Sealed and thermally insulated storage

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulated tank arranged in a support structure to contain a fluid. Each sectioned rectangular plate of the sealing membrane comprises a sectioned edge (73, 74) facing towards the body, the sectioned edge extending away from a weld joint (83) to bypass the body, the weld joint (83) assembling the first sectioned rectangular plate (71) to the second sectioned rectangular plate (72). A truncated edge (73) of the first truncated rectangular plate interrupts two first corrugations (75) of the first truncated rectangular plate, and a truncated edge (74) of the second truncated rectangular plate does not interrupt any first corrugations of the second truncated rectangular plate. A closure (79, 80) connects the sectioned edge of the first sectioned rectangular plate and the sectioned edge of the second sectioned rectangular plate to a sealing plate (11).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing sealed and thermally insulated storage tanks in a support structure. The present invention particularly relates to manufacturing storage tanks intended to contain hot or cold liquids, and more particularly storage tanks for storing and / or transporting liquefied gas at sea, such storage tanks having to receive through-going elements. Background Art

[0002] Sealed and thermally insulated storage tanks can be used in various industries to store hot or cold products. Sealed and thermally insulated storage tanks are typically used for onshore or on-board storage in floating structures, for example for the sea transportation of liquefied gas at atmospheric pressure and low temperature. Such liquefied gas may be liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transported at a temperature between -50°C and 0°C (including the end values), hydrogen (LH2) transported at a temperature of approximately -253°C, or liquefied natural gas (LNG) transported at a temperature of approximately -163°C. Floating structures carrying sealed and thermally insulated storage tanks are particularly barges, methane tankers for transporting products, and offshore units also known as floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units and floating storage and regasification units (FSRU), for the storage, liquefaction or regasification of products.

[0003] These sealed and thermally insulated storage tanks consist of one or more sealed membranes associated with an insulating layer. In particular, a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank is known and described in the document WO 2019 / 234360, which storage tank comprises a storage tank wall fixed to a support structure, wherein the storage tank wall has a multi-layer structure which, from the outside to the inside of the storage tank, is a secondary thermal insulation barrier anchored against the support structure, a secondary sealed membrane supported by the secondary thermal insulation barrier, a primary thermal insulation barrier supported by the secondary sealed membrane, and a primary sealed membrane supported by the primary thermal insulation barrier and intended to be in contact with the product contained in the storage tank.

[0004] In storage tanks of the foregoing type, all elements are deformed due to variations in the temperature and weight of the cargo, thus affecting the storage tank wall during the filling of cryogenic liquids such as LNG and conversely during its discharge, resulting in local heating of the storage tank wall and deformation caused by the pressure of seawater when filling the ballast tank. In addition to these thermal shrinkage and expansion effects that are repeated over time during the lifetime of any sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, ship storage tanks are also subjected to forces caused by the deformation of the ship's hull at sea. This results in a fatigue phenomenon of the sealed membranes and thermal insulation barriers, which must be monitored over time to prevent any rupture, particularly at the level of the elements in a single zone passing through the storage tank wall, for example at the level of the top wall of the storage tank, at the level of the vapor collection pipe or the gas dome structure, or at the level of the top wall of the storage tank, at the level of the storage tank bottom plate outlet structure or the support for heavy equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one embodiment, a first object of the present invention provides a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, which is arranged in a support structure to contain a fluid. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank includes a tank wall anchored to a support wall of the support structure. The tank wall includes at least one thermal insulation barrier and a sealing film carried by the thermal insulation barrier in the thickness direction from the outside to the inside of the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank.

[0006] The thermal insulation barrier (e.g., secondary thermal insulation barrier) may include a plurality of insulating panels (e.g., secondary insulating panels) in the form of parallelepiped blocks anchored against the support wall. The insulating panels are arranged in parallel rows, and the rows include a plurality of insulating panels juxtaposed in a repeating pattern in a first direction. The rows are juxtaposed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A single row among the rows includes an interruption zone, and the size of the interruption zone in the first direction is equal to the size of the repeating pattern.

[0007] The sealing film (e.g., secondary sealing film) may include a plurality of slats parallel to the first direction. The plurality of slats are made of an alloy with a low coefficient of expansion. Each slat has a planar central portion resting on the upper surface of the insulating panel and two raised edges protruding towards the inside of the tank relative to the planar central portion. The slats are juxtaposed in a repeating pattern in the second direction and are welded together in a sealed manner at the level of the raised edges. An anchoring flange anchored to the insulating panel and parallel to the first direction is arranged between the juxtaposed slats to hold the sealing film on the insulation barrier. The size of the slats in the second direction is smaller than the size of the insulating panels in the second direction. The slats include a plurality of cut slats forming a window aligned with the interruption zone.

[0008] The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank may further include a through element passing through the tank wall such that the through element passes through the thermal insulation barrier in the central portion of the interruption zone and passes through the sealing film in the central portion of the window. The through element includes a body extending in the thickness direction of the tank wall and a sealing plate parallel to the support wall. The sealing plate is connected to the periphery of the body and extends around the body at the same level as the upper surface of the insulating panel.

[0009] The thermal insulation barrier may include at least one filling panel arranged in the interruption zone around the through element and anchored against the support wall, and at least one metal closure sheet may be supported on the upper surface of the at least one filling panel. The at least one closure sheet has a first edge welded to the sealing plate in a sealed manner around the body.

[0010] The cut slats have edge portions on both sides of the window. The edge portions cover the second edge of the at least one closure sheet and are welded to the at least one closure sheet in a sealed manner, such that the at least one closure sheet extends the sealing film up to the sealing plate.

[0011] Due to the above characteristics, the fatigue resistance of the sealing film at the level of a single zone of the storage tank wall can be increased by using successive layers of parallel slats, the robustness of which has been proven by experience, while achieving a simple connection of the sealing film to the through element.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank of the above type can have one or more of the following characteristics.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the insulating panel has a cross-section in the shape of a square, which has the same dimensions in a first direction and a second direction.

[0014] The sealing plate can have different profile shapes. According to one embodiment, the sealing plate has a circular profile. According to one embodiment, the sealing plate has a square or rectangular profile.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the storage tank wall includes four identical filling panels disposed in four respective sectors of an interruption zone, the four sectors being separated from each other by a first median line extending in a first direction of the interruption zone and a second median line extending in a second direction of the interruption zone.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the storage tank wall includes four identical filling panels disposed in four respective sectors of an interruption zone, the four sectors being separated from each other by a first diagonal line and a second diagonal line of the interruption zone.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the storage tank wall includes identical filling panels respectively disposed in two sectors of an interruption zone, the two sectors being separated from each other by a first median line extending in a first direction or a second direction of the interruption zone.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the body has a circular profile shape, and the at least one filling panel has a proximal side surface extending in a thickness direction and facing the body, and the proximal side surface has an arc shape.

[0019] According to one embodiment, one of the filling panels has a proximal side surface extending in a thickness direction and facing the body and at least one distal side surface extending in a thickness direction and facing an insulating panel adjacent to the interruption zone, and the closing sheet is fixed to the upper surface of the filling panel by fixing means (e.g., metal inserts or fixing screws), the fixing means being arranged on the upper surface along one of the distal side surfaces, and an edge portion of the cutting slat is arranged to cover the fixing means.

[0020] Alternatively, the closure sheet may project on one or more insulating panels adjacent to the break region and be fixed to the upper surface of at least one insulating panel on which the closure sheet projects by fixing means (e.g., metal inserts or fixing screws), the fixing means being arranged on the upper surface of the insulating panel along the edge adjacent to the break region. In this case, the closure sheet is simply supported on the filling panel without being fixed to the filling panel.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the closure sheet is fixed to the upper surface of the filling panel or the insulating panel adjacent to the break region by welding it to a metal insert, and the edge portion of the cutting strip is arranged to cover the weld.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the filling panel or the insulating panel adjacent to the break region includes a cover plate forming the upper surface, and the cover plate includes a counterbored plane for receiving the fixing means, such as for receiving the metal insert or for receiving the head of the fixing screw.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the fixing means is in the form of rows of pieces parallel to the distal side of the filling panel or parallel to the edge of the insulating panel adjacent to the break region, and the counterbored plane is in the form of a groove parallel to the distal side of the filling panel or parallel to the edge of the insulating panel adjacent to the break region.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the rows are juxtaposed in a repeating pattern in a second direction, the size of the repeating pattern of the rows being twice the size of the repeating pattern of the strips in the second direction, the cutting strip rests on a single row and includes a central cutting strip and two lateral cutting strips located on respective opposite sides of the central cutting strip, the raised edge of the central cutting strip is offset relative to the edge of the single row in the second direction, the central cutting strip rests entirely on the single row and is interrupted at the level of the window over its entire width, and each of the lateral cutting strips straddles the single row and an adjacent row and is interrupted at the level of the window in a part of its width.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the body has a circular contour shape, and the diameter of the body parallel to the first direction is aligned with the planar central portion of the central cutting strip.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the thermal barrier is a secondary thermal barrier and the sealing film is a secondary sealing film, the rows are secondary rows, the insulating panel is a secondary insulating panel, the single row is a secondary single row, and the storage tank wall further includes a primary thermal barrier carried by the secondary sealing film and a primary sealing film carried by the primary thermal barrier from the inside to the outside of the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank in the thickness direction, and the primary sealing film is intended to contact the fluid contained in the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank.

