulating blocks 20. This complementary attachment element 90 takes the form of a profiled metal clip, the base 91 of which is housed in a slit 28A extending from the space 28 separating the two insulating blocks along the lower portion 24A of the cover plate 24 facing the load-bearing walls 1, 2. The clip extends from this base 91 and comprises a portion 92 having a hook-shaped cross-section, the portion 92 comprising a strip, which stands upright at right angles to the base 91 against the longitudinal side of the cover plate 24, towards the inside of the tank, and a complementary attachment strip, which extends in an inclined manner towards the outside of the tank, parallel to the attachment wall 142 of the attachment element 40. The attachment element cooperates in a constraining manner with the hook 92 to block the strakes in the thickness direction of the tank wall.

[0193] According to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth variants described above, the attachment element 40 extends continuously along the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11 , 11 ′. The attachment element 40 forms the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake.

[0194] according to Figures 16 to 18 In the other variant shown, the attachment element 240 is attached to the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11 , 11 ′, preferably to the secondary strake 11 . Preferably, the attachment element 240 is welded to the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11 .

[0195] Each attachment element 240 comprises a flat connecting portion 244 which extends completely along the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11 parallel to the flat portion 12 of the strake 11 and is attached to the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11. The connecting portion 244 extends, for the entirety of the connecting portion 244, beside a falling wall 241 which extends perpendicularly to the connecting portion 244. The falling wall 241 extends, for the entirety of the falling wall 241, beside an attachment portion 242 which extends parallel to the connecting portion 244 of the attachment element 240 and therefore parallel to the flat portion 12 of the strake 11.

[0196] The attachment portion 241 extends away from the connection portion 244 toward the outside of the strake 11 .

[0197] For example, according to Fig.16 In the seventh variant shown, the first longitudinal edge 14A of the strake 11 is straight and flat along the extension of the flat portion 12 of the strake 11 and is in the same plane as the flat portion 12 of the strake 11 .

[0198] The connecting portion 244 of the attachment element 240 is attached to the inner face 121 of the strake 11 facing the interior of the tank and is fixed to the longitudinal edge of the strake, for example by welding.

[0199] The attachment element 240 is used in a manner similar to the attachment element 40 described with reference to the first variant. The depending wall 241 of the attachment element 240 extends into the portion of the groove 26 that is open on the inner surface 21 of the insulating barrier 20, while the attachment wall 242 of the attachment element 240 extends into the portion of the groove 26 that is formed by the rod-shaped member in an inverted T shape. In this way, the attachment wall 242 has an attachment surface 242A facing the interior of the tank, which bears against the inner face 26A of the groove 26 to lock the secondary strake 11 in the direction of the tank wall thickness.

[0200] The secondary strakes 11 still remain free to slide in the longitudinal direction D in the grooves 26 .

[0201] To insert the first longitudinal edge 14A into the groove 26 , the secondary strake 11 is pivoted.

[0202] Alternatively, if Fig.16 and Fig.17In the eighth and ninth variations shown in the drawings, the connection portion 244 of the attachment element 240 can be applied and fixed to the outer surface 122 of the strake 11 facing the outside of the tank. In this case, a recess 29 is provided in the cover plate 24, and the recess 29 is suitable for receiving the connection portion 244 of the attachment element 240, and the recess is slightly set back relative to the inner surface 21 of the cover plate 24, so that the connection portion of the attachment element 240 is flush with the inner surface 21 of the cover plate 24.

[0203] exist Fig.17 In the eighth embodiment shown, the strakes 11 have straight, flat first and second longitudinal edges 14A, 14B extending in the same plane as the flat portion 12 of the strakes 11. The adjacent first and second longitudinal edges 14A, 14B of two adjacent strakes 11 are respectively fixed to a connecting portion 244 of an attachment element 240, for example welded to the connecting portion 244. The two longitudinal edges of adjacent strakes are welded to the connecting portion 244 edge to edge and simultaneously, or the two longitudinal edges 14A, 14B of adjacent strakes 11 are respectively welded to different portions of the connecting portion 24.

[0204] exist Fig.18 In the ninth embodiment shown, the first longitudinal edge 14A of each strake 11 is straight and flat. The first longitudinal edge 14A extends in the same plane as the flat portion 12 of the strake 11. The first longitudinal edge 14A is attached to the connecting portion 244 of the attachment element 240.

[0205] Whichever variant is considered, with the exception of the eighth variant described above, the secondary strake 11 has a lip 43 ( Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Fig. 9 ), which lip 43 projects from the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11 towards the interior of the tank, ie away from the downwardly folded wall 41 , 241 of the attachment element 40 , 240 of the first longitudinal edge 14A.

[0206] In the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth modifications, the lip 43 covers a portion 12A of the flat portion 12 of the adjacent secondary strake 11. The lip 43 overlaps the first longitudinal edge 14A of the adjacent strake 11, and in the seventh and ninth modifications, the first longitudinal edge 14A forms a portion of the flat portion of the strake 11.

[0207] Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Fig. 9A lip 43 of the second longitudinal edge 14B of an adjacent secondary strake 11 is shown, partially covering a portion 12A of the flat portion 12 of the secondary strake 11 , wherein the first longitudinal edge 14A has been described and depicted above. Fig.16 and Fig.18 A lip 43 of the second longitudinal edge 14B of an adjacent secondary strake 11 is shown overlapping the first longitudinal edge 14A of the adjacent strake 11 which constitutes part of the flat portion 12 of the strake 11 in the seventh and ninth variants.

[0208] The portion 12A of the secondary strake 11 covered by the lip 43 formed by the second longitudinal edge 14B of the adjacent secondary strake 11 extends along the first longitudinal edge 14A of the secondary strake 11 , adjacent to the folded-down wall 41 , 241 of the attachment element 40 , 240 .

[0209] The lips 43 are arranged such that the flat portions 12 of adjacent secondary strakes 11 extend in the same plane as the flat portions 12 of the secondary strakes 11 .

[0210] The lip 43 is welded in a continuous and sealed manner to the covered portion 12A of the flat portion 12. The lip 43 is, for example, fillet-welded.

[0211] Various solutions for assembling and interconnecting secondary strakes 11 without folded-up edges are described above in the context of forming a secondary sealing membrane. Of course, the same solutions can be used to assemble primary strakes 11' without folded-up edges to form a primary sealing membrane 10'.

[0212] Furthermore, it is contemplated that the attachment elements in the seventh, eighth, and ninth variations described above have a geometry whose profile is similar to the profile of the attachment elements described in the fifth and sixth variations.

[0213] In the embodiment described here, the width of the strakes 11, 11', 411 of the sealing membrane 10, 10' is equal to the width of the insulating blocks 22, 22' of the corresponding insulating barrier 20, 20'. As a variant, the width of the strakes of the sealing membrane may be different, for example equal to half the width of the insulating blocks of the corresponding insulating barrier.

[0214] In particular, a can can be envisioned, which includes a secondary sealing film and a primary film, the secondary sealing film is similar to the secondary sealing film of the first embodiment described above, and the primary film is similar to the primary film described in the third embodiment, the primary film includes an upwardly folded edge and has no longitudinal corrugated portion. In this case, the secondary film is preferably composed of a film with an expansion coefficient of less than or equal to 9×10 -6 K -1The primary film is preferably made of an alloy of iron and manganese, and the expansion coefficient is usually less than or equal to 2×10 - 6 K -1 An alloy of iron and nickel, such as that known as "Invar".

[0215] The tank wall may comprise only one sealing membrane and one insulating barrier.

[0216] refer to Fig.15 , a cross-sectional view of a methane carrier 70 shows a sealed and insulated tank 71 of overall prismatic shape installed in a double hull 72 of the carrier. The wall of the tank 71 includes a primary sealing barrier adapted to be in contact with the LNG contained in the tank, a secondary sealing barrier disposed between the primary sealing barrier and the double hull 72 of the ship, and two insulating barriers disposed between the primary sealing barrier and the secondary sealing barrier and between the secondary sealing barrier and the double hull 72, respectively.