[0027] The primary insulation barrier may include a plurality of primary rows parallel to the first direction, the primary rows including a plurality of primary insulation panels juxtaposed in the first direction, the primary insulation panels being in the form of parallelepiped blocks, the dimensions of the parallelepiped blocks being equal to the dimensions of the secondary insulation panels in the second direction, and the primary rows being offset in the second direction relative to the secondary rows such that each primary row straddles two secondary rows.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the primary holding member is carried by the secondary insulation panel and cooperates with the primary insulation panel to hold the primary insulation panel on the secondary sealing film.

[0029] According to one embodiment, a first single primary row and a second single primary row in the primary rows are stacked on a secondary single row, the first primary single row and the second primary single row each including at least one truncated primary insulation panel aligned with the interruption zone, each truncated primary insulation panel having a truncated edge facing the body, the truncated edge extending away from the first interface line to bypass the body, the first interface line being located between the first single primary row and the second single primary row and parallel to the first direction.

[0030] According to one embodiment, an additional first primary anchoring member is fixed to the sealing plate aligned with the first interface line and cooperates with the first truncated primary insulation panel of the first single primary row and the first truncated primary insulation panel of the second single primary row to hold the first primary truncated primary insulation panel on the sealing plate.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the primary rows are offset in the second direction relative to the secondary rows by half of the dimension of the secondary insulation panel in the second direction, and the first interface line coincides with the first midline of the interruption zone.

[0032] The offset of the primary rows relative to the secondary rows enables a more uniform distribution of the forces that pass through the sealing film and the primary insulation panel and are transmitted to the secondary insulation panel of the support wall. In fact, in this case, the pressure applied to the primary insulation panel is distributed over a plurality (e.g., two or four) of the underlying secondary insulation panels.

[0033] The primary holding member is preferably supported by the secondary insulation panel at a certain distance from the edge of the secondary insulation panel, e.g., at the center of the secondary insulation panel.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the first single primary row and the second single primary row each include a second truncated primary insulation panel adjacent to the first truncated primary insulation panel, and two additional first primary anchoring members are fixed to the sealing plate aligned with the first interface line on the respective opposite sides of the body and cooperate with the first truncated primary insulation panel and the second truncated primary insulation panel of the first single primary row and the second single primary row, respectively, to hold the first truncated primary insulation panel and the second truncated primary insulation panel on the sealing plate, respectively.

[0035] According to one embodiment, two additional second primary anchoring members are fixed to the sealing plate aligned with the second interface line on respective opposite sides of the body and cooperate with the first and second truncated primary insulating panels of the first single-primary row and the second single-primary row, respectively, to hold the first and second truncated primary insulating panels on the sealing plate.

[0036] Due to these features, each of the four truncated primary insulating panels is held on the sealing plate of the through-element by two additional primary anchoring members at the level of the two ends of the truncated edge. This repeated anchoring point enables the truncated primary insulating panels to be better held on the secondary sealing film, especially against the mechanical loads to which they are subjected.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the primary insulating panel and the truncated primary insulating panel have dimensions equal to those of the secondary insulating panel in a first direction, and the interface between the primary insulating panels and the truncated primary insulating panels in the first single-primary row and the second single-primary row is offset by half the dimension of the secondary insulating panel in the first direction with respect to the interface between the secondary insulating panels in the secondary row, and the secondary interface line coincides with the second median line of the interruption zone.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the first truncated primary insulating panel has a multi-layer structure which, in the thickness direction, consists of an external rigid plate, an insulating polymer foam layer, and an internal rigid plate from the outside to the inside of the storage tank. The first truncated primary insulating panel includes an oval-shaped groove passing through the internal rigid plate and the insulating polymer foam layer to expose an inner surface area of the external rigid plate, and the additional first anchoring member includes an anchoring plate supported on the inner surface area of the external rigid plate of the first truncated primary insulating panel.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the additional primary anchoring member includes a rod fixed to the sealing plate and a bar supported on the inner surface area of the external rigid plate. The anchoring plate is placed on the bar, and the upper part of the rod passes through the anchoring plate. The additional primary anchoring member further includes a nut and at least one washer. The nut cooperates with the upper part of the rod, and at least one washer is screwed onto the rod between the nut and the anchoring plate.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the additional primary anchoring member further includes a gasket supported on the sealing plate, and the anchoring plate spans across the bar and the gasket. According to another embodiment, the anchoring plate spans across the bar and the edge of the through-element.

[0041] A second object of the present invention provides a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, which is arranged in a support structure to contain a fluid. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank includes a tank wall anchored to a support wall of the support structure. The tank wall includes at least one thermal insulation barrier and a sealing film carried by the thermal insulation barrier in the thickness direction from the outside to the inside of the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank.

[0042] The thermal insulation barrier (e.g., primary thermal insulation barrier) may include a plurality of insulating panels (e.g., primary insulating panels) in the form of parallelepiped blocks. The insulating panels are arranged in parallel rows, and the rows include a plurality of insulating panels juxtaposed in a repeating pattern in a first direction. The rows are juxtaposed in a repeating pattern in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The insulating panels have edges parallel to the first direction and the second direction.

[0043] The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank may further include a through element passing through the tank wall. The through element includes a body extending in the thickness direction of the tank wall and a sealing plate parallel to the support wall. The sealing plate is connected to the periphery of the body and extends around the body at the same level as the upper surface of the insulating panel.

[0044] The sealing film (e.g., primary sealing film) may include first corrugations spaced a first corrugation pitch in the first direction and parallel to the second direction, and planar portions located between the first corrugations and resting on the upper surface of the insulating panel. The repeating pattern of the insulating panel is three times the size of the first corrugation pitch in the first direction.

[0045] The size of the through element in the first direction may be between one time and three times the first corrugation pitch, and it passes through at least one single row of the rows, and the single row includes a first truncated insulating panel and a second truncated insulating panel adjacent to the first truncated insulating panel.

[0046] Each truncated insulating panel may include a truncated edge facing the body, and the truncated edge extends away from the interface line to bypass the body. The interface line passes between the first truncated insulating panel and the second truncated insulating panel and is parallel to the second direction.

[0047] The sealing film may include rows of plates parallel to the first direction and covering a single row. The rows of plates include a plurality of rectangular plates juxtaposed in a repeating pattern in the first direction and welded together in a sealed manner with or without overlapping through their edge regions. The repeating pattern of the rectangular plates is three times the size of the first corrugation pitch in the first direction. The first corrugations are spaced from the edges of the rectangular plates in the first direction. Each rectangular plate includes three of the first corrugations. The welding joints between the rectangular plates are offset in the first direction relative to the interfaces between the insulating panels inside the single row.

[0048] The formed plate may include a first truncated rectangular plate spanning across the first truncated insulating panel and the second truncated insulating panel, and a second truncated rectangular plate adjacent to the first truncated rectangular plate and disposed on the second truncated insulating panel.

[0049] Each truncated rectangular plate may have a truncated edge facing the body, the truncated edge extending away from the welding joint to bypass the body, the welding joint assembling the first truncated rectangular plate and the second truncated rectangular plate and being parallel to the second direction.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the truncated edge of the first truncated rectangular plate interrupts two first corrugations of the first truncated rectangular plate, and the truncated edge of the second truncated rectangular plate does not interrupt any of the first corrugations of the second truncated rectangular plate.

[0051] According to one embodiment, a closure connects the truncated edges of the first truncated rectangular plate and the second truncated rectangular plate to a sealing plate.

[0052] According to other advantageous embodiments, a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank of the above type may have one or more of the following features.

[0053] According to one embodiment, a first metal anchoring element is fixed to the upper surface of the single row of insulating panels, at a distance less than the first corrugation pitch from the edge of the insulating panel parallel to the second direction, and wherein each rectangular plate includes one said planar portion spanning across the upper surfaces of two insulating panels of the single row, the planar portion being welded to the first metal anchoring elements of the two insulating panels, and the planar portion of the first truncated rectangular plate located between the two first corrugations of the first truncated rectangular plate interrupted by the truncated edge is welded to the first metal anchoring elements of the first truncated insulating panel and the second truncated insulating panel.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the body has a circular profile shape, and a through element is arranged such that the diameter of the body parallel to the second direction is located between the two first corrugations of the first truncated rectangular plate interrupted by the truncated edge, preferably in the middle of the two first corrugations of the first truncated rectangular plate.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the single row is the first single row, the interface line is the second interface line, and the through element also passes through a second single row in the said row, the first interface line being located between the first single row and the second single row and parallel to the first direction, the second single row including the first truncated insulating panel of the first truncated (primary) insulating panel adjacent to the first single row in the second direction and the second truncated insulating panel of the second truncated insulating panel adjacent to the second single row in the second direction, the second interface line also passing between the first truncated insulating panel and the second truncated insulating panel of the second single row, each truncated insulating panel having a truncated edge facing the body, the truncated edge extending away from the second interface line to bypass the body.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the sealing film has second corrugations spaced a second pitch in the second direction and parallel to the first direction, the flat portion is located between the first corrugations and between the second corrugations, and the second corrugations are spaced apart from the edge of the rectangular plate in the second direction.

[0057] The size of the repeating pattern of the row in the second direction may be three times the second pitch, the size of the rectangular plate in the second direction is greater than or equal to three times the second pitch, and the row of plates spans the first single row and the second single row.

[0058] The second metal anchoring element may be fixed to the upper surfaces of the first and second cut insulating panels of the first single row and the second single row at a distance less than the second wave pitch from the edges of the cut insulating panels parallel to the first direction.

[0059] The first truncated rectangular plate and the second truncated rectangular plate may respectively include one of the planar portions spanning the first interface line, the planar portions being welded to two metal anchoring elements of the first and second single rows of first truncated insulating panels and the first and second single rows of second truncated insulating panels.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the dimension of the penetrating element in the second direction is between one and three times the second wave pitch, and the truncated edge of the first truncated rectangular plate and the truncated edge of the second truncated rectangular plate interrupt two of the second corrugations adjacent to the first interface line.

[0061] The dimension of the penetrating element in the first direction and / or the second direction is advantageously less than three wave pitches to prevent interruption of the three first corrugations and / or to prevent interruption of the three second corrugations. The dimension of the penetrating element in the first direction and / or the second direction is preferably between one wave pitch and two wave pitches (including the end values).

[0062] According to one embodiment, the size of the rectangular plate in the second direction is equal to nine times the second wave pitch, each rectangular plate includes nine of the second corrugations, the two second corrugations adjacent to the first interface line are between 2 rows and 8 rows (including the end values), preferably between 4 rows and 6 rows (including the end values), and the rows of the second corrugations are counted from the edge of the rectangular plate.

[0063] According to one embodiment, the body has a circular contour shape, wherein the penetrating element is arranged such that a diameter of the body parallel to the first direction is located between, preferably in the middle of, two second corrugations interrupted by a truncated edge of the first truncated rectangular plate.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the second wave pitch is equal to the first wave pitch.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the height of the second corrugations is smaller than the height of the first corrugations.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the first corrugation and the second corrugation are continuous at the level of the intersection between the first corrugation and the second corrugation.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the closure includes at least one metal closure plate to which the truncated edge of the first truncated rectangular plate is welded, the at least one metal closure plate having an inner edge welded to the sealing plate, and at least four first end pieces welded to the at least one metal closure plate to close two first corrugations interrupted by the truncated edge of the first truncated rectangular plate on either side of the body.

[0068] According to one embodiment, at least four second end pieces are welded to the at least one metal closure plate to close two second corrugations interrupted by the truncated edge of the first truncated rectangular plate and the truncated edge of the second truncated rectangular plate on either side of the body.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the insulating panel has a cross-section in the shape of a square, the cross-section having the same dimensions in a first direction and a second direction.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the body has a circular contour shape and the sealing plate has a circular contour concentric with the body.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the body has a circular contour shape and the truncated edges of the first and second truncated insulating panels have an arc shape concentric with the body.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the sealing film is a primary sealing film intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, and the thermal insulation barrier is a primary thermal insulation barrier. The storage tank wall further includes a secondary sealing film disposed between the primary thermal insulation barrier and the support wall and a secondary thermal insulation barrier disposed between the secondary sealing film and the support wall. The sealing plate is a primary sealing plate, and the through element further includes a secondary sealing plate parallel to the support wall, the secondary sealing plate being connected to the periphery of the body and extending around the body at the same level as the upper surface of the secondary thermal insulation panel.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, which is arranged in a support structure to contain a fluid. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank includes a storage tank wall anchored to the support wall of the support structure. The storage tank wall includes, in the thickness direction, from the outside to the inside of the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, a secondary thermal insulation barrier, a secondary sealing film, a primary thermal insulation barrier, and a primary sealing film.

[0074] The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank includes a through element that passes through the tank wall such that the through element passes through the thermal insulation barrier and through the sealing membrane. The through element includes a body extending in the thickness direction of the tank wall and a sealing plate parallel to the support wall. The sealing plate is connected to the periphery of the body and extends around the body at the same level as the upper surface of the secondary thermal insulation barrier.

[0075] The primary thermal insulation barrier includes a plurality of primary rows parallel to a first direction. The primary rows include a plurality of primary insulation panels juxtaposed in the first direction, and the primary insulation panels are in the form of parallelepiped blocks.

[0076] Each of the first single primary row and the second single primary row in the primary rows includes at least one truncated primary insulation panel. Each truncated primary insulation panel has a truncated edge facing the body, and the truncated edge extends away from the first interface line to bypass the body. The first interface line is located between the first single primary row and the second single primary row and is parallel to the first direction.

[0077] The first primary anchoring member is aligned and fixed to the sealing plate with respect to the first interface line, and cooperates with the first truncated primary insulation panel of the first single primary row and the first truncated primary insulation panel of the second single primary row to hold the first truncated primary insulation panel on the sealing plate.

[0078] A sealed and thermally insulated storage tank of the above type can be part of a land storage facility, for example, for storing LNG, or it is installed in a floating structure in coastal or deep waters, particularly a methane tanker, an ethane tanker, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, etc.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a ship for transporting liquefied gas, which includes a double hull and a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank disposed in the double hull.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the double hull includes an inner hull forming a support structure for the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a transportation system for liquefied gas, which includes a ship and insulated pipelines arranged in such a way that the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank disposed in the double hull of the ship is connected to a floating or land storage facility.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a use of a ship for loading or unloading liquefied gas, wherein the liquefied gas is transported from a floating or land storage facility to the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank of the ship or from the storage tank to the storage facility through insulated pipelines. Description of the Drawings

[0083] In the following description of certain embodiments of the present invention by way of non - limiting illustration only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention will be better understood and other objects, details, features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent.

[0084] Figure 1 Figure 1 is a cross - sectional view of a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank wall and support leg according to one embodiment.

[0085] Figure 2 Figure 2 is Figure 1 a perspective view of a support leg and storage tank wall that can be used in a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, with the secondary seal film, primary thermal barrier, and primary seal film omitted.

[0086] Figure 3 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a filling panel according to a first embodiment.

[0087] Figure 4 Figure 4 is a top - view of a support leg and the area of the secondary thermal barrier surrounding the support leg.

[0088] Figure 5 Figure 5 is Figure 2 a perspective view of a support leg and storage tank wall, showing a portion of the secondary seal film.

[0089] Figure 6 Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 a view showing the secondary seal film.

[0090] Figure 7 Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 according to a second embodiment.

[0091] Figure 8 Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 4 according to a second embodiment.

[0092] Figure 9 Figure 9 is Figure 6 a top - view of a support leg and storage tank wall, showing the primary thermal barrier surrounding the support leg.

[0093] Figure 10 Figure 10 is Figure 1 a perspective view of a larger scale of portion X, showing additional primary anchoring members that can cooperate with the truncated primary insulation panels to hold them against the secondary seal film.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[0094] Figure 11 Figure 11 is a top view in the direction of arrow XI of Figure 10 , with the insulating plug omitted.

[0095] Figure 12 Figure 12 is a perspective view of the support leg and the area of the primary sealing film surrounding the support leg.

[0096] Figure 13 Figure 13 is a sectional anatomical view of the storage tank of a methane tanker and the terminal for loading / unloading the storage tank.

[0097] Figure 14 Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 5 in a variant, where the support leg is replaced by a vapor collection pipe passing through the top wall of the storage tank.

[0098] Figure 15 Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 showing the secondary sealing film.

[0099] Figure 16 Figure 16 is a partial perspective view of a truncated primary insulation panel that can be used around the vapor collection pipe.

[0100] Figure 17 Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 10 in a variant, where the support leg is replaced by a vapor collection pipe.

[0101] Figure 18 Figure 18 is a perspective view of the area of the primary sealing film around the vapor collection pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0102] The embodiments are described below with reference to a sealed and insulated storage tank intended for storing and / or transporting LNG at sea. In variants not described, such a sealed and insulated storage tank can be a storage tank for onshore storage of other cold products (e.g., LPG or LH2).

[0103] A sealed and insulated storage tank of the above type can be made in different geometries, e.g., a polyhedral geometry in the hull or double hull of a ship, a cylindrical geometry on land, or other geometries.

[0104] ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​By convention, regardless of the orientation of the storage tank wall with respect to the Earth's gravitational field, the terms "upper", "above", "upper part", and "top" generally refer to positions located towards the interior of the sealed and insulated storage tank, while the terms "lower", "below", "lower part", and "bottom" generally refer to positions located towards the exterior of the sealed and insulated storage tank.

[0105] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 describes the structure of the bottom wall of the sealed and insulated storage tank through which the support leg 6 passes.

[0106] The bottom wall has, in the thickness direction, from the exterior to the interior of the sealed and insulated storage tank, in sequence: a secondary insulation barrier 2, which includes juxtaposed secondary insulation panels 13 anchored to the support wall 1 of the support structure by secondary holding members; a secondary sealing film 3, which is carried by the secondary insulation panels 13 of the secondary insulation barrier 2; a primary insulation barrier 4, which includes juxtaposed primary insulation panels 50 anchored to the secondary insulation panels 13 of the secondary insulation barrier 4 by primary holding members 19; and a primary sealing film 5, which is carried by the primary insulation panels 50 of the primary insulation film 5 and is intended to be in contact with the LNG contained in the sealed and insulated storage tank.