[0217] As is known, a loading / unloading pipeline 73 arranged on the upper deck of the transport vessel may be connected to a marine or port terminal or an LNG bunkering vessel by appropriate connectors in order to transfer the LNG cargo from or to the tanks 71 .

[0218] Fig.15 An example of a marine terminal with a loading and unloading station 75, an underwater pipeline 76 and an onshore facility 77 is shown. The loading and unloading station 75 is a fixed offshore facility comprising a mobile arm 74 and a column 78 supporting the mobile arm 74. The mobile arm 74 carries a bundle of isolation hoses 79, which can be connected to the loading / unloading pipeline 73. The orientable mobile arm 74 can accommodate methane carriers of all sizes. A connecting pipeline (not shown) extends within the column 78. The loading and unloading station 75 enables the methane carrier 70 to be loaded from the onshore facility 77 or unloaded from the methane carrier 70 to the onshore facility 77. The facility has 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 allows the liquefied gas to be transported over long distances, for example 5 km, between the loading and unloading station 75 and the onshore facility 77, and this enables the methane carrier 70 to be at a greater distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

[0219] In order to generate the pressure required for the transport of the liquefied gas, pumps carried on board the ship 70 and / or pumps equipped at the onshore facility 77 and / or pumps equipped at the loading and unloading station 75 are used.

[0220] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a number of specific embodiments, it is obvious that the present invention is by no means limited thereto and that the present invention comprises all technical equivalents of the described means and combinations thereof, provided that these technical equivalents and combinations thereof fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0221] The invention is applicable to tanks of ships 71 as well as onshore storage tanks and dock structures.

[0222] Use of the verb "have", "comprise" or "include" and their conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

[0223] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

Claims

1. A sealed and thermally insulated tank, the tank being incorporated into a load-bearing structure (4), the load-bearing structure (4) comprising a first load-bearing wall (1) and a second load-bearing wall (2), the second load-bearing wall (2) being connected to the first load-bearing wall (1) at an edge corner (3) of the load-bearing structure (4), the tank comprising a first tank wall fixed to the first load-bearing wall (1) and a second tank wall fixed to the second load-bearing wall (2), in, At least one of the first tank wall and the second tank wall comprises at least one sealing membrane (10, 10') and an insulating barrier (20, 20') arranged between the sealing membrane (10, 10') and the corresponding load-bearing wall (1, 2), the insulating barrier (20, 20') comprising insulating blocks (22, 22'), The sealing membrane (10, 10') comprises a plurality of parallel strakes (11, 11'), the strakes are in the form of metal strips, the strakes are elongated in a longitudinal direction (D) and have a uniform profile in the longitudinal direction (D), each strake comprises a flat portion (12, 12') and at least one longitudinal corrugated portion (13, 13'), the flat portion (12, 12') is arranged on an inner surface (21, 21') of the insulating barrier (20, 20'), the longitudinal corrugated portion (13, 13') is arranged relative to the strakes (11, 11'; 411) The flat portion (12) projects towards the interior of the tank, the or each longitudinal corrugation (13, 13'; 413) is spaced apart from the longitudinal edges (14A, 14B, 14A', 14B') of the strakes (11, 11'; 411), each longitudinal corrugation (13, 13') extending in the longitudinal direction (D) of the strakes (11, 11'), the strakes (11, 11') being juxtaposed and welded together in a sealed manner at the longitudinal edges (14A, 14B, 14A', 14B'), The tank wall comprises a metal angle beam (30; 330) arranged parallel to the edge corner (3) of the load-bearing structure and anchored to the first load-bearing wall and the second load-bearing wall, the angle beam (30; 330) comprising a first lateral flange (31, 31'; 331) and a second lateral flange (32; 332), the first lateral flange being parallel to the first load-bearing wall (1), the second lateral flange being parallel to the second load-bearing wall (2), the two lateral flanges (31, 32; 331, 332) are connected to each other at a sealed connection area (33; 333), at least one of the first lateral flange (31, 31'; 331) and the second lateral flange (32; 332) of the angle beam (30; 330; 430) comprises a connection portion (31A, 32A) belonging to the sealed connection area and a receiving strip (34, 34'; 334) welded to the connection portion (31A, 32A); the receiving strip extends from the connection area away from the connection portion (31A, 32A), wherein the distal portion (34A, 34A'; 334A) of the receiving strip is welded to the end portion (15, 15') of the strake (11, 11'), and the receiving strip (34, 34'; 334) of at least one of the lateral flanges (31, 32, 31'; 331; 332) has a corrugated portion (35, 35'; 335), which is arranged to be aligned with the longitudinal corrugated portion (13, 13') of the strake (11, 11'), thereby terminating the longitudinal corrugated portion (13, 13') at a distance from the connection area (33; 333).

2. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to claim 1, wherein: At least one of the corrugated portions (35, 35') is formed as a single piece with the receiving strip (34, 34'; 334).

3. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to claim 2, wherein: At least one of the corrugated parts (35, 35') is formed by pressing.

4. A sealed and thermally insulated tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: At least one of the corrugated portions (335) comprises an attachment piece which is attached to the flat portion (334C) of the receiving strip (334) of the lateral flanges (331, 332).

5. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The corrugated portion (35, 35'; 335; 435) has a shape suitable for covering the longitudinal ends of the longitudinal corrugated portion (13, 13'; 313) and for allowing the corrugated portion to extend along the lateral flange (31, 31'; 331) extends in the direction of the connecting area (33; 333).

6. A sealed and thermally insulated tank according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The insulating barrier (20) comprises an insulating block (22), and each strake (11) comprises a longitudinal attachment element (40; 240), which is designed to cooperate with the insulating block (22) of the insulating barrier (20) in a constraining manner to constrain the strake (11) in the thickness direction of the tank wall while allowing the strake to move in the longitudinal direction (D) of the strake.

7. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to claim 6, wherein: The attachment element (40) extends along a first longitudinal edge (14A, 14A') of the strake (11, 11'), and the attachment element (40) includes a portion of the first longitudinal edge (14A, 14A') of the strake (11, 11'): the portion of the first longitudinal edge (14A, 14A') is bent back toward the insulating barrier (20, 20') and extends as a protrusion protruding from the flat portion (12, 12') of the strake (11, 11').

8. The sealed and thermally insulated tank of claim 6, wherein: The attachment element (40) is welded to a first longitudinal edge (14A) of the strake (11).

9. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein: The strakes (11, 11') include a lip portion (43) along the second longitudinal edge (14B, 14B') of the strakes, the lip portion extending as a protrusion protruding from the flat portion (12, 12') of the strakes in a direction opposite to the attachment element (40, 240) of the first longitudinal edge (14A, 14A'), the lip portion (43) covering a portion (12A) of the flat portion (12, 12') of an adjacent strake (11, 11'), the covered portion (12A) extending along the first longitudinal edge (14A, 14A') of the adjacent strakes.

10. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein: The attachment element (40; 240) is received in a groove (26; 126; 226) formed in the insulation barrier (20; 20') and opening on the inner surface (21, 21').

11. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to claim 10, wherein: The attachment element (40) cooperates in a constraining manner with a surface of a wall of the recess (226), or the attachment element (40) cooperates in a constraining manner with an additional constraining element (60) inserted into the recess (126).

12. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein: A portion of the attachment element (40) is received in a groove (326) formed in a lateral face of the insulating block (22, 22') forming the insulating barrier (20, 20').

13. A sealed and thermally insulated can according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein: The attachment element (40) is received in a space (28) separating two adjacent insulating blocks.

14. The sealed and thermally insulated tank of claim 13, wherein: The attachment element (40) cooperates in a constraining manner with a complementary attachment element (90) extending in the space (28) separating two adjacent insulating blocks (22, 22').

15. A sealed and thermally insulated can according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein: Each strake (11, 11'; 411) comprises one or two longitudinal corrugations (13, 13').

16. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: The sealing film (10) constitutes a secondary sealing film, and the sealing film (10) is covered by a primary insulating barrier (20') and a primary sealing film (10').