[0107] The support wall 1 can in particular be a self-supporting metal plate, or more generally, any type of rigid partition with appropriate mechanical properties. A plurality of support walls are generally used to form a support structure having the overall shape of the sealed and insulated storage tank.

[0108] The secondary insulation barrier 2 includes a plurality of secondary insulation panels 13 in the form of parallelepiped blocks, which are anchored against the support wall 1 by means of resin beads (not depicted) and / or studs 30 welded to the support wall 1. As Figure 2 depicted, the secondary insulation panels 13 are in the form of parallelepiped blocks with a square base. In other embodiments, the secondary insulation panels 13 are in the form of parallelepiped blocks with a rectangular base.

[0109] Each secondary insulation panel 13 includes an insulating polymer foam layer 15 sandwiched between two rigid plates, namely, a bottom plate 14 and a cover plate 16. The cover plate 16 in particular has an upper surface 161 oriented towards the interior of the sealed and insulated storage tank. The bottom plate 14 and the cover plate 16 are made of plywood, for example, and glued to the insulating polymer foam layer 15. The insulating polymer foam layer 15 can in particular be a polyurethane-based foam layer. The polymer foam is advantageously reinforced with glass fibers, which helps to reduce its thermal shrinkage coefficient. The cover plate 16 includes a groove 17 for receiving welding supports.

[0110] The structure of the secondary insulation panel 13 has been described above by way of example. In other embodiments, the secondary insulation panel 13 can have some other overall structure.

[0111] For example, in document WO 2012 / 127141, the secondary insulation panel 13 is made in the form of a box that includes a bottom plate, a cover plate, and a support web that extends between the bottom plate and the cover plate in the thickness direction of the storage tank wall and defines a plurality of compartments filled with an insulating filler such as perlite, glass wool, or rock wool.

[0112] For example, in document WO 2019 / 234360, the secondary insulation panel 13 includes not two rigid plates but three rigid plates, namely, a bottom plate, an intermediate plate, and a cover plate, as well as two polymer foam layers. A first insulating polymer foam layer is sandwiched between the bottom plate and the intermediate plate, and a second insulating polymer foam layer is sandwiched between the intermediate plate and the cover plate.

[0113] To fix the secondary insulation panel 13 to the studs 30 that are fixed to the support wall 1, the secondary insulation panel 13 is provided with Figure 2 the cylindrical welding structure 18 described in, which passes through the entire thickness of the secondary insulation panel 13 and is formed near each corner of the secondary insulation panel 13. The cylindrical welding structure 18 includes a change in cross-section (not depicted) that defines a bearing surface on a nut that mates with the threaded end of the stud 30. For example, the cylindrical welding structure 18 has a first cross-section in the insulating polymer foam layer 15 that is between 40 mm and 50 mm (inclusive) and a second cross-section in the bottom plate 14 that is between 15 mm and 25 mm (inclusive), thus defining the bearing surface of the nut.

[0114] The secondary insulation panels 13 are juxtaposed in parallel secondary rows. More precisely, the secondary insulation panels form a repeating pattern in the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T such that the support wall 1 of the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank is "laid" by the secondary insulation panels 13.

[0115] The secondary insulation panels 13 are separated from each other by gaps to ensure an assembly functional gap. The gaps are filled with a heat-resistant filler, such as, for example, glass wool, rock wool, or flexible open-cell synthetic foam. The thermal insulation filler is advantageously made of a porous material to form a gas flow space in the gaps between the secondary insulation panels.

[0116] In Figure 2 , three secondary rows of the secondary insulation panels 13 are shown in the longitudinal direction. A single secondary row includes a square break zone 20 that has the same dimensions as the repeating pattern, that is, the dimensions of the secondary insulation panel 13.

[0117] The through-element forming the support leg 6, centered on the break zone 20, passes through the bottom wall of the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank. The support leg 6 extends through the secondary thermal insulation barrier 2 and the primary thermal insulation barrier 4, as well as the secondary sealing film 3 and the primary sealing film 5, such that one end abuts against the support wall 1 and the other end protrudes into the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, at a certain distance from the primary sealing film 5.

[0118] The support leg 6 can be used to support heavy equipment that must be immersed in the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank. For example, in order to support the unloading pump, such support legs can be provided at the base of the pumping mast (not depicted) of the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank. Although the support leg 6 is shown here on the bottom wall of the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, similar through-elements can be provided in the same way elsewhere in the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, for example, as support or spacer elements for holding any object at a certain distance from the storage tank wall.

[0119] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 depicted, the support leg 6 includes a body having a circular cross-section that is rotationally symmetric about a rotational axis R parallel to the thickness direction of the bottom wall. A frustoconical lower portion 7 is connected to a cylindrical upper portion 8 at the level of its smallest diameter end. The largest diameter base of the frustoconical lower portion 7 abuts against the support wall 1. The break zone 20 is larger than the largest diameter base of the frustoconical lower portion 7 such that the support leg 6 is located within the break zone 20. The frustoconical lower portion 7 extends through the thickness of the bottom wall beyond the level of the primary sealing film 5. The cylindrical upper portion 8 is sealed by a circular plate 12 that is welded, for example, to the inner edge (not depicted) of the cylindrical upper portion 8.

[0120] The body of the support leg includes: a secondary sealing plate 9 that is parallel to the support wall 1, connected to the periphery of the body, and extends around the body at the level of the upper surface 161 of the secondary insulating panel 13; and a primary sealing plate 11 that is also parallel to the support wall 1, connected to the periphery of the body, and completely extends around the body at the level of the upper surface of the primary insulating panel 50.

[0121] The secondary sealing plate 9 extends inside the frustoconical lower portion 7 through an inner plate 10 that divides the inner space of the frustoconical lower portion 7 into a secondary portion 7a and a primary portion 7b. The secondary portion 7a and the primary portion 7b of the inner space are filled with insulating filler, such as glass wool, to limit heat conduction.

[0122] Next, referring to Figures 3 to 8 describe the generation of the secondary thermal insulation barrier 2 and the secondary sealing film 3 around the support leg.

[0123] According to Figure 4In the first embodiment depicted, the secondary insulation barrier 2 includes four identical filling panels 21 disposed around the body of the support leg 6. Accordingly, the break region 20 is divided into four sectors, each sector receiving one of the filling panels 21.

[0124] As Figure 3 depicted, the structure of the filling panel 21 is similar to the structure of the secondary insulation panel 13, i.e., the filling panel 21 includes a sandwich structure composed of a layer of insulating polymer foam 23 located between two rigid plates (i.e., a bottom plate 22 and a cover plate 24). For example, the bottom plate and the cover plate are made of plywood. In other embodiments, the filling panel 21 may have some other overall structure, such as the structure described in document WO 2012 / 127141 or the structure described in document WO 2019 / 234360.

[0125] The filling panel 21 is fixed to the stud 30 of the support wall 1 in a manner similar to the secondary insulation panel 13. Each filling panel 21 includes two cylindrical welding structures 25 that pass through the entire thickness of the filling panel 21. The cylindrical welding structures 25 have a change in cross-section (not depicted) that defines a bearing surface on a nut that mates with the threaded end of the stud 30.

[0126] The four sectors of the break region are separated from each other by two median lines, i.e., a longitudinal median line A parallel to the longitudinal direction L and a transverse median line B parallel to the transverse direction T. The intersection of the median lines at the center of the break region 20 coincides with the intersection of the rotation axis R of the support wall 1 and the body of the support leg 6.

[0127] In Figure 3 it, each filling panel 21 has a proximal side 311 facing the body of the support leg 6, two distal sides 312 facing the panels adjacent to the break region 20, and an intermediate side 313. The proximal side 311, the distal sides 312, and the intermediate side 313 extend in the thickness direction of the bottom wall.

[0128] The proximal side 311 has a semi-circular cutout to receive the body of the support leg 6. The two distal sides 312 are straight and perpendicular to each other. In the longitudinal direction L or the transverse direction T, the dimensions of the distal sides 312 of the filling panel 21 are substantially half of the dimensions of the sides of the secondary insulation panel 13. Each distal side 312 is connected to the proximal side 311 by an intermediate side 313. The intermediate sides 313 are aligned with the longitudinal median line A and the transverse median line B of the break region 20, respectively.

[0129] The upper surface of the cover plate 24 of the filling panel 21 includes grooves 26 that receive the heads of the screws in two rows of fixing screws 32 parallel to the distal sides 312 on both sides of the distal sides 312. The fixing screws 32 are intended to fix the closing piece 31 to the upper surface of the cover plate 24.

[0130] When assembling the filling panel 21, the cutout in the proximal side surface 311 defines a circle with a diameter larger than the maximum diameter base of the frustoconical lower part 7 of the support leg 6. Adjacent filling panels 21 are separated by a gap 27 formed between two opposing intermediate side surfaces. The gap 27 is aligned with the longitudinal center line A or the transverse center line B of the interruption zone 20. The gap 27 is filled with a heat-insulating filler, for example, such as glass wool, rock wool, or flexible open-cell synthetic foam.

[0131] As can be seen in Figure 1 the space 48 defined by the filling panel 21, the frustoconical lower part 7 of the support leg 6, and the secondary sealing plate 9 is filled with an insulating filler, such as glass wool.

[0132] Referring to Figure 7 , the secondary heat-insulating barrier 2 includes two metal closure sheets 31. Each closure sheet 31 covers two filling panels 21. The closure sheet 31 is fixed by fixing screws 32 located in grooves 26 in the cover plate 24 of the filling panel 21. Each closure sheet 31 also has a semi-circular inner edge that is welded in a sealing manner around the body of the support leg 6 to the secondary sealing plate 9.

[0133] The closure sheet 31 is made of, for example, i.e., an alloy of iron and nickel, the coefficient of thermal expansion of which is typically between 1.2×10 -6 K -1 and 2.0×10 -6 K -1 (inclusive). An alloy of iron and manganese can also be used, the coefficient of thermal expansion of which is typically about 7.0×10 - 6 K -1 .

[0134] Alternatively, the secondary heat-insulating barrier 2 can include only one or more than two closure sheets 31.

[0135] Referring to Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the secondary sealing film 3 includes a continuous layer of metal strips 40 having raised edges 43 in the longitudinal direction L. The strips 40 are juxtaposed in the transverse direction T. Each strip 40 has a planar central portion resting on the upper surface 161 of the secondary insulating panel 13 and two raised edges 43 protruding relative to the planar central portion towards the interior of the sealed and heat-insulated storage tank. The raised edges 43 of the strips 40 are welded to parallel welding supports located in grooves 17 fixed to the cover plate 16 of the secondary insulating panel 13.

[0136] In the transverse direction T, the dimension of the slat 40 is half of the dimension of the secondary insulating panel 13. In the embodiment described herein, each secondary row of secondary insulating panels 13 in the longitudinal direction L is covered by a central slat and half of two lateral slats. Thus, the lateral slats span across the secondary insulating panels 13 of two adjacent secondary rows.

[0137] The slat 40 is made of, for example, It is also possible to use an alloy of iron and manganese, the coefficient of thermal expansion of which is typically about 7.0×10 -6 K -1 .

[0138] As Figure 7 and Figure 8 depicted, the layer of slats 40 of the secondary sealing film 2 includes cut slats 41, 42 that form a square window aligned with the interruption zone 20. The cut slats 41, 42 include a central cut slat 41 that rests entirely on the secondary insulating panel 13 of a single secondary row and two lateral cut slats 42 located on the respective opposite sides of the central cut slat 41. The lateral cut slats 42 span across a single secondary row and an adjacent secondary row accordingly.

[0139] The central cut slat 41 is interrupted along its entire width at the level of the window along the central edge. The lateral cut slats 42 are interrupted along their width at the level of the window along the lateral edge portions. The central edge and the lateral edge portions of the cut slats 41, 42 cover the edge of the closure sheet 31. In order to achieve the continuity of the secondary sealing film around the support leg, the cut slats 41, 42 are welded to the closure sheet 31 in a sealed manner at the overlapping level of their edges, thereby covering the head of the fixing screw 32.

[0140] Two metal sealing bands 34 that span across two closure sheets 31 and the secondary sealing plate 9 are also welded to the closure sheet 31 and the secondary sealing plate 9 in a sealed manner. In the embodiment described herein, the sealing bands 34 are positioned on the respective opposite sides of the support leg 6, aligned with the longitudinal centerline A. The sealing bands 34 are made of, for example, the same material as the slats 40, 41, 42, that is or an alloy of iron and manganese, the coefficient of thermal expansion of which is typically about 7.0×10 -6 K -1 .

[0141] Thus, the closure sheet 31 and the sealing bands 34 extend along the secondary sealing film 3 as far as the secondary sealing plate 9.

[0142] In a variant not shown, the closing piece 31 projects around the break zone 20 beyond the cover plate 16 of the secondary insulating panel 13. In this case, the fixing screws 32 and the grooves 26 can be offset on the cover plate 16 of the secondary insulating panel 13, in particular along the edge adjacent to the break zone 20. Otherwise, the secondary sealing film 2 is manufactured as described above.

[0143] Figure 7 and Figure 8 depicts another embodiment of the secondary thermal insulation barrier 2 around the support leg 6. The elements similar or identical to those of the Figure 3 and Figure 4 embodiment have the same reference numerals increased by 100. In this embodiment, the four sectors of the break zone 20 are separated from each other by the diagonals of the break zone. The intersection of the diagonals at the center of the break zone 20 coincides with the intersection of the rotation axis R of the support wall 1 and the body of the support leg 6.

[0144] The filling panel 121 has a single distal side face, the size of which is the same as that of the side face of the secondary insulating panel 13. In addition, two diagonal side faces extend aligned with the diagonals of the break zone 20.

[0145] Other shapes of the filling panel around the support leg 6 can be envisaged. The number of filling panels can be greater than four or less than four, for example two. In a variant not shown, the secondary sealing plate 9 can have a slightly larger size and partly cover the filling panel around the support leg 6.

[0146] Referring Figure 9 , the primary thermal insulation barrier 4 comprises a plurality of primary insulating panels 50 in the form of parallelepiped blocks, which are anchored to the secondary thermal insulation barrier 2 by means of primary holding members 19 carried by the secondary insulating panel 13. The primary holding members 19 can be manufactured in various ways, for example as described in document WO 2019 / 234360 or document FR 2 887010.

[0147] The primary insulating panels 50 have the same dimensions as those of the secondary insulating panel 13, except for their thickness in the thickness direction of the bottom wall, which can be different, in particular smaller. In other embodiments, the primary insulating panels 50 can have other dimensions, in particular in the form of parallelepiped blocks with a rectangular base.

[0148] The primary insulating panels 50 are juxtaposed in parallel primary rows. More precisely, the primary insulating panels 50 form a pattern that repeats in the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T, such that the secondary sealing film 3 is covered by the primary insulating panels 50.

[0149] In the embodiments described herein, the primary row is offset by half the length of the secondary insulating panel 13 in the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T with respect to the secondary row. Thus, the primary insulating panel 50 of the primary row straddles four secondary insulating panels 13 of two adjacent secondary rows below. The primary retaining member 19 is positioned at the center of the cover plate 16 of the secondary insulating panel 13 and mates with the corners of four adjacent primary insulating panels 50.

[0150] In other embodiments not described, the offset magnitude between the primary row and the secondary row in the longitudinal direction L and / or the transverse direction T may be different, and the primary retaining member 19 may be positioned elsewhere on the cover plate 16 of the secondary insulating panel 13, but preferably at a certain distance from the raised edge 43 of the slat 40 so as not to interfere with them.

[0151] Next, reference is made to Figures 9 to 11 the manufacture of the primary thermal barrier 4 around the support leg 6.

[0152] Reference is made to Figure 9 , in the longitudinal direction L, two single primary rows above a single secondary row encounter an interruption zone 20. The first single primary row and the second single primary row each include two truncated primary insulating panels 51 aligned with the interruption zone 20. The truncated primary insulating panels 51 are separated in pairs by a longitudinal interface line C and a transverse interface line D above the longitudinal center line A and the transverse center line B of the interruption zone 20, respectively.

[0153] Each truncated primary insulating panel 51 includes a truncated edge 57 that faces the body and has a semi-circular cutout over its entire thickness to receive the support leg 6. The cutout extends between two lateral ends of the truncated edge 57, with the first end positioned at the level of the longitudinal interface line C and the second end positioned at the level of the transverse interface line D.

[0154] The structure of the primary insulating panel 50 and the truncated primary insulating panel 51 may be similar to the structure of the secondary insulating panel 13 and the filling panel 21, i.e., including a sandwich structure composed of an insulating polymer foam layer 53 located between a bottom plate 52 and a cover plate 54. For example, the bottom plate 52 and the cover plate 54 are made of plywood. In other embodiments, the primary insulating panel 50 and the truncated primary insulating panel 51 may have different overall structures, such as the structures described in document WO 2012 / 127141 or the structures described in document WO 2019 / 234360.

[0155] The cover plate 54 and the insulating polymer foam layer 53 of the primary insulating panel 50 and the truncated primary insulating panel 51 may be provided with relaxation slots 55 (in Figure 1 and Figure 10As can be seen in the figure, the relaxation slots divide the cover plate 54 and the insulating polymer foam layer 53 into multiple parts, thus preventing cracking during cooling.

[0156] The truncated primary insulating panel 51 is held on the secondary sealing film 3 at the level of three corners of its untruncated edge by the primary holding member 19. However, anchoring the truncated primary insulating panel 51 only by three corners of the untruncated edge may not be sufficient, depending on the mechanical loads it will be subjected to. Additionally, the four truncated primary insulating panels 51 are held on the secondary sealing film 3 by four additional primary anchoring members 61 fixed to the secondary sealing plate 9. Each of the four additional primary anchoring members 61 cooperates with two of the four truncated primary insulating panels 51.

[0157] More precisely, two additional first primary anchoring members 61 fixed to the secondary sealing plate 9 at the level of the longitudinal interface line C cooperate with the first and second truncated primary insulating panels of the first single-primary row and the second single-primary row, respectively. Two additional primary anchoring members 61 fixed to the secondary sealing plate 9 at the level of the transverse interface line D cooperate with the first and second truncated primary insulating panels 51 of the first single-primary row and the second single-primary row, respectively.