17. The sealed and thermally insulated tank of claim 16, wherein: The primary sealing membrane (10') comprises a plurality of primary strakes (11'), the primary strakes (11') comprising a flat portion (12') and at least one primary longitudinal corrugated portion (13'), the flat portion (12') being arranged on an inner surface (21') of the primary thermal insulation barrier (20'), the primary longitudinal corrugated portion (13') protruding towards the interior of the tank relative to the flat portion (12') of the primary strakes (11'), the primary longitudinal corrugated portion (13') or each primary longitudinal corrugated portion (13') being spaced apart from the longitudinal edges (14A', 14B') of the primary strakes (11'), The primary strakes are juxtaposed and welded together at the longitudinal edges in a sealed manner, the metal angle beam (30) further comprising a first primary lateral flange (31') parallel to the first load-bearing wall (1) and a second primary lateral flange (32') parallel to the second load-bearing wall (2), the two primary lateral flanges being connected to each other at a primary sealed connection area (33), at least one of the first primary lateral flange and the second primary lateral flange of the angle beam (30) having a receiving strip (34, 34') extending from the primary sealed connection area (33) away from the primary sealed connection area, Wherein, the distal end portion (34A') of the receiving strip (34') of the primary lateral flange (31', 32') of the angle beam (30) is welded to the end portion (15') of the primary strake (11') of the primary sealing membrane (10'), and the receiving strip (34') of the primary lateral flange has a corrugated portion (35'), and the corrugated portion (35') is arranged to be aligned with the primary longitudinal corrugation (13') of the primary strake, thereby terminating the primary longitudinal corrugation at a distance from the primary sealing connection area (33).

18. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of the preceding claims, wherein The angle beam (30; 330; 430) comprises at least two supporting flanges (37A, 37B, 37C, 37D; 337A, 337B), the support flange is connected to each of the first load-bearing wall and the second load-bearing wall, and the support flange is basically arranged along the continuation of the lateral flange of the corner beam.

19. A sealed and thermally insulated tank according to claims 17 and 18 considered in combination, wherein: The angle beam (30) further comprises a primary lateral flange (31') and a primary support flange (37A, 37D), wherein the primary support flange (37A, 37D) is connected to each of the first load-bearing wall and the second load-bearing wall and is arranged substantially along the continuation of the primary lateral flange (31') of the angle beam.

20. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein: The sealing membrane (10') constitutes a primary sealing membrane and the insulation barrier (20') constitutes a primary insulation barrier, and the tank wall comprises a secondary insulation barrier (20) and a secondary sealing membrane (10) arranged between the primary insulation barrier and the load bearing structure.

21. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of the preceding claims, wherein The strakes (11, 11') are made of an alloy of iron and manganese, wherein the alloy of iron and manganese has a carbon content less than or equal to 9×10 -6 K -1 The expansion coefficient.

22. The sealed and thermally insulated tank according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: The width of the strakes (11, 11') of the sealing membrane (10, 10') is equal to the width of the insulating blocks (22, 22') of the corresponding insulating barrier, or the width of the strakes (11, 11') of the sealing membrane (10, 10') is equal to half the width of the insulating blocks of the corresponding insulating barrier.

23. A vessel (70) for transporting fluids, the vessel having a catamaran (72) and a tank (71) according to one of claims 1 to 22 arranged in the catamaran (72).

24. A delivery system for a fluid, the system comprising: A vessel (70) according to claim 23; an isolation pipe (73, 79, 76, 81), which is arranged to connect the tank (71) on the vessel to an onshore or floating storage facility (77); and a pump, which is used to drive the fluid to flow from the onshore or floating storage facility through the isolation pipe to the tank on the vessel, or to drive the fluid to flow from the tank on the vessel through the isolation pipe to the onshore or floating storage facility.

25. A method for loading or unloading a vessel (70) according to claim 23, wherein: Fluid is transferred from an onshore or floating storage facility (77) through an insulated pipeline (73, 79, 76, 81) to the tank (71) on the vessel or from the tank (71) on the vessel through an insulated pipeline (73, 79, 76, 81) to an onshore or floating storage facility (77).

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