[0158] Figure 10 and Figure 11 The structure of the additional primary anchoring member 61 is depicted in more detail.

[0159] At each of the two lateral ends of the truncated edge 57, the truncated primary insulating surface 51 includes an oblong well 68 that passes through the cover plate 54, the insulating polymer foam layer 53, and the bottom plate 52 but exposes the inner surface area of the bottom plate 52.

[0160] When the truncated primary insulating panels 51 are assembled around the support legs 6, the joining of the two oblong wells 68 of two adjacent truncated primary insulating panels 51 produces an opening aligned with the longitudinal interface line C or the transverse interface line D, which is intended to receive the additional primary anchoring member 61.

[0161] Each additional primary anchoring member 61 includes a rod 36 welded to the secondary sealing plate 9. The rod 36 passes through a rectangular anchoring plate 63, is supported on the secondary sealing plate 9 via a gasket 66, and is supported on the inner surface areas of the two bottom plates 52 of the adjacent truncated primary insulating panels 51 via a bar 67.

[0162] The nut 65 mates with the thread formed at the upper end of the rod 36 to hold the anchor plate 63 on the rod 36. One or more Belleville spring washers 64 are screwed onto the rod 36 between the nut 65 and the anchor plate 63, which makes it possible to elastically anchor the truncated primary insulation panel 51 to the secondary sealing plate 9.

[0163] The spacer 69 is placed on the anchor plate 63. The spacer 69 includes a central housing that receives the upper end of the rod 36, the Belleville washer 64, and the nut 65. The central housing can have various shapes: for example, the shape of a cylindrical hole coaxial with the rod 36, or as shown here, a rectangular cutout shape, making the spacer 69 integral in an inverted "U" shape with two branches on the respective opposite sides of the central housing. The spacer 69 supports the insulating plug 62, which is intended to ensure the continuity of the primary insulation at the level of the additional primary anchoring member 61. The insulating plug is capped by a cover plate 93 at the level of the upper surface of the truncated primary insulation panel 51.

[0164] The anchor plate 63 is advantageously made of a metal selected from: stainless steel; alloys of iron and nickel, such as whose coefficient of thermal expansion is typically between 1.2×10 -6 K -1 and 2.0×10 -6 K -1 (inclusive); and alloys of iron and manganese, whose coefficient of thermal expansion is less than 2.0×10 -5 K -1 and typically about 7.0×10 -6 K -1 .

[0165] The gasket 66, the bar 67, and the spacer 69 are advantageously made of wood, so that the thermal bridge can be limited to the secondary sealing plate 9 at the level of the additional primary anchoring member 61.

[0166] Next, reference is made to Figure 9 and Figure 12 to describe the production of the primary sealing film 5 around the support leg 6.

[0167] Referring to Figure 12 , the primary sealing film 5 includes a continuous layer of rectangular plates 70, 71, 72, which have longitudinal corrugations 76 extending in the longitudinal direction L and transverse corrugations 75 extending in the transverse direction T on their upper surfaces, which project towards the inside of the sealed and insulated storage tank, and flat portions 85 resting between the corrugations on the cover plate 54 of the primary insulation panel 50 and the truncated primary insulation panel 51. Thus, the longitudinal corrugations 76 are parallel to the raised edges 43 of the slats of the secondary sealing film 4. The transverse corrugations 75 are perpendicular to the raised edges 43 of the slats of the secondary sealing film 4. The transverse corrugations 75 are preferably higher than the longitudinal corrugations 76.

[0168] The transverse corrugations 75 are regularly spaced at a first pitch, and the longitudinal corrugations 76 are regularly spaced at a second pitch. In the embodiments described herein, the first pitch and the second pitch are equal; thus, in the remainder of the description, only the "pitch" will be referred to. In other embodiments, the first pitch and the second pitch may be different.

[0169] The dimensions of the rectangular plates in the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T are preferably integer multiples of the pitch and integer multiples of the dimensions of the primary insulating panel. The rectangular plates are welded together along their edges with small overlapping areas. Figure 12 Only the weld joints 83 between the transverse edges of the rectangular plates 70, 71, 72 are shown.

[0170] In the depicted embodiment, the primary sealing film 5 can be formed substantially by the rectangular plate 70 partially shown, the dimensions of which are equal to nine times the pitch in the transverse direction T and three times the pitch in the longitudinal direction L. Thus, each rectangular plate 70 includes nine longitudinal waves and three transverse waves. However, in order for the support leg 6 to pass through, the continuous layer of the rectangular plate forming the primary sealing film is cut in such a way as to define a window around the support leg.

[0171] For this purpose, the first truncated rectangular plate 71 has a truncated edge 73, and the second truncated rectangular plate 72 has a truncated edge 74. The truncated edges 73 and 74 together outline a window, the contour of which is substantially octagonal. The two truncated rectangular plates 71 and 72 are asymmetrical.

[0172] The truncated edge 73 is the longer edge and extends from the weld joint 83 between the two truncated rectangular plates 71 and 72 towards the interior of the first truncated rectangular plate 71, thereby forming:

[0173] - a straight longitudinal portion that extends between the longitudinal corrugations 76 of the 3rd and 4th rows of the first truncated rectangular plate 71 and interrupts two transverse corrugations 75 of the 1st and 2nd rows of the first truncated rectangular plate 71; the rows of the longitudinal corrugations 76 are counted Figure 12 from the left side in ; the rows of the transverse corrugations 75 are counted from the weld joint 83 between the truncated rectangular plates 71 and 72;

[0174] - an inclined portion that intersects a planar portion 85 located between the longitudinal corrugations 76 of the 3rd and 4th rows and between the transverse corrugations 75 of the 2nd and 3rd rows;

[0175] - a straight transverse portion that extends between the transverse corrugations 75 of the 2nd and 3rd rows and interrupts two longitudinal corrugations 76 of the 4th and 5th rows of the first truncated rectangular plate 71; and

[0176] - Symmetrically, another inclined portion and another straight longitudinal portion that extend up to the weld joint 83 between the two truncated rectangular plates 71 and 72.

[0177] The truncated edge 74 is the shortest edge and extends from the weld joint 83 between the two truncated rectangular plates 71 and 72 towards the interior of the second truncated rectangular plate 72, thereby forming:

[0178] - An inclined portion that intersects the planar portion between the longitudinal corrugations 76 in rows 3 and 4 and between the transverse edge of the second truncated rectangular plate 72 and the transverse corrugation 75 in row 1 without interrupting any transverse corrugation 75;

[0179] - A straight transverse portion that extends between the transverse edge of the second truncated rectangular plate 72 and the transverse corrugation 75 in row 1 and interrupts two longitudinal corrugations 76 in rows 4 and 5 of the second truncated rectangular plate 72; and

[0180] - Symmetrically, another inclined portion that extends as far as the weld joint 83 between the two truncated rectangular plates 71 and 72.

[0181] Referring again to Figure 9 , the metal anchoring strips 58, 59, 60 are fixed to the cover plate 54 of the primary insulating panel 50 and the truncated primary insulating panel 51. Each anchoring strip 58, 59, 60 is fixed in the spot facing of the cover plate 54 by any suitable means (e.g., screws or rivets and / or gluing).

[0182] More precisely, the first anchoring strip 59 is provided between each transverse edge of the primary insulating panel 50 or the truncated primary insulating panel 51 and the nearest slack slot 55, e.g., four first anchoring strips 59, the second anchoring strip 58 is provided between each longitudinal edge of the primary insulating panel 50 or the truncated primary insulating panel 51 and the nearest slack slot 55, e.g., four second anchoring strips 58, and three anchoring strips 60 are provided between each corner of the primary insulating panel 50 or the truncated primary insulating panel 51 and the nearest slack slot 55, e.g., four third anchoring strips 60. However, on the truncated primary insulating panel 51, the truncated edge 57 eliminates one corner and thus one of the three anchoring strips 60. In addition, the first anchoring strip 59 and the second anchoring strip 58 can also be eliminated due to the truncated edge 57.

[0183] The first anchoring strip 59 enables the formation of a weld 81 with the planar part 8 of the rectangular plates 70, 71, 72, such that the planar part 85 across the interface between two truncated primary insulation panels 51 in a single row 49 (i.e., the transverse interface line D) or the interface between the truncated primary insulation panel 51 and the primary insulation panel 50 in the single row 49 is welded to two first anchoring strips 59 on the respective opposite sides of the interface. Similarly, the second anchoring strip 58 enables the formation of a weld 82 with the planar part 85 of the rectangular plates 70, 71, 72, such that the planar part 85 across the longitudinal interface line C between two single rows 49 (e.g., between two truncated primary insulation panels 51 or between two primary insulation panels 50) is welded to two second anchoring strips 59 on the respective opposite sides of the longitudinal interface C. Similarly, the third anchoring strip 60 enables the formation of a weld 84 with the planar part 85 of the rectangular plates 70, 71, 72, such that the planar part 85 across the joint between four adjacent corners respectively belonging to two truncated primary insulation panels 51 and two primary insulation panels 50 is welded to four third anchoring strips 60 at each of the four corners of the panel.

[0184] Each welded planar part functions as a mechanical connection between the joined insulation panels. This prevents the mutual movement of the insulation panels away from each other and helps to distribute the deformation of the supported structure more evenly to the primary thermal insulation barrier. The welds 81, 82, and 84 can be plug welds or full penetration welds. Other details regarding the welds 81, 82, and 84 can be found in the publication WO 2022 / 074148.

[0185] To obtain the continuity of the primary sealing film 5 at the level of the window formed by the truncated edges 73 and 74, a sealing assembly that produces a connection between the support leg 6 and the truncated rectangular plates 71 and 72 is provided. More precisely, two semi-circular connecting plates 79 and 80 are welded around the support leg 6 to the primary sealing plate 11, such that the primary sealing plate 11 extends radially beyond the truncated edges 57 of the four truncated primary insulation panels 51. The two connecting plates 79 and 80 are placed in the counterbored plane 86 of the primary sealing plate 11 and the counterbored plane 87 of the four truncated primary insulation panels 51 to prevent the formation of excessive thickness. Here, the inner edges of the connecting plates 79 and 80 define a circular profile, while the outer edges of the connecting plates 79 and 80 define a square profile corresponding to the edges of the counterbored plane 87, as can be seen in Figure 9 as shown.

[0186] The truncated rectangular plate 71 overlaps the two connecting plates 79 and 80, and the truncated edge 73 is welded to the two connecting plates 79 and 80 in a sealed manner. Similarly, the truncated edge 74 is welded to the connecting plate 80 in a sealed manner. It should be noted that the joint 88 between the two connecting plates 79 and 80 is not aligned with the weld joint 83.

[0187] Here, two connecting plates 79 and 80 are employed, but fewer or more connecting plates can be used to effect the same connection.

[0188] Since the diameter of the support leg 6 is greater than the wave pitch, two transverse corrugations 75 are interrupted by the cut edges 73 at the level of the window surrounding the support leg 6. The ends of the interrupted transverse corrugations 75 are sealed with end pieces 77 at the level of the window. Similarly, two longitudinal corrugations 76 are interrupted by the cut edge 73 and the cut edge 74 at the level of the window surrounding the support leg 6. The ends of the interrupted longitudinal corrugations 76 are sealed with end pieces 78 at the level of the window. The end pieces 77 and 78 include bottom plates welded to the two connecting plates 79 and 80. More details regarding the manufacture of the end pieces can be found in the document WO 2011 / 157915.

[0189] In a variant not depicted, the truncated rectangular plate 71 having a length nine times the wave pitch in the transverse direction T is replaced by a plurality of truncated rectangular plates having the same width in the longitudinal direction L but shorter than the truncated rectangular plate 71 in the transverse direction T.

[0190] According to the first example, the truncated rectangular plate 71 is replaced by two truncated rectangular plates having lengths five times and four times the wave pitch in the transverse direction T, respectively. In this case, the weld joint between the two truncated rectangular plates is aligned with the longitudinal interface line C, that is, in the same planar portion as the weld seam 82.

[0191] According to the second example, the truncated rectangular plate 71 is replaced by three truncated rectangular plates having lengths three times, two times, and four times the wave pitch in the transverse direction T, respectively. In this case, the weld joints between the three truncated rectangular plates are located at the level of the two inclined portions of the cut edge 73.

[0192] In all cases, the cut edge 73 successively cuts through the respective juxtaposed truncated rectangular plates.

[0193] Reference Figures 14 to 18 describes the structure of the top wall of a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank through which the vapor collection pipe 206 passes. Elements similar or identical to those of the storage tank wall with the support leg as a through element as described above have reference numerals that are the same but increased by 200. Figures 1 to 12 identical but increased by 200.

[0194] The vapor collection pipe 206 is used to collect the vapor phase inside the storage tank and, for this purpose, passes through a wall region located at the top of the storage tank, typically in the top wall. According to known techniques, the vapor collection pipe 206 can be part of a gas dome structure that also has other functions. The gas dome structure is described, for example, in the publication WO2013093261.

[0195] It should only be noted here that the gas dome structure includes a vapor collection pipe 206 that opens inside the storage tank and an outer pipe 400 that surrounds the vapor collection pipe 206 and opens inside the primary adiabatic barrier 204. As described above, the gas dome structure is arranged in the interruption area of the secondary adiabatic barrier.

[0196] As can be seen in Figure 14 , the primary sealing plate 211 surrounds the vapor collection pipe 206, and the secondary sealing plate 209 surrounds the outer pipe 400. As described above, four filling panels (not shown) are arranged around the outer pipe 400 in the secondary adiabatic barrier. Here, the filling panels have the Figure 7 form depicted in

[0197] The closure sheet 231 covers the filling panel and protrudes outside the cover plate 216 of the secondary insulating panel 213 surrounding the interruption area. The fixing screw 232 fixes the closure sheet 231 to the cover plate 216 of the secondary insulating panel 213. Each closure sheet 231 also has a circular inner edge that is welded to the secondary sealing plate 209 in a sealing manner around the outer pipe 400.

[0198] As can be seen in Figure 15 , in order to create the continuity of the secondary sealing film around the outer pipe 400, the cutting strips 241 and 242 are welded to the closure sheet 231 in a sealing manner at the overlapping level of their edges, thus covering the heads of the fixing screws 232. Each sealing strip 234 spans across two closure sheets 231 on the cutting strip 242 and the secondary sealing plate 209.

[0199] In the primary adiabatic barrier, four truncated primary insulating panels 251 surround the primary sealing plate 211. As can be seen in Figure 16 and Figure 18 , in addition to the slack slot 255, the truncated primary insulating panel 251 includes a groove 90 that opens into the bottom plate 252 to receive the raised edge 243 of the secondary sealing film.

[0200] The oblong welding structure 268 passes through the cover plate 254 and the insulating polymer foam layer 253 to expose the inner surface area of the bottom plate 252. The strip 267 is fixed to this inner surface of the bottom plate 252.

[0201] Figure 17 The anchor plate 263 is shown supported on the strip 267 of two adjacent truncated primary insulating panels 251 on one side of the rod 236 (only one of the two truncated primary insulating panels 251 is shown) and on the edge 91 of the outer pipe 400 that extends beyond the secondary sealing plate 209 on the other side of the rod 236. Therefore, no gasket 66 is used. Otherwise, the fixing of the truncated primary insulating panel 251 remains unchanged compared to the truncated primary insulating panel 51.

[0202] As can be seen in Figure 18 the arrangement of the primary sealing film remains unchanged. In particular, the first truncated rectangular panel 271 has a truncated edge 273, and the second truncated rectangular panel 272 has a truncated edge 274. The truncated edges 273 and 274 together define a window around the primary sealing plate 211, and the contour of this window is substantially octagonal.

[0203] Referring to Figure 13 , a cross-sectional view of the methane carrier 1070 shows a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank 1000 having an overall prismatic shape installed in the double hull 1072 of the ship. The walls of the storage tank include at least one sealing film intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the storage tank and at least one thermal insulation barrier arranged between the sealing film and the double hull 1072.

[0204] In a manner known per se, the loading / unloading pipeline 1073 provided on the upper deck of the ship is connected to a maritime or port terminal by means of a suitable connector to transport the cargo liquefied gas to and from the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank 1000.

[0205] Figure 13 An example of a maritime terminal is shown. The maritime terminal includes a loading and unloading station 1075, an underwater pipeline 1076, and a land installation 1077. The loading and unloading station 1075 is a fixed offshore installation having a movable arm 1074 and a tower 1078 supporting the movable arm 1074. The movable arm 1074 carries a bundle of insulated flexible pipelines 1079 that can be connected to the loading / unloading pipeline 1073. The orientable movable arm 1074 is suitable for all methane tanker loading gauges. The connecting pipelines not shown extend inside the tower 1078. The loading and unloading station 1075 enables the ship 1070 to load from and unload to the land installation 1077. The land installation includes a liquefied gas storage tank 1080 and a connecting pipeline 1081, and the connecting pipeline is connected to the loading or unloading station 1075 through the underwater pipeline 1076. The underwater pipeline 1076 enables the transportation of liquefied gas over a relatively large distance (e.g., 5 km) between the loading or unloading station 1075 and the land installation 1077, which enables the ship 1070 to remain at a relatively large distance from the coast during loading and unloading operations.

[0206] The pumps on the ship 1070 and / or the pumps equipped on the land installation 1077 and / or the pumps equipped on the loading and unloading station 1075 are used to generate the pressure required for transporting the liquefied gas.

[0207] Although the present invention has been described in connection with multiple specific embodiments, it is obvious that the present invention is by no means limited to these embodiments, and if the described devices fall within the scope of the present invention, the present invention includes all technical equivalents of the described devices and their combinations.

[0208] The use of the verb "comprise", "comprising" or its inflected forms does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those recited in a claim.

[0209] In a claim, any reference signs between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

Claims

1. A sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, which is arranged in a support structure to contain a fluid. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank comprises: A storage tank wall, which is anchored to a support wall (1) of the support structure. The storage tank wall includes at least one thermal insulation barrier (4) and a sealing film (5) carried by the thermal insulation barrier in the thickness direction from the outside to the inside of the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank. The thermal insulation barrier includes a plurality of insulating panels (50, 51) in the form of parallelepiped blocks. The insulating panels are arranged in parallel primary rows, and the rows include a plurality of insulating panels juxtaposed in a repeating pattern in a first direction. The rows are juxtaposed in a repeating pattern in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The insulating panels have edges parallel to the first direction and the second direction. Penetrating elements (6, 206), which pass through the storage tank wall. The penetrating elements (6, 206) include a body extending in the thickness direction of the storage tank wall and a sealing plate (11, 211) parallel to the support wall. The sealing plate is connected to the periphery of the body and extends around the body at the same level as the upper surface of the insulating panel. The sealing film (5) includes first corrugations (75) spaced a first corrugation pitch in a first direction and parallel to the second direction, and flat portions (85) located between the first corrugations and resting on the upper surface of the insulating panel. The size of the repeating pattern of the insulating panel in the first direction is three times the first corrugation pitch. The penetrating element has a size between one time and three times the first corrugation pitch in the first direction and passes through at least one single row (49) in the rows. The single row (49) includes a first truncated insulating panel (51) and a second truncated insulating panel (51) adjacent to the first truncated insulating panel. Each truncated insulating panel includes a truncated edge (57) facing the body. The truncated edge extends away from the interface line (D) to bypass the body. The interface line (D) passes between the first truncated insulating panel (51) and the second truncated insulating panel (51) and is parallel to the second direction. The sealing film includes rows of plates covering the single row (49) and parallel to the first direction. The rows of plates include a plurality of rectangular plates (70, 71, 72) juxtaposed in a repeating pattern in the first direction and welded together in a sealed manner with or without overlapping through the edge regions of the plates. The size of the repeating pattern of the rectangular plates in the first direction is three times the first corrugation pitch. The first corrugations are spaced from the edges of the rectangular plates in the first direction. Each rectangular plate includes three of the first corrugations (75). The welding joints (83) between the rectangular plates are offset in the first direction relative to the interface between the insulating panels inside the single row. Wherein the formed plates include first truncated rectangular plates (71, 271) spanning across the first truncated insulating panel (51) and the second truncated insulating panel (51), and second truncated rectangular plates (72, 272) adjacent to the first truncated rectangular plates (71, 271) and disposed on the second truncated insulating panel (51). Each truncated rectangular plate has a truncated edge (73, 74) facing the body, the truncated edge extending away from the welded joint (83) to bypass the body, the welded joint (83) assembling the first truncated rectangular plates (71, 271) and the second truncated rectangular plates (72, 272) and being parallel to the second direction. Wherein the truncated edge (73) of the first truncated rectangular plate interrupts two first corrugations (75) of the first truncated rectangular plate, and the truncated edge (74) of the second truncated rectangular plate does not interrupt any of the first corrugations of the second truncated rectangular plate, and closures (79, 80) connect the truncated edge of the first truncated rectangular plate and the truncated edge of the second truncated rectangular plate to the sealing plate (11, 211).

2. The sealed and insulated storage tank according to claim 1, wherein a first metal anchoring element (59) is fixed to the upper surface of the single row (49) of insulating panels, at a distance from the edge of the insulating panel parallel to the second direction that is less than the first corrugation pitch, and each rectangular plate includes one such planar portion (85) spanning across the upper surfaces of two insulating panels of the single row, the planar portion being welded to the first metal anchoring elements (59) of the two insulating panels. Wherein the planar portion of the first truncated rectangular plate (71, 271) located between the two first corrugations (75) interrupted by the truncated edge (73) of the first truncated rectangular plate is welded to the first metal anchoring elements (59) of the first truncated insulating panel (51) and the second truncated insulating panel (51).

3. The sealed and insulated storage tank according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the body has a circular profile shape, and the through element (6, 206) is arranged such that the diameter of the body parallel to the second direction is located between the two first corrugations (75) interrupted by the truncated edge (73) of the first truncated rectangular plate, preferably at the middle of the two first corrugations of the first truncated rectangular plate (71, 271).

4. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the single row is the first single row (49), the interface line is the second interface line (D), and the through element (6, 206) also passes through a second single row (49) in the row. A first interface line (C) is located between the first single row and the second single row and is parallel to the first direction (L). The second single row includes a first truncated insulating panel (51) of the first truncated insulating panel (51) adjacent to the first single row in the second direction and a second truncated insulating panel (51) of the truncated insulating panel (51) adjacent to the second single row in the second direction. The second interface line (D) also passes between the first truncated insulating panel and the second truncated insulating panel of the second single row. Each truncated insulating panel has a truncated edge (57) facing the body, and the truncated edge extends away from the second interface line (D) to bypass the body.

5. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to claim 4, wherein the sealing film has a second corrugation (76) spaced a second corrugation pitch in the second direction (T) and parallel to the first direction (L). The planar portion (85) is located between the first corrugations and between the second corrugations. The second corrugation is spaced from the edge of the rectangular plate in the second direction. The size of the repeating pattern of the row in the second direction is three times the second corrugation pitch. The size of the rectangular plates (70, 71, 72) in the second direction is greater than or equal to three times the second corrugation pitch. The row of plates spans across the first single row and the second single row. A second metal anchoring element (58) is fixed to the upper surfaces of the first truncated insulating panel (51) and the second truncated insulating panel (51) of the first single row and the second single row. The distance from the edge parallel to the first direction of the truncated insulating panel is less than the second corrugation pitch. And the first truncated rectangular plates (71, 271) and the second truncated rectangular plates (72, 272) each include one of the planar portions spanning across the first interface line (C). The planar portion (85) is welded to two metal anchoring elements (58) of the first truncated insulating panel of the first single row (49) and the second single row (49) and the second truncated insulating panel of the first single row and the second single row respectively.

6. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to claim 5, wherein the size of the through element (6, 206) in the second direction is between one time and three times the second corrugation pitch, and the truncated edges of the first truncated rectangular plates (71, 271) and the truncated edges of the second truncated rectangular plates (72, 272) interrupt two of the second corrugations (76) adjacent to the first interface line (C).

7. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to claim 6, wherein the rectangular plates (70, 71, 72) have a dimension in the second direction equal to nine times the second wave pitch, each rectangular plate comprising nine of the second corrugations, and two of the second corrugations (76) adjacent to the first interface line (C) are between the 2nd row and the 8th row, preferably between the 4th row and the 6th row, inclusive of the end values, and the rows of the second corrugations are counted from the edge of the rectangular plate.

8. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the body (6, 206) has a circular profile shape, and the through element is arranged such that the diameter of the body parallel to the first direction lies between two of the second corrugations (76) interrupted by the truncated edge (73) of the first truncated rectangular plate, preferably in the middle of the two second corrugations.

9. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the second wave pitch is equal to the first wave pitch.

10. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the height of the second corrugation (76) is less than the height of the first corrugation (75).

11. The storage tank according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the first corrugation and the second corrugation are continuous at the level of the intersection between the first corrugation and the second corrugation.

12. The storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the closure member includes at least one metal closure plate (79, 80), the truncated edge (73) of the first truncated rectangular plate is welded to the at least one metal closure plate, the at least one metal closure plate has an inner edge welded to the sealing plate (11), and at least four first end members (77) are welded to the at least one metal closure plate to close two of the first corrugations (75) interrupted by the truncated edge of the first truncated rectangular plate (71, 271) on either side of the body.

13. The storage tank according to any one of claims 6 to 8 and claim 12, wherein at least four second end members (78) are welded to the at least one metal closure plate (79, 80) to close two of the second corrugations (76) interrupted by the truncated edge (73) of the first truncated rectangular plate and the truncated edge (74) of the second truncated rectangular plate on either side of the body.

14. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the insulating panel (50) has a square cross-section, and the cross-section has the same dimensions in the first direction and the second direction.

15. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the body has a circular profile shape, and the sealing plate (11, 211) has a circular profile concentric with the body.

16. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the body has a circular contour shape, and the truncated edges (57) of the first truncated insulating panel (51) and the second truncated insulating panel (51) have an arc shape concentric with the body.

17. The sealed and thermally insulated storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the sealing film is a primary sealing film (5) intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank, and the thermal insulation barrier is a primary thermal insulation barrier (4), and the storage tank wall further includes a secondary sealing film (3) provided between the primary thermal insulation barrier and the support wall and a secondary thermal insulation barrier (2) provided between the secondary sealing film and the support wall (1). The sealing plate is a primary sealing plate (11, 211), and the through element further includes a secondary sealing plate (9, 209) parallel to the support wall, and the secondary sealing plate is connected to the periphery of the body and extends around the body at the same level as the upper surface of the secondary thermal insulation barrier (2).

18. A ship (1070) for transporting liquefied gas, the ship including a double hull and a sealed and thermally insulated storage tank (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 17, the storage tank being provided in the double hull.

19. A transportation system for liquefied gas, the transportation system including the ship according to claim 18 and insulated pipelines arranged in such a way that the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank (1000) provided in the double hull of the ship (1070) is connected to a floating or onshore storage device (1077).

20. Use of the ship according to claim 18 for loading or unloading liquefied gas, wherein liquefied gas is transported from a floating or onshore storage device (1077) to the sealed and thermally insulated storage tank (1000) of the ship (1070) or from the storage tank to the floating or onshore storage device (1077) through insulated pipelines.

